A/N: Okay, this is my first try at a Law of Talos/Kiwi Blitz fic. I don't even know if it has its own category, but I absolutely love the fanmade series, and of course Benzene and Steffi, even if Mary Cagle says they're not meant to be as a couple. (*coughcough* LIEZ) but anyways, I was bored one day and decided to make this plot bunny into a twoshot. Hope you like! Btw, this fic is written in Ben's POV.
Disclaimer: I don't in any way own Law of Talos OR Kiwi Blitz or the characters, Benzene, Steffi, or Employee Girl. Isn't that sad? D:
I've never thought of myself as a brave kind of guy.
I was always the guy watching from the sidelines, watching things happen and wanting to do something about it but never did. Even when I was a kid, in those fantasy games children play, I always wanted to play the hero. But I never got to. There was always some other kid who fit the role of a hero way better than I ever did. So I contented myself with watching everything unfold from the sidelines, wondering how it would feel to be part of the action.
But then I met Steffi.
As cheesy as it sounds, it would be a lie not to say that she changed my life forever. Her bright and daring outlook on life inspired me. No matter what it took or cost, she'd do absolutely anything for the thrill of it. Why she chose me, a realistic, sarcastic kid, as her best friend, I'll never know. But it wasn't long before she started sucking me in and dragging me along with her schemes. Don't get me wrong, it was an exciting experience at first, but you can only take so much of Steffi and her "adventures".
I'll be honest, when I first met Steffi, I made fun of her German accent (she's grown out of it by now). She was pretty withdrawn and sullen, but I think that mostly had to do with her parents' divorce she was going through at the time. We took taekwondo classes together, and it took a lot to get Steffi to come out of her shell. I guess it goes to show that when I didn't know her I thought she was quiet; but when I did get to know her I wished she was.
We met when we were both really little (back when she was blonde. Yes, her pink hair is dyed). In fact, if I look back into my memories far back enough, I remember her running around with two, normal legs. But when the accident happened, when her leg got shot off by a malicious jerkwad of a robber, I was extremely upset. Who wouldn't be? But Steffi bounces back fast. The doctors thought she would need physical therapy with her new mechanical leg, but the very next day she was back to her normal, crazy self. As if her life hadn't been threatened at all. "Hey, Ben, guess vat? I got my leg blown off!"
Sure, there's been several times when she's gotten extremely upset with her fake leg for breaking apart on her, but for the most part, she's kept her upbeat attitude.
Although I'd never admit it aloud, but to this day I admire Steffi for that. Even though she had been young at the time, she had it in mind that she was gonna be the hero and stop those bank robbers. And she lost her leg in the process. Ever since then, I've vowed to protect Steffi with my life. I would prevent anything else from happening to her.
Steffi's dad, Mr. Frohlich, owns the company, Mecha Machen, so Steffi and I pretty much grew up with mech. It's our second nature, really. In our spare time, we find it fun to upgrade old mech (Steffi's favorite, Kiwibot, for example) and construct new ones. As a little kid I had always enjoyed putting together those toy airplane kits and stuff like that, but when Steffi and I were old enough to really get into mech, it was like a whole new world to me. I found my talent in engineering, piloting, and being a mechanic... oh, and keeping Steffi out of trouble daily, of course. (I call her an accident waiting to happen.) And I've always wanted to join the army when I get older, too...
Anyway, so when Steffi and I heard about the tournament in Taitle, two words registered to me immediately: bad news. But of course Steffi insisted on going. So she left, and naturally she had forgotten and left behind her spare mechanical leg. And naturally, I was dragged along to return it to her. Joy. Call it luck, but I showed up at the right time and saved Steffi's sorry butt from this poison-specialist lady. Steffi sure knows how to pick her opponents, because next we ran into a blonde psycho with a monster bird.
I gladly took a blow from Karl that was aimed at Steffi, even if it almost took my life.
Because, whether she knows it or not, that was my way of making it up to her for how much her friendship impacted my life.
"Why? Why do you always have to play the hero?" I remember Steffi crying indignantly at me before I slipped into unconsciousness.
Well, Stef, I guess I got tired of playing the sidekick.
It was my turn to be the hero this time.
