DISCLAIMER: see chapter one. I also do not own "IN THE AIR TONIGHT" by Phil Collins.

"TABLE FOR TWO"

Chapter 10; Stuffed toy. Static Shock. Nuts. In the air.

STUFFED TOY

Kevin opened the door to Ben's room and slowly crept in; under the cloak of darkness, the black haired teen moved silently and reached out to Ben sound asleep on the bed with a large stuffed furry toy dog at his side. Ben murmured in his dream forcing Kevin to stop briefly; sure that the green eyed teen was still asleep, Kevin continued with his reach until the furry plush toy was in his grasp. The elder clinched his eyes shut as a new covering enveloped him until he resembled a human version of the toy. Everything was going to plan until Ben rolled onto his side taking Kevin in his slumbering grasp, Kevin gasped as silently as possible as Ben snuggled closer to him.

"Duke..." Ben sighed still living every moment of his dream.

"Bark, bark." Kevin had never felt as stupid as he did just then, but studying the situation, he realized this was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Kevin slowly brought his face to mere inches of Ben's and ran his tongue roughly against the brunets cheek earning him a child-like giggle.

Again Ben mumbled in his sleep, the only thing Kevin could clearly hear was "...bone..."

Yeah, I've got your bone right here, Benji... Kevin thought turning a devious grin.

STATIC SHOCK

The moment was perfect; Kevin – wearing thick wool socks and a metal covering on his hand – shuffled into the living room creating as much friction against the carpeting as possible, oblivious to the commotion, Ben continued playing Sumo Slammers on their Box-Cube.

Kevin continued shuffling around surprised that Ben hadn't even noticed anything, slowly, methodically, Kevin moved in closer and closer. There was a defined humming and sparking of static electricity around Kevin as he drew that much closer. Arcs of electricity danced around Kevin's metallic fingers in a display of pale blue light; the moment he wanted came a tad too soon as Ben stood up tossing the controller onto the couch and turned back with only enough time to widen his eyes and let a lone gasp.

Mr. Anderson – their next door neighbor pruning the flowerbed in his front yard – looked to the house the teens shared the moment a blinding light followed by an explosive pop rattling the neighborhood. The only sound that followed was a shrill "Yeeee-aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"

Ben stood from the floor at the far wall, his brunet hair stood on end as though a massive fluff-ball were on his head; Kevin chuckled standing up the floor at the opposite end of the room, his black hair also standing on end in every direction. "Did you notice the sparks between us?" Kevin continued chuckling forcing Ben to tighten his hands into fists.

"What the hell was that about!" Ben demanded while a few lingering arcs of electricity danced around his hair.

"A science project on static electricity" Kevin smirked.

NUTS

Gwen silently entered into the garage and watched curiously as Ben rummaged around a workbench and Kevin inspecting every inch of the interior of his car. Sliding a rag out of the way, Ben smiled and turned back to Kevin.

"Dude, found your nuts" the brunet called out causing Kevin to turn back to Ben and grin. Unbeknownst to the boys, Gwen nearly doubled over in a fit of hysterics.

"Good, now get your paws off my nuts!" the elders words had an air of finality to them; hearing this, Gwen shrieked engulfed in laughter. Both Ben and Kevin turned to the open door and immediately both turned an unbelievable shade of tomato red.

"What's so damn funny!?!" Ben demanded questioningly.

"You found Kevin's nuts, that's what" Gwen stammered still laughing.

"Yeah he did. He found my bag of honey roasted peanuts that I got at the store earlier today." Kevin spoke as Ben held up said bag with a bright yellow smiley face sticker affixed to the plastic.

IN THE AIR TONIGHT

~ I've been waiting for this moment all my life ~

He stares at me with those cold unrelenting toxic green eyes. The world fades away until those green irises are all I see. The wrench slips from my hand and clatters slapping the floor of the garage; I don't have to say anything, that look in his eyes tells me that he already knows. My mind slips to an argument I had with Ben about a month ago and how we've kept at arms distance since; it's been the roughest month since we've come be on the same team. Slowly he steps close and reaches out; I have to tense and prepare for anything yet I relax when I realize he's only wrapping me in a gentle hug while placing the side of his face square in my chest.

"I-I'm sorry" he mumbles as my shirt grows warm and wet from his tears and deep huffing breaths. "I'm sorry" he constantly repeats beginning to tremble while I slip him into my grasp.

"For what?" my voice echoes almost silently in the space, Ben turns large shaky teary eyes upwards towards mine and reaches into his pocket to pull out a sheet of paper folded in three even sections.

"Steven Robert Levin; recently deceased"

Everything goes quiet; motionless, lifeless as death itself. A trickle of wet warmth slips down my cheeks as I have to bury most of my face atop Ben's head and draw in a deep breath. My jaw tenses. "H-how...?"

"Drawing fire while his squad escaped. I'm sorry Kevin..." he trails off tightening his grip.

"At least now I know what happened to him."