Mantinas-Yes, another story. This one will be a little different as I try to combine canon and AU elements. Think the episode 'Gwen 10' but a little different. Also, I expect this to be very long(more than 20 chapters-the largest amount of chapters I have written thus far) but I'm not entirely sure what all I'll use and what I may 'scrap'. Also...expect chapters of varying length.
Warning: Character death.
Italics are Kevin's thoughts and the Omnitrix's voice.
Disclaimer-I own nothing!
(X)(X)(X)
Kevin did mean to push him. He just did not think that the smaller boy would fly off the subway platform and onto the tracks…Right as the train they were supposed to crash and rob came through the station.
He grit his teeth in frustration. Idiot! if he only stuck with the plan, none of this would have happened! Footsteps running down the stairs alerted him of the incoming intruders.
Not in the mood to deal with anyone, least of all cops, he ran down the service stairs next to the tracks and hid as well as he could in the shadows to assess the situation. An old man in a red Hawaiian shirt and the annoying girl from the arcade earlier came down the steps, looked in ever direction—except the obvious—and cried out 'Ben!'
The old man looked towards the tracks. Kevin tensed, this was it.
"Oh my—Ben!" The old man shouted as he ran towards the ledge for a better look, Kevin pressing further back against the shadowed wall out of instinct.
"Grandpa…?"
Her grandpa ignored her in favor of his phone. Kevin could make out a few phrases that raised red flags. He was calling the cops as the girl balled her fists and screamed Kevin's name as well as a blatant threat, her grandfather shushing her then confirming they did, in fact, hear a woman say 'Kevin'.
Kevin was thankful that he never gave his last name. However, the relief was short lived since he knew there were not many boys named Kevin with a rap sheet as long as his.
Not wanting to be there when the cops came, Kevin crept silently down to the tracks. If he had his route times right, he might make it to another set of stairs before the next train came.
(X)(X)(X)
"Grandpa, what are we going to do about the Omnitrix?" Gwen asked once Max ended the call.
Max was silent for a while before he looked at Gwen. His grave look never left his face as he explained: "It should come off easy now that Ben…"
He did not finish as red and green lights began to flash down on the tracks. Vital signs at zero. Unable to repair. Scanning. Came a mechanical voice. Biological match found. Just then the Omnitrix shot up into the air and landed on the platform and then scurried over to Max, whose wrist it jumped on to. The dial in the center turned green and rose up to display the silhouettes of the alien species held within.
Neither said anything.
(X)(X)(X)
Kevin panted as he breached the surface of New York. He barely missed the train as he neared the stairs to the platform many miles from the scene of his first murder. His annoyance did not die down during the walk, either. His body seemed to radiate and move through him like an electrical circuit.
Spying an alley, he ran. As his back hit the cool brick, he let out a sigh. He tensed, however, when he spied familiar black and white tennis shoes. Raising his head a little and darting his eyes over he gasped. Ben, that idiot, was standing right next to him! Not only that, he looked fine! Except he did not seem to see Kevin, his eyes focused on everything else around them as if he had not seen them before.
"Everything's beautiful…" He whispered in awe, their closeness the only reason Kevin could even hear that in the first place.
"Uh, Ben...?" Kevin stopped. He had no idea what to ask, yet the inflection of a possible choice of question still rang in his voice.
Ben's green eyes finally looked at Kevin; at first in confusion, then in disgust.
"Too…" his final word being lost in a mumble as his hand reached out and touched Kevin, the movement so quick it took the older boy by surprise.
Yet Kevin's eyes did not widen until he saw Ben's body illuminate for a split second, only diminishing when he let go of his arm. But Kevin noticed that that was not all that was gone. All that anger, that pent up energy was gone, too. Kevin actually smiled as he looked at his hands and saw not a single spark ignite in either one. Ben smiled: "Much better."
Kevin shook his head, his smile had faded. What?
"Ben, what are you doing here?" Kevin groaned.
"Well, the last thing I remember was falling and a bright light." Ben said, a look of concentration graced his features. "Everything after that is jumbled up…And then I was standing here admiring how everything is and…"
Ben stopped when he saw the annoyed look Kevin was giving him.
"But aren't you dead?"
Ben nodded. "No thanks to you."
Kevin dropped his gaze down to his shoes. Guilt finally caught up with him. Yes, he had killed Ben, the only person in this hellhole—to hell with his 'everything is beautiful' shit—who gave a damn about him and he got creamed by a subway train. Kevin hazard a look at Ben and found the other eyeing him like he did their surroundings earlier.
"What's that look for?" Kevin snapped, not liking the look. It did not fit. "And why are you here? If you're dead, why aren't you…I dunno, not here?!"
"Don't you see how beautiful you are?" Ben seemed to ask in a calm voice.
Kevin had to laugh at that but found he could not. What with his greasy hair, lanky arms and legs, and torn, dirty clothes he was anything but beautiful.
"You are." Ben said matter-of-factly. "And I'm not sure why I'm here. But…"
"But…?"
"Isn't he a bit old to still have imaginary friends?" A girl in a preppy school uniform said as she and her girlfriend strolled past the alley.
"He looks homeless," the other one said, trying to whisper. "he might be crazy."
Wait a minute. What?! But Ben is right here!
Kevin growled. No one called him crazy and got away with it.
"Ignore them." Ben deadpanned.
"But,"
"No, Kevin."
Kevin sighed. "Fine,"
Ben smiled.
(X)(X)(X)
Kevin and Ben walked in relative silence, though it would have been quieter if Ben could hold in his amazement. His remarks only proving that only he could see Ben, a fact that made him feel worse and worse as his mind had time to process that tidbit of information. He thought of the stories he had read about the spirit of a murderer's victims would haunt them, making them feel guilty by their presence alone until they either confessed or killed themselves. Ben did not seem to fit that description, but he wanted to know why Ben was here. He did not say why earlier.
"Ben, are you an angry spirit here to haunt me because of killing you?" He whispered.
"No." Ben said happily.
"So, are you just a ghost? Or is this the Afterlife?"
"No, this isn't the Afterlife." Ben said. "As for being 'just a ghost', I'm not so sure."
"So what, you're some kind of Guardian Angel or something? Is this some sort of hero thing?"
"No." Ben said, actually sounding stern. "This is not about me or being a hero. I may not remember the exact reason I am back, but I know you are a part of it." He smiled. "I suppose I could be your Guardian Angel. But what kind of Guardian Angel has no qualms about not turning yourself in?"
It sounded like forgiveness. Something he felt he did not deserve. And yet Ben gave it to him as if it were nothing. As if reading his mind, Ben placed a comforting hand on his back and flashed a smile.
Kevin remained quiet after that.
(X)(X)(X)
Later that day, as the sun began to set, Kevin hunkered down in an alley between two dumpsters. It would not stave off the cold night air entirely, but it would take some of the edge off.
"I take it you're spending the night out under the stars because the cops will be at your hide out?"
Kevin nodded.
"So, what's the plan?"
Kevin shrugged. "Can't stay in New York, though. They'll be looking for me. Heh, it's a miracle we—I haven't been found yet."
Ben nodded, not mentioning the slip that came out a little too easy. He was still alone, their partnership ending abruptly, a friendship that technically only lasted a couple days. He was still alone. Or was he? Ben was here, right? Maybe not alive, but he still talked to him, still hung around him.
"Huh," Ben said after digging through one of the dumpsters, effectively derailing his train of thought. "Now why would someone throw a perfectly good blanket away?"
Ben tried to pick it up, but he only brought up empty hands. Curious and hopeful at the prospect of warmth, Kevin stood up and located the treasure Ben had found. It was a red and white quilt. The wavy, floral designs one might spy on an old lady's bed. Perhaps she had died under this? Looking around, he saw no one but Ben and him in the alley.
He noticed Ben's hands passing through the quilt and with a small grunt to let the other know he did not need to try anymore, he picked it up and wrapped it around his shoulders, wrapping himself in its warmth.
He sat back down and sighed. He would sleep better now.
Sleepily he lifted his eyes and saw Ben smiling down at him as he drifted off to sleep.