Chapter Text
The phone rang shattering Colin’s evening. He glanced at the screen nonchalantly. His heart skipped a beat—his sister never called like this unless it was serious. “Colin! It's Pen…”
“Just tell me where you are.” He said immediately, abandoning the woman he’d been politely enduring that evening. She had been sweet enough, but polite conversation had run its course.
“Mondrich's. I don't know how...she—she’s so drunk. Like… almost passed out drunk..”
Colin didn’t need more information. He gave the brunette a nod that said sorry, done here, and was gone before she could protest.
>⩊<
When he arrived, the place was buzzing with laughter and music. His eyes immediately scanned the crowd, and there—leaning her head against the bar was his sister looking both exasperated and mildly amused.
“El, where is she?”
"You're here already?"
"My Uber driver was quick. Where's Pen?"
“She...she just changed,” Eloise said, raising her hand for a glass of water.
“Changed? You brought extra clothes?”
“God, no… we bought the souvenir shirt from the bar.”
Colin blinked. “Souvenir shirt?”
“Would you believe they only had kids sizes left? Sheesh." A bar tender handed her a glass which she gulped in no time.
Soon, Penelope emerged from the restroom. She wobbled slightly, hair half-ponied, lipstick smudged, mascara streaked down her cheeks. The bar's souvenir shirt—too tight by several sizes—clung to her curves.
“Awww, Benny's here?” she slurred, as she came closer. “Ooohh, nice to see you, Ben.”
Colin froze.
“Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you. Her memory gets… shuffled when she’s had too much alcohol.”
He let out an exhale, trying not to let his panic show. He took in her staggering form, the precarious way she held herself, and the obvious state of disorientation. “Do you need help walking, Pen? Do you want me to carry you?”
"Benedict Bridgerton? Carry me? Don’t humor me!”
Colin stepped forward just as Eloise grabbed Penelope’s arm. “Pen, Please do as he says. You’re not walking alone.”
Penelope groaned dramatically but let Colin gently support her. “Fine… fine… but only because it’s you, Benedict.”
He kept his focus strictly on keeping her upright, ignoring the tousled hair and the half-exposed bra strap. “Did you park nearby?”
“I, I didn't bring a car,” Eloise replied.
"What?"
"It's easier to book an Uber!"
Colin’s lips twitched into the faintest grimace. "Fine. Then, book it when we're at the curb. Unless, you want to take a long walk to your townhouse?"
Penelope hiccuped. “A long walk? Ben, I’m dying...”
“You’ll survive,” Colin said, steadying her step. “I promise.”
>⩊<
In five minutes, Colin and Eloise guided Pen toward the sidewalk. He kept one arm around her waist, her weight leaning heavily on him, and her words slurred into a soft, incoherent mumble.
“Okay, okay, I’m here!” A voice called.
They turned to see Benedict, wearing what could only be described as matching pajama top and bottoms. His hair was slightly messy, and he looked utterly bewildered at the sight in front of him.
Colin shot Eloise a look. “Did you send a text brigade?”
Eloise raised her hands. “Hey, I didn't know who else to contact! You were out, and Ben's place is nearby, so I figured either of you could—”
Penelope’s eyes widened at the sight of Benedict. Without warning, she lunged forward, her arms flailing. “Coliiiiiiiin!”
Benedict caught her, one arm steadying her, and looked utterly confused. “Just how much did she drink?”
“More importantly,” Colin's eyes narrowed, “why is she mixing the two of us? It's rather… bothersome.”
Eloise snapped her fingers to get everyone’s attention. “Guys, can we not be distracted? We just need to get her safely home."
Benedict glanced down at her. “My car's parked a block from here.”
Meanwhile, Penelope managed to grab Benedict’s cheeks. “Col… your cheeks are not so chunky anymore. What happened to them? They... they deflated.”
Benedict laughed, a soft, slightly embarrassed sound. “I’ve..I've stopped eating bread. That’s why.”
“But you love carbs!” She frowned.
Colin shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand. Seeing Penelope draped herself further toward Benedict’s side, mumbling something about exams or the weather, was not humorous at all.
Penelope blinked at them, “Why… are there… two of you?”
Colin muttered under his breath, “Why indeed.”
>⩊<
Thankfully, Ben's car was where he said it would be.
"I...I would have sworn your car was always black, not red, Col." Penelope examined he SUV.
Eloise stepped forward. “Pen, please! Get in. Now!”
Finally, they were able to maneuver her into the back of Benedict’s car. She collapsed into the seat with a dramatic sigh, leaning almost entirely against Benedict, one reason why Colin slid into the driver’s seat instead.
"Take the wheel, Col." Eloise said.
"Like I have a choice?"
The drive to their townhouse was short—barely ten minutes—but in the backseat, time stretched infinitely. Penelope began talking, “So… Colin, your date… she… nice? She… like… really like you?”
Benedict looked utterly lost. “I… I don’t know anything about a date.”
“Come on!” Penelope whined, smacking his shoulder lightly. “The girl! The one set up by your workmate!”
Colin, gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled patience, sighed, “She’s referring to my date.”
“Ah. Well… perhaps you can provide the answers?” Benedict inquired.
Penelope wailed, "Benedict, be quiet and drive! Col… just tell me about her!”
Colin pinched the bridge of his nose. “Uhhh, she was… polite. A bit charming."
"A bit charming?" Her eyes widened. "Did I hear that correctly?"
"We had some good conversation. Nothing more than that.” He quickly finished.
“That’s it? That’s… so boring,” Penelope groaned, dramatically slumping against Benedict again. “I wanted… sparks! Fire! Passion! Tell me there was—ugh—there was something!”
Colin let out a long sigh. “Penelope, there was nothing. I'm telling you, we are safe from any… sparks or passions tonight.”
“Safe… from sparks,” she repeated, hiccupping slightly. She now draped her arms over Benedict, who stiffened, clearly unsure how to navigate having a drunken lady use him as a pillow. She squeezed him into a hug, and brushed her hands over his biceps. "I swear, have your arms thinned out, Col? Weren't you going to the gym more regularly recently?"
“Penelope,” Benedict tried to gently push her upright without hurting her, “I… don’t think my arms are really the topic we should be discussing.”
“Shhh,” she shushed him, “You… promise me… no secrets. You… you’re not lying… about your date?”
“No secrets. She was perfectly ordinary. I promise.” Colin spoke.
“I like… ordinary sometimes… but… not too ordinary…” Penelope's words trailed off.
Eloise sighed, “Six more minutes. Just survive it.”
“Six more minutes. That’s all it is. I swear, Eloise… if she keeps confusing me with Ben, I’ll…”
Penelope snapped, "Just drive, Ben!"
>⩊<
The car finally rolled to a stop in front of the familiar red door. Colin and Benedict carefully helped Penelope out and Eloise let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you both. Truly.”
Penelope blinked at the door and then a small, astonished smile spread across her face. “We’re home? Wow… that was… that was quick!” She waved vaguely at the brothers, still swaying. “Thank you… thank you… for… helping us.”
Benedict, trying to hide his grin, gave a soft nod. “Of course, Penelope. You’re… wel—”
She stepped forward suddenly, and pressed her lips against his.
*smack*
Eloise's jaw dropped. Colin’s hand twitched on the doorframe, eyes in disbelief. "What the?" A twinge of jealousy ran through him but it settled heavily in his chest as he watched Ben's reaction.
“…a good night's kiss,” Penelope swayed gently before hiding behind Eloise.
Benedict grinned, “Errr, goodnight… Penelope.” Unable to resist, he turned toward Colin. “You may have had a blind date… but I got a blind kiss!”
“Wonderful,” he gripped the doorframe firmly.
“I can’t believe she kissed him… thinking he was you.” Eloise shook her head. “Let’s just get her to bed before she adds more surprises to the evening, shall we?”
Colin turned to his brother. “I think you’ve done enough, Ben. Maybe you shouldn't enter her bedroom tonight.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, would you look at yourself?! In your pajamas, at a girl's flat!” He shook his head, exasperated, before stepping in and almost slamming the door behind him.
"What the?!" Benedict laughed, unbothered. He found the whole display amusing. “That settles it then. The idiot does like her.”
>⩊<
Colin had only just turned when he heard it—a soft thud followed by an unmistakable squeal. His head whipped, and there she was. Penelope was on the floor, legs tangled, giggling like she’d just told the funniest joke in the world.
“PENELOPE!” Eloise shrieked.
Colin rushed to her side, dropping to his knees. “Pen, are you alright?”
“’M fine,” she sing-songed, cheeks flushed. “I tripped over the blasted old rug. Silly old rug. Silly old me.”
His gaze had already traveled downward, and his stomach dropped. “NO,” he said firmly, the word cutting her laughter short. “You’re not fine. You’re bleeding!” Sure enough, a thin line of red streaked across her right knee. “Bloody hell, Pen,” he reached out instinctively but stopping just shy of touching her until she nodded. Gently, he cradled her leg in his palm, inspecting the scrape. “El, where's your first aid kit?”
Eloise didn’t argue and instead, hurried down the hallway.
Penelope gave a dazed laugh, leaning back on her palms. “Sheesh, you’re so bossy when you’re panicking, Col!”
Colin didn’t even attempt a smile. “I’m not panicking,” he lied, slipping one arm behind her back and the other under her knees. “You’re hurt.” He scooped her into his arms in one fluid motion and she let out a surprised gasp.
>⩊<
“You’re lucky it’s shallow,” Colin reached for the antiseptic. “It could’ve been worse.”
“You’d make a good nurse, you know.”
He didn’t smile back. A question had been gnawing at him since the doorway and it rose to his lips before he could stop it. “Why did you kiss him?”
“Who?” Penelope blinked, confusion clouding her features. “Colin?”
“No. It wasn't—”
She shook her head, stubbornly. “But, I did kiss you.”
Colin froze, bandage still pressed to her skin. “What?”
“I kissed you. I’ve always wanted to.”
The floor could have opened beneath him and he would not have been more startled. “You… what?!”
Her laugh was soft, almost broken. “I drank too much because you were on that… that nth blind date…” She tilted her head, eyes fluttering open again, and there was hurt in them—raw, unguarded. “Why are you so blind, Colin? Why can’t you see me?” Her voice cracked, fragile and honest. “I’m right here. I’ve always been right here. In front of you.”
Colin stared at her, struck dumb, the words hitting him harder than any drunken slip should have been able to. Because they hadn’t felt like a slip at all. They had felt like the truth breaking free at last.
Their eyes met properly for the first time that night—hers glassy, his wide with shock—and then she broke it with a soft, almost giddy laugh. “I’m going to bed.”
“You’re not switching to jammies?”
She shook her head, her hair tumbling loose. “Too sleepy…” A yawn escaped her. “Nighty night, Ben, could you… please not tell your brother what we spoke of? It’ll be our little secret.”
Just like that, she was back to tangling names and faces, shuffling her memories like cards.
“Sure.” Colin watched as she curled into her pillow, already half-asleep, the faintest smile softening her lips. She had confessed… and then just as easily withdrawn it, and that was her right. Of course, it was. How could he argue with someone who wasn’t in her right state of mind? It would be pointless.
"It’s not true, though," he told himself fiercely. "I do see you. I always have." He let his fingers graze her flushed cheek, a fleeting, reverent touch. “Good night, Pen.”