Arthur's Note:

Chapter 3, I'm kinda proud. This one may be a bit choppy considering part way through writing I lost half of it due to a power outage and rewrote at a terrible hour in the morning. I hope you enjoy.

After the tests were run and Argit was allowed out, cast about his leg and crutches under arm after a wheelchair was firmly denied, the three piled in a temporary transport and headed out. For a good little bit Max drove them, through the streets of Undertown and further out into the more residential areas and even further out beyond that until they seemed to come to a gated community.

"What's this?"

Ben angled in his seat to get a proper look of the crisp and clean buildings the lay beyond the protective field that gave the area a faint shimmer about it without being a glaring eye sore. Each building seemed to be various little house, duplexes, or other style of apartment buildings with the taller structures laying near the back and center while the smaller and more domestic looking structures ringed outwards towards the field.

"This is the Plumber housing district for this sector of Earth. The organization sets up housing to accommodate the members who work on Earth. Weather they keep their card or not is all up to them but it provides a steady and safe place for them if ever they feel the need for it." Max explained this as he sifted through his wallet and pulled out a white and black card with his photo and information printed on it like a crisper version of a drivers license. He had stopped the vehicle at the gate and now held the card out the window to the fussing machine outside, allowing the mechanical contraption to scan and verify the data along with scanning Max himself, before having it returned and driving through the newly opened gates.

"Than why have I never heard about this?"

"You were already classified as having housing, under your parents, and due to that you didn't need to be registered for housing here."

Ben could accept this, no reason to get a place if he already had one -despite how nice that would be-, but lifted a brow all the same.

"Than why do you apparently have a place here?" He questioned, confused as to why his Grandpa, a man who lived in his RV and always had a spot with the family, would have housing in the Undertown residential.

"Because I put in for it. I love the Rust Bucket but I know the value of a stable home and considering I like the environment down here I figured it would be for the best to get a spot. After all you never know when you're going to need a place to just come back to and rest up." Max gave his grandson a warm smile and Ben smiled back. Leave it to his grandfather to already have everything planned out.

Max drove them through the neat streets, past the well kept duplexes and smaller complexes to a little qul-de-sac area. This was on the outer range of the whole housing district with buildings that actually looked like smaller homes rather than commercial buildings. Each of these seemed to come with various stretches of lawn or fenced in space behind or around their homes and it was all very cozy and picturesque, especially so given the beautiful blue sky and wisps of white clouds that the field seemed to be projecting above. It was probably just a special touch for the district to make the area seem a bit more open and pleasant for it's occupants than just a dark rocky ceiling.

Stopping the vehicle in front of a simplistic, one level home the older man powered down the machine and stepped out. Ben followed suit, lingering behind to help Argit who just grumbled and snipped at him as he did before both made their way to the door that Max had left open for them.

As they entered they were greeted to the sight of a short hallway, floor laid in warm colored wood and walls painted in a soft cream or beige color, which let out into an open living room. The kitchen lay to the left, a half wall dividing the areas, and a small dining room lay off of that. Looking around Ben could only imagine that the bedrooms where past the hall to the right on the other side of the living room.

"Whoa Grandpa, this is great!" Ben crowed as he looked about.

"Thank you, I try to keep it cleaned." Max chuckled, watching as Argit limped over to one of the couches and flopped down on the cushions. "The two bedrooms are through there to the far left and right with the bathroom in the middle and a room I would use for storage on the end of the hall to the right. I'll go out to the store later to get things to stock the fridge with and talk to your parents about you staying here. I will also make sure you get a pass for the area."

Giving a nod Ben shared a few minutes more with his grandfather, the man setting out the remote for them and making sure that everything was in order before he left to run his errands. This left the teen alone in the house with a grouchy Argit who seemed have conversation as the last thing on his mental to do list. For a long few minutes Ben and Argit stayed in silence, the teen unsure what subjects to breach and which to leave be when at last he had had enough of the quiet and picked one he thought would be neutral enough.

"So.. how are you holding up?"

Obviously neutral didn't exactly mean right though as Argit turned his brooding gaze upon him, a look that spoke clearly of every level of stupidity that Argit thought that question rested upon. With a wince and displaying his palms Ben offered a little apologetic smile.

"Sorry, stupid question..."

Ben let the subject drop and moved to lean against the bar dividing the kitchen and the living room, attempting to decide the next subject to possibly touch upon when Argit grabbed his crutches and forced himself up, grabbing the small box of supplies the hospital provided for home care with his tail.

"What are doing?"

Argit just gave a little growl and continued on his way.

"Step off. You don't need to fucking mother me."

The brunette felt as if he was the child who had asked their parent why the sky was blue one to many times. He wanted to bite his tongue and let the whole thing drop, allow Argit his own time but at the same time he didn't want to treat the other like glass. Ben couldn't imagine Argit being the delicate type and he couldn't imagine the rodent particularly cared for the softer methods and the teen couldn't just let things pass by in silence because he was afraid to ... worry.. over the other.

"Hey, Argit, hold up a minute." Pushing himself off the bar and taking the few steps needed to cross the distance between himself and the rodent he placed his hand briefly on the furred male's shoulder. He had intended to make a remark that they needed to talk, or have some form of actual conversation but those remarks quickly died as pain erupted across his face.

In less than ten seconds Argit had dropped the box held by his tail and used the appendage to whip Ben across the face with force enough to produce the crack of a crop. It cause the young man to recoil, clutching his face and the blossoming, vicious red welt that stung down to the bone. As he staggered back he heard a clatter and shuffling, all ignored in favor of the flare of anger that spiked in his chest. He had every intention of letting the felon have a verbal thrashing as his sense returned about him but as he lifted his head to glare at the other that anger vanished just as quickly as it had bubbled forth at the sight before him.

Argit's crutches were cast to the side, laying haphazard upon the floor, and the rodent himself was on the floor. Back to the wall, arms folded before himself and claws displayed in a weak form of defense, his good leg pulled close to his chest and his spines bristling ever so slightly.

What really caused Ben to pause though was the look of pure, unadulterated terror in Argit's eyes. He was scared and no amount of his own bravado or snapping could hide it, and it was Ben's fault he was in this little terror fit.

Letting his shoulder slacken, hands lowering from his cheek to display his palms, and taking a knee in front of the rodent Ben spoke. His words were soft and once more using the tone he would use upon a stray animal.

"Hey.. sorry. I didn't mean to scare you... I'm not going to hurt you." He watched as Argit kept his drawn position, trembling and spines rattling, and bit his lip. Max was right, Argit really was hurt after what he must have gone through. It brought Ben's own defenses down and let his words spill out. "Argit... I'm sorry. I promise I'm not going to hurt, I'm going to keep you safe. I just thought we needed to talk. I wanted to make a case with the Plumbers, so they could catch the guy that did this, but I can't do that unless you want an investigation to be taken out. And... I understand if you don't want to.. but even if you don't I'm going to stay here and help you. I'm going to keep you safe, I promise."

As Ben's words came to a stop the rattled conman finally seemed to be unwinding. Slowly the rodent lowered his claws, taking a few deep breaths and keeping his gaze on the teen. Ben worried that Argit would spit insults at him or simply stay silent, though he didn't know weather being told that his promises were worthless or having nothing in reply was worse.

Though what he was given in reply was not what he expected.

"...Tennyson...Don't... bother with a case or anything... The guy is probably long gone, you wouldn't be able to tag him anyway." Argit's voice lowered and rang with a somber tone as he wrapped his arms about his good leg. "Plumbers wouldn't care about me anyway, they'd lock me up the second they could."

This was, arguably, the dark side of Argit's mind set. The side that wasn't touched with snark and greasy supplicating smiles, the side that was... depressed.. over his loner life? The assumption may have been a large and very unsubstantial theory but that's what it sounded like to the teen.

"That's not true." Ben fussed, a portion of his core doubting his own words, and edged a bit closer. "The Plumbers would help, we would catch him, you'd be treated well..." He couldn't push the other though. Justice and Argit had never really mixed in his life time and trying to change it now would be hopeless. "But... if that means you don't want a case brought up than fine... so.. What is it you were trying to do? Before I...uhm.."

Argit gave a little huff and lowered his ears, silent for a moment before at last answering in a grumble.

"I was gonna grab a shower..."

Ben let his mistake be dropped and nodded. Standing and offering his hand to the other carefully the teen gave a bit of a smile.

"Alright. Let's get you off the floor than."

Argit stared at the hand in front of him, debate and distrust clear in his eyes, before he at last took the offered appendage. Ben gave a bit of a tug and quickly found the force a bit to much considering Argit's state. He gave an oomph, followed by the rodent's yelp, as the felon was lifted and brought further forward to land against his chest. The teen wrapped his arms about Argit on impulse to keep him stable though as a small handful of seconds passed he quickly came to a realization that this position probably wasn't the best.

"Sorry!" He yipped as he quickly readjusted his hold, trying to find a way to support Argit without disturbing him and coming up short and flustered. Argit didn't say a thing, blinking a handful of times before just sneering at him and snatching up a crutch with his tail. Settling his weight upon the lightweight metal and scooping up the other the rodent took a step back, allowing Ben to grab the home care kit and stop developing an aneurism.

"So uhm... I.. guess you can take care of your own shower."

Argit rolled his eyes and once more grabbed the box with his tail heading to the bathroom, Ben darting around and holding open the door for him.

"Yeah yeah. I'm just battered right now, not fucking broken..."