Ben Tennyson needed a break.

Saving the universe, seeing it get destroyed, recreating it and witnessing its creation took a toll on one's mind.

He wouldn't lie, things were quite underwhelming when he had experienced the adventures and missions that he went on or part of. Which is why he was taking a big month off before his big road-sorry, space trip across the universe. Why not explore the thing that he saved?

He called his cousin when the idea made itself known between him and his partner, Rook Blonko.

Gwendolyn chewed his ear off for suggesting it spontaneously while she was at Friedkin's University. Ben begged and pleaded that it would be a trip of a lifetime. She didn't budge from her position to stay, citing the many boring and important reasons why she had to stay. Who says no to exploring the universe for a number on a piece of paper? Not him. Who wouldn't want to explore the universe? They traveled all over America when they were ten, why not step it up a notch?

The two had gone back and forth on this and it was only when Kevin, Gwen's boyfriend and Ben's best friend, who had supported his idea that made her budge from her position. Telling her that while her focus on her education was good, sometimes she needed to slow down and smell the roses.

Gwen begrudgingly acquiesced but not before making sure, she would sort things out at the university so she could go.

Ben wouldn't be ashamed to admit that he pumped his fist in the air at that victory.

Still, Ben worried about the safety of Bellwood and Undertown and…the world but Rook assured him that with all the friends and allies he made as well as the Plumbers, it would be in safe hands.

Ben's sparkling life did not have his own blemishes. Just a teeny, tiny, little break-up with his now ex-girlfriend, Kai, that would not ruin his mood nor this little break. Nope. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that they would go through this song and dance over and over again. Until they ended up together together. His relationship before that ended because of that reason. Ester, bless her, knew that their future wasn't in the cards for them because his future had already been decided. With Kai.

It frustrated him to no end, knowing that either his own actions or stupid fate intervened in his love life. There were a lot of loves he let down though and he had to take responsibility. Maybe romance wasn't in the cards for him.

So here he was on break, in Cancún, in the foyer of one of the most luxurious hotel resorts around, a Grandsmith Hotel. If one were to picture this place, Ben would describe it as making the Hilton Hotels look like a cheap motel along the road in the Midwest. A grand chandelier hung above him, the entrance was immaculate filled with bell boys and other hotel staff, each dressed well and standing at full attention. Even standing there made Ben's legs wobble and the pounding in his ears a little louder than he liked. He had to snap out of it, this was a hotel resort not a battlefield. Being tense was the opposite of why he was here.

He had his suitcase in hand along with his backpack and did his best to look inconspicuous. He fixed his ID mask making sure it was snug on his face and that he appeared to be your average black-haired American teen on a holiday and not a world-renown superhero.

Though a teen his age in a resplendent four-piece suit made a bee-line towards him immediately, throwing his arms wide into a hug.

"Ben! How the hell have you been?" The well-dressed teen said.

"Uh, great, you?" Ben trailed off, still confused as to why a fancy guy had already picked him out…and knew his name…while undercover.

"It's me, Eddie. Remember the Bermuda Triangle and the underground resort?"

Ben scrunched his brow in thought and snapped his fingers. "Right! With the Sumo Slammer pin and the squids?"

"That's the one! I got the call from Grandpa Donovan, who talked to your grandpa, telling me, you were coming. And I know, you're on break and you don't want all the fan-fare, blah, blah, blah but I can't let an esteemed guest walk around clueless. Are those your bags? Here, let me." Eddie snapped his fingers and a bell boy rushed over from his post, the boy was probably a few years younger than them, from the lack of facial features and the babiness of his face.

"Pablo, can you please take his bags up to the executive suite?"

"Si, señor." Pablo took Ben's bags in earnest with a smile and rushed off without another word.

"You look nervous, pal, just walk around like you own the place." Eddie slung an arm around his shoulder, walking across the stylised 'G' logo across the floor.

"But…you own the place."

"I know." He smirked before leaning into him. "Seriously, relax, I know being a superhero must be draining so why not cut loose?"

"Yeah, going 100 to 0 is easy but I do like the challenge of lounging around besides a pool." Ben smiled back and Eddie clapped his back.

"That's the spirit. Listen, Ben, this is my first hotel I'm running at the moment and I want to make sure everything's perfect for its grand opening."

Ben looked around the foyer, filled with guests who had their own suitcases and bags there and back to Eddie.

"This isn't the Grand Opening?"

"It's the soft opening, invite-only events where we trial run the hotel itself to guests to make sure our service is on point or if we need improvements, sometimes some of the furnishings aren't finished or one of the facilities isn't completely built. We are close to it though. The hotel is fully-booked for the next three months."

Ben let out an impressed whistle.

"Let me guess, you want to run security, make sure nothing happens."

"Ben, I was serious. You're here to relax and I mean that, instead of running security, you're going to try every single hotel amenity and service that this place has to offer."

"…what's the catch?"

"Well, having a world-renowned superhero give his stamp of approval doesn't hurt, but other than that, no catch."

"Uh-huh, alright, let the relaxing begin."

"Quite. Now, I wanted to invite you out for a night on the town, party with us and have a grand time."

"Us?"

Eddie's teeth gleamed under the reflection of the foyer's chandelier. "You'll see. Here is your key card, your room number should be on there."

The elevator dinged open as Ben stepped in.

"8pm, ok? Oh and dress to impress but not to impress!"

"What does that mean?"

"Dress for the ladies, Ben! And as always, welcome to the Grandsmith." The elevator door closing to Eddie's bow.

The phone in Ben's pocket buzzed and he fumbled with the key card trying to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Ben!" An old man with grey hair, smile wrinkles dressed in a loud, red, Hawaiian shirt with floral prints answered the call.

"Grandpa, I know you said you wanted me to take a break but isn't this a bit much?"

"Nonsense, son, this break has been a long time coming and you need to relax. Donovan was over the moon when I finally called in to use one of his resorts."

"Yeah, I met Eddie, he's already taken care of everything."

"He's a smart one, always on his toes. How are you enjoying things over there?"

"I only just got here and it's...big."

"Well, that's an understatement, Donovan showed me his plans for his resort on the moon and let me tell you, big does not even begin to describe it." The elevator door dinged open, the automated voice welcoming him to his floor.

"He's still trying to build one on the moon!?"

"Well, the UN are still puzzling over whether or not, he can. But if he does, it might change my mind on visiting."

"Rich people, sure, are a different breed." He swiped the keycard over the lock and the room clicked open. Ben's jaw dropped at the very expensive room he was in. The foyer for his suite was bigger than his entire room back home! His belongings were set neatly by the foyer and he stepped into the main room. Everything looked so high-end from the couches to the carpet. And smack in the middle was the window that stretched from one room to the other. He could see the ocean from the beach to its horizon and everything in between. His throat went dry as he tried to imagine the cost to stay at one of these rooms. Checking the mini fridge, he found the prize he was looking for, a soda to wet his parched throat. He slid the door to his balcony. A refreshing breeze from the sea brushed his jet black hair, ruffling it as the midday sun blazed across the sky, reflecting off the blue waters.

"Be sure to keep your ID Mask on, wouldn't want you to get mobbed by your adoring fans?" Max warned.

"Grandpa, I might get brain fog from time to time but I'm not careless. Besides, there's loads of celebrities, rich people and superheroes here, what's one more to the list?"

Ben took another sip from his soda, turning from the balcony and almost choked. On another balcony, a four meter gap to his right, there she sat in all her sunbathing glory, a head of blonde hair reading a novel that he couldn't catch the title of. She was in a white bikini trimmed with purple and aviators that gave her a sexy and powerful look.

He prayed to whoever was listening that she did not hear him out himself as a hero and was far more engrossed in her book before he even had five minutes to relax for his break.

As if to prove him wrong, she leaned forward, grabbing a colourful drink tipped with an umbrella, sipped from it and leaned back.

He waved awkwardly before turning his back.

"What was that?" His grandpa prompted.

"Nothing. Just a seagull stealing a taco from someone." He said, hurriedly.

"Hahaha! Really?" His grandpa laughed, long and loud, wiping a tear from his. "I guess, you can keep a low profile while you're on break. Now, don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Yeah, I know," Ben said. "Love you."

"Love you too, kiddo."

The phone beeped, ending the call and Ben had to assess whether or not, he would be calling him back to send him to another vacation spot.

He always wanted to go to Palm Springs. Maybe there was a Grandsmith hotel with a nice view there.

Doing his utmost to be polite and friendly, he plastered on a big smile that he hoped did not come off as creepy.

"Hey you," Ben stretched the word, waving at her.

"Hiya back," She waved back, flipping a page in her novel.

"Sorry if I was a bit loud on the phone."

She hmm'ed in response. "So are you rich, famous or a superhero?"

Ben cringed. Great, already blowing his cover and to his next door neighbour who was staying at the resort. She'd probably be telling the story to her friends about the one time she met a celebrity who accidentally-

No, he could salvage this.

"Oh, I'm not exactly rich and I'm a little bit infamous, depending on who you ask."

If she had cared about his response, she didn't show it as she took another sip.

"Ah, you're running away from a sex scandal."

"What!? No!" Ben yelled, much louder than he thought as a handful of other people from different balconies turned to him. He ducked down a little and gave the same awkward wave from before. Heat flared into his cheeks as a smidgen of indignity and a barrel of shame flooded him.

He spied the blonde woman chortling behind her glass. A chortle that was equal parts amused and pleased with her little stunt.

"I don't have a sex scandal!" He hissed back.

"Oh, I believe you, you look like you're too noble for that kind of thing. You must be some kind of hero." His ears burned at her perceptiveness. Her smile was downright predatory as if she had found her next prey.

"Well, maybe I have a dark side."

"Ooh, a bad boy? I love me a bad boy."

Ben's cheeks flared for an altogether different reason.

"I'm just a small town hero. Anyways, I gotta go and unpack. It was nice meeting you and Ihopewenevermeetagainbye." He rushed the last part, shutting the balcony door. He could hear the echoes of her laugh as he walked away, reminding himself to never set foot outside his balcony again.