Ben pulls his knees up to his chest. Hot tears streak down his face and he gives a small whimper.
“Where- where is Violet? Is Vi c-coming?”
Cold sweat runs down his forehead and he bites his lip till it bleeds.
“ах, это так жарко больно.”
Violet gets a few weird looks from windows as she runs, and her pantyhose start to get holes and runners. She’s soaked. Completely.
She finally makes it to the bike and looks around a bit till she spots him in the ditch.
Thank God.
"Yes. Yes Violet's on her way." Silver assured him. Hurry up Vi. Her heart broke as she heard him start crying.
Violet slides down into the deep ditch and touches his shoulder as she kneels by him. "Ben? Benjamin? It's alright."
He gives off some steam from his heat and they sit in a heat wave. Her hand burns on his shoulder and she removes it only to take his hand. "Hey, hey. It's alright."
He looks up to her and sets down the phone shakily. "I- I-" He stops to inhale sharply and cough a few times. More tears streak down his face and he rubs at his eyes, "It- it burns."
she lovingly puts her hand on his cheek, wiping at the hot tears. "I know Love, I know. Let's cool off. It'll be alright. Do you feel the rain? It's very chilly."
He closes his eyes tightly, trying to focus on the cold rain as she removes his jacket.
"And the air is so fresh and freezing. Do you know what the temperature is out here? It's 30 Fahrenheit."
It burns. It burns.
He nods, and she pulls a handkerchief out of her purse and wipes the blood off of his lips. "I know it hurts, but don't create more pain to distract yourself, Love. Please don't."
He opens his eyes and looks up, catching himself staring into her creamy brown eyes.
The heat wave starts to clear and so does the steam, but his skin is still hot to the touch. She squeezes his hand. "We're alright, see?"
He takes a deep, shaky breath, "Ты такая красивая. Если бы я мог жить нормальной жизнью, я бы попросил вас жить со мной. Violet…"
She had no idea what he'd said, but maybe he wanted it that way. A small smile crosses her face. "Я люблю тебя." She states, tripping over the second word's pronunciation a little.
He lets out a small, relieved huff and his eyes start to tear up again. Nice, cold tears.
Violet leans forward a bit and despite the pouring, cold rain and his hot skin, she gives him a small kiss.
Silver let out her breath when she heard Violet's voice through the phone, and sank back into her wings, cramped up behind her. "Violet found him!" She called out to the others. After a minute she put the phone to her ear again, but the only thing she could hear was the faint rain. "Okay please don't both be dead. Or caught." Silver muttered. But she made herself wait longer. Who knew how long it would take for Ben to recover enough.
Violet sits back again, brushing some black, sweaty hair out of his face. “We’re alright?”
He sighs and leans his forehead on her shoulder. “Yeah. Yeah, we’ll be okay.”
His skin still burns, and he still sweats, but he’s started to breathe a little better.
"Hey? Guys?" Silver finally says. "Violet? You guys okay? "
Violet picks up the phone, hearing a faint voice. She puts it to her ear, using her other hand to run her fingers through Ben’s hair.
“Silver? Are you still there?”
"Vi! Is Ben okay? Are you both okay? Miki got us out of the traffic and we're sitting on 4th street, about a block from where you left us."
Violet pulls the phone from her ear for a moment, surprised by Silvers volume.
“We’re fine, Love. Ben’s going to be alright. We’ll be up there soon. Thank you. Make sure you keep the doors locked.”
Silver nodded, then realized Violet couldn't see her. "Yeah, Miki's keeping watch. Just be safe and get back here quickly."
“We will love. Goodbye.” She hangs up and slips the phone into Ben’s pocket.
“I hate to rush you, Love, but we should go.”
He nods and sits up, his face flushed and red from crying and his fever.
Violet stands and gives him her hand. He takes it and stands. He dusts himself off and shivers, a chill going up his spine.
Violet takes his hand. “You’re still overheated. Calm down.”
They walk to the bike and get on, making a U-turn and heading to fourth street.
Silver floated the phone up to the front of the car and dropped it in a cup holder. Miki jumped out of her skin, having been keenly watching the alley around them.
"What the–Silver! You scared me to death! What even was that?"
Silver leaned her head back and laughed way too hard. "Wow I didn't realize how fun it would be to scare you now that I can do stuff."
Miki groaned and rolled her eyes. "Don't you dare."
Ben’s bike parks behind the SUV and he take his helmet off, tucking it under his arm. Violet slides off and walks over to the window and knocks on it.
Silver shrieked and the back of the van opened without anyone pulling the latch, and Silver tumbled out, landing on the pavement. "Violet!" Silver squawked, trying to keep her voice down while her heart strangled her. "Oh my word don't do that!"
Miki bent over the steering wheel, laughing so hard she couldn't breathe.
Violet jumped at Sil's squeak and runs around to the back of the car and bends down by her. "Are you alright? I just wanted the doors to be unlocked!"
Ben stares down at Sil, looking a little sleepy and wipes his sweaty forehead.
(Alright. I am probably the least active person on here, but here's the dish. I will be gone from home and without an internet connection from the 9th through the 14th. I will attempt to temporarily pull Sung and Tod from the story tomorrow when I get a chance.
I get that this sort of thing can get annoying-peeps leaving their practically dead characters lying about or something similar-but thank you for understanding.)
(WE LOVE YOU PEEETEEERRR)
Silver lay on the road, half laughing, half trying to catch her breath. "Yes, I'm okay, Vi, you just scared me so bad. But I think the van's unlocked now. Sorry." She pushed herself to her feet and caught sight of Ben. She gave him a quick, tight hug before climbing back into the van and closing the hatchback.
Miki rolled the windows down and leaned forward to see Vi and Ben outside. (I imagine them on the passenger side.) "You okay, Ben? Get inside so we can decide where to go. Do you want to drive, Violet?"
(Hey, Peter, I don't mind if Sung and Todd just ghost along with us for a while! That way you don't have to make them leave or come back. Whatever's easier for you, but I don't mind if they just tag along.)
Violet climbs in the drivers seat and buckles. “Yes I’m driving. Plan is still the same. We go pick up Cage, Leo, Shadow, Hush and Dash. But Ben will be riding behind us now so we don’t split and him have another attack.” She looks back to Silver. “You good back there?”
Ben doesn’t react to the hug, staying still and feeling a bit numb. He still burns, but it usually took a good 24 hours to calm down once it started. He rubs his forehead and puts on his helmet, starting up the bike and following Violet.
Silver climbed up to see over the backseat. "Wait, you're gonna let Ben drive after all that? Isn't driving half of what got him into that mess?"
Miki moved to the passenger seat and drew her knees up to her chin. "Yeah, man, I wouldn't be able to drive after a panic attack."
Violet huffs. “Just watch him, Sil. I can’t wrestle him into here. He’s a very safe driver.” She tightens her grip on the wheel.
You think I like this?
And it was an anxiety attack, Miki. There’s a difference.
Ben continues driving, trying not to zone out. His eyes are still watering, and he can’t tell if it’s from pain or heat anymore. He grips the bike handles tighter.
Calm down.
Silver groaned and sank down behind the seat again. She positioned herself so she could watch Ben out the back window and focused on tuning into the air around him, to keep a gently hold on him in case he got distracted or started falling behind.
After a few minutes of silence in which Miki very much disagreed with Violet's life choices, she asked quietly, "How long have you and he been together?"
Violet's face flushes a bright red and she bites her lip, unsure whether to be angry or flustered. "W- It's- It's not like that. I've known Ben since he was twelve. I just- we're friends."
VIOLET. I cannot believe that escaped your lips. I'm truly exhausted.
A slow grin spread across Miki's face and she turned to look out the window so Violet couldn't see. After a second she regained control of her features and leaned her head back against the headrest. "You're a terrible liar, Vi." she says casually.
Silver metered her breathing, her eyes never leaving Ben. I've never driven a car before. Or a bike. If he passes out I'll have to keep control of his bike. WITH MY BRAIN.
Violet very quietly sighs, still red in the face. "Miki, darling. Everyone is terribly exhausted. I'd like it if you did your best to not irritate us."
Ben slows the bike down a little, his head pounding and his eyesight going blurry. He pulls the bike over with great effort, feeling like there was something holding onto it. He removes his helmet and loses grip of it, dropping it to the ground. He wobbly climbs off of the motorcycle and sits by it.
I'll be fine. I'm okay.
He leans up against it and creases his brow.
It burns
He wraps his arms around himself and pulls his knees up to his chest.
Miki grinned again and cocked a finger gun at her. "Your secret is safe with me."
Silver scrambled up over the top of the backseat again. "Violet, Ben just pulled over! He got off the bike! Stop the van! Violet, Ben stopped!"
Violet quickly pulls over and stops. She unbuckles and opens the door, stumbling out and running back.
I hate the redhead.
"Ben! Ben." She runs to him and stops, kneeling. "Ben?" She feels his forehead and winces, taking her wrist away. "Love, wake up. I need to get you in the car."
He remains limp.
She sighs and stands, waving to the car. "I need help!"
Miki groaned and threw her door open with a, "Stay here, Sil!" over her shoulder before slamming the door behind her and jogging back to Ben and Violet. Without a word she grabbed one of Ben's arms and draped it across her shoulders, wrapping her arm around his waist. "You get that side, Vi." she said, hauling him up. "Oof, your boy is heavy!"
Vi puts his other arm around her and her arm around his back. "Yes, I know. He works out-oof- a lot."
His body is hot and Violet begins to sweat, trying to get him back to the vehicle. His feet drag and his head hangs, his black curls swishing back and forth as they try to drag him.
Purple eyes peer down from the building above. "He said the one with winds was Silver, right?" Yes "And are we going for her or the man?" Either works. Preferably the man. She nods. "Got it."