Author's Notes:

This is another one from the 50 theme Gwevin drabble challenge, whether or not I really captured the essence of the theme I'm not really sure. This is set during the Ben 10k universe, no Ken or Devlin and with some hints of Alien Force occurring in the past. There are times I want to write something utterly ridiculous and nonsensical and other times I want to write an attempt at something profound and meaningful. What moment was I in when I wrote this? Just read and you'll find out.

--

Traps

Seasoned criminals knew how to keep a low profile and refrained from bragging. Loose lips often meant novices, rookies with something to prove to the rest of the underworld. The talented ones would come to learn how to discern between a genuine client and an undercover cop. Those who didn't come up to snuff, well, they were snuffed out quickly or brought to justice. In certain cases, those lacking the necessary skills were offered deals in exchange for freedom or a lighter sentence or protection.

Argit was never thought of as one of the best dealers but he was never considered to be at the very bottom of the barrel either. In the police's best assumption he was somewhere in the lower tier but definitely a couple of levels above the lowest rank.

So the information he provided rarely merited genuine concern or attention. His leads and his tips usually resulted in a dead end, or was common knowledge everyone knew about it already, or the occasional decoy.

But this time?

This time things seemed different.

For one, the rodent-like dealer had willingly approached the police as opposed to being caught in the middle of a deal that went belly up. For two, Argit specifically mentioned his bit of news would interest the Plumbers. And for three, he declared that he needed to speak with one particular agent, the female Tennyson.

Gwendolyn had never liked the rodent-like dealer, not then when she was fifteen and not now over ten years later. It wasn't just because Argit had sent her and her team on one too many wild goose chases nor was it because she had been double crossed by him more than once. It was mainly because seeing the mutant brought back memories.

Some pleasant, some painful.

The Plumber made her way down the corridor leading to the safe room, tucking a strand of her short red hair behind her ear. She noted with surprise at the level of security that was taken for Argit's sake, they usually left the dealer in an ordinary police precinct's interrogation room. Whatever bit of information he had it better be worth the trouble. Otherwise, Gwendolyn thought and allowed herself to smirk in perfect mimicry of a certain dark-haired criminal currently gallivanting across the universe.

Her face donned a careful mask before she entered the room and found Argit seated on a cushioned chair, arms folded behind his head, while his feet rested atop a table.

"Heeey, Gwenny." The rodent-like mutant greeted with a familiarity he wasn't privileged with.

Gwendolyn fought back the urge to smack him. Argit didn't realize he risked bodily harm if he pressed his luck, if anything the mutant should be honored. It took a lot to provoke the female Tennyson into violence.

It was another reason why she avoided dealing with him. Gwendolyn thought it best to simply get this over and done with. "I was told you knew something that might interest the Plumbers and me in particular."

"That's right," Argit nodded coolly, "I happen to know that a close friend of mine and a special friend of yours," his brows waggled and he flashed yellowed teeth at the minute twitch of an emerald eye, "Is going to be at The Ruins tomorrow night. There's a deal going down in one of the buildings, a canister of Element X in exchange for a couple of alien prisoners. Those saps are gonna have their DNA absorbed before they get off'ed, including the chump who wants Element X."

"And what makes you think I'm buying your story?" Gwendolyn asked, her blank expression completely masking the anxiety slowly brewing inside her. "Why should I even believe you, a less than reliable source of information?"

Argit frowned, "I know some of the stuff I tell you don't pan out so good, and I ain't exactly a big shot. But I don't mess around when it comes to Kevin 11,000. The guy's a psycho," He leaned forward, resting on his elbows to leer at Gwendolyn, "But I don't gotta tell you that, huh?"

"We'll check your information and if it proves accurate the Plumbers will safeguard you for an indeterminate duration of time." If she spoke any colder, frost would form on her lips. "In the meantime, you shall be kept here in the safe house."

Gwendolyn rose and headed for the exit.

The dealer grinned before nonchalantly asking "Ain't you ever wonder how I've managed to stay alive despite my screw ups? It all comes down to making people think you don't know something when you really do."

--

A derelict apartment building, the last of what had been a series, struggled to stand overlooking the remnants of what was once a peaceful suburb. Most of its upper floors had crumbled, the foundation eaten away by time and neglect. It teetered dangerously over the rest of the abandoned neighborhood as if in denial of its current state of disrepair. Declared a hazard and unfit to be lived in, the small portion of real estate had been cordoned off and scheduled for demolition.

In half a decade's time.

At present, the area was dubbed "The Ruins." Let it be known that the individual responsible for this ridiculously uncreative moniker was shot in the leg. Several times.

The name had its charm so it stuck. Either that or no one wanted to risk getting shot because the new target might be a vital organ this time around. In any case, the neighborhood got its new name and had a new purpose on the planet Earth.

Namely as the meeting ground for intergalactic smugglers or black market dealers and the occasional police busts and sting operations. It was for the latter that Gwendolyn Tennyson was at The Ruins that evening, carefully scouting her surroundings for the location Argit had mentioned without great detail.

She had sensed several presences lurking amongst the toppled buildings. But they did not project the kind of danger she couldn't handle with the right spell or properly aimed blast. So far, Argit's claim had been like all his others: A waste of time.

But the heavy sense of dread that sat in the pit of her stomach and refused to go away indicated otherwise. And it changed from the tiny, nagging voice in the back of her mind to an all-out screaming fit when she came upon the tallest structure. Something about the apartment building reminded the red-head of the man whom she was to apprehend.

It was unstable, dangerous, and twisted. But hadn't it been amazing, strong and beautiful not so long ago?

Hadn't he?

A sharp intake of air and Gwendolyn took to the sky. She peered through the gaps in between the boarded up the windows, her eyes straining to pierce through the darkness. She knew she'd never be able to see anything from out here and knew that inside a trap awaited her.

Steeling herself, the red-head silently entered the apartment building. Her boots never touched the ground as she remained hovering a few inches off the ground. Her ears picked up sounds, a combination of vermin scampering and tiny wings beating.

As she went higher up the building, Gwendolyn could make out a soft humming. The tune was from a song she hadn't heard since she was fifteen. It made her feel strangely nostalgic. When words replaced the melody, she bit back a gasp for she recognized the voice.

It was deeply confident, powerfully resonant and achingly familiar.

And she hears a series of clicks, like tumblers in a lock turning, lifting, snapping into place from the twist of a key. But there is nothing in the darkness, nothing tangible at least. Perhaps it was the residue of some long forgotten nightmare going bump in the night, or the skittish treads of multi-limbed daydreams playing across the walls.

Gwendolyn became aware of flaking plaster and she propels herself away just as the ceiling cracks and comes crashing down where she had been. Her back is suddenly against a chest, broad and muscular and clad in slick leather. She whips around, only to have strong arms wind tight around her.

"About time you showed up," Kevin purred into her ear. "I was beginning to think you didn't get my message."

"What do you want?" She hissed.

"And what makes you think I didn't just want to spend some quality time with my girl?" He smirked, pinning her against a wall as one arm shifted to cradle the curve of her rump.

"Who said I was still your girl?" Gwendolyn snarled as she pushed up against Kevin.

"Now don't be like that, babe. You still feel something for me, why else would you come all the way to this dump just because that trash Argit told you I'd be here?" Kevin rested his forehead against Gwendolyn's, his dark hair brushing against her face. He reached for the Null Void Egg strapped to her belt, casually crushing the device with his bare hands. "Besides, it's not like you didn't know you were walking into a trap."

The red-head grit her teeth, "Then you must also know that Ben and the other Plumbers are on their way."

"Of course," The smirk widened, "But we won't be here when the place explodes."

Emerald eyes widened in horror, "You actually have a canister of Element X?"

"Several. I figured there's enough of the stuff here to level the place along with the two nearest cities. I can tell you where each canister is if," He stared at her with a possessive, manic glee "You agree to do something with me next Friday night."

Gwendolyn blinked. Once, twice, three times before she lets loose a peal of laughter. Let it be known that Kevin 11,000 never did things on a scale that was anything but grand.

--

PS: And if you answered I was in a "retarded" mood when I write this, you're absolutely correct! Okay, so I don't really know what the heck I was on when I wrote this but it was fun, in a weird sort of way. I just wanted Kevin to ask Gwen out, even if it was like over ten years late and they were now on opposite sides of the law. This is first attempt at a comedy, so comments and criticisms (even flames) welcomed.