Chapter Text
As the curtain fell on the final set, the accolades continued echoing around. The hall had been practically filled to the brim tonight. It was their final show in the last leg of their international tour.
Benedict’s blood was thrumming along to the rapid claps of their audience. Sweat dripped down his nose and to the stage floor right before he straightened from his bow. His colleagues followed. He stepped forward and took his place center stage, his hands finding his colleague’s and the director’s.
The sound had just started to die down when the curtains were drawn again and it returned like thunder accompanied by appreciative whistles and screams of love and appreciation drifted down to them, all melting into a wonderful roar. He took his bows again. Front, side, the other side and finally, the front again with a big flourish.
Throbbing lights, lasers and atmos accompanied thumping beats of a bass rich music. It was a proper club and half the crowd was their dance troupe having the time of their life. Drinks were passed around as if they were an assembly line before people broke off into groups - some nursing drinks, some finding corners, some splaying on couches and some intent on burning the dance floor uninhibited. Yes, they were a professional dance troupe but dancing at the club was a different experience. He knew it and how.
“Not taking to the dance floor, Bridgerton?” Sam, a supporting dancer of their troupe and a long time colleague piped up a few feet away from him.
He took a swig of his drink, awaiting the slow buzz it offered before grinning and shaking his head. “I’m all danced out, mate!”
Sam clapped his shoulder and moved a little closer. “Are you trying to show off?” he squinted.
Benedict laughed. “What do you think?”
“I think you are.. biding your time before finding a pretty someone to dry hump out there,” Sam gestured at the dance floor before winking and taking a swig of his scotch.
“You know me so well,” Benedict winked back at him and leaned back to finish his drink.
“Woah, there! Slow down,” Sam sat up, a tiny bit of concern flashing on his face.
“Its just the first drink,” Benedict shouted back and pushed himself up to go order another drink.
He gestured for another drink as soon as he caught the bartender’s attention and turned to view the absolutely packed dance floor. He could feel his muscles screaming for rest but his bones sang a different song. In fact, that song was suspiciously like the 130 beats per minute song the DJ had started playing not even a few seconds ago.
He turned back to the counter to find a fresh drink placed a few inches away from his elbow. Looking up he caught the bartender’s eye to thank him. Someone slid closer to him right then and he looked over to see a pretty blonde with tinsels in her hair and a mini dress standing right beside him. He spied a red drink in her hand.
“Hi,” she smiled and tilted her head.
Benedict turned to face her and smiled his “devastating” smile, as his childhood friends used to call it.
It wasn’t long before he found himself pretty buzzed and almost falling into her. She was just as buzzed and had giggled and pushed him away before dragging him by the wrist to the dance floor. Heat, sweat and writhing bodies welcomed him. There wasn’t too much space as almost everyone they passed were busy grinding into each other or on them. Finally, they stopped at a slight clearing and she turned to him.
With her arms thrown around his neck, his hands found her waist - bare and a little cool to his fingers. She started to press herself into him and he obliged, bending his knees and letting his hand roam her exposed back. The lights flashed and he closed his eyes for a second. He felt a hand on his jaw and he pulled back only to feel her kiss him square on the lips.
He hummed and kissed her back, while pulling her closer by the neck and waist. His knees buckled a bit and a laugh escaped his lips. She giggled and planted another kiss on him.
“Looks like I made you weak in the knees, huh?” The blonde yelled into his ears and fluttered her eyes.
He dove back in for another kiss, his companion welcoming him with equal fervour. He kissed her jaw and her neck and bit into the flesh between her neck and shoulder. He felt fingers in his hair and a loud moan in his ear. They were breathing hard and it felt like the world had become hot. He could feel himself burning up on the inside, thanks to the many ministrations the woman in his arms had bestowed on him.
“I..” his chest heaved.
“Come with me,” she spoke into his ear and bit his earlobe to tease him further and grabbed his hand.
They stumbled on the few steps away from the dance floor and found a place that looked..discreet? It was quieter here, the music from the dance floor, almost muffled. He felt the back of his knees hit something and the next instant he found himself bouncing on what felt like a bed. A bed? He wondered and blinked before looking around him.
The pretty blonde grabbed his chin and kissed him hard. “..been wai…be-”
“Huh?” He couldn’t understand. He wanted to sit up and tried to push himself up with his hands but he felt them being pulled away and pushed above his head. Something didn’t feel right. He thought he saw something move in the corner of his eye. Blinking hard, once, twice he tried to check what it was and at the same time tried to push her away.
Hands found his waist and then his pants. He felt a hand cup and rub him slowly. The blonde came back into his vision and he tried to smile. “Wh-wai–” His words were swallowed up by her mouth as she placed a hard and bruising kiss. But the pain was only for a moment. It went away as if numbed. A weight settled on his hips and he could feel her hips grinding against his. But that feeling was slowly melting away too. He wanted to lift his arms but.. Something felt very wrong. He was.. He shouldn’t feel this way, huh? He didn’t eat anything wrong? Ugh, why was he feeling so hot? He wanted to tear at his clothes but..
He felt himself being lifted and his jacket was being pulled? What? “Uhh.. waifh,” he tried to say but his tongue felt heavy. “Listen, I don feel–”
“Oh no, you will feel good soon enough, my love. My Benedict,” a voice whispered into his ear and a rough tug was felt at his arm.
He should get out of here. What is going on? A dreadful feeling crept into his stomach but everything felt woozy and numb and..like nothing mattered. “I, I should..” He heaved and pushed as hard as could at whoever was straddling him. A yelp was heard from somewhere beside him. He needed to.. Get out of here. With as much strength as he could muster, he dashed out of there, or rather stumbled. The stairs swam in front of him and his grip wasn’t strong either. He slipped the last few steps but he somehow righted himself with the help of the wall beside him.
He heard his name from afar. He looked back in response.
Someone was following him.
No.
I should leave.
I should.. Get help.
- * - * -
“Hello? Yes, I need an ambulance at the overground station!”
..
“..vitals are stable. Patient is breathing but bleeding from..”
..
“Are you the one who called?”
“Yes.”
“Ma’am, are you with him or do you know his family..?”
“No. I just.. He was about to fall onto the tracks and I.. Is-Is he okay?”
..
“Is there anyone who can accompany him?”
..
“It would be much appreciated if you could accompany him to the hospital.”
.. “Okay.”