Disclaimer: I don't own Ben 10 or Young Justice.
Chapter 48: Adjustment.
Watchtower; June 10th, 2021; 9:45AM.
After allowing her time to settle into the new room she would be occupying for the foreseeable future within the Watchtower, Gwen had perked up a bit, doing her best to distract herself from the fact that she'd lost her home, her boyfriend, her family, and eight-years of her life all in what seemed like an instant. Ben took her shopping a few days ago so that she would have a full wardrobe again instead of spending most of her time in the same sweatshirt and pants. He also purchased a number of books for her to read along with a cellphone for her to use, she was shocked to see how much more advanced a lot of the technology of this new Earth was compared to what she remembered.
Gwen was lying in her made bed, fully dressed, and with the TV off, staring at the ceiling in the dark with her hands behind her head; she was wearing a red button-up shirt beneath a black vest and denim jeans with slip on black shoes. She spent the first few days crying all of her tears out into a pillow, Ben's shoulder, the shower… she was completely out of sorrow to draw on in order to muster up tears again, all that was left was depression. What was she supposed to do now? She had her entire life planned out before Vilgax took it from her, now she's alive and any possibility of continuing that plan, along with her home planet, has been destroyed. She was snapped out of her depressive stare by a knocking on the metal door to the room, she slid her legs off the bed and approached the entrance sluggishly before taking a deep breath and swiping her hand over the censor embedded in the wall, opening the door.
When it finally slid open, Ben was standing on the other side staring down at her, "Oh, good, you're already awake."
"What's up?" she asked with a smile.
Ben glanced at the room noticing how dark it was behind her and how the Tv was also still off, if she was already awake than what was she doing sitting in the dark? He tried not to dwell on it and continued with the reason he came to her, "So, I didn't want to drop this on you as soon as you got back to, ya know… being alive but, I think you've been adjusting a little bit and-"
Gwen rolled her eyes, folding her arms over her chest, "Spit it out, dweeb," she interrupted, almost sounding exhausted somehow.
Ben rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Okay, well, I'm getting married to M'gaan next month and she wants to do the initial ceremony on Mars so her parents can attend…" he noticed that her expression was stoic and she didn't seem in the least bit interested, "Point is, it's a month-long trip over there, and I was wondering if you wanted to join… ya know, since you seem to be cooped up in this satellite."
"You want me to volunteer for a month-long commute both ways to another planet? So I can be cooped up in a rocket instead of a dark-room? No thanks," Gwen attempted to turn around back into her room but, Ben grabbed her shoulder before she could.
"C'mon, Mars is constructing a teleporter so we can just hop back almost instantly," he looked into her eyes as their emerald pupils met, she could see in his eyes that this meant more to him than he initially let on, "Besides this is my wedding we're talking about here, don't you wanna be there?"
Gwen sighed and looked away, "I mean of course I do; it's just being here has been a lot lately I'm still trying to remember all these superhero names."
He recalled what it was like living with Kent in the Tower of Fate for a year after he first arrived here in this reality, for the first few weeks he didn't speak and hardly ate, he of all people could sympathize with her now, "You're right, I remember what it was like… if you don't feel ready it's totally fine I wont make you leave your comfort zone like that but, think about it."
She smiled up at him, seeing the maturity in his kindness, "I will, promise, when are you guys supposed to leave?"
"Few days so it gives you some time to mull it over," The green-lines making up the hourglass-symbol on Ben's Omnitrix suddenly flashed which caught the heroes attention, "Oh, look at that, I have someone I want you to meet."
Gwen raised her brow, "Okay? Who?"
"It's complicated but, my son."
"You're what?!"
Ben chuckled and explained how a super-genius villain merged his and M'gaan's DNA into a clone that was force-grown to almost fifteen years old in just a few weeks; it wasn't the most shocking thing she'd ever heard considering her hero life before her death. They walked down the corridor towards the mission room, she had only seen it during the tour but, it seemed much bigger now somehow. A large, open-room, with a holo-deck platform on the ground allowing them to summon or manipulate semi-hard light projections during mission briefings and Zeta-Tube teleporters embedded in the wall for dispatching their ranks to Earth below.
Standing in the center of the room was M'gaan, in her Miss Martian black and crimson costume, talking to Kenneth, Wonder Girl, Blue Beetle, and the new Kid Flash about something that wasn't important enough to continue once they noticed Ben approaching with a new girl they didn't recognize.
"Gwen, this is Bart, Jamie, Cassandra, and my son Kenneth," he gestured to each of them as he said their names to ensure she knew who was who, "Outsiders, this is my cousin, Gwen."
Ken's eyes widened as she shook Cassandra's hand first, slightly anxious meeting new people but, she had always been a confident person, "Wait…" he whispered to Ben in a way that she could obviously hear him talking about her, "The dead one?" he tried to cover his mouth with his hand but that didn't work either.
Gwen glanced back to the ground with a melancholy expression as Ben responded the only way he could, "Yea…" he trailed off, scratching his head, "I kinda brought her soul back to life, then I had to fight a god to get her body back, it was a whole ordeal but the point is, you essentially have an aunt."
"She's my age," Ken responded this time not trying to hide his voice at all.
"Actually, you're only seven, so..."
Ken scoffed at this, not always seeing Ben as his father anyways, "Well, it's nice to meet you, I guess," he extended his hand for her to shake which she did slowly, unsure of what to make of the situation. He turned back to Ben as soon as it was done, "We only came up here to get permission from Miss Martian to use the Bio-Ship on Friday but, she says it wont be here so, I need a ship."
Ben put a hand on his shoulder, "We can discuss approval for a Javelin but, what kind of mission is it that you need a ship when all of you have either flight or super speed?"
Jamie stepped forwards to explain, "The Cult of the Cobra released a new synthetic steroid and they're peddling it to an underground fight-club in Bludhaven… a meta fight-club."
Cassandra continued for him, "We need to be able to follow the supplier covert, that's why we needed the Bio-Ship."
"Well, I-"
Ken turned and walked away towards the Zeta-Tubes with his team following slowly behind him, he waved his hand in the air as he left, "Forget it, we'll handle it, thanks anyways," his tone clearly told the only one present that didn't already know him that Ken didn't have any love lost when it came to his apparent father.
"Recognized: Shifter C-01, Blue Beetle C-04, Kid Flash C-02, Wonder Girl C-03," the automatic voice from the teleporters echoed in the room as Ben simply placed his hands on his hips, looking down at his shoes for a second to absorb the emotional hit of being blown off by his son, again.
…
Smallville; Kansas; June 10th, 2021; 2:45PM
After everything that had happened during the Reach invasion, Bruce bought up land to open Safe Houses across the globe for heroes to use in case of an emergency, these spots were usually well-enough out of the way areas which most people couldn't point to on a map. These safe-houses were kept completely secret from even most government officials, especially the new Secretary General of the United Nations, Lex Luthor, and only members of the Justice League were made aware of their exact locations. One of these was a farm-house surrounded by fields of corn for miles in almost every direction, in Superman's home-town it was the perfect spot for two heroes to live their lives as inconspicuously as possible.
Ben and M'gaan had been living, or rather mostly just sleeping, in this safe-house due to its access to the Zeta-Tube network, allowing them teleport in and out directly from the Watchtower; the only reason he hadn't invited Gwen to stay here with them was because he himself technically shouldn't have been using it to begin with.
"You're packing out there, right? It's a long trip!" M'gaan shouted from inside the bathroom of the master-bedroom where Ben was standing, looking over his clothes and somehow only now realizing that he pretty much wears the same thing every day anyways.
"Yea, pretty much," he took a pile of folded nearly identical silver-shirts with the white hourglass symbol across the torso and placed them neatly in a duffle-bag on the bed.
M'gaan poked her head out from the bathroom door, she was in her Megan Morse form with Caucasian skin to match, her long red hair swayed over her bare shoulders as he noticed she wasn't wearing a top or bra, "What're you gonna wear?" she asked with almost a seductive tone and a coy smile.
"Uhm, the usual, why?" he answered, having lived with her for so long seeing her like this was almost entirely normal for him, tilting his head just a bit as her own head dipped back into the bathroom and out of sight, "What're you wearing?" he asked.
"Right now? My engagement ring."
Ben raised his brow, her implication totally going over his head at first, "That's not what I-" he stopped and his eyes went wide, picturing his fiancé in the nude just behind that door, a smile appeared on his face coupled with a determined look. He hopped over the king-sized bed in one leap, landing on his feet and grabbing hold of the doorhandle, swinging the bathroom door open, and closing it behind him.
M'gaan's giggling echoed through the house from the bathroom, as soon as he had gotten in, he looked her in her glistening amber eyes, backing her into a corner, watching her bite her own luscious lower-lip in anticipation of his. He held her by the wrists above her head with one hand and began kissing her neck slowly, "I thought… you were packing…" her light moans interrupted her sentence but, she managed to get the question across.
"I think that can wait," Ben answered, dropping her wrists as she wrapped her arms around his neck, grabbing the hem of his shirt in an attempt to pull it off.
"Agreed."
…
20 Minutes Later
A pink-flash of energy erupted from within the kitchen-area of the large safe-house, warping into reality between the stove top and the center-island; Gwen looked around in awe since the house was much larger than she expected, and much warmer than the Watchtower so, it was no wonder the first question through her head was… "Why the heck didn't he bring me here?" she stepped out of the kitchen and approached the large window leading to a yard of greenery with a clear blue-sky above it. "Where is here?" she said that to herself before immediately realizing she was talking to herself.
Slowly walking around the inside of the property, she clearly heard noises coming from the master bedroom, she got closer but, kept each step quieter than the last. She listened with her ear practically against the door, it was definitely Ben and M'gaan talking to one another in what seemed like a less than serious manner so, considering she came here to talk to them anyways, she took it upon herself to open the door and walk in.
"Ben, I need to talk to- Oh my god!" As soon as Gwen walked in, M'gaan squealed and turned invisible, but not before the teenager got a good look at her standing in front of the bed completely naked. Ben on the other hand was quite lucky that, while she doubted he was clothed under the blanket he had pulled over himself, she was grateful she couldn't see anything in the brief few seconds before shouting, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" and turning around out of the room back into the living room area with seating and a relatively small flatscreen television.
Ben shouted, and through her cupped hands over her eyes Gwen saw a blue tint of light flash before the sound of a shutting door behind her startled her as she stumbled blindly into a recliner and nearly fell over. After a few minutes of embarrassed whispering and scrambling in the bedroom, Ben and M'gaan exited with their composure intact, "We'll never speak of this," He suggested.
"Deal," she couldn't answer quickly enough.
Ben folded his arms over his chest as M'gaan approached in her Miss Martian costume coupled with her soft-white skin and long crimson hair, all the while trying to make the least eye contact with Gwen as possible after being thoroughly embarrassed, "How did you get here? You don't have access to the Zeta-Tubes?" he questioned.
"I made it a point to master my teleportation spells after the Dagon battle, I even tried to master the Anodite form too but, I didn't have enough time before, you know," Gwen trailed off, looking away as she tapped her foot, "But, I came her because I wanted to run something by you. Both of you."
M'gaan perked up, finally setting the experience aside and looking her in the eye, "Of course, what's up?" she asked.
"I've been thinking a lot about what I'm supposed to do with my life now that I'm here so I thought about it logically, and it makes sense to repeat the process of the only other person to successfully get through what I'm facing now," Gwen turned to alternate looking between the two of them, trying to impress them with her choice but, it was clear so far they didn't know what she was talking about, "I want to join one of your superhero groups, I don't really know how many there are at this point," she clarified with a chuckle.
Ben reached up and put his hand on her shoulder, "I spent a year training with Kent Nelson, one of the most powerful sorcerers this planet ever knew, before I even considered becoming an actual hero after what happened," he smiled down at her, doing his best to temper her expectations, "You should take some time adjust before making any rash-decisions."
M'gaan interjected with a comforting smile as well, "If you do decide to be a hero here, I'm sure we'll be more than happy to find you a spot on a team where you can do some real good."
Although she felt like she was being a tad bit patronized, she had to accept the realization that her once twin-cousin was now her better in age by nearly a decade, "Alright, fine, that seems pretty logical too I guess… but if that's the case I would like to be there to watch a dweeb get married," glancing back up at him with a soft smile, she watched him roll his eyes but she could also tell that he was thrilled on the inside.
"Are you sure you're okay with a month-long trip, just the three of us?" Ben asked but, as the words left his mouth he realized the come-backs that his cousin would have for a sentence like that after what she just experienced.
"As long as you're sure I'm never gonna see something like that while we're up there… or ever again, ever…"
"Gwen, I-"
"Ever…" she interrupted with a smile.
Ben rolled his eyes a second time, "This isn't never speaking of it!"
M'gaan placed her hand on his arm, while finding it extremely cute the way he bickered with his cousin like the last eight years hadn't even happened, she still had to remind him, "Did you forget? It'll be the four of us, Uncle J'ohn will be coming too."
"Oh yea, that makes sense, Manhunter is great company, this'll be fun!"
…
Smallville; Kansas; June 13th, 2021; 10:44AM
Ben and M'gaan stood outside the Safe-House in wait for the last two passengers, the Bio-Ship was hovering six-inches off the ground on standby while the couple fiddled with their rings, "They fit!" the latter announced enthusiastically through the psychic link she shared with her fiancé as they tried on their wedding bands. "Now quickly, we have to take them off!"
"Just for a little while longer," Ben surmised with a smile, enjoying her giddy disposition as they removed and pocketed the rings for safe keeping.
M'gaan practically squealed in her thoughts, "I can't believe it, we're really gonna be married!"
Ben chuckled and scratched the back of his head, "Yea, twice!"
M'gaan glanced up into his eyes with a slightly concerned expression, taking a step forward with her hands placing themselves against his solid-chest, "That doesn't bother you, does it? You said it didn't bother you," she was so eager to make this the perfect wedding, she couldn't go through with it if she knew he wasn't happy.
"It doesn't!" He assured her, looking into her eyes and reaching up to take her dainty-hands against his chest into his, intertwining their fingers, "I know how much it means to your folks that we have the religious ceremony with them."
"Then it's right back here for the civil ceremony, I promise," she lowered her head onto his chest where he wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling her in even closer.
"I'm gonna hold you to that."
Suddenly, the Zeta-Beam teleporter installed in the Safe-House garage started up, "Recognized: Nightwing B02, Artemis: B07," from the bright yellow beam of energy materialized two familiar faces, approaching the happy couple with a smile. They were in their civilian clothes, a regular blouse, and jeans for Artemis with her hair in her trademarked pony-tail, and a black t-shirt under a dark-blue jacket and denim jeans as well.
"So, it's finally happening, huh?" Dick announced as he approached the heroes, clapping his hand together with Ben's as they greeted one another casually.
Ben scoffed, "Finally," only to receive a light jab to the mid-section from his fiancé's elbow.
Artemis practically giggled, which wasn't something Ben was used to seeing in her, grabbing M'gaan's wrist gently, "Lemme see! It's been two whole years and I never got to see your ring!"
M'gaan raised her hand up to eye level with her fingers facing outward, shaking her hand slightly so that it glistened off the diamond, "Sometimes, I still can't believe how big it is!"
"Well, nobody ever said-" Ben started but, before he could finish his innuendo, he received another elbow to the mid-section that was only slightly stronger than the last, "Sorry…"
"So, when do you guys leave?" Dick asked, shoving his hands in his jacket-pockets, glancing back at the Bio-Ship to reminisce slightly on the day they first met.
M'gaan put her hands behind her back, "Pretty soon, just making some last-minute preparations, and waiting for Gwen…"
Artemis turned to look at Ben with a more concerned expression, "I heard about what happened on Apokolips, you really brought her back?" she asked, leaving the shapeshifter to close his eyes and sigh.
"Yea, I did, she's a little shaken up but, I think this trip will be good for her," he scratched the back of his neck slightly, out of pure habit, "You remember what I was like when I first started the team?"
"I remember you being pretty stable until Vilgax started attacking your head," Dick recalled, rubbing his chin, and looking up at the sky in thought.
"Who are we kidding, I've never been stable," Ben responded, prompting the four of them to burst into, it was cathartic to laugh about his short comings now that he'd made so much progress with his emotional state.
Their laughter was interrupted by a bright flash of pink-light erupting under a tree on the lawn a few dozen feet from them, Gwen materialized from the energy with two duffle bags strapped over each shoulder as she approached quietly. She was dressed in a white button up shirt and denim jeans with the same slip-on black shoes.
Ben turned around with open arms, "Gwen, I'm so glad you decided to come," he stated.
She smiled and walked right into his arms for a hug, "I'm glad that you invited me, I thought about it some more after the other day, and I've actually been kind of excited," she pulled away and looked up into his eyes, glancing back at M'gaan every few seconds as well, "I mean, it's another planet, just because I've been to other planets before doesn't mean there wont be a ton of interesting things to learn about their culture."
Ben had to chuckle a bit, "Nerd."
Gwen scoffed and rolled her eyes with a smile, "Whatever, doofus, I know learning something new tends to fry that caveman brain of yours, but I tend to enjoy it."
Ben turned out of the way to introduce the heroes behind him, "Gwen, I want you to meet Dick and Artemis, some of my oldest friends."
Gwen approached them both with her hand out, shaking them one after the other, though as she shook Dick's hand, he snickered, "By the way, I'm the one that taught your cousin everything he knows about the holo-computers, you should have seen him when he first got here."
"I can picture it," she agreed with a knowing smile, pulling her hand back, "Ben has never been very intuitive."
Just as they finished their laughter at his expense, J'ohn emerged from within the Bio-Ship, "M'gaan, all of the necessary supplies and equipment are safely stored and ready for our journey."
Ben turned back to the other two heroes waiting to see them off, "Well, I guess this is goodbye for now," he announced as his fiancé wrapped an arm around his waist out of pure excitement.
"We'll see you both back here in two months for the wedding!" she squealed, this time out loud.
Ben put his hand out for Dick to clasp with his own, "You ready lead a team again? This is the big leagues."
Dick scoffed, shaking his hand slowly, "I didn't come for a playdate," he insisted, calling back to their first day as a group, all those years ago.
"That's what I like to hear, tell Wally I said hi," Ben said as he backed away towards the Bio-Ship, finally turning around and walking up the ramp where Gwen followed him inside.
She had seen a lot of things in her days as a Plumber but, she'd never been inside a ship designed in such a way; the curvature of the interior, the color scheme, and neon-lights, it all seemed even more alien than she was used to. M'gaan walked passed her and sat at the helm of the ship where she placed her hands over two glowing spheres connected to the floor, an even more unfamiliar guidance system. "How does all of this work?" she asked out loud, being the more curious of the two.
Ben raised his brow, having been so used to using telepathy with his fiancé and having the third most experience with the Bio-Ship, he forgot how unusual it was to control the vessel with his mind when he first encountered it, "Yea, it's all telepathic, the ship itself is a living organism with thoughts and feelings."
"That's incredible…" Gwen was starry eyed, looking over the ship in awe, "This ship is amazing, I mean the design is just so… exotic."
The Bio-Ship beeped and whirled a bit, leaving Gwen confused as her two companions chuckled, even J'ohn smiled at this as he set coordinates on a floating holo-map of Mars, "What?" she questioned, not understanding.
J'ohn answered first, placing his hand flat on the dashboard almost lovingly, "She says you've flattered her; she likes you."
Gwen smiled placing her hand on the crimson-wall beside her, running her hand up its curves, "Maybe this trip wont be so bad after all…"
…
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