Courtside Chemistry - Ben Shelton

Also (me again) a long ben Shelton about your first date? Like maybe Bryan had to give Ben the confidence to ask you out after being friends with you for so long and you’re both at a red carpet event when he does ask you in private and how that date goes/ what he plans and how he dresses and how it ends etc.

More Than Friends - Ben Shelton

Ben’s hands felt a little too warm, stuffed in his pockets as he shifted awkwardly. The red carpet was full of flashing cameras, people calling his name, but all he could focus on was you. You stood just a few feet away, smiling as you posed for a few photos. Your outfit was stunning, perfectly suited for the glitz of the event, and Ben couldn’t help but stare.

“Man, you gotta ask her out tonight,” his dad, Bryan, had told him earlier. “You’ve been friends for too long to not give it a shot. Just go for it.”

But the thought of ruining the friendship, the one constant he had, made his chest tighten. You and Ben had been friends for so long that asking you out felt like crossing some invisible line he wasn’t sure he was ready for. But here you were, more beautiful than ever, and Bryan’s words echoed in his head.

As the event wrapped up and the cameras shifted elsewhere, Ben caught your eye. “Hey,” he started, voice steady despite the nerves bubbling underneath. “You wanna get out of here for a bit?”

You raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at your lips. “Ditching the red carpet already?”

Ben chuckled, running a hand through his short curls. “Yeah, well, I had something else in mind.”

You followed him out of the chaotic scene, slipping into the quiet behind the scenes. The city lights outside the venue glowed softly through the large windows, casting everything in a warm, golden hue. Ben paused and turned to face you, the tension finally catching up to him.

“Look,” he started, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’ve been thinking… for a while now actually, and I know we’re friends, good friends, but I was wondering if you’d wanna go on a date with me? Like, tonight?”

You blinked, surprised but clearly amused. “Ben, are you asking me out on a date… after dragging me out of a red carpet event?”

He laughed, the nervous energy bubbling out as he looked away for a second. “Yeah, I guess I am. But I’ve had this planned, trust me.”

You tilted your head, clearly intrigued. “Planned, huh? Alright, Shelton, I’m in.”

The rooftop was perfect. String lights were strung up above, casting a soft glow over the cozy setup. A small table, set for two, waited for you in the middle of the space, with the city skyline stretching out around you. Ben watched as you took in the sight, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Wow,” you breathed, clearly impressed. “Okay, I didn’t expect this.”

“I’m full of surprises,” Ben said with a grin, pulling out your chair for you.

You sat down, still a little in awe. “So, when exactly did you plan all this?”

“Let’s just say I had it ready in case… I ever worked up the courage.” Ben rubbed his hands together, clearly still a little nervous despite the charm he was putting on.

The night was filled with easy conversation, laughter, and moments where the two of you just stared out at the lights below. Despite the fact that this was your first date, it didn’t feel awkward at all, more like an extension of the friendship you’d always shared.

Ben, however, was different tonight. A little more thoughtful, a little more attentive. He kept glancing at you when he thought you weren’t looking, and his smile held something deeper than usual. It wasn’t until dessert, though, that he finally let himself say what had been on his mind.

“You know,” he started, his voice softer than before. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. Like, a long while.”

You set your fork down, your curiosity piqued. “Yeah? What held you back?”

He looked down, fingers tapping lightly on the table before he met your gaze again. “I was scared, honestly. We’ve been friends forever, and I didn’t want to mess that up. But I… I like you. More than just as a friend.”

Your heart skipped a beat at his confession, the weight of his words hanging in the air between you.

“Ben,” you began, your voice soft, “you could’ve told me that sooner, you know.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, took a little push from my dad.”

You smiled, leaning back in your chair as you watched him. “And here I thought you were fearless on and off the court.”

“I am!” he protested, grinning as he leaned in slightly. “Just… not when it comes to you.”

The playful banter between you was easy, but beneath it all, there was a tenderness you hadn’t realized was there before. The night ended with a slow walk under the stars, Ben’s hand brushing against yours as he reached out to hold it. Neither of you said much, but the silence was comfortable, filled with all the things that didn’t need to be said.

As the two of you stopped outside your place, Ben turned to face you, his eyes filled with that same nervous energy from earlier. “So, was that okay? First date and all?”

You smiled up at him, squeezing his hand gently. “It was perfect.”

He leaned in then, pressing a soft, tentative kiss to your forehead before stepping back, his grin spreading wide. “Good. ‘Cause I’m planning on taking you out again.”

This laver cup edition was all a meme

oh how we have been FED

So who has the illegal streaming site for tennis? Bc I certainly don’t. But my inbox is certainly open!!

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We need you to write more for Ben hehe

I will, I will...

Maybe today I'll start another one shot🤭

Forced to root for Europe born to root for world

carlos v bshelton.. why are we pitying our beautiful queens against each other

This Laver Cup? More like Lover Cup

WRONG HOODIE ~Ben shelton

Pairing: ben shelton x male reader, carlos alcaraz x best friend reader, team Europe x reader, laver cup x reader

Prompt: you and your bf both plays the laver cup, but in different teams, what happens when you accidentally swap hoodies?

You would love to hang out with your boyfriend in public, go on dates, hold hands, hug, kiss…but you can't. Your relationship is a secret. Tennis isn't as open minded as you'd like, lots of people are homophobic, and will hate on you for being in a gay relationship.

But you love to share hotel rooms and locker rooms on tour, cuddling in the king size beds after getting confused stares from the receptionists asking if it got confused for a two beds room.

this time, you both got selected for the laver cup, him on team world, you on team Europe.

You couldn't book or choose the hotel. Since the teams slept in separated hotels near the arena, already reserved for them with every need.

When you arrived in Berlin, on a private jet with ben, you got the gear, the blue hoodie and your sponsor’s personalized for the event blue shirt and black shorts.ben got the same things, but in red.

You visit the arena, chat with the other players, share looks and smirks with ben, then head to Europe team’s locker room with Carlos alcaraz, seeing ben stare on him, he's jealous.

You're in the locker room with him, joking, he's one of your best buddies, you love playing with and against him

“Man, I'm so excited for this years laver cup!” He says with his strong Spanish accent

“Me too! I actually can't believe I got selected by Björn for Europe team, we'll win, we got this” you say with your accent, the one that drives ben crazy

“I really want to play doubles with you, or Grigor, but Borg alredy told me he won't make me play with him, I hope with you tho, we'd make a great doubles team”

“Me too, imagine me and you against ben and Taylor, crazy” you make up a scenario about it in your mind, alredy seeing ben sticking out his tongue at you when he aces you or pouting like a child when you'll make a winner on his side

“Oh Dios mio, it'd be a show, I hope it'll happen”

“Yeah…there won't be a moment one of us four won't smile”

You start to head out of the lockers, you see ben practicing with Cerundolo, he looks at you and his smile drops when he sees alcaraz putting an arm around your shoulder.

You notice that and smirk, blowing a little kiss to him

“What was that?” Carlos asks

“Nothing, I was just waving at ben”

“Waving, huh? Didn't look that much of a wave for me” he smiles, teasing you

“Carlos, stop. I was just waving at him”

“Whatever you say, man, no te creo” (I don't believe you) he says, still teasing. You came out to him years ago, and he never cared that you liked guys, more girls for him, no?

“Cmonnnn don't be like that now!”

“If I see you sneaking out of the hotel tonight I know why ahaha” he laughs, you were two seconds away from slapping him when ben run to you

“Hey y/n, carlos” he greets and hugs you, secretly squeezing your butt, then bumps carlos “ready to get beaten?” He continues

“Oh cmon, maybe in doubles it'd be a fight, but in singles you have no chance, ben” you say and carlos just laughs

“Then I better train for doubles more, have to get back to practice now, I'm ’bout to kick his ass” ben says, referring to the practice match he was having with Cerundolo.

You say goodbye and head out with carlos

“So…just waving, huh?” He says

“What do you mean?” You ask, confused

“He was holding your waist the whole time we were talking, no eres tan invisible, you know?” (You aren't that invisible)

“Shut up” you say, blushing, and he laughs

After some minutes you get to the hotel and before entering your rooms he looks at you one last time

“I hope you won't let him win if you play against him, we're still a team. And we have to win”

Before you could snap back he alredy closed the door of his room, you enter yours and throw yourself on the king-size bed.

After half an hour you get a call from ben

“Babe?” He says

“Yeah?”

“You got back at the hotel?”

“Yeah, with carlos, you saw us”

“Yeah…” he says, his voice lowering

“Why that tone?”

“What tone, babe? Just my normal voice”

“Don't tell me! You're jealoussss~”

“I'm not!”

“You areeee” you tease him even more

“And what if I am? Can you blame me? I have the perfect boyfriend, don't want you to get stolen from me” he admits

“I won't get stolen from you, love. I'm yours”

“Yeah… that's right…mine. Sorry about my jealously…but I miss cuddling you, sooo much!”

“You do? Awww, me too…but it'd be risky to one of us to go to the others hotel now…”

“Right…but I miss you so much, my enemy”

“Oh you want to cuddle the enemy now huh? You want to corrupt me” you play along

“Mhhhh is it working?”

“No.” you say, smiling, then continue “but I miss you too, so I guess I'll be careful enough not to get caught in your hotel…for tonight “

“Really?! Thanks babe, imma make this a special night, then~”

“Mhh I'm sure you will” you say

“See ya tonight, babe”

“see you later, love”

And the call ends.

That night, you sneaked out of the Europe team's hotel to go in the world team's one. You wore the blue hoodie and grey sweatpants, just saying you were going to give ben some rackets to the receptionist and she lets you go.

You knocked on Ben's room, and he opened right away, hugging you and kissing you softly. He closed the door being you and pinned you against it, not kissing you more roughly, with more passion, his tongue slipping through your lips and fight with yours for dominance.

After you did what you did (iykyk) you passed some hours cuddling, just enjoying each others company and whispering sweet things in each others ear.

At five am, you decided to get back to your hotel before the others woke up and catch you, you kiss ben one last time and leave, picking up your clothes, you didn't realize you picked the wrong hoodie. The red one.

At 8 am you started to get ready to practice at the arena with carlos, you were still sleepy, you barely slept in the time you came back to your hotel. You brushed your teeth, washed your face, put on practice gear and the hoodie, still not realizing it's the wrong color.

You leave the hotel, some people giving you confused stares, but you don't care, still recovering from last night activities.

Entering the arena, some other players where alredy there, having breakfast or doing some reflexes exercises in the gym. Carlos was eating some eggs with grigor, flavio and daniil, when you showed up they just stared at you, confused as hell and carlos with a smirk

“What?” You ask, obvious to the fact

“You changed teams?” Daniil asks

“What do you mean?”

“The hoodie, the world's one”

“Oh shit” when you realize you quickly take it off and put it in your bag. You avoid talking about it and sit at the table, carlos patting your shoulder and teasing you.

*team world's POV*

Taylor and Francis were eating while thanasi and Felix were doing some light cardio, when ben entered, wearing the blue hoodie.

“Dude, what's up with Europe's hoodie? You out of your mind?! Sponsoring the enemy!” Francis says, half joking half serious

“What are you- oh fuck! I'm an idiot” he takes off the hoodie

“Whose hoodie is that?” Taylor asks

“None of your business, assholes”

“Cmon don't be hard ben! Tell us!”

Before ben could talk the door opens, you poking your head in, the red hoodie in your hands

“Hey ben…i think we swapped them”

Taylor whistles and Francis laughs, I ended to give him his hoodie and he smiles, not caring about getting outed anymore, you two did it unconsciously.

He pulled you closer and kissed you right in front of them, a quick but passionate kiss, you were shocked, and when he stop you hide your face in his neck, embarrassed.

“What is it, babe? Embarrassed? I think that everyone realized were dating now…thanks for the hoodie, anyway” he says

You swap them and the images of you in red and him in blue alredy spreading. But the camera catching you to kiss makes the video go viral. So viral.

"didn't know you two were dating, lovebirds" Taylor says

"Yeah you could have told us ,ben" Francis adds

"Sorry guys...but you know how people can be...I guess we don't have to worry about that now tho, don't we, babe?" Ben says

"I guess we don't anymore" you say

*two hour later, Europe's locker room*

You were changing after finishing practice with carlos, he was on his phone, he teased you about the hoodie all morning.

You see him looking at IG, his eyes widening

"Y/n...what's going on with ben, huh? Your kiss is going viral" he says

"Look, in the worlds room"

"What?!"

You see the video, the camera in the room catching your quick kiss

It alredy had fifty thousands likes in only three hours, you're scared to see the comments, some are bad, most are shocked or happy.

You smile, you don't have to hide anymore. A

You now have to fight homophobia, you have less fans, but you're happy you can show your perfect boyfriend to the world, you can hug, kiss and cuddle in public without being scared to get caught.

You're happy and you know it.

A/N: I know I have to write the part two of the long fic but this idea was just too cute not to write. I made it a male reader because the laver cup is played by men but I could make a fem reader maybe in the tie break tens or smtg. Hope you like this! (Also I made a not on c.ai about this)

Ben you are not giving us a good time now....