Chapter 2: Lies
A.N.: I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
If someone had told Ben that he'd be offering to help Albedo out of going to jail this morning he would have called them crazy, but now as he stands wondering how this would go, nothing seems more possible.
He, of course, realizes how dangerous this is. That Albedo could be playing him. Ben hasn't been this open and in danger of getting hurt physically and mentally since he was ten.
That was a long time ago...
Ben quickly glances at Rook one last time, mentally apologizing for what may be the biggest mistake he's ever made, "Okay, put on a good show, then run. Meet me at the Mr. Smoothies closest to my house tonight, though."
Albedo nods slightly, "You had better come alone."
Without another word spoken, Albedo hit Ben hard in the face, making Ben fall back with a yelp, then Albedo takes off, jumping to the next closest building.
Rook looks up quickly, then runs forward to the roof, a few Plumbers close behind.
Soon Rook and the Plumbers make it to the roof and Rook runs over to Ben who's standing and clutching his face lightly, "Are you okay, Ben?"
Ben nods a bit, "Yeah...I think..."
Rook looks around, but doesn't spot Albedo, "What had been taking so long?"
Ben bites his lip and looks away, "Ah...we got into a bit of an argument over whether or not I'm tougher than him."
Ben hates having to lie to Rook, but he can't tell Rook the truth. Rook is too much of a by-the-book Plumber.
Rook seems to dislike his answer, but doesn't voice his thoughts and instead walks back down again with the Plumbers.
Ben looks down at them, sighing.
What if Albedo is just tricking him? What if Albedo will try to kill him when they're alone? What if he succeeds?
Just now, though, Ben sees what seems to be a bigger problem, 'How will I get Rook to leave tonight?'
Ben either stayed up patrolling with Rook most nights, or he'd go to sleep at the Plumber's base, so getting Rook to leave him alone would be hard. Not impossible though...
A little later Ben finally heads back to the Proto-TRUK and Rook, who had been reading something on his portable device, looks over at him as he climbs in and buckles up, "Where were you?"
Ben shrugs, "Just checking in with a Plumber to make sure my nose wasn't broken."
It's true that he had checked in with a medic Plumber, but he'd also been stalling his return to the Proto-TRUK. Now, though, he sees his attempt to wait for Rook to relax a bit was futile. Rook's still as anxious, curious, and slightly annoyed as he had been earlier.
Rook sighs and looks away again as he puts his device away and starts the engine of the Proto-TRUK, "I wish you would not lie to me."
Ben chooses to assume that he's talking about the conversation at hand, and not the lie from earlier, "I'm not lying."
"Ben," Rook begins, turning to look at him for a moment as he drives, "Neither you or Albedo seemed angry at each other earlier. Did you lie to me?"
Looking the other way, Ben considers his options. He can just tell Rook...or he can use this situation to his advantage...
"Seriously, Rook..." Ben sighs angrily, "If you think I'm lying, then it won't do me any good to tell you otherwise, would it?"
Rook glances at him again, "It would do me some good, since I would be able to see whether or not your left eye twitches."
His heart feels icy as he realizes that he lying to his friend for Albedo...his friend who knows him so much about him... 'Is it worth it?', he wonders, 'Yes...', he decides...he knows it is...but he isn't sure why. It would get rid of one annoy enemy. He can't figure out why he doesn't feel to bad about lying to Rook, though.
Ben turns to Rook, giving him a glare that he has trouble keeping on his face, "And the only reason you know that is because Gwen or someone told you, right? Well, maybe I'm tired of you knowing things about me like that. And maybe I'm tired of being second-guessed. Tired of people thinking that I'm weak...or immature!"
Ben opens his door, making Rook halt the vehicle with a look of shock on his face, "Ben, where are you going?"
Ben turns to him, trying to meet his eyes, but it's hard to, "Somewhere you're not."
Rook opens his mouth to speak, but stays quiet, as if shocked beyond words. Ben feels a pang of guilt. He can feel Rook's pain and the dangerous silence stretches out between them.
Ben turns quickly, knowing he would break if he stays any longer, and he can't break yet.
Now he has to get home. 'This had better be worth it.'
