Waiting For Tonight (Beni)

[Ben London]

"That sounds fine to me," he replied, still grinning like an idiot, but it faded quickly as he remembered what he still had to do. He hoped his stay with his family wasn't going to be a long one. Ben was eager to start living with Beni as soon as he could.
"Although going home for any period of time doesn't...," he paused for a moment, "When do we get to...like...actually move in?"

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Beni tugged on his index finger. "It won't take long, especially if we don't have much. But if you need to, you can come to my place." Her eyes grew wide with wonder, really trying to understand what made him dislike being with his family. His tales should have indicated enough, but she couldn't imagine experiencing it. But she was sort of curious. "Or I can stay over there. I don't mind."

[Ben London]

Ben frowned at his girlfriend, wanting to ignore the comment about her staying with him and the family for a while.
"Trust me," he began, his tone serious, "You'll want to Crucio yourself into next week if you stay with them for longer than 10 minutes." Of course Ben loved his family, but they were a little irritatingm, as most families were. However, when the teasing never stopped, it was hard to make himself like them, and he certainly didn't trust his siblings to be under the same roof as his girlfriend. That wasn't happening.

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Beni then knew that the matter of his family would be an issue. She didn't want to press it for now, but she wasn't going to be able to contain herself later on. She wanted to know about Ben's life, in and out, and it would take some of the bit of stubborness that she had. "Hey, lookie here... we'll be in and out of the parentals and we'll be having a laugh at Wendelring. Does that sound good?"

[Ben London]

Ben lowered his head to his chest, shaking it slightly. He scoffed at himself, wishing he didn't feel like such an outcast in his own family. He really didn't want Beni to have to see the way they acted, but he knew he couldn't protect her forever.

Hearing Beni's words, the Hufflepuff's head lifted up and he smiled softly at her.
"It sounds amazing," Ben replied, the grin sneaking back onto his lips.

[Benita Hendrix-London]

"Purr-fect," Beni said with was undoubtedly a purr. She had to ask him though, while they were on the subject of their young future: "Have you thought of what you want to do as a job?" It was nervewracking to ask him for some reason, because she didn't want him to be stuck in a hopeless job because of her.

[Ben London]

Ben had to ponder for a moment. He didn't know what he wanted to do anymore. He would have loved to be an Auror, and he was sure he had the marks for it, but he didn't know if he'd ever make it. But Ben was also interested in Healing. The question threw him hard into reality and he knew he should have thought about this way before now, but he hadn't. And now Ben was screwed.

"I uh...I don't really know. I've always really wanted to be an Auror or a...Healer maybe..." Ben trailed off slightly before speaking again and hanging his head once more, "I never really thought about it."

[Benita Hendrix-London]

"Hmm..." Beni seemed to say under her breath in a mix of surprise and contemplation. She had never known that he wanted those things, and she wanted to push him to them somehow.

"Maybe we can narrow them somehow..." She suggested, thinking that playing a game of pros and cons could help him get a clearer path. "Or do them both. Did you know Raynor was both a healer and an auror?" She wasn't sure if it was at the same time, though. It would be doubtful.

[Ben London]

Shrugging slightly, Ben just shook his head. He knew he'd never make it in either occupation.
"I dunno, Beni," he replied quietly, still not looking up but now starting to fidget with his hands, "I don't think I'm cut out for either of them."

Ben's eyes slowly drifted up to meet his girlfriend's. He flashed her a weak smile before poking at his food once again. Why had he left it? He should have been thinking about this for longer and actually had some idea of what he was going to do. Beni already had her life planned out and probably a solid job for the rest of her life. If they were going to live together, he couldn't bear to think about her being the main source on income, he wouldn't let that happen. He needed to do something about this. Now.

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Beni didn't want to leave it that. Maybe it was the way the night was going, but she just didn't want to end it with him knowing one thing. "Ben, honey-- don't never, ever, never let yourself think you're substandard! If you've got a good head on your shoulders, you can brave anything!" She grinned at him. She never had a doubt in her mind that he wouldn't ever made it if he tried. "If you want it, try it," she said finally.

[Ben London]

Smiling a little more strongly and genuine, Ben looked right into Beni's eyes. He felt his cheeks flush lightly as she told him to just go for it. He'd never really been encouraged by anyone that was apparently supposed to support him, so he didn't really know how to react to Beni's words of advice except to find himself even more in love with her. How he'd managed to get such an amazing girl was beyond him, but he felt beyond honoured to be able to call her his girlfriend. She was just too cool.

"Really?" Ben asked, unable to stop his eyes from lighting up and keep the grin off his face, "Do you honestly think I'm good enough for it? Be honest."

[Benita Hendrix-London]

"Benjamin Peter London!" Beni said almost shrilly, but not quite. "If you would like me to be honest, I'll spill it right here: You're uber talented. It's your choice if you listen to this or not, really.

"But it jabs me in the heart to think that you think that you can't do this or that. I wasn't able to play drums at one point, and now I'm practically a pro." She rolled her eyes at that, though. "That is beside the point, though. Hear me out when I say that you're able to do anything you want to do, darling."

[Ben London]

Benjamin Peter London. Rarely did Ben get that one, unless his mother was yelling at him. And there was an uncanny and somewhat disturbing resemblance between her yell and the yell he'd just heard come out of Beni's mouth. Slightly taken aback, Ben just looked at her with an amused expression on his face, Ben had propped his elbow up on the table, resting his head in his hand and smiling at her rather mischievously.
"It pains me slightly how much you sounded like my mother just there," Ben said rather cheekily, but kissed Beni's hand as if to say he was only fooling around.

"I'm listening Beni," he replied, more seriously now, "And I do believe you. But I just don't see how you can believe in me so much when I don't believe in myself. I believe I also may need to find a synonym for the word 'believe'...." He trailed off again, but a grin broke his pretend thoughtfulness. The Hufflepuff boy looked at Beni, being serious again.
"But really, thank you. You're the first person who's actually told me I could amount to something. And I appreciate it."

[Benita Hendrix-London]

Beni stuck her tongue at him whenever he made a joke, but she knew he wasn't feigning attention. "Someone has to start believing in you..." Beni inched closer to him... "... and it'll be me..." She didn't stop moving closer to him, as she went to kiss him. It felt like one of those perfect kissing moments. But before she did, she just repeated the word, "Believe, believe, believe...."

[Ben London]

Ben smiled as he watched Beni inching closer and he leaned in toward her. Just before they kissed, she repeated believe over and over. Ben smiled, his lips brushing past hers softly as he spoke.
"You gotta believe in something," he whispered before pressing his lips against her once again, breathing her in deeply. Beni had a distinct smell, something fruity and sweet, and something Ben hadn't really noticed all that much before. But now it was really there, and smiled slightly, letting the sweet, fruity smell fill his nose. His hand slowly started to come up again and found its way to her soft cheek.

"I love you Beni," he whispered quietly, breaking the kiss for only a moment, "So much."