Ben x Gwen
Teen; violence, language
Hear Me Cry: AFFECTION : Part 1
Ben, Gwen, and their grandfather walked along the deserted street of an (what seemed like) old abandoned little town. They had heard rumors about the little town. There were aliens- no surprise there.
What was added, along to the darkness of the town, were the gray skies and forlorn trees and flowers. The scenery really did ruin one's high spirits.
Gwen was walking close to Ben, unconsciously. She was just someone drawn to walk next to him- which she assumed was because of the Omnitrix wrapped around his hand. Their grandfather was walking closer to the small houses and restaurants, examining them, whereas Ben and Gwen were straying around the streets.
Max pulled the flashlight, that he was holding, closer to his face, and shined it through the dusty windows, and in to the dusty restaurant. "It looks fairly empty, except for some old looking furniture. Getting some mold there," he added.
"Grandpa, now's no time for your.. silly statements." Gwen quirked a brow at him, but kept an awkward smile on her lips. She could imagine her strange looking expression, and kind of wish she didn't make it. With that thought in mind, she quickly changed her expression to a frightened one.
This time, Gwen was clutching the flashlight- since Ben dropped it the time before. It had frightened them both very much.
Ben suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, and Gwen nearly bumped in to him. "I think I just saw something. Ahead," he pointed, though it was completely needless (since there was only one "ahead").
Gwen's hands were by her chin now, slightly shaking in fear. She glanced to all sides of her, but saw nothing. "It's like a horror movie..."
"Which makes it exciting," Ben said, squinting ahead.
Gwen ignored this, then glanced at one of the window's of the many shops. She saw something move- or so she thought. "I think I saw something move in there," she pointed towards one of the shops- which was larger than most around the town.
Ben scoffed, "Probably your imagination. You couldn't think you saw something there, even if it hit you right in the face." Not much logic there, but it worked, and Gwen stalked over toward the shop to make sure she saw something.. that could move.
With her hands against the window, and her face only an inch or two away from the window, she scanned the entire scene. Absolutely nothing. For all she knew, it could've been a mirror image from another shop. But even so, it could close in on them at any time.
This was one of the most dangerous situations they could be in- not being able to know where your "enemy" is..
The next moment went by in a flash- something completely incomprehensible.
As soon as Gwen started to walk away, something burst out of the window (she was just at) and grabbed her, then quickly ran away, using the tops of the shops.
"Gwen!" both Ben and Max screamed; Ben at the top of his lungs (assuming that Max was too old to do so).
Ben's mind was racing, and he quickly started running after the.. thing that took Gwen. Meanwhile, Max dashed, or jogged, back over to his truck to chase after them.
All Ben could think of was speed and Gwen. Barely even looking at the Omnitrix, he switched to XLR8.
Within a few moments, he caught up with Gwen and whatever was kidnapping her. "Gwen!" Ben exclaimed, stretching out a.. hand.
Being nearly suffocated by the grasp and the speed they were going, she stretched out a hand toward his. Her whole arm was incredibly strained and shaking. Half by fear, and half by the cuts from the window. Blood was trickling down her arm quite heavily, and rapidly.
Against her will, her body moved on its own, and her hand retreated. The blood was flowing out at a more steady pace now.
She reached out again, this time moving her body as closer to his as possible.
Ben decided to push all risks aside now, and dashed forward even more, to get a hold of Gwen's shoulders.
Everything was blacked out right after that, and Gwen decided that she had finally been suffocated.
Gwen awoke, what felt like, seconds later. She was in a dark cold cave, with a waterfall not too far from her. It was emitting a strange glow, but the orange haired girl ignored it. She didn't feel any further pain, besides from the various scratches on her arms.
She assumed that Ben's short amount of time to stay in a different form ran out, and since they were running along rooftops, fell down and got bruised. Either that, or he, in some extraordinarily miraculous way, stood on a rooftop unscathed.
Gwen slowly stood from her spot, a bit sore from laying on the small rocks, and cold from the ground. She rubbed her hands for warmth, while approaching the eerie waterfall.
She reached one hand out towards the waterfall, and it burned her pretty severely. She quickly withdrew her hand. She picked out a stray twig on the ground, and stuck it out in to the waterfall. It completely dissolved.
It's like acid, Gwen thought. Pegging what was left, of the twig, in the acid waterfall, she resumed looking around the cave. I wonder where that strange thing went. She walked deeper in to the cave, then hesitated at the point where she couldn't see the bright acid waterfall anymore. Afraid of what was beyond it, she turned back towards the waterfall.
She stood only a couple feet away from the waterfall. She wanted to get out. Against the wall now, she climbed over the edge of the cave, but the acid waterfall was beginning to burn her a bit. She couldn't see it, but she knew that part of the back of her shirt was gone, even so, she continued.
When she looked down, she nearly slipped. It wasn't as high as she thought, but it was pretty high. About a mile, at least. Which was a great relief to her.
On her way down, she kept thinking about Ben and her grandfather. She really wanted to be with them. Of course, she wouldn't admit it. Wanting to see her annoying, embarrassing cousin? Yeah, right.
Half way down the hill, with the most strangest thoughts of Ben, she saw the kidnapper-thing come out from a cave above the one she was just in. It looked down at her, and she gasped in fear, whilst her heart skipping a beat, then immediately began climbing down.
Gwen's hands began to sweat even more now, in panic. She struggled frantically to get down to the safe ground. With its amazing speed, she wasn't surprised to see how quick it was climbing down.
The orange haired girl wanted to cry so badly- and she was, indeed, sobbing. She didn't bother to wipe the tears away, as she would lose her grip if she did so.
She was only twenty feet to the ground now, while the alien thing was around fifty- and quickly gaining speed.
Her sobbing became louder. She lost her footing in a panic, when the alien thing glared down at her. She yelped almost quietly, slid down a bit, then replaced her footing.
Why, exactly, was this thing chasing her!? She kept asking herself, as she climbed down the hill.
At five feet to the ground, the orange haired girl finally slipped off. She fell on her back, not as painfully as she thought, but with the addition of the burns on her back...
She saw the alien thing look down at her, then change its position to one that was going to pounce someone. Gwen flipped herself around, then began crawling frantically away from the spot. She heard the alien land behind her.
"Ben.." she croaked. She didn't think her voice would come out in such a way. She noticed that she was thirsty. She continued to army crawl away, until she felt a foot on her back, then something cold touch her head.
"Where do you think you're going, girl?" it rasped. Its voice was very scratchy- sort of life XLR8's. "You're our hostage, you can't leave."
Hostage? the girl thought. Why should they have a hostage, when Ben was just vulnerable right before it? There was not much logic, unless there was something else to it.
"We have acquired information that you are one of Ben's most loved ones," the alien said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Gwen's heart pounded against her chest, and she couldn't tell why. There was no way- not ever- that she would be in love with her own idiot of a cousin. Forgetting the matters at hand, she said, "Well, you need to get your information checked again. That's totally wrong."
She felt the cold material pressure against her head, and when she tried to get a glimpse of it, she saw that it was a gun attached to the aliens' arm.
"Heh," Gwen grinned at the alien. "How would that idiot find his way here?"
"Obvious prints," it rasped. It looked around at the rock walls surrounding them, including the acid waterfall and opening to the place. "If he can't find them, I'll probably have to kill you, and lay you somewhere completely obvious."
Gwen's grin disappeared, and she furrowed her brows even more. "Go ahead, shoot me right now." She said, nearly absentmindedly.
He smirked, looking away from her, towards the opening in to the place. "Right, then." He looked back down at her, and Gwen looked to the opening.
She saw XLR8, charging full speed at them. And at the click of a gun, the alien was lifted away from the girl, and was flying back with the charge of XLR8. Gwen immediately stood, and staggered backwards. Her back was burning.
XLR8 smashed both himself and the alien in to the rocky wall, where, suddenly, bursting out of the surrounding rocky walls, similar aliens came out.
Gwen could see XLR8 take the alien from the wall, run pass her, then forward, and peg him at the wall. Enormous rocks broke out above it, and collapsed over him- and surrounding aliens.
XLR8 ran over to Gwen's side shortly afterwards, and asked: "Are you all right, Gwen!?" The Omnitrix sounded, and he reverted back to his original, human, form. He furrowed his brows, as he looked from one arm, to the other; of Gwen's. "What happened? Your back is all burnt too."
He walked pass her, and Gwen could feel her heart hammering against her chest for some unnatural reason. Ben looked over his shoulder, and to her burned back. He was even more angered now. Then he looked ahead, "Grandpa'll be here soon."
The other aliens, nearly forgotten in the moment, circled around the two. Ben and Gwen were nearly back to back now.
Now Gwen knew why the alien had taken her hostage. It was a simple plan: Hostage is taken right in front of people who actually care- speed equals time- which equals torture- which means the "victim'll" be terribly mad and fight full force- which then means even more a stronger force from hidden enemies. Which didn't make much sense, but it did to some extent.
The orange haired girl now wished that she still had the flashlight, but she had dropped it when she reached the first rooftop with the alien. "What now!?" she turned her head to one side of Ben, but her eyes were still focused on the surrounding aliens.
"We have to fight them off, until Grandpa comes!" Ben's back was against Gwen's (who's heart began to hammer even more), when one of the aliens charged at him. The brown haired boy raised his hands in defense- clasped around the alien's, and he pushed it back full force. It barely moved.
Gwen stumbled forward, when the alien rammed in to Ben- who was still standing. She coughed, as it felt as though the sand went up her nostrils.
Ben quickly turned to Gwen, and helped her up off the ground. But the rest of the aliens charged at them, and they both flew back.
They heard a truck coming in a short distance, and Ben must've saw it, because he grabbed Gwen by the arm, and pulled her over him, to his side. The truck ran over the spot that Gwen was just at, and rammed in to the rest of the aliens.
It was obvious that Max was being a bit too careless- or reckless.. But it didn't matter too much, since the aliens were killed.
Their grandfather rushed out of the truck, while Ben was, again, helping Gwen stand. She jerked away from him, and said, "Thanks".
"Are you two all right?" Max asked, jogging to them. "I'm not sure if they're all dead, but we should leave now, just in case." The two nodded, and they headed back over to the truck and left.
Ben looked over his shoulder, and saw one of the aliens twitching. He couldn't tell if it was still able to actually move, or if it was in some kind of torturous pain.
"I think there's a lot more of them left," Gwen said, worriedly. "I mean, did you see the caves around the walls? There just had to be more left."
"Let's not worry about that right now, Gwen," Max said. "You better get the first aid, and fix those burns and cuts."
Gwen headed over to one of the cabinets, but nearly stumbled as the road was rather rocky. She held on to the lower table for support, but Ben had come along and grabbed the first aid from the cabinet. She sighed, as she wanted to show that she could do it herself.
When they both took a seat by the usual table, in the truck, Ben said, "Don't push yourself." He handed the first aid to her. Gwen was about to retort, but changed her mind, and just barely nodded.
Almost every time she dabbed the cotton on her wounds (which had the medication on it, of course), she winced. It stung really badly.
"Want me to help?" Ben asked, staring at her with the expression of boredom.
She nodded, absentmindedly. "My back." The girl turned to face the window, so that the brown haired boy could actually rub the medication on it. She watched him prepare the cotton, making sure he did it right. He took a seat beside her, though it was a bit awkward, since he had to face the table; because he would fall over if he stood.
She could feel the cold medication cream on her back, and Ben was more gentler than she had ever thought. But it stung, nonetheless.
Her heart was hammering so roughly against her chest, and she felt terrible- it was like when you're so incredibly nervous around some specific person. The thought struck her then. Did she like Ben? How could she? It was.. unthinkable! Love between cousins isn't supposed to happen!
She panicked then. It would make everything all awkward. If they even became lovers, it would make everything even more awkward. It was like.. when someone asked you 'who are you going out with?'. You'd be like: 'Oh, y'know! My cousin!'
Love between anyone related to you.. it's just plain strange! No, not wrong. Can't say that. Like homos. You don't make fun of homos. That's just not right. Love is love. That's right. Love is love. You love the person, so why shouldn't you be with them?
In this case. They were cousins! It didn't happen!
But.. She couldn't deny it. She loved him. As a cousin! As a .. boy. She hated herself for it- and only just realizing now. It's okay to love your best friend. But in the same family. Strange.
The feeling of utter nervousness went away. She sighed deeply, and was extremely happy that her grandfather cut in with her sigh.
"'Fraid we're nearly out of gas. We'll have to find a place to sleep in- which is at that old town. Tomorrow, we'll look around for gas," Max said- as it was, indeed, getting very dark.
They stopped the car in front of a two story restaurant, about five minutes later. Ben and Gwen still hadn't finished cleaning her wounds, but they would resume as soon as they finished searching the restaurant for anything strange. Gwen grabbed the first aid kit, while Max grabbed the flashlight, and Ben.. a pack of batteries. It was probably because he had the urge to carry something, as everyone else was. Or, he was actually being smart, because they would certainly need extra batteries.
Max and Ben did pay close attention to the restaurant, but also to Gwen, they were afraid she'd get kidnap again. Gwen had the greatest urge to finish fixing her wounds, since there was a lot of dust around, and she got a bit paranoid. Infection was one of the last things they'd need then.
"Hey, I'll stay right here. I really want to finish," she held up the first aid kit. She took a seat on one of the red cushioned stools, and opened the first aid kit.
"Ben, you stay here with her. I'll finish searching the place," Max said, and walked up the staircase.
Ben, somehow, found a light switch in the mist of dust. The lights flickered, then lit. He, then, continued to help Gwen on her wounds.
While Max searched the floor above them, they were silent. All the while, Gwen's heart was pounding against her chest, and she was wondering if Ben could either hear or feel it.
After they bandaged both her arms and back, they started searching the place- leaving the second floor to their grandfather. But they didn't find anything worth saying. It was probably the most awkward silence that Gwen had ever felt in her life. She wondered if Ben thought it was awkward. It didn't seem like it was to him. He looked so interested in the place.
Max came back down the stairs minutes later, to find Ben and Gwen still wandering around the place. "We'll sleep on the second floor. I think it's a lot more sanitary than this floor." They nodded, then he led the way back up the stairs.
There were actual couch-like seats with tables on this floor. Gwen hopped on to the most cleanest looking one, Ben took one a few couch-table sections away, and Max slept another few sections away; by the door to the first floor.
Gwen didn't even want to lay her head on the filthy couch, still. People sat there, for eff's sake. It was like lying on their ass. Which wasn't very pleasant. But she couldn't sleep sitting straight, since doing so would ruin her back (although, it actually takes a little while to do that, and she wouldn't want any neck sore as an addition to her already painful pain).
So, she grabbed the first aid kit, which was on the table beside her, took out a giant roll of gauze, and set her head on it. It wasn't all that comfortable, but it was much better than laying on the couch.
She couldn't go to sleep. Too uncomfortable. She sat straight, and looked over to Max, who was already sleeping, then Ben, who was looking out the window.
She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it before, but she unrolled some of the gauze, ripped it out, then placed it over the couch. "Ben, catch." She tossed the roll of gauze to the boy, and he caught it; rather swiftly.
"What do I need this for?" he asked, stupidly (as Gwen would put it). He examined the gauze, as though it had some strange disease on it.
"Use it like a pillow case- not a pillow," she added, as he laid down on the couch, and put the entire roll of gauze under his head. "Oh, whatever.. if it works for you." She laid back down, and stared at the ceiling.
"Gwen, you're okay, right?" Ben asked, with a hint of concern in his voice.
"Yeah." A tinge of heat spread across her face, she was glad she couldn't see Ben right then.
"Sorry, I took long."
Gwen could feel her face burning now. She hated how it felt. It was so strange, to her. For some odd reason, she felt like it was the perfect time to tell him. How she felt.
"Ben, I.." Her heart was beating roughly than ever before. She could barely breath. Her mind was spinning, and she could barely think- even though she was thinking about a million things. It was so awkward. "I.." She sat straight, again, and looked over to him, to make sure he was awake. He was.
"I-I.. I like you, a lot, Ben!"She could feel her face burning. Like it was in a fireplace. It felt like everyone in the world could hear her heart beating- Ben and Max for the most part. So loud.
But she didn't want a misunderstanding of this. If they happen to be so entirely ignorant, and say, "I like you, too!" Completely disregarding the other's expression- or even the emotion they put in it. 'Course, you can't really blame them for being so dense, or out of it. This made her want to say, "and not in a cousinly-relatively way!" She knew, though, that that statement would ruin the entire atmosphere.
She saw Ben's expression change. Sad. Gwen's heart sank. "Sorry. Gwen, I.. I don't like you in that kind of way. I mean, I'm your cousin-"
"So!? What does that matter!?" Gwen exclaimed- ignoring her grandfather's presence. She was so mad. So what if they were cousins!?
Now the rest of their time was going to be spent awkwardly! She was so pissed at him- at herself. She had gotten her hopes up, since that alien thing had said that she was one of his most loved ones-- one. It had only just occurred to her. One, he said. Not just most, but one.
"I can't see you that way. I'm sorry, Gwen."
This statement wasn't necessary- and Gwen's eyes started to fill with hot tears. She quickly stood from her seat, and without taking another look at Ben, ran to the staircase.
"Wait- Gwen!" Ben exclaimed, starting after her.
"Don't follow me!" she said, and ran down the stairs.
"Gwe--"
"Ben, leave her be." Max had awoken by all the yelling. He sat straight, a few seconds later, to look sternly at Ben- then laid back down to sleep.
Ben walked slowly back towards his seat, attached to the wall. He slumped down on to the couch- back against the wall, and feet stretched over the couch. His hair shadowed his eyes, and he stared down at the gauze in his hands.
He could hear Gwen crying quite considerably downstairs. He didn't go to sleep, until he knew that Gwen was asleep. He probably wouldn't be able to go to sleep at all.
He knew he said something stupid, and wanted to take it back. But he couldn't lie to her. He couldn't say that he liked her back- when he really didn't. It just wasn't right, he knew Gwen wouldn't like it.
It wasn't until a couple hours later, did Gwen cry herself to sleep. Ben cursed at himself, for making her cry so much. He had to resist the urge of just walking downstairs to check on her.
He hated the fact that she was down there by herself. Glad that there was no door, he crept down the stairs slowly, and sat on the step closest to the floor. He looked over the stairs' railing for Gwen, and saw her scrunched up by the staircase (against the wall), and when he moved back to the steps, she was unseen.