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callumsmitchells · 3 years

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unforgotten memories (ao3)

It’s only just the middle of the morning, though it feels like an age since they first woke up with the bright, rising sun in their eyes. They’re in the process of moving out into their own house, the first place that they can fully call theirs, and theirs alone. It’s been a week of constantly moving to and fro, and even though the new place isn’t entirely ready, everything they need is there. Today is the last day of moving things, and they’ve already taken heavy boxes across the square into the new place. Now though, their old room lays bare, apart from the bed and the wardrobe.

“Babe, we’re never moving again.” Ben shouts out, and there’s a laugh that floats from the bathroom all the way to the bedroom.

“This is the last of it now, I promise!” Callum calls out, and he pokes his head out of the door frame of the bathroom, a bright and beaming grin across his face.

Ben rolls his eyes, because Callum is still somehow so happy and not at all in pain. They’re polar opposites usually, but today is no exception to that trait. Ben is sluggishly tired, with every bone in his body aching and, not for the first time this week, he berates Callum. “I don’t know why we didn’t get a removal van. This would’ve all been done by now.” He says. “And I wouldn’t have a bad back. Don’t be expecting much sex for the next month!”

“Maybe that was my plan?” Callum teases and dodges out of the way of some old socks that come flying his way. “Anyway, it’s saving us money! You’re the one that suggested going on holiday next summer.”

Ben knows he can’t respond to that, because Callum’s right. He just didn’t factor in that they could potentially have to move everything across the square at the height of a heatwave the entire country seems to be having.

“Don’t forget to check under the bed.” Callum speaks again, wrapping a knot in the top of a rubbish bag. “I don’t think there’s anything there, but check just in case.”

A wince escapes Ben’s mouth as he gets on all fours, a cardboard box and a rubbish bag next to him, just in case there’s anything under there. “It’s weird.” He calls out. “Seeing this room so empty. It doesn’t feel like our little space anymore. If I’m honest, I don’t think it’s ever been this empty.” He’s rambling, but he doesn’t care. This is what they’ve done all week, talk about nothing important, occasionally singing along to the radio, as they move everything from one place to the other. He taps his hand across the floor as he speaks and he can’t feel anything. He’s just about to pull his hand free, but his knuckles raps against something. Ben furrows his eyebrows as his words die out and he pulls the object free from under the bed.

It’s a shoe box. A tatty one at that, with all the edges fraying like it’s been near water at some point. There’s indentation marks over it, folds and creases and it’s clearly old. But the main thing is, Ben recognises it. He recognises it from Callum’s bedroom, the first one they ever unofficially shared together, back in his old flat.

Ben moves, sitting on the floor, his legs stretching out in front of him and his back is against the bed. The lid of the box is half sliding off, clearly not the right size for it, but this means that Ben can see inside of it. There’s something of a khaki green colour sitting inside. There’s half a moment of silence as he blanks everything else out, the radio turning to just a low buzzing sound, easy to forget about. He takes the lid off, putting it on the floor at the side of him, and he can see what the item is properly. A beret. He smiles fondly, thinking it must be Callum’s, though he’s never actually seen any photos of Callum in the army before, so he can’t be certain. His finger runs over something of a different material, something more coarse. He turns the beret upside down to see what it is, and catches the name tag inside. Chris Kennedy.

It hits him suddenly, what this box must be. He’s heard about Chris before, but not in detail. He’s never even seen a photo of him. But this must be a place of memories for Callum, and when he looks into it again, he can just about make out some photos and pieces of paper with scrawling handwriting on before the silence dissipates and there’s a dry cough that bursts out from near him.

Ben looks up, inspecting the noise, but he knew before looking what it was. He sees Callum standing in the door frame with a sad smile across his face.

“I’m sorry.” Ben whispers, holding his hand out for Callum to take.

Callum smiles softly, and takes two steps towards Ben before he reaches out for his hand, entwining their fingers together in a perfect and comforting hold. “It’s fine.” He breathes out and sits down next to Ben, their thighs pressing against one another. “I still think about him, you know? Not all the time, not anymore. But when it’s his birthday or I remember something from the army, I think about him.”

Ben’s silent for a moment or two, because he knows exactly what Callum’s talking about. “Callum.” He lets out softly, before he’s even thought of what he really wants to say. “You know you can talk to me about him, right? I don’t want you to feel like you can’t.”

Callum turns his face, looking at Ben. He nods, and is just about to speak when Ben continues.

“I’m sorry.” He repeats for the second time in as many minutes.

Callum furrows his eyebrows, because Ben has nothing to apologise for. He squeezes Ben’s hand tightly for a moment, and then when he releases that pressure, he runs his thumb softly over Ben’s skin. “What for?” He asks.

Ben’s looking down at their hands when Callum speaks. He looks up slowly. “I told you that you didn’t know what it’s like to lose someone you love.”

That just breaks Callum’s heart.

After all this time, after everything they’ve been through, Ben still remembers that moment.

Callum doesn’t even have to think, his body just moves for him. He hugs Ben as if there’s no tomorrow, all warm and inviting and it’s clearly what they both need. Callum just holds on, and Ben holds on even tighter, neither of them wanting to let go. Callum can feel Ben’s heart beating under the touch, a rhythmic thumping that soothes him. He presses a kiss to Ben’s shoulder, and buries his nose into Ben’s neck, the familiar scent of nature and spice hitting him all at once.

“Did I see a photo of you in the box?” Ben asks.

Callum lets out a soft chuckle. “I think there are some, yeah.”

Ben peels away from the hug, desperate to find them. “Can I?” He asks, hands hovering over the box, watching Callum carefully.

Callum nods. “Go on.”

Ben picks out a photo. It’s got creases in the corner where it’s been folded in the past. “Is this Chris?” Ben asks.

Callum smiles softly. “Yeah.” He says, looking at the photo. It’s Chris, sitting at a table, his feet up on the surface and his arms across his body. “I think that was the last Christmas before I came here. We had to cook so much that day, I reckon the next time I cook Christmas dinner it’ll be so much easier, even if you’ve got a huge family.”

Ben chuckles to himself. “He’s handsome, ain’t he?” He asks, looking up at Callum.

“You approve?” Callum asks, raising a teasing eyebrow. “He was, yeah.”

Ben places the photo back down gently, and in doing that, he finds another photo hidden away.

Callum eyes go comically wide as Ben pulls it free. “Oh God.” He lets out under his breath, but Ben catches it.

“Nice hair.” Ben chuckles out, running his thumb over the picture. It’s Callum in his army fatigues, arms behind his back, standing up pin straight with a cheeky grin on his face. It’d be a nice picture, if his hair didn’t look like that. “No wonder you don’t show me photos from before I met you.”

Callum rolls his eyes and pushes Ben teasingly.

Yeah, he misses Chris, and he probably always will. He’ll never forget him, or the journey that they had together. But this, right here, is perfect. It’s everything he’s ever wanted, and so much more.

#ballum #ben x callum #chweek2021 #callumhighwayweek2021 #myfic

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minimitchell · 3 years

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callumhighwayweek day 1 - “I still think about him.” (ao3 link)

(tw scars, callum talks about how he got injured in the army)

The room surrounding Callum is dark; the only source of light coming from the beam of a street lamp outside, shining through a crack in the curtains. He’ll have to get up and draw them close before even attempting to go to sleep - he needs the room to be completely plunged in darkness to fall asleep - but for now he’s content with just lying here like this, the bright light creating a bright streak across the bed.

It’s chilly in the room; the October weather harsh and unrelenting, cooling the flat down to low temperatures. It doesn’t help that the covers are pooling somewhere around his waist, his naked chest otherwise exposed to the cold inside the bedroom.

Ben is dozing next to him, head half resting on the pillow half on Callum’s shoulder, one arm slung heavy across Callum’s chest. He isn’t asleep yet, Callum can tell from the way he keeps grumbling and burying his nose in Callum’s arm from time to time or pressing kisses against his skin.

Callum thought he’d be overwhelmed or scared at the prospect of being intimate with a man, for real this time, but it isn’t like that at all. The nerves and fear were still there, of course they were, but Ben does his best to ease him into everything with so much patience and understanding.

They haven’t done much yet, just friction or their hands from time to time, slowly trying to work up to more Callum’s comfortable with. It’s still good though; it’s really good to be honest. They’re not just getting to know one another in mundane ways but also more intimately and Callum feels the trust between them build with every moment they get to spend with each other. And while he definitely feels ready to do more soon, right now this is all he needs.

Ben’s fingers begin to dance over Callum’s chest, careful fingertips gliding up and down and from left to right, alerting him that Ben’s completely awake again.They’re lying in comfortable silence for a while, just touching and feeling and being in each other’s orbit; the sole focus of the other’s silent attention.

Goosebumps are breaking out on Callum’s arms as Ben’s fingers continue to run over his skin, sending shivers down his spine. He almost wants to put his shirt back on, pull the covers up around them, but he doesn’t want Ben to stop touching him. He never wants him to stop.

“Can I ask you something? About your scars.”

Ben’s voice is soft and careful and the slight clearing of his throat he does to get rid of the scratch that comes from lengthy disuse perfectly masks the slight intake of breath Callum does at the question.

They’ve never talked about them. Ben hadn’t asked any questions when he’d first seen Callum without a shirt on, he had only glanced at them briefly before focussing back on Callum’s face, watching out for any sign of discomfort or unease. At the time, he had been thankful if a little surprised about it; he hadn’t been ready to talk about all that with Ben just yet.

Taking your clothes off in front of someone else is different than being naked on an emotional level.

Since then though, whatever this unlabelled thing that’s going on between them, has changed. It has become deeper and more meaningful. They have spent a lot of time talking about his childhood, about what made him feel like he had to hide himself away for this long. He told Ben about Chris and Ben in turn opened up even more about Paul. But the Army, especially his last tour, still felt too raw, too hurtful, to get into.

Ben had seen some of it, had seen him at his lowest that day in the rain on the swing, bottle poised to bring only temporary relief, but it’s still hard to open himself up to him fully. To tell him about the other demons haunting him.

It’s nice the way it is right now, getting to know each other without the looming threat of someone finding out or shame burning in the back of his throat. It feels good; right. And Ben doesn’t put any pressure on him to say or do anything he doesn’t want to. He seems to be content in just being with Callum, listening to him ramble on about whatever and share his life with him as well.

It’s what makes him certain he can trust Ben with this as well; that he can be honest about what he’s been through and not have Ben feel any differently about him afterwards. Ben understands him so well, understands a lot of things Callum never thought someone else could, and he just has to look down at Ben’s side to see that circular wound that tells him he’ll understand this as well in some way.

Looking at Ben always makes him remember he’s not alone in the world anymore. He has someone by his side who makes him not feel so lonely anymore.

“Okay.”

The word rushes out of his mouth in almost a whisper. The world around them feels so delicate encased in darkness and silence - the right atmosphere to spill secrets to your lover. He doesn’t want to break the spell around them.

“Are they from your time in the Army?”

Callum knows it’s just a question of courtesy, an easy way to lead into this heavy conversation. Ben knows a lot about scars, he has a lot of them himself; visible and hidden underneath, he can definitely tell they’re not old enough to stem from a turbulent childhood.

He subconsciously tightens the arm he has around Ben’s body and he gets a response in Ben digging his fingers into his chest, blunt nails pressing against his skin in silent reassurance.

He feels good around Ben and Ben has never told him he’s anything less than beautiful, but it takes time to believe it; to unlearn the harsh voices in his own head and accept kindness when it’s given to him.

“Mhm. I got hit with shrapnel from an explosion. I- We saved this boy but we couldn’t save his mum. I still think about him, that boy. It’s all I think about when I see this.”

He vaguely gestures down to his stomach, expecting Ben to follow his hand with his eyes, but he stays focussed on Callum’s face, listening intently. Callum can’t bear to keep their gazes locked though. It’s too much right now. Those old doubts keep streaming back into his head; the voices telling him that he isn’t worthy of all this softness and support from Ben.

“They just remind me that I’m broken, you know. Damaged goods.”

Ben’s hand leaves the skin of his chest and runs up to his face, his other one joining to turn Callum’s head down towards him, forcing him to make eye contact.

“Hey. They don’t make you damaged, they make you brave. A survivor. See, this?”

Ben’s hands leave Callum’s face to come together between their bodies, balancing his weight on his elbow to remove the big, clunky ring sitting on his left ring finger. He turns his hand around, the back facing up at Callum, pointing at the scarred skin where the black ink of his tattoo used to sit.

“This don’t mean I’m broken beyond repair. This means I survived the worst thing that ever happened to me. There’s proof of it, inside and out, yeah, but I’m still here. Our past doesn’t have to define us; we can just accept it and learn to live with it.”

He pushes the ring back onto his finger, his hand running back down Callum’s chest, a smooth fingertip gliding gently over the elevated skin and harsh lines lining his stomach; never prodding or pinching, only feather-light brushes against tissue.

He’s always so careful with Callum. Whether it’s his feelings, his boundaries or his body, Ben treats them like they’re precious things not to be disturbed. Like priceless treasures in a museum. It makes Callum breathless sometimes; the realization that he has found someone who makes this whole process of finding and being himself so easy and without any pressure sending his already too-attached heart into a wild rhythm.

“These scars don’t make you any less beautiful, you know. Don’t be ashamed of them.”

Ben’s voice is unwavering; tone sure and steady. Callum believes that every word he says is true to him. He might not believe it himself, but he’s sure Ben does.

He’s never had this. Sure, Whitney’s complimented him from time to time but he’s never had someone so openly tell him he’s pretty on the outside, not just that he’s a nice guy or that he has a good heart.

More than that, he’s never had a man tell him this. A man, he’s so interested in that it makes him dizzy with it sometimes. Dizzy and brimming with barely suppressed want. He’s never gotten the fascination before. He wasn’t one of those teenage boys who kissed a girl for the first time and never wanted to stop doing it afterwards - in hindsight, it’s blatantly obvious why as well. But with Ben it’s exactly like that. He wants to kiss him all the time. He wants to be kissed by him all day.

“Thank you. For saying that, for understanding.”

“No need. I’ll always be up for complimenting your bod, babe.”

Soft laughter fills the quiet air around them, Callum squeezing the skin of Ben’s neck where his hand is running up into his hair. As nerve-wracking as it was to open up to Ben that bit more, he’s glad he did it.

Ben is special. What they already have is special. Callum is sure of it.

He can’t wait to see where this goes.

#chweek2021 #callumhighwayweek2021 #ballum #ballum fic #my writing

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botheredbuck · 3 years

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callum highway week day 1 - “I still think about him.”

learn to love again (ao3)

They’ve talked about him plenty, and Ben knows the story now - of the man that Callum’s lost, his Paul. It makes his chest ache, because Ben knows what that pain is like and he wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It’s a different story, of course, but it’s also the same in so many ways because he’d been hiding too, with Paul. They’ve found each other now, and that’s healed over most of the wounds but the scars still lie, and Ben knows that Callum’s still learning to accept his.

my first fic for this wonderful week!! reblogs/comments/kudos mean the world to me, and i hope you enjoy! lots of love to u x

#callumhighwayweek2021 #chweek2021 #ballum #eastenders #ben x callum #ben mitchell #callum highway #ballum fic #ao3 update #ao3 link #ao3 stuff #ee

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henryspearl · 3 years

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one and only - AO3 link

Ben and Callum go to the cinema for a date night where Ben didn’t expect to get jealous of all places.

a contribution from me for day 4 of callum highway week based on the prompt “you’re not jealous are you?”

#callumhighwayweek2021 #chweek21 #my writing #callum highway #ballum #ben x callum #ballum fic

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yorit1 · 3 years

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#callumhighwayweek2021 #chweek2021 #callum highway #eastenders #ballum #ben mitchell #lexi pearce

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yougaythen · 3 years

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Sleep talk (Callumhighwayweek)

Ben’s talking while he sleeps makes Callum fall for him even more and want to support him though what he’s feeling.

“Did you know you talk in your sleep”

855 words

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30227496

#callumhighwayweek2021 #ben x callum #ben mitchell #callum highway #ballum fanfic #ballum fic #mine #my fics

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leximitchells · 3 years

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callum highway week 2021

[ day 6 ] favorite quote(s)

#chweek2021 #callumhighwayweek2021 #eastenders #eastendersedit #callum highway #eeedit #yeah i couldn't pick just one so i narrowed it down to four #his range......... iconic #mine #callum

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laurenkmyers · 3 years

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callum highway week

day one: callum + best looks

#callum highway #tony clay #callumhighwayweek2021 #eastenders #eastendersedit #callumhighwayedit #mygifs #myedit

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heaintscum · 3 years

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CALLUM HIGHWAY WEEK

day one: best looks

#Eastenders #Callum Highway #Eastendersedit #callumhighwayweek2021 #eeedit #mygifs #haven't giffed ee in awhile #hope this is okay <3 #angry callum in a suit soothes my heart

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totallyradioactive15 · 3 years

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Callum Highway Week 2021 - Day 3 - Loved Ones

#callumhighwayweek2021 #callum highway #eastenders #ballum #ben & callum #Callum & Mick #Callum & Bobby #Callum & Stuart #Callum & Frankie #Callum & Whitney #Callum & Lexi #Callum & Lola #family means everything #gif #graphic #photoshop

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callumsmitchells · 3 years

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i always knew (ao3)

“Do you have a speech done?” Stuart asks, taking a sip of his pint. “That’s top of the list of things to do.”

Callum’s stressing out about the wedding, trying to get everything in order, making sure that he has everything. For some reason, Stuart seemed like the best person to go to with this worry, rather than Ben. So here they are, sitting in Stuart’s flat of an evening, a football game playing quietly on the television, already empty cans of beer squashed up and resting against the table, new beers in their hands. There’s a scrap piece of paper sitting on the coffee table, and on it a list in Callum’s handwriting, a list of things he knows he needs to get done. It’s been written for days now, but with every day that passes, it feels more and more like Callum won’t be able to complete the list.

He nods. “It’s half written.” Callum admits. There’s a week to go until the wedding and his speech is only half written. “It’s not that I can’t think of anything to say. It’s just - I don’t know. It’s like I have all these feelings for him, but I can’t put it into words.”

Stuart shrugs. “Well, what would you want to say to him?” He asks.

Callum just looks at Stuart, and he’s aware that even two years ago this situation would’ve been so alien to Stuart, and now he’s sitting here listening to Callum as he worries about his wedding speech. They’ve both come a long way in such a short space of time - Callum’s finally happy, effortlessly happy, and he’s in love and proud to be himself; and Stuart, well he’s sitting here actually listening to Callum, and helping him out.

“I can’t put into words what he’s done for me.” Callum says, because it’s true. He wouldn’t be sitting here now, planning a wedding, if it wasn’t for Ben. He would still be unhappy, living a lie, if it wasn’t for Ben. “He’s everything.”

“Right.” Stuart says, putting his beer down on the table. He sits forward, on the edge of his seat. “Here’s what we’ll do. You talk, I write. Then we’ll work a speech out from that.” He picks up a pad of paper and a pen, biting the lid off and letting it drop down the side of his body, probably now hiding in the corners of the sofa. “Go.”

There’s a pause as Callum thinks for a moment. “This is stupid.” He says, closing his eyes and tilting his head towards the ceiling as he falls back, resting against the sofa.

“It ain’t! Look, just say it as if you’re saying it to Ben, I won’t care what you say.” Stuart says.

Callum rolls his eyes, and starts thinking again. “I want him to know how much he means to me.” He starts. “That’s a big thing.” He watches Stuart as he writes. “He taught me about love, and we both know I never saw that growing up. I never thought I’d ever feel it, I wasn’t even sure it existed. But then I met Ben, and I just knew. I knew from that moment that there was something there. I want to tell him, like, I’m glad I met you, because if I hadn’t, I’m not sure who I’d be right now. And even though he constantly winds me up and gets himself into trouble, I wouldn’t want to go through life without him now. It’s weird, right, how different life can be when you have someone who loves you by your side. I get to wake up every morning and he’s there, more than likely still sleeping, but he’s there. It’s manic sometimes, it would be with his family, but I can deal with them because I’ve got Ben by my side. I feel like I can deal with anything with Ben by my side. He gave me a family, Stu. I know I have you and I love ya, you’re my brother. But he’s given me Lex now too, and I’ve always wanted a kid. He makes me so happy. So happy.”

Callum watches his brother through teary, blurry eyes. He’s still writing, and Callum notices that the page is full. “Is that alright?” He asks, suddenly nervous.

Stuart looks up, and he nods. “Amazing bruv.” He admits happily. “I reckon we could get a speech out of that.”

“It wasn’t too much?” Callum asks.

“It’s perfect. Ben will love it, I promise you that.” Stuart responds, ripping the page out and passing it over to Callum.

Callum holds it in his hands, running his fingers over the words. He reads some of it, and he can’t quite believe that he was the one to say all of that.

“I’m sorry, you know?” Stuart breaks the silence.

Callum looks up at him, confused, because he’s got nothing to apologise for as far as Callum knows. He raises an eyebrow and shakes his head a little bit. “What for?”

Stuart drains the rest of his pint as though it’s dutch courage. “For everything I did when you and Ben first got together. I should’ve just listened to you and encouraged you to be yourself, I know that now.” He explains. “You’re my little brother, and I thought I was protecting you, but I just caused you more pain. You’re happy now, with Ben, I should’ve seen it back then too, but I just got angry with him, thinking he was making you miserable or hurting you. I know he wouldn’t. He loves you too much, I can see that now.”

“I don’t think it’s me you need to be apologising to bruv.” Callum admits. “I mean, he might annoy me to the point I’m contemplating locking him in the boot of a car, but I wouldn’t do it.”

Stuart nods. “When I see him, I’ll apologise to Ben too.” He says. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I am.” Callum smiles. “I actually wanted to ask you something.”

“Yeah?” Stuart enquires.

Callum breathes out a shaky sigh. He doesn’t even know why he’s nervous, but this is officially the last thing on his list of things to do, and that probably makes it all the more real that he’s practically days away from having a husband. “Will you be my best man?” Callum asks.

Stuart beams and grins and almost jumps on Callum, agreeing repeatedly.

#ballum #ben x callum #chweek2021 #callumhighwayweek2021 #myfic

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minimitchell · 3 years

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callumhighwayweek day 3 - “You just left!” (ao3 link)

October in Walford is this weird mixture of the last remnants of summer flooding the days with sun and warmth, and autumn plunging the neighborhood in greys and dark clouds. It’s this strange combination that means you never know if how you dress in the morning will still be appropriate in the evening.

Today, the sun bathed the day in golden hues, warming the streets and sending everyone out into the parks and beer gardens one last time. Even now, with the sun long gone and most shops closed for the night, it’s not exactly cold, only a slight chill hanging in the air.

Callum is on his way home from work, having left his office half an hour ago when he realized there was no way he was gonna get all that paperwork done today. He loves being a social worker, he really does, but he could really do without all the bureaucracy.

He’s contemplating whether he can justify getting some chips for dinner tonight when he passes right by the Prince Albert. There’s music blasting inside the bar and spilling out onto the street; the sound of laughter and chatter from the people milling around outside filling in the air.

Callum has gone there a few times himself, mostly because it’s close to home and not as tacky as a lot of other gay bars in London. He can’t help but feel a bit envious of all the punters and party-goers there today; they’re definitely having a much better day than he is.

His gaze travels over the people standing around the metal tables outside the Albert; over the people smoking, talking and flirting with one another. He watches them until he reaches a couple off to the side a bit, huddled in the corner between the bar itself and the building next to it.

The way to his apartment leads him directly past the two men and he gets a closer look on them when he draws nearer. The guy pressed in the corner is more than a head shorter, oversized denim jacket hanging over a tight, burgundy shirt. Callum can’t see his face from his current angle, his view shrouded by the taller man standing in front of the guy. One of his arms is outstretched against the wall next to the shorter guy’s head and he’s not only taller but also wider, muscles bulging under his ridiculously tight shirt.

They make an odd couple but who is Callum to judge anyone. Just because he doesn’t have a relationship at the moment, hasn’t had one for quite a while to be honest, doesn’t mean he gets to pass judgement on others.

Upon stepping closer and closer to the pair though, Callum realizes the situation isn’t at all what he had previously thought. Because from where he’s coming to a stop now, only a few meters away from the two men, it doesn’t look like they’re a couple at all - quite the opposite in fact.

He can now see the face of the man being pushed in the corner and he definitely doesn’t look very interested in the other guy. He keeps leaning away from the man and rolling his eyes, looking down into his pint glass or looking over the other guy’s arm for something. What, Callum isn’t really sure of. But it’s clear the taller guy is blocking him from leaving the situation.

It only takes a second for his brain to decide he needs to step in. He needs to intervene.

There’s no way he could ever square up to this guy and his bulging muscles though so he does the next best thing he can come up with in that brief moment it takes him to cross the street to get to the two men - he creates a lie.

“Kevin? How dare you, we were supposed to be getting married today. I stood there at the altar and you- you just left! And now you’re here frolicking?”

The guy in the corner looks torn between laughing in his face at the ridiculous line he came up with on the spot and being grateful Callum’s giving him an out. Callum knows his acting is completely over the top, pearl-clutching and dramatic breathing bad, but it seems to do the trick. When he looks over at Muscles the man looks exasperated and he’s finally retracting his arm from the wall between Callum and the other bloke.

“Are you the reason he left me? Because he will do it again, you know.”

The man mouths an irritated ‘what the fuck’ before he shakes his head and heads away from them, disappearing around the corner with not even a glance black at them. Callum watches him leave, making sure that he’s really gone and not just lingering somewhere until Callum is gone again, before he turns back around to face the other man.

He’s leaning back against the brick of the building now, looking up at Callum in amusement. Up close, Callum finally has time to take in his face, noting how his pretty, blue eyes are sparkling with mirth and how his nice, pink lips are twisted into a smirk.

“I don’t know whether to thank you or be offended.”

“Sorry?”

Callum doesn’t remember saying anything that could’ve offended the other man but now that he’s said it, his brain starts going a mile a minute, recounting every word. Maybe it was stupid for him to assume that he needed to be saved by Callum and couldn’t defuse the situation on his own.

Thankfully, the bloke takes pity on him before he can overthink this even further.

“Do I honestly look like a Kevin to you? I feel like that’s an insult. And I don’t know how I feel about apparently leaving you at the altar. Seems pretty stupid.”

Callum huffs out a laugh, tilting his head to the ground to mask the smile breaking out on his own face now. He isn’t sure whether he should take the guy’s flirting seriously or not, but he can feel his cheeks heat up anyway.

“It was the first thing that came to my head, okay. Don’t take the mick now.”

He isn’t sure where all this confidence is coming from right now. It’s not that he’s shy or anything, but he usually isn’t the best at flirting with guys he doesn’t know. But this guy in front of him just has an aura about him that calms him and gives him that tiny boost to flirt back.

“Well, I’ll be forever grateful, strapping young stranger.”

Callum is just about to reach out his hand and introduce himself - he doesn’t exactly know why, he just knows this guy is drawing him in an almost miraculous way - when the guy gives him a wink and walks back towards the entrance of the bar.

The guy only turns around again when he’s already pulling the door open, hand wrapped around the metal handle, giving Callum another small smirk and a very obvious onceover.

“See you around, hero.”

Callum watches him disappear back into the bar, leaving nothing but a growing curiosity behind.

It takes him embarrassingly long to continue his way back home.

Callum can’t help but let his thoughts drift back to the stranger again and again over the next few weeks. He lies awake at night and thinks about his pretty blue eyes and his devilish smirk. He zones out while he’s doing paperwork at the office and imagines all the ridiculous ways they could meet again - at the café, while grocery shopping, while he’s out on a run. All the romcom clichés possible.

He thinks about going back to the Albert and looking for the guy multiple times a week but he doesn’t want to come off as desperate. He has an unsubstantiated crush on a stranger, he doesn’t want to add the term stalker to the mix of things already swirling around in his head. Who even gets lovestruck like that anymore?

Callum’s not a teenager; he’s had relationships. So he doesn’t understand what it is about this one guy that drives him crazy likes this. It’s like he subconsciously knows there’s a reason they met; a reason why he’s so drawn to him. There’s something special there.

It simultaneously intrigues and scares him.

It’s also, just maybe, the reason he suggested going to the Albert when Frankie brought up the idea of a family night out. They’re not biologically family, all of them, but he’s grown up with the Carters and he’s been around them more than his own family. So he’s like an honorary Carter. To him, they are as much his siblings like his biological brother is.

Tonight, it’s him, Nancy and Frankie all settled around a table away from the dancefloor with a good view of the whole club. Callum is sitting with his back to the bar, knocking back one of the many shots Frankie made them buy, scrunching up his face in disgust. He’s not a hard liquor guy; it goes to his head way too quickly and the result is almost always him embarrassing himself in some way.

Your turn.

Frankie points at the cocktail glasses on the table after she signs the words, bright smile on her face. Callum loves his sisters, he does, but they do take advantage of him being nice way too much. He grumbles but he still gets up and makes his way to the bar regardless.

It’s only when he squeezes past the people blocking his way and his view of the bar is clear, does he see a face he didn’t think he’d see again behind it. A face he desperately wanted to see again. It’s the guy from the other week, only this time he’s only wearing a black dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to expose his forearms.

Yeah, Callum’s definitely interested in him.

He slides up to an empty space at the bar, waiting for the man to finish up with his current customer and take his order. Recognition washes over the guy’s face when he turns and faces Callum, the same smile from before tugging at his lips.

“Hero! What a nice surprise.”

His voice is even smoother than it was in Callum’s memory and he does seem pleasantly surprised to see Callum in front of him right now. It calms the erratic beat of his heart a little, because it’s better than disinterest or the guy not even remembering him at all.

“I didn’t know you worked here.”

It’s a ridiculous thing to say because he doesn’t know the guy at all; doesn’t know the first thing about him really.

“I don’t. Just helping out my mum for the night - she owns this place.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

The guy keeps looking at him and Callum is almost embarrassed to admit that he gets a little lost in his eyes, drowning in a sea of blue and grey. The moment stretches, their gazes locked on another for what feels like an endless time, but is probably only a few seconds. The guy seems to shake himself out of it after a moment, closing his eyes and seemingly shifting back into business mode.

“What can I get ya?”

“Uh, two Strawberry Daiquiri and a pint, please.”

His order is met with a nod and a sly smile and the guy gets to work straight away. Callum follows the movement of his hands with his eyes, watching as he grabs the bottles of alcohol and starts mixing the drinks.

“You here with some friends?”

It takes a second for Callum to register that the guy is still talking to him, trying to keep their conversation going while he’s making Callum’s order. It makes heat travel to his cheeks, because surely this means there’s at least some interest there from the guy as well.

Or maybe he’s just looking to make a good tip.

“Family actually. Well, kinda.”

The drinks soon appear in front of him and Callum scrambles to pull his card out of his wallet, when the guy behind the bar darts a hand out to stop him. In doing so, he touches the back of Callum’s hand with his fingers, making goosebumps break out over his arm at the touch. It’s like a current is running from his fingers right to his heart.

“It’s on me. Little thank you for the other night.”

He gives Callum a wink, smile still firmly in place. Callum can’t put it any other way, he’s completely bewitched by him.

“Well, thank you. Kevin.”

“Pleasure’s all mine.”

Callum gives the guy one last, flirty smile before he gathers his drinks and focuses on getting back to the table in one piece. The last thing he wants is to embarrass himself in front of the man right now. He does however hear the faint question from the other bartender about why he called the guy Kevin.

There’s adrenaline flowing through his veins though and he can barely conceal the stupid glee on his face when he joins the girls back at the table, sliding their drinks over to them. He almost feels like a little schoolboy again, getting the guy he has a crush on to notice him and flirt back and feel fucking good about it.

They fall back into easy chatter, talking about their work and what’s happening in their lives. Callum conveniently leaves out any details about the guy he’s infatuated with, only telling them about their first meeting in vague details. They think he should go for it, find the guy and ask him out. If only they knew the guy is closer than they think.

Nancy seems more and more distracted throughout the evening though, looking behind Callum again and again until finally, she slaps his arm and leans forward to him.

“Okay, don’t turn around now but the fit bartender keeps looking over at you.”

Frankie runs her hand through her hair to mask her looking over to the bar but when she looks back at him her eyes are as wide as the smile on her face and she pats his forearm excitedly a couple of times.

“Oh my god, he is. Cal, go get his number.”

“What? No, I can’t just do that.”

They don’t agree with that sentiment.

Over the next hour they keep pestering him about going back to the bar and getting the guy’s number. It’s futile to argue with them, he knows that from many, many experiences growing up, but he’s adamant that he’ll just make a fool out of himself and that they must be mistaken about his apparent interest in Callum.

In the end, he comes back from the loo to an empty table and a text from Nancy saying ‘go get him. we’re rooting for you xx’. Callum sighs and falls back into his chair, tipping the last of his pint into his mouth. He should’ve seen it coming; they were way too giddy about him going to the bathroom.

So much for a family night out.

He’s about to pocket his phone to call it a night when a bottle of beer appears on the table in front of him. When he follows the arm attached to it, he finds the guy, Kevin, on the other end, a beer in his own hand as he sinks into the seat opposite of Callum.

“Ben.”

It’s all he says and the confusion must show on Callum’s face because he huffs out a laugh and continues.

“My name is Ben.”

He tips his beer bottle towards Callum, waiting until he grabs his own and clinks them together in a silent toast, bringing them both to their lips in perfect sync.

“So not even close to Kevin.”

“Not even close.”

They share another smile with each other and it might be the alcohol flowing through his veins but from where Callum’s sitting Ben looks more than interested in him. More so, he looks almost hungry, full off barely restrained want now.

Maybe he’s also dying to get to know him; inspired to turn their chance meeting into something more.

“Hm. I’m Callum.”

“Nice to meet you, Callum.”

Ben buys them another drink once they’re finished and Callum doesn’t even notice the hours ticking by, too enthralled in getting to know Ben. They stay until the other bartender yells at Ben that she wants to close up and when they leave the bar with loud laughter spilling onto the street outside, Callum doesn’t feel an ounce of hesitancy when he accepts Ben’s invitation to continue the evening at his flat.

He feels good about this one. Really good.

He thanks his lucky stars for chance meetings.

#chweek2021 #callumhighwayweek2021 #ballum fic #my writing #this kinda got away from me #my attempt at humor i guess

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