#Hopefully this teases some of Freddy's role in the future of the fic

[wolfsbanesparks]

39. Share a WIP

(From your Ask Game 👀)

HI! I'm so glad that I have an excuse to share another snippet from my WIPs.

I had to think carefully about what to share (gotta avoid spoilers for the major plot points). Under the readmore is a snippet from Pretty Little Thing a few chapters ahead of where we are now.

Freddy watched Darla walk away, waiting until she disappeared through the front doors of the school before he hiked his backpack up higher and made his way off campus, keeping his head down so as not to be noticed by the throngs of people heading to school. He would have to be careful to not get caught ditching.

Despite what he’d said to Darla, he planned on telling his foster parents that his leg had been hurting and that he’d spent the day camped out in the boy’s bathroom, in too much pain to make it all the way to the nurse’s office. It was plausible enough that they would accept it—though he was sure they’d treat him overly gently over the next couple of days.

It was a long walk to Billy’s apartment—his leg already ached just thinking about it. But he knew he could handle a couple bad pain days with much more grace than he could the nagging feeling of not knowing what was actually going on.

That visit from the Daily Planet reporters had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. He had known that Billy was in trouble—but Billy was always in trouble, always one step away from throwing himself at every disaster. But usually he was the Captain when he did that, usually he was fine. He had superpowers and the entire Justice League on speed dial, there was nothing that he couldn’t handle.

But sometimes he did things as Billy that put him in danger, not really caring about the consequences. That’s what had Freddy worried.

So the question was whether Billy was in trouble because he was the Captain or because he was Billy.

[illfoandillfie]

.......don’t be shy........ show us the comment 👀👀

lmao i will show you but only because i’ve already responded to it. I don’t want anyone to be mean to the commenter or make their own responses or anything like that. I’ve got no problems with people critiquing my work or offering suggestions on how to improve and she was very polite about it. It’s just that I didn’t agree with some of what she said lmao

okay so this comment was left on the prequel to Interloper (Snapshots From Before)

I usually don’t comment a lot in here (tho i do give lots of kudos) and the first part of this was so awesome that i’ve read it many times! However, this second part felt kinda... sexist? I think you gave this the wrong approach and ended up with the boys being a little mysoginistic, specially Roger telling y/n “if you are that hungry for dick you can ride me” (i’m not actually quoting the exact line but it was like that). I would’ve love to see at least one scene where you show some after care and the boys actually caring about y/n so we could see that their relationship is a healthy one. Without this, it just seems like she’s bassically a human sex toy. I get it, it’s the whole “she’s just holes to fill” and that’s great, i respect people who are into that, but even then there has to be some caring and empathy from both parties. Also, orgasm denial is hot but regardless, having sex has to be rewarding for both participants and Roger just sorta fucked her and asked her to leave? In a very non polite way? Sex is about both parties reaching to climax and equality for both lmao.😅 I know it’s a one shot but i would’ve like to see the non sexual part of y/n’s relationship with the boys other than post coital conversations. Again, i loved the first and third part, i think you have so much writing potencial within you and you should embrace it. These are all constructive critics and i do not wish to make you feel bad or offend you. I actually enjoy the whole mecanics of these raw, awesome, hot, sexy sex scenes but even though its fiction (which i know) and this whole slut kink is actually something people like let’s not forget to narrate healthy, caring relationships. Again, this seems like some eassay for a thesis but im just expressing MY point of view and i do not intend harm towards you as a writer or someone else as a reader. And yes, probably i need to “chill the F out” cause it’s just an ao3 bloody fic but still. Expressing an opinion that can help the writer improve is good! I think. Better than spreading hate. Hope you can see this note as friendly and respectul advice. Thank you so much for writing this. Have a great day! Stay safe xxx

and this was my response

Hi! Thanks for taking the time to comment, it really means a lot!

I will definitely keep in mind some of your criticisms as I continue writing, however there are a couple of places where our opinions differ, so I’d like to offer an explanation or two as to why I wrote it the way I did.

Firstly, I have to disagree with your statement that sex is about both parties reaching climax. It’s not. Not always anyway. Taking aside any kink related aspects like orgasm denial, sometimes sex just isn’t about finishing. It can be super rewarding and fun even without the orgasm. So much of an orgasm is related to a person’s mental state that little things like their mood or stress level or if they feel pressure to cum can have a huge impact on how easy it is to orgasm. And women especially can have trouble reaching climax. For some people, mostly women though it can affect men too, the sexual disorder anorgasmia makes orgasm physically impossible no matter how much stimulation they receive. So to say sex is about everyone getting to that end point isn’t totally correct. A lot of the time it’s less about the orgasm and more about feeling good during the rest of the act and/or strengthening a connection with a partner. Expecting everyone to orgasm every time is unrealistic and can in fact make it harder. Of course, that’s ignoring people who enjoy the kink side of it, intentionally stopping orgasms. A lot of people take tease and denial beyond just the length of a single sexual encounter, instead stretching it to days or weeks or months or even years of not being able to cum (fully).

Now, in regards to the fic itself. This chapter came about because I’d asked people to request concepts theyd like to see me write as a blurb or short one shot. I neglected to include the actual request in the summary or author note but the request was for a smutty prequel to interloper flashing back to when Reader was a groupie. At the time of writing I had a lot of requests I was trying to get done within a short amount of time so I was trying to keep things as brief as I could while still giving an entire story. The non-sexual aspects of the relationships didn’t feel important to include in this chapter because that wasn’t what was asked for. On top of that, the entire concept of the story hangs on how the sexual relationship dynamics change when the non-sexual relationship dynamics change and I wanted to make sure that wasn’t affected by the prequel. My goal was to establish a connection between the reader character and each of the guys and to make it feel as if there was history there, so I focused on flirty banter that led into sex scenes. And then, at the end of each scene, implied more would happen between the characters “off page”. I added in the Freddie section at the end as a way to solidify this chapter as a prequel and give a little explanation for how the main part starts (of course, at that time there was no third chapter). Plus, as Freddie doesn’t have a sexual relationship with Reader, his non-sexual relationship with her is very different to her relationships with the others, much closer to a friendship. (Which of course paves the way for how he’s on better terms with her at the beginning of the first chapter.)

One thing you imply in your comment is that as an author I should be writing healthy, caring relationships. I love writing those sorts of stories and relationships but I don’t believe I /have/ to write just healthy, caring relationships. I have a total of 38 fics posted on AO3 and I think most of them deal with “healthy” relationships. I make it a point to write aftercare scenes and to establish trust and safe words between my characters in most of my smut writing. And even if I’m exploring heavier kinks like extreme bdsm or hypnosis and bimbofication I do my best to stick to the rules of “safe, sane and consensual”. But, it is not my job as a writer to create morally perfect or role model relationships. I am well within my rights to explore relationships that don’t adhere to what is traditionally considered healthy, be that through ignoring safe words or foregoing aftercare or just having two characters be manipulative and mean to each other. If you want aftercare and “healthy” I have 37 other fics for you to look at. But this chapter doesn’t have to be that for it to be publishable.

And finally, I feel I have to defend Roger a little bit. I can definitely see how he could be read as sexist and I think part of the problem was just me trying to keep it short which meant I didn’t give enough space for Reader’s reactions or enough descriptions of emotion. But to me, as I was writing it, nothing Roger said was intended to be misogynistic or rude. I was playing around with one of my personal favourite kinks, degradation in conjunction with the orgasm denial (another favourite lmao). Everything he said was specifically to humiliate and degrade her, just because that’s what I find hot. Calling her desperate, telling her she sounds pretty begging, talking down to her, implying he’d /use/ her again later, all of that is part of the degradation kink and I intended for it to be a form of dirty talk. Similarly, the part where he says she can leave wasn’t meant to come across as rude. He calls her a good girl and brushes her hair back from her face first (a softer moment, contrasting everything else that happens between them) and then says she can leave, which plays into the denial kink and the idea that it could last longer than the time they were in bed together. Personally, I’m very very into extended denial, especially if it’s treated as a threat of punishment or something like that, and that was the inspiration behind Roger’s section of this chapter.

Thank you again for the comment, it really did make me think about how I’d written this particular chapter and my intentions behind it. And I fully agree that comments like yours can help writers improve! I’ll definitely keep in mind what you’ve said as I work on my next fic and hopefully avoid some of the unintended sexist overtones in future. Have a great day!

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Lessons from Ben Cardy; Ben Hardy x reader ft. Joe Mazzello

*Author’s note*

Hey guys well this idea had been buzzing around in my head for months. I kid you not months on end since a certain video of when Joe Mazzello not only did the Ben Cardy but also included the real Ben Hardy himself. So I decided to do this little fic since I managed to FINALLY get some free time in my hectic schedule but this will be the last update for awhile cause I’ve got a convention this weekend, my sister’s wedding the next weekend and then finals the following week but hopefully by the summer I’ll be back to do tons more updates and work on those requests to the anons who sent them back during my winter break. I PROMISE!!!

So in the fic you will literally find no warnings just PURE FLUFF AND GOOEYNESS OF MORE FLUFF!!! Hope you all love this cause I sure as heck enjoyed writing it :)

___________________________________________________

The sun peered in through my curtains of my bedroom.  I let out a groan and turned to the side of my bed and saw the infamous cutout of Ben Hardy laying on my bed.

“Oh Joe I’m gonna kill you!” I hissed under my breath.  I shot out of bed and grabbed the cardboard and trudged out of my room and banged on Joe’s room and cried out, “Joseph Mazzello III you get your ass out here right now!!” The door soon opened and as soon as Joe saw me with Cardboard Ben he said.

“Whoa (y/n) long night?”

“Shut up you little shit! I know you implanted this thing in my bed.” He gasped and took the cutout back and said as he stroked it’s head.

“How dare you? She didn’t mean that Benjamin. She’s just cranky in the mornings, you’ll get used to it.”  I shook my head at him and said.

“Joey, it’s a piece of cardboard that looks like him.”

“You’re hurting your boyfriend’s feelings (y/n)!”

God how I’ve put up with Joe Mazzello after all these years I’ll never know, but again my life would’ve been boring without him.  As a kid while most girls wanted to be pop stars, princesses or movie stars, I had an interest in fashion.  By the time I was in high school, I got involved with my school’s theatre department and always got involved with the costume department.

In college I majored in fashion and got an internship at the best shopping centers in New York City.  Soon my works got viewed by magazines and Hollywood that I had actually been offered to do the costumes for an upcoming B movie.  I worked my way up until finally I was called up by Steven Spielberg himself to do the costume work for his and Tom Hank’s new project “The Pacific”.

I think that out of any decade that I would say would be my favorite is the 1940’s just because of the simplicity of their fabric and designs.  Plus I’m a sucker for a man in Marine uniforms.  And it was through The Pacific that I met and became friends with both Joe Mazzello and Rami Malek.

Every day with those two was an adventure and full of laughter and stories.  Joe had told me how he worked with Stephen back when he was a kid for Jurassic Park, of course me being me I freaked out because I practically grew up on that movie and watched it religiously. 

Even after the show wrapped, I kept in contact with both Joe and Rami and I soon got involved with bigger film projects, hell if you’ve seen Guardians of the Galaxy, I helped design the Ravagers, Gamora’s, Ronin’s and Nebula’s costumes.  Then one day I was on break after doing the 2nd GOTG movie, I had gotten a call from Graham King the Producer of a new Queen biopic that he was planning to do and asked to see me.

I agreed because this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Along with the 1940’s, I always loved the outfits that the actual band members of Queen wore.  They just gradually changed with the era and it was just amazing to see them evolve with it.  I met with Graham, even got to meet with Brian May and Roger Taylor themselves and they were impressed with my work and happily welcomed me on board as the head costume designer.

So I flew out to England to where we would be filming and as I was getting myself set up, I actually gotten a big surprise that day.  I was at my station pulling out and organizing all my sketch books and labeled to which band member would be in which book, when suddenly I felt something tickle my waist.

I let out an almost inhuman shriek and when I turned around I saw two very familiar faces.  It was Rami and Joe.  I gasped and let out a cheer as I hugged Rami who was closest to me.  He picked me up and spun me around laughing joyously before setting me down when Joe piped in.

“Oh I see how it is (n/n) good to know where your loyalties lie.”

“Shut up you little shit and get over here and hug me.” I had told him.  He then picked me up and spun me just like Rami did. They told me that they had gotten the led roles as Freddie Mercury and John Deacon respectively, and when I told them I would be the head designer for the project, they were so happy for me just as happy as I was for them.

The three musketeers reunited at last.

As the filming went on, I also got to get close with the two other gentlemen playing Roger and Brian.  Gwilym and I had a lot in common in favorite authors and plays since I had done some Broadway work before being signed up onto Hollywood, and Ben…..

Ahh Ben Hardy.  That loveable man.  I mean it was hard to not get along with Ben, he was sweet, kind-hearted, a great listener, and had a great personality. And it seemed that the more time I got to spend time with Ben, the more my feelings began to develop for him.  And of course with Roger’s well-known wardrobe choice, it made it so hard to stop a blush from beaming on my face, especially when it was an outfit where it would show his chest.

Of course Joey being Joey knew immediately of my little crush on Ben and every day would tease me about it while in his John Deacon get up, either dropping the accent or using it.

After filming ended and I went back to the states, Joe had actually invited me to stay with him for a while.  Since living in New York was so expensive, he offered for me to stay in his home.  He says it was because he missed his ‘bestest friend in the whole wide world’ and wanted to spend time with me, but I think he just wants more opportunity to torment about my feelings for a certain blonde Brit.  He even went as far as to buy a cardboard cutout of said Brit and bringing it back after the press tour in Tokyo.

Of course he spread the ‘Ben Cardy’ all over Instagram and the fans were going nuts over it.  After having to do two big projects back to back I’ve decided to take a year off work so I guess it’s good that Joe offered me to come live with him, cause if I hadn’t I’d probably be evicted out of my apartment.

Now back to the present, I rolled my eyes and muttered.

“You’re so annoying.”

“Aww you know you love me.”

“Do I know that?” I teased as I headed to the kitchen.  As I got me a bowl of Coco-Puffs, Joe came into the kitchen and said.

“C’mon (n/n), why can’t you just say?”

“Say what?”

“You love Ben.” I dropped my spoon into the bowl and said.

“Why must you be so nosy about my love-life Joey?”

“Because I want my two best friends to get together and name me the godfather of their future children.” I shook my head at him and that’s when he said, “But seriously (y/n), you’ve been pining over Ben since the start of filming. Anytime he was even mentioned you’d blush like a lobster.”

“But Joe…..even if I did confess, you know that I’d…..how would I go about being a good girlfriend? This is whole new territory for me. And I’m ashamed.”  I felt Joe come up behind me and wrap his arms around me, hugging me from behind. 

Yeah it’s true. In my 26 years of living, never once did I have a boyfriend.  It just seemed that no guy ever wanted to go out with me, meanwhile all my friends were losing their V cards by the time they were 16.  Then I guess I got so involved with my growing career that I just didn’t want to go into the dating scene.

“There’s no need to be ashamed (y/n). You just needed the right partner. And I think Ben’s that partner. He’s your lobster.”

“Did you really just quote Phoebe Buffay?”

“Damn right I did. Wait here for a second.”

“Oh my god Joe can’t it wait till I have my cereal first?”

“Nope!”

“Ugh! Then you owe me breakfast for this when it gets soggy.” It was then Joe came back with Cardboard Ben in tow.  “No, no, no! I’m not practicing with a cardboard cutout of him!”

“Too late chickadee, now come into the living room and sit on the couch next to dear old Benjamin.” I groaned but followed his order and sat down a couple inches away from where Joe had Cardboard Ben sitting.

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this.”

“Trust me it’ll help you for when the real day comes. Now talk to him.” Joe ducked down behind the arm of the couch but kept Ben adjusted.  I faced Ben and said.

“Hey Ben,”

“Yes love what is it?” Joe spoke, mimicking Ben’s accent and that’s when I broke and said.

“Gah I can’t do this Joe!”

“Yes you can, pretend I’m not here keep going you’re doing great.” He said as he peeked his head out from the couch.

“Joe—”

“Don’t chicken out you wuss!” He demanded which led me to sigh heavily.  “Ben?”

“Yes darling?”

“There’s—well I have uhh……lately I…..”

“It’s okay (y/n), you can tell me, you know I’d never laugh at you.” I looked up at the cutout and could almost swear that it really was Ben speaking to me.  I took a deep breath in before exhaling out.

“Imighthaveharboredacrushonyousincefilmingstarted.” I rushed out.

“Love I couldn’t understand you, what was that?”

“I…..might have….harbored…..a crush on you Ben. No I—I like you Ben. I mean really, really, really like you.” I felt my face burning up and that’s when Joe spoke up in Ben’s accent.

“Wow (y/n) I’m honored that you feel that way about me,” oh god why did I feel like there was a but coming in. “But,” I knew it. “I unfortunately have another waiting for me.” I lowered my head when I heard Joe say, “A strong, handsome brunette man with an American accent, not Welsh of course. He’s the man of my dreams.”

“Joey!” I whined out.

“Sorry I had to. Gwilym and Ben are having their little buddy-bromance story all over Instagram and I’ve gotta do better.” He said as he got up from behind the couch.

“Nice to know your relationship with Ben is more important than mine.” I snapped at him. I felt Joe sit beside me and wrap an arm around me and he said.

“I’m sorry, but you know Ben will love you. I mean how can someone not fall in love with someone like you? From day one since Rami and I met you all those years ago, we knew you were someone special. You’re smart, you’re beautiful, the youngest and most fashionable fashionista that I know. And if Ben can’t see that, then he’s a dick.” I felt Joe tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and I smiled softly.

“Thanks Joey, what would I do without you?”

“Be all depressed and focused solely on your work.” I slapped his arm making him cry out in pain and collapse onto the floor crying in pain in such a dramatic way.

“That didn’t hurt.”

“Yes it did, you’re so mean!”

“Oh get up yah big baby.” I pulled him up and that’s when I was suddenly thrown over his shoulder like a sack of flower. “Gah Joe put me down!”

“Nah I don’t think I want to.” He then spun around and I gripped onto the back of his shirt tightly and said.

“Joseph Mazzello I swear I’ll hurl all over you if you don’t put me down right now!” He set me down and I adjusted myself trying to make myself more presentable. “Remember you owe me breakfast now because I’m betting you $20 that my cereal’s gone bad.”

“Fine lets head over to Dunkin Doughnuts and get us something and I’ll even throw in a Starbuck for you.” He said as he extended his hand out.

“Deal.” We shook on it and then went to our rooms to get dressed and head on out. 

A week later, the BoRhap cast was back together for a little reunion just before the award seasons start.  We all decided to head to the best karaoke bar this side of New York had.  We reserved our table and ordered our meal and looked through the song book to see what kind of songs they were allowing.

“Oh guys check this out they have an entire section of Queen songs.” Gwilym said.

“Ohh what all do they have?” asked Lucy.

“They’ve got pretty much everything.” He answered.

“All except Bohemian Rhapsody.” I replied.

“Aww why don’t they have it?” whine Lu.

“I think I read somewhere the reason they banned it was because last time a group of guys tried it, a fight broke out as a drunk man tried to stop it and the person who was the front man started a fight with the guy. But then again it could also be because they don’t allow six minute songs.”

“Well I pity their wives if they think six minutes is forever.” Answered Rami.  We all laughed and the inside joke and Joe and I high fived Rami for speaking up about that.

As the night got late, some of us like me were a little tipsy while others were completely wasted e.g. Joe.  Joe had just gotten done singing “Purple Rain” by Prince and of course he dedicated it to Ben.  I couldn’t help but film the whole performance and hearing him screech out the lyrics, it was hilarious and now I had some blackmail on him because during one point of the song, he had actually tripped on the wire of the mic but still kept singing.

Lucy and I did a duet of Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s girl” I sang a couple lyrics of the first verse before she finished and we both did the chorus together.  Jumping up and down to the beat and leaning up against each other and then we’d flip roles for the next verse and it continued to that formula. 

As Alan was singing “Love of my life” to his lovely wife, I was sitting at the bar getting my next drink when I heard Ben’s voice say.

“Wonderful performance up there.”

“Please it was all liquid courage. I hadn’t done karaoke in years. In fact ‘Somebody to love’ was my first Queen karaoke song back in what was it—middle school? No High school, no wait definitely middle school cause I had a bunch of kids looking at me weird because they had no idea who it was that I was singing to.”

“Seemed your middle school was clearly uneducated in the music department.”

“Tell me about it. All they listened to was their rap music.” Ben laughed softly and there was a bit of silence between us till he finally spoke up.

“Do you remember during the second week of shooting, the day Joe dared me to try and dip him?” I laughed and said.

“How could I possibly forget that?”

*Flashback*

I had just gotten Joe’s jacket on him for the scene where Freddie tries to reconcile with the band in Miami’s office.

“Thanks (n/n) you’re the best.”

“Anytime Joey.” I walked out of the set and watched from behind the camera as the boys ran their lines.  But for some reason one of the records that hung up from the wall kept falling down.  I was surprised that no one had broken character cause I was about to die laughing.

It was then Graham decided to call a break while they tried to fix the falling record.

“Hey Ben, I wanna try something!” Joe cried out.

“What is it Joe?”

“Dip me.”

“What?”

“Dip me, you know the dance dip. I’ve never been on the dipping end of it and I want to try it.”

“And why must it be me to dip you? Why not Rami or Gwil?”

“Rami’s too deep in character and Gwil’s twiggy arms might break.”

“Thanks mate.” Gwilym pipped in sarcastically.

“C’mon Benny please, just this once.”

“Alright, alright come here then.” And it was there that Ben took Joe in his arms, wrapped one arm around him and bent him backwards. Joe let out a playful swoon.

“Ohh Benjamin you’re such a divine dancer.” I rolled my eyes at him as he looked straight at me when he said those words. As Ben lifted Joe up it was then Gwil said.

“Wait, I’ve got a better idea to make this a bit more interesting.” It was then he grabbed an apple from the concession stand and held it up.

“No, no, no that’s too much!”

“Aww c’mon Joe it’s no different than a rose.” I teased him.

“No because he’ll just focus on the apple and drop me on my head!”

“Mate I promise I won’t drop you.” Ben assured him.

“You promise?” Joe asked skeptically.

“I swear it.” Ben vowed.  Joe turned to Gwil who still held the apple.  His brow quirked up as he extended his arm out to Joe and Joey took the apple and placed it in his mouth and got back to position one with Ben.

With our phones, Gwil and I took pics of the progression and once Ben took hold of the apple, he set Joe back up before taking the apple out of his mouth.

“Please tell me we got some good shots of that?” proclaimed Joe.

“I got you.” I proclaimed as I handed him my phone and he browsed through the pics.

“Send those to me.” I gave him a thumbs up and that’s when I heard him say, “Okay your turn.”

“Wait what?”

“Go on it’s your turn to be dipped by Ben Hardy.”

“Joe that’s really not necessary—”

“If I can do it, then so can you. Hey Ben care to take on a new partner?” I was then shoved towards Ben who steadied me.  I looked at Joe who gestured for us to get on with it. I turned to Ben and he said as he took my hand in his.

“I promise not to drop you (y/n).” My heart raced as I stared at Ben’s face.  Even with the famed “Roger Taylor” shades blocking his green eyes from my view, it still made him look absolutely handsome.  And the shoulder length blonde wig (although I do wish they had given him the same hairstyle Roger did have during this time, I saw a quick glimpse of it from an album cover they recreated and he looked handsome with the mullet look Roger had at the time). I gulped and nodded to Ben as I tried to calm myself down but that’s when Joe proclaimed.

“Wait! Wait I’ve got a better idea!” He then went over to one of the flower pot props and pulled out one of the fake flowers and held it out.

“No! No, and no Joe! Absolutely not!” I proclaimed.

“Aww c’mon (n/n), it’s no different than an apple.” He reversed my words and threw them right back in my face.  He grinned at me wagging the flower in front of me.

“I could strangle you right now.” I grumbled.

“I’d still haunt you in the afterlife dearie.” He mocked. I growled and took the flower and placed the stem between my teeth.  Oh god I can’t believe I’m doing this; god Joe is always a little shit and I swear he’s going to—

Oh, oh my god here we go Ben’s dipping me. Wow he has such a strong grip.  Not even some of my old friends could dip me like this without complaining.  Feeling his hand sprawled out along my back and his hand gently gripping mine made my stomach churn and my heart jump from my chest to my stomach.

I then saw him lean closer towards me to grab the flower. ‘Oh my god he’s leaning forward to grab the flower from my mouth.  Oh shit c’mon (y/n) just be cool, keep calm keep calm!’

As he reached for the flower, I could feel just a graze of the blonde wig tickle my cheeks and soon I was no longer holding the flower but Ben was as it lay there between his teeth and he gently set me up right. Even after bringing me back right-side-up, he forgot to let go of my waist.  The two of us looking at each other but it was soon broken by Joe’s voice.

“Okay that was hot I’ll admit that.”

“Too pure and yet passionately erotic.” Stated Gwilym.

“Okay guys we’ve got everything reset. Hopefully that record will stay for the take. Let’s wrap this scene up.” Graham called out.  It was then the guys left to go back into Miami’s office set.  Ben handed me the flower and I took it as he walked passed me.

“That boy has some skills even I didn’t have, I’ll admit that.” I jumped and turned to see Roger standing behind me.

“God Roger no wonder why Brian hates it whenever you sneak up on him like that. You’re like a freakin cat, we’ve gotta get you a bell or something.”

“That would ruin my look, so when will you finally admit it to yourself darling?” I turned to the legendary drummer and said.

“I’ve got nothing to say. Ben and I are just good friends, that’s all. Strictly platonic.”

“Uh-huh sure keep telling yourself that, love. But I can tell you this, he definitely doesn’t shut up about you. Always asking me for advice on how to woo you into his arms.”

“No he doesn’t.”

“Give yourself more credit dear, you’re a beautiful young woman. Hell if I was 50 years younger I’d definitely try to ask you out.” I laughed and said as I turned to face the old drummer.

“I’m flattered Roger, really I am. But from what I’ve heard he just got out of a nine year relationship. And I doubt he’d rebound to someone like me.”

“(Y/n) we need some help! One of the newbies screwed up the measurements for Freddie’s officer uniform!” I heard one of my assistants call out to me.

“Duty calls, see yah later Rog.” I then rushed over to help re-measure the uniform and re-worked on it just before Rami had to get into costuming with it in.

*End of flashback*

“That was probably the most interesting day on set.” I admitted.

“Yeah, but it was also one of my favorites.” He said.

“Because you and Joe got to make the fandom go crazy over the Hardzello shipping?”

“Well partly.” I looked up and saw that he had moved a little closer to me.  His arm was placed around the bar behind me, if he wanted he could’ve placed his arm around me and pulled me close to him but he didn’t.  “Truthfully (y/n) I never thought that I’d get the courage to do this but I might as well do it now while I still got the nerve.”

“What? Ben I’m confused what are you talking—”

“I love you.” At that point my heart stopped.  “I’ve been in love with you since the day I got to know you. I mean Rami and Joe have told Gwil and I loads of stories about you, but getting to actually know you face to face. Their stories don’t do you justice at all.”

“Ben you’re drunk you don’t know…..”

“No I do. I’m still sober enough to know what it is that I want. And what I want is you. To hold you, to kiss you, to make you breakfast in bed. I love you (y/n) (l/n).” I swallowed and lowered my head feeling the tears in my eyes.  “You don’t feel the same way do you?”

“No, no Ben it’s not that. Hell even Roger himself saw how crazy I was about you. I love you too Ben it’s just—” I sighed heavily and lowered my head in shame.

“What?” I felt his index finger and thumb raise my chin up so that I was forced to look into his hypnotic green eyes. “What is it love?”

“You and your ex were together for almost a decade. Meanwhile I’ve never once had a boyfriend in my over two decades of living. Hell I’ve never even kissed anyone. I feel like such a loser and you shouldn’t be exposed to someone with no experience in the dating spectrum.”

“I’m not looking for experience (y/n). It doesn’t matter to me whether you’ve had a relationship in the past or not, all I want is you.” His forehead touched mine and I almost collapsed to my knees right then and there.  “And I’d be honored to be your first everything. Now and in the future to come.”

I smiled happily and allowed a few tears to slip down my face but they were immediately caught by Ben’s thumbs as he wiped them away as he said.

“I love you (y/n).”

“I love you too Ben.” He leaned in closer toward my face, his nose brushing against mine. His lips faintly grazing mine as he whispered.

“May I kiss you love?”

“What if I screw it up?” I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out.

“Don’t think of it, just do what your heart tells you to do, okay?” He looked directly into my eyes and I tried to calm myself down before nodding.  Ben’s lips once again grazed over mine with the lightest of pressures until finally he kissed me.

My stomach exploded into knots and mad moths, I felt this tingle shoot up my spine and my toes curled as I just went for it.  I wrapped an arm around his neck, stroking my fingers through his sleeked, blonde hair.  After giving me one final peck he muttered.

“How was that?”

“Is it normal to feel like your stomach’s going to just explode when you have your first kiss?” Ben softly chuckled and said.

“Yeah. Cause I felt it just now.” I smiled and that’s when Ben kissed me again.

This time the kiss had a little more passion to it as I felt one arm wrap around my waist bringing me as physically close to him as possible, while his other hand cupped the side of my face stroking my cheek with his thumb.

“YAAAAAAASSSSSSSSS BENJAMIN!!!!” We heard the drunk scream of Joe scream out into the microphone. “IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME YOU TWO GOT TOGETHER!! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I’VE BEEN KEEPING THIS SECRET OF YOUR BOTH!?! FOR FUCKING EVER!!!” Ben and I looked to Joe and he said to him.

“You happy now Joe?”

“Just know this Benjamin Jones. You break my girl’s heart, I’ll kick your ass so hard, you’ll be as flat as Ben Cardy. At least he treats her well.” Ben turned to me and I explained.

“He’s been putting your cutout in my bed for the past several weeks. He even had me practice confessing my feelings for you by practicing with him.”

“But let me assure you something darling,” he cupped my face with both his hands and leaned towards my ear and whispered huskily, “Cardboard Ben will never be able to dip you like I can.” Suddenly I was dipped just like on the second week of shooting.  I let out a series of giggles as Ben leaned forward and kissed me doing that famous kiss dip pose.

*Extended ending*

I rubbed my eyes and stretched my arms out before turning to my right and felt the familiar piece of cardboard lying beside me.  My eyes shot open and I let out a groan as I muttered.

“Oh you’ve gotta be kidding me.” I clicked my tongue once before saying to Cardboard Ben, “Hi, yeah hi, yes. I know you always gotta come back here. But listen up okay, you listen to me mister.” I pointed to him.  “I get it, okay I know you must feel some kind of physical chemistry for me, for whatever reason and we’re only human…..Well I’m only human. But this can’t happen anymore, okay? I’m sorry, goodbye.” I turned to my left and that’s where the real Ben Hardy was lying.

Both his hands resting behind his head, the top of my head just barely grazing his strong bicep.

“Oh my god—” I squeaked out.

“Hey baby girl.” He cooed out.

“Hi.” I said bashfully.  I hummed awkwardly before saying, “You good?”

“Yeah I’m great.” He said as he pulled me closer to him, my head now resting on his chest.  I felt my face heat up and I’m pretty sure I was blushing as red as a lobster if not a rose right about now.

“Good.” I squeaked out.  Ben kissed my forehead and hummed as his nose stayed at the crown of my head.  “Uhh Ben,”

“Hmm?”

“What about umm…..” I gestured towards Cardy B. Ben looked at the cardboard cutout of himself and said.

“Sorry mate, she’s taken.” It was then reached over and flung Cardy Ben out of the bed.  I looked up at him and he looked down at me.  I grabbed the top of the sheets and as Ben bit his lip, I pulled the sheet over us covering us from view and that’s when we heard Joe say.

“Did you have to fling him off the bed?”

“He was eyeing her for too long.” Said Ben as he pulled me closer to him and we kissed each other.

“Alright keep it PG you two.”

“You started this Joe, and now you must suffer by letting it run its course!” I cried out.  Ben and I then began to ruffle the sheets making it seem like we were fooling around as I let out a few lustful moans.

“Augh gross! I’m not continuing with this anymore!” We then heard the door shut and both Ben and I poked our heads out from the blanket and I said,

“Think he bought it?”

“Well one way to find out.” He pulled me close to him and I felt his face bury into my neck.  I giggled as he began to kiss up and down my neck.

“Ben…..that tickles!”

“Oh really? Does it tickle when I do this?” I then felt his fingers dig into my sides which made me squirm even more.  He got on top of me still continuing his ticklish assault as I begged him to stop while trying to shove his hands away from my sides.  He ceased his attack and said with a grin, “Say please.”

“Please.”

“Now say uncle.”

“Uncle.” I giggled out.  He smiled down at me before capturing my lips with his in a soft and loving kiss.  I wrapped my arms around his neck bringing him closer.  

Our kiss got deeper and more passionate until the need for air became a problem. As we separated, we stared into each other’s eyes and I said breathlessly.

“How did I ever get so lucky?”

“I should be asking you that my love.” He kissed my brow and lay back down on his back. I crawled up onto his chest and lay my head over his heart while his arms wrapped around me and I felt his hand stroke down my hair.  I felt him kiss the crown of my head and I heard him humming “Somebody to love” I smiled and said.

“You know that’s Joe’s song right?”

“Yeah, but it’s also your song. You did say that Somebody to love was the first Queen song you sang at your school’s karaoke.”

“How do you remember that? We were drunk when I confessed that.”

“Even shitfaced I’d still remember what you’d say.” I awed at him and nuzzled into his chest and felt him kiss my head again.  “I love you (y/n).”

“I love you too Ben.” We pecked each other’s lips gingerly and just stayed in bed for the rest of the day cuddling, watching Netflix and of course Ben had to start another tickle fight the sneaky bastard.

But I’m happy to finally say that all because of getting lessons from a cardboard cutout and the persistence of a true friend, I finally got the man of my dreams.