I do not own the Ben Ten franchise.
So you can probably expect a Gwen 10 chapter in the near future. If you have suggestions, feel free to let me know.
Return From Benwood
Ben 23 waved wildly as his alternate dimension counterpart departed in the cross-dimensional Mr. Smoothy. When the teen disappeared, the hand fell to his side, and the boy was suddenly at a loss of what to do now.
Azmuth was probably still furious with him. He had every right to be, since Ben didn't think it was pleasant to be swallowed and then spit up by Vomit Man. He didn't even know if his mentor was back from his vacation yet.
His stomach suddenly sunk as a horrible thought struck him. What if Azmuth decided not to come back at all?
It's what I deserve, he thought miserably, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans and strolling off down the street. It was rather late, so he didn't need to worry about mustering up smiles and winks for excited fans. He found himself heading towards Headquarters, a special base he had established using his money. Tetrax and Sevenseven lived and worked there, and so did Azmuth, after his short living period on Galvan Prime.
Ben reached the three-story, heavily-secured building. He passed through the gates and used his Hero Watch to get access through the glass front doors.
The first floor housed the security room, weapons room, archives and a massive computer console that Ben didn't know how to use. The second floor was where the rooms were located, along with a modern kitchen and recreation space. The third floor, and the place where Ben spent most of his time, was Azmuth's lab. It was the largest floor of the building and stocked with the most advanced scientific equipment available.
The lab had been Ben's way of luring Azmuth to stay with him in Bellwood, for he didn't like the Galvan being so far away, so soon after they had just met. Azmuth agreed, on the condition that the lab was constructed exactly to his liking.
And so the lab was pretty much an exact replica of Azmuth's lab on Galvan Prime, with a few minor exceptions.
Ben stared at the transport tube, which was located directly across from the entrance. After a moment of internal debate he headed down the tiled corridor and checked the security room, where he found Tetrax lounging in the large swivel chair.
"Hey," he greeted, venturing into the room.
Tetrax slid his gaze from the security monitors. "Hey, kid. You're back early."
Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, Azmuth didn't say how long I was supposed to be there. I probably would have stayed longer, but a life-or-death situation came up and I learned my lesson." When Tetrax eyed him dubiously, he added, "I swear."
"Here's hoping," Tetrax said, reclining back, feet propped up on the edge of the console. "We don't need to hear Azmuth's griping every time you chew him up."
"Yeah, that was a one-time deal," promised Ben. "Um…is he back?"
"No. He was planning to go get you sometime next week. Should I tell him your back?"
"Maybe not now," said Ben, figuring that Azmuth wouldn't want to see him so soon after dropping him off in alternate Bellwood. The Galvan had chosen to return to his lab on Galvan Prime, which meant that he probably didn't want to be near him so soon. "But…can you let him know later on the week?"
"When he's most likely cooled off?"
"Yeah."
Tetrax nodded. "I can do that."
"Has anything happened?"
"Nope. It's been quiet. For which I am grateful. So don't mess that up."
The blue-eyed boy pouted. "I don't try to cause trouble. It just happens."
"I noticed."
"Where's Sevenseven?"
"Picking up a pizza."
The blue eyes turned hopeful. "Pizza is meant for sharing, you know."
Tetrax smirked. "How do you know we want to share with you?"
"…because I'm awesome."
"That's not a reason, but I guess you can have some anyway. So, what's this life-or-death situation that you went through?"
"It's a long story."
"You can tell it over pizza."
…
Soon six days passed and on the afternoon of the seventh day Tetrax decided that that was enough time for the two to have been apart. Ben was miserable, though he was trying not to show it. The boy quickly became attached to the rag-tag group of aliens, especially Azmuth. And despite the Galvan's gruff behaviour, he too had grown fond of the child, though he would not admit it.
But Tetrax wasn't fooled. After Ben learned that not all aliens were bad, Azmuth decided to go back to Galvan Prime.
It was a decision that did not last long.
Ben quickly missed his mentor, and promised him his own lab in Bellwood if he would return permanently. Azmuth, who found himself missing the impossible child, agreed without much of a battle.
Tetrax contacted Azmuth through the commlink installed in each of their suits, and soon he answered. "What is it, Tetrax?"
"I just thought I'd let you know that Ben's back."
"What? How did he return from the other dimension?"
"Remember that cross-dimensional smoothie place? That's how. The kid and his alternate dimension counterpart ended up in the world of one of their evil counterparts, and had to fight against his forces to stay free. It's a long story, and Ben can tell it better than I can."
"I leave him for a week and he lands knee-deep in trouble," grumbled Azmuth. "When did he get back?"
"Six days ago."
"Six days ago?! And no one thought to inform me?"
"He didn't want to," informed Tetrax. "He figured you needed more time away from him."
"That's not the reason why I sent him away."
"I know that, you know that. He doesn't know that."
"…I'll be back shortly."
The commlink cut off, signalling that Azmuth had hung up. Tetrax smiled slightly. Yes, Azmuth wasn't fooling anyone.
He wanted to see Ben just as much as the boy wanted to see him.
…
Sprawled in his massive, four-poster bed, Ben curled under his silk blankets. It was roughly two in the afternoon, and after doing his publicity stunts and having a meeting with his agent, the rest of the day was left to him.
So he did something he didn't normally do so late in the day-he changed into his pajamas and dropped into bed. There was no alien butt to kick, and his parents were once again off somewhere (most likely Italy) leaving him alone in a massive mansion filled with servants who preferred to not interact with him.
With no motivation to do anything, he just lazed about, head stuck under his feather-filled pillows as he waited nervously for Azmuth's return. He wasn't entirely sure if his mentor had forgiven him, or if he ever would. Maybe he wouldn't come back at all, once Tetrax informed him that he was back in his own dimension and there was no need for him to go collect him.
Ben bit his lip at the depressing thought. It wasn't the first time he believed his actions would drive Azmuth away. But he was impulsive, something he couldn't help, and that clashed with Azmuth's logical personality.
He totally has the right to leave me. I swallowed him, for crying out loud. He told me to stay put and wait. I did the exact opposite.
His sullen thoughts continued to flow in a similar manner, and when Azmuth materialized in the boy's extravagant bedroom this was the sight he saw, a lump under a set of expensive blankets. Arms crossed over his chest, he asked, "Is this sulking or have you just gotten lazy?"
Ben bolted upwards, his covers and pillows flying haphazardly to the hardwood floor. "Azmuth!" he exclaimed. "You're back!"
There was a note of relief in his tone that Azmuth did not miss. "A vacation does not tend to be long-term," he informed.
"Yeah, I know." Ben adjusted his position so that he was sitting comfortable over his wrinkled sheets. "I just…uh…"
"Didn't think I'd come back?" finished Azmuth.
Ben flushed. "I really screwed up."
"You did. And I was furious. Which is why I figured it would be best if your alternate dimension counterpart took over for a while. You don't react well to anger, and I was in no mood to teach. I am afraid you cannot get rid of me that easily."
Ben smiled. "Oh. Okay. Cool. I am really sorry."
"I know you are." Azmuth paused for a moment. "I suppose I ought to make an apology myself."
Ben stared at him in bewilderment. "For what?"
"I didn't use the best phrasing, perhaps, when I said I needed a vacation. The vacation was not to get away from you, as I implied. It was to allow the both of us time to cool down."
"I don't think there was an apology in there."
Azmuth shot him a withering look and the boy smirked. "But I accept it anyway."
"How gracious of you," returned Azmuth. "Now that we're past that, how did the mentoring go?"
Ben told his mentor all about the disaster of Mad Ben's dimension, as well as the trials he and Ben Prime had to face in order to free Benwood and themselves. "It was pretty rough," said Ben after he finished the story. "But after it all, I really did learn something."
"That would be?"
"I'm only worthy of my Hero Watch when I'm making other people's lives better. There's a lot riding on what I do, and I better not blow it."
"Well, I'm impressed," said Azmuth sincerely. "It seems that it was not a wasted trip."
"Oh, and I learned something else. Don't chew on you, or else I'll get my butt booted off for some serious mentoring in another dimension from someone who feels less inclined to kill me on a daily basis."
Azmuth could not help but laugh at the seriousness in the twelve-year-old's tone.
"Now that is an important lesson to remember."
