"Rook, honestly, I'll be fine. Don't worry about it."
Ben Tennyson tries his best to ignore the feeling of his partner's eyes boring into his back. The scenery outside the passenger-side window isn't very interesting - mostly just desert and rock - but it's preferable to Rook's concerned gaze.
"I don't know why you worry so much," continues Ben as the Proto-TRUK makes its way toward Bellwood. "You're worse than my parents! I'm not as delicate as you seem to think." He crosses his arms and gives an irritated huff which fogs up the window.
Rook heaves a heavy, defeated sigh and replies, "I'm sorry, Ben. That was not what I was trying to imply."
As the fog fades away and Ben can once again make out his reflection, he can see that Rook has turned his attention back to the road, a frown on his face.
Shit.
Ben bites his bottom lip, mentally slapping his forehead for his comment. It wasn't like Rook was trying to offend him, Ben knew he was just concerned for his partner.
"Look, I know you're just trying to look out for me," says Ben, "I just ..." He pauses, unsure of what else to say. "I-I've broken a few ribs before. There's nothing you can really do other than take it easy and wait for them to heal."
Ben chances a glance in Rook's direction. His explanation hasn't seemed to settle Rook's nerves any, though Ben's heart does feel a little lighter and a little less guilty as Rook's frown has faded and his brows are now furrowed in thought.
"Carl and Sandra are gone for the weekend, yes?"
The sudden turn in conversation catches Ben by surprise.
"Yeah?" Ben can't help but feel excited to return home to an empty house. For the next seventy-two hours there would be no one to tell him to take a break from Sumo Slammers or force him to ingest literally anything other than a smoothie or chili fries. He wouldn't even have to go hero for a few days (Grandpa's orders).
Though he would never voice it because he knew Rook would scold him for his selfish thoughts, a few broken ribs was a fair trade off for a short break from the Omnitrix (and hero-ing as a whole). Ben loved to go alien and all, but sometimes a guy needed a few days of normalcy.
"What if you need help and there is no one around to assist you?" continues Rook, completely oblivious to Ben's wandering mind.
Pulled back to reality as the Proto-TRUK enters city limits - the quiet landscape turns to concrete buildings and the desert silence is now a conversation of honks from other vehicles - Ben rolls his eyes at the Revonnahgander and retorts in reply, "Would you stop worrying so much? I'm a big boy, Rook. I can take care of myself."
Rook can't help but chuckle which just irritates his partner more. "I know you can, Ben. I guess I am just a worry-mole."
Ben raises an eyebrow, "You mean a worry-wart?"
"I'm confused."
Ben shakes his head, "Ah, never mind." He leans forward, doing his best not to noticeably cringe at the sharp pain in his side, and turns on the radio.
For the remainder of the ride, the two sit in silence, listening to the current (alien) Top-40. Ben can't understand a word of it, but it's a good distraction and allows his mind to wander to other things. "Wake me when we get there, okay?" He doesn't wait for Rook to respond and rests his head against the window. A sudden wave of exhaustion overwhelms him and it doesn't take Ben long to fall asleep only moments after closing his eyes.
Ben's eyes flutter open about an hour later and he surprised to find himself in his bed with the sheets tucked up around his neck.
"Huh?" He asks, thrown off to having awoken outside of the Proto-TRUK's cabin. He sits up with some difficulty (whoever had tucked him in, had tucked the sheets too tightly around his body) and swings his head from side to side, trying to make sense of what had occurred while he'd been asleep.
In the distance, he can hear noise coming from the room beneath his bedroom.
Someone's here?
Ben unravels himself from the sheets, being careful not too move too harshly for fear of further irritating his injury and carefully creeps out into the hallway on his tip-toes, back pressed against the wall.
For a moment, he entertains the idea of going hero and asking questions later, when a familiar laugh drifts up from the living room. Ben's shoulders drop as he realizes what has occurred.
No way! He didn't!
Ben can feel his face heat up at the thought of his partner carrying him the stairs and tucking him into bed.
It was rather late out and pretty dark, but still! What if someone had seen?!
If he were a religious man, Ben would've gotten to his knees right then and there and thanked god that his parents hadn't been around to see such an embarrassing affair. His mother would've probably thought it was sweet and told everyone else and then he would've never heard the end of it!
"Ugh!" Ben groans, his face as red as a beet at the thought.
Seeing as there's no need to be careful as the intruder was his partner and not an enemy alien out to destroy him, Ben stomps down the stairs with an embarrassed huff and his arms crossed over his chest.
Rook Blonko was enjoying late-night television though he didn't exactly understand what the male human host was going on about. Still, it was entertaining to see the man move about his stage and point at random objects in the corner of the screen. Rook liked his energy, it was fun to watch.
The Revonnahgander is so entertained by the funny little man on-screen that he doesn't hear nor notice his partner standing at the foot of the staircase, shooting him a dirty look.
"ROOK!"
The bowl of popcorn Rook has rested on his knees jumps with him at the sound of Ben's irritated call.
"Ah, Ben," Rook says sheepishly, turning to meet his partner's gaze, "I'm sorry, did I wake you?" He hits the volume on the remote to lower the sound of the television, though he knows that's not why Ben is upset.
"I told you to wake me up when we got here! I didn't want you to carry me to bed! That's soembarrassing, dude!"
Rook rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "You just looked so comfortable, I didn't want to wake you! What if you couldn't get back to sleep because of your injuries? You need to be well rested if you want to heal quickly!"
If it had been possible for humans to turn any redder, Ben was certain he would be the color of a cooked lobster. He understood why Rook had done it. If places had been reversed (and Ben could lift him in his human form), he would've done the same thing for an injured friend.
Still -
"Come on, man! Please tell me it was at least via piggyback and not, like, a bridal carry?"
The glow from the television is too dim for Ben to be certain, but Rook seems to be blushing.
What does he have to be embarrassed about? It's not like he was the one being carried to bed like a toddler!
"I'm sorry, Ben. I honestly did not mean to upset you."
The look on Rook's face is clearly apologetic. If Rook still had his tail, Ben was sure it would be between his legs in shame.
"UGH!" groans Ben, defeated. "Y-you can't tell anyone! Especially Kevin! I know you too are buddy-buddy now!"
"I won't!"
He offers Rook his pinkie, "Okay then, pinkie-promise!"
Rook cocks his head, confused by the Earth tradition, but knowing Ben was in no mood to answer his questions regarding Earth culture, Rook interlocks Ben's pinkie with his own.
"Promise me you won't tell a soul about what went down tonight!"
"I promise."
Unable to look his partner in the face for fear his cheeks will grow warmer than they already are, Ben coughs awkwardly and stares at his feet as they shake. "Okay, good."
Rook smiles down at his partner, clearly delighted that Ben had given him the opportunity to make amends.
Once they've released each other from their grip, Rook glances out to the window, clearly apprehensive to leave Ben alone. Unable to think of any other way it could get worse, Ben bites the bullet and says, "Look, if it'll make you feel better, you can stay here for the weekend."
Rook's face instantly brightens at the proposition.
"But! There are some ground rules."
Rook nods, brows furrowed in concentration.
"1) You are not allowed to comment on what I eat."
"But what if - " begins Rook. At the sight of Ben's scowl, he closes his mouth and instead nods. "I'll try my hardest to keep my thoughts about proper nutrition to myself."
Knowing that's the best he's gonna get from his partner, Ben continues, "2) You're here as a friend, not a nurse or a babysitter."
Rook lifts a finger to interject again and Ben, knowing that this would be a pattern, motions for him to speak.
"What if you need assistance in regards to your injury?"
"I will let you know, okay?"
Rook nods in understanding.
"And finally 3) We will never speak of what occurred here tonight, ever."
"Didn't we already agree not to with the pinkie ceremony?"
"I'm saying it again so you understand how serious I am about that," responds Ben, cooly.
"Understood and noted."
Content with Rook's acknowledgement of their agreement, Ben's frown turns up into a soft smile. "Alright then, let me go get my controllers and Sumo Slammers! If you're gonna stay over, this is gonna be an actual sleep-over."
Rook chuckles, "Sounds fun, I've never been to a human sleep-over before."
Ben turns to rush back up the stairs, but pauses for a moment' thinking over the importance of his next comment.
"Ben?"
The boy nods to himself and turns back. "Before I go, I can't believe you would eat that ..." Ben points to the upturned bowl of popcorn on the floor.
"I know, there's very little nutritional value ..."
"... without putting any caramel sauce on it."
Rook visibly recoils at Ben's suggestion. "Are you sure that's - " He pauses, remembers the rules and sighs. "Alright, what if we make two bowls one with and one without? Would that be up to your terms?"
Ben smirks, "I guess that would be okay ... but you don't know what you're missing!"