#benxcallum

Keanu growled. “It was him decided not to talk the other night. Wanting to stand up to me, I guess.”

Good. That was… that was good; Callum fighting back instead of leaving himself vulnerable and unprotected.

The words he’d said many times before played over in his mind. You know, I WAS in the army, Ben. I CAN handle myself. D’you think I needed protecting THEN?

Except those times, it hadn’t been Ben putting him in danger, had it? And it hadn’t been about an absolute nutter holding him captive God knows where.

“What can I say; my man’s got a stubborn streak when he wants to. Bossy, too. You should see what he gets like in bed.”

Keanu uttered a sound of disgust before passing the phone to Callum.

Who sounded…surprisingly chipper.

“Hello, darling,” he said easily. “How’s your day going?”

It threw him.

He knew what Callum was doing, of course. Still, it took one hell of an effort to school his own voice into something lighthearted and fluffy. Like all they were doing was a quick chat before meeting up in the evening. Like there was nothing wrong at all.

“Eh, you know. Not too bad – few things on my mind. Lexi’s sick, so I’ve been trying to take care of her while juggling. I reckon a few Callum cuddles might makes us both feel better.”

I miss you, he translated, with every second ticking away. “How are things your end?”

“I’ve had better days,” Callum told him drily. Only now did Ben notice the cracking in his voice, like he hadn’t been given water for a while now. His blood boiled at the thought. “But you know, hangin’ in there.”

“You hurt?”

“A little.” Callum admitted, though Ben had no way of telling just how much he was downplaying the damage for his sake. “Nothing I can’t handle. Mostly just sick of being sat here with a jumpy lunatic.”

“Yeah.” Ben sighed. “I’m working it, I swear. Every minute.”

“I know,” Callum replied. His voice had gone soft and quiet, like all that had come before was just to piss Keanu off, but this.. this was for Ben. Telling him Callum still trusted him, still believed in him to make things right. Ben only hoped he could live up to that expectation. “I know, Ben.”

He wanted to say more. Wanted to say everything he hadn’t been able to before – but he also knew that if the words were spoken now, they’d both feel like it was just out of despair and he didn’t want that. Didn’t want the words tainted.

Callum didn’t say them either.

But when the call broke off and there was only silence left, Ben swore he heard them echoing off the walls.

I love you.