Prodigy of a Hero

by Erk Rauorfox

After returning the Omnitrix back to Azmuth, Ben Tennyson embraced a quieter life, building friendships with new classmate Julie Yamamoto and spending quality time with Gwen. Yet peace is short-lived as erratic weather, missing persons, and Grandpa Max's disappearance shake Bellwood to its core. (Harem, Bwen, Gunbreaker Ben, no Omnitrix)

2. Date Night

Author's note:

Thanks for the warm reception everyone! I have never written for Ben 10 before so I'm admittedly nervous since I'm not comfortable with the idea of writing for a fandom I 100% don't know about. But! Since this is an AU of sorts, reality can be whatever I want.

I know this is a quick update but I have way too much fun writing this chapter and I'm a sucker for fluff and romance so… expect a lot of that going forward.

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A blue bicycle rested under the shade of a tall Oak tree. The leafy foliage cast shadows across the grassy fields, with ferns and blades of grass chimed to the breeze of the afternoon wind. In the distance two warriors were having a duel of the fates, the sound of their swords clashing and clattering echoed across the courtyard. Guard, parry, deflect and thrust, each of the fighter's footwork was swift and disorientating as they danced around the open field of grass. The older gentleman distanced himself from the sword bind and seized the young opponent's fatigue state to lunge forward, narrowly weaving his blade through his gaping defense and thrust the tip of his blade to his abdomen.

The young man halted his attack and glanced at the wooden shaft that connected to his body. He sighed and lowered his weapon, acknowledging that his master had once again got the best of him.

"Touché." The elderly man grinned and retreated his blade. It's been centuries since he had a duel with others, most fights end relatively quickly since the intention was to kill the opponent. But a sparring session with non-lethal weapons allows him to point out the young trainee's mistakes and room for improvement. In fact, each growing session with the young lad meant less room for improvements.

"You're improved much Ben." The 14 year old sighed and hung the battered training sword by his waist. Under George's mentorship, he had learned much in three years. Learning the art of the blade was one thing, but so was the philosophical debates and discussion they often had after their grueling training sessions. Oftentimes, George would ask him something out of the blue and they just talk for hours on end, there was a sense that George respected him very much despite their large age gap, and would often ask for his opinion on certain topics that even some adults would have difficulty grasping. He didn't treat him as a child, and in turn Ben never treated him as an old man. Well, except for the occasional jab and banter between.

"Still can't beat you though." The veteran swordsman scoffed, his skills with the blade had not waned after retirement. Sharp and quick witted as ever, George could easily sweep grandmasters off the floor if he decided to participate in tournaments.

"I will be offended if you did, but at the rate you're going, you might surpass me." That got Ben's hopes up considerably, he placed the training sword down and reached for his towel to wipe his sweat. As usual, his duffel bag was filled with spare clothes, his phone and a cute chibi keychain of an anime character hanging by the side that Julie bought for him.

"Really?" George chuckled and gave Ben a smirk, hah he wish!

"Well maybe in a thousand years." The Tennyson pouted but acknowledged that he was making improvements nevertheless, he is better than he was yesterday and that's what matters. He glanced at his phone and noted that it was getting late and their session had come to an end. He swung the bag over his shoulders and waved to the old timer who rested on the tree stump that started their whole apprenticeship in the first place.

"I gotta go George, I got to meet someone." The senior raised his eyebrows, youngsters these days have their plans full don't they? Without guessing, he already knew who his apprentice was meeting up with, I mean just look at Ben's phone home screen. It has Ben placing his arms around Julie and Gwen's shoulders at his favorite smoothie place.

"Another date with Julie?" George's tone insinuated that he often goes on one on one dates with Julie which in Ben's rare defense, it's just two friends hanging out. But he isn't meeting his best friend, he is meeting his cousin, whom you can argue is also his best friend.

"No, I'm meeting Gwen." Ben's personal life was well known to George, mainly because of how they schedule their sessions together. If Ben hadn't told him Gwen was his cousin, he would have assumed they were siblings or twins. He had seen a picture of Gwen before and they looked strikingly similar, their relationship seemed to be very close too judging how often Ben mentioned her name in their conversation and how often they spend their time together.

"Ah the cousin, say hello to her on my behalf will you?" Ben raised his thumbs up, Gwen would be stoked to see George given the brunette had talked about how mystical, composed and powerful he is. A little exaggeration and sensationalism but it helps build up the hype of meeting a grandmaster who has seen many summers. After all, the thought of an old man cleaving down a sturdy Oak tree with just a wooden sword is enough badass imagery.

"Sure, bye George! See ya next week." Helmet secured and hand on the handles, Ben waved goodbye to his mentor and greeted the nurse who he had become acquainted with. The pink haired nurse with soft blue eyes is an absolutely sweetheart of a soul and really cute too. If Ben was a little older and he wasn't interested in Julie, he might have asked her out, or he would probably be cold feet around her who knows?

"Bye Ben, thank you for visiting George again. He always looks forward to the sparring sessions." The young brunette smiled, the sentiment goes both ways. The sparring sessions were both therapeutic and physically intensive.

"Thanks Joy, I will see you." Bidding farewell to the nurse, he cycled his way to Gwen's place by pedaling forward. He inhaled and let out a content sigh when the weather was just nice and mild, a perfect day for hanging out or doing outdoor activities. He passed by the neighborhood and took a right turn to enter the street where the Tennyson household resides. The two storey household and the well maintained patio had seen some improvements and refurbishment. The Tennysons had developed a routine of having Barbeque outside Gwen's place during festive occasions and yes, it is as awesome as it sounds. He parked the bicycle onto the rack and hung the duffle bag across his shoulder. Ben fumbled around his pockets and pulled out a key to lodge into the lock.

"Hey Uncle Frank." The preoccupied middle aged man turned away from his laptop and waved to his nephew who entered the door. He was just finishing up his work.

"Ben, good to see you. Gwen is getting ready, why don't you go shower first?" Akin to like another son to them, Natalie and Frank welcomed him warmly to their home. The young man placed his bag down and brought out his spare clothes and towels. After attending to his hygiene and emerging fresh from the showers, Ben joined his uncle to watch a game of football in the living room. It seems like it's Manchester United vs Liverpool, a classic rivalry that always promises an exciting match and rowdy fans.

"Are you two going out with Julie?" The inquisitive nature from his uncle was expected, this was not the first time the trio hung out together, in fact it was becoming a routine of sorts too. The two girls really get along with Gwen claiming Julie to be the most sensible and understanding person she ever met, to which Ben agrees wholeheartedly.

"Mhmm, the girls wanted to watch a movie together and go do some shopping." The latest blockbuster is Stranger in Our Skies, a classic tale of an alien child growing up on earth and finding his place among humans when eventually, earth is sieged by alien marauders and it's up to him to protect the very people who wanted to get rid of him. No doubt it would touch some heart strings and even touch upon some sensitive issues, but a good movie should make you think and reflect, not pandering or force feeding its audiences.

"It's nice for Gwen to take some time to relax. Take care of her alright? I know she's a capable girl but it makes me feel at ease knowing that you're there with her." Ben turned away from the exciting football match and met his uncle's eyes. He seemed quite serious about this topic and it did make sense in retrospect. Gwen's capable nature and gifted academic nature made her a valedictorian in practically every institution she goes to. Excelling in studies, club societies and physical sports, she would no doubt make for a very successful woman given that she is a virtuoso in every field. Yet while Natalie focused on Gwen's success and accolades, Frank was more concerned with Gwen's overall happiness and self care. Ben was the perfect person to allow Gwen to be more laid-back in her otherwise busy schedule, providing a much-needed counterbalance to the constant pressure she felt to excel.

"Don't worry Uncle Frank, I will always look after Gwen, just like how she always looks after me." The father of two smiled widely and placed an appreciative hand on Ben's shoulder, these kids had really grown up didn't they? But the sound of footsteps creaking on the stairs caught their attention and Frank's lips curled upwards when his daughter came down stairs with her long fiery red hair tied into a ponytail. Puberty had been very kind to her and she had blossomed into such a beautiful and mellow lady while still maintaining her sass and independence. Her white blouse and black skirt combination was simply practical and elegant, much like the person wearing it.

"There she is." Gwen smiled at the sight of her cousin waiting for her and waved to him. No doubt he just finished a sparring session with George and was tired from the sore muscles, but he still made an effort to hangout with Julie and her.

"Hey Ben, did you wait long?" He shook his head and crossed his legs, eyeing his cousin's attire with approval, her style of wear really evolved throughout the years. A head turner in all aspects, Ben sometimes felt irked by the number of guys staring at her whenever they hangout. Still, it was good for her self confidence and she could be a little self-conscious of how people perceived her sometimes.

"No, I just got here and took a shower. You look great." Gwen chuckled and perched her hands on her hips, if only Ben was that forthcoming with Julie.

"Well aren't you full of compliments today, save some of that for Julie." She giggled at his eye roll and flushed cheeks, even all these years he still can get awkward around this topic. Frank loosened an amused smile and found it intriguing Ben hasn't formally asked the young lady out yet. The young lady is lovely and she personally had been invited to Tennyson household for dinner before. The interactions between Ben and her were nothing short of sweet and wholesome, with the young man behaving like a total goofball and gentleman around her.

"Don't tease your cousin Gwen." The red haired teenager flipped her hair dramatically and spoke with flair and flamboyance.

"Just giving him some advice." Ben scoffed at the advice. He is a charming ladies man, a charismatic individual and a smooth talker, at least that what he tells himself before inevitably fumbles around Julie. As the clock struck 6 PM, Frank turned off the tv with the remote and ushered the kids to enter the car.

"Alright come on, I will drop you two off." The Tennyson family sat in the car, buckled up and comfortable. They drove towards Bellwood Mall where Julie would be waiting for them. Amidst the drive, Frank glanced at the rear view mirror to get a look at his nephew.

"So Ben, Gwen told us that you still haven't asked Julie out yet." The squire winced at the accusation and stared at his cousin with a dead man's eyes. He had lied to everyone that he actually did ask Julie out and they were in a limbo-like relationship between friend and girlfriend. Only Gwen knows the truth and she had betrayed him in the most hurtful and vile way possible!

"Gwen! You're not supposed to tell anyone." His cousin sheepishly grinned and pretended to be oblivious by putting her finger on her chin.

"Oops." No amount of cutesy facade is going to save Gwen this time, Ben narrowed his eyes at her cousin and swore vengeance against her. That's it, next time no smoothies for her.

"Ben, it's okay to take your time, it means you're careful and taking in considerations." The honest statement from his uncle made him sigh and leaned against the backrest of the seat.

"I just don't want Julie to think that I befriended her all this time just so I can get a shot at dating her, it feels weird and wrong." Gwen frowned momentarily, she understood his sentiments perfectly. The sorceress has her own experiences with male acquaintances who seemed more interested in romantic possibilities than genuine friendship, as if that was the intention all along. But even so, that was the minority and most guys who she hung out with in school are all pretty chill and respected her boundaries.

"Ben, Julie doesn't think like that, you two started from close friends and slowly developed feelings for each other, totally normal and natural! In fact, studies found that most romantic couples started out as friends first." Solid and unyielding relationships often have years of mutual respect and understanding as the basis of their foundation. Ben and Julie are just taking their time to know each other and see if they are compatible, that's all!

"That's true Ben, it's all about intention and authenticity. If you have doubts or feel some things need to be straightened out first before committing to a relationship, talk to Julie and be honest to her. Communication and respect is very important." The pep talk from his uncle and cousin made him smile, it felt nice to have guidance and support from family. Although a young adult now, Ben sometimes never felt older than he was 10 and wasn't ready to make difficult decisions yet without Grandpa Max's guidance.

"I will, thank you Uncle Frank and you too Gwen, I guess I'm overthinking a little." Gwen grinned and gestured her hand.

"Better than not thinking it through at all." The cousins continued their casual conversation when they finally reached their destination. The hue of purple orange mixing together in the sky and the street lights illuminating marked the start of a fun Friday night out.

"Alright you kids have fun, I will come pick you two up around 11 PM." The two gave a thumbs up and waved goodbye. Gwen pulled out her phone and tapped her fingers against the screen, messaging Julie as Ben and her walked from the parking lot to the mall.

"She's outside the cinema." Punctual as always. The movie starts at 8 and knowing Julie, she came earlier to queue just to buy popcorn and soda for them. The Tennysons rode the escalators up the top floor of the mall and found the long line of moviegoers queuing at the understaffed concession stand. Gwen tip-toed upwards and placed her fingers against each other to scan where Julie is. Ben looked around until he felt a soft dainty finger poking his cheek, he turned and felt his lips curling upwards when Julie appeared with her a large bucket of popcorn and soda tray in her hands.

"Hey Julie, did you wait long?" The young teenager shook her head and handed the salted caramel popcorns to the pair of cousins. She was glad that she came early because the crowd was wild.

"No, I just bought the popcorn and soda, didn't wait long at all. Come on, let's go! The movie is starting." Ben chuckled when Julie dragged Gwen and him to the cinema hall. They promptly entered the pitch black room and sat on their seats, with Ben sitting in the middle while the girls sat beside him, acting as the chief popcorn holder.

The movie lasted for 3 hours and as the credits rolled with big movie star names popping up the screen, the lights of the theater momentarily blinded everyone in the room. Numbed by sitting for 3 hours straight, Ben stood up and found bits and pieces of popcorn rolling off his lap, presumably because of Julie and Gwen. The trio walked along the hallway and discussed the movie, what they liked and their favorite part of it.

"That was so cool, I like the part where everyone started to clap for him after stopping the invasion." Julie was honestly moved to near tears when a young child started to clap for the main protagonist and it caused everyone around to do the same. A form of genuine acceptance that only innocent children seemed to be capable of.

With plenty of time to spare, the girls quickly pivoted their way towards the boutique and clothing stores. The sole male of the group stood outside of the premise while the girls matched and measured the clothes that caught their interests. The young man felt his stomach growling and the desire for a snack grew with his hunger. Such carnal instincts must be sated and Ben knew of a legendary comfort food that is within walking distance.

"You two girls have fun, I will just go get some chili fries." The pair stopped what they were doing with Gwen placing her hands on her hips, she gave a stern look to her cousin who seemed to forget what time it was.

"We're going to have dinner later." The mom-like tone from Gwen was met with a child's retort.

"Just a snack?" The redhead sighed but nodded nevertheless, she already anticipated this from Ben. Julie poked her head out from the clothing racks and waved to her best friend.

"Get some for me too." Ben grinned and gave a thumbs up, earning another sigh from Gwen over their unhealthy habits of snacking before dinner. Hands in his pockets, Ben walked outside of the mall and smiled at the comforting sight of foot trucks aligned in the parking lot. It seemed like the queue was already starting with hungry office workers and college students flocking the scene.

"Hi, two chili fries please." Ben patiently waited for the spicy and cheesy goodness and after a few minutes of scrolling through his phone for funny videos, his order was ready.

"Thanks." Piping hot and delectable, Ben held Julie's takeaway order on one hand and decided to find some place to sit down and have his snack of a meal. He glanced at the benches near the parking lot and decided that place was as good as any despite being further away from the mall.

His black and white sneakers made their way to the bench next to a lamp post. The sound of crickets and the occasional chill of autumn night's made Ben wish he wore a thicker jacket for tonight. As his legs carried on forward, he saw a group of silhouettes standing around what seemed to be another person near an alley of sorts.

'Something doesn't look right.' Though it was dark, the lights from the street lamps provided just enough illumination for Ben to squint his eyes on the distant figures. Instincts tell Ben that they were sketchy people, yet his heart told him that the person they were surrounding didn't seem like they wanted to be there either.

"Come on, why don't you hangout with us? We promise you a fun time." His eyes widened at the sight of a beautiful blonde teenager stepping away from the group as they closed in on her. It was clear what was happening and Ben found himself in a hairy situation that may require him to step in.

'I can't just stand a watch.' It was painful to watch the young teeanger avert her eyes, the poor girl was trembling while the older men were invading her personal space. But the straw that sprung Ben to action was when one of the men put his arm around her shoulder and touched her arm.

"Let me go!" She bitterly shoves her assaulters away when they try to grab her jacket, her heart sunk at the tight hold they had on her when her would-be savior appeared.

"Hey!" Stunned by another person's presence, she seized the chance to yank off their hold and ran towards Ben. On instinct Ben placed one arm before her and ushered her to stand behind him. Now safe from her harrassers, Ben found himself in a potential dangerous situation with these unsavory folks.

"We are having a conversation with her, buzz off kid." Ben raised his eyebrows, analyzing his environment just like how George had taught him. They numbered him five to one, and they were no doubt older than him, perhaps around their early 20s or so. Located far away from the mall and food truck rally, there was scarcely anyone walking around with how isolated they were. Though the odds are against him, Ben put on a brave face just to comfort the trembling teenager behind him.

"Right and I'm sure we can have that conversation inside the mall, no need for shady alleys right?" Taunting his opponents with the faintest of smiles, Ben could see the seething look on what he assumed was the leader's face. The clenched fists and scowling expression of bitterness meant he pissed him off, the opposite reaction Ben would have wanted.

"This is none of your business, get out of the way before someone gets hurt." Ah a classic intimidation line as old as time, these guys are the class act of bullies after all. He had a suspicion they aren't going to let him go scot free, but his priority right now is making sure the girl is safe, his heroic pride comes later.

"Helping someone who needs it is my business. She's not comfortable with your advances, take the hint and leave." The serious cadence from Ben did little to calm tensions, the fuming thug attempted to charge towards him when his mates held him back, reminding him of their troubled history.

"Don't! Remember our record." They were one sentence away from a decade behind bars. Their parole would be short lived if they stir trouble again, it was a matter of common sense now. Unfortunately, their dastard leader didn't see it that way.

"I'm not going to let a little kid intimidate us." Ben took that as a sign of aggression and slowly backed up with the girl as they slowly advanced, albeit the reluctance from the rest of the members. His green eyes darted around his dark environment until he spotted a moment of opportunity at the alleyway. He paused for a moment, drafting out a plan in his head before turning to the girl behind him.

"Run and go get help." She hesitated for a moment, her lingering azure eyes stared at Ben's before she wordlessly nodded and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. The sight of the teen running away to the mall drew hostile eyes to Ben, now the thugs were screwed no matter what they did.

"You're fucking dead kid." Ben sighed and shook his head, lamenting the uneven and unfair situation he found himself in.

"5 against one? Seriously?" He slowly backed into the alley, as they began to corner him into a dead end. His shoes planted against the myriad of debris and household items scattered on the floor, until one of his sneakers was pressed against a broom handle that had its bristles removed.

The two sides locked eyes with one another, the occasional strong wind kicked up plastics and paper fliers. Tensions were high and the sound of beer bottles being smashed and pocket knives being drawn echoed across the alley. Now tucked away in a dirty alley with no friendly soul in sight, Ben is truly alone with a group of people intent on harming him.

So much for a fun night out with the girls.

"Get him!" They charged forward towards him, eager to land a serrated blow on Ben and bleed him dry. His foot instantly kicked up the broom handle in the air before he skillfully caught in his hands. He leveraged his superior reach and began to dispatch the men one by one, striking the leader's head with one fell swoop before slamming a back-handed strike back to the rest. He used one hand to swing the quarterstaff around, causing them to retreat slowly as Ben intends to fight in the open. He ramped up his sweeps until he suddenly charged through the ranks like a cavalry charge, bulldozing his way out of the alley.

"Gah, get him!" Ben used the momentum of his body to swung the staff like a baseball bat, striking them right in the shins to maim them followed by a crushing downward strike to their head, drawing blood and severe concussion. His unrelenting assault bashed the rest of his assailants until one of them thrust their dagger forward and swiped at Ben.

'Disarm, disorientate and dominate.' The tutelage from George echoed in Ben's mind as he knocked the knife away by smacking the hand. The thugs seized the chance to grapple his weapon and wrestled for control as the rest began to recover from the strikes and slowly limped their way towards him with blood bleeding from the heads. The tug of war continued with Ben nimbly dodging the dagger cuts from the others with his jacket fluttering along the motions.

'Turn their allies to your shields.' Ben swiftly let go off the staff and delivered a ferocious roundhouse kick to the staggered foe, knocking the rest down by the sheer force generated by his strike. He took the opportunity of their downed state to flee and sprinted to the parking lot despite his waning stamina.

His athleticism allowed him to reach the main parking lot before he began to slow down to catch his breath, he wiped away the beads of sweat and turned behind him. He groaned when they were giving chase despite limping towards him, aren't they ashamed and humiliated enough? With no weapon to his name and out of breath, Ben stood his ground and prepared to fight them hand to hand when the sound of sirens blared in the glow of red and blue. The assailants froze at the sight of the police vehicles speeding towards them and muttered a slew of profanities, camaraderie broke down between them with every man for himself.

But just as they escaped the other direction, another patrol car managed to emerge and cut their escape route off. The blinding lights of high beams blinded them momentarily until the officers exited their cars. A veteran policeman walked forward with his hand on his holster, the calm and cold eyes was enough of a deterrence from doing anything rash.

"Nice and easy boys, we've been down this road before haven't we?" Well acquainted with their former run-ins, the policeman ordered them to stand down and place their hands in the air. With no options left and the severe consequences of resisting arrest well known to them, they slowly knelt to the floor and turned themselves over to the police.

"You okay kid?" Ben nodded when another patrol officer stood next him, the law enforcer briefly inspected Ben's body for any sign of injuries before the sound of footfalls behind them grew louder.

"Are you okay!?" Ben barely had the time to respond when he found himself in the warm embrace of the pretty blonde he saved. His cheeks flushed red when his head found itself above her shoulders. Flustered and in need of air, Ben slowly parted ways and comforted the panicking teenager.

"I'm okay, don't worry." The police officer narrowed his eyes, this young lady seemed familiar, he swore he saw her on TV before.

"You looked familiar, miss… are you perhaps Jenniffer Nocturne?" The young actress smiled and nodded, her arms still tightly holding around Ben's smaller frame. The young man was a tad confused over who Jennifer is, is she supposed to be famous or something?

"Yes." The officer's mood went up considerably, his daughter is a super fan of Jennifer. Like many teen actresses, the young star got her start after entering a TV contest and being scouted out by a talent agency. Her youthful beauty and superb acting gained her a large following, borderline making her an idol and a superstar overnight with her first big break after starring in a drama romance movie. So it begs the question, why is someone famous and popular like her doing out here alone by herself? Where are her security guards and manager?

"My daughter is a huge fan of yours! Do you want me to call-" At the moment, a luxurious limousine accompanied by two black SUVs rolled up to the parking lot at a screeching speed. Car doors were slammed and a squadron of men in suits ran towards the child actress.

"Jennifer! My goodness there you are." The starlet smiled when her manager ran towards her and hugged her. The closest figure she has to a mother now, she had always taken care of her daily affairs, dealt with nosy reporters and scheduled influential interviews for her. Her rise to success can be attributed to her, as well as her overall happiness.

"Aria." The woman dressed in a professional suit patted her head before pulling back, glaring daggers at the thugs being handcuffed by the police. There was no doubt about the men's horrible intentions and Aria shuddered to think if there was no timely intervention from others.

"Are you okay? Did those lowlives hurt you?" The blonde beauty shook her head and turned to Ben, she took the moment to hug her his arm, pinning it between her breasts as she eagerly nuzzled against his side, much to Aria's shock and amusement.

"No, I was rescued by umm- I never got your name." The brunette loosened a smile and extended his free hand out. It seemed like he saved a celebrity, and a rising star too.

"Ben, Ben Tennyson." Her agent shook Ben's hand, nodding curtly in respect and gratitude for the heroic efforts he had made.

"Ben, thank you so much. You did a really good thing today. If word reaches the media of Jennifer being assaulted, it would be a nightmare for her reputation and her well being." It confirmed Ben's suspicions that Jennifer is really popular and he just got into the good graces of a celebrity. The young bladesman averted his gaze when Jennifer's clingy and soft warm skin sent a chill of pleasure down his spine, gosh does this feel so weird and nice. Her manager grunted and turned to the police officer, while the security guards began to hold off the growing crowd gathering at the scene.

"Officer, please allow us to take Jennifer home first, she is shaken and clearly needs some space to recover." The officer of the law nodded and acknowledged the delicate situation they find themselves in. There's already a crowd gathering around the parking lot and the sighting of Jennifer Nocturne has no doubt reached the internet. This would be a public relations disaster if she continues to stay here, people would speculate why she is involved with the police and the whole truth would come out. He could afford to look the other way for now.

"Alright, just make sure you file a report to your nearest precinct when you can." Murmurs from the crowd grew louder with the increasing size, drawing the attention of mallgoers and passersby. Ben pulled out his phone and groaned when he realized that the girls were probably looking for him and-

"Ben!" Oh, never mind they found him. The two ladies reasoned with the officer controlling the crowd before he allowed them charging towards the young Tennyson. Tired and exhausted from fighting, Ben still mustered a smile when his cousin and best friend rushed towards his side and hugged him.

"Are you okay?" He relished the warm hug from the two people he held dear, no doubt they were worried about him and the amount of police presence probably didn't help either. Hopefully they don't chew him out for this.

"I'm fine, just got a little tangled up with some bad people, that's all." The understatement from him did little to comfort Gwen and Julie, they inspected his body and were relieved that he came out unscathed. The police officer recording the statement approached the trio and acknowledged the fact that Ben seemed to be popular with the ladies.

"They are?"

"My cousin, and my friend. We just finished watching Stranger Among Our Skies." Jennifer's eyes sparkled, she just finished watching the movie too! In fact, all of this happened because she snuck out into the cinema alone without informing her manager. Though she loves her life and appreciates the efforts of her manager, the paparazzi and the constant need to smile for the camera even when she doesn't feel like it, is suffocating. The price of success and the eyes of the world are always constantly on her, sometimes she just wished she could get away from everything and just enjoy a simple life. This wasn't the first time she snuck out nor would it be the last she reckons, but walking alone at night nearly cost her innocence and if it weren't for Ben- well the less said the better.

The officer gave a wave to his comrades and watched the patrol cars being escorted by the other policemen. He noted how late it was and deemed it improper for kids of their age to go out alone at night, especially with what just happened to Jennifer. Predators are always out and about, often disguising themselves as kind and charitable people before they seize your moment of weakness to take advantage of you. Or sometimes they just take advantage of people when they think they can, motives for committing a crime doesn't need to be complex, they just have to exist.

"I can give you kids a ride home, it's the least I can do for you. Taking down 5 crooks on your own is very impressive, none worse for wear too." Alarm bells rang in Ben's head, that is the last thing he wants. God forbid if their parents found out they were involved in something like this. He waved off his hands, knowing that the girls and him were still waiting for dinner and that takes precedence over anything else.

"Its fine! We don't want our folks to worry." The older man glanced at the trio's puppy dog eyes, and reluctantly gave into their demands.

"Ugh my superior might reprimand me for this but alright. Just don't play the hero next time okay? Your lives are more important than this." The message struck a familiar chord within Ben, he merely smiled and nodded. It's been ages since he helped someone in need and it was as exhilarating as he hoped it would be. Years later, he still knows how to kick butt.

"Got it." As the crowd dispersed and the officers went back into their vehicles, Jennifer slowly walked up to Ben and clasped both hands together.

"Ben, thank you." The emotionally charged tone of sincerity made Ben smile, she didn't need to thank him at all. Anyone in his shoes would have helped her, what he did today should be the rule, not the exception.

"No problem, as long as you're okay." Jennifer's lips curled upwards and found themselves planted on his cheek. The lingering and soft kiss froze Ben solid for the moment as audible gasps from Julie and Gwen just sold the scene. She slowly pulled back with her low drooped eyes showing much affection and admiration.

"I won't forget you." The husky whisper from the beautiful actress stammered the steadfast swordsman of the west. He fumbled his words and found his heart thumping rapidly against his chest, that was the first kiss he ever received from a girl!

"Y-Yeah, you too." She slowly let go and entered the limousine, but not before placing her hand on the glass and waving goodbye to Ben. The brunette stood there and found her manager walking towards him with a card in hand.

"Here, I normally don't give Jennifer's number out but I think you should have this. All phone calls to her normally go through me but I will make a special exception for you Ben." The watchless hero took the card in hand and found himself stoked at the fact a celebrity phone number was within his grasp. Still, they trusted him enough to give it to him and he would do well to not betray their trust or gloat around in public. Chances are, Jennifer has few friends similar to her age group and most actors and actresses she worked with were more like workplace colleagues and acquaintances.

"Tell Jennifer that I will call her some time." The agent beamed a smile and nodded before entering the limousine. Soon enough, the caravan of vehicles soon drives off into the distance, leaving the trio to their own devices. Ben grinned and turned around to show the girls that he got a celebrities phone number, only to be met with displeased expression from the two girls with Julie particularly vexed.

It was at that moment that Ben knew, he was screwed.

"Uh sorry about the chili fries." God and he didn't even get to eat his chili fries! He tossed them aside when he confronted the idiots, now hungry, cold and exhausted, Ben also had to deal with Julie's foul mood.

"Mhmm." The passive aggressive tone from her sealed Ben's fate. He knew her long enough that she was angry and he didn't need to be told why. He turned to his only savior in hopes she could say something to diffuse the situation and act as a mediator of the group.

"Let's go for dinner." The esteemed judo practitioner placed her arms around Julie and Ben's shoulders, pushing them together shoulder to shoulder. Ben was thankful to his cousin's intervention and leaned forward to get a peek of Julie.

"Sounds good to me! Julie?" She crossed her arms and sighed, they would speak to each other late once her hunger is sated.

"Fine." Akin to defusing the world's most complicated bomb, Gwen led the pair to the nearby diner and ordered their dinner. The conversation they had was- well they weren't any. Gwen glanced back forth between the two with the two preoccupied with their phones rather than talking to each other. Even when dinner arrived, the tasty burgers and fries did little to boost their mood or spirits and it seemed they were in a deadlock of who would start talking first. Now as far as Gwen is concerned, her cousin did nothing wrong and in fact Ben should be commended for his act of bravery. On the other hand, she perfectly understood Julie's feelings and position. This requires them to resolve their underlying tensions and feelings for one another, which means talking.

"I need to use the bathroom, be right back." The sudden statement from her caused Ben to stare at her as if she had betrayed at his lowest moment, the two cousins exchanged telepathic messages with Gwen's eyes ushering to Julie before back to Ben. After deciphering her message and realizing her intent, panic overwhelmed Ben for the moment when he had to discuss this situation head on with Julie without his cousin's support. He cleared his throat and waited for Gwen to walk out of earshot before putting his phone down, now was his chance to straighten things out with her.

"Julie? Are you mad at me?" She barely looked up from her phone when she replied with a monotone voice.

"No." Yeap, she definitely is.

"Come on, don't be like that." His tone quivered between pout and remorse. Julie placed her phone down and sighed, wondering why she is making a huge deal out of the kiss Ben received. It's just a kiss! But her heart churned in the worst ways possible when Ben seemed to be elated and flustered by it.

"I'm not mad Ben, I'm just- frustrated." Her chestnut coloured eyes stared at him, softening into a mellow and congratulatory look. She reached for his hands and interlocked their fingers together, grasping it tightly to let him know she wasn't genuinely mad at him.

"What you did is a very good thing, and I'm very proud of you. Risking your life to help someone who needs it is very noble and selfless." He let out a goofy smile at the praise from her, his eyes glanced at their clasped hands that emanated warmth and comfort.

"If what I did is such a good thing then why are you sulking?" The direct question took Julie by surprise, did he really have to ask at this point? She hardened her look and sat upright, giving Ben a serious gaze that questioned the nature of their relationship.

"Ben, do you want me to spell it out for you?" The strain and edge in her voice was obvious. They had danced around their relationship long enough, no one seemed to take the first step or at least, nobody was vocal enough to make it clear what they wanted from each other. For Ben, he was content with what they have but it was clear Julie wanted to take things further.

"No." The downcast expression from him made her squeeze their clasped hands. Their eyes met again with Julie speaking a softer tone, her cheeks flushed lightly and her eyes avoiding Ben's emerald orbs.

"I know I'm being very petty and unreasonable right now, I'm not angry at you Ben, I'm angry at myself. She didn't even hesitate to kiss you while I-" Her bitter and self loathing sentence was halted when a finger was placed on her lips. Her crimson red cheeks and rapidly beating heartbeat was further amplified when Ben's charming smile melted her heart. She tensed up and squeezed her thighs together to suppress her internally squealing emotions when he cupped her cheeks, caressing it softly with his thumb that just sent euphoric pleasures down her spine.

"I know Julie." The sweet serenade voice and the soft velvety eyes that took her breath away. She wanted to scream and flop on the floor like a fish on dry land right now! She cleared her throat and gripped her drink tight, any more force and Ben swore the glass would break into smithereens. Realizing the severe effects he had on her, he sheepishly let go and retreated his hands, awkwardly staring at her who seemed dazed by his affections.

Julie briefly recovered from her flustered condition and sighed internally at how much of a fool she is, being jealous at Jennifer just because she wasn't the one to give Ben a kiss was just uncalled for. Sure, both of them are aware of their feelings for one another but neither of them can stop each other from pursuing a relationship with others. The half Asian American took a deep breath and decided to make things right. She walked up to sit down next to him, before Ben could question her actions, she leaned forward and gave her first kiss to Ben's cheek. Unlike Jennifer's short peck, the kiss Julie gave was long and sensual. Her brown eyes darkened for a moment and Ben swore he heard a moan from her as she applied more force into the kiss. Her hands naturally reached their way behind his hair and ruffled them softly, twirling and patting his hair like the good boy he is. Time seemed to stand still for a moment and Julie parted her lips from him with a playful smile plastered on her face.

"You're a hero, you know that?" Ben's puffing red cheeks and bursting steam from his ears made her giggled at his stupor. He had dreamt for this to happen for years and he is not afraid to say it! He recovered from his initial shock and placed a hand where Julie kissed him, meekly looking away from Julie as the assertive teenager leaned against his arm akin to an affectionate starved cat.

But just before the two could bask with their affection for one another, a phone call from her father managed to ruin the tender moment. She sighed and answered the phone, merely grunting her answers out. Just when things between them seemed to be progressing, fate just likes to throw a spanner in the works.

"My dad is here, I have to go." A little disappointing but at least he make out with Julie- I mean make up! They make up with one another and are on good terms again. The dashing hero of Bellwood nodded and paid for the bill for dinner, he accompanied her outside and saw Julie's father already patiently waiting in his car. Wait, didn't they sit near the window seat? Did he saw them-

"Bye Ben." It was clear she wanted to make a move but with her father watching them, Julie decided that she would muster the courage to do something when it's just the two of them.

"Good night Julie." The two reluctantly part ways with Ben waving the entire time. Once she buckled her seatbelt up, Ben watched the Yamamoto family slowly drive out of the mall, leaving him alone to his own devices. He sighed and touched the cheek where Julie kissed him again, smiling subconsciously at the absolute win he scored tonight.

"Wow." He leaped forward when the voice of his cousin sprang to his ears. He swiftly turned around and felt livid at the sight of a thoroughly impressed Gwen Tennyson.

"Gwen! W-Were you watching?" The mana wielder smirked and crossed her arms, oh she was watching alright. The entire ordeal between the two and the suave move from her cousin was akin to watching a romantic drama. So much suspense, gushing and rooting for the main protagonist to get with the heroine. Every little detail and heart throbbing moment was just juicy to a romance fanatic like Gwen.

"How could I not?" He cringed at the horrific implications, the whole diner saw him cupping Julie's cheeks and staring into her eyes all lovey-dovey now didn't they? He is not going to go back there for at least a month! He burrowed his face into hands, hoping to the stars and aliens above that Gwen did not record that scene with her phone. Knowing her, she probably did.

Gwen rolled her eyes over his antics and placed a hand on his shoulders. They were so close to confessing their heartfelt feelings to one another, probably could have chosen a better and less crowded setting, but they were getting there nevertheless.

"Just ask her out already, what are you waiting for?" The uncharacteristic frown from him worried Gwen. He has always been confident and laid-back in everything he does, but the subtle signs of insecurities were evident when Ben kept rubbing his wrist with his other hand, the very same wrist that the Omnitrix latched onto.

"I don't know if I'm good enough for her." It was a rare moment of self reflection and Gwen honestly didn't know how long Ben felt this way. In her eyes, her cousin has become a very dependable person. Sweet, sensitive and even funny, traits which are all highly desirable in Julie's eyes. She squeezed his shoulders and stared right back at him, sternly raising her voice to assert her opinion and stance.

"Ben, Julie clearly thinks you are." He raised up to his cousin's eyes and smiled at the unwavering support and encouragement for her. She's by far the biggest Benlie shipper around him, in fact if it weren't for Gwen's persistence they might not have gone this far together as friends. With renewed confidence surging within him and the fact Julie had made her feelings clear, Ben's lips curled upwards and gave a determined nod. It was time for him to reciprocate them, no more dodging feelings or leaving her guessing, he must make it clear.

"I will ask her out tomorrow." Finally the ship had started sailing! The head helmswoman cheered and hugged Ben close, earning a chuckle from him.

---

Sweat glistened on her forehead, dribbling from her forehead slowly down to the side of her cheek. Her legs were sore from the intensive footwork and her arms were fatigued from the handshock and weight of the racquet. With stamina levels near depletion, this was her last ditch effort to win the match. The score was even and both players knew they only had one shot at this, one last swing and one last strike. The crowd were mostly cheering her opponent on and she found little support on her side, yet that didn't matter.

Ben was here, and that was all the support she needed.

"GOOOO JULIE!" Shouting on the top of his lungs, Ben's eccentric and excited roar drew many looks from the spectators. The rallying cry of support inspired and invigorated Julie's spirit, and of a sudden the weight of her muscles vanished and the unbridled fire of determination consumed her body. Nimbly as she goes, she manages to sidestep at the last second to return the serve back to her opponent, angling just far enough until the ball hits the service box.

Julie's eyes lit up and she did a fist pump to the air once she realized she won, drawing the applause of the crowd despite not rooting for her. Ben quickly stood up and clapped for her, knowing how important the tennis matches are to her. He waited for her to shake hands with her opponent and bid separate ways before walking down the bleachers to congratulate her.

"You did great Julie!" The aspiring Tennis player waved to him and held her racquet with both hands.

"Thanks, I couldn't have done it without your support." She attempted to hug him when she stopped halfway through, her body was covered in sweat and the awkward motion of the half-hug made her chuckle in embarrassment.

"Sorry, I'm sweating a bunch-" She was instantly silenced when Ben hugged her regardless, the temperatures in her body skyrocketed instantly and she felt her exhausted legs jello from the intimate embrace from him.

"I'm proud of you Julie." Ben had certainly become more honest and affectionate after that night, to the point where he no longer felt cold feet to hug her or shower her with praise and physical affection. He is still an endearing dork though.

"Umm shower." The meek tone made the young Tennyson break off the hug. He held his left arm and nodded with his eyes darting around, perhaps he came off a little too strong there.

"Right! Yes, showers are important. I-I'll wait outside." The affable teenager waved to her and stood at the bleachers. He exhaled and brought out his phone, pulling out the saved location of the restaurant he spent hours on end researching on a good date night. He struck a secret deal with his father and he hopes his mother was left out of it because lord forbid her finding out.

It wasn't long when Julie walked out of the school sport center and waved to Ben. He quickly practiced the right sentence he wished to say, in the exact order and tone. A quick revision that intensified with speed with every step Julie took, he was borderline whisper rapping when she stood before him and she shot him a weird look at why he was mumbling so fast.

"Hey Julie uh, you hungry?" The young lady is starving but given how nervous Ben was, she had a suspicion that something was amiss. Whenever they decide something for dinner they usually go for their old favourites.

"I'm starving, what do you have in mind?" Ben merely showed his phone to her and Julie swiped up to see the restaurant. Her eyes lit up at the familiar and sorely missed cuisine that she long had craved for.

"Japanese food?" Ben nodded and stood up, all according to plan.

"Yakiniku. I thought it would be nice to try." Julie's mouth practically watered at the thought, savory and flavourful, every skewer is grilled with the fat simmering and caramelizing the lean meat. It's been ages since she had something divine and Ben was wise to bring her out!

"Is Gwen joining?" He clicked his tongue and gestured his hands around in the air, it seemed Julie was catching onto his intent already.

"No no, it's just us." Her institutions flared wildly, color her wrong but is Ben Tennyson asking her out on a date? This wasn't the usual hangout around dinner, the intent and the amount of planning behind this made it clear he had something special in store for her. Still, she needed to poke enough questions first before she got her hopes up.

"Isn't it expensive?" Ben had saved up his allowance just for this occasion and his father even agreed to sponsor half of the bill, so as long he does the house chores on his behalf for a week.

"Don't worry about it, my treat." Julie couldn't help but to smile, Ben really is asking her out on a date and is willing to pay for it, not that he needed too. The dork seemed so nervous with how much he is fidgeting, a trait she finds cute. Did he really think she would reject him?

The former hero rubbed his neck and looked aside, darting his eyes between the grass and Julie's hazel eyes.

"Umm, you can wear something nice for tonight, we meet at 7?" The poorly phrased sentence made Julie perked one hand on her hips, boy does he have a long way to go in wooing girls. Actually no, Julie much prefers an awkward Ben Tennyson than a casanova one.

"What I'm wearing now isn't nice?" The subtle tone of anger behind voice made Ben shake his hands in front of him like a madman.

"No! That's not what I meant! Just- nicer?" She chuckled at his flustered state and decided not to toy with him. She's been waiting for this moment for a long time, no need to make it difficult for him. She placed both hands behind her back and leaned forward, the playful and ecstatic look on her face was super adorable.

"I'll see you tonight Ben, I'm looking forward to it." Ben's heartbeat rapidly skyrocketed, okay he is in! The hard part is over, now was time for the preparation for the date. He waved goodbye to her and rushed towards his bicycle to get ready for his date when Julie patted his shoulders.

"Can you drop me off Ben? I forgot to ask my dad to pick me up." The sheepish smile was met with a thumbs up from the charming teenager.

"Sure, hold on tight." Adjusting his seat for the moment, Ben waited for Julie to get onto the rear rack and sat sideways with her tennis bag on her lap.

"Ready?" She nodded and leaned her head against Ben's back for support. The magical bike ride to home thus began, the clear afternoon sky was bright and blue, birds were chirping and there was scarcely any traffic. The journey was silent throughout the ride but both of them appreciated each other's company enough where no words were needed. The brunette peddled forward, passing through trees, shop lots and houses before they finally reached Julie's place.

"Thanks Ben, I'll see you tonight." The young lad waved to her and watched her enter her house safely. Now time was of the essence and he had a limited window of preparation to get everything done. He kicked off the brakes and cycled at mach speed, zipping and zapping through different neighborhood blocks. It wasn't long when he reached home and bursted into his house like the world's most professional superhero.

'Shower, deodorant, cologne, gel your hair.' He ran upstairs and practically tossed his clothes aside to tend to his hygiene. After drying himself with the towel, he pulled out his best sets of ironed clothes he had for casual wear and tossed them to the bed, wrinkling them in the process. Jeans, black shirt and gray jacket, the dull colour palette made Ben wish he shopped for more colorful clothes just for this occasion.

"Ben? Is everything okay?" The voice of his mother from behind was followed by a knock to the door. He turned around and reassured her that everything is okay and he is definitely not panicking or nervous at all.

"Yeah mom, everything is fine." Sandra narrowed her eyes, she could tell when her son was lying to her. She glanced at his getup, combed hair and even cologne! Clearly he is making an effort to go all out, which meant this was important.

"You look fidgety… oh! Oh! Tonight is the night isn't it, you're taking Julie out." Ben lamented that his mother knew, his father must have told her. It was inevitable after all, she can be quite astute to his personal life if aliens are not involved.

"Yeah." The bashful reply from her son made her chuckle, she patted his shoulders and reassured him that she is here for him.

"Hehe, don't be so nervous Ben. Sandra is here to help!" It wasn't ideal but having a mother's advice is something he needs right now.

"Should I get her flowers mom?" Sandra crossed her arms and sat on his bed.

"Does Julie like flowers?" He glanced up the ceiling, rubbing his chin to recall if Julie liked any particular flowers. She doesn't seem to like flowers, unlike Gwen who loves yellow roses.

"I don't think so, never heard her say which was her favorite."

"Then why do you suggest getting one for her?" Because every movie about teenage romance always has the guy buy flowers for the girl? Ben doesn't know! He is working on limited knowledge here!

"I don't know, every guy who goes on dates always brings flowers for the girl right?" Sandra sighed and tempered his panicked nature with a more calm question.

"What does Julie like?" Food? Tennis? Practically everything he loves, she loves it too.

"Uh a lot of things." The blonde haired mother bumped his shoulders.

"Name them Ben." He extended his hand out and began to count with his fingers.

"Tennis, Sumo Slammers, chili Fries, sci-fi movies and chocolate- oh I can get chocolate for her." Sandra grinned and pushed away hair strands to the side, combing and smothering Ben's hair to maintain his fringe.

"See? Other guys aren't asking Julie Yamamoto out, you are Ben Tennyson." He smiled at his mother's words and nodded.

"Be myself." There was something cheesy but heartwarming about that. Julie liked him for being him and he liked her because of her mellow and accepting nature. The two shared common interests and just generally get along, they have a special relationship and Ben won't trade that for anything.

"It's the reason why she likes you honey, don't be someone else for her okay?"

"Got it." The proud mother hugged him close to her, to which Ben reciprocated with a warm hug too.

"Is our boy ready for his date?" The boisterous sound of Carl Tennyson echoed through the house while Ben wanted nothing but to jump outside the window with how loud he was. God, does he want the whole world to know? The older man appeared in the door frame and had a big grin on his face, obviously stoked and proud that his son was finally asking Miss Yamamoto out.

"Dad, can we swing by Patisserie La Soleil? I need to buy some chocolates for Julie." He furrowed his eyebrows, that place is known for their high quality but affordable chocolates and parfaits. But considering this is a date, Ben can go for a more luxury brand.

"Why there of all places?"

"Julie likes the cute designs of the chocolate, it's also not too sweet but savoury enough." The patisserie is themed after nekos, or cats. Practically every design of the chocolate is cat related with the pawlike chocolate design being the most popular. Carl smirked and was mildly impressed that his son knew so much about Julie.

"Aww, how considerate, you really know her well." Sandra sighed and leaned her head against her cheek.

"Wish you did the same for us." The offhand comment made Ben winced, man she really is making him feel bad. He patted his mother's shoulders and attempted to say something when his father rolled his eyes over the pitiful acting from his wife.

"Okay, okay no more guilt-tripping Sandra, let's get Ben that chocolate!" She smiled and grasped his hand, seemingly giving her blessing and good luck before the father and son duo descended downstairs. They entered the car with Ben in the front seat, glancing at his phone and texting Julie as the car started to move. The patisserie was located near the yakiniku place, which is quite the distance from their house.

The radio station blared out catchy tunes with a familiar starlet's voice catching Ben's interest. It seems Jennifer had started her music career with big named labels behind her success. As promised, the two had talked over the phone and sometimes Ben would find himself messaging her throughout the night. She confided many of her frustrations, insecurities and childhood difficulties she had in her life and was just glad he was there to listen to her. Nobody had provided that safe space for her before and Ben for one was glad he was able to help her anyway he could. In many ways, he was probably her first real friend outside of work.

"You know Ben, your mother and I are really proud of you." He paused scrolling his phone and realized his father had muted the radio, signaling that he was having a serious and important conversation with him. Usually it is when Ben does something wrong and he gets lectured, but this time it seemed to be the opposite.

"Where's this coming from?" His father's face was serious but he did loose a small smile.

"Julie's father Mr Yamamoto called me the other night, said that you've been very kind to Julie throughout the years. You made her feel welcomed in Bellwood, safe even." That was news to Ben, he knew Julie had his parents' number in the event of an emergency contact. But to hear Mr Yamamoto express his gratitude to his father because he made Julie welcome is strange.

"Welcomed?" Carl nodded and continued to drive.

"Her father migrated to America from Japan, but things haven't always been smooth sailing for them. There's nasty folks around, folks who can't tolerate others just because they are a little different from them." Ben stared at the road ahead, narrowing his eyes at the unfortunate news. Julie had never told him this before and chances are, she never will because she didn't want him to worry or treat her any differently.

"That's not right." Carl couldn't be more proud of his boy, always one to stand up for others.

"It isn't. But it's hard to change someone's perspective or beliefs, especially if they've been believing it their entire lives. Most of these folks are just following what they've been taught at a young age." The young Tennyson could understand that, sometimes people are brought up in a certain way and are molded by the environment they grew up in. To expect everyone in the world to get along with people who are different from them is nothing short of naive. Even so, the Omnitrix bearer had walked in the shoes of other lifeforms before, so he understood what it's like to be different.

"How do you change their way of thinking, dad?"

"Talk." Ben raised his eyebrows, was it that simple?

"Just like that?" Carl nodded and turned the steering wheel to the left.

"Gotta start from somewhere. If you can't get a conversation going, then it's hard to build bridges. One day you will meet these kinds of people, and might even be forced to work with them. So try to find common ground where both parties can win, and maybe one day, you might convince them to see the other way." Change is slow and gradual, and for change to happen you must be willing to give up something. Sometimes its power, other times its ideals, whatever it is, change is inevitable and Ben hoped that one day everyone can see eye to eye with one another. Wishful thinking on his part, but one can always dream.

"I will keep that in mind." The car rolled up to the patisserie's front and Carl pulled out the Benjamins from his wallet.

"Go get that chocolate." Ben took the money and patted his dad's shoulder before walking into the premise. He scouted out for a peculiar cute design and weighed his choices between it being too cute that Julie couldn't bear the thought to eat it, or something more simple and generic. Torn by the heavens and his decisions, Ben opted for the middle ground within his budget and found something not too romantically inclined, but enough to express his feelings for her.

'I'm putting way too much thought into buying chocolate.' He paused before going to the cashier and picked out something that both his parents would appreciate. After paying and entering the car, the Tennyson mobile headed off to the nearby yakiniku place. As expected, the parking lot was already full with many hungry customers already queuing up by the door.

"By the way, Mr Yamamoto would be sending you home." Ben, who opened the door with one foot out, immediately retracted his leg in and closed the door. He slowly stared at his father as if Vilgax had appeared from the depths of null void itself.

"What?" Carl chuckled at his son's livid tone and properly explained himself.

"A gentleman's agreement we made before agreeing to your date." So they were in cahoots, Ben should have known that Mr Yamamoto was made aware. Wait, does that mean Julie knew he was asking her out already? Is that why she agreed to it so quickly? He shook his head, now was not the time.

"Good luck Ben!" He waved to his father and entered the restaurant, bypassing the long queue in the process. Carl stared at the restaurant and gave an exhale, kids grow up so fast don't they? His eyes were drawn to the seat where Ben sat and realized there was a box of chocolate with a note attached.

Thanks for everything dad, make sure you share this with mom or you will never hear the end of it.

"He bought us chocolates, heh." The older Tennyson sighed in affection before realizing his son practically used the money he gave him to buy chocolate for them.

---

The sound of cheers and laughter reached Ben's ears, with many customers sitting shoulder to shoulder in the bar session of the Yakiniku. The jubilant atmosphere and the sizzling sound of meat being grilled was just a whole new vibe. The reservationist greeted Ben and presumed that he had a reservation given the cut through the queue.

"Hello sir, may I get your table?" Preemptively booked for the occasion, Ben hoped that he arrived on time given it was 7:17 PM.

"Hi, I'm Ben Tennyson, I've booked a reservation for two." She glanced at her tablet to bring out the table names and nodded.

"Ah, yes 7 PM right? Please follow me. Miss Yamamoto is already here." He figured that she would be punctual on time, he followed the waitress into the private room that is far away from the noisy customers and hid the chocolate behind his back. He pushed the noren apart, the cloth divider often found in many Japanese establishments. The first glance inside and his eyes was instantly drawn to Julie who looked up from her phone.

"Hi Ben."

"Hey Julie, sorry I'm late. Wow, you looked great." She wore a sleeveless white top with a beige cardigan over and a pleated short gray skirt. She looked elegant in her clothes but it matches her style and overall aesthetic.

"Thanks! Gwen picked this one out for me." As expected of his cousin, she has fine taste. The young man awkwardly sat in front of her and pulled out the chocolate gift wrapped in the finest materials, for the cheapest price.

"I bought you chocolate, it's your favourite." Julie recognized that packaging anywhere, she slowly took the chocolate and stared at Ben, the little fidgets, the look of anticipation and the pink cheeks. It really sold Julie that Ben put a lot of effort into this, and she appreciates a hard worker.

"We can have it for dessert later." The two shared smiles with one another and given the nature of their outing, it was kinda awkward when they knew this was a date and not a normal hangout. Fortunately, they were saved by the waitresses bringing in the menu.

Ben decided to spend big, so he ordered beef, pork and lamb slices with the high marbling and fat intensity. Onions, garlic and enoki mushrooms wrapped in bacon and an assortment of appetizers just to fill their stomachs. Their order soon came rolling in a cart with the stacks of meat made Julie grin ear to ear, though she would have to burn these calories off later, she would feast on the now and worry about the later.

"Itadakimasu." As the waitress left the pair to the grill, Ben took his solemn duty and oath as the griller. His culinary skills know no bounds and he couldn't possibly screw up something as simple as grilling raw meat. First, he used the chunk of fats to spread around the grill and then he placed the leek and onions in to caramelize it. Finally he placed individual pieces of meat onto the grill and sprinkled bits of salt and seasoning just to intensify the flavour. The first cooked beef slice was done and Ben used his superb chopstick skills to place it on Julie's plate, much to her amusement since she was the one who taught him how to use them.

"You don't have to feed me Ben, I can grill it myself." He let out a little noise of embarrassment. He should just treat this like a normal outing and see how things go. Julie picked up the meat with her chopsticks and dipped into the sauce before consuming it, the nods of approval soon followed and Ben hoped that the dinner was worth its price.

"How is it?" Julie gave a thumbs up to him.

"It tastes just like home, I really like the leek and onions caramelizing, it gives the meat so much more flavour!" Tender and lean, each cut and cube of meat they grilled had fat and oil leaking from it. Ben had his first bite of medium rare beef and felt like he almost entered heaven for the moment with how good it is. Who would have thought food can make you feel euphoric.

"Dis is so gewd." Julie giggled at Ben's expression, the two exchanged chuckles and laughter when they talked about their week and the latest juicy gossip in schools. Their shared interest and how intertwined their daily lives were became apparent with never ending conversations about class drama, relationship rumors and their latest achievement in sports and video games. With each plate gradually emptying by the minute, the pair found themselves finishing all of the meat and appetizers. The feast fit for an emperor soon concluded with Ben double checking the receipt in case there were any orders missing. The very long list made his wallet quiver in absolute fear, he is not going to financially recover from this.

"Oof I'm full." He leaned against the cushioned couch, feeling utterly incapable of moving or having any room for seconds. His plate was wiped clean, with even the watermelon slices' rind devoured too.

"Dessert?" The sight of Julie holding a piece of chocolate in her mouth and offering the box to Ben instantly shot him up. He attempted to reach for one when she retreated her hand at the last second, seemingly scheming for something.

And boy was he glad she did.

Julie strutted her way to Ben's side and sat down next to him, she loosened her cardigan and placed it to the side, leaning her bare shoulders towards Ben who also felt the need to toss his jacket aside because of his body's rising temperature. The assertive teenager held the box of chocolate in one hand and took each individual piece out, twirling it around with her fingers as they slowly inched forward to his mouth. The young Tennyson, realizing what was happening, slowly opened his mouth and bit down on the chocolate. The sweet and savoury taste was one thing, but the intense gaze from Julie Yamaoto invoked a different type of emotions within Ben as she slowly pushed her finger deeper into his mouth until his lips grazed her dainty finger.

"Good?" Ben only nodded dumbly, this was not the direction he thought the date would go, but he ain't complaining. He reached for the spare pieces of chocolate and brought it to Julie's lips, she didn't even hesitate to open her mouth to eat the chocolate with her lips slowly enveloping Ben's fingers. The wet and warm cavern of her mouth nearly fried Ben's brain as she sensually stared at Ben with her lips slowly pulling out from his index finger coated in chocolate.

"Mwah." His fingers were cleaned off the chocolate stain by her talented tongue, her flexibility allowed it to reach part of Ben's finger he never thought possible. He ignored the rising heat and growth from his pants and felt cornered like a prey to its predator. Internally, his body and mind was screaming at the situation he found himself in, he never thought Julie was capable of- that!

"T-Thanks." She chuckled sexily at his stammering and red cheeks, she intends to finish all of the chocolate tonight with Ben. Now with her feminine body close to him and her cardigan tossed aside, Ben could finally see her curves often hidden behind her hoodie. Their feeding session continues with the pair getting bolder and bolder with the manner they fed each other. No words were spoken, no explanation was needed between them yet they fully understood that this was the pace they wanted to go. They slowly leaned their forehead against each other, with Julie biting one end of the chocolate and Ben breaking the other end off. The lingering gazes and the thumping heartbeats continue when Ben cupped her cheeks, though the chocolate was sweet, he craved for something more succulent and moist, and Julie's lips looked remarkably soft and tantalizing right now. The two locked eyes and leaned forward, their lips near kissing distance when-

A god damn phone call.

The mood breaking ringtone from the wretched device broke the otherwise raunchy tension, it brought the pair to their senses at what they were actually doing and how far they have gone. Flustered and bashful red, Ben scowled at the timely interruption and decided not to hold back hesitation and no reservations, he cupped her cheeks and pulled her into a kiss, widening her eyes at the bold and audacious act by Ben. Taken aback by the aggressive yet soft lips from Ben, Julie closed her eyes and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a deeper kiss. Sloppy, messy and utterly high on adrenaline, the two moaned and made the most out of their first kiss together. Their wandering hands explored each other's bodies and their arousal reached a record high. Ben felt Julie's fingers touched his biceps before they slowly inched to his broad chest and sunk her fingers into his muscles, she skillfully unhooked his cumbersome jacket off and Ben sensually rubbed her hiked up waist to touch her bare stomach. The growls and squelch from their kiss continued when they parted lips for some much needed oxygen.

Dazed and flushed, the string of saliva between them and the realization of how far they have gone brought back the skittish side of them. The two friends slowly sat away from each other with Julie's phone still going off throughout their tongue tied kiss. Ben quickly wiped away his lips with his arm and stammered his request out to her.

"Y-You should answer that." The height of his arousal and emotions gradually wore off and Ben looked away with his eyes darting the floor. He could still taste the chocolate in his mouth and the soft tongue that thoroughly explored his mouth.

"R-Right." Julie smoothed out her clothes and hiked up skirt, hoping to look presentable before answering the phone. She widened her eyes that it was her father that was calling and quickly answered.

"Otousan? Oh you're here already? What? It's 10 PM already? Okay, we will meet you outside." The call ended with the pair staring at each other, the disbelief of what they have done, the where do we go from here thoughts, everything was now thrust upon them. Julie bit her lower lip and squeezed her thighs together, gosh it's so awkward now.

"Time flies huh." The statement from Ben managed to break the air of discomfort. He simply flashed an awkward smile at her which Julie returned back.

"Only when you have a good time." Ben held his breath and slowly released them, he sheepishly looked away and sat upright.

"So did you have a good time?" The raven haired beauty tapped her finger against her lips, feigning contemplation just to mess with Ben. The poor boy looked like he was about to faint with how much anxiety was building up within him when Julie gave him an answer.

"Hmm." She sat closer and closer until she climbed above Ben and straddled on top of his lap. Her arms were wrapped around his neck with her pelvis pushed against his lower regions. Ben on instinct held her waist close to him, his eyes dilating rapidly from the absolute sight of Julie's bedroom eyes gazing upon him in such an assertive and dominating manner.

"What do you think Ben?" The sultry whisper from her sent all of his neurons ablaze. He seized the chance to lean his head against her forehead, if he was a tad bolder and wasn't freaking out, he would have kissed her again and again. Unfortunately, her father was waiting for them and the fun is over, well at least for tonight.

The couple of friends managed to make themselves look proper before exiting their private room. Ben paid for the bill and occasionally glanced back at Julie who sheepishly rubbed her other arm. Before they could exit the premise, she linked Ben's arm and insisted they walk off outside like this, to which Ben responded by caressing her hand.

The sight of Julie linking his arm with Ben confirmed all of Mr Yamamoto's suspicions. He merely let out a smile and watched the pair walking towards his car, no wonder they lost track of time.

"Sorry for being late dad." He nodded at his daughter's words and glanced at the rear view mirror with Ben properly seated. The ride back home was quiet and perhaps tense, the two friends exchanged looks through reflection of their car but it was an otherwise smooth ride. It wasn't long before they reached the Yamamoto place, with Ben escorting Julie to the front door to say their goodbyes out of earshot from her father.

The deskmates were tongue tied, what do they say after they make out with one another like that? Neither of them were expecting anything further than a kiss on the cheek or a simple peck to the lips. Julie placed her hands on his shoulder, squeezing it tightly with her eyes staring softly into Ben's.

"I had a wonderful night." The simple yet sweet statement from her drew a smile from Ben. Things didn't need to be complicated, they enjoyed their time together and never regretted it.

"Me too." It was a memorable night that's for sure, Ben is going to have trouble sleeping now, god is he going to have trouble sleeping.

"See you on Monday." She took a moment and leaned forward to kiss his cheek, though nothing as raunchy and raw as their kiss in the restaurant, was still heartfelt and sensual enough to make Ben flustered. She chuckled at his response and entered her house, waving goodbye to him in the process.

"B-Bye."

"Ehem." The voice of Julie's father behind him made Ben jump up, he had forgotten her father was watching them. He gulped and sat in the front seat, embracing for a potential grueling session with the man on the way back to home. The Honda sedan carried the two to the Tennyson residence, the lack of traffic meant it was a smooth and quiet drive. So thick and unnerving was the tension that Ben found himself staring out of the window, watching the buildings and shop passing by in a blur.

"Do you like Julie?" The direct statement from the Japanese father sent a clear enough message to Ben. He turned towards him and gave a serious response to show his sincerity in dating Julie.

"Yes." The response from him was long and Ben wondered if he ever earned his approval in the first place. Yet the rare smile from Mr Yamamot quickly had him at ease.

"Good, you will be her first boyfriend. Even if things don't work out between you two, I hope you can still remain as friends." It was a no brainer on Ben's part, but he understood his sentiments perfectly. If they do break up or feel like they aren't compatible with one another, they can break the relationship off on good and friendly terms.

"Of course." The subsequent nods of gratitude from him gave Ben much relief and comfort. The vehicle soon arrived at the Tennyson household, Ben unbuckled his seatbelt to exit the car.

"Good night Mr Yamamoto, thank you for driving me home." The older gentleman loosened into a smile, he could practically smell the scent of his daughter's perfume on the young man. The crinkled clothes and messy hair meant the two were handsy with one another, but he was wise enough to not mention it.

"You're welcome. You should drop by for dinner sometime." Ben's eyes lit up and he nodded excitedly. He gave a short bow and bid farewell to Julie's father as the car sped off, leaving Ben in front of his house with nothing but his thoughts.

"I'm tired." Mentally, physically and definitely emotionally, the date went swimmingly. It started normal, like two friends hanging out until the chocolate came into action and Julie showed her appreciation to him by giving him chocolate, perhaps Ben's best purchase ever.

'I can't believe I kissed her.' He touched his lips and felt his spinning head finally cleared from the addle and mush. The succulent lips, the passionate moans, they way they kept touching and hugging one another, god it was so messy and hot. Ben buried his face in his hands, realizing that after a few days of post-kiss clarity, they would meet on Monday again. W-What do they say to each other? What do they do? Pretend that kiss didn't happen and carry on as usual?

'I guess we didn't make it clear what kind of relationship we want, let's see how it goes.' Go with the flow and see where it goes, that works fine for Ben Tennyson. So as long as their relationship is not strained or awkward and they can still share a laugh with each other, this arrangement works fine for him.

The brunette noted that the house's lights were still on, which is odd as his parents would be asleep by now. He mentally braced for his parents prowling at the door, no doubt his mother is anxiously pacing back and forth, wondering if the date went well or not. With a twist of key, Ben unlocked the door and quickly made the dash to his room when his mother ambushed him from the living room.

"Oh no you don't mister, you have to tell us everything!" Trapped and cornered, Ben sighed when his mother held his shoulders and pulled him to the living room couch. His father looked unamused as always and sighed at the antics from the blonde. His wife had insisted they sit in the living room to wait for Ben, it was for his safety she said, all a bunch of lies.

"Sandra please." Sandra pouted and sat down next to Ben, she held his shoulders and excitedly poked his chest. Her son just went on a date with Julie! How could she not be excited and thrilled?

"What? Aren't you even a little curious about what happened? It's Ben's first date!" Carl stared at the tired wooden plank that is his son, the absolute dead expression on his face made the father sighed. Ben just survived Mr Yamamoto's session and now he must survive his mother's too.

"He can tell us all about it during breakfast, let him rest. It's already 11 PM and we have to see my brother tomorrow." Thankful for his father's divine intervention, Ben kissed his mother good night as she crossed her arms. She would wring the information out of him in the morning, no way the pair didn't do anything frisky with the scent of Julie practically all over her.

Finally retreated back to the sanctity that is his mancave, Ben walked into the bathroom to shower and attend to his oral hygiene. The cold waters worked wonders to soothe his muscles, though the occasion visit to the kiss he had with Julie did meant he had to stay in the shower longer. Once dried, clothed and thoroughly prepared to sleep for a thousand summers, Ben flopped down onto his bed like a fish and let out a long tired sigh.

Until his phone started to ring.

"Oh man, who is it?" Groaning and grunting, Ben reached for his phone and sighed when he saw Gwen's name on the caller ID, great now Gwen wants to grill him for information too.

"Dweeb?" The tired and done tone was a stark contrast to Gwen's high energy voice.

"You went out with Julie?" He readjusted his legs underneath the blanket and turned on the air condition with his remote. Undoubtedly, Julie must have told her about the dinner date, hopefully she didn't mention the kiss because Gwen would tease him about it like no tomorrow.

"Let me guess, she told you."

"Of course! I heard her side of the story, now I want to hear yours too." Sighing what it seems like the thousandth time, Ben leaned against his fluffed up pillow and spoke in a livid voice. He just wants to sleep and he still has to wake up early tomorrow because he is going to Gwen's place, so why can't it wait until then?

"Can't this wait Gwen? I'm going to your place tomorrow." The redhead wasn't having any of it, she wanted to know now.

"Nuh uh, I'm not letting you off the hook this easily." Man, she can be so insufferable sometimes.

"What do you want to know Gwen?" The soft cheer from her was adorable though, Ben heard the sound of fabric moving, presumably she is also getting snuggly under her covers too.

"Did you ask her out?" What kind of question is that? Didn't she call him because she knew?

"What do you think I just did for the past 4 hours?" The cranky and annoyed voice of Ben Tennyson was met with a stern reply from his cousin.

"Formally Ben."

"No, we just hung out and had dinner." She suspected that much but now the juicy questions were up for grabs and she wanted to know if her cousin went in for the kill.

"Did you two kiss?" The vivid imagery of him making out with Julie with his Jacket being stripped by her was going to be stuck in his head now isn't it?

"Umm, yeah." Immediately, Ben regretted the decision to tell her as Gwen went overdrive with her questions.

"Really!? How was it! Who made the first move? How long did that kiss last? Did you kiss her on the lips or the cheek? Who said I love you first? What-"

"Slow down Gwen. I-I was the one who kissed her and yes it's on the lips." She was surprised that Ben had the ball to do it, she really underestimated her cousin sometimes.

"Never thought you have it in you, good job Ben! I assumed it wasn't a short kiss?" The haughty tone from her made him blushed, how did she know they were having a tongue o war battle and his hands were touching her bare skin as much as possible?

"Why did you say that?" Gwen knew him long enough to know that whenever he put in effort into something he likes, he really goes all the way.

"Well you're type to commit to something you like." Ben stared at the ceiling, that's really one way to describe him. He scratched his cheek and spoke sheepishly, maybe telling Gwen everything won't be a bad idea since he is at a loss at what to do.

"Yeah it was quite long." The mellow and shy tone from him made Gwen's heart squeal, her cousin finally got his first kiss and he liked it!

"Did it felt nice?" Speaking out of personal curiosity herself, she hugged her legs one arm and eagerly waited for his reply.

"It did, it's very- intense." Gwen was almost frothing at that point, she could already envision the two passionate making out with one another with Ben taking the lead. It left Gwen in a blushing mood just to think about how assertive Ben and Julie can be sometimes. Even before this, the two had this unresolved sexual tension with one another whenever they hangout.

"Ooh, Oooh! French kiss?" Ben slumped down to his pillows and stared at the picture frame of him and Julie together when they were 11.

"Kinda? I honestly wasn't thinking straight when I kissed her and just blanked out when she kissed me back." The sorceress shifted left and right on her bed, her two best friends are finally dating one another, or are they?

"So you two are steady now?" Ben didn't know the answer to that either, they didn't really talk about their relationship and just ended there. Maybe if they kissed longer though it might be different.

"We didn't talk about that, we just kissed and the date ended." Hearing how bummed out he is, Gwen offered her support by encouraging him that he is on the right path.

"You're getting there and Julie totally feels the same way by the way, she wouldn't have returned the kiss otherwise. This is very good news Ben, keep it up okay?" Like a trainer coach motivating him to do better, Ben beamed at the unwavering support from his cousin and nodded.

"Yes ma'am." Gwen glanced at her digital clock and noted that it was already midnight, she would ask Ben the details tomorrow.

"Okay, okay I will let you sleep. Good night Ben, see you tomorrow." Ben yawned and said his goodbye in his drowsy state. He placed his phone on the nightstand and turned off the light in his room. Sleep came naturally to Ben Tennyson and within his slumbering state he found himself muttering Julie's name throughout the night.