This edit just doesn't show up on the tags no matter what I do😭
I made this thinking about how, for me, Darius knows Ben too well.
After the monorail incident, Ben came up with this whole Island boy persona.Trying to be brave, trying to look in control.
But it doesn't matter how hard he tried to look tough, Darius knew he was not okay, he knew Ben was hurt. And yeah, he blamed himself for this.
When it comes to Darius, there is no braveness in the world Ben could hide behind. Darius knows what trauma looks like, it is unconsciously but he knows. He has been dealing with it since his Dad's loss.
That's why when they finally reunited, something just clicked. Darius understood and recognized in Ben his own emotional problems. For me that explains why Ben can't hide how he feels from him.
I WANNA ADD ONE MORE THOUGHT TO THIS POST
No because everybody talks about the "I- I love you bud" line but the "we're quite a pair uh?" line is so UNDERRATED. Like yes Darius you're so right YOU GUYS ARE QUITE A PAIR WITH INSANE CHEMISTRY
For me, Darius says it bc he is nervous. I don't think he feels like he deserves to hear an "I love you".
Darius feels blame and shame bc of what happened to Ben. When he opened up to Ben about feeling it's all his fault, I really don't think he was ready to be welcomed with affection by the same. For me, that's why he replied with that line instead of saying "I love you too" or something like that.
And that makes things kinda of sad? Yeah... But also makes it more complex. If that "I love you" was intended to be casual, Darius would never have reacted that way. That was nothing casual about that line. That scene was filled with affection and hesitation.
