After taking a really long and relaxing bath with Gwen, one of the few times I let myself relax nowadays, we get dressed and head to the museum. Gwen was really happy, jumping and squeezing my hand (As well as she could with all the nerve damage done to her arm), she keeps calling this a date for some reason, should I block the dorama channel she watches every day?

Seeing her happily bounce everywhere, from dinosaur to dinosaur, was really cute… Even if she did unintentionally drag me along since she was still grabbing my hand. Then she stopped.

- It's happening again, huh? – I mutter to myself, sometimes she gets this far away look, like the old Gwen is still there… Somewhere – Come on dweeb, give a sign or something.

Suddenly she jumps and gasps, pointing at the T-Rex and confidently exclaiming "I think Gwen Arms could take down this one!", I can't help but chuckle at this, could she? Probably, but I'd rather not put it to the test.

Today's been a full day, we've spent all day here, ate a lot of junk food basically goofed off all day, yeah, I could have spent all day researching about the watch, or driving to the next Plumber base. But I can see Gwen's mood getting worse and worse, I can see how sad she gets when I don't pay attention to her and spend all day working. So yeah, spending a day off like this, having fun all day and laying exhausted on a bench next to the person you love? I wouldn't mind a day or 2 like this once in a while. I guess even we can have a normal day once in a while, huh?

BOOM!

… Then again, I've been wrong before, haven't I?

I watch as the museum wall crumble and fall, some old man with some weird costume walks out with a… Is that a fucking T-REX behind him?! Calm down Ben… His gear, I say something like this in the Plumber files and the watch's OS, a human made version of a Galvan species revival machine? It's clearly incomplete, but to be able to make something like this, especially with human technology? That old man is trouble. He's screaming something about "Getting the recognition he deserves", honestly, with work like that, I kind of agree.

I turn to Gwen and my eyes widen, her look is murderous, her eyes and the watch glow a toxic bright green. It sends a shiver down my spine.

- How dare this jerk ruin our date?! – She growls out raising the Corruptrix, showing the silhouette of Gwen Arms. She plans on fighting that?! No, she's not planning, that's the problem!

- Stop right there, little miss! – I grab her by the back of her sweater, making her stop with a confused and cute 'wah-?!'

- Why did you do that?! Meanie! So mean! – She looks back at me pouting, as if I'm the bad guy for stopping her from throwing herself at a fucking dinosaur…

- This has nothing to do with us, let's get out of here and go home – I say calmly, trying to get her to calm down as well.

- B-But… He's hurting people, I can help them! – "Like no one helped us" I complete in my head, even if she didn't say it, I heard it. I'm sorry Gwen, but you're my only priority, no time to be playing hero.

- They'll be fine, the police will stop him, we're just kids – The lie leaving a bitter taste in my mouth, no way the police will be able to do that, but that's not my problem – Come on, I saw that fast food place you love on the way here

- Really? Yay! – She says happily, her childish personality taking over as I guide her to the Rust Bucket. I can hear people crying and screaming for help, bodies under rubble, twitching or completely still… I made the right choice.

Later that night, after we had dinner and showered, I go to bed with Gwen, she cuddles me from behind as I lay there thinking about today. I got so used to lying to Gwen to keep her safe, I know I'm wrong, that those people deserved to be saved, that they probably had family waiting for them at home. But my priority is Gwen, I'm all she has, and I'll do anything if it means keeping her safe.

Thankfully Gwen doesn't watch the news anymore, hell, I wouldn't be caught dead doing that before this whole mess, y'know? 13 dead, 27 injured at the museum before the police let that fucker get away. I know they're lying about the numbers, I counted the bodies… I made the right choice, I know Gwen could win, but not without getting hurt, and that's not counting the damage that just transforming causes.

I feel her squeeze me gently as I watch the Corruptrix's toxic green glow. The Plumber base here was a bust, so we're going to the next one, might stop on the lake on the way, Gwen said she wanted to swim or something like that and I just couldn't say no… I'm not weak, you are.

Hearing the soft 'nom nom's behind me I let out a sigh and a soft chuckle, if only she stopped eating my hair in her sleep…