Wednesday night, another set. I'm almost out of sets, guys; I think tomorrow will be the last one for a little while. :3 A bunch of "Busy Box" drabbles here tonight, along with some "Con of Rath" drabbles...one entirely in Rath's point of view. Can you guess which one that is? XD The last one is the first one of a set for a challenge back on lj. Enjoy, everyone! :3
Tracking
Power, Gwen understood, was something that came with flaws. Ben's Omnitrix was full of head-scratching technological glitches. Kevin's powers had a nasty habit of taking him over. For Gwen, being only part energy being meant a lot of very human flaws. Things she couldn't control, and also things that she needed to learn and work on little by little. Things to get better at.
Tracking was Gwen's biggest flaw, and she knew there were many things about it that she needed to improve upon. Tracking technology was just the latest of challenges she'd been trying to overcome; a challenge that ended in her success.
But…there were more problems still to solve…one of which she was beginning to doubt she could fix: she could barely track Ben and Kevin anymore. This was because she kept getting their auras…completely mixed up.
It was certainly a shock the first time it happened—she'd tried to reign in her cousin for Julie and ended up in Kevin's garage, with no sign of Ben whatsoever. Gwen was surprised, but not shaken; so she brushed off the incident as a fluke and thought nothing of it…until the same thing happened. Again. And again. And again. And again. It wasn't long before she realized that the boys' auras had become entangled with one another, almost becoming one. And after that, it wasn't long before she came to realize why.
…let's just say that Ben and Kevin were far easier to track when they were together.
Handsome Devil
Kevin eyed the cube's new transformation appreciatively. No surprises there, considering it had taken his form. Quite an ego boost.
"What d'ya say we take this handsome devil home?" Kevin asked. "See what makes him tick."
Ben smirked. "If he's anything like you, then I already know what makes him tick."
Kevin chuckled.
Gwen smacked her forehead.
You're Beautiful
Ben wondered what it would be like to see in several different dimensions. So sue him, that alien had gotten him curious. So he spent a few hours fiddling with the Omnitrix, trying to find the DNA within its system.
…he hadn't expected anything like this.
Gwen and Kevin had looked on as he tested out his new form's movements and looked at things in a new light. There was something about the way this creature perceived things that was…it was just…mind-blowing. Completely indescribable.
The most unbelievable thing about this form was the way it allowed him to see other beings. He saw flesh and blood. He saw heart and soul. He saw everything they were now and everything they could be, everything they would turn out to be. He saw the way the world around them moved, the way the air parted with each movement.
Concerned by his stunned silence, Gwen and Kevin asked Ben what he saw. "Maybe you should change back," Gwen said. Kevin just stepped back. Because Ben was staring.
Right. At. Him.
"Dude. You okay?"
And Ben couldn't answer, because…he could never explain this. Seeing Kevin in this way…seeing everything he was…
He could never explain why he could suddenly look at Kevin and say, "You're beautiful."
Pro of Rath
On the one hand, Rath was obnoxious. No one was going to argue that (except Rath, of course, but he argued about everything). He was dumb, loud, and didn't listen to anyone. Kevin didn't particularly like that.
But on the other hand, Rath was extremely aggressive. Okay, maybe not a pro to some, considering his other traits, but—confession time, folks—Kevin liked that. I mean, really liked it. As in, he found it attractive. Really fucking attractive.
Never one to play coy, naturally Kevin took any opportunity to provoke Ben while he was Rath. Chances were always high that he would get the desired reaction. There was usually a lot of muscle-flexing and breaking things just to show off. When he got really pissed, there was a lot of growling that sent shivers up Kevin's spine. And when all the posturing was over, there was a fight that usually ended with Kevin pinned to the floor with over 200 pounds of sweaty, rippling Apoplexian on top of him. Hot? Very.
Somewhere along the line Ben must have figured out what was going on, because eventually the fights became less fight-like and more of an excuse for Ben to get Kevin on his back. Growls became less of a "back off" and more of a "stay put." Displays of dominance suddenly felt more like mating rituals. Pulses rose for a different reason. Pupils dilated.
Hot. Really fucking hot.
When it came to rational thinking and delicate situations, having Rath around wasn't such a good idea. But overall?
Yeah, Kevin was pretty sure he was more of a pro than a con.
WHY TAEDENITE IS BAD, BY RATH
SO TAEDENITE…IS NOT COOL. WHY? BECAUSE…BECAUSE IT'S NOT COOL, OKAY? VULKANUS IS ALWAYS AROUND IT AN' STUFF. IT'S NOT THAT I'M SCARED OF HIM OR NOTHIN' CUZ RATH AIN'T SCARED O' NOBODY, GOT THAT? I NEVER GET TIRED O' KICKIN' HIS BUTT, EITHER! PUTTIN' HIM IN HIS PLACE. SHOW NO MERCY!
…YEAH.
WHERE WAS I? OH YEAH. TAEDENITE. AND HOW IT SUCKS…AND STUFF. KEVIN LEVIN'S FACE IS HALF-TAEDENITE OR SOMETHIN' RIGHT? I JUST WANNA PUNCH HIS FACE IN SOMETIMES! EXCEPT I DON'T CUZ THEN HE'D PROBABLY TURN INTO RUBBLE OR SOMETHIN'…AND HE'S STILL SORTA USEFUL. AN' SHIT.
…WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW HE WOULDN'T EVEN BE PART TAEDENITE IF HE HADN'T EVER TOUCHED THE STUFF? I REMEMBER THAT. THAT WAS VULKANUS'S FAULT, TOO. AN' I BROKE HIM INTO A BUNCH OF TINY LITTLE CRUNCHY METAL PIECES! SERIOUSLY, THEY WERE ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NOBODY MESSES WITH KEVIN LEVIN BUT ME, GOT IT?
…WHATEVER. I'M HUNGRY.
TAEDENITE STILL SUCKS.
Spending
When he asked if he could borrow the credit cube for a few project-related purposes, the answer was a suspicious eyebrow-raise and a stern, "no." With the obligatory "ask your girlfriend for permission or she'll get mad at you" out of the way, Kevin chose to ignore Gwen and use the gold cube anyway. That Luoadan ambassador owed them for all the trouble they'd gone to, as far as he was concerned. Where was the harm in a little spending?
There was a birthday coming up…well, two, but one of them was already decided and easily paid for. The second one was his project. Something that required high-grade stuff, like titanium armor plating, laser-proof glass and a good half a billion's worth of Kineceleran drive installments. All that and the time he planned to invest in this, which could easily pass the due date. Cars weren't easy to put together from scratch, and this one had to be perfect.
His own insistence on perfection was a bit unnerving at times (he was dating Gwen, wasn't he?), but like Gwen's answer to his request, he chose to ignore the feeling, and he used the gold credit cube to his heart's content. It wasn't like he was hurting anyone by spending.
It was for Ben's birthday, after all.
Control
Gwen didn't want to be one of "those" girlfriends. The kind that was desperate for attention, always on her boyfriend's case, always wary of other girls. No girl ever wanted her boyfriend to say she was "suffocating" or "clingy" or, at the worst, "controlling." Not even the ones that…you know, were.
What was really sad was the fact that most girls like that didn't start out that way. Sometimes there were events or conversations that triggered their possessiveness. A series of phone calls that he never answered…a date that he cancelled without a reason…a locket to "remember him by" before he ran off to hang out with her cousin…and the looks that he didn't direct at her after that…
Then, without even realizing it, the girl grows anxious. Suddenly there's this fear that he'd rather be around anyone else other than her. Suddenly she doesn't know when she's going to be able to go on a date with him or spend time with him, even just as friends. He's slipping through her fingers, and she'll do anything to make him hers again. Anything.
Gwen didn't want to be that girl. She didn't want to be that afraid or desperate or paranoid. Yet every day she became more aware of those moments when he chose to be with Ben instead of her, and those moments scared her. When was the last time Kevin had kissed her? Whatever happened to "I'd follow you anywhere"?
Deep down, Gwen knew she was turning into one of "those" girlfriends. Always seeking out Kevin's gaze and knowing it would be elsewhere, always quick to snap at him, always suspicious of the people he talked to…of Ben…
Deep down, she knew…but she was losing control, and she needed to do something about it before it was too late.
Happy Birthday to Not Me
Two months ago, Gwen got dressed up and went out with Kevin. She sat across from him at a fancy restaurant, smiling as he tugged at his shirt collar and agonized over his dinner choice. They shared light conversation and then a tiramisu (Kevin didn't seem too invested in either, but Gwen understood that this really wasn't his thing), then Kevin took her home and kissed her, mumbling out an awkward, but sweet "happy birthday" before he left. Overall, Gwen counted the evening a success.
Now, she's looking at a sleek black-and-green Mazda and wondering where it all went wrong. Suddenly she recognizes all the signs and realizes that she was the only one enjoying their date that night. Now, as Ben admires his new car, she notices the smile on Kevin's face.
This (even two months later, Gwen realizes) is a "happy birthday"…and it's not hers.
Toxic
Anyone that had had the opportunity to look Ben Tennyson in the eyes always seemed to describe them same way: "Toxic green. They're this…toxic green color."
Toxic. The things that came to Kevin's mind were radioactive waste, gas fumes and oil spills. Ben's eyes were…well…
Whenever Kevin looked at those eyes, he would feel a shock spread throughout his whole body; silent, subtle, but powerful just the same. He would feel drawn in, even though he knew he shouldn't be. He would feel this…dangerous, yet comforting warmth flowing through his veins…
Like poison.
Maybe toxic was the right word after all.
Studio Audience
"Ben," Gwen said, rubbing her temples, "what on any planet made you think it was a good idea to sign a contract for a TV show?"
Ben grinned sheepishly and half-shrugged. "It…seemed like a good idea at the time…was what I said…can't really say why…" He trailed off, pouting. "The guy talked fancy at me. He was very persuasive."
Kevin ruffled his hair. "And that's why you're not allowed to do any thinking."
"Your support is heart-warming," Ben replied dryly.
Gwen folded her arms over her chest. "Seriously, Ben. This is a huge invasion of privacy. I'm not letting any cameras into my house. None." Kevin got a shifty look and sat up straight in his chair.
"Yeah, now that you mention it…"
"Kevin, if I find out you're trafficking weapons again—"
"Hey, whoa, whoa." Kevin threw his hands up just as Gwen's eyes started to glow purple. Best to change the subject. "It's not like I don't mind havin' my handsome face on TV, but…" He jerked his thumb behind him. "Those guys are a little much."
The trio groaned as a chorus of laughter punctuated Kevin's statement.
Set twenty-one: END.