Special Thanks to Bramblerose4 for betaing this.
Ben sunbathed, and put his clothes back on waiting for Rook to return. The hunter was true to his word, coming back within a half an hour, but he had someone extra with him.
"Ben, this is my brother Young One. Young One, this is Ben." Rook introduced the small Revonnahgander with a tail.
"You really are hiding an outsider," young one exclaimed, looking Ben over, and sniffing him, his fluffy tail wagging.
"Hey there," Ben greeted, letting the little one sniff him, kind of used to aliens doing that and other things by now, looking over at his new friend. "So you told your little bro about me? Or did he catch you sneaking out and had to come clean before he told your parents?"
"Actually I told them I was going camping and they told me I had to take Young One with me," Rook explained, "I told Young One the truth on the way here."
"Cool," Ben said with a nod. "So, Young One, what has Rook told you about me?" Ben asked curiously.
"Is it true you can turn into other aliens? Can I see one? What is space like? You are really pretty! What is your planet called? Can you take me on a ride on you ship when your family gets here?" Young One asked really fast.
"Umm, yes, I can turn into a lot of different aliens. Space is, well, really big. My home is called Earth. And I'm not sure about riding on the ship," Ben answered. "Mm, what were your other questions?" Ben asked not catching everything Young One said.
"Can you turn into an alien now? And I mentioned that you were pretty. You have nice eyes," Young One said, grinning.
"Oh, thank you," Ben said smiling, so Rook's race was just really complimentary. "And yes I can. Now let's see, who should I turn into this time?" Ben said flicking through the Omnitrix. "Oh, this one should be neat," Ben said, aiming to change into XLR, but changed into Ditto instead. "Umm not what I was going for, but this works," Ditto said with a shrug.
"It does not always work the way he wants it to," Rook explained to his brother. "So what does this alien do?"
Ditto then made three more of himself. "Duplication!" Dittos announced.
"Also can breathe under water," one said.
"And jump high!" a second one said, easily jumping and flipping over both Rook and Young One's head.
"Also quick at digging," the third said digging a hole quickly and reappearing under Young One lifting him up.
"So what do you think?" they all asked.
"Unthinkable," The young Revonnahgander cheered, jumping up and down, his tail twitching in excitement
"Glad you like us," all four said, as the one that lifted Young One put him back on the ground.
"He is very exciting, but I agree, our village would not welcome him very warmly," Young One said agreeing with his brother.
The Ditto's pouted feeling a little hurt but quickly covered it up "no worries," one said.
"Not everyone can handle my awesomeness," another boasted.
"Do not worry, my brother and I both like you," Rook smiled, trying to cheer Ben up.
"Some boys in the village may like you too since you are prettier than most of the girls," Young One added.
There was a ripple effect as all four started blushing. "Hehe, somehow I doubt that," Ditto laughed nervously.
"You Revonnahganders are real flatters," another ditto said, rubbing the back of his neck smiling and blushing. "Not that I mind though."
"I keep telling Ben how beautiful he is, but he never seems to believe me," Rook told his brother with a sigh, since it made it harder to seduce Ben.
"Wait, you were serious!?" The Dittos were so surprised they morphed back into one Ditto, his face bright pink.
"Of course, why would I lie to you about that," Rook asked.
"Don't know… just used to it I guess," Ditto shrugged.
"Why would being use to people calling you pretty keep you from believing me?" the hunter questioned.
Ditto cringed thinking about all the people that had said such nice things to him to get on his good side, only to then end up betraying him soon after "Just… experience" Ditto said before twirling around so his back was facing the two Revonnahganders, trying to hid his mood. "So which way to the cave?" he asked making more copies to look in different directions.
Rook led the way to a nice, warm, and surprisingly dry cave, setting down sleeping tarps for the three of them and pillows.
"Cool! Been a long time since I slept in a cave," Ditto said before changing back into his human form. "I'm surprise it's so dry and warm in here."
"Is there anything you need, Ben? Are you hungry at all?" Rook asked, happy Ben was back in his human form and his intoxicating scent returned.
"Hmm I am a little hungry," Ben admitted. "What about you Young one?" the hero asked the youngest in the group.
"I can always eat," Young One grinned.
"Then I will gather us up some dinner," the hunter said leaving the cave.
"So young one" Ben said smiling at the young alien after his new friend left. "Mind telling me a little about your brother?" the hero asked, figuring he could learn a bit more about Rook through his little brother.
"What would you like to know about Blonko?" Young One asked, "He is a great big brother."
"Yeah I got that much," the human smiled. "Do you know how many other people he's called pretty?" Ben asked trying to stay casual, wondering if Rook was a flirt.
"Only when he is turning down girls," Young One answered, sitting down on one of the beds. "He always tells them he thinks they are nice and pretty, but he is not interested."
"Dose that happen often?" Ben asked, sitting down on the one next to the small Revonnahgander.
"With most girls," the little one said, "he just does not seem to like any of them."
"Umm what about other boys in the village?" the outsider questioned thinking maybe Rook just didn't like girls in that way.
"He turns them down too," the little brother explained. "Blonko is very popular."
"Seems like it," the hero said pulling a pillow onto his lap. "Umm, have I been using the wrong name? Should I call your brother Rook or Blonko, or is Blonko only a name family uses?" Ben asked noticing how Young One always said Blonko instead of Rook.
"Blonko is my brother's name. Rook is our family name," the little one explained. "My brother seems to like you so he would not mind you calling him by his name."
"Alright, good to know," the human said nodding. "So this is kind of a strange question, and you don't have to answer this but, do you think Blonko just likes me as a friend, or umm, you know, something more?" Ben asked fidgeting with the pillow on his lap.
"He must like you a lot since he is going through so much trouble to keep you safe," Young One said.
"Yeah he has been helping me a lot since I got here," the human said looking down at the pillow smiling and blushing a little.
"Do you like my brother? 'Cause I would like having you as a brother-in-law," Young one said excitedly.
"Whoa, settle down. We've barely known each other for a day," Ben said blushing. "Anyways, even if I do, kind of like your brother in that way, I could never stay on this planet," Ben said trying to fight his own frown.
"My brother would leave with you if he thought you were his Amar," Young One said. "He would go anywhere with you."
"Umm, sorry, that didn't translate. What is an Amar?"
Young One grinned widely. "It means soul mate."
Ben blushed and lightly laughed. "I really doubt, I'm your brother's soul mate."
"Why not?" Young one pouted.
"Because I don't have that kind of luck," Ben sighed. "Anyways what makes you so sure I am?"
"Because my brother seems so protective of you and smiled a lot when he told me about you," the little one explained said.
"He did?" Ben blushed more thinking about the handsome alien smiling as he talked about him, before shaking his head, trying to will away his blush.
"So how long do you think you will be here?" Young one asked, wondering how long his brother had to win him over.
"I don't know, till someone finds me," Ben said looking out at the sky.
Rook came back to the cave carrying some fish and Amber Ogia, "Back with food," he announced.
"Hey welcome back, Blonko," the human said hoping Rook was okay with him using his given name.
The hunter's smile seemed to get even bigger hearing his potential mate calling him by his name.
Ben blushed a little seeing his new friend smile more "Thanks for getting all the food."
"Of course," the hunter said, wanting to make sure Ben did not go hungry.
Ben grabbed one of the Amber Ogia and managed not to make it explode as he bit into it.
Young one on the other hand let it get all over his face then licked it up.
The hero laughed. "Blonko was right, you are messier than me."
"It is more fun that way," the little one argued with a smile.
Ben laughed, "I'll take your word for it."
When Young One wasn't looking, Rook whispered into Ben's ear. "If you do make a mess I can help you clean it up again."
Ben blushed, feeling the alien's hot breath brush over his ears, and glanced at Blonko. "Thanks, I'll let you know if I need a hand," the human said smirking.
After they finished eating, they talked for a while before Young One curled up on his tarp to go to sleep.
Ben and Rook sitting together at the mouth of the cave looking up at the stars "Man, I'm so lost! I don't recognize any constellations up there."
"Would you like me to show you some of our constellations?" the hunter asked.
"Yeah," Ben said smiling at Blonko, before looking up at the stars again, the hero always feeling more grounded when he could see star arrangements he knew.
Rook moved closer to the human, pointing out the pattern in the stars, explaining what they were called and why.
The human shifting closer to Revonnahgander reaching out with his hand, and tracing the constellations with his pointed finger as Blonko explained the stories behind them.
The hunter moved closer to his potential mate as he explained a love story between two consolations.
"That's so sad," Ben frowned looking up at the sky. "They went through so much only to be separated in the end." Ben said the two of them so close now their arms were touching, hands almost brushing.
"That is why we call our soul mates Amar," Rook explained, "And why no one tries to keep apart two that are Amars."
"How do you know when you found your Amar?" Ben asked looking over at Blonko.
"From what I heard it is different for people," the hunter explained, "Some feel it instantly while for others the bond can take time. No one can really explain what it is like to meet your Amar, but I always thought I would know when I met them," Rook said moving closer to Ben.
"What do you think your Amar would be like?" the hero asked leaning his arm against the Revonnahgander.
"Someone I have the desire to protect, but can still take care of themselves," he explained.
"Anyone like that in your village?" Ben asked shyly looking away from Blonko.
"There are a lot of strong fighters in my village, but none that I feel protective of, or have interest in. A lot of them think I am a hopeless romantic hoping to find my Amar."
"There's nothing wrong with hoping to find your soul mate" the human said looking up at the stars.
"What about you? Is there anyone special back home?" the hunter asked, so he would know of any challengers for his potential mate.
"Nah, I used to date someone, but it didn't work out," the hero sighed.
"Why was that," Rook asked, not sure what a date was but figured it was a form of his word's courting.
"She pretty much wanted me to be someone I wasn't" Ben explained.
"Did she prefer one of your alien forms over the real you?" the Revonnahgander questioned.
The human laughed. "Well, one girl did, but the last one just didn't understand that I couldn't be a normal boyfriend and earth's hero and that I couldn't always put her first."
"I wish I could fight beside you," Blonko said "Then we could watch each others backs."
"Well my grandpa keeps trying to match me up with a partner's for missions. Maybe you could be my new partner!" Ben said half-jokingly.
"I would like that," Rook said, "I could see more of Space, and get to be with you."
"Yeah, I would like having you around," the human said smiling.
Rook smiled softly at Ben, gently caressing his cheek with his thumb. The hero blushing, leaning into the Revonnahgander's touch.
"You really are beautiful, Ben," Rook purred, leaning in closer.
"Your pretty easy on the eyes, too," the human replied with a smile, his eyes half opened gazing up at the alien, as the hunter moved in closer.
Ben close his eyes leaning in, then quickly pulled away hearing Young One stirring, in his sleep
"My apologizes, it was rude of me to move so fast," Rook said, thinking maybe human courting worked different.
"What? No, no that's not it, it's just that what if your brother sees us," the human said blushing.
"It is just a kiss Ben, so I can be sure," Blonko said, resting his forehead against Ben's, thumb brushing against his potential mate's lips.
"One kiss wouldn't hurt," the human said blushing, his emerald eyes looking up at amber ones.
Rook gently pressed his lips against Ben's, a spark going throughout his body. Craving more, he deepened the kiss.
The human felt his pulse quicken when their lips met. Leaning into the kiss as Blonko deepen it, his hand reached out to rest on top of the Revonnahgander's furry one.
The hunter purred into the kiss, the sensation proving what he thought before. "My Amar," Rook purred against Ben's lips, kissing them again.
The human gently pulling away from the alien. "You can't know that after one kiss," Ben said surprised, blushing madly.
"What did you feel during the kiss?" Rook challenged, cupping Ben's face.
The human thought for a moment. "I felt warm, happy, and… I felt my heart beating faster," he admitted.
"That is what I felt too," Blonko said, taking his potential mate's hand and placing it over his heart so he could feel it.
Ben blushed feeling Rook's heart rapidly beating, and softly laughed. "But that doesn't instantly mean were soul mates," he said lightly shaking his head.
"What could I do to convince you Amar?" the hunter asked.
"I… I don't know," Ben sighed hanging his head; a part of him didn't want Blonko to believe he was his Amar and leave the planet with him, only to discover later he wasn't The ONE.
Rook gave Ben a soft smile, "We can talk about it in the morning Amar, right now, and let us get some sleep."
"Yeah, sleep sounds like a good idea," Ben agreed, standing up and sliding into his bed, waiting till Blonko slide into his before he decided to say anything. "Ummm, Blonko?" when said Revonnahgander turned to face him, the human continued. "Just so you know… I liked the kiss," he said blushing.
"I enjoyed it too Ben," Rook purred, gently taking Ben's hand into his own, the human smiled, and gently squeezed the Revonnahgander's hand before drifting to sleep. Rook slept happily next to his Amar.
Young One was awake and smiled at his brother, and Ben, glad they liked each other.