Disclaimer: I do not own Ben 10 or its sequels, spin-off and related characters. All is the property of Man of Action and Cartoon Network. I'm just borrowing them for some non-profit entertainment.
Growth
Chapter Nine: Trust Issues
Not only were Devlin and Kenny on different teams for Saturday's combat exercise, but they were in completely different groups as well. The Academy liked the shuffled the teams every week to give cadets experience working with different people and personality types and teach them to adapt quickly to having to rely on unfamiliar allies. This was not the first time Devlin and Kenny were placed on separate teams.
But it was the first time they were not placed in the same combat group. That is to say, their teams were not competing against each other. They weren't even on the same combat field.
Ally was commanding Devlin's team.
Kenny was on someone else's team on a different field.
This time, the mission wasn't capture the flag. It was defend the base. Ally got to coordinate the team in an effort to repel the opposing team as they attempted to infiltrate the base. The 'base' in this case was two room shack with one door, two windows, and a single roof access. The structure itself was designed to be easy to break down and reconstruct (rather like a tent) so that it could be used in multiple exercises. The opposing team would be docked points if they took advantage of that fact, however. In a real situation, most buildings could not be taken apart like legos. (Except maybe Segemntasapien structures.) So, Ally could be assured that the other team would try and enter from either the door, one of the windows, or the roof.
Devlin was stationed by one of the windows. Wearing his black proto-tech armor because he destroyed his own standard issue Plumber's suit by transforming during a scuffing against Kevin several weeks back. He put in the request for a replacement suit, but with his Psychologicals being postponed it was anyones guess if he'd ever get his new uniform. Ally delegated the rear window detail to him -not because it was in the back room of the base and kept him out of the way- but because it was the entrance at their backs and she needed someone she knew was competent back there. That, and he was wearing all back and would be harder to spot. From the outside, it would make the rear window look undefended and an easy target. An attempt at directing the enemy's attention where Ally wanted it.
Trying to suppress a sigh, Devlin crouched by the window, keeping low and out of sigh, while still trying to peer out to anticipate enemy movements. Not easy tasks to preform in tandem. There was no angle that could both keep him hidden and give him a useful view outside.
Suppressing another sigh, Devlin wondered how Kenny was doing with his own combat exercise.
He wasn't there Friday night when they posted the team line-ups, the only way Devlin knew he was on Ally's team was because she told him when she met him at the teleporters. But Devlin heard that Kenny was on the same team as Billings. He wondered how his cousin was fairing under Billings' inept leadership.
And Billings really was inept. After all, he had to be for Devlin -a first year, at the time- to usurp control of the team from him in their first combat exercise.
Devlin didn't want to be here, guarding a window. He wanted to find Kenny. Hop over to his combat field, find him amidst the battle and talk to him. Really talk to him. Try and work out whatever this wiriness was between them. Work out Kenny's fear of him and the idea that he might try and absorb the Omnitrix again, or worse, try and absorb Kenny again!
Devlin definitely wasn't going to try that again.
Never again.
So, Kenny didn't have anything to fear. It was stupid for him to be prolonging this- this estrangement between them! Devlin just had to make him understand that. He wasn't quite sure how, exactly. He'd never exactly been in a situation like this before. But once upon a time he and Kenny were inseparable, closer than brothers. They would work through this. Move past this. After all, if they couldn't then what was their previous relationship worth? How tightly knit could they have been if they were only tight when things were easy and their family was stable? This was the first real test their relationship has had to withstand. If they couldn't work through this, then they clearly weren't as close as Devlin thought they were.
He was so wrapped up in his own personal problems with his cousin, that Devlin didn't notice one of the members of the other team sneak in through the window he was supposed to be guarding until it was to late.
Devlin jumped from his crouching position lick lightning the moment he noticed the opposing cadet. But his interception came to late. A member of the other team had entered the base, his team had failed the combat exercise. And it was unquestionably his fault.
As if he weren't hated enough already.
…
"I feel better now!"
Billings cornered Devlin outside the locker rooms after all the combat exercises were concluded.
"What?" The younger boy blinked a him, not comprehending.
Billings ruffled his Necroffrigian wings and picked at his claws. "I used to think it was just me you had a problem with." He elaborated. "But now I see that you're just an asshole who ruins everyone's combat exercises. I feel better now."
And he walked away.
Devlin slammed a gloved fist into the locker room doorframe. Great. Now, in addition to being the son of Kevin 11,000 he was also the asshole nobody would want on their combat team -ever! And this time he couldn't even blame sit on Kevin! This time it was all his own fault. He let his guard down and neglected his vigil because he was to wrapped up in his own concerns about Kenny.
Speaking of his younger cousin, he happen to be coming out of the locker rooms just in time to see Devlin's fist collide with the doorframe. "Jeez! Carful, Dev. You might be in human form right now, but you're still freakishly strong for your size."
Seriously. No one as skinny as Devlin had any business being as strong as he was.
Devlin turned around to stare at the other boy. It was the first time they'd actually seen each other since Devlin actually arrived back at the Academy that morning. "Kenny, I-"
"Anyway, would you mind moving out of the way?" The younger boy cut him off abruptly. "I've got to get to Guest Lecture."
"I'm going to Guest Lecture too." Devlin reminded him. They had almost identical schedules. "Can we walk together?"
There was a hesitation. Kenny paused long enough for Devlin to notice and… actually, longer than that. But, they were on a Plumbers run space station. Surrounded by Plumbers cadets as well as experienced Plumbers instructors. If Devlin decided to flip the switch and go crazy, Kenny would be safe, right? After all, if he wasn't safe on a Plumbers' base…
The Rooters base was also -technically- a Plumbers base.
"I'm not ten anymore, ya know." The younger boy brushed past him. "You don't have to walk me everywhere I go."
"But we're going to the same place!" Devlin reminded him, catching up to his cousin and falling into step next to him. "And the way I remember it, you were the one walking me everywhere I went. I was the one who needed protection back then."
"And I'm the one who needs protection now." Kenny shot back without thinking. His classic blunder of vocalizing his every thought as it occurred to him. He hadn't meant to say that out loud. Not around Devlin. Not to Devlin.
The older boy stopped walking.
"Kenny. I'm not gonna hurt you." Devlin growled. "I'm not gonna try and absorb your Omnitrix. Okay? Not again. Never again! I'm sorry I did it the first time. But once was enough. I learned my lesson. Believe me when I tell you: I. WIll. Never. Absorb. Your Omnitrix. Again. Ever!"
Kenny likewise stopped walking. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking skeptical.
Devlin held up his hands to show the younger boy the bright green gloves that now covered his hands. As if they were some sort of concrete proof. "Look. I'm not gonna be absorbing anything anymore. From now on, I'm gonna pretend I'm Rogue from X-Men. I'm gonna wear these gloves all the time so that I can't absorb anything. Okay?"
"That doesn't prove anything. You can always just take them off." Kenny reminded him.
"Yes. But that also means that I'd have to stop and think about what I'm doing." Devlin added.
"That still doesn't mean it will actually stop you." Kenny maintained. "Its a nice gesture, Dev, and I like your color choice. The green is totally rad. But that's all it is. A gesture. A pair of department store gloves aren't gonna stop you from doing something if you've already decided to do it. I'm sorry, but I just can't trust you anymore."
He moved to continue down the corridor towards their lecture.
"How can I prove to you I'm serious!?" Devlin called after him. "How can I earn back your trust?"
Kenny paused just long enough to turn his head and admit, "I don't know."
…
"Who drank the last beer and put the empty can back in the fridge!?" Ben roared from the kitchen.
The Hero of the Universe stormed into the hanger where he found Kevin. He finished the Rust Bucket some days ago and was now busy with the undercarriage of Devlin's car -or his car, Ben wasn't to sure how exactly the transfer of ownership would work out between them. But he didn't care about that at the moment. At the moment, Ben was pissed.
He grabbed his frienemy by the ankle and yanked him out from under the car. Shoving the empty can in the older man's face, the Hero of the Universe snarled, "What kind of person are you!?"
Kevin blinked in incomprehension for a moment or two before understanding finally dawned. "Oh. Right. By the way, we're out of beer."
And he was moving back under the car, as if that were the end of it.
Ben pulled him back out again. "No. We are not out of beer. I am out of beer because my cousin's free-loading, on-again-off-again boyfriend, slash career criminal, baby-daddy keeps drinking them! Its stuff like this that's the reason why we were never roommates!"
Sure. That was the reason. Kevin raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I thought we were never roommates because you didn't wanna have to pay rent, and refused to move out of your parents house."
"We're not talking about me!" The younger man snapped.
"Gasp! The great Ben Tennyson, Hero of the Universe admits that something's not about him!" Mock the Osmosian. "Do you want me to buy you some more beer when I go to pick up the kids from the Academy?"
Ben was about to snap back over that passive aggressive 'everything's about him' comment, but Ben reminded himself that he was an adult and should be above such petty squabbles. This time, he did not take the bate. Forcing his temper to deflate, he chucked the empty can at the recycling bin on the opposite side of the hanger -he did not make the shot.
"Yes, please." He said. "Do you want me to give you some money? Or do you know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy, who's cousin is the CEO of LöBrau?"
Kevin shook his head. "Nah. That guy was fired for selling brand secrets to Duff. Haven't spoken to him since before Devlin was born. I'll take the cash."
Ben pulled out his wallet and handed the other man two twenty terran bills. "And here's something for gas too. Thanks for driving the kids around for us." A pause. Ben pulled away slightly just as Kevin reached for the money. "You are… You will find a job eventually, right?" He asked, hesitantly. "I know there wasn't really a long term plan when I pulled you out of the Null Void. I'm really good at failing to think ahead long term. But- no offense, Kevin -but I don't wanna live with you. And I'm pretty sure you don't wanna live with me either."
"I imagine you also don't want the extra expense of me living off you." Kevin assessed, sitting up properly and grabbing the blue linen-paper bills out of his frienemy's hand.
"That too." Ben admitted. Even if he did have a disposable income as Hero, Savior, and celebrity. "But seriously though. If you need help, like, a letter of recommendation or something. Just ask. I can't imagine a single HR guy that would pass up the chance to hire someone recommended by the Hero of the Universe."
"I can think of plenty of people that would never higher someone recommended by the Hero of the Universe." Kevin informed him.
"Hiring for legal jobs, Kevin!" Ben growled.
The Osmosian ply shrugged. "Not my fault you weren't specific."
He crawled back under the car.
"I shouldn't have to be specific about something like that!" The younger man snarled back. "Jeez! Why can't you ever be normal?"
Beneath the undercarriage, Kevin smiled at just how flustered he managed to make the Hero of the Universe. Though their friendship might be fluid and mercurial, there was no denying that they really knew how to push each others buttons. Regardless of whether they were friends or enemies, they still knew each other so well.
Then Kevin's mind jumped to their sons. His and Ben's. Devlin and Kenny were far closer than Ben and Kevin ever were (or probably would ever be). Yet, for some reason, they were having problems that Ben and Kevin never had. Not even during Kevin's Ultimate mutation when Ben was legitimately trying to end his life. Kevin promised Devlin he would help, but Kevin didn't actually know what he could do.
He thought about Kenny's faux-Omnitrix hidden in his room. Not just taken off and misplaced, but intentionally put in a hard to find and out-of-the-way spot where a normal person wouldn't usually look.
"Hey, Tennyson, you still there?" Kevin called from under the car.
"What?" Ben's voice sounded a bit farther away, like he was just on his way out of the hanger and was irritated at being called back for more unnecessary banter.
"You ever take off the Omnitrix in the sixteen years I was locked up?"
"No. Why?"
"Just curious." Kevin lied. "But you've taken it off before."
"I donno. Maybe, like, twice." The shrug was audible in his voice. Then he turned suspicious. "Why do you ask? You're not thinking of stealing it or absorbing it again, are you? We just finished going through that with Devlin."
"No. I was just thinking out loud." Kevin assured the other man.
"Well, good. Don't forget my beer on your way back from picking up the kids." He left.
Kevin went back to examining Devlin's work on his car and thinking about why Kenny might not only take off his own Omnitrix, but hide it as well.
…