#tedcus

“Alright, alright,” Marcus responds, standing to help Ben with the final touches. “Only because I wouldn’t want to miss out on my gifts from Santa. Besides, Ted’s coming over tonight to take pictures of this place.”

“Why’s he coming to take pictures of your flat?” Ben asks, hanging the last piece of garland from Marcus’s ceiling. Marcus shrugs, even though he knows the answer. “Come on, I can see it on your face. You know. Why aren’t you telling me?”

“Cause I told him you always decorate my flat,” Marcus says, blinking as Ben stands at the top of the step stool. “Hey, mate, be careful alright?” Ben just nods, leaning over precariously to hook up the garland.

“I’m always careful,” Ben assures him. “In all my years decorating, I’ve never once fall-” Ben cuts off as he topples off the stool. Moving quickly, Marcus catches Ben, holding him against his chest. “And there goes my twenty-six year streak,” Ben says with a nervous chuckle.

“Yeah, I think you’re done decorating now,” Marcus says, setting Ben on his feet. “Um, do I look good? I mean, I want to make sure I look good for, well, you know…” Marcus’s cheeks heat into a bright blush. Marcus has had a crush on Ted for the last few years. Ben was the only one he’d been able to tell about it.

“You look great Marcus,” Ben says, reaching over to fluff Marcus’s hair slightly. “You look seriously hot. Ted’s an idiot if he doesn’t see it.” Marcus blushes again, pulling at his waistcoat slightly.

“You don’t think I look fat in this waistcoat?” Marcus asks softly. “I do, god, I look awful, I’m going to go change.” Marcus turns on his heel before starting towards his bedroom. But Ben is faster. The smaller man grabs hold of Marcus’s wrist, pulling him back.

“You look good,” Ben repeats, brushing a spot of lint from Marcus’s chest. “You do not look fat. You look fantastic. Ted’s not going to know what hit him. Now, I left some eggnog in your fridge along with a few cookies on the counter. Share with Ted. Never know what might happen.”

Marcus laughs nervously as Ben stretches up to kiss his cheek loudly. “Get out of here,” Marcus growls playfully, shoving his best friend towards the door. “I promise I won’t change. I’ll just sit in my chair, read, and drink the eggnog you already gave me until Ted gets here.” Ben nods before slipping out the door. Marcus smiles before returning to his armchair and his book.

About an hour later, there’s a quiet knock on the door. Marcus gets to his feet, his palms starting to sweat. Going to the door, Marcus opens it to reveal the smiling face of Ted behind his camera. A bright flash blinds Marcus briefly. “Hey fucker,” he says, nudging Ted after the blond put his camera down. “Don’t do that.”

“I couldn’t help it,” Ted says with a chuckle. “You looked pretty adorable with the decorations behind you.” Marcus’s cheeks flush red, stepping aside to let Ted in. “Shit. You told me Ben was super serious about decorating your flat for Christmas, but I didn’t expect to step into the North Pole…”

Marcus laughs softly. He could see where Ted was coming from. Ben had nearly all of Marcus’s surfaces covered in fake snow, and every place possessed a Christmas decoration. “Yeah, he gets better at this every year,” Marcus says with a smile. “He also left us some eggnog and a few cookies. Do you, um, maybe want some?”

Marcus licks his lips nervously as Ted smiles. “Sure thing, I’ll start taking pictures if you want to get those,” the tall blond says with a smile. Marcus nods before hurrying into the kitchen. Pulling out his mobile, he stares at the screen before opening to his messages. “Benji, I can’t do this… I’m freaking out! Come over, please? Just say you forgot something. I can’t handle it”… Marcus sighs softly before hitting send.

Ben’s response flashes across the screen in a few heartbeats. “Are you sure? I can if you need me to, but I know you can,” Ben’s message reads. Marcus takes a shaky breath. “I’m sorry Ben… I know you had those plans with Jem, but I can’t do this,” Marcus types, blinking as he sends the message. “It’s okay Marcus, really. She’ll understand. I’ll be there in five,” Ben responds, his words instantly relieving Marcus’s anxiety.

He pockets his mobile before heading over to his fridge. Marcus carefully pours three glasses of eggnog, taking his time to give Ben enough time to get there. Putting the glasses on a tray along with the plate of cookies, Marcus heads back into his living room to see Ted’s face against his camera, snapping photos of Ben’s decorations. Marcus sighs softly.

“Hey Mark,” Ted says, turning to snap a few pictures of Marcus. “Why do you have three glasses of eggnog?” Marcus’s cheeks turn red. But before he can answer, there’s a knock at the door. Marcus exhales, knowing that it’s Ben. He hurries to the door, throwing it open to reveal a red faced Ben standing there. “Hey Benji, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, uh, I forgot my, uh, my wallet,” Ben says quickly, patting his pockets as though he were searching for his wallet. “Probably left it in the kitchen. Want to help me find it Marcus?” Marcus nods quickly, pulling Ben into the kitchen before hugging him tightly. “Hey, hey, shh,” Ben hums, combing his fingers through Marcus’s hair. “It’s all right mate. It’s all right okay? Look, you can still tell him how you feel yeah? I’ll be here to support you okay?”

“Okay Benji,” Marcus mumbles, pressing his nose into Ben’s neck. “I’ll try. I just wish talking to Ted was as easy as talking to you…” Ben chuckles, pushing Marcus back to look him in the eye.

“It can be you know,” Ben says, patting Marcus’s cheek. “You just have to get how you feel off your chest. Come on, let’s get out there.” Marcus nods as the two step back into the living room. “Uh, got it, put in the fridge of all places,” Ben chuckles.

“Seriously?” Ted asks, a low chuckle rumbling off his lips. “Hey, since Marcus already got you a glass of eggnog, did you want to stay and hang out for a bit?” Ben nods, glancing at Marcus. The unspoken words resting in Ben’s brown eyes are clear. Marcus knows Ben won’t let him get away with not saying anything to Ted.

The three gather around the table, making small talk while sipping at the eggnog. “Um, Ted,” Marcus says after a while, his voice small. “I, um, I have to tell you something, um, just, um, stick with me okay?” Ted nods, glancing over at Ben uncertainly. Closing his blue-green eyes, Marcus takes a breath. “I really like you, like… like you like you, like a boy likes a girl only you’re a boy and I’m a boy, um, yeah, um, sorry.”

Marcus stands quickly, practically taking the table out before taking off sprinting upstairs. He pushes into his room, lying face down on his bed. He couldn’t believe he let Ben talk him into this.

The sound of his bedroom door opening has Marcus tensing up. He was expecting the worst. “Hey Marcus,” Ben’s soft voice says, sitting beside Marcus, his long fingers stroking Marcus’s back. “Are you okay?”

Marcus sits up slowly, pulling Ben into a tight hug as he pushes back tears. “Y-yeah, where’s T-Ted?” Marcus asks, his voice shaking as he fights back tears. He can feel Ben tense as the smaller man hesitates.

“He left Marcus,” Ben whispers, tightening his arms around Marcus. “He just left without saying anything. I’m so sorry Marcus…” He couldn’t stop the tears, the flowed over his cheeks and onto Ben’s neck. “Hey, don’t cry, please, please don’t cry. It’s all right. Maybe he’s just shocked. Maybe he just needs a chance to come around okay?”

Marcus just nods, but he can hear the doubt in Ben’s voice. He knows that that’s not the case. He knew that Ted wasn’t going to come around. “Benji,” Marcus sniffles. “Why did you come back? I mean, you had your plans with Jem, but you came back…”

There’s a brief moment of hesitation. “You’re my best friend Marcus,” Ben says, holding Marcus tighter. “I’d do anything for you. But, how about you go to sleep? I’m sure everything will be better tomorrow. Santa is gonna come tonight you know. I bet he’ll bring you something wonderful.”