Disclaimer: I do not own Ben 10 or Ben 10: Alien Force, if I did it wouldn't be allowed on Cartoon Network.

Okay everyone I'm sorry I didn't update like I normally do but here's the next chapter. Thanks for all the love so far. It motivates me and Luv2write16 to do the best we can. Anyway here's the next chapter.


Recap:

Gwen sighed once more and decided to tell one more thing that may or may not get him to tell Ben what he feels for him. "Alright Kevin, but I'm warning you now, if you don't soon Ben may find someone else and you'll lose him for good. He's had a crush on a girl at school for the past month now and I think he's gonna ask her out soon."

As Gwen's words reached Kevin's ears, anger, jealousy, and hurt rushed through his system, but he did his best to control them when he saw Ben running for the car. "Whatever Gwen I can handle this," the ruffian said as he shut the flip phone.


Shifting Times

Chapter 6: Temper, Temper

Two weeks passed since Ben, Gwen, and Kevin had their first run in with the Highbreed, and the group of teens where now settling into a regular routine. After soccer practice, Kevin would pick Ben and Gwen, and for there they would check out any leads Kevin got. That first week, the team met Allen, a descendant of a Pyronite, and helped prove his innocents from recent crop circles that appeared across the area. The entire time they were helping the kid, Kevin wouldn't stop picking on the kid, mostly due to the fact that he didn't want the kid to try anything with Ben. Gwen thought it was annoying and ignored it, but Ben told Kevin off about it later, never knowing that Kevin did it those keep away any potential dates for Ben.

It was a Saturday, and Kevin was working out on the punching bag in his room. Gwen was there as well watching Kevin workout his aggression.

"Stupid Japanese bimbo, stupid Tennyson for being her little puppy," Kevin ranted as each blow to the bag became more forceful. Gwen rolled her eyes at Kevin behavior, but still felt for him.

"Kevin you know it's not Julie's fault for taking interest in Ben. Besides you took way too long to try and make Ben yours, so deal with it," Gwen said in a matter of fact tone.

Kevin really didn't want to hear her, but he knew she was right. Since the previous week, anytime Ben got free time, he spent it with Julie. They normally would study, but if that were the case, at lease to Kevin, Ben could always ask him for help since he had already graduated. Staying with Grandpa Max gave Kevin a chance to go to school, and even gave him a chance to study and finish school faster than most students. Kevin wasn't a genius but he knew how Ben worked so studying would have been easy.

"Yeh...well I still don't like it. I mean what does Ben see in her, the girl has no real figure, she's flat chested, and doesn't have much of a butt," Kevin continued until he felt and hard slap to the back of his head. Kevin turned around rubbing the sore spot and noticed Gwen's had was lit with mana. "What?"

Gwen groaned and replied, "Kevin if you really want to win Ben over show him you're the better choice. Find a time for you and Ben to hang out and show him that you're his other half." Gwen knew the plan was kinda girly but it was the best way of getting Ben to realize his feeling.

As Kevin thought about the plan, he agreed he could try to charm Ben a little more, so he decided why not. The fake flirting with Gwen wasn't working to make Ben jealous, so why not just be straight with the kid. "Alright, so Gwen why are you helping me try and take Benji from the lil geisha anyway," Kevin asked curiously.

Gwen looked at the boy with a lightly stunned look. "Kevin, I've you've been I love with Ben since you turned 13 why wouldn't I want to help. Besides I think you guys make a cute couple."

With a quick oh, Kevin stopped his work out and decided to see if Ben was busy tomorrow. Gwen went home after Kevin headed to his bathroom and decided to see if she could get to the mall before it closed.

While Kevin and Gwen were planning on Ben's downfall, said brunette was out having lunch with Julie. Ben and Julie had become close after a few days of hanging out. Ben trusted Julie and figured maybe she could help him get over one of his issues.

"So Julie, I'm gonna tell you something but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone else," Ben started out as he and Julie ate at a nice family restaurant.

"Okay Ben, what is it," Julie asked wondering what could have Ben acting so weird.

Taking a deep breath, Ben told Julie about his growing attraction towards Kevin and how it started around the time the boy disappeared. Julie listened to Ben and didn't seem too shocked at his confession as Ben expected her to be. Once Ben was done explaining, Julie thought about it and gave Ben a simpler answer.

"Well Ben, I think you do like Kevin a lot more than just a friend, you may not have noticed it before, but in Kevin's absence, you finally started to realize how much he really meant to you. As they say absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Ben sat back in his seat and released a heavy sigh. 'Great, I have a crush on my best friend, and I can't even tell him in fear of being beaten to a pulp,' Ben mentally ranted. Julie noticed Ben's reaction and jotted it down for mentally examination later.

Seeing the normally hyperactive brunette down, Julie tried to cheer him up. "Come on Ben, its okay that you like Kevin, how about we go to Mr. Smoothies and then go for a walk." Ben agreed with his friend and asked for their check. Ben paid for the food and the two walked to Mr. Smoothies and headed for the park that was close by. While walking, Ben told Julie about all the things he did with Gwen and Kevin when they were younger. Julie listened closed and noticed how Ben's expression would soften as he talked about Kevin. Julie had never met Kevin in person before, but she was glad Ben had found someone caring, or so she thought.

As time passed on, Ben ended up revealing his aliens to Julie, who took the situation very well, now the ravenette would worry about Ben constantly, basically like any girlfriend would. This did nothing to improve Kevin's attitude towards the girl. Though the older teen hid his anger well, he couldn't do anything to hurt the lil geisha since Ben was dating her.

One Saturday Kevin decided to work out like he usually did when a he heard his cell phone go off. Kevin picked up the device and answered, "Whadda want?"

Gwen huffed over the connection and retorted, "Hi Kevin, I glad I caught you." Kevin rolled his eyes at the phone and continued to listen to the redhead. "Kevin, I thought of a way for you to try and impress Ben." Kevin's semi-gloom mood picked up and said with a bit of a squeak, "Really?!"

Gwen smirked as she replied, "Well first you have to do exactly as I say." Kevin groaned and agreed to her demands. "Okay well, first go drive your car and get her nice and dirty."

Before she could continue, Kevin started yelling into the phone. "Are you mad woman? I just can't get my baby dirty! There's no way..."

That was all Kevin could get out before Gwen yelled back at him, "Kevin shut up! Your car isn't gonna be dirty for long. I'm planning on getting Ben to help you wash it. Then you try and charm him and show the body you're so proud off. Trust me I've seen Ben practically drool over you the time we were at Grandpa Max's fishing spot." Kevin truly didn't like the idea but if it would help bring Ben closer to him then he was willing to give it a try. "Alright I'll do it just tell him to be here ina hour," Kevin groaned as he hung up.

Gwen smiled to herself knowing if Kevin did his job right Ben would be eating out of the palm of his hand. A few minute later, she called Ben and got a slightly slurred answer. "Hulo?"

Gwen snickered releasing she had woken Ben up from his late morning of sleeping in. "Hey Ben, sorry I woke you but I need a favor." A yawn came from the other end of the call as Ben asked, "What is it you want?"

Gwen quickly came up with a lie to tell Ben. "Well I kind told Kevin I'd help him wash his car today, but I also promised Julie I'd go shopping with her today." It hadn't been a complete lie Gwen thought. She and Julie were going shopping but it wouldn't be until later on in the day. Ben yawned again and replied, "So I take it you want me to take your place with washing the car?" Gwen gave Ben a quick yes and semi-begged for her favorite cousin to do her a favor. Ben groaned but said he'd do it, but she owed him a two days worth of smoothies. Gwen cringed at the deal but she remembered that this was for Ben and Kevin's own good. She agreed and told to meet Kevin at his house in an hour. Ben said his good –byes and started searching for something to wear. It was still warm outside so Ben grabbed a pair of loose fitting shorts, white t-shirt that came down to the middle of the shorts, and a pair of sandals.

Ben left his house and flew off as Jet Ray and waited for Kevin. Ben brought along his PSP and was playing a game, when he heard the sound and a familiar 1976 Camero pull into the parking lot. Kevin stepped out and smiled at Ben. Inwardly Kevin was shaking like a leaf, but he couldn't let Ben see this. Ben smiled at Kevin looked at the car. Mud, dirt and dust were all over the car, but the thing was that got Ben curious was that Kevin hadn't washed it off by now. Ben let his suspicion go for now, and looked at the raven.

"Hey Kev I'm ready to start when you are," Ben said as he walked over to get the water hose. Kevin nodded and ran into the house to grab soap and a few buckets. Once Kevin returned, the two began to work, and make decent conversation. Ben and Kevin decided to hang out after they finished washing the car since they only saw each other for alien activity recently. The Kevin got curious and asked, "So how are things with the little woman?"

Ben looked over at Kevin confused then his mind turned to Julie. "We're okay I mean it's not like we're committed to each other. She has stuff to do and so do I," Ben said in a nonchalant tone.

Kevin turned to him confused and replied, "So what do you mean by 'You're not committed to each other'? Does that mean u guys let each other cheat on each other or somethin'?"

"Cheat on each other? No, I don't sit close enough to her to cheat off her and she'd never let me," Ben said as he turned on the water hose and began to soak the car.

"Huh? What are ya talkin about Tennyson?" ask a more confused Kevin.

Ben sighed as he answered, "I don't' sit by Julie at school to cheat off her paper. What are you talking about Kevin?"

"What are u talkin' about? Aren't u and Julie dating," asked a very more confused Kevin?

Ben just turned his head away from Kevin and blushed a bit. 'Okay what do I tell him,' Ben mentally panicked. "Uhh...well no we're not she's ...just a close friend that's all."

"Oh..." Kevin said as he blush in embarrassment.

The two teens stood there for moment, before Ben became tired of the awkward pause. He turned the hose towards Kevin and sprayed the older teen and began to laugh.

"Pfft. Uh, what u doin?'" Kevin asked as he tried to avoid the water. He goes over to Ben and tries to take the hose away so he can spray him back. Ben sees Kevin's movements and sprays him again with the hose again laughing.

"Pfft," Kevin says as he tries to spit the water out of his mouth and tackles Ben. Ben's laughter comes to a halt as Kevin pins the smaller boy to the ground and smirks down at him. Ben pouts at Kevin and tries to push the larger teen off of him. Kevin takes the hose out of bens hands and gets up and spray him back.

Ben squeaks at the rush of cold water and continues to try and push the larger teen away. "KEVIN! It's cold, please stop!" Kevin felt sorry for Ben and stopped.

Happy that Kevin took pity on him, Ben gave one final push on Kevin, and was able to get to the teen off him. While he was pushing, Ben felt Kevin's abs and blushed that he had actually touched them and not freak out.

Kevin saw how Ben blush as he touches his abs. Kevin took it as a sign to lower himself down to kiss the small brunette. Before Ben knew it, he felt a pair of lips just barely touching his. His light blush now turned his face to the color of a cherry, before his body could return the kiss, Kevin's lips pulled away from him.

"K-kevin what the...hell was that?" Ben yelled while his nerves tried to settle thinking about how Kevin just kissed him.

Kevin mentally panicked and said, "Uh…I kinda lost my footing and fell a little…sorry."

Ben was relieved and saddened at the reply, but pushed Kevin off of him.

Once he was calm, Ben just said, "It's ok Kev, but if you really like me, take me out sometime." Ben mentally patted himself on the back for that one. Over the past few months, Ben had started liking Kevin more than just a friend but didn't want him to know.

"Who said I like you like that?" Kevin asked. Now he too was nervous and embarrassed to say that or ask that.

Seeing the expression on Kevin's face was too much for the brunette but he wanted to toy with Kevin a little more so he walked over to the raven, and placed his hand on Kevin's muscled chest. "Aw, Kevy, after all this time? I was really hoping you'd like me. I was even saving myself for you." Ben said in pouty but playful voice.

"W-w-what u t-talking about Tennyson?"

Ben couldn't hold it any longer and started laughing. "I-i'm sor-ry Kev, but I had to get you going. But I was serious about if you like me than to ask me out." Ben said as he laughed and grabbed a bucket of soapy water and tossed it onto the car.

Kevin growled under his breath for getting panicky for no reason. An evil grin spread over his handsome features as an idea came across his mind. He walked up behind Ben, and wrapped his arms around Ben's waist as he laid his head on top of Ben's hair. "No need to hide your feelings from me Benji. If you want me to take you out I will. All you have to do is ask," Kevin said with a soft and tender voice. Ben blushed at the contact of his body being flush with Kevin's and the older teen holding him so tenderly. None of Ben's day dreams were this good, but then he realized Kevin was getting him back for his stunt before. Part of Ben hated Kevin for indulging his fantasies, but his other half enjoyed the moment while it lasted.

"Kev when we're done washing the car, can I tell you something important," Ben asked in a whisper. Kevin maneuvered to look at Ben and saw the sadness in the toxic green eyes and told Ben that he'd love to.

The two worked quietly till the car was finished. While the two boys didn't say much, Ben was having a mental break down. Ben figured if kevin was joking like this, then he would tell Kevin everything and save himself the heartache of it later. Ben knew Kevin wasn't into him, and that Kevin wanted to help stop whatever the Highbreed were doing so he wouldn't leave him and Gwen. Afterwards though, that was what scared Ben the most.

TBC…


Okay so what you all think of this one? Good, no good? Please tell I'm not putting another chapter up till I get 8 more reviews this time. Well till then TTFN.