ok! new chapter!
Warning : this story contains boy x boy (its the 14th chapter for petes sakes! do i have to remind you?!)
disclaimer : i do not own ben ten alien force or its affiliated characters; coz they belong to Maaaan Uhf Aaccshuun!
ITS A WILD LIFE
Chapter fourteen : Meet Jack and Paulo
"Alright, Max; so we'll meet you there at nine. And remember, no Plumbers except you!" Kevin spoke into his cell-phone.
Kevin was arranging for Max, himself and Ben, to meet Jack Vortacon and Paulo Consor who said that they would land on Earth in a few hours. Kevin did go through a bit of trouble to get in contact with his buddies whom he hadn't met in years; but thankfully he managed, and now there were three more hours till he and Ben set out to the Alcove Caves; a secret foresty area on the fringes of Bellwood where Max usually held secret meetings with Kevin, Ben and Gwen.
Gwen and Julie decided to stay in the house while Kevin introduced his friends to Max and Ben. The girls said that they would meet the DBS guys when they set out for the journey.
o.o.o
Kevin drove the Camero smoothly across the road, while Ben, from the passenger seat, was smiling at the scenery outside. For the three whole days of sitting cooped-up in the Levin house, although he loved staying there, Ben felt nice to step out in the fresh air for once. He looked down longingly at the bare wrist of his left hand; it looked so odd without the nifty Omnitrix clasped on. Ben looked back out the window, wondering whether he had the luck to go sweeping through the air as Jetray or Big Chill anymore.
"A penny for your thoughts, Benji?" Kevin smiled as he stopped the car at the signal.
"Just thinking; about stuff..." Ben turned to him, there was a pleasant look on his pretty face, but there was also a mingling sadness in the green irises.
"Lemme guess", Kevin peered curiously into Ben's face, "You miss the Omnitrix?"
Ben's eyebrows shot up and he laughed, "How'd you know?!"
Kevin grinned, "You're stroking your wrist where the Omnitrix was." Ben smiled in reply, pushing playfully at his muscular arm, "You clever ass!"
Kevin chuckled.
Soon, the green car drove out to the road again, and in fifteen minutes they approached the Alcove Caves. The name was a misnomer, because Alcove Caves was not a bunch of caves at all; it was just a secluded clearing on the forest edges. Spaceships and alien vehicles could easily come and go from here without being spotted by the ever-inquisitive human race.
Ben stepped out of the car, stretching out, taking in a deep breath of the cool night air. "Ah; that feels good!" he smiled childishly, his cheeks flushed in joy, "It's nice to get out for once!"
Kevin smiled too, as he joined Ben, "Better get used to it; 'cause soon, we'll be going even more out of this planet!"
Ben nodded happily. Looking out at the clearing they were in, he leaned against the car, folding his hands, "So; when is this Jack and Pablo coming?"
"Its Jack and Paulo", Kevin corrected him, "They're about as punctual as we are."
"In that case, they'll be five-minutes late", Ben shook his head.
Surprisingly, Ben's prediction was right; in about five minutes, a helicopter-like Jet was seen in the sky, appearing larger and larger as it descended from the sky. Ben and Kevin folded their hands over their heads as whirlwinds whipped around them; Ben's green coat flapping as if in the effort to tear off of him. In about a few seconds, the small spaceship landed several feet away from the two teens, its chopper-like blades whirring to a slow stop. With that, the blowing wind stopped too. Ben and Kevin straightened their locks that were blown to one direction.
Ben observed as the front door of the spaceship opened and a youthful blonde jumped out. He looked around for a bit, and then he seemed to spot them. Kevin put out his hand in the air and waved to signal that it was him. Immediately, the blonde guy broke into a happy sprint, reaching them in no time.
"KEVIN! Buddy! So good to see you, man!" the guy greeted in excitement. He clasped Kevin in a manly hug, which Kevin returned with a grin, "Good to see you too, Jack!"
Releasing themselves, the two stepped back to look at each other.
Jack was a young handsome Caucasian; with bright adventurous blue eyes and golden hair which was cut short, but he had a stylish fringe that licked his eyes every now-and-then, making him look indeed hot. He was dressed in a navy-blue tight-suit with several pockets and badges; the kind worn by spies. The fabric stuck tight to his skin and flattered his muscular body. He was muscular but lean as well; somewhere between Kevin and Ben in structure. His skilled fingers were sheathed in bikers gloves. Something about him rang 'Tech geek and ad-junkie'; he even had a Bluetooth-like device plugged to his right ear.
"Woah, Kev! You've changed a bit over the years, huh?!" Jack grinned at him in approval, and Kevin shrugged, "You still look the same, Jack!"
Jack laughed, "Ha! Doin' the same thing all the time, no wonder I look the same; but you, you are not DBS anymore, right? What are you doing now? I was so surprised to hear from you, and I sorta forgot to ask that!"
"Yeah, uh; I'm a good guy now", Kevin admitted in almost reluctant manner; being a bad-boy was a part of his charm!
"What?! Seriously?!", Jack laughed openly, "How?!"
Kevin looked sideways pointedly, " 'Cause of Ben."
That was only when the blonde noticed Ben's presence. His blue eyes surveyed the brunette in awe, and he tapped his chin, "Ben?...you mean, Ben Tennyson?!" he was very much shocked.
"Uh, hi?" Ben smiled awkwardly. To be stared at like as if he was some sort of a blue unicorn, was a strange feeling.
"Oh my God! You're Ben Tennyson?!" Jack gaped, taking both of the slim hands into his own, his blue eyes shimmering, "I- I can't believe this! I'm finally meeting the Badass Omnitrix Wielder! I have heard a lot about you across the Galaxy!" and he gave Ben a fan-like hug. Pulling back, he grinned, looking all over the petite brunette, "This is just so weird, I mean, when I first came to know about this human guy who obtained the most powerful gadget in the Universe; I kinda imagined this tall, macho guy who never smiles, or some guy who's very serious! But, look at you! You're so CUTE!"
Ben blushed visibly, looking into the beautiful blue eyes, "Uh-th-thanks!" and Jack peered at him curiously, "Seriously, you are cute."
Kevin put his hand in front of Jack's face. "Back off! He's taken!" Kevin snapped in mock anger. Jack stepped back with a grin, "Oh? Haha! Lucky girl she is!", not quite guessing by whom Ben is taken.
"Hey, wait a sec!" Jack gasped, "Where's the Omnitrix?! Isn't it supposed to worn like a watch or something? Or has it been modified?!" he looked at Ben's hands he held. He let go of the slim hands to fold his own across his chest, with his eyebrows raised questioningly at Kevin.
"Yeah, that brings us to the matter I need you to help us with", Kevin nodded gravely, "We had to take off the Omnitrix from Ben."
"Why?"
"Ben's now a Vulphorous."
Jack's face slowly changed; from his calm cheery countenance, to slow pallor, to shock, "Oh!" he looked at the pretty brunette, and still could not believe what he heard, "Oh!..ok? That's not good news!"
"It isn't. Which is why we need to get the Antidote from Tetraxia."
Ben obsereved that unlike the other people, the name 'Tetraxia' had no freak-out reactions from Jack.
"Well, I don't see why we can't! Anything to help the cute little hero, eh?" he winked at Ben, who chuckled. Kevin punched at Jack playfully, "You get your eyes off of him, Jack! You want to do something useful? Go toy with Paulo!"
In an instant, Jack's face turned berry red, "What?! How many times do I have to repeat, even though it's been years, that I don't have the hots for Paulo?!"
"Yeah, that's what they all say at first..." Kevin grinned sly and in tease. Ben looked startled, and asked Jack, "So you're gay too?!"
"Too?! I mean, no I'm not! But who else is?!" Jack looked at the two in awe. Ben blushed again, giving Jack half the answer he needed, "No way! Ben Tennyson is gay?!" his face was back in its sunshine glory.
"More like a Bi; he's had a few crushes on girls before", Kevin shrugged modestly.
"Oooh!" Jack seemed more pleased and interested than being disgusted as Ben had thought he would be. Jack was indeed a fun company!
"So, who's the Mystery Man?" Jack quirked up an eyebrow at Ben, with a great toothy grin plastered across his handsome face. Ben's cheeks flushed for the third time, but it was Kevin who answered, "There's no mystery about it", and he proceeded to hook a finger on the neck of his shirt and pull down the fabric to reveal a crescent-shaped scar running from his neck to his left shoulder.
Being a DBS, Jack had seen his fair share of Vulphori, and knew well about their history too. So, with one look at the scar, he knew it was a genuine Full Vulphorous bite. And the fact that Ben was a Vulphorous? He put two and two together and gaped, "No way! You and Ben Tennyson?! Together?!"
"Yup", Kevin smiled lovingly at Ben, slipping his arm around the smaller shoulder, "As tight as leotards!"
Jack's face radiated like newly-polished gold. "This is so cool! You both make a hot couple!"
"Thanks", Kevin smiled, "As do you and Paulo."
Jack scowled angrily, "Don't bring that up, you ass!", in reply Kevin merely went, "Hehe!"
Jack put a finger to his chin, "Wait a sec, is this the same Ben you used to talk about when you were a DBS? You know, the one who got you into the Null Void?"
Ben's heart went 'Ping!' to know that Kevin used to think of him even when they were enemies, "You used to talk about me?" he cooed, his green eyes shimmering in love and appreciation. Kevin looked at the smaller face and shook his head, "Don't look at me like that, Ben! Remember; even I have limited control too!"
"Oh! So it IS this Ben! Sweet! And to think you had a crush on the Ben Tennyson!"
"You can quit calling him by his full name and use just 'Ben', in case you're wondering", Kevin pointed out with a grin.
"Sorry; but this is a great hero we're talking about! And who is now you're boyfriend! Awesome!" Jack was clearly enjoying the secret, with a positive flair.
"Speaking of boyfriends, where's Paulo?" Kevin asked, looking at the spaceship that was sitting glum several feet away. Jack's laugh fell flat to a stop, "For the last time, Kevin! Paulo is not my - "
"Kehhhh-vvv-uuuuhh-nnnn!" came a feminine male voice singing over from the spaceship. A slim figure elegantly jumped off the door and raced towards them. At once, he was standing beside Jack.
Paulo was a few inches taller than Ben but shorter than both Kevin and Jack. With dark brunette hair and hazel eyes, he was rather femininely built, with a manly contour of small muscles. His hair was in all different lengths; the longest strands reaching his lower ribs; he had a messy fringe covering his forehead, long bangs framing the either sides of his face. The rest of his hair was open, behind him. He wore a pair of red-rimmed glasses, with two sliver chains, each one running from the ends of the frame to his neck. Two small silver skulls sat on those chains, and made it seem as if he wore earrings. He was dressed in the same uniform as Jack; and he was lean and elegant in structure. he too had the Blueetooth in his right ear.
"Oh! Kevin, you've grown more muscles! Hahaha!" Paulo laughed his silver laugh. Kevin scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, I get that a lot!"
"I was really pleased to hear from you after so long, Buddy!" he jumped on to Kevin giving him a warm hug, which Kevin returned. Ben simply looked on, in much of awe. Paulo pulled back, his eyes gleaming, "So; whazzup?! What do you do on Earth nowadays?!"
"I'm...a sidekick", Kevin answered awkwardly. Paulo stared at him stupidly, till he burst into laughter, "A what?!"
"Not a sidekick; that's too professional a term! Let's just say, Kevin is a very-good guy now", Ben spoke wisely.
Paulo stopped laughing, gazing at the small brunette in wonder, "I'm sorry I didn't notice you; uh...?" he looked at Jack for help, and the blonde grinned broadly, "That's Ben Tennyson."
"..."
The same changing phase of expression that took place on Jack's face before, happened on Paulo's face as well. Only, Paulo's was more...dramatic.
His eyes were so shiny that Ben wanted to melt into the ground in embarrassment. Paulo's mouth was open in an 'o' shape, his hands raised to his face in shock.
"Oh my GOD! THE Ben Tennyson?!" he recoiled in seemingly happy horror, "The Wielder of the Omnitrix?! The Saviour of the Universe?!"
Paulo grasped the two hands of Ben in his own and squeaked, "Oh, I am blessed!"
"Paulo; please; you're embarrassing me..." Jack sighed, leaning his blonde head on his fingers.
"Oh c'mon, Jackie! This is Ben Tennyson!" he ranted and then stepped back, "I never thought that he would be a young teenager; aw, he's sooo CUTE!"
Ben turned to Kevin helplessly, "You didn't mention that they're...obsessed with me?" his voice only a whisper. Kevin grinned with a shrug, "I save the surprises for the last."
"Oh, sorry; I got a bit carried away", he squeaked breathlessly, letting go of ben's hands. He ran his slim fingers through his own brown hair, "I just love the Omnitirix! Oh the ingenuity and clever master circuits! And the beautifully comaptible design! I forever admire its creator and the wielder! And now, I got to touch the very wielder himself! - sigh- now, if I met the great Galvan Azmuth, then, ah...I could die in peace."
Kevin explained to Ben, "Paulo is the geekiest of geeks when it comes to Alien Technology; hes mad about alien tech and no human knows as much as he does about it."
"Oh, Kevin! You mean after you, there's no one than me who knows that much."
Kevin chuckled, "Still the same ol' Paulo, the Modest!" at which the brunette DBS blushed. "I am so happy!" Paulo smiled wide, "To meet an old dear friend, and BEN Tennyson! It couldn't get any better!"
"Maybe it can", Jack grinned, making Paulo look at him oddly, "It can? Tell me Jackie, what do you mean?"
"Firstly, don't call me that! Secondly, ask Kevin why he called us to Earth!" Jack answered.
Paulo looked at Kevin like a bird; his head cocked, eyes unblinking behind ultra-clean glasses. "Well..." Kevin started, "Ben is a Vulphorous. And we need to go to Tetraxia to get him the Antidote."
Again, Ben noticed that the word 'Tetraxia' made no surprise to the DBS. But what interested him more was the graveness it brought to the conversation.
There was a sudden serious air around Paulo as he stared at the two. He pushed up his glasses, and went into thinking, "A Vulphorous? And the First Transformation?"
"Complete", Kevin pulled down the neck of his shirt again, to establish the proof of it. Paulo nodded, "I see..." and then it struck his head suddenly, "You got bit?!"
Kevin gave off a sexy smirk, "Guess what."
Paulo stared and stared, his hazel eyes whizzing from Kevin, to Ben, to Kevin, to Ben. "No way!" he jumped sideways, clinging to Jack's arm as if his life depended on it. He looked up at the blonde's face, "Jackie! Is it- are they -?"
Jack smiled, "Yup; they're a couple!"
Paulo looked like he was about to faint. He melted off the blonde's arm, squealing, "OH! Kevin and Ben!" his cheeks went bright red as he sighed, "You two make such a cute pair! How rebellious you are, Kevin! You chose just the person who would have fought against us years ago! But, oh my god! You couldn't have chosen a better person for yourself, Kevin! How adorable!"
"Ok,...this is getting really awkward", chuckled Ben nervously, not used to being under such crazy fandom. He looked at Kevin who seemed absolutely alright and calm.
"I'm sorry again!" Paulo apologized sweetly, "I am no homo, but I believe that love has no gender at all!"
Kevin grinned. He just had to put in his tease-statements, "Is that what you tell Jack when you date him?"
Paulo's face fell in synchronisation with Jack's. "I do NOT date Jack!" he snapped.
"I'm right here", Jack pointed out, at which Paulo faced him with folded hands, "So? Is that an insult?!"
"Guys, guys; you can have you love-fight later; we have serious matter to discuss here!" Kevin laughed. Ben punched him on the arm, "You big meanie! You started it! Now you want them to stop?!"
Jack and Paulo frowned simultaneously, looking away. Then, the brunette DBS blinked, "So, since you're a Vulphorous, you can't wear the Omnitrix, right? Then who will save the world?" coming back to the matter at hand.
"I will. For the moment, that is", came a voice from behind Ben and Kevin.
The four of them turned to see the large figure of Max Tennyson appear. He was dressed in his Plumbers uniform, and his aged eyes were fixated on the DBS. And the mentioned DBS stared open-mouthed and pale.
"Holy fuck! Its MAX TENNYSON!" they both gasped in the same time. Just when they were about to draw out their laser guns for defence, Kevin jumped out, "Its ok, guys; I called him here!"
"You called a Plumber to meet us?!" Paulo snapped at Kevin, "That's equivalent to betrayal, Kevin!"
"Not to mention that you invited one of the most famous Plumbers of them all!" piped Jack, panicking.
"No, he's here to help us! I know him; he's Ben's grandpa!" Kevin reasoned quickly. At that moment, the DBS guys froze, straightening from their defence pose, "Grandpa?!" they chimed together.
"Hi, Grandpa Max," Ben smiled sweetly at the larger man who stood on Ben's other side, "You were a little late?"
"Sorry, Ben; I got caught up; a bunch of DNAliens attacked the south end of the city. All cleared up now, no worries", he smiled down at his adorable grandson. Max looked very warm and Santa-like as he smiled at his Ben; but when he turned to the DBS, his face went cold and fatal, "Hello there."
Jack and Paulo looked struck by lightning.
"Of course..." Paulo whispered in realisation, "Ben Tennyson. Max Tennyson. I can't believe I didn't connect the dots before!"
Jack blinked at the old man, "I, uh, I guess the heroism runs in the family, huh?"
"Yeah, it does." Max answered blandly. Ben frowned playfully at his grandpa, "Don't be so cold on them, grandpa! They're the reason I will be able to live happily ever after with Kevin! And I would get to wear the Omnitrix too!"
Max sighed. He then snapped, "Start talking the two of you! Intros!", he addressed the DBS.
"Jack Vortacon; sir!" Jack answered with a salute. "Paulo Consor; sir!" followed Paulo.
"Good, where have you decided to raid next? The Andromeda galaxy? Is that why you were easily available to Kevin's communication? Were you going to assault Milkyway next?"
Kevin turned to the old Tennyson, "Max! Take it easy; they're not going to give up that sorta info! And, it's our luck that they are willing to help us even though you showed up! They could run off any minute now! But are they?"
"I'd like to see them try...", Max hissed, and the poor DBS guys gulped, "No-no way; we wanna help Kevin. We really do!"
"Please, Grandpa; listen to them!" Ben whined. No one, not even Max, could resist the puppy-dog face that Ben displayed to Max. Catching a glimpse, Jack nearly went "Aw..." but he was dug in the ribs by Paulo's elbow to keep shut.
"Fine; spit out the plan." He growled at the two.
Kevin shook his head. Jack looked a little miffed, but he spoke nonetheless.
"The only way to Tetraxia from here is through a new bridge we have built; called the Wormhole Cross", Jack started, and Max nodded in agreement so he continued, "From there, we can access Tetraxia in a few earth hours. The security is very tight, and we'll have to be really cautious if we don't wanna get caught; 'cause if we do; we are history!" he turned to Paulo, "Statistics, Paulo."
Paulo nodded and pulled out an advanced calculator. He tapped on the keys as he spoke, "Alright; to the Wormhole Cross, we have to pass there solar systems; and in our special spaceship; that'll be forty eight point six hours earth time. And...once we are in the Wormhole Cross, it's a ten minute lag, till we reach the other side...and... from there to Tetraxia takes approximately twenty seven point six hours earth time."
Paulo looked at Jack, for the blonde to continue, which he gladly did, "After we steal the Antidote, we move to the Floating Xoar; which is a rehabilitation centre for humans and alien-human hybrids. From there, we can have Ben go through the Purification process. If you have a recommended doctor, then you have to inform them today; or there are doctors there already anyway. Paulo? The time stats from Tetraxia to Floating Xoar, and back, please?"
Paulo spoke, "From Tetraxia to Floating Xoar takes fifteen point zero hours earth time; and the Purification Process takes around three hours, depending on the number of Full Transformations. Here, Ben has already done the first, so there is no question about it. So; three point zero hours for the process...and from the Floating Xoar, let's take an hour of signing documents and payment for treatment, so that's and additional one point zero hours earth time; then to the Wormhole Cross it takes forty point six hours. From the wormhole cross, its obvious we need the same forty eight point six hours earth time."
Ben gaped stupidly. Jack smiled at Paulo, "Sum total please?"
"One hundred and eighty point five hours in totals. That's seven point six days earth time."
Ben blinked. All that math for a mere seven days?! I thought we mighta taken seven years with all those numbers!
"Seven days, hm?" Max wondered, "Carl and Sandra come back in nine days right?"
Ben nodded, "So we have two days time in case we become late. Unless mom and dad decide to come home early..."
"God, no! Then we'll be in trouble!" Kevin shook his head.
Jack and Paulo looked at each other, and then at the three, "Uh, so;... when do we leave?"
"Tonight; definitely tonight; we need all the time we can get", Max took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Exhaling calmly, he opened his eyes again to look at the DBS, with a sudden smile, "For seven point six days earth time; welcome to the Tennyson gang of friends, Jack and Paulo!"
The two faces lit up in relief. "Thanks, man!" Jack grinned, and then cleared his throat, "I mean, sir."
Kevin and Ben burst out laughing. Paulo looked confused whether or not to join.
- End of Chapter -
why do i feel like my chapter end with a Kick Buttowski's "oh, biscuits!" ending?!
yeah, about paulo; a fangirlish boy?! now thats something you dont see everyday! hahahahaahhaaa...who am i kidding... (shakes head.)
ok; for all of u who want a jack x paulo...pls read on ! :3
oh, and dont bother calculating all that number numeric crap; i hate it anyway and it took me only a normal calculator to sum it all up. just a random bunch of number to be added; and i just wanted to make paulo sound like a tech mathematician, :P
incase ure wondering; paulo consor is closely resembling to Grell Sutcliffe of Kuroshitsuji(Black Butler) only difference being that paulo's hair is brown not red; and he dont have those sharp teeth. his hair is shorter. and hes not a shinigami :P :D
scylasama, i hope ure happy now! :3 ... & u too stuffedtoycuddler !\
review pls! :3