Fix You - Cobalt

[Benjamin Rhodes]

"Oh really? Yeah, of course I'll come! I'll definitely tell Andy. What? Ma, no." Ben laughed into the phone and rolled his eyes inaudibly. "Yes ma. I will. I love you too. Tell Pa...yeah tell Pa I love him too. Bye."

Another laugh was heard from the kitchen before he moved to the couch where his boyfriend had parked himself cosily. Well, as cosily as Cobalt Weaver could get. Ben obnoxiously jumped on the couch and snuggled up to Cobalt. "Augh, you're all bones." Ben grumbled teasingly, pulling the smaller man's arm around his neck. "What are we watching?" His dark blue eyes looked up at Cobalt's face with a smile.

Can't get enough of that face.

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt absently watched the screen as some documentary or another rolled across the screen. He had no idea what he was watching, and he didn't really care. He'd gotten comfortable enough that he didn't really need a reason to stop by Ben's aside from "I would like to see you", and the same had gone for Ben. It was nice.

Cobalt scooted over to allow Ben to flop on the couch and slide closer to Cobalt, who shifted and tucked Ben under his arm almost automatically. At Ben's comment, Cobalt made a quiet grumbling noise and rolled his eyes affectionately, "I am not, you sound like Danny. He said the same thing the other day."

Cobalt returned Ben's smile, "I actually have no idea." He glanced at the television screen, "Some kind of documentary, I dunno."

He nodded at the phone, "How's your family?"

[Benjamin Rhodes]

Ben hardly bristled at the mention of Danny, although it did bring a slightly forced grin on his face. It wasn't out of jealousy. It really wasn't! Reflex. Yeah. Ben was willing to go with that. "Just goes to show we both know what's best for you." Ben poked Cobalt's taut stomach and grinned. Okay, so the man was bone and muscle.

"Hmm," Ben hummed mindlessly as Cobalt answered his question. He turned his head and dropped it on Cobalt's lap, pulling the other man's hand down to his lips, kissing it lightly. At Cobalt's question about his family, Ben nodded. "They're fine. They were telling me about an event for church. They're asking me to bring everyone I know. You up for it?"

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt didn't notice Ben's discomfort upon mentioning Danny. It hadn't crossed his mind since they'd last talked about that, and Cobalt had assumed that Ben had more or less gotten over it. That, and the idea that someone could be jealous over him was beyond laughable. Cobalt batted Ben's hand away, "Hey! I know what's good for me, thank you."

Cobalt let out a slight laugh as Ben dropped his head into his lap. Cobalt absently stroked Ben's hair when the other man invited him to go to a Church event. His hand stilled for a moment before resuming. "Ah...no. I think I'm good." Cobalt wasn't particularly interested in digging around in his own feelings about Churches and religions at present, and hoped Ben wouldn't press any further.

"So how's Yulia doing lately?" Cobalt looked up at Ben, concerned. Because yes, he was trying to change the subject, but he was genuinely concerned about Ben's quiet housemate.

[Benjamin Rhodes]

While Cobalt may have thought it laughable, Ben still thought it was fairly possible that Cobalt would one day go: "Ben is a tool. Danny's better than him. Ergo, what the hell am I doing with a tool?".

It was entirely plausible!

"Aww, okay okay fine. If you insist on knowing what's good for you." Ben rolled his eyes and enjoyed the fingers through his hair. Immensely. When the fingers stopped, Ben's eyes fluttered open and he frowned. Not at the words, but the tone Cobalt held. Weird.

"Yulia's doing fine. She's going out more often and not coming back drunk so that's a good start." He prompted for Cobalt to continue play with his hair because it felt damn good.

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt didn't think that Danny was better than Ben. They were just different. Although that probably wouldn't do much to assuage Ben's worries, all things considered. As it was, Cobalt didn't even know this was even slightly an issue. So he was content to sit and play with Ben's hair, since the younger man seemed to be enjoying it.

"I like to think that I'm an adult, yes." Cobalt replied with a grin, "And that I can reasonably decide what's good for me." He leaned down to quickly kiss Ben's forehead.

"That's good," Cobalt nodded, "I'm glad to hear she's doing better. I was a little worried about her." Cobalt stared down at him for a little bit and then, with a quiet smile, continued to stroke Ben's hair gently.

[Benjamin Rhodes]

Cobalt was right. That wouldn't do much to assuage an already raging bull that was Ben's mind. No. He wasn't jealous, dammit!

"Are you, really? You think so?" Ben grinned up teasingly at the older man, cupping one cheek with a hand before turning back to the documentary and enjoying the head rub, closing his eyes at the kiss on the forehead.

"Aren't we all?" The child psychologist sighed, really not wanting to talk right then and just enjoy the hands in his hair. Were they deft at running through his hair or what?

"So really, you don't wanna go to the event? It'll be fun! You get to meet my parents and Andrew will be there. You like Andrew don't you?"

[Cobalt Weaver]

"Yes, I do think so," Cobalt retorted, giving Ben a swift jab in the side, grinning. He wasn't really paying attention to the show because he thought documentaries were usually boring and he didn't like watching T.V. anyways. He was much more content with sitting and enjoying Ben's company. They were getting better at this, which was encouraging.

Cobalt huffed out a laugh, watching Ben melt under his hands. "You're like a cat," Cobalt remarked amusedly, still stroking Ben's hair.

At Ben's persisting, Cobalt frowned slightly. "Yes, Ben. I'm sure. I don't want to go. Liking Andrew has nothing to do with it." He decided not to comment on the "meet the parents" part since that was honestly a little terrifying. His voice was firm and final enough that hopefully Ben would take the hint. His hand had stopped petting Ben's head, and he took a deep breath and resumed, hoping that the attentions would distract Ben from the issue.

[Benjamin Rhodes]

Ben laughed at the jab, protesting loudly despite not actually being hurt by it. "Ow, Cobalt that hurts!" He whined, although his laugh basically ruined it.

At the feline comment, Ben made the most obnoxious mewling sound ever, just to tease Cobalt. "Figures that a dog person is actually a cat, right?" He chuckled, humming his appreciation of the fingers in his hair.

"Something else bothering you about it then?" Ben asked, hearing the tone of Cobalt's voice changing. He got up to a seating position and faced the other man, the TV clearly as background static. "I mean, is it because you're Catholic? My church is pretty open about whoever comes in. I'm pretty sure you'll be welcomed with open arms."

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt grinned, "Aw. I'm sorry." He stroked Ben's hair in apology.

"Hah. That was convincing," Cobalt remarked on Ben's terrible cat noises, "Too bad for you I don't even like cats. Sorry." He ruffled Ben's hair teasingly, grinning widely. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes slightly, smiling quietly.

The smile slid off his face when Ben started questioning him about his decision not to go to the church function. "No, Ben," Cobalt growled quietly, giving the younger man a warning look when he sat up to look at him, "That's not it at all. I just don't want to go, all right? I also really don't want to get into this right now."

Because he really didn't want to get into all this right now. He really, really didn't.

[Benjamin Rhodes]

This was, as they say, the life. Ben was a man who appreciated life's tiniest pleasures and being with his boyfriend, having him play with his hair, sending waves of goosebumps flooding all over his body, it was good. It was really good.

"Cobalt, that's just mean. Really. Just. Mean." Ben sighed dejectedly, although the grin in his face told Cobalt a different story.

The atmosphere had changed and Ben frowned. A few months ago, Ben wouldn't have challenged Cobalt's deflections. Mostly because as a friend, he didn't want to anger the man but now he had a purpose behind his asking. At least...he thought he did. He wanted to slowly integrate Cobalt into his life and this was one of those ways. Why was Cobalt so against it?

"Why not? I mean...we're allowed to talk about things now, aren't we...? I just want to understand, Cobalt."

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt could see that Ben wasn't going to let this go anytime soon, and a flash of annoyance passed through him. Dammit, he didn't want to talk about this now. He didn't want to re-hash all the stupid reasons he hadn't been to Church in years, and how before things had gotten all screwed up, he'd never missed a Sunday. It was something he knew intellectually was stupid, and foolish and he didn't need anyone-- especially Ben-- telling him why he was wrong about this.

"Because it's none of your damn business, that's why," Cobalt snapped, scowling, "I don't want to turn this into a conversation about this kind of stuff right now. It's going to ruin the mood." All Cobalt wanted was to have a nice afternoon and Ben was acting like an idiot. "Just quit it, all right?"

Cobalt turned so that he was facing the television, hoping that his body language and his tone would signal to Ben that he considered this conversation to be over.

[Benjamin Rhodes]

Ben recoiled a bit at Cobalt's snappish comment. "That's kind of unfair," Ben frowned at Cobalt. "I mean...I'm not trying to ruin the mood but we're together, I would assume you would at least attempt at telling me things."

A pang of annoyance, disappointment and...hurt passed through Ben when Cobalt turned away from him to concentrate on the television that was showing a commercial about nasal blockage.

"Cobalt, come on...I'm trying to understand you, quit being a dick about it, seriously." He hated the somewhat pleading tone his voice had quickly adopted in that sentence.

[Cobalt Weaver]

Ben was very clearly not getting the hint. In fact, for lack of a better alternative, Cobalt had been hoping at that point to get Ben so offended that he dropped the subject. Cobalt would have been guilty, but he wouldn't have had to deal with this anymore. But apparently it was not to be.

Cobalt sighed roughly and pinched the bridge of his nose briefly. "Ben, listen," Cobalt looked up to glare at the younger man, "I know you don't mean to ruin the mood. I'm not saying that. What I am saying is that this will ruin the mood. And I don't need you telling me why I'm wrong. I know I'm wrong, I just..." Cobalt sighed again, running an aggravated hand through his hair.

Well... Ben wanted to talk about something. Ben wanted Cobalt to be honest, didn't he? Well all right then. Cobalt swallowed and said, "I don't like the way you look at me when we talk about this stuff, okay?" He looked up at Ben, his glare wavering between anger and things he would never admit to. Something that edged a little around fear.

"I'd rather we talk about other things," Cobalt continued, his voice turning hard, "So no, I'm not going to stop being a dick about this. Because I don't actually think that I'm being a dick this time. I think you're being a dick, actually. So knock it off."

[Benjamin Rhodes]

No, Ben really wasn't. All he wanted to do was get Cobalt to drop his guard long enough to let Ben in. That was all he wanted. Briefly, he mused that this was probably what his exes had to go through with him.

He tilted his head to let Cobalt know he was listening despite not wanting to look at the older man. It was sort of hard to always see that frown on his boyfriend's face. His eyebrows furrowed down in the middle at Cobalt's words.

Then, he made a mistake of looking up at Cobalt just as he continued. He could feel his face fall at those words. Quickly, Ben turned to face the television. Confusion set in by then and he tried to remember what exactly he had expressed in his face during those talks. He couldn't even ignore the squeeze in his chest by then.

But any thoughts he had on that anomaly was squashed when Cobalt turned the tables on him. "No, Cobalt. I won't knock it off." Ben scowled at the television before turning it over to the older man. "And I'm not being a dick, I'm just trying to fix whatever it is that's made you a little fucked up about being a decent boyfriend to me."