The tension in their compartment is thick enough to cut with a knife. Gwen sits on the bench with her hands beneath her thighs, staring down at her feet. Further down Ben leans back against the wall. A thousand yard stare as he faces the screen cycling between images of different alien worlds.

Not having moved or spoken since she came back from the steam units. Face set in a stern countenance, his eyes dark with visions of the world they left behind. Shaking away the lingering images from her own mind she clears her throat.

A quick glance out of the corner of her eye confirms that nothing moves aside from his chest as he breathes. Hoping to distract the both of them she asks. "How did you start with Shibari?" Raising a single brow, a teasing lilt to her voice. "Got some ideas from the internet?"

He turns to her, frown present as if he hadn't heard her right. "What?"

Tapping her foot she repeats the question, nervous as his frown only deepens. "You want to know this now?"

Shrugging helplessly she looks at the screen. "It's not as if there's so much to do here." Hugging herself she rubs her arms. "It's either talk or remember."

His eyes darken at that, it takes some time but when he speaks his tone becomes less severe. "The first time I saw any of it was at school, some of the guys were passing magazines around." Staring down at his hands, the grip of the battle not yet shaken. "I only got to look for a moment but one image stayed with me."

Finally a hint of a smile crosses his face. "Was rather easy to find it on the internet after that." Shaking his head he admits ruefully. "Didn't get any schoolwork done that week. I spent hours and hours looking for it, there was the normal attraction to pretty ladies. But it seemed more than that."

His expression turning pensive. "It was always about more the rope then just the women though. The rope, the positions, their expressions. Those took my attention and wouldn't let go."

Drumming her fingers against her leg. "How did you start practicing then?" Her heart beats faster, she managed to distract him and yet somehow the topic made her more nervous than the silence.

Glancing over he continues with a shrug. "Internet helped some. I found an online forum that talked about a lot of it but one of the best things was that it spoke about rope jams."

Confused she repeats the word, looking up at him. Quickly glancing away when she meets his eye.

Shrugging he explains before continuing. "It's a party where people show of their skills but where newbies can begin to learn."

"Wait." She waves her hand about. "When was this? Doesn't the media attention interfere?"

Scoffing he shakes his head. "I'm not a complete moron, Gwen. I used one of the ID masks we took from the DNAliens, changed it a bit with help from the omnitrix. No'one ever knew I was there." A quick flash of a boyish grin. "I would have needed one anyway, I was too young to join in. Still am actually."

Thinking back he manages a genuine smile. "I was so nervous when I went that first time. My shirt was drenched, pools beneath my jacket and my heart hammered in my throat the whole time." Bowing his head he looks down at his open palms, his eyes lighter. The dark clouds behind them dissipating further with each moment. "When that first exposition started I was…" Pausing he searches for words, shaking his head as he comes up empty. "I don't know the word for it but I don't think I took a breath the entire time."

Glancing back and away he blushes slightly, clearing his throat. "Signed up for classes and bought all the rope I could pay for. Big Chill was a big help in bringing them in the house."

Fingers twirling her hair between them, a curious and nervous edge to her question. "Did you ever get tied up?"

He shakes his head. "I wanted too but I couldn't trust anyone enough. Couldn't take the risk that someone knew who I was. Crazies enough out there that want to do all sorts of weird things" Shuddering at the images that spring up in him.

Fading away, he sees her look down at her hands. Nervous tension playing over her. Turning a problem over and around in her mind as she jiggles her foot. Brows scrunched together she speaks slowly. "But if it's not about the obvious." She looks up at him, many questions lurking within her. "What do you get out of it?"

The battlefield forgotten for the both of them for a moment. Silence stretches between them, only a slight hum from the screens sounds in the room. He turns away from her, looking back at the screens as he hunches over. Resting his elbows on his legs.

"Ben?"

He groans, rubbing his palms over his hair to the back of his neck. Looking at her from the side of his eyes.
She stays silent, waiting for him to answer.

Sitting upright he thunks his head against the wall behind him, grasping his legs with a white knuckled grip. Huffing as the words come from tight lips. "It makes me feel in control." He looks away from her, staring at the wall. The next ones come easier but not by much. "Everything that happens is affected by a million little things. No matter what I do or how hard I fight it can all go wrong like that." Snapping his fingers at the last word. "We could have died so many times."

Rubbing his hands up and down his thighs. "I've never been the best at anything, even with the omnitrix most of it comes down to luck." She wants to speak at that moment, say something to the contrary, but her fear stills her tongue. Afraid that if she breaks the moment, it will never come again.

The tension in him seems to soften. "But with the rope none of that matters." His hands release their death grip. "All that exists is the room and us. Everything that happens in that room is under my control. There's nothing that I can't handle when it comes to that."

Abruptly he jumps up, pacing the room. His hands balled into fists. "Not like out there. Nothing I did was enough." Fists jerking through the air as he brings them up and down. "I couldn't beat that thing without taking it all out." Crouching down, he clasps his hands over his ears. The agony evident in him. "How many of those soldiers died because of me? Was there a way to save those that hadn't been turned by the virus yet?"

She stands, walking over to him in two quick strides. Crouching down beside him, her hand forming circles on his back as she tries to comfort him. Her other arm holding on to him. "You did what you had to do." Grounding him, a constant presence that he can't ignore.

He falls back onto the floor, sitting as he stares at his hands. Clenching them, his fists tremble. Gwen nibbles her lip, scratching at her thumb with her nails as she mulls over her words. "We did what we had to do."

His eyes raise up to hers, never before had she seen him look so lost. Letting herself fall backwards as well, she sits on the floor across from him. Shaking her head, her hair sways with the motion. "That virus was the cause." Ben twitches at the anger in her tone as she speaks. "IT took their lives, twisted their bodies. IT took the soldiers."

His eyes shine as he sees her tears leaking down. "They were brave, honorable soldiers who knew what could happen." She looks ferocious as she glares at him. "They fought to save the millions that still live on that planet." She grasps his hands into her own, squeezing hard. "Lives that you saved."

For a second she sees him light up. Fading away as he shakes his head again, letting it hang down. "I've killed Gwen. I don't even know how many."

On the screen above them a mountain could be seen, the sun rising behind it. Casting its light onto the river spilling down the side of the mountain. A river of fire, falling down into deep blue water.

"I don't know either." Her words a whisper as she looks down at their hands. His head raises, eyes widening. She meets his gaze with determination. Speaking slowly, deliberately. "I lost count of how many Endoleasans I ended."

His words rush out. "No. No Gwen, the virus already took their lives." Desperate words meant to save her from the pain he feels.

She shakes her head violently, hair whipping about. "No, the virus took them but I ended their lives." She raises their hands up, holding on to his tightly. "At the end of the battle, before you made the ship explode I was standing against two behemoths." Her words trail off. "I was so tired but I couldn't stop." Pinching her eyes shut she continues. "One moment I wasn't fast enough."

His hands squeeze hers. "One of the soldiers pushed me out of the way." Her voice trembles as she continues. "The blink of an eye, that's all it took. He was there and then he wasn't." Unspoken the 'because of me' floated between them.

Eyes snapping open she pins him with her gaze. "We are not murderers. We tried our best." With those words he knew that she was trying to convince herself as much as him.

Lunging forwards he captures her close. Shuddering they let go of what holds them back. Letting the tears flow as they face what happened. Drawing what comfort they can from each other.

The cruiser steadily travels to earth, unminding of the two humans who let themselves feel their pain deep within its bowels. The crew working to get them home, speaking only in hushed whispers of the power that was shown on that world. What havoc their passengers could wreak if they so wished it. None of them considering the possibility that the two of them would be bawling their eyes out at the loss of life.

Eventually they settle themselves with their backs against the wall, side by side. Hands resting together on the floor. Their silence still introspective, but no longer heavy with the guilt that they both feel.

Gwen is the first to break it. "Why didn't you ever tell anyone?"

Simply staring ahead his response comes quick enough. "Guys don't get to share like that Gwen. Nobody ever talks about that stuff."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He turns to her, letting his fingers graze her arm over her scars. She trembles at the touch as his words come softly. "Same reason why you didn't tell me."

In that moment she understood. Fear. Fear of being judged, fear of showing weakness that you weren't allowed to show to anyone. Fear of seeing that same weakness in someone that you thought to be so strong.

"You are the hero of heroes and the only one worthy of the watch." Words meant to lighten him up doing the opposite. His expression blanking as he remembers alternate versions of their world.

She turns to him, her eyes searching him as he stares ahead. Puzzling through what could possibly be wrong with him, her words come slowly. "You don't think so?"

He turns his head away from her, staring at the screen. "Just leave it Gwen."

Pulling her knees under her she sits back on her ankles, reaching out with both her hands to grasp his face. A slight hint of resistance but he allows her to turn him. Face to face yet his eyes avoid hers. A soft whisper. "Gwen, please."

Yet she can't help but push, a slight glare as she demands. "Tell me." Prodding as she keeps up the glare, her hands firm on his cheeks, keeping him in place.

He exhales harshly through his nose, his own eyes narrowed as he meets hers. Taken aback at the anger in his eyes her grip slackens.

"No'one can be worthy of this Gwen." Blazing green eyes and harsh words. "It was pure luck that it fell where it did, more luck that I found it and a stupid amount of luck that I didn't get us killed." His right hand bounces of his chest. "What makes you think that I'm worthy?"

He moves closer to her, she falls back as his angry diatribe flows. "There are so many out there who are more than I am. I've never been anything special before all this."

Her mouth open in shock it clicks shut as she shouts. "That's not true!"

"No? Just look between us Gwen. You were always the superstar. Good at school, doing a million things and still doing them better than everyone else. I've never been more than average." His eyes narrowed in their own glare, corners of his mouth pulled down he scowls. "Why do you think different?!"

She glares right back at him, shoving her shock aside. "Because I know you. I've known you my entire life and yes there were moments we hated each other." She pauses, calming herself down. Voicing what she has known for so many years. "But I've always known how good you were. You were always the one to stand for what you knew to be right."

The anger begins to fade from him. "I see the same thing that Grandpa and Azmuth see. I see the strength inside you that makes you push on no matter what." She tries to gaze into his eyes, to make him see the conviction within her. But he avoids her gaze.

A sudden beeping by the door disturbs them. Gwen huffs as she stands. Striding towards the sliding doors, opening them to see an officer in plumber uniform waiting for her. "What?!"

The officer draws back at her hostile reception, giving a strange bow as she speaks. "Greetings Tennysons, we are near Earth. The magistrates request your presence at the transport pad." Standing upright the officer hesitates at the glare Gwen gives her. "Do you perhaps need a moment?"

"No." Bens voice rings clear as he walks past Gwen into the hallway. "We're ready to leave."

She pauses, glancing at a clearly fuming Gwen before she turns to show them the way. "Follow me."

Ben walks beside the officers as Gwen stomps after them, her hands balled into fists. But as they walk she begins to realize that she has been pushing and prodding at Ben. Trying to force him into giving her an answer, yet the harder she pushed the more he would resist.

Before she knew it they were standing in front of the magisters and the transport pad. Righting herself she shoves her thoughts to the back of her mind. Her eyes roam the over the dozen officers on deck.

"In name of the plumbers we thank you Ben Tennyson for halting the spread of the cyberplague on Endolea. Though the cost was high it saved millions more."

They turn towards Gwen, shocking her as they bowed just as deeply to her as they did to Ben. "We thank you as well Gwen Tennyson, your actions saved many lives this day. We had asked for Ben Tennyson but your strength proved to be invaluable." Applause sounds in the room, the attending officers having all risen from their stations. But it is the applause that comes from next to her that stops her.

Both of them are stunned, watching as the officers clap. The sound washing over them as the guilt within them rises again.
Ben is the first to stand on the pad, she joins him only a second later.

Pinpricks of light twirl around them, picking up in speed as they multiply. Light quickly swirls around, enveloping them completely. The twin pillars of shining light collapse on the ship as they appear on the ground next to the garage.

Lifting their head they stare up at stars, seeing how one speeds away in a flash. Ben turns to the garage wanting nothing more than to find his bed. A tug on the back of his jacket stops him. Turning his head to look back, he can see Gwen holding on to it, her head bowed down.

"Gwen?"

She stands still, shaking her head. "I…" She shakes her head harder as she searches for the right words to explain. To show him that she understands that he needs the comfort of the rope as much as she does. "No. You …. We …. need this."

He looks back at the door, wanting to walk away even though his feet won't move. His thoughts stop when he hears her whisper. A single word breaking his resolve.

"Please."

Closing his eyes he grimaces. "This isn't a good idea, Gwen. I can't promise to stay in control right now."

"I don't want you to." Her voice is strong, devoid of hesitation. "I want you to express yourself. To stop holding back because you're afraid you'll hurt me."

Any other time he would have looked forward to this, excitement building with each step they take. Yet this time he is unsure. His hands tremble as they gather the rope. Uncertain of how he can do this. Yet the sight of her decides it for him. She is calm and sure, trusting him to know what is possible and what is needed.

Closing his eyes he draws a deep breath. His chest filling he lets it go. His words soft yet firm. "Sit down on the carpet, legs stretched out in front of you.

Sitting with her arms folded behind her back she feels as Ben settles in behind her. His legs stick out at either side of her. Wiggling her feet she smiles at the absurdity of it all, feeling as he lifts her wrists away from the small of her back.

His motions harder as he pulls on the rope, she feels the tension in them. Harsh and sharp where before they were soft. He loops the rope around her arms as she holds on to her elbows. Tying her arms together in a sleeve. The rope still feels soft but his moves have changed. She breathes with him, slow measured breaths.

Coiling the rope around her torso and upper arms just beneath her breasts. They sway in tandem as the rope goes around her. She gasps as he pulls it tight. Moving around her Ben grasps her ankles and places them in his lap. Her eyes close and her breath deepen, feeling the rope drag over her skin.

One ankle over the other, a cross shaped tie locking them in place while some of its length remains on the floor. Her breath shudders as her knees are forced apart. A token of resistance crumbles.

Creating a harness around her shoulders from the remaining coil he tugs on the rope. Her breath shudders as the ropes tighten around her. Once again she spirals deeper into her restriction.

Grasping the length leftover from the knot around her ankles he pauses as he looks at her. Eyes glazing over as he takes in her expression. He shakes himself before threading the rope through the harness. Placing one hand on her shoulder he pulls on the rope. Raising her ankles off the ground, closer to her chest

He sits back, taking in his work as he nods. Feeling satisfaction at the sight of it. His gaze drifts away from the rope and knots, sliding over her form. Taking it all in.

She leans backwards against the couch. Her eyes closed, head bowed down. Feet raised, her knees sticking up on either side of her head. Breathing deeply at an even pace with her lips parted.

Ben swallows at the sight of her. Temptations and thoughts flitting through his mind. His hand reaches out, hovering over the surface of her skin. Following the contours of her body. Up from her ankles. Over her thigh.

Drifting by her sides. Resisting the urge to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers linger over her lips.

Minutes pass until he finally tears his gaze away from her. Finally noticing the tremble that passes through her. He hurries to undo her binding. Slowly letting down her ankles before his fingers dance over the knots. The rope loosens, she leans against him as he unties her with sharp gestures.

Loosening the sleeve around her arms they hang down next to her. Yet he holds the rope around her again, threading the ends through the loop at the end. Trapping her arms against her sides as he loops it up and around her. At that moment his hands move without thought.

Constricting her loosely at first. Looping it around and around before he pulls it tight. She gasps. One final piece of rope coiling around her throat. His left pulls the rope around her throat taut. Her shuddering breath and stilted moan sounding in his ear.

Length after length of rope falls to the ground. Finally when she is free she slumps down on the floor. Laying on her side, her hair obscures part of her face but the sight of her mesmerizes Ben.

Struck dumb by the hazy look of satisfaction on her face. Panting through open lips, her eyes half lidded. But in those eyes a gleam lingers, a want for more. Her open lips tilted in the hint of a smile.

Physically shaking himself he approaches her, bending down to gather her in his arms. Lifting her he walks the both of them to the bedroom. Muttering lightly as his muscles groan in protest. He begins to lay her down on the bed, quicker then he can react she locks her arms around his neck and pulls.

With a yelp he tumbles down on the bed she turns the both of them, rolling them onto. Trapping him between her and the mattress. Wincing he opens his eyes struck still as he meets hers. Their faces close together as she looms over him, swaying slightly as she does her best to stay awake a little longer.

Opening his mouth to speak she beats him to the punch. "I'm sorry." The words rushed out of her, quick enough to stop him. Abrupt enough to keep him still as she speaks. "I shouldn't have pushed you so much."

Her gaze moves to the side of him, misting over. "I know better than anyone that there are some things that won't leave you. Even if you know better." She looks back at him. "So I'm sorry but I wanted you to know that you can always talk to me."

She rests her forehead against his. "Just like you're there for me, I'll always be here for you."

Shallow breaths mingle as he opens his mouth to whisper. Her shaking head stops him yet again, she lifts herself up again. Laying down on her side she rests her head on his shoulder. Capturing his arm with hers.

Closing her eyes she traps him. Raising his arm to poke at her, she grumbles. "Go to sleep."

Holding back a chuckle he pokes at her again. His arm quickly dropping as her eyes open in a sleepy glare. "Go. To. Sleep." Punctuating each word before she closes her eyes again.

A slight incredulous sound escapes him. Waiting long moments he tries to extricate his arm, she grumbles as she blearily opens a single eye. Closing it before he can get a word in she settles herself more firmly. Her breath deepening once again as she teeters on the edge of consciousness.

Ben groans, giving in he reaches around her to throw the blanket over the both of them. She shakes herself underneath it, settling against him. In moments she is fast asleep as he lays awake.

Her breath tickling his neck as he groans quietly. Clenching his right fist he adjusts her slightly. Laying his head back in relief as the quiet torture ends quickly.

Slowly letting darkness claim him amidst visions of red hair and panting lips.

Authors note: Second part of the previous chapter, this one was a doozy to show everything I needed it too.
Very dialogue heavy as they deal with the events on Endolea and Ben reveals that even he holds doubts and fears.

I do hope that I managed to do it justice, I'm not entirely happy with the chapter. But then again I don't think I'll ever be.

Well see you at the next one, another dream is coming up.