Chapter Text
“Ethan?” Ilsa nudges him and Ethan snaps back to reality, focusing on his friend instead of Benji driving away.
“Hm?”
“I asked if you’re okay,” Ilsa says, giving him a look of concern.
“Yes? Why?”
Ilsa narrows her eyes at him and says, “what do you mean why? How about all this.” She gestures around the parking lot and all the chaos. There’s trash everywhere, flipped cars, shattered glass, the whole nine yards.
“Right,” Ethan clears his throat. “I’m good.”
Ilsa makes a face. She doesn’t believe him, Ethan knows that.
“Look, it’s obviously been a rough day, alright?” Rough is an understatement. “But I’ll be fine,” he tries again, putting on his most convincing, confident voice.
His friend still doesn’t seem convinced but to Ethan’s relief she lets it go. “So, Benji,” she says after a beat.
“What about him?”
“Ethan,” Ilsa chides, rolling her eyes exasperatedly, “come on.”
“Ilsa,” Ethan sighs. The look on her face is all too familiar to him and he knows she won’t stop bugging him about this. “I took him to see the rodeo,” he admits. When he sees Ilsa’s eyebrows shoot up, he quickly adds, “Just– I guess I misjudged him. So, it was like a peace offering.”
“A peace offering,” Ilsa repeats, a smile creeping onto her face. “If that’s what you wanna call it, okay.”
“What else would I call it?” Ethan asks, already knowing fully well what she’s implying. But it’s not like that. Then again, Ethan thinks, remembering sitting on the bleachers with Benji, an easy conversation between them, getting to know each other, flirting even, maybe. What if–
“A date?” Ilsa interrupts his thoughts and despite himself Ethan feels his face heat up. Ilsa takes one look at him and breaks out in a huge grin. “Oh my god, I knew it! You’re blushing,” she says with an honest to God giggle.
“Knock it off,” Ethan grumbles, a memory of what happened right after hitting him. The fear, the panic, is still so fresh on his mind. Benji could’ve gotten hurt tonight because Ethan invited him here. He could’ve died.
Ilsa’s smile fades. “Ethan,” she tries, “I can hear you thinking.”
“I can’t do it,” he gives back quietly.
His friend is regarding him with such concern, Ethan can almost hear her thinking now. She starts, “wh–”
“Let’s go,” Ethan cuts her off immediately, swallowing his emotions down and getting into the truck. He needs to focus. He can’t lose his head. There’s a huge storm front coming through in the next few days and he can’t afford the distraction. Especially not when said distraction is the first person in ages that Ethan actually likes and he has already put him in immense danger. He needs to put a stop to that immediately, he thinks bitterly.
—
“So, you were with Hunt the entire time?” Will asks, an edge of annoyance in his voice. They’re back at the motel, still in the parking lot.
“Yeah,” Benji says with a nod. God, he can’t wait to get to bed. Today was really something and he’s not exactly in the mood for whatever this is now.
“That’s it?” Will snaps. “You don’t have anything else to say?”
Benji takes a deep breath and tells himself to stay calm. There’s no use in getting into a fight. “What do you wanna hear?”
His colleague stares at him and he’s angry. Outright mad. They’ve been working together long enough that Benji can tell he’s about to blow up.
“Maybe an apology?” Will demands. “I’ve been busting my ass for this fucking job and the second we come out here you just–”
Benji holds up his hands in surrender. “I know, Will. I have, too. You know that. But–”
“But what? Suddenly Hunt gets into your head and you–”
“What? No,” Benji interrupts him, “it’s not Ethan’s fault.”
“Of course not,” Will mutters under his breath and rolls his eyes, leaning back against the truck. “Tell me this then. What did Hunt tell you to have you acting like this?”
“Acting like what?” Benji gives back, voice getting louder. He’s had enough of this. “You left when we were helping in town after the storm hit.”
Will scoffs. “Because we had work to do. Actual work, you know?”
Benji crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes at him. “These people needed help,” he counters. “That’s exactly why I’m doing this job, why I wanted to come here. And– look, there is something wrong with StormPar. With Hunley. He–”
“Let me stop you right there,” Will says angrily, “I don’t care what kind of ideas Hunt and the rest of those clowns put into your head but if you think you’re making the right choice, be my guest. But I don’t wanna hear about it.”
“If you would just let me explain,” Benji tries but it’s no use.
“Don’t. Care. I’m still doing my job. And if you wanna keep yours, I’d suggest you do the same.” With that, Will pushes himself off the car, grabs his backpack and storms off towards his room, leaving Benji standing in the parking lot.
Benji swallows, staring after him and feeling a little lost. These past few days and everything that has happened, that he has learned, it makes it impossible to just continue with business as usual. So what is he supposed to do?
—
The next morning Benji goes to the diner for breakfast again, not even bothering to wait for Will. Benji doesn’t think he can bring himself to just continue with his work as if nothing happened. Whatever he decides in the long run, he’s determined not to drive out with his colleague today.
He’s just finishing up his pancakes when he spots Ilsa coming in. Her eyes scan the diner and land on Benji. He lifts his hand in a wave and Ilsa gives him a nod and a smile. She goes to order before coming over to his table.
“You all alone here today?” She asks.
“Yeah,” Benji replies, “just some, uh– disagreements with Will, my colleague.”
Ilsa studies him for a moment, hands on her hips, before she asks, “does it have anything to do with what happened yesterday?”
“Yesterday?” Is she talking about him and Ethan? Benji wants to avoid making it awkward at any cost considering how close Ilsa and Ethan clearly are. Benji doesn’t dare to think that it was any more than a friendly gesture on Ethan’s part anyway.
Ilsa raises an eyebrow. “Yes? You know, the storm and all. Will seemed upset when he picked you up.”
“Oh. Right,” Benji nods, “he was pretty mad because he had to do all the work by himself. But I wanted to help properly back there.”
Ilsa makes a noise of approval. “You wanna come with us today by any chance?”
What?
Benji’s surprise must be visible on his face because Ilsa continues, “I’m sure you wanna see a little more and, besides, you know your stuff. Could be helpful.” She shrugs as if it’s not a big deal even though it very much is. To Benji, anyway.
“Alright,” Benji says, smiling, “I’d like that.”
“Let’s go, then.”
“Oh. Ilsa, wait,” Benji stops her, suddenly remembering the rest of the team. Ethan, of course, and Luther and, who was this other woman? Benji had only seen her once, on his very first day. “Are your friends okay with this?”
Ilsa shrugs again. “They’ll be fine.”
—
When Ethan sees Ilsa stroll across the parking lot with no other than Benji Dunn in tow, his stomach drops. What is she planning now? Ethan can only imagine. After their conversation last night, Ilsa got an idea in her head. More specifically the idea that Ethan likes Benji. And now, in true Ilsa fashion, she can’t ignore it or let it go. It’s not going to work, though, Ethan decides. He has made his peace with being single a long time ago, he chose his job over all this. Not to mention the fact that he can’t stop thinking about how he put Benji in danger yesterday. In fact, he’d been up all night blaming himself. No, he needs to stay focused and professional.
“Look who I found,” Ilsa beams when they get to the truck.
“Surprise,” Benji says, doing a somewhat awkward version of jazz hands that Ethan can’t help but find incredibly endearing.
“Hey,” Ethan says, ignoring the look that Ilsa is giving him.
“Benji’s not going out with StormPar today,” she explains when Ethan doesn’t say more, “so, I said he can come with us.” She smiles conspiratorially and Ethan raises an eyebrow at her.
Benji looks between the two of them and says quickly, “it’s– it’s totally fine if you’re not okay with it, Ethan.”
“What?” Ethan asks, eyes snapping to Benji who looks unsure.
“I don’t wanna intrude,” the other man says.
Ethan automatically shakes his head. He can’t reject him now that Ilsa has already invited him. Besides, even if he can’t admit it, can’t allow himself to, he secretly loves it. “You’re good, don’t worry.”
“See?” Ilsa sounds excited. “We’re one person short, anyway. Jane’s still sick.” She pouts a little at that.
“She’s right,” Ethan reiterates to a still apprehensive looking Benji, “come on, get in.”