Rated: T

I do not own Ben 10 or any other Ben 10 related media.

Midnight Rider: Part 1

The dry summer air was mixing with the climate-controlled atmosphere from the open window on the far wall of the bedroom. Oak tree branches were swaying in the night as each one came closer and closer to the house's exterior; grazing the siding ever so lightly. A young brunette tosses and turns in his bed as sudden mechanical noises from the outside ring in his ears. Turning his entire body away from the window he cups his pillow over his ears in an attempt to drown out the noise. No dice.

Engine sounds accompanied by the sound of squealing tires gradually became louder as the machine bounds down the street light lit road. Groaning with growing frustration the teenage boy rises from his nighttime cocoon, and rubs the lingering sleep from his eyes.

Who the hell would be out at…

He scans his nightstand for his alarm clock and reads the green display to himself.

…3 o' clock in the morning?

Ascending from his bed, the brunette shuffles his tired feet towards the partially open window and puts his face to the glass. Cupping his hands over his eyes—he squints—and sees a tall muscular figure standing nonchalantly in his driveway. Examining the dark figure for clues, his mind subconsciously pieces the clues together, and forces his lips to mouth a single word, Kevin.

Kevin? Kevin! What was he doing here—in my driveway—at 3 in the morning?

The young brunette's mind was racing at the speed of light, desperately trying to solve this puzzle laid out in front of him. Majorly confused, but somewhat intrigued, the still-sleepy teen pushes away from the window and treks back to his bed. Grabbing a black sweatshirt off his messy floor, he quickly zips it over his dark green shirt and heads towards the door.

Stepping over mounds of discarded clothing, he reaches the wooden door and quietly turns the knob trying to make a little sound as possible. Walking down the dark hallway, he tires his hardest not to wake his slumbering parents; who would sure love an explanation of his late night adventures. The first step of the staircase downwards lets off a slow steady creak.

Shut the hell up stairs, this is really not the best time.

Suddenly the only thing blocking him from the night that lurks outside is his front door, which he uses to spy on the unwelcomed guest. Still standing in the same—arms crossed, relaxed pose—the figure waits for Ben to meet up with him. He sighs and opens the front door letting a mass of fresh air meet his face.

----------

"What are you doing here?" Ben asks the taller boy with a questioning tone riddled with a twinge of anger.

The older teen lifts his gaze from the pavement below him and turns his eyes to face the questioning boy. Loose ends of his air flow with the ever-changing directions of the wind, then rest on the contours of his cheeks.

"I could ask you the same question, Tennyson," The raven-haired boy smirks as he shifts his weight off the wall he's been leaning against.

What is his problem? He shouldn't be asking me questions, because I'm not the one lurking around someone's house at odd hours of the night.

"Okay…" The brunette starts off. "I'm out here, because you decided to drive your car down my road at 3 in the morning. Because obviously in your mind, you thought that this was the best time to go out for a joy ride."

Ben stares off down the street at a flicker street light, then turns back quickly.

"Gewn's not home either," The young boy states sternly.

"Who said I was looking for her?" Kevin snaps while moving his face into a tough persona.

"I just assumed," He starts off. "Sorry."

Nodding his head in agreement, Kevin walks his whole body over to the other end of the driveway where the spotlight above doesn't quite reach. Walking over with a silver and white helmet under his arm, he walks over to where the tired teenager is standing.

"You need a helmet to drive a car?" The brunette laughs to himself at first, and then makes his chuckle audible in the still night. "Should I be worried?"

"Very funny, and no, it's for you," Kevin quips holding out the helmet and letting the spotlight catch every line of color.

"So, I need a helmet to ride shotgun?"

Getting fed up by the constant sass Ben is adding to the sudden conversation, the raven-haired boy lifts up the helmet and places it roughly on the brunette's head. Moving the now messy bangs out of Ben's green eyes, Kevin looks him straight in his eyes and motions to the motorcycle lying idle in the corner.

"You need a helmet, to ride with me though," Kevin sternly states as he double taps the top of Ben's helmet and walks off towards the metallic machine.

Since when did Kevin own a motorcycle, or better yet, since when does he take me anywhere him with?

Mounting the bike with his right leg first then his left leg following suit, he checks the pegs that his feet rested on. Pulling out a single key from his jeans pocket, he inserts it into the ignition and whole bike surges with life. Checking the gauges that illuminated the dashboard, he quickly revs the engine and feels the rush of adventure dash through him.

"This is about the time when you get on the back," Kevin says patting the space behind him, just big enough for the small boy to occupy.

"I-I…I've never really been on a motorcycle before," The brunette stutters out as he begins to draw imaginary shapes in the pavement with his left foot. "And I-I…don't really feel safe on one…"

Kevin sighs.

"You're a superhero Tennyson, you save the galaxy from who knows what—and you're telling me you can't even go for a ride around the block?"

Knowing the battle is over for Ben, he lets his crossed arms relax and fall to his side; making his way over to where the raven-haired boy is sitting. Hesitating before actually getting on, he examines the bike.

"Kevin, how the hell do I get on this thing?" Ben states as he looks directly at Kevin, who just smirks.

"You just—ya know…get on it," The older teen tries to motion with his hands, but overall confusing the younger even more.

Ben stares at Kevin with the same stare he does when his gaze turns to the bike, still utterly confused.

He gets off his seat and stands behind Ben and grabs his small waist with his hands. Lifting Ben up with ease, he sets him on the seat with surprisingly no complaints from the brunette.

"Just like a horse Tennyson," Kevin jokes taking his place in front of Ben, placing his feet on the foot rests again.

Revving the engine for the second time, he rechecks over everything to ensure a smooth ride. Looking behind him to check on his passenger, Ben's face is a mix of joy and shear horror.

Kevin feels a tap on his shoulder, "Only around the block, r-right?"

With a quick smirk the raven-haired boy turns his head back to the road in front of him, and puts speed to the motorcycle.

"Just hold on to me, you'll be fine," Kevin smiles as the bike accelerates down the deserted road.

Why do I have a bad feeling about this?