Author's Notes:
Initially this was going to be something of a "love triangle-ish" take on the 50 theme challenge "Triangle" between Kevin, Gwen and Cash (inspired by Sam deLittle's fic "Seven Lies" GO READ IT!) but then I decided to interpret it as three different takes on one common theme/scenario. Whether that was a good or a bad thing, I dunno. Also, there may be a lack of a beginning and an end since this is a drabble.
Dedicated to all Gwevin shippers and in particular Terina00 who requested "teenage Gwen/Kevin fluff", couldn't have gotten through the middle and last portion of this piece without having read your Gwevin fics.
--
Triangle
The table was cleared away, the dinner dishes were left in the sink to soak, Ben was completely engrossed with another mindless round of Sumo Slammer, and Grandpa Max was already snoring in his bed. With her family preoccupied with their own devices for the night, Gwen decided she could use a few hours of undisturbed magic practice.
Recently, Gwen had taken to studying the incantations whenever she could. And a quiet, uneventful evening like this one was perfect for brushing up and polishing her magic. Outside of course. Casting spells inside the RV usually led to a mess that she would have to clean up with no help from her cousin.
Plus there were fewer things that could break outside especially when they were parked in the woods. Her only risk would be setting the forest on fire, which meant no fire or lightning spells for now.
As she stepped outside, Gwen found herself smiling at the stillness of the woods. "Finally, a peaceful, normal night."
The darkness of the forest makes it difficult to read the spells, but rather than using a flashlight, Gwen opted to summon a small, glowing, blue orb. Her smile widens, pleased that the luminous sphere is actually holding its shape this time around as opposed to sputtering out within seconds like her first few attempts.
Encouraged, the red-head tries her hand at a more complex incantation. Mid-spell she hears a rustling and she pauses, emerald eyes darting at her surroundings. Her brows knit together as she tries to peer through the darkness but failing to see anything that might have caused the noise.
She chalks it up to nerves since it had been a while since her cousin had a legitimate reason to go Hero. Taking a deep breath, Gwen resumes her practice.
'''''
Powerful muscles coupled with the rapid beating of mighty wings allowed the misshapen youth to catch up with the Tennysons in their travels. It was remarkable how such a massively bulky frame could move so swiftly but silently.
Even more remarkable was how he could manage to keep himself out of sight all this time. At least now, he had the veil of darkness and the thick of trees to aid him. From where he stood, Kevin saw Gwen step outside the safety of the RV. For days now he had contemplated on taking her hostage, using her as a bargaining chip against Ben.
Though lately, he was reconsidering his plan. He had watched her from afar and saw that even if she was fighting for her life, she still worried about the safety of her grandfather, of her cousin, of total strangers.
Kevin, with his mind as twisted and as warped as his body, couldn't understand the idea of looking out for someone other than yourself. But he did understand how unfair it was that he didn't have someone like that and how much he wanted one.
And Kevin was no longer contemplating on taking Gwen hostage but instead simply taking her away. A razor-toothed grin made its way across his face as he imagined Gwen looking at him the way she does her family.
The sound of the RV door closing cut into his thoughts, and he heard Gwen's voice taking the strange, reverberating quality whenever she cast a spell. He stayed where he was; three eyes drinking in the sight of Gwen bathed in a cerulean glow.
The light gives her an ethereal presence, her smile a silent promise of wondrous things to come. As Gwen attempts another spell, Kevin's wings begin to resonate in response. Audibly. With soundless curse, he ducks behind a tree, praying that the red-head won't spot him. When he hears her pick up where she left off, the dark-haired mutant folds his wings tightly against his back before once again continuing to watch her.
--
They were walking, the three of them, through a dark alley that led to a rumored drop-off point for illegal alien technology. Vermin lurking in the shadows scuttled and scurried past. Every so often, Gwen would feel something brush against her shoes.
She cringed. Visibly. As did her cousin Ben whenever he thought no one was looking. Only the dark-haired teen who trailed after her seemed unfazed by their surroundings. Gwen supposed it was to be expected. He must have seen things far worse things than a couple of oversized rats and roaches.
Still there was something that made this experience bearable, if not pleasant, for the red-head. Namely the fact that Kevin would sneak a glance at her every now and then to see if she was doing alright. She could tell he was doing his best not to let her notice his concern.
Thinking it sweet but unnecessary as she had proven herself more than capable of handling oversized aliens let alone a couple of local species. So she feigned ignorance, for his sake.
'''''
Kevin saw how uncomfortable the Tennyson cousins were as they made their way towards the meeting place. He wondered what reason they would have, considering they've been through more disgusting situations before. Not that he found this pleasant, he didn't like it anymore than they did but he could take on whatever earth had to dish out.
And he knew the cousins could handle themselves as well.
Nevertheless, Kevin couldn't help but worry and fret over Gwen's condition. Despite her powers and her alien heritage, Gwen was still every bit human and every bit female to the dark-haired mutant. Some might call it being a chauvinist while others might call it being chivalrous. Kevin only hoped Gwen would consider it the latter rather than the former if she ever caught him stealing a worried glance at her direction.
He was completely unaware that Gwen knew all this time. Otherwise, it might lead to Kevin running his mouth off at Gwen and getting her mad at him. Thankfully he remained ignorant, for the sake of all parties involved.
--
Music filtered through the restaurant's speakers, amply muting conversations into little more than indistinguishable white noise. Suspicious glances met casual stares, each gaze held briefer than a split second before it's pushed to the back of their mind to be forgotten. At least as far as the ordinary patrons were concerned.
At a private table that seated two, a pale woman dressed in a low-cut silken periwinkle gown studied a menu with her viridian eyes. Her blonde ringlets draped over bare shoulders ending just low enough to draw attention the swell of her breasts. Across her was an olive-skinned gentleman, his dark hair slicked back as he eyed his surroundings nervously.
"Calm down, Cash." The blonde instructed gently.
"Easy for you to say, Gwendolyn." He muttered tersely. "I've never had a crazed stalker after me, let alone act as bait for her. Why couldn't another Plumber just use an ID-mask and pretend to be me?"
"Because ID-masks emit a specific frequency that can be picked up with the right equipment. And the woman we're after has access to said equipment." the plumber explained.
"So how come you're wearing one?"
The menu snapped shut, before a slender hand rested tenderly upon Cash's arm. "I'm using a Glamour spell to change my appearance."
Cash blinked at the touch before he carefully averted his eyes to his own booklet, "I never thought you lacked the glam-factor."
"Thank you, Cash." Gwendolyn couldn't help but smile at the flattery even if she knew doing so would put him in even more danger. There was a careful nonchalance in the way she turned her attention to the waiter standing by the bar at the opposite side of the restaurant. It was not so much as to have their order taken as it was to check on the individual seated at the bar.
Earlier on she had caught the man staring at her the instant she and Cash entered the establishment. She wondered why he was there and if he knew who she was regardless of her Glamour. He must, because Gwendolyn certainly knew who he was despite his burnished guise. And she wonders why he's here, what must be going through his mind, whether he knows she's putting herself in danger, if he cared and if she wanted him to even after all he's done to her.
The waiter drew near so she returned her focus on Cash and projected nothing but an eagerness to be with him. Leaning in close to recommend items on the menu, the attendant whispered to both Cash and Gwendolyn, "Our suspect's inspecting the bait, but you two need to amp it up to for her to bite."
Inwardly Gwendolyn sighed but she had to remind herself this was all part of the job. Batting her lashes, she pulled back, giggling loudly. "Oh Cash, you're so naughty."
"That's just the beginning," he followed up with a smoldering smile, intentions of getting her between the sheets radiating off him. He turned to the undercover plumber taking their order, "Bring us your best wine selection along with two glasses, if you please."
The other patrons suddenly noticed a strange tension forming in the atmosphere and they shifted uncomfortable in their seats.
"You don't need to get me drunk to take advantage of me." She winked at Cash as she licked her lips suggestively.
The sound of shattering glass suddenly echoed from the far end of the room, quickly followed by a shrill shriek. A blur suddenly lunged from the ceiling, heading straight for the red-head in blonde's clothing. "Keep your filthy hands off my man, you skank!"
"Suspect has revealed herself! Move in! Move in!" Another of the undercover Plumbers issued out the orders before the calm of the restaurant degenerated into sheer bedlam.
'''''
"Would you like another glass, sir?" The lime-skinned bartender asked as he nervously gestured to the empty drinking apparatus the metal-skinned customer held in his hands. There was a twitch to the employee's solitary eye, but lack of depth-perception wasn't what was making him so jumpy.
It had nothing to do with the chrome sheen of the patron's skin, or the broad, imposing frame of his body. It was not the disheveled hair, spiked and (unbeknown to anyone but perhaps two individuals) dyed to its current auburn state, nor the suspiciously singed edges of the three-piece, pin-stripe suit.
"No." Came the gruff response, followed by a sharp glare that made it clear he didn't want to be disturbed. In fact, his entire demeanor declared that it was in everyone's best interest if they kept to themselves and stayed out of his way.
The mutant frowns at the ringing his metal-encased fingers make when they drum against the counter. Of all the places his contact had to choose, it had to be a restaurant teeming with civilians. Kevin had to remind himself that he was not in his usual element and thus needed to exercise some measure of restraint. Otherwise the bartended would have found himself missing a tentacle or two simply for doing his job.
The rendezvous wasn't until the following night, but Kevin had made it a habit to scope out the location beforehand. He had long forgotten how to trust others, his experience backing up his findings that he couldn't trust anyone, not even himself.
And then he spots a couple entering.
The man Kevin recognizes, Cash, one of the prominent financial figures on earth. He's easily intimidated, his notion of security laughable, and thus is inconsequential. But the woman cozied up against Cash isn't.
Kevin knows her, despite the honey-hue of her hair and the paler pigmentation of her skin. He could tell the moment their eyes met that she recognized him, the she knew he could see right through the concealment spell.
And how could he not?
The assortment of alien DNA he had absorbed over the course of many years not only allowed him to shift forms, but also heightened his senses. So that even amidst the myriad of perfumes, cigar smoke and culinary aromas, he could make out that scent.
Her unmistakable scent that had, in the past, driven him mad with wanting and crazed with desire. It awakened a hunger inside him that only one person could sate. And that one person was in someone else's arms.
Metal grating against metal pierced Kevin's thoughts as he realized he had dug his fingers into the bar, leaving deep furrows. He showed no remorse, gave no indication he was apologetic, and there wasn't anyone in the restaurant who was going to give him trouble about it.
Instead, he continues to observe as the two are seated off at the far end of the establishment. Though there was little reason for Kevin to think this was a social dinner, he growls despite himself when he sees her touching Cash's arm.
He reminds himself that he no longer has the right or reason to feel the fires of jealousy. Whatever they shared was long gone, all of it his fault. He knows this, he acknowledges this, but he had yet to accept it.
And so he continues to watch.
Unable to turn away from the sight, even if it sickens him to see her enjoying herself with this man of all people. His stomach knots as she flirts and teases, hand gripping at his empty glass tighter than it can withstand. He hears it shatter rather than feels it, completely ignorant of the ambush the Plumbers have laid out. Until he picks up the bloodlust and all too-familiar intentions to kill from a stringy-haired woman at the opposite end of the bar.
She lets loose a feral shriek and launches herself at the ceiling to attack the table Kevin had been observing.