Chapter 3: New Hope
Recovering from the traumatic incident wasn't easy. Rook was taken for questioning as well and soon released an hour later. Max was awaiting him outside and had softly apologized, already reporting what Rook refused to believe. Ben was dead.
Afterwards, around a week later, a memorial service was held for the teen hero as loved ones, friends, and complete strangers arrived to give their thanks. It was a brief service but it was very special to everyone. Everyone important in Ben's life said small bits and pieces about him and soon enough it was Rook's turn to come up.
He had been dressed in strange earth garments, a suit and tie Max had called it, and walked up to the podem. His eyes faced the crowd as he began, "I had only knew Ben for a short amount of time but it was amazing. Ben has taught me so many new things about this world, lifestyle and basically everything. He was needed for me as I was needed for him. I wish I could have somehow prevented this from happening but Zombozo thought different. Ben will always have a place in my life."
And that was it. News about his death rocked the news and had been on there for weeks, the longest from Will Harangue. But after all the media quieted down, the Plumbers had become a dull job in a matter of weeks. Nothing was entertaining anymore and nothing important. All alien villains had ceased their evil ways for now and everything had become.. quiet.
Rook once again wandered the hall like a lifeless zombie, heading towards the main hall of HQ. He walked in seeing Gwen talking over to Max, excitement clearly in her eyes.
".. believe it! I found a way to restore him!" She cried out in happiness, lifting up to show her spell book.
Max shook his head, "I don't understand Gwen. Isn't that nearly impossible to achieve? Wouldn't you have to use dark spells to do that?"
She sighed, "I do but this isn't that bad. We just need a couple of items before we can do it. But I found another spell we can use to talk to him. He won't be alive but you'll be able to see him and talk to him like before."
"Before? Gwen, promise me this won't have consequences. Please promise me that."
"I promise grandpa. Let's go somewhere private so we can do the spell."
Rook took that chance to walk over to Max and Gwen, greeting them with a forced smile. Resurrecting Ben from the dead? How maddening would that be? "I finished my assignment and if I may ask, what are you both planning?"
Max chuckled, "Just the man I wanted to see. Come, let's go."
The trio marched their way up the hall until Max opened a unused office room. It was pretty large for a office room with a massive amount of empty space in the front of the room. Gwen made her way there and smiled at the room. "Perfect now I need some of your energy so we can start the spell."
Hand in hand, Gwen began to chant the incantation and a small portal began to appear right in front of her. "Evi Avatios!" She finished and watched at the portal brightened and increased in size. She felt her energy drain immesly and could feel the tense between Max and Rook. Frowning she shouted out, "Benjamin Kirby Tennyson."
The portal released a pink orb which soon grew and became a humaniod shape. The shape gained color and soon showed the person they had most missed. It didn't even have a chance to see it's surrounds before it was jumped.
"Ben!" She hugged him tight, refusing to let go. After a while she reluctantly let go, so the other men could see him.
"Kiddo," Max ruffled Ben's hair playfully. The boy looked pretty good now. He was dressed in his favorite jacket and a white shirt with some cargo pants. The previous injuries were gone and he looked the same before the accidents.
Ben smiled, "Yeah, I've missed you guys. It got so boring there.. but I met Grandpa Max's dad and mom."
"Mom and Dad?"
He nodded, "Yeah, they're pretty cool. Unfortunately I found out where you got your taste in food," He stuck out his tongue in disgust.
Max rubbed his neck, "Always wanted to keep that a secret."
Bright green eyes glanced at Rook and he grinned, "Hey partner."
"Hello Ben, though we are not technically partners anymore," Rook added.
Ben rolled his eyes, "Way to kill a mood. Thanks for saving me Rook."
"You are very much welcome," He punched his shoulder lightly, "I have missed you very much."
"I can tell, I've been watching everyone since.. you know," He shrugged and looked away, "I'm sorry about.. getting kidnapped. I was watching right outside my room when.. they grabbed me. I should of done something so-"
"Shut up Doofus," Gwen hugged him once more, "I don't care what happened. Just so long as you're with us for a while."
"So I heard that you're thinking of bringing me back," He mumbled, looking away softly.
Sensing his sadness, she grabbed his cheeks so he was forced to meet her eyes, "And what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing it's just," Ben sighed, "You have to use dark spells to get me back. They're evil and bad, that's why they call them dark. They call for a sacrifice and we don't know them. It could be you have to kill someone to get me back or I come with no memory or something like that. I don't want our family to be more ruined than it already is."
"Ben, it's already ruined. It wasn't your time. You.. You need to come back, understood? I will do anything to get you back," She sobbed as she hugged him tight.
He smiled softly and stroked her hair before his image flickered, "Guess that's it."
"No, you can't leave!" She cried out, refusing to believe that the spell was already wearing off.
"It's okay, you can use that spell to see me anytime. But don't overdo it, kay? I love you guys," He waved goodbye as his silhouette vanished.
Gwen fell onto the ground, tears dripping from her face onto the floor. She shook her head and wiped away her tears, clearly upset. "We should do that spell at Ben's house later. The more people I use energy from, the more longer the spell lasts."
"We can do it tonight if you want. Or tomorrow? That was a pretty exhausting energy drain," Max muttered, scratching his head.
"Tonight. Ben's parents will be so happy," Her green eyes lit up and sighed. "Ben can be so stupid sometimes. Same old Doofus."
"I'll call everyone to meet over there. See you later Gwen.. and please don't do anything that we'll regret, okay?" Gwen nodded and rushed out the door without another word.
Max shook his head slowly and glanced over at Rook, "I'll be expecting you over at the Tennysons' household correct? I've been seeing how you see my grandson."
Rook nearly choked, "Excuse me Magister?"
"Don't play dumb with me Rook, I've seen how you used to look at Ben before everything. I know you feel something for him," He smiled softly.
The alien shook his head, "Is it that noticeable. I did not want anyone to realize.."
"It's alright," He waved away, "I do feel sorry for you though. You should be heartbroken by what happened."
"I am sir. I.. do not want to talk about however. I would like to return to my quarters thank you," Rook mumbled and walked out.
Everyone had arrived to see Ben once more that night. Sandra and Carl had been ecstatic when informed they could see their son once more in the land of the dead. They had eagerly jumped onto the idea of seeing him and bringing him back soon.
Kevin had also come, happy to see his old best friend again. He had been devesitated when hearing the news of his death and had isolated himself much during that week time. Gwen had helped him out of his funk, taking him to Mr. Smoothy's and buying him one of Ben's old favorite drinks. He had forced it down and kept mumbling, "Wish Ben was here" or "When I see that stupid clown, he'll regret it."
Gwen's family had come, including Ken, who had been happy to miss one of his major exams in college just to see his dead cousin.
Rook had come as well, feeling completely awkward as everyone gathered around the living room and held hands. Gwen's eyes lit up pink as she began to speak the spell once again. The same thing happened like last time, a portal appearing and soon releasing a single soul.
Ben appeared, rubbing his eye and stretching, "Man I'm never used to that. It feels like I'm getting sucked out of t-"
"Ben!" Sandra and Carl hugged him tight as he was forced to endure the inhuman strength hug.
"Mom, Dad!" He nearly choked on his tears as he hugged them tighter. "I.. I can't believe this. I miss you guys so much." He glanced at Gwen and shook his head softly, "Thanks Gwen.. I.. just don't know what to say."
"Just seeing you is enough," She waved off with a smile.
The night consisted of much hugging and talking, saying on how much things had changed without him. Ben never got a moment to himself since whenever he was finished with one conversation, he was immediately pulled into another one. But being dead never got him tired. He was filled with so much energy, he had to get rid of it somehow.
Rook stayed separate from the group and waited for a chance to talk to his old dead partner. He could never get it out of his head that this situation was his entire fault from the beginning. He should of been there for his partner, not seconds away where anything could happen.
He became so dazed in his thoughts that when a ghostly glow-y hand appeared on his shoulder, he nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Rook, are you okay?"
His orange eyes glanced at his and he nodded softly, "I am alright. I was just waiting for a moment to talk to you."
He grinned and raised his arms out, "Well here I am.. I kinda need to talk to you in private anyways. I was trying to get out of everyone's grasp you know?"
"I understand Ben. So where would you like to go to talk?" He asked, glancing to the window.
"How about my old room? Let's hurry before this spell or whatever finishes. I don't want to be paused midsentence," He grabbed the Revonnahgander's hand and pulled him towards the hallway.
As soon as they were settled and he made sure the door was locked, Ben glanced his way and sighed, "Rook.. I'm sorry about what happened before I die. Honestly. I kinda could tell that Zombozo would have shot me anyway if you did anything. There was a slim chance I was walking out of there alive, so don't blame yourself for anything."
"I had spent days depressed on the matter. I could not get it out of my mind that you were dead. Magister Tennyson tried to get me out of the funk but I could not be freed until Gwen performed that spell thankfully," Rook admitted, looking away.
"Yeah, I've been watching you mostly partner. I tried to give you a sign, anything that showed I was alright, but this was the best thing I got. I.. Rook you meant alot of me when I was alive. You still do but.. I can't really connect to my feelings too much. Somethings just feel.. numb. But I-"
He was interrupted mid sentence as Rook pressed his lips to Ben's and fireworks began to explode in his brain. Even thought he couldn't feel alot of complex emotions, he felt the butterflies entering his stomach and just stabbing him there everywhere.
When they broke apart, he felt as if he was once again human. His eyes half lidded, stared up at Rook and he hugged him tight. "You don't understand how long I waited for that."
"Do not worry, I will not make you wait again," Rook promised as he ruffled the boy's ghostly locks. Ben nudged into his hold and refused to let go. "Does this make us partners?"
"Partners?"
"Or lovers, is another synonym."
"I.. We can be if you want to," Ben grinned. "And on earth, we can it boyfriends and stuff."
"Then do you Ben Tennyson, accept to be my boyfriend?" Rook asked, hugging the boy tightly, preventing escape.
He leaned up and kissed the alien on the nose and nodded, "Of course partner. Always."
The spell had began to ceased once Rook and Ben had returned to the living room after sharing a couple more kisses together. Gwen could already sense the spell disappearing as she rushed up to her cousin once more.
"I'll bring you back tomorrow. Don't worry," She assured.
Ben rolled his eyes, "Don't forget you have school and everything. College is more important then me. And I'm not worrying, I have too much free time over there," He pointed over to the sky.
He began to vanish and waved goodbye to everyone. When he glanced over at Rook, he winked and finally his image vanished.
"What was that?" Gwen mumbled, looking over at the direction Ben had winked. She had thought her eyes had deceived her but unfortunately it wasn't a lie at all. Ben had winked over at Rook.. What was her crazy cousin planning now? He always had to be doing something, even if he was dead.
"I do not know what you are talking about," Rook lied, pretending to stare at Gwen with confusion.
Her eyes narrowed and she grabbed his arm, dragging him outside. "Don't you dare lie to me Rook. I'm not that blind to see what Ben did. Now what's up? My cousin wouldn't do that without a reason."
The alien rubbed his neck and chuckled, "We may have shared our little secrets with each other."
"Little secrets?" She cocked her head. "What secrets?"
"About our relationship to each other. We both had something very much in common and we are now bonded," He smiled happily, glancing off like a lovestruck school girl.
Her mouth hung agape but she quickly shut it when she realized that Rook and Ben were now very much happy together. Not only was this something to rid of the dark cloud around Ben's death but this was another thing to strive for as she aimed to restore Ben to normal.
She hugged Rook and giggled, "At least this can occupy your time for a while. I just need to find out how to restore Ben quickly for you both."
"Do not rush yourself. I do not want you to get hurt or make a mistake," Rook assured lightly, "Both Ben and I will be perfectly fine. Just do as Ben asked and continue your school studies. It'll be for the best."
Gwen sighed, but reluctantly nodded, "Fine. Just.. if you ever want to see Ben, here." She grabbed her book of spells from her pocket, which was before Charmcaster's and handed it over to him. "This book'll on anyone since it's magic based. I bookmarked the page for you, if you ever want to see Ben again. Just don't over do it, it'll drain you every time you use it so don't use it too often, alright?"
He nodded and smiled back at her, "Thank you Gwen, you truly are fantastic."
"No problem."
Thanks for the support guys!
~Tortoro15