Disclaimer: Primes sparkling does not own Ben 10 or any of the characters in Ben 10. She only owns her characters and story.

Rated T for swearing

CHAPTER 3

Things didn't get better over the next three days. In fact at school it got worse. Sam had already been invited to join several of the clubs and as such he had not really had the same time to hang out with him as they used to. Sure outside it seemed they were joint at the hip but that was not where Kyle really needed him. Inside school, Jake had managed to make his life a living hell. No one wanted to talk to him and those that did mocked him. He did not want this as each day he kept quiet and retreated back into himself. He knew that Harry was starting to worry. The bell for the end of the school day had just rung when Kyle had just gotten his homework out of his locker when he had heard Peter come down the hall. Peter was in the eighth grade but two years older than Kyle. He hanged out with Jake a lot and Kyle gave a sharp breath. He pulled at the first class room door in hopes that it was still unlocked not wanting a confrontation with the other boy. It was locked and he let out a low keen as he heard Jake come closer. Kyle turned and began walking the other direction to the other voices when the Hispanic teen noticed him rounding the corner.

"Hey it's the freak!" Peter laughed to his friends behind him in mocking then called out to him, "Hey Loser come back here."

Kyle took off, zipping down the first corridor that came to him. He heard Peter and his group of followers chasing after him and in an act of desperation he turned into a side of the school he had not yet been in. The school itself was far larger than the one he had been in in the Cape and had been built in such a way that most of rooms for the various sports and clubs were kept separate from the rest of the school. That was the area he now found himself in and he hadn't bothered to check it out as no one had invited him to join anything. He cursed that fact now.

"Who said you can run freak?!" Jake yelled as he came out of the doors leading to the lockers where the football players changed. Kyle could smell the stench of the cheap deodorant the boy's used, so sharp it made him want to gag. Now that Jake was part of the group chasing him, Kyle began to panic. The boy was faster than him and he knew it. He ducked into a bare corridor and into the first open door way he could find, pausing with a racing heart as he watched the bullies run passed through the slight opening.

"Come on I think he went this way," Jake yelled voice fading into the distance until Kyle could no longer hear them speaking. The twelve year old sighed in relief. Glad to be away from the danger, he finally calmed enough to notice just how humid the hall he was in was. He could hear water moving and it wasn't until he turned around that he realized why. It was a swimming hall and the waters were blue and clear. They looked absolutely divine. A sudden pang of home sickness hit him and he took a deep breath as he slowly walked closer to the pool. It was technically two pools that had been separated by a rope. One held a deep pool with a diving board, the other was for racing. There was no one in the hall and he licked his lips as he watched the current in the pool. He could hear the pumps working close by and he crouched contemplating his next move.

'Go on,' His conscious whispered tantalizingly, 'it will only be for a moment. No one will have to know.'

"I could get caught," He whispered back harshly even as he pulled off a glove to dip a single finger into the water. It was cool but not cold to the touch and he silently purred. While his tank was good enough to sleep in, Kyle longed for the chance to take to the ocean like he had in South Africa and just stretch out his limbs.

'It would only be for a moment,' the voice said insistently, 'Imagine it. Imagine how fast you could go for a change.'

He did. Kyle hesitated for a moment. He would have to hide in the gymnasium for a while before Jake and Peter would give up their search and let him leave for the day and there was no one in the room to see him and point fingers. The boy gnawed on the inside of his cheek in contemplation, looked up to check that again that no one had come in and shyly dropped his backpack onto the floor. His scarf, gloves, jacket and shoes soon followed. He left his visor and jeans on as well as the white vest he had on under the leather jacket. Without his scarf and top, the strange looking suit he wore under became visible. It was black and skin tight like a wet suit covering everywhere until under his jaw line and the back of his neck there the skull met with his spine. Across the neck, two semi thick tubes sat with transparent water running through them. They were joint at a point in the middle that looked like a small component that was often seen on a diver's suit. He longed to take it off but he was already risking enough as it was and it would take too long to put back on if he had to make a quick getaway.

He drew in a deep breath through the contraption on his neck, stepped on the raised platform and without another thought, leapt with a perfect dive into the water. It was like coming home. His arms and legs worked feverously and he made it to the other side without any problems, spinning under the water with practiced ease to rebound off of the wall and go the other way. The moment of the water on his face was divine and he longed to just pull off the visor and the suit and let it fall over them but he hang on. He did several laps, each one with a different style until he had gone through them all. Then satisfied he went again with a lap in the way he was most comfortable with, legs crossed at the ankles and arms at his side. The movements were much like that of a dolphin and despite the awkwardness that most human bones would offer it was the fastest way for him to swim.

It wasn't until he decided to finally climb out of the pool when things had gone wrong. He had managed to pull his gloves back onto his hands, wincing when the leather scraped against the sensitive flesh when he heard someone clapping and spun around in horror.

"Holy shit," The kid that stared at him looked to be around his age. He was perhaps slightly taller than Sam with a lean body and ginger hair that was cut short. He reminded Kyle of a younger version of Johnny from Hotel Transylvania. Later on, he would be wondering where a thought like that came from when the boy had most likely seen what he had been doing. And seen some of the freaky things about him, "You're a really good swimmer. I've never seen anyone go so fast before."

Kyle paused, halfway grabbing his back pack and boots as he stared at the teen before him, "What?"

"You're swimming," The newcomer repeated, "It's good."

"Thanks I guess," Kyle ducked his head, sitting down to quickly slide his feet back into his shoes.

"I'm Cody," The boy said again coming to sit next to him, "You're that new kid, Kyle, right?"

Kyle just nodded, uncertain of what to make of the new boy. His previous meeting with Jake came to mind and he quietly winced under the neutral expression he kept on his face.

"You should try out," Cody said suddenly. It was so out of the blue that Kyle actually froze, one foot in the air as he tried to pull the shoe over his toes.

"Huh?!" he gasped.

"For the team," Cody shrugged, "There's a tryout in two months for the swim team. You should go."

"Me join the team?" Kyle asked. His mind flashed back to his old school. They had a swimming team that he had been a part of. It had been the only place aside from home with the Coulson's where he had felt welcome, despite the restraints that he had to swim with when he compete to make it fair with the other kids, but he knew nothing about how the people would treat him there, "Not a good idea."

"How come?" Cody asked. He eyed Kyle's feet and with a gentle finger reached out and touched one of the toes before the visor boy could stop him, "Is it because of this?"

Kyle shot up like he had been electrocuted; staring at the teen in disbelief before he centered himself again, "Part of it."

"Were you born like that?" Cody asked again. His eyes alit with an understanding and when Kyle nodded he stuck a hand onto his shoulder, "Then they shouldn't pick on you for it. You can't help the way you're born."

"You," Kyle said when he had stuck his feet back into his boots, ignoring the sting of his feet being crushed in a shape it would never fit, "You actually get it. Even Sam sometimes doesn't."

"I used to be like Jake to," Cody admitted quietly sobering a little. He twitched slightly and Kyle's eyes widened, "But that was before Dad found me and took me in."

"Who was it?" Kyle asked in a near whisper. For once there were no alarms going off in his head. Instead he felt a sense of kinship connecting them. He did not know what Cody had gone through but he knew of the problems that came after.

"My father," Cody rolled up his sleeve to show the long haggard scar that ran across the underside of his arm like it had been caused by a piece of glass.

Kyle's eyes widened, "But you said your dad.."

"I'm adopted," Cody said understandingly and Kyle nodded, "Dad's great and he's never hurt me. Who was it for you?"

Kyle got up from the bench. His watch beeped, reminding him that he would need to leave if he wanted to get to the bus in time, otherwise he would have to walk which did not sound appealing in the heat.

"My step dad," He murmured touching the thin scar that ran across his lips and gave him a ragged look. He could still remember the smell of sweat and booze on the man's hand when it connected with his mouth, the ring on his third finger slicing the skin like butter, "Harry got me out. He was a friend of my ma. I need to go or I'm gonna miss my bus."

"See you tomorrow?" Cody asked hopefully and Kyle nodded, unable to turn down the want in the boy's eyes.

"See you tomorrow,"

He missed the bus. The heat had yet to give up and he could feel its effects as it made him feel weakened. Kyle had forgotten his extra water bottles in his locker and he decided to call Harry to pick him up. He would not be able to make it home through the heat. He was busy dialing the number when a hand snatched out and grabbed his arm and pulled his cellphone clean form his hands.

Another hand shoved him against his back and sent him onto the floor.

"Think you could get away Freak?" Jake was leaning over him. The older teen shifted and a flash of sunlight temporally blinded Kyle and suddenly it was an older man looming over him, potbelly and reeking of beer. A kick to his ribs startled him out of his memory and he looked up to see Peter smirking evilly down at him, holding his phone in his hand.

"What's the matter freak? Nowhere to run?" He purred and swung his leg backwards to kick him again. What little bit of training Kyle had kicked in. He quickly rolled onto his back, swung his legs over his head and used the momentum to get back to his feet. The maneuver let him dodge the attack but the sudden swing caused his head to spin and Jake took the opportunity to slam a fist into his stomach, causing Kyle to cripple back onto the floor. A moment later he heard a crunch and his phone followed him in pieces, but he refused to let anything slip past his carefully shielded expression, despite the fear he felt.

"I heard he's some kind of foster kid," One of the other boys in Jake's group, likely one of the twins, crooned mockingly, "Even his mommy doesn't want him."

"I say his folks did the right thing," Jake said kicking Kyle when he tried to get back onto his feet. He rested a foot at the base of the downed boy's back, unknowingly pressing on a sensitive spot that made him want to whimper, "If my child was such a freak that couldn't even talk right I'd have killed them."

"So you would kill an innocent child instead of manning up and taking responsibility for something you created?" Kyle asked weakly. His suit let him stay out of the water for long periods of time but even then it only lasted for a certain amount of time before he had to refresh his supplies. It was running low and the heat wave was making things difficult for him.

"I'd give it back to the whore that bore it," Jake said arrogantly.

Despite his weakened state, Kyle could not help but give a bark of muffled laughter.

"What's so funny loser?!" Peter snapped and Kyle emotionlessly tilted his head to look at them.

"He says that he would give the child back to the so called whore," He chided, "That would make you her bitch because you married it knowing she's a whore."

Jake' face went up burning red. The next moment there were stars in front of Kyle's eyes from the kick to his jaw. A second later another one connected into his neck and he faintly heard a crack before he felt his jacket become wet on the inside with the fluid that had been kept in his suit. He could hear laughing from the bullies as they tore at his clothes, taking away his backpack to claim as their own. They struggled with his boots and jeans which were still wet from his swim when the hands that grabbed at him suddenly disappeared. There were a couple of shouts of pain and the sound of feet running away as Kyle laid on his stomach, struggling to breath.

"Hey you alright fella?" A male voice with a heavy southern accent asked above him. He felt two hands gently grab his shoulders and turn him on his back and his eyes widened when his rescuer's face came into view, "Looks like ya took a beaten."

The yellowish pale male was some kind of humanoid cross between a fish and a human. He wore some kind of white suit that stopped at the waist and his neck was open where a couple of gills sat. The lure on his head drew attention to his face and the sharp teeth that he had just behind his lips. A pair of glasses sat on his muzzle but what really drew Kyle's attention were the man's pale purple eyes that stared down at him in concern.

"Fella?" The fish creature said again. Kyle realized that he was hyperventilating. The water in his suit was all but gone and the heat didn't help him any as he realized he was hyperventilating, "Easy now you're gonna be just fine."

"Who are you?" He murmured in question, still careful of how much teeth he showed, as he pushed out of the man's gentle grip.

"Ah'm Magister Patelliday," Patelliday said with a slight smirk and flashed his teeth, "You need to calm down rookie."

Kyle felt frustration build up. Calm down?

"I am calm," He snapped monotone.

Patelliday shook his head and helped him to his feet, "Sure don't sound like it son. Just take deep breaths."

"I said I was fine," Kyle picked his bag off of the floor and shook of the dust from his clothing, "Thanks for the save, but there's no reason for you to stick around."

He turned around, trying to leave before the fish could rebut him and promptly fell back onto his knees when the slits on his neck could no longer draw the oxygen he needed.

"Looks like there's reason after all," The hands were back on him and he flinched as though he expected to be struck. If the stranger took any notice of it, he didn't mention it.

"I'm fine," Kyle gasped, "the heat just got to me that's all."

"In that case let me give ya a ride home," Patelliday lifted him onto his feet but Kyle could no longer walk on his own. The man let him lean on him as he led him to a strangely armored vehicle. It wasn't until he had opened the door that Kyle somewhat came to his senses and began to fight back, "What's wrong?"

"Why the hell would I get in a car with you?" Kyle said slipping out of the man's grip, "I don't even know you. For all I know you could be some wacko child kidnapper."

"I an't," Patelliday said firmly, "But the way I see it, ya can either catch a ride home with me or yo can suffer from the heat. I ain't gonna force ya."

Kyle stared for a while, then huffed and climbed into the passenger seat with Patelliday's help. He settled himself in gasping what little air his body could pull without water and strapped himself in as the other being got into the driver's seat.

"Water?" Kyle was offered a bottle and he took it with a grateful shaky gasp. The first two sips he gulped, and then discreetly let the water run down the side of his cheek Patelliday could not see. It drippled down into his collar and he let out a soft sigh when he could breathe slightly better. It would not last long but it helped. It wasn't until the bottle was finished that he realized Patelliday had been watching him.

"Must have been real thirsty," Patelliday chuckled, "Where do ya live fella?"

Kyle told him, still murmuring but at least he was no longer gasping his words out like he'd been in a desert.

The fish man seemed surprised, "You live right across from Ben Tennyson. You must be that new neighbor he's been going on about."

"You know Ben?" Kyle asked quietly, drawing deep breaths to calm his heart rates down.

"I work with his grandfather," Patelliday explained pulling into the road. It was quiet and the man had put on the air-con as high as it would go to help them both cool down, something Kyle felt soothing after his experience in the heat, "You must be the new neighbor ben was talking about. Never seen you around before."

Kyle nodded slowly, "Yeah, we just got in a couple of days ago."

He paused for a moment to take in the man's strange appearance, "Exactly what are you?"

"I'm a Plumber," Magister Patelliday replied with a short glance at his passenger, "But if you're referring to what I am, I'm a Piscciss Volann."

"You're an Alien?," Kyle admitted, "I'm guessing the Plumber you're talking about isn't the one that fixes taps. Magister, it sounds more like a title."

"A sharp one," Patelliday noted with a nod. He then slowly explained what the Plumbers were and what they did; giving Kyle some time to process the facts and Kyle nodded at the explanation. He had started to relax around the stranger, despite only having known him for a few moments. It was different to what he had felt with Cody. With the boy, he had felt a sense of Kinship because of the way each of them had been raised, but Patelliday brought about feelings he could not just put his finger on.

"Hey fella," Patelliday asked when they had stopped outside of his house. There was movement in one of the upstairs bedrooms which told Kyle that Sam was home, "Why did those no good hooligans go after ya?"

Kyle shifted uncomfortably and glanced out of the window, refusing to make contact with the alien.

"They don't like me 'cause I'm different from them," He said eventually, "I have to wear this visor for health reasons and they're jealous that they can't wear their fancy glasses in class."

"That ain't right," Patelliday said solemnly, "Well they shouldn't bother you for a while now fella. An I got you home nice and safe. How's that for a kidnapper?"

"I guess you're right," He said still monotone," You'd make a horrible kidnapper. Thanks for the save. And the lift."

"Not a problem," Patalliday said with a toothy smile, but paused when Kyle got out of the truck, "Never did get you name fella."

Kyle passed as he slugged his back pack over one shoulder, "It's Kyle. Kyle Summers."

"Well then it's been nice meeting you Kyle," The magester smiled and once Kyle had closed the door pulled his car into reverse. Kyle watched him drive away for a moment before he turned on his heal and walked into the house, mind heavy on the man he had just met and the way his pale eyes ate at something in him.

Translation (Afrikaans to English):

Ma - mom