"…Don't let him escape!"
"What are…!"
I groaned, groggily entering and leaving consciousness only to catch tidbits of whatever mayhem was presently unfolding.
"What's going on?" I mumbled, rolling over only to find the bed empty of any trace of the man who once lay at my side.
I rubbed my eyes, an ear-shattering crash finally jolting me fully awake and sending me flying out of bed so fast I almost face-planted. I grumbled, kicking aside the cause of my clumsiness, what looked like one of Kevin's shirts, as I hurriedly threw on clothes, making a mental note to hold Kevin responsible for my near wipeout later.
The large doors to the hall were shut and I could hear guards' cries more clearly with each step I took towards them. I flung them open, my heart racing and my temper ablaze. As I did so a guard flew towards me, nearly nocking me over before I had time to jump out of his path. He lay at my feet, unconscious and breathing raggedly, clearly in immense pain from being flung aside as if a rag. I scowled, not sure what was going on exactly, but positive Kevin was involved.
I turned, reluctantly leaving the guard collapsed on the floor, to meet his assailant. Before me stood a familiar yet somehow different figure, gaping back at me as if I had just died and been resurrected before his very eyes.
"…B-Ben?" I asked, squinting skeptically at the figure at the end of the hall.
He opened his mouth as if to answer, only to close it again. He repeated this several times and I rolled my eyes, his resemblance to a goldfish astonishing me.
Although currently in one of his many alien forms, there wasn't a shadow of doubt in my mind that the being before me was Ben. If the green omnitrix on his chest wasn't evidence enough, his actions spoke for themselves, and what they screamed were overconfident and more than a little rash. Only Ben would have the gall to attack a fully armed castle, especially one ruled by Kevin Levin, alone. Although despite the undeniable fact that this was indeed Ben something about him was different, almost unfamiliar. Before I could put my finger on what it was a green flash of light made me squeeze my eyes shut, only to have the shock of my life standing before me when I reopened them.
In place of the alien that had just moments ago been blankly staring at me stood Ben, completely human and completely old. My heart dropped into my stomach, finally understanding his shock upon seeing me.
"Are you from the future?" I managed to ask under my breath.
He looked at me, his expression turning grim as he slowly shook his head no. The touches of silver mixed in with his familiar Brown hair caught rays of light filtering in from nearby windows, only emphasizing our newfound age gap.
"B-but if you're not from the future…" I trailed off, my mind a swirling jumble of questions begging to be answered. "How long have I been here?"
My face must have looked horrified because his softened to my panic.
"That's not important now." He smiled softly, not making eye contact with me.
"How long Ben!" I screeched, unable to handle his cryptic response calmly.
He flinched, finally making eye contact with me before sighing.
"Around 30 years" he answered, stroking his short beard as he did so.
My eyes widened in utter disbelief, my legs feeling weak beneath the weight of my body. It felt like the world was spinning around me and I braced myself for the fall. Instead I felt two familiar and strong arms wrap around me in a warm embrace from behind.
"How the hell did you get here?" Kevin's voice dripped with malice, his whole body hard and unmoving as he faced Ben.
Although I couldn't see his face, I could tell from the tense muscles pressing against my back that he was definitely out for blood. I laced my fingers with his to ensure he wouldn't suddenly rush at Ben and leave me to collapse on the hard floor.
At my touch I felt his hands and arms un-flex slightly and I sighed in relief under my breath.
"What have you done to Gwen!" Ben shouted, glaring at Kevin who was still holding me upright.
I heard his familiar chuckle as Kevin rested his chin atop my head, imagining the black look of superiority he was no doubt facing Ben with.
"Guess" was all Kevin said, his fingers tracing shapes on my hands as he did so, causing me to blush at his tingle inducing touch.
Bens face contorted from rage to shock and back to rage as he glanced between Kevin and I.
"Gwen, I'm taking you home." Ben said matter-of-factly, desperately trying to remain calm and coerce me towards him. "Don't you miss home?"
I was silent, images from home flashing through my mind. My friends, my family, the feeling of safety they provided me.
Kevin's hold tightened around me slightly, pulling me back to reality and causing me to look up at him. He peeled his glare away from Ben for a moment to meet my gaze, the anger still there in his eyes but mixed with what looked like fear and sadness. My heart skipped a beat and before I could think through my actions I had turned towards him and wrapped my arms around his chest tightly. I could hear his heartbeat quicken as I rested my head against him and grinned at his body's honesty.
"Gwen?" Ben's voice called to me, sounding confused and more than a little pained.
All too quickly I realized what I had done. What my actions meant to the two men ready to charge at each other. I contorted my face, biting back tears and memories for an instant, before turning back towards Ben.
"Ben, I miss you. I miss my family and my friends. I miss home." I could hear my voice shaking as I spoke but found comfort in Kevin's ever tightening grip at my words.
"I know." He returned, looking confused. "That's why you're coming home with me."
"Ben," I paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I'm not leaving."
Ben's face grew dark and he locked eyes with Kevin, refusing to blink.
"Gwen, you know he's dangerous." He pressed, never breaking his glare with Kevin.
"I know." I said, my voice steady and my resolve unwavering.
"And you know all he can bring you is pain." Ben continued.
"I don't know," Kevin interceded with his impish grin. "There's plenty of pleasure."
I blushed, elbowing Kevin in the ribs to shut him up, Ben clearly un-amused by his words.
"I know." I nodded at Ben.
"Then you know I can't leave you here." A green flash of light filled the hall and subsided to reveal an alien where Ben had stood.
Kevin grunted from behind me and released the hold he had been maintaining with my shoulders.
"Stop it Ben!" I screamed, stomping my foot for emphasis.
From behind me I heard a blood curtailing scream and then where Kevin once stood now stood the ever familiar amalgamation of aliens he had become.
"Kevin!" I pleaded hopelessly. "Please don't do this!"
Neither took notice of me as they charged at one another, teeth bared and snarls erupting from the tangled mess of clawing limbs and colors. Grunts of pain could be heard as they lashed out, blood becoming clearly noticeable on the pale floor beneath them.
"That's enough!" I screamed, raising my hand to separate them with mana.
Instead of the familiar pink power that usually erupted from my hands came waves of nausea. The room spun and I gasped for air in an attempt not to hurl. I dropped to my knees, my attempt failing. As soon as I'd caught my breath I raised my hand towards them once more, only to be met with an even worse bout of nausea than before.
I collapsed on the floor, the last thing in my field of vision being Kevin releasing Ben from the hold he had on him and racing frantically towards me. Then the world went black.