When Benjamin insisted he wore the hoodies better, Royalty just huffed a soft laugh. “Oh please. I wear them great, yeah, but you? You make them look illegally good." His thumb brushed over the fabric again. “And yes, there’s absolutely an occasional return policy for scent refreshment. I’m generous like that.” When Benjamin admitted the hoodies made him feel close even when he was far away, Royalty’s tone softened. “That’s the whole strategy, babe. If I can’t be there, then something that smells like me will." Hearing his scent described as soothing and comforting made him quieter, more sincere. “I’m glad it calms you. I want to be your calm."
When he saw the tears welling up, Royalty’s playful confidence shifted into something steady and grounding. His hands cupped Benjamin’s face a little firmer, thumbs brushing gently under his eyes. “Hey,” he said softly, but with certainty, “you are not holding me back. We move at our pace. One step at a time means we don’t skip steps, not that we’re stuck.” When Benjamin suggested meeting someone important and being introduced as his boyfriend, no hiding, Royalty’s expression changed completely. Pride. Warmth. A little awe. “You’d really do that?” he asked quietly, searching his eyes. Then he nodded once. “Yeah. Tomorrow, if we’re alive and not dying from hangovers, we’ll do it. And I’ll introduce you properly. No hiding. You’ll be right there next to me, exactly where you belong.” His voice carried comfort, but also confidence. He wasn’t afraid of being seen with him, he just wanted it to feel safe for both of them. “How about I set up something with my sister Nevaeh?” He let out a small chuckle. “She’s outgoing. Like, aggressively extroverted. She could make friends with a brick wall. If anyone’s gonna make this feel easy and not intense, it’s her.” His eyes stayed locked on Benjamin’s, reassuring. “She already knows about you. And she’s been dying to meet the guy who has me this soft.”
Later, settled into the car, Royalty smirked when Benjamin admitted he preferred his hot body. “Tease? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, clearly knowing exactly what he was doing. As Benjamin buckled up, Royalty leaned closer before heading around the car. “Distracting you is my favorite hobby. I’m very dedicated.” Once inside, his hand rested on Benjamin’s knee, thumb tracing absent patterns there as he drove. When Benjamin said he always distracted him and tonight wouldn’t be an exception, Royalty chuckled low. “Oh, tonight especially won’t be an exception.” But after that, he didn’t need many words. His squeezes, his glances over, the calm way he drove, it all said the same thing: I’ve got you.
A few seconds later he hummed softly, thumb tracing slow circles. “What’s something you’d want Nevaeh to know about you? Like, not résumé stuff. Just, you stuff.” He shrugged one shoulder. His eyes flicked over again briefly, softer now. “I already tell her the good things. That you’re thoughtful. That you overthink but still try anyway. That you look stupidly cute in my hoodies.” A smirk tugged at his lips. “I want you to feel like you’re walking in as yourself. Not just ‘Royalty’s boyfriend'.”
Benjamin couldnt help but laugh softly as Royalty said he made them look illegally good " okay fine, you can win this time, but only cause i love you" he told him. Benjamin didnt like loosing bu he was also pretty good at picking his battles. He knew he could use this to his advantage in another silly 'fight' well more in a situation like this where he wanted to win more. " i appreciate your generousity" Benjamin said with a smile " i need to return a few then by the way, the smell is fading and i dont like that" he chuckled " you are my calm. You are my happy place" he told his bofriend. Benjamin loved being with Royalty. Royalty always made him feel so good, with Royalty he felt safe and like he could just be himself. " im calm when im with you" he then stated ,tho he did get what Royalty meant.
Benjamin leaned into Royalties hands on his face, he couldnt help it. He listened as he spoke, bu it didnt make him feel much better. He heard him, he wanted to believe it 100% but deep down Benjamin really felt like he was holding them back and it hurt. He was afraid he was slowly hurting his boyfriend but that Royalty just wasnt admitting it. At this point, Benjamin wasnt locking eyes with Royalty like he so often did, he looked away finding anything other than his eyes. Benjamin felt same, shame that he wasnt brave enough to be himself around everyone.
Benjamin liked how Royaltys expression changed at his suggestion of meeting someone as Royaltys boyfriend. " yeah i would really do that" He quickly looked his boyfriend in the eyes but he didnt hold it, in stead he looked down. " but just, dont leave me alone with them... i dont want to be interrogated," Benjamin said. Sure Benjamin acted like an outgoing jolly person on the daily at school, around his peers and others. But deep down he wasn't, he was just so good at putting on masks to hide what he really felt, to hide who he really was and act like who he thought and felt others wanted him to be. But he didnt want to be fake, he didn't want to come out as Royaltys boyfriend acting fake. At this point, there was nothing but fear and hesitation in Benjamin's voice, he wasnt sure what he was doing; all he knew was he needed to show he was trying to put in effort for Royalty " yeah okay, That sounds good. " Benjamin bit his lip. His sister should be a good start. Benjamin knew they were close and all Benjamin wanted was to show he was trying and to meet someone so important to Royalty was a good first step he thought. "A brick wall, i dont think thats possible buddy, but alright" he chuckled. He understood what Royalty meant but it was funny tho. He had a hard time letting his eyes meet Royalties at the moment, he was scared and worried, yet he knew this was what he wanted " i make you soft? how?" was all he focused on out of what his boyfriend had just said.
" yeah tease, and you so know what I'm talking about, you flirt," he said trying to sound as if he was mad but there was laughter hidden in his voice. When Royalty leaned closer, then went around he couldnt help but comment " See, see, you are such a tease, its mean" he chuckled
Benjamin watched as royalty got in the car, " dedicated and good at it in deed." he bit his lip. He smiled to himself as Royalty drew patterns on him as he drove, there was something about it that just made Benjamin so happy. "Tonight better not be," he stated and then just stayed in silent with Royalty. It was something Benjamin really enjoyed with him, the comfortable silence. Silence wasnt comfortable with everyone, but with Royalty it always was.
Benjamin was deep in thought and taken back at Royalties question. What did he want her to know? " uhm... I dont know. I dont know what you have told her... maybe that you will eventually get all your hoodies back" he joked, he wasnt sure what to say, he wasnt sure what he should say. " you have told her all that? doo you guys talk about me a lot?" benjamin wondered. " you told her i overthink?" he asked embarressed tho he obviouly knew Royalty had told her. " why did you tell her that? " benjamin bit his lip. would his sister look at it as a problem? " dont worry, i wont be walking in as just royalties boyfriend, tho i am and im so fucky happy and lucky that i am"
