In Eden chapter 3

Ben still didn't sleep well.

He looked out the window every night. Gilbert wasn't outside. And there were no fire tricks.

For a long time, Ben tried to get rid of thoughts about that night.

He thought about what would have happened if he had tried to get closer, to praise Gilbert, to ask him to repeat what he was doing. He could have asked him how he didn't burn himself; it didn't look like it was hurting him.

Ben was in a daze, and he working even worse tnen he used to. No one expected anything good from him, but he had fallen further in his mother's eyes. He felt ashamed of himself. On rare days, he managed to focus on work, prayers and sermons. When he was able to scare himself enough, he realized that his entire body was expressing his thoughts as clearly as if he were shouting them out during his daily prayers. Everyone would stop and look at him with anger in their eyes. In that case, the day dragged on slowly, and Ben's anxiety intensified.

He went from one extreme to another, but none of them helped him rest at night.

Ben gave up after a few months. He wouldn't rest until he saw Gilbert's tricks again.

Just once.

Gilbert didn't react to his gaze with the same annoyance. Ben felt that Gilbert was more indifferent. And if he asked politely, Gilbert would show him his tricks. And Ben could sleep-work-pray without any unnecessary thoughts.

One day, he decided to ask about it. There were few places in Eden where he could have a private conversation. And that day, Ruth didn't leave his side.

Until bedtime, Ben didn't have a chance to sneak into the barn.

Ben went to bed disappointed. He screamed into his pillow.

"If I don't get some sleep tonight... "

He bit into the pillow with his teeth.

Ruth wouldn't leave him tomorrow either, or the day after, or any other day. She had been watching Gilbert closely after his mistake.

After waiting for a moment of complete silence, Ben decided to leave his room. For some reason, Ben was certain that Gilbert was still awake.

Their rooms were located on opposite sides of the corridor, and Ben was taking a big risk. He wasn't sure which boards to avoid on the far side of the corridor.

He managed to walk half of the way without making any noise.

Much quieter than Ben had expected in the deafening silence, a foot creaked under his foot.

Ben stopped and listened. The brothers were snoring softly in their rooms. Ruth was asleep on the first floor, just below Ben. He was only a few steps away.

Ben froze.

His hand was just out of reach of the doorknob. He could barely hear Ruth's footsteps, which were distinct and unmistakable.

Ben knew he should have gone back, but instead he ran to the door without looking down.

The door opened downstairs.

With a trembling hand, Ben tried the handle. The room was locked.

Ruth called out to him. Ben was afraid to look up, but he could hear his mother coming up the stairs.

Ben had to wait for some kind of punishment until tomorrow.

He scolded himself for giving in to temptation. Ben cried and hoped that someone like him could be forgiven.

He should have waited longer. He should have waited until Gilbert was gone from his mind forever. No matter how many sleepless nights he had to endure, he should have waited.

But what was strange was the punishment that Ruth had chosen for him.

She told him to separate the bad apples from the good ones in the barn.

And Ben was able to play the upset well in front of his mother. And then walk with a flying gait to the place of work.

Gilbert came later. In these lowered arms and the dark circles under the eyes, Ben saw himself. He was right: Gilbert was not sleeping either.

“Hi!”

Gilbert nodded at him.

“Why were you trying to get into my room?” asked Gilbert, sitting on a crate of apples. Ben, on the other hand, started working right away, just so he wouldn’t have to look directly at Gilbert– Ben hadn’t thought that Gilbert would want to talk to him, and he was embarrassed.

“I … Well … I wanted to tell you that I liked what you did with the fire. Whatever it was”.

He turned to look at Gilbert. He didn't seem to believe him.

“Thank you”.

“I wanted to see it up close”.

A little hesitantly, Ben added:

“Even if my mom doesn’t like it”.

Gilbert responded more openly:

“Maybe when I get better at it, I’ll show you”.

“Really? Thanks! And I… I wonder how you don’t get hurt while you're doing this?”

They talked throughout the work.

From that day on, Ben could call Gilbert his friend.

"In Eden" chapter 2.

Ben was having trouble sleeping. 

He heard strange noises at night, like someone coming into the garage. He could smell the distant smell of burning. He wondered if anyone else noticed it. If someone was being punished, it would be in front of the entire family. Ben would have known. Whatever was happening outside the window, it was clearly Gilbert's doing.

He'd be caught, it was only a matter of time. Ben didn't have much time to take a peek. The temptation was strong, but not stronger than his conscience. That was how it should be. 

He couldn't sleep, thinking about Gilbert for a long time. What was going on in his head? He seemed to be worried about something, but not in the way that Ben would be worried. Threats didn't affect him. He didn't care about being deprived of dinner or getting slapped.

Gilbert was as frightening and incomprehensible as he was interesting. 

Ben was afraid that once he found out what Gilbert did every night, all the mystery would disappear. All that would remain was the unmistakably frightening side. 

Ben was preparing himself to see something inhuman, something diabolical. He would no longer be able to think of Gilbert as the most intriguing person in his life.

The words of parents have always been confirmed, the word life itself adjusted to the sermons. Why should Gilbert be an exception? 

 His life will become the same as before if Ruth is right. 

On the other hand: what if Ben manages to become his friend without ever knowing the truth about him. His safety and, more importantly, the salvation of his soul are at stake.

"The sooner the better." Ben decided. Squeezing his eyes shut, he sat up in bed and stuck his head out the window. The wind blew across his face, and he could smell it. 

Ben opened his eyes.

Gilbert wasn't far from the house, and he wasn't hiding. Anyone could see him spewing flames. 

He lit a match, brought it to his lips, and a huge flame erupted. (Ben thought he felt the heat.) The fire illuminated his face. Then Gilbert leaned over the ground, spat, and wiped his lips.

Ben was amazed. He hadn't expected to see something so impressive.

Gilbert picked up a nearby canister. Ben held his breath in anticipation. But he didn't get to see the trick again. Gilbert looked away, and Ben saw Ruth approaching. 

His vigilance returned. Ben hid his head and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

He didn't sleep that night either, although knowing what Gilbert had been up to brought him a small measure of peace. However, it was nothing compared to the confusion and fear that he felt, as if he would be punished for enjoying it so much. 

It was also strange that he hadn't heard Ruth coming down the stairs. This old house made a lot of noise, and Ben knew what each sound meant. It was easy to stay alert here. Especially when it came to doing things against God's will. 

The next day, Gilbert was punished. Ben saw it, because everyone saw it.

#thebestgilbenfanfiction

"In Eden" chapter 1

It's been a month since Gilbert arrived at the farm, and Ben hasn't spoken to him once.

"He's indulging in despondency, and he doesn't want to resist it. He's addicted to self-pity. Don't feel sorry for him if you want to do him a favor," Ruth said. 

Despite her words, Ben wanted to at least have a little conversation with him. Maybe Gilbert didn't realize he was indulging in despondency. Ben could gently guide him in the right direction. Ruth probably wouldn't approve of this. Ben needed to improve himself first.

But it was a good excuse if he got caught. 

Ben quickly finished his work and headed to the barn without anyone noticing. 

Before entering, Ben looked around several times. There was no one there. But he couldn't help feeling uneasy. "God sees everything," they had written in their church. 

He peeked inside. Gilbert was ignoring the apples on the conveyor and staring at the wall.

“H-hi.” 

Gilbert looked at him with indifference and still started to label the apples. 

“No, I... I didn't come to check you... I... I just…” 

Gilbert didn't look at him. 

“Сan I… Can I stay with you for a while?”

Gilbert's face showed either anxiety or irritation. Ben was frightened by this and hurried to leave. 

“N-it doesn't matter. I'm sorry.”

In his excitement, he closed the shed, leaving Gilbert in the dark. Before he could get far, the door opened. 

Gilbert was standing in front of him. 

He looked frightening, with a slight twitch in his eye, his fists clenched, and his eyes red.

But for some reason, Ben couldn't take his eyes off him. 

"Go away," Gilbert said in a trembling voice. 

Ben ran away. 

Maybe Ruth was right. It was better to leave Gilbert alone. 

That evening, Ben regretted the decision to talk to him. Partly because his mother was right, and partly because he had chosen the wrong moment, making him feel awkward.

(Thanks for reading :3 I would like to dedicate this fanfiction more to the beginning of Gilbert and Ben's relationship. I'm doing something like a slowburn. I will be glad for criticism and any other comment about my work).

#fire #BOBM #MyGFisthebest #iloveyoubabe