Filling a Hole

Benjamin's constant presence was by now proving tiresome. In the short time you’ve known him, he had saved you and Jiaghan twice. Where the first time was an accident, he had now effectively and knownly warred on the Dragon Scales, sure that this was only the start, not the end of the conflict.

He was obviously correct in the need for change in the Matchsticks; any fool could see that. That he was actually trying to do something about it and change things should have pleased you, yet he proved to be insufferable, somehow. There was just something about him, to the degree that even just looking at him and watching him stand a watch outside the apartment was aggravating. The time had come, you realized, as the sun was setting, to make one last attempt at finding where his armor had a crack and drive a dagger in it, metaphorically.

"Ben!" You shout as you stormed down the stairs. "How long are you really going to be at this?"

Having approached from the city square, having gotten to know some of the other locals "I don't know what you mean" He said calmly, looking at you for a moment before turning his gaze back out to the streets.

"Sure you do. Do I need to put out a bedroll for you too, or do you plan on sharing mine? How long are you staying around here before you give up?"

Ben adjusted his posture, becoming more upright and rigid as he responded, heading up the stairs to avoid the shouting "You should ask yourself that question."

"What?" Your question was incredulous "I'm not the one going through a charade."

"Neither am I Liz." There was restrained anger in his voice that you hadn't seen or heard before "We keep coming back to this conversation, as if you think it’s eventually going to change. Trust me, I’m not here for any ulterior motives. You need to ask yourself, how long are you going to lie to yourself because it's easier than recognizing the pain?"

"Excuse me!" Your anger rose right over his, and quickly "Who the fuck do you think you are, acting like you know me? You can leave right now!" He looked behind him, having risen up to the top of the staircase, before speaking.

"I've been in your shoes before. I know what it's like. I grew up in Quarkhana, in the Nixedrun Sultanate. Even bigger city than Ten Forks, if you can believe it. You tell yourself that everyone is as miserable as you are on the inside because there's solace in the inevitable. You think everyone does the kinds of things you do in order to survive so that you don't have to feel ashamed of doing them. Worst of all, you tell yourself there's no good people out there, because somehow that's better to hear than the idea that there are good people who are out there who don't care about you or your problems."

Though he didn't speak loudly or viciously, his words still cut sharp, and he could see the wounds it caused in you. "I'm staying here Liz. That I’m here to have this fight whether you want me around or not really should be all you need to know that I’m not doing this to get in your pants, or whatever scheme you think I’m up to. I'm standing right here so that everyone can see that there are good people, and the people here haven't been forgotten about.” There was a pause, the passion showing in his eyes, as he gathered himself “I won't lie, you standing next to me would make me happy. Happier than when my Brothers finally make their way here too. I can see through everything that you’re a good person too. By the Ten Hells, you care more about that girl Jiaghan than some folks do their own flesh and blood. I don’t think even you realize it, cause you still keep her at a distance to minimize the pain if something happens to her. You're as disgusted by this place as I am, as everyone is. We can make real results Liz. We can do it a lot easier if we trust each other and work together"

"Fuck you, Ben" you replied angrily, feeling your fingers tremble. "Storming in here in your shiny armor and thinking you can succeed where everyone before you has failed, having been here for not even the entirety of a day? How fucking arrogant are you? You think we don't know how bad it is? If it was easy, we'd have taken care of it ourselves. We don't need or want you." You made a petty, dramatic shove against his armor, knowing it wouldn't move him in the slightest, before you walked away from him, down into the street.

"Where are you going?" Ben asked, concerned

Shouting loudly enough to be heard by most through the streets "I'm going to go get drunk and get fucked! Deal with it!" As you were about to make a turn down another street, you looked back at Benjamin, to find that he had not come after you, and had scarcely moved at all. Whatever he was playing at, he's committed to his role, you gave him that much.

With a growing urgency to get him out of your mind, you hurried into The Pond Scum, a dingy alehouse run by an eccentric Goblin lady named Swop. It's in-house brew was pungent and unpalatable to most, but it was strong, and most important, it was cheap enough that the denizens of the Matchsticks could actually afford it. You had just barely put your hands on the tankard you'd ordered before a familiar, unsightly face came towards you. Oggal, a persistent orc from Stoneheart has been trying to get with you for a long time. Unusually pudgy for an Orc, especially in these parts, he was an uncaring and judgmental lout, and made no effort to hide the fact that he would chase almost any female that walked on two legs. In your view of him, he was redeemed only by the fact that he refused to work for the Dragon Scales, it was a strong consideration that made the rest of him almost palatable.

"Hey there Liz. Haven't seen you around in a few days, thought something might have happened to you. Never can tell here, after all."

"I got tied up in business Oggal, you know how it goes." This was hardly the place to bare your soul, and Oggal would be the last soul alive that you want to confide anything in. He seemed unaware of your indifferent attitude

"Well, you made it out alright. You've got the gods on your side that's for sure. Hey, where's that little elvish friend of yours? You two been almost inseparable lately."

"Her name is Jiaghan,” You felt the need to drop her by name, acknowledging her as a person “She's at my place until she can find a new job. I needed to step out for a minute."

"Well, I'm glad you did." He leaned in to the point you could feel his hot breath on you "You know, I'd like to get you tied up in business one of these days."

"No,” Your refusal was immediate and emphatic “I won’t be made helpless, especially not in this town, and not with the likes of you.”

Oggal chuckled "Fair enough. I didn't mean so literal. Come on Liz, live a little. One of these days you're going to run out of options and see I'm the best choice you got"

You rolled your eyes, annoyed at the prospect that you were somehow at a loss of romantic partners. If he know you were here because you were trying to walk away from a man you could easily have, if only you asked, and one far better than this orcish slob, he’d be defeated more than weapons possibly could. Still, you reminded yourself you were here because, for the moment, Ben wasn’t who or what you had an appetite for. Oggal was offering, and though he was far from your idea of the ideal masculine physique, he’d give you what you felt you needed; a release of your stress and feelings.

You took a long, heavy swig of the ale, a gross mistake that you won't soon repeat. "Fine, let's go."

You made a short journey indeed of leading Oggal out of the bar; no further than the back alley of the establishment. Without a word spoken, you unbelted your pants and pulled them down to your ankles, before leaning forward and resting on heavy wooden casks of ale. The cool evening air should have felt chilling on your skin, but there was hardly any sensation at all. There was a numbness about you,

"Well, come along big boy" you bade him forward "You've been trying to get a piece of this since you got here, don't back out now."

"Oh don't you worry" Oggal said as he grabbed your hip with one hand, guiding his cock with another "I’ll give you everything you want". It was a sudden contrast as you felt his hefty Orc cock fill your pussy, but you felt no joy or pleasure for it being there. Not that your partner could tell, or was even concerned with it. Oggal was enjoying himself, his cock moving in and out of your pussy, and that was enough for him.

"Fuck" He let out as he found his rhythm "you don't know how long I've fantasized about this."

"Sure I do" you said between grunts as his whole body slammed into you "from the moment you first saw me. You told me as much than, and never stopped since "

"It pays to be stubborn" Oggal chuckled as he gave your ass a gentle smack in encouragement.

"Just shut up and fuck me" You’d put yourself in a position you had regretted immediately, and wanted out of. Giving that kind of encouragement might get him to hurry up, which is all you wanted. He had stopped for just a second to lift one of your legs in the air. Going even deeper, he returned to his fast and hard pace, being completely self-serving in his own pleasure. There was a beginning tinge of your body reacting, though this wouldn’t be called pleasurable.

Your mind seemed to have left your body, no longer conscious of the rhythmic movements in your pussy. Recalling all of the men you’ve had over the years and decades, they’ve all been like this. Oggal was probably the worst, being the most overtly unconcerned with whether this did anything for you, but the others hadn’t been dramatically better. They didn’t care about you or what you wanted or needed. That’s how they all are, you told yourself, as you’ve said as far back as you could remember.

Your mind’s eye looked to Benjamin. The human clearly was different; even someone as cynical as you had to acknowledge that much. Even if you were to have sex with him, and even if he said yes, which wasn’t even certain at this point, he wouldn’t be like this. He’d want you to feel as good as he does. He cared about you, and about other people in general.

He didn’t deserve the way you’ve behaved towards him, treating him as being the same as this brute inside of you. You admittedly quietly to yourself, that he was the kind of guy you wanted to have around you, and be with; you just didn’t think such men were real, or want to be around you.

You closed your eyes, instead imagining Benjamin. In a soft, proper bedroom, rather than in a nasty street behind a seedy tavern. You bit your lip, imagining how it would feel to be with someone you truly wanted and needed. Not just to fuck to scratch an itch, but as the saying goes, to make love to the man. Your heart fluttered at the thought: you were still far and away from loving him, but he was the closest any person in your life has come. Your body rose in heat and desire, feeling a rush that you couldn’t describe. It wasn't until you felt a sudden spurt of cum inside you that you were brought back into the here and now. You’d still walk away unsatisfied, as normal, but you’d grown closer than you had in years.

As you made yourself decent, Oggal dug into a pocket and pulled out a few silver coins for you. You surprised yourself as you shook your head.

"I'm not a whore" you muttered, not looking directly at him or the coins.

"Oh come now. This is how it works. You've never been shy about coin before."

"I said I'm not a whore Oggal!" You found your voice, and your passion, your eyes locking deep into his "Now you take those coins back before you need them to pay a surgeon to sow your cock back on."

The orc was more stunned than afraid, but he complied just the same "have it your way Liz. You and I both know coin doesn't come cheaply here. I'll remember this next time." He angrily shoved the coins back into his pocket, clearly disappointed.

"Shut up Oggal. There is no next time. This was it, now get out of my face." You walked past him before he could respond, heading back to your decrepit little home. Benjamin was unmoved physically, but at least relaxed enough to have made friendly conversation with a young halfling male passing through. Your body clenched in anticipation of him trying to shame you or gloat, but none came.

"Glad to see you. Did you have a good time?" He asked politely

"No, not really" You spoke quietly, and chose to spare him the details. You couldn’t quite bring yourself to look him in the eyes, feeling a sudden guilt, despite having done precisely what you set out to do.

"Well, I'm sorry about that.” He said with a kind shrug “You deserve one. With the stress and everything, you could use something to help you relax. Maybe next go round."

"Benjamin, can I ask a favor?" you had come quite close to him, finally looking him right into his eyes.

"Ya, of course. Anything Tralizznt, What do you need?" Using your formal name somehow sent a small shiver along the gentle hairs of your neck,

"I think I need a hug" You watched his eyes shift side to side slightly, as he processed the request. There was a slight smile about him as he responded with kindness " Of course. I’d be happy to do that, if that's really what you want."

You nodded quietly. It was an awkward affair, with him in such a large amount of armor, and you just not being used to this kind of affection, but the man was gentle, and quiet. There was a strong paternal instinct in him, you could see now in how he held you as a protector, not a lover. Your arms slowly wrapped around his lower body, just under his ribs, as you took deep breaths.

"I'm sorry," You began "I’ve been a bitch to you, and you don’t deserve it. This is just been a lot, and it’s really hard for me." You lifted your hands up to give the slightest push near his ribs, leading him to voluntarily break the embrace.

"I know." His slow nod gave a show of greater patience "Like I said, I've been in your shoes. I know how despair can poison a soul."

"How did you get out of it?" You asked

Ben gave a slight chuckle with his response "A good hit to the head knocked some sense into me. Maybe when this is all over, I'll tell you all about it."

"I'd like that" You started to make your way back up the stairs. Halfway up, you stopped and turned around to get his attention.

"Benjamin?" You called, getting him to look at you "You're welcome to stay with Jiaghan and me. Just, you know, forget what I said earlier."

A smile came across his face "Thanks. I'll be up shortly."