An Armful of Suitcases {Benji/Open}

[Sebastien Haefeli]

Well, the flight had been longer than even he'd anticipated. Less exciting new adventure and more dead, numb backside and a set of sore stumps, but then, from what Sebastien had read in the travel books, a bumpy start was to be expected when it came to travelling.

The inflight movies had grown boring shortly after his travel companion had mentioned something about home, and the poor boy had sat there with snakes and eels in his stomach, homesickness kicking in. But then, by chance, he'd fallen asleep, and the gentle prodding of the flight attendant told him he'd landed, safe and sound, in Vermont. The car journey from the airport had been nerve racking, especially when suddenly all the English he'd been learning for the past 12 years of his life fell out of his ears. He'd stammered, blushed and generally felt like a class idiot, even when he helped load his bags into the boot of the car.

But now he was in the main office, with his bags around him, and with a promise that his penpal would come down to meet and greet him, along with several others. Pacing slightly on the spot and grasping his walking cane, the boy chewed absently on his lip. "I hope they haven't forgotten me." He mumbled, his voice heavily accented, but still understandable. Fumbling with his coat, he set it down on top of the larger suitcase and then sat down on it, his legs giving a gentle creak as he did so.

Butterflies fluttered in his stomach, and for one horrible minute the teen wondered if this had been a good idea and whether he should have stayed back home, but then he heard footsteps down the hall and he smiled. He wasn't forgotten after all.

[Benjamin Park]

He was late!

In all his 15 years, Benjamin Cristofer Park had never once been late for anything. He always woke up at least an hour and a half before he had to be anywhere in the mornings. He always left 10 minutes before he needed to in order to get somewhere. He always did his homework on time, often earlier than it was due. But today, a very important day at that, Benji was late.

Sebastien was arriving to spend his year at Hammel and Benji had slept right through his blaring alarm.

When he finally managed to blink open his eyes, he was assaulted with bright sunlight streaming through his window, the sound of his alarm screaming at him, and the sinking knowledge that oh my god, he was supposed to be meeting Sebastien in less than five minutes. He fumbled to shut off the alarm, tripped while getting out of bed, then flew into the bathroom to take the quickest shower of his life. Getting dressed was a similarly fast affair and, even though his shirt was a bit wrinkled and his socks didn't match, Benji didn't care. He bolted out of his dorm and made it halfway down the hall before he realized that he'd forgotten his notebook.

Doubling back, Benji raced into his room to snatch a notebook from his pile, tucked a pen into the spiral binding, then hurried back out to meet his penpal. He was sprinting down the hall towards the main office when he caught sight of a boy sitting on his luggage and heaved a sigh of relief. Sebbie was still there waiting for him. He slowed his pace just a little, smiling when he was close enough, though breathing heavy from all of his running.

Benji looked a little sheepish as he approached Sebastian, the butterflies finally gathering in his stomach now that he was about to meet the boy he'd been sending letters to for just about a year. He felt awful that he'd kept him waiting, and as he flicked open his notebook, he scribbled his apologies. "I'm so sorry! I overslept and then I forgot my notebook and I hope you haven't been waiting too long!" He chewed on his lip, shy as ever, as he held the notebook out to Sebastien.

[Sebastien Haefeli]

Sebastien had started to worry that he had been forgotten about by the time Benji had hurried down. Mouth pressed in a firm line, he'd fidgeted with the cords on his dark green hoodie and decided to quietly count the number of pictures in the room. Perhaps Benji had changed his mind, didn't want a penpal after all and he was going to get sent back? Did it even work like that? Sebbie didn't know, all he knew was the receptionist was glaring at him like he had kicked a puppy and that no matter how many times he looked at the clock, no one was coming.

Sebastien had been practising sign language with one of his English tutors for the past year. After hearing that Benji couldn't talk, the boy had immediately felt empathy for him and decided to make an effort to learn at least some sign language so his penpal would be able to communicate with him easier. He was still awkward, and had to think twice as hard - translating into English and then into sign, but he could say a few things and that was worth the effort.

As the door finally burst open, the dark haired boy nearly fell off the suitcase he was perching on and wobbled, steadying himself then looking up with an awkward smile. This must be Benjamin.

It's okay. I was waiting. He signed simply, fingers getting muddled up midway. Offering a hand out to shake, the older teen got to his feet, grasping his walking aid. Moving over calmly, he let out a soft laugh, then tilted his head.

"Why are you wearing odd socks?" His voice was soft, consciously making an effort to pronounce things as clearly as possible. The Swiss accent still muffled various letters, and he thought for a moment, brain ticking over the right words to say. "It's great to meet you at last, though the flight here was really ... not fun." Sebbie laughed, grabbing two of his bags under one arm.

Muttering softly, the taller boy leant in. "Why does the receptionist hate me?"

[Benjamin Park]

Benji looked about as frazzled as he felt. He'd crossed the buttons on his shirt without noticing it, his hair was a mess and sticking up in odd directions, and there was still a rather droopy sleepy look about him as he stood in front of Sebastien. It was marginally less terrifying meeting Sebbie than it was a complete stranger, but Benji was a terribly shy young boy and the butterflies in his stomach were refusing to go away anytime soon.

The clumsy signing helped relax Benji a little and he finally offered up a smile. That Sebastien had tried to learn sign language just for him was incredibly endearing. He shook Sebbie's hand as it was offered out to him, his face turning a little pink with nerves. "Thank you for waiting."Benjamin signed in response, his movements much more clear and fluid. He still felt awful that Sebastien had to wait at all and if he were a less responsible teenager, he might have looked for something to blame it on.

His eyes turned downwards as Seb mentioned his socks, seeming to just realize that they didn't match, and he looked a little guilty. "I got dressed in a hurry." He scribbled down in his notebook, sharing it with his friend, then tucked it under his arm as he went to grab the remaining bags. He was always looking to be as helpful as he could, so it was no surprise that he would try to make Sebastien's move as easy as it could be.

His laugh was quiet, breathy as usual, when Sebbie asked about the receptionist. He gave the older boy a knowing smile, pausing to sign "She hates everyone!" Benji was frightened of her and avoided her much like one would avoid the plague. At least Sebastien would have the benefit of someone familiar with the school to help him settle in on his first few weeks in America. Benji pointed down the hall and towards the door to notify Sebastien just which way they were heading.

[Sebastien Haefeli]

Walking with Benji down the corridor, poor Sebastien couldn't help but feel a little sick as he carried his bags. Every now and then he swallowed down a nasty taste in his mouth, and after a time he realised how quiet he was being. "Ah, sorry." He admitted shyly, raising a hand to rub the back of his head. "I feel sick, nerves I guess." His voice was soft and nervous, his teeth moving into his lip.

"So..." Sebbie looked up, pushing his hair out of his face. "What's Hammel like? Is it fun, who's strict, who's mean?" He rambled, grasping his walking stick and wheeling more of the bags along. Ah, sorry. I talk a lot when I am nervous. He signed, still fumbling but managing to understand Benji's explanation about the receptionist. There was always someone in staff who was mean. He had several members of staff at Kocher like that, and he actively avoided them.

Suddenly, a light turned on in Sebastien's head and he paused, gasping. "I forgot! I brought you a gift." He exclaimed, his accent coming out thick and heavy as he reached into his bag. After a moment's rustling, the teen produced a plastic bag with something inside. Offering out, the Swiss boy cursed as the bag stuck fast to his hand, and he flailed aimlessly. "Ah no! Quickly, grab it! If I shock you I'm so sorry." Sebbie frowned, trying again to get the bag off of his skin, only to get it stuck on the other hand.

"This is going great." He admitted with a sad sigh, legs wobbling ever so slightly. "I hope you don't have allergies to chocolate." The dark haired teen said, sounding defeated.

[Benjamin Park]

Being quiet around Benji could hardly be considered rude. The majority of his conversations with people ended up on paper, or the rare occasion in sign language. In fact, the poor boy's nerves were also hyperactive, and he barely even noticed that no one was talking or signing as he led Sebbie to the dorm that would be his home for the coming year. When Sebbie finally piped up, Benji just blushed and smiled. What a welcoming host he was being, first of all he'd been late to meet him and now Sebbie was sick with nerves and surely Benji could have done something better to make him feel more at home.

"Sorry!" He signed quickly, stopping to grab his notebook. He figured it would be easier for Sebbie to read than for him to sign, the other boy didn't have his amount of practice when it came to signing. "I like it here. It was overwhelming at first, but the teachers are all really nice. Mostly it's the other students you have to look out for!" He scribbled down, passing the book to Sebastien. Three guesses who he's talking about and the first two don't count.

Setting down the bags just outside the door to the dorm, Benji looked surprised when Sebbie mentioned that he had a gift for him. Of course, then there was the flailing as the bag stuck to his hands and the biological manipulator couldn't stop a laugh. Calmly, he reached out and pulled the bag from Sebastien's hands, only jolting a little when he got a tiny static shock. "Thank you so much, Sebastien!" He signed, his cheeks flushed slightly pink, but his face was lit up with a bright smile.

Unlocking the door, Benji pushed it open and gestured inside, helping him pull the last of his bags inside. "Welcome!"

[Sebastien Haefeli]

Sebastien didn't really mind the quiet on normal days. Days on the farm when the wind was high and the rain was hard were his favourite, he could lie on the bed and listen to water thumping on the windows and the roof and sometimes fall asleep to it. But this was different, and out of fear Benji wouldn't like him, he was rambling. "Please don't apologise." He added softly, hefting one of the larger bags through the dorm door and placing it down, fingers tugging at the cord of his hoodie once more.

Taking the notepad with both hands and focusing on the writing, Sebastien grinned a bit and nodded, closing his eyes a moment and mumbling wordlessly under his breath, before signing in return. I'll make sure to keep an eye out for any trouble! A nervous smile followed, and the dark haired boy looked around the room curiously, gripping his walking stick and staggering around slowly, getting used to the floor and the room's layout. "It seems nice in here." He said brightly, hovering over Benji for his reaction to the chocolate. "It's proper Swiss Chocolate! Very creamy and smooth. I brought much. You said American chocolate was not so good in a letter. I remembered."

Ignoring the fact someone's sock had now attached itself to his leg, the teen rocked slightly, then tilted his head. Where is my room? He signed quickly, smiling shyly. I would like to show you my belongings. The words came across slightly awkwardly, but understandable as the boy finally wiggled the sock away and tapped his lip.

"I have pictures of my parents and my pets! And some other home comforts. And clothes and underwear, but I doubt that is of interest." He laughed, accent occasionally thickening throughout the sentences. A little of the energy in his eyes dimmed, however, as he realised how tired he was, with the flight and all the excitement, and now with his standing. Not that he'd admit it though, he didn't want to seem boring or useless in front of Benji.

[Benjamin Park]

The door closed with a soft click after Benji helped pull the luggage inside, smiling despite his nerves. He would have thought it'd be easier to talk to Sebastien considering the pages of letters they'd swapped, but he was finding that being face-to-face with Sebbie was another thing altogether. At least his manners were automatic.

Benji began pointing out the doors, "Josef's room is there, that room is mine, that is the bathroom, that one is Ion's room, and..." He stopped, moving to the last remaining door and pushing it open. "This is your room!" He went back to the pile of suitcases and began to lug them closer to the bedroom. This kept his hands busy, so he didn't have to focus on how talkative he wasn't being.

When Sebastien mentioned that he had picture, the sparkle in Benji's eyes grew brighter. "Do you have more pictures of Oinken?" That Sebbie had a pet pig had always amazed him and Benji still had the pictures that Sebbie had sent him of the tiny Oinken on his desk in his room. Suddenly, the biological manipulator gasped, the light bulb over his head turning on. He held up one finger, then turned and disappeared into his own room. He was only gone a few short seconds before he returned with Mr. Prickles nestled comfortably in the cradle of his hands.

Proudly, Benjamin showed the little hedgehog to his friend, laughing quietly when he lifted his head and snuffled. He slid onto Sebbie's bare bed and let Mr. Prickles into his lap. "He's happy to see you!"

[Sebastien Haefeli]

Sebastien had never been so grateful to see a bed in his entire life. Dragging the suitcases alongside Benji, he quickly sat down on the bare bed and sank visibly, rubbing his legs to relax the tense muscle there. Reaching over to the largest of the trolley wheeled bags, he unzipped various pockets, pulling out all the homely touches he had carefully packed.

Steadily the bed filled with interesting items; a large photo of his family, with Oinken cradled in a beaming Sebbie's arms, a heavily worn cuddly mouse, various little nicknacks that reminded him of home, and strangely, perhaps, a small painting with fingerprints and paw prints on.

Taking the picture of Oinken and showing it over to Benji, the Swiss teen grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Here he is! I have a photo album in my other bag, so you can see my whole family." He said brightly, putting the items he'd placed on the bed around the room to put his stamp on the place. Glaring slightly, Sebastien pulled out his wheelchair and propped it against the wall, as far away from him as humanly possible. He looked surprised as Benji disappeared and sat back on the bed, head tilted to the side, eagerly awaiting his penfriend's return.

But then came Benji and the cutest little hedgehog Sebbie had ever seen. "He's beautiful." The teen murmured, reaching over and stroking the little creature with gentle hands. "Hello Mister Pickles." He said, before frowning and looking at Benji for reassurance. "That is his name, yes?" A faint blush rose on the teen's cheeks, and he gently scooped the snuffling bundle up and pressed a little kiss to his nose. "A pleasure to meet you." He laughed.

Hesitating, Sebastien looked up and laughed, signing once more. Would you like to help me unpack?