Background

Webtoon: Eleceed

Character(s): Marcus and Benny

Role: Benny is the youngest brother of an Awakened group on the east coast of the United States. He and his older brother Marcus travel to Korea to build a connection with the Shinwa group.

Plot: Benny and Marcus head to the school for Awakened Ones in Korea to learn more about it, and possibly help to set one up in the States. On a rare free moment, Marcus tells Jiwoo and his friends (and Kayden in his secret cat form) about Benny and his lack of Awakened powers.

Eleceed: Benny Finds Out

"Benny has no Awakened powers." Marcus said, interrupting the conversation. Jiwoo and Wooin looked concerned, while Jisuk and Subin looked utterly shocked.

"Benny has no abilities? Isn't your family the most influential group in the United States?" Jisuk asked incredulously.

Marcus nodded. He was leaning against the door jamb and pushed off with his shoulder to stand by the group. He thought a moment and then sat down next to Jiwoo's cat, that stared at him suspiciously.

"For the east coast, yeah. It was a shock to find out that Ben didn't have powers. Usually, powers manifest between five and eight years old. When nine years passed, we realized the Benny would not manifest any.

"Many of the groups in the states came after us when it happened. They tried to undermine our family in so many ways, but our dad stood firm." Jiwoo noticed the determined glint in Marcus's eyes and nodded along with him.

"So, what did your family do about Benny?" Subin asked.

Marcus knew that they were all thinking the same thing, well, at least Jisuk and Subin were. If anyone in a powerful Awakened family had been found to have no powers, they probably would have been sent away, disowned, or just completely neglected. It was an archaic idea, just like their tendency to treat unaffiliated Awakened Ones as second class.

"My father had Benny focus his time on academics, and hobbies. Benny is extremely intelligent, and very adaptable. He can learn new things really well. We thought maybe that was his Awakened Powers, but there's been no account for that anywhere in the world." Marcus explained.

"Something doesn't make sense," Everyone turned to look at Wooin, who had been silent for a long time.

"What? It seems pretty clear to me." Jisuk said, annoyed.

"If Benny has no powers, and you're an accomplished Awakened One," Wooin said. "Why are you really here?"

Jiwoo understood now what Wooin was asking. Marcus and Benny's mission was supposedly to reach out to their sister group Shinhwa, and even get Benny evaluated. But if Benny had no powers, then he could not be evaluated. Marcus didn't need to be evaluated either. He was already considered a top tier Awakened One in the United States. He could prove himself in Korea with an evaluation, but Jiwoo doubted he wanted, or needed it. He looked up at Marcus who seemed to deliberate if he wanted to say something or not.

"The Union and Shinhwa have been working closely since Wooin and Jiwoo showed up," Marcus mused.

"Yeah, and?" Subin asked cautiously.

"I know that I have Shinhwa's confidence, but you wouldn't say anything if I told everyone, would you Subin?" Marcus turned to look at the surly girl, who merely blinked back at him.

Subin blushed a little, embarrassed for being called out like that, but kept back her tongue and nodded.

"Our oldest brother William now runs the Group. Our father passed away two years ago. With the passing of power, other groups have tried to discredit the Mathers group. They demanded to have William spar against their top Awakened Ones, have tried to legally attack him, and other various methods." No one asked what those various methods were, as they assumed it all involved assassination or attacks.

"But recently, a new group has been threatening Benny." Jiwoo audibly gasped, while everyone else's eyes widened in surprise. "Everyone within our group knows how much we cherish Benny, and everyone has accepted him as part of the group even though he has no powers. Maybe because they know that I'm still here if something happens to William," Marcus added this last bit under his breath.

"We've received notes, letters, emails. At first it was only threats to Benny's safety, but then the incident happened."

Marcus related to the four teens about how Benny had been almost kidnapped off the streets of New York. His Awakened bodyguards had been laid low, and that left Benny defenseless. It just so happened that his brother William had been planning to meet up with them, and had come just in time to run off the would-be kidnappers. It wasn't only that, Marcus revealed. It was also noted that Benny was being followed, and that random strangers were coming up to him to confirm his identity. The kidnapping had been the last straw, and William arranged to send him to Korea, to stay with Shinhwa. Marcus would not allow if unless he could go to, under the guise of a trip to reestablish connection with their sister group.

"Benny is a good kid," Jiwoo said, as everyone fell silent.

'He is a good kid, but a powerless one who could easily be used as a pawn.' Kayden thought to himself. 'It must be such a burden to ensure his safety along with running an important Awakened Group.'

"Benny means a lot to us," Marcus added. "We would be devastated if anything happened."

"You'd be willing to sacrifice anything to make sure he was safe." Wooin nodded.

Silence filled the room once more, and it became stifling. It was too much for Kayden to handle. As nonchalantly as he could, he jumped off of the couch and made for the bedroom. When he got there, he discreetly made his way to the open window and jumped out onto the academy grounds. Jiwoo made no move to stop him, but Kayden knew that the boy had seen him, and that he knew what he was doing.

Kayden sauntered the grounds the best his little cat body would let him. Though everyone commented on his fattiness, it never really bothered him. He still felt formidable and strong. No one could mess with the mighty Kayden, even if he was an adorably fat cat. He smirked to himself as he walked up to a bench that someone was sitting at. He hesitated, not wanting to run into any of those Affiliated brats, but then jumped up to sit next to Benny, who was sketching in a notebook.

"Came to join me, eh?" Benny said smiling, but he did not look up from his drawing.

Kayden said nothing, instead he huffed and looked at the pond in front of them. Koi fish swam lazily through the crystal-clear water, and lily pads floated along the surface. There were beautiful flowers and banzai trees planted around the pond, and their deep colors were reflected in the surface.

"I hope I don't alarm you," Benny said as he looked at the cat next to him. "But I know you're not originally a cat."

Kayden's heart plummeted to his large stomach and his fur stood on end. With wide, anxious eyes, he looked up at Benny, who only smiled at him. He tried to pretend to be a cat, licking his paw and mewling a pitiful attempt at a meow.

"Oh, don't worry! I don't know who you really are, and I won't tell a soul." Benny waved his hands to try and calm the obviously agitated cat down. "I'm just more observant than other people, and I analyze things constantly. You don't have to talk to me or anything, but I will make sure that you and Jiwoo don't get in trouble." Benny winked and smiled.

Kayden studied Benny for a moment longer. The young boy didn't seem bothered about the fact he was not Awakened. If what Marcus had said was true, Benny found success in other pursuits, and they obviously paid off if he could see through his cat persona. He tried to think about what Marcus and William felt towards their brother and realized that those feelings might be the same he had for Jiwoo.

Benny continued to sketch in his notebook, softly humming to himself as he did so. Kayden leaned towards him to see what he was drawing, and his brow raised in surprised. The drawing was a simple sketch of the pond in front of them, but down so well that every detail was intricately depicted.

"My dad had me pick up hobbies," Benny said when he noticed Kayden looking at his notebook. "It kept me busy while my brothers had their trainings." A flash of sadness darted through his features.

Kayden wondered if he should speak and ask follow up questions, but he elected to remain silent, in case anyone else happened to walk by them.

"Marcus is telling everyone that I have no Awakened abilities," Benny continued, putting his pencil down on top of the notebook. He looked up across the pond and towards the ocean that surrounded the school.

"He's probably telling them about my father and how he tried to make sure that I was still taken care of, even though I couldn't do things like my brothers. Did he tell you about the latest events?" He turned his head and looked down at Kayden. The orange cat gave a subtle nod.

"It was," Benny paused to select the right words. "Frightening." He closed his eyes and shuddered at the memory.

He and is bodyguards had been strolling down a busy sidewalk in New York. Benny was heading to a tutoring session, as he was teenager enrolled in several college courses, even in the summer. Benny had two bodyguards, one named Lee, and the other Bastion. They were powerful Awakened Ones in the group, and Benny had practically grown up with them.

On their walk to school, Benny had noticed several pairs of eyes following them, more than what would be considered the usual. He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to tell Lee and Bastion this observation, when a car came speeding at them, causing all three to dive for the ground. Bastion had scooped him up and held on tightly to him as Lee pushed the car out of the way. People all around them screamed and frenzied, leaving all attention elsewhere rather than them.

A heavily tattooed man stepped from the car, holding a ball of ice aloft in his hands. Benny watched in horror as the man threw the ball of ice at Lee, who expertly ducked out the way and charged at him. Bastion hoisted him up as Lee went for the attack and tried to direct Benny down a small side street to escape. Benny didn't want to leave Lee behind, but he had been guarded for such a long time that he knew any sort of plea to stop would be ignored.

Bastion headed down the side street, ignoring the sounds of explosions and shattering ice behind them. They reached the other end of the side street and Bastion stopped short, dropping Benny on the ground in shock.

"Bastion?" Benny had cried out, looking up to see a shocked, pale look on his face. Tears climbed into Benny's eyes at the sight of a large chunk of ice sticking from Bastion's chest.

Benny squeezed his eyes shut at the memory; his heart pounded in his chest. He took several deep breaths to calm himself down before turning to smile down at Kayden, who watched him with knowing, cat eyes.