Work Text:
Callum was nervous as he paced around the flat as Johnny watched on. “Cal, come sit down.” He shook his head as he straightened ornaments that were already perfect and walked over to the kitchen counter and leaned against it his back to Johnny. Was it hot in here? He couldn't breathe…
He felt hands on his shoulder and flinched at the contact, he wanted to shake off the contact but resisted the urge. Johnny was just trying to comfort him, trying to centre him as his nervous energy kept bubbling. “Whatever happens, we’ll work through it. Together.”
His stomach twisted at the words. ‘Together’ … he’d told Ben that he loved Johnny yet why did the word ‘together’ make him want to puke. Why did Johnny’s hands make his skin crawl? He’d even started sleeping in joggers and t-shirt as he couldn't stand the thought of Johnny’s naked skin against his.
Everything about Johnny made him recoil… Mr. Vanilla… Ben had said in the Vic and sure when the excitement of secret hookups, naughty messages and photos. His mind flashed back to the photo that Johnny had sent him when he was away on the cruise. It had turned him on but now, after seeing Ben… being able to touch Ben after so long, to feel and smell him. The way Ben’s eyes had been practically undressing him in the cemetery of all places! He’d literally just buried his dad and that didn’t stop Ben from flirting with him. The guy had no shame but that was Ben. He knew exactly how to distract Callum; he had forgotten about everything and everyone and if Ben hadn’t been under the care of the HMP Escorts, he could guarantee that Ben would’ve taken his hand and led him somewhere and distracted him further with his mouth. He doubted that Johnny would’ve done something like that… or maybe he would’ve when they were locked away in his flat away from everyone.
Callum bit his lip when his groin started tingling at the images of Ben on his knees. The buzz of the phone made him jump and he remembered where he was and who was behind him. He shrugged off Johnny’s touch and took a deep breath as he put space between them and made his way to the phone, without answering he pressed the button and waited.
It seemed like an age until his beautiful Lexi finally appeared and he took a moment to take her in. Her face gave nothing away except her eyes glinted dangerously when she saw Johnny standing in the kitchen. “What’s he doin’ here?”
Even though she was the spitting image of Lola with her long blonde hair, there was no doubt that she was the daughter of Ben Mitchell.
“Lexi, please. We just want to talk.”
Irritation made Callum grind his teeth when Johnny tried to placate her and when Lexi lifted her chin and crossed her arms, he knew that Johnny was in trouble. “Well, I don’t wanna talk to you.”
She made her way to the sofa and sat down and sent a withering stare that was just for Johnny. Callum decided it was best to give Lexi room and settled into the single seater but the glare remained in place when Johnny sat on the arm. Callum shifted in his seat trying to avoid any kind of contact from Johnny. “Thank you for coming Lexi, you have no idea how much it means to us.” Lexi must’ve seen the flash of annoyance on his face when Johnny tried to mediate the conversation with pleasantries.
Her face darkened when Johnny placed a hand on his shoulder . “Yeah, whatever. I didn’t come here to speak to you, so cya!” She leaned forward speaking in faux whispers. “That means I want you to leave. You ain’t invited to this conversation, family only and just in case you haven’t noticed. You ain’t family.” She dismissed him with a flick of her fingers towards the door and crossed her arms.
Johnny squeezed his shoulder as he got up and left the flat without another word and Callum waited until he heard the door close. “Lex-” He wanted to reprimand her for rudeness but she cut him off with scoff. “Really Callum? Him? What a drip.”
He was momentarily stunned because he had never heard Lexi talk in such a manner. “Yes him, we’re together and you need to respect that.” He tried to put an edge of warning to his tone but it bounced off her when she rolled her eyes at him. “Whatever.”
The silence between them was thick with tension and the mutinous expression on Lexi’s face told him she had no intention of starting the conversation. “ H-how’s school?” she scoffed at the question. “Oh it’s been great!” The sarcasm was heavy and hit him square in the solar plexus. “Dad said it’ll blow over.”
His heart jumped when she mentioned Ben and he resisted the urge to bombard her with questions. “He said to go easy on you.”
“He did?” something he hadn't felt in so long settled and warmed his entire body as he stared at his daughter in awe. He couldn't believe that Lexi was here in his flat and he wondered if that was Ben’s doing as there weren't many people who could talk her around and he doubted Phil would encourage her to come speak with him.
Lexi narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s that face?” he startled as his face heated a fraction. “Just cos he said to go easy don’t mean I’ll ever forgive you.”