Standard Disclaim: I own nothin': Well, not Ben 10, Ben 10K, Alien Force, or all related materials. Man of Action does.
Chapter I: Future Imperfect
Sometime in the near future:
A lone figure, clad in a brown coat, slowly trudged his way from the Plumber's Earth Facility to the first of three stops. Five minutes later, he came out of the store, clutching a small bouquet of purple flowers. He then made his way to the Bellwood Cemetery. Of the many engraved headstones, only one matters to him- a medium sized stone, beautifully etched with Japanese and English: Juliette Yamamoto-Tennyson- Beloved Wife, Daughter, Friend. The figure kneeled and placed the flowers near the headstone, then softly kissed the cold stone.
He softly spoke, "Hey, baby. It's me. Ben. I just wanted to say how much I love you. You truly were the light of my life. I….I…"
He couldn't finish, and Benjamin Kirby Tennyson, known to the rest of the Universe as Ben 10000, turned and walked away. Moments later, Ben made his way to his small apartment carrying a bottle of strong bourbon. He sat in a small chair near an end table. On that table was a picture taken long ago- during happier times. Ben then poured a shot and brought the glass to his lips. He knocked it back, grimacing as the warm liquor poured down his throat. Another shot followed, then another, and another. After five minutes, Ben felt the pain of loss drift away, as well as any semblance of sanity.
The repeated knocking stirred Ben from his stupor. He rose and growled at the door, "Keep your pants on! I'm comin'!" Opening the door, he came face to face with his cousin, Gwendolyn, and her long-time love interest, Kevin Levin.
"Oh, Ben…you're …drunk…." Gwen stated, before adding '…again…", saddened at the sight of what her heroic cousin had become.
"Yeah, nice of you to notish" Ben slurred, clearly in no mood for his cousin's sympathy or his enemy-cum-friend's comments. "Whattya want ?" Ben inquired.
"Well," Kevin began, "we wanted to know if you wanted to join us for dinner tonight. I got sumthin' special for Gwen."
Ben stared at the couple, before shaking his head. "Not tonight. I gotta take a raincheck" Ben stated, eyes darting to the table.
"OK, OK, Ben- don't come to our party. You're gonna miss out" Kevin said. "Come on, let's leave the sorrowful drunk to wallow in his misery."
"OK, Kevin. Give me a minute, OK?" Gwen entreated. Kevin nodded, before leaving Ben's apartment. Gwen turned to her cousin. "Ben, I understand how you feel, but you can't let this rule your life"
Ben stood, anger and shock crossing his features. "HOW THE HELL do you understand how I feel??!!" Ben yelled. "You didn't hold the body of your loved one, feeling their life slip away while you're helpless to save them. You didn't drive to that person's parents' home, explain that their only child is dead. So tell me how you can understand it- cause I sure as hell don't." Ben finished, anger slowly ebbing to annoyance.
Gwen silently stood, bearing her cousin's anger. When she spoke, she softly said, "You're right, I don't understand. But Julie was my friend, too. And her death angered me also. But I did not drink myself into a hole, like you did. Ben, please. For your own sake- stop hurting yourself. How do you think Julie would see you now?"
Ben could only stand in silence, as he pondered Gwendolyn's words. A car's horn broke the moment. "Ben, I gotta go. Promise me you'll take care of yourself?"
Ben glumly nodded and replied, "Yeah, Gwen. Now go enjoy your date!"
The door closed and Ben was alone. He was always alone. After Julie's death, his loneliness only amplified. He dropped into his recliner, and soon drifted off to sleep.
A/N: And that's the first chapter. I revised this after advice from my muse, Kage-Okami-Kogo. She inspired me to write this!!!
Reviews and criticism are welcome. Flames will be used to bake mah cookies!