"In the latest news, parts of America have been experiencing unprecedented drops of temperature and sudden snowfall as of recent weeks. The meteorological department had yet to ascertain the reason behind the rapid change of weather and advise all residents to stay alert for sudden drops of temperature." The weather reporter spoke with urgency in her voice, synoptic weather charts in the background showed a large drop in temperatures in southern states, with Bellwood particularly affected by snowfall. Sandra sighed at the news and rubbed her temples, all of her flowers and crops in the garden would wilted under the sudden hail and frost. The past few weeks had erratic weather disrupting roads, with monsoons and snows rolling in from the northern hemisphere and descending down the south.
The sound of footfalls descending the stairs caught her attention and she smiled when her son greeted her with his training bag slung across his shoulders. Despite the colder climate they found themselves in, Ben was still dedicated to his hobby and sacred arts. His commitment is commendable if not absurd.
"Are you off to George's?" Ben gave a thumbs up, though the weather wasn't ideal, he still maintains that every class and session should not be canceled unless necessary. Besides, dueling with a grandmaster in the midst of a snowy field is such a cool setting.
"Yeah. Do you want me to buy any groceries on the way back? We should stock up right?" Sandra waved his concerns off, Carl was already ahead of them hours ago. The dutiful father had expressed deep concern about the change of weather for the past few weeks and preemptively went to the hardware store to buy a snow shovel and a portable heater. They already have padded winter clothing on the and weatherstrips at the ready.
"No need! Your father is already running the errands. Cycle carefully and slowly okay? Weather has been all over the place lately. Be back before 6, we're having the birthday celebration here." Ah yes the birthday. Today marks the 14th birthday of the Tennyson cousins, though it never snows in Bellwood due to its geographic location and close proximity to warm oceans, this year marks their first ever winter celebration. His cousin and him had always thought sharing birthdays together was lame, but they did appreciate the special and unique bond they shared that was akin to twins rather than cousins as they grew older.
"Will do mom." Donning a pair of gloves, Ben exited the door and inhaled the crisp cool air of the chilly weather. There wasn't any snow on their front porch unlike reported in the media, but the temperature is certainly frigid. He cycled his way to Bellwood Senior Village, passing by kids jumping in joy in anticipation for a snowy December while restaurants serving hot stew and soup were filled to the brim with customers seeking for a hearty dish. The thin layer of ice on the roads made Ben reduce his speed drastically and he slowly cycled forward until he reached the retirement home for seniors. After greeting the nurses dressed in fluffy coats and stylish scarfs, Ben entered the warm insulated building and exited to the frigid courtyard with snow piling near the windows.
"George?" The courtyard of the village was devoid of people, Ben pushed the sliding door of the building aside and entered the sparring grounds. He looked around and dropped his duffel bag down, with the pommel of his training blade sticking out of the sides. He narrowed his eyes over the eerie silence and found it strange that George was nowhere to be found. He narrowed his eyes when tracks footprints were visible, leading from where George would normally sit.
The sound of a high velocity object coming straight at him was parried at the last second by his wooden sword, Ben swiftly binded the blade and smacked the assailant's weapon to the side to create a distance between them. Snow from the heavens continued to fall with Ben assuming an ox guard stance, eyeing his opponent who was impressed by his quick reflexes.
"Not bad." The grizzled voice of a veteran swordmaster made Ben drop his guard and perched one hand on his hip, this was totally uncalled for!
"You gotta stop ambushing me like that! What if you actually knock me out and the nurses happen to stumble upon my lifeless body?" George scoffed and brushed his concerns off, what he is hearing now is excuses from this protege.
"Nonsense, you are well versed in my tactics enough to anticipate my move, and I would never leave a body out in the open." Ben wasn't sure what's more concerning, the fact George would do this again or the fact he had hidden a body before. Knowing his master's feat, he won't put it above him to have experience in that.
"Maybe next time I should let you hit me just to see Joy's reaction." Despite the nurse's mellow and sweet nature, she can be absolutely terrifying when it comes to maintaining orders and the rule of law in the retirement home. No one dares to oppose or infuriate her, lest you want to taste her wrath and the ferocious anger laced behind her sweet smile. George chuckled and walked towards the nearby chairs and tables, with a peculiar object that seemed to be tucked away from sight.
"You've really grown, Ben." The uncharacteristic reflective tone from George drew a look from his student. He personally didn't think he grew much but every adult around him seemed to think otherwise.
"Getting sentimental on me huh." The seasoned knight nodded, placing the tip of the blade onto the grassy field covered with a thin layer of ice and melted snow.
"At my age, it's easy to get sentimental about anything." The poignant sentence was a constant reminder to Ben that life would eventually stop giving you things and start to take them away from you. A reality that he honestly hasn't learned to accept yet. He clapped his hands to dispel the dour mood and placed the flat side of the blade against his shoulder.
"So what will it be today? Liechtenauers? Kendo? Baritsu-" His rambling was cut short when George pulled out a medieval longsword with brown leather scabbard from the chair. The elegant sword was presented to Ben in two hands with a solemn expression plastered on George's wrinkled features.
"This sword has been with me for a very long time, it has served me well throughout the many years of service." The raw emotional voice was thick and low, he merely handed the sword forward to Ben and ushered him to accept it. The young student was in total disbelief, this gift came out of nowhere, it was such a beautiful and elegant blade that Ben didn't feel worthy to accept it from an esteemed swordsman like George himself.
"You're giving it to me?" His hands trembled as it reached the sheath, holding it tightly his hands. Ben felt invigorated, inspired even by the weight of the blade in his hands. His master simply smiled and spoke matter of factly.
"Today is your 14th birthday, I figured I will give you something memorable." Ben broke down into a childlike grin, he took the blade and began to inspect it. He unsheathed the sword and marveled at the excellent craftsmanship. Despite its age and years of service, the steel sword was still sharp and rigid. He briefly sheathed back the blade and stared at George, a sword for his birthday? Now, that's the coolest gift he ever received.
"How did you know it was my birthday today?" George crossed his arms and spoke plainly.
"I asked Max." Ben chuckled at the blunt reply and admired his sword again, perfectly well-balanced weight, not too top heavy and excellent cutting profile taper. He still can't believe that George is giving this to him, with no conditions or strings attached?
"There's no test? No duels or defeating you in combat to prove myself worthy?" The veteran shook his head and placed his hands behind his back, it seemed Ben missed the entire point of why he took him under his wing.
"Our sparring session was never to prove if you can defeat me, it's to show your growth and how far you have come. Beating me was never the point, making you learn is. As for whether you are worthy or not, time will tell." The validation and praise surged Ben's heart and spirits. He felt absolutely speechless, what can he say or do to show his appreciation for him? George has been a great and patient teacher, he never had to entertain a child like him or teach him the art of fighting yet he did. Every mistake he made was a room for improvement, and George had taught him much when it comes to personal growth.
"Thank you George, you spent all this time teaching me how to fight, and now you're giving me something precious. I never thought-" The old man cackled at how much his student was choking up, the boy is both a warrior and a poet, a fine trait every man should have. As an old soul who had seen many empires rise and fall, he was well aware that power and greed can corrupt a soul. Power should never be used for chauvinism, it should be used for chivalry.
"Hah, who's the sentimental one now?" Ignoring his red eyes, Ben rubbed the tears in his eyes away with his sleeves and held his scabbard tight with one hand.
"I taught you everything I know Ben, at least when it comes to armed combat. Life advice and how to look as good as I am at my age, well that is a discussion for another day." Ben found the string of words from George peculiar, the way he phrased it made it seemed like this would be the last time they would train together.
"But I still can't beat you." George didn't doubt his pupil's ability to exceed expectations, especially his. Ben's instinct for combat and martial prowess is fascinating, given enough dedication and training, he would rival even the most esteemed of paladins.
"In a couple of years you might, keep on practicing." Ben grinned and cheers to that, beating George in a sword duel has always been his biggest motivator to train himself to be better. It was a mountain to overcome, one which pushed to climb higher and higher everyday just to reach the summit.
"Thank you George, you're a good teacher." The snow continued to fall, decorating the streets and fields in the shade of white. The silver haired gentleman stared at the cloudy skies above. Winter had arrived in Bellwood, filled with frost and rime. These are unusual times.
"I have unfinished business that requires my attention, I will be leaving Bellwood soon." Ben nearly had a whiplash at George's serious and blunt statement that was a juxtaposition to his jovial mood earlier. He seemed awfully concerned and pensive, which is rare for the stoic and calm warrior.
"So sudden?" George pulled a foreign coin from his pocket, flipping it up in the air before catching it with his palm. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist, indeed it is sudden for this to happen.
"Unfortunately so. Take heart Ben, I will return once I conclude my business." The lack of information and details meant George wanted him to stay out of this, but that didn't mean Ben wasn't keen on lending his aid.
"When would you be leaving?"
"Tomorrow, I figured this might be our last session together, my return is not guaranteed." Ben refused to believe that this would be their last seeing each other, was the sword a farewell gift as well? There were so many questions he wanted to ask yet he set them aside. He tightened his grip on the sword and placed his other hand on his chest, offering his assistance immediately.
"This sounds serious, do you need my help?" George wielded a wry smile. Ben doesn't have the slightest idea what he is up against.
"No, I won't involve you in my own affairs. I can handle this on my own. Just remember what I taught you and don't fail my teachings. That way, you honour my legacy." With no room for concession or debate, Ben respected George's decision and lowered his head. Whatever he is up against, it cannot be anything of the norm. He doubt this was financial or family related, this has to be something far more worse that he personally must see to it himself.
"I understand." The pair stood in the fields when the abundance of snowfall began to increase with intensity. It seemed the snowstorm had started to make its way to Bellwood. Ben extended his hand out and caught the falling snowflakes, the bone piercing chill just made his body tingle.
"It's snowing heavily." The childlike innocence in his voice was amplified when he turned his palm and let the powdery snow to slip off. George narrowed his eyes and stared up at the sky again, he spent decades living in Bellwood and snow had ever fallen on the warm soil before. This was extraordinary… alien even.
"So it begins." The gruff whisper made Ben look at him, what's with the ominous messages here? The old man turned to his disciple and allayed his concern by placing a hand on his shoulder, reminding him that today was his special day.
"You should head home to see your folks before the blizzard engulfs the roads. Don't want the birthday boy to be late to his own party now do we?" Ben placed a hand on George's arm and ushered him to join him. If this was indeed the last time they would see each other, the least he can do is invite him to Gwen and his birthday.
"George, you're more than welcome to join. Come with me and let's-" The hand from George stopped his sentence midway, the calm and stoic expression meant his mind was set and he had no intention of changing it.
"I appreciate the gesture Ben, but you should head home now before the snow piles up. Please." George's stoic expression soon broke into a smile when Ben rushed forward to give him a hug, he chuckled and reciprocated the embrace, knowing his student was having a hard time digesting that he would leave him.
"Take care George." The heartfelt goodbye made George nod, he never sire children before and now, he can see why many of his companions left a life of chivalry for family. Ben was as close to family as he could get, and he does not use the term lightly.
"You too lad." The two parted ways with Ben acknowledging that this might be the last time the two see each other again. Whatever business George has may not have a simple solution, nor would it be solved amicably. Barely anyone words were spoken when George gave a squeeze to his shoulders before walking off into the main activity hall of the retirement center.
The urgency behind George's decision to leave made Ben question if his master is really up to the task. But with the piles of snow gradually thickening by the moment and the skies quickly darkening due to the spell of winter, he conceded that he should head home as soon as possible. The bone chilling cold pierced through his thin jacket and he had to stop a handful of times given how slippery the roads were and how unequipped his bike tyres were.
'Maybe I should head to Gwen's place.' With his cousin's house being nearer, he decided that seeking refuge at her place with warm cocoa and comfy blankets seemed like the next best thing. He cycled forward and soon reached her house, the frost tinted windows and snow piling on top of their roofs was a sight for sore eyes. He quickly unlocked the door and entered the house, slamming the door shut behind him to prevent the cold air from seeping in.
"Hey Gwen." The sight of his cousin wearing a sweater and a stylish red scarf wrapped around her neck really brought out the festive vibes. Their christmas tree was still in the living room given that a few days ago was Christmas and they celebrated over at his place.
"Ben! You okay? It's freezing outside." He smiled at her concern and welcomed the warm hug from her. He honestly couldn't believe how frigid it is outside, Bellwood never experienced anything like this before.
"Is Auntie Natalie and Uncle Frank out?" She nodded and sat down on the living room couch with her study materials scattered across the table.
"Mhmm, some last minute grocery shopping, they would head straight to your place to drop the groceries before picking me up." Their birthday was a special occasion given that they shared it, both Tennyson families arguably had become closer because of the cousins. Gwen peeked behind and found her eyes glued to the scabbard Ben had tucked at his bag. She gasped and inspected closer, eagerly unzipping his it to take out the sword.
"Is this a sword?" Ben chuckled at her sparkling eyes and placed his duffel bag near the door frame. His cousin looked absolutely enamored by his newly acquired sword, the thick yet rigid blade was of high quality steel with archaic engravings ornate on the blade.
"Yeah, George gave it to me, as a birthday gift." She grinned and carefully handed the blade back to Ben. A sword for a birthday gift is every boy's dream no? Her cousin did take after the typical swordsman etiquette, loyal-bound and a deep respect for others. But his skills with the blade had always been elusive to her, she had never seen him in action before.
"That's so cool." Ben merely smiled and took the scabbard with his hands.
"Yeah." Gwen blinked at the downtrodden demeanor from him, what's with the low spirits here? He just received what arguably is the best gift in his life, well right after the Omnitrix that is.
"You okay? You don't look happy that you got a sword for your birthday." He shrugged and tightened his grip on the blade, knowing that his mentor's return to Bellwood was not certain and the blade was just given to him as a memorabilia.
"George is leaving Bellwood for unfinished business, and I don't know when he will be back." She knew how much George meant to Ben, he respected him very much and often spoke about his strength and mysterious past. The redhead placed a hand on his shoulder and pointed to the backyard with her thumb.
"Why don't you show me what you learned? I always wanted to see you flourish your sword." His features returned to a smile, Gwen always knew how to cheer him up. The pair of cousins entered the backdoor and were greeted by the strong gust of wind, they giggled their way back and Ben began to pull out Winterfang from his scabbard- and yes, that's the name of the sword he just made up because it was given to him during snowy winter.
In an effort to show off what he learned to his cousin, he flourished the sword with his hand, despite its cumbersome weight fit for a two-handed wielding, Ben managed to spin it around and did some basic stances to Gwen. The fundamentals such as footwork, guards and explaining in detail why certain techniques work well and different stances work for different situations made Gwen smile, he really is into this.
"You really love this don't you?" Hearing him nerd out like it was Sumo Slammers was just adorable. Ben calmed himself from the needless rambling and rested the blade on his shoulders. Though a European longsword is cool, Ben is just waiting to get his hands on a real life katana and flourishing it under the light of a full moon with sakura petals showering him.
"It's cool." The straightforward reply made her chuckle. She glanced around to see if any nosy neighbors were about before standing upright with her eyes glowing in a familiar pink glow.
"Gwen?" Intrigued by his cousin's usage of magic, Ben really felt like he was playing an RPG game with knights and wizards of the yore. The sorceress's hands were imbued with mana and she took a combative stance, signaling that she wanted to spar with him.
"It will be fun, come on." Ben raised his eyebrows, perhaps they have been out of action for far too long that she is getting bored. It won't hurt to spar with one another, Gwen is already his teacher when it comes to Karate and Judo.
"I'm more worried about the sword." The fragility of a sword must be reinforced here, they aren't made with mystical steel that can be lodged through concrete and stones like it's nothing. They bend, they break and are brittle. But magic seemed to solve all real life problems and physics when Gwen enhanced his blade with his white glow, she muttered a few mantras and immediately it was engulfed in a soft white aura that strengthened its durability.
"There." She said that as if it was nothing, kudos to his favourite cousin for being awesome.
"Whoa you can do that?" Gwen proudly places her hand on her hips, she is far more capable than anyone can give her credit for.
"I can do a lot of things." Well he would never doubt his overachiever of a cousin. The two locked eyes with Ben using an on guard position to slowly get in close, given he is up against a ranged opponent that can also shield herself, he would need to catch her off guard instead of relentless strikes that would leave him open.
Gwen maintained a stoic expression, her eyes glowing softly before she conjured a beam of concentrated mana towards her cousin. The subsequent barrage of projectiles was parried and reflected by Ben, which was odd given it should have exploded on him on impact. Speaking of exploding on impact…
"Oops." The nearby flower pot innocently standing there was smashed into a million pieces by the stray projectile that Ben deflected. Gwen and Ben stopped what they were doing and looked amongst each other for a brief moment, before continuing to duel each other with Gwen's eyes glowing again. Ben charged forward and slashed the grasping energy claw from his cousin with an uppercut before he instantly side-stepped and used the momentum of his motions to do a downward strike. She managed to catch the blade with her shield but one misstep from her footing caused her to step on the slippery sleet of the pavement, she gasped and felt herself falling backwards when a pair of arms managed to catch her before the fall.
"Careful." Suave as always, Ben held her in his arms and used his knees to support both of their weight. She briefly levitated herself upright and planted both feet on the ground. To think she lost because she stepped on some slippery ice, anticlimactic and lame. It made Gwen wonder how many historical battles were won because their opponent tripped over a rock?
"Thanks Ben, you're really quick." The swordsman sheathed his blade and glanced at the flower pot they destroyed which was magically reassembled together by Gwen with telekinesis. Man magic is super unfair, what else can she do?
The pair of cousins retreated back into their abode to avoid the increasingly low temperatures of the cold outside and plopped down onto the sofa. Unfortunately, they do not have any heaters in their house given that winter isn't really a thing in Bellwood so they had to resort to body warmth.
"So, any plans for your 14th birthday?" The cousins sat shoulder to shoulder, with Gwen leaning onto Ben's sides with a couch pillow in her arms. The TV that was barely used due to modern day streaming services was finally turned on for updates on the weather, and for the first time it didn't involve live football matches, olympics or national elections.
"I could ask you the same question." Ben shrugged and leaned his head onto the sofa. He already had the best birthday gift anyone can ask for, the celebration party they have can be simple and nice, just like always.
"Nothing grand, let's just celebrate it like we always do at my place." As they grew older, birthday parties became less exciting or glamorous. In fact, they started to treat it like another day with extra sprinkles. Still, the occasions where they blew out birthday candles and their family sang happy birthday songs together still tugged their heartstrings.
"Small but cozy, I like that." The drowsy murmurs from her are signs of great comfort. Ben ignored his cousin leaning her entire weight on him and tapped his fingers on his phone. Yet as daylight dwindled and the white noise of the TV played in the background, the cold piercing winds of winter managed to seep into their poorly insulated homes. Ben looked outside the sliding glass door and was amazed by how much snow was beginning to pile up, in fact it looked like a blizzard had just engulfed the entire neighborhood. Visibility was at an all time low with a potential whiteout waiting to happen.
"Man, where did all this snow come from?" Gwen sighed and scrolled her phone for any live updates of the rapidly developing situation.
"The effects of climate change seem to get worse and worse, it won't be long before we get seasonal floods too." The male cousin turned off the phone and pushed Gwen's shoulder slightly so she could sit upright. He let out a stretch and rubbed his hands together, he could practically see his frosty breath with every exhale.
"How about some hot chocolate to lift our spirits?" The simple solution to their winter woes, Gwen wholeheartedly agreed to the idea and followed Ben to the kitchen when the sound of high pitch static from the TV caught their attention.
"We're interrupting this program with a breaking weather alert. A sudden and severe winter storm is rapidly intensifying across the midwest, bringing with it blizzard conditions and heavy snowfall." Two reporters appeared on screen with grave and serious expressions plastered on their tired faces.
"This is a developing situation, and the weather is deteriorating rapidly. We're receiving reports of whiteout conditions and near-zero visibility in several areas. Due to the extreme nature of this storm, authorities have issued a nationwide travel ban for all non-essential travel." Gwen held her pillow tighter, frowning at the fact her parents had not called her yet. They are supposed to reach Ben's place to drop off groceries and pick them up but now with a travel ban enforced, it seems unlikely for the cousins to celebrate their birthday with family.
"That's right. Roads are becoming impassable due to heavy snow accumulation and blizzard conditions. If you are caught in the storm, please seek shelter immediately. Do not attempt to travel unless absolutely necessary."
"We're monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available. We urge everyone in the affected areas to stay indoors, stay warm, and check on your neighbors." The broadcast soon ended with the regular programme returning to the TV. Gwen pulled out her phone and dialed her mother's number, she needed to be sure they were okay first. She rapidly tapped her fingers against her lap, waiting in anticipation for her to pick up the phone. Her eyes lit up when her mother managed to pick up the call.
"Mom? Are you all okay? Yeah, we saw the news. Mhmm, you're at Uncle Carl and Auntie Sandra's house? Ben is here, don't worry. Sure I will pass the phone to him." The only child picked up the phone from his cousin and sat down next to her.
"Hey Auntie Natalie. Mhmm, sure I don't mind staying over. We will be fine, don't worry! Please look after my parents for me. Alright, good bye." Gwen leaned forward and stared at her cousin, he let out a sigh and passed the phone back to her. Under these conditions, their parents had agreed to stay overnight at Ben's place as road hazards and poor visibility just made it impossible to drive.
"Looks like I'm staying overnight, so much for our birthday party huh." Who knew a freak snowstorm would derail their plans, just their luck. The weather was still chilly during Christmas but now it seemed like a biblical snowstorm was sent by the heavens themselves. Still, they were lucky to be in the safety of their warm houses rather than being stranded outdoors or in the woods.
"It can't be helped, roads are blocked and a statewide emergency has been declared, let me get some blankets." While his cousin went upstairs to her room to get the much needed warm blankets for them, Ben's stomach growled, begging for sustenance and energy to keep his body warm. He went to the fridge to forage for any pre-made food or frozen lasagna, unfortunately everything in the fridge is all healthy organic vegetables that require cooking and cleaning.
"Gwen! Do we have anything to eat? I think takeout is out of the picture." He shouted upstairs to his cousin and patiently waited for a reply, she responded by walking down with neatly folded blankets in her arms.
"How does smoked duck pasta with bell peppers sound? You can prepare the hot chocolate." His stomach agreed with that answer and growled in agreement. Ben scooched to one side and brought out the cocoa powder, milk, sugar and marshmallows from the top cabinet. He turned on the electric stove and placed the saucepan when his eyes darted towards Gwen tying her hair up into a ponytail with her hair band placed between her lips. Their eyes for a moment and Gwen raised her eyebrows at the goofy smile from her cousin.
"What?" The HEMA practitioner leaned against the counter and crossed his arms, something about Gwen wearing an apron while they cooked together in the kitchen invoked a heartwarming feeling. It was like they were roommates or something.
"I don't know, it's kinda nice like this." She thoroughly washed the bell peppers and brought out the cutting board from the rack, skillfully cutting them into slices and removing the stem with her knife.
"Being stuck in the biggest blizzard Bellwood has ever seen when we're supposed to celebrate our birthdays with family?" The sarcasm made Ben chuckle, at least this would be a birthday they would never forget. He whisked the hot milk and added in the dry ingredients, blending the two together over the saucepan as the aromatic scent of chocolate filled his nostrils.
"It's kinda cool don't you think? It will be a unique and memorable birthday." Gwen didn't doubt that, it's nice to be warm inside their house while it's freezing out, but given the severity of the snowstorm and how underprepared Bellwood is, a power outage is all but certain.
"Until the power goes out." Curt as always, Ben added dark chocolate into the mix for added aroma and continued to whisk until they melted fully. The smell of olive oil being sizzled on the pan and pot boiling with pasta was a stark contrast with the snow covered trees and grass outside the kitchen window.
"Okay maybe it might be too cool." With the hot chocolate finally prepared, Ben poured them into the respective mugs and sprinkled marshmallows on top of them. He giddily placed it on the tray and peered over Gwen's shoulders in hopes she would finish cooking, unfortunately all Ben received was a shoo from her and a poke to his sides. The cousins' antics were brought to a halt when Ben's phone rang, and the caller was from Julie no less.
"Hello Julie? Yeah I'm okay? Me? I'm at Gwen's place, kinda stuck right now. Mhmm, given the circumstances it's hard to celebrate our birthdays since both our parents are stuck at my place. So it's just me and Gwen now. Are you warm and safe?" Gwen listened to the conversation, occasionally her eyes would dart between the sauted ducks mixed with garlic and her cousin. She too was concerned about Julie and whether she's safe in the frigid winter.
"Kotatsu? Oh it's one of those heated blankets right? I would like to try it with you one day. I-I mean just try it! With you there! By my side and not together! Haha, yeah. Stay safe okay? Bye!" The blunder from Ben made Gwen roll her eyes, he is still a dork despite exchanging a kiss with the raven haired teenager. From what she gathered, the two decided not to keep their relationship steady, at least not officially. Their special relationship was just cute to watch and infuriating to root for sometimes, just get together already, make it happen people!
"How are you two still not a thing together? It's been months now." The genuine frustrated voice from his cousin made Ben shake his hands sheepishly. Gwen can be quite direct and blunt when it comes to her feelings, which made Ben question why someone of her excessive qualities and character had not found someone yet. She has it all, brains, beauty and benevolence, maybe she's a little shy when it comes to making first moves too.
"We are still working things out, I think we are comfortable with the relationship we have right now, it's kinda like a dance you know? The flow must be natural and comfortable." The unimpressed look from his cousin made Ben sighed and slumped his shoulders, look he is trying his best here okay? Julie and him still hangout and occasionally flirt with one another, hell sometimes they would kiss discreetly without Gwen looking. They are basically an item right? Just sort of not official in a way.
"Honestly, I wondered how this species managed to survive this long." The little retort from her was followed by her straining the water from the pasta and tossing them into the skillet with the seasoned duck slices covered in red pepper, salt and garlic. Soon after much preparation and patience, their dinner was brought to the table with Gwen placing both servings on the dining table with the hot chocolate mug accompanying the plates.
"Let's eat!" Ben didn't need to be told twice, he rubbed his hands together and twirled his fork around the pasta. A home cooked dish by Gwen and a hot cocoa right by his side, their 14th birthday ain't so bad after all. The snowy weather outside just invoked a nostalgic feeling of calm and tranquility. He held the mug in hand and blew the steam, the marshmallows melting and bobbing on top of the chocolate was just adorable as he wiggled the cup around. A soft giggle from Gwen flushed his cheeks, crap she caught him playing his food again didn't she? The pair of cousins clunked their warm mugs together, savouring the hot chocolate that had a hint of cinnamon into it. This was honestly nice, just the two of them with no distractions or parents around.
And then the lights went out.
The Tennysons stared at one another and glanced at the TV that was now turned off. It appears Gwen's earlier comment about power outages came a little too quickly, well at least they finished cooking before the interruption came. The darkness of the house was amplified by the winter skies outside. Ben took his phone out to get a look on the time, as expected it's already 7 PM.
"The power station must be hit by the snowstorm, I will text our parents and ask if they're okay." Quickly devouring their dinner, Gwen turned on her mobile data in hopes of reaching her father. Unfortunately, it seemed like the local service provider was also hit by the snowstorm, so they are back in the medieval ages without power or internet. She quickly tried calling them but to avail either.
"Can't reach them." Her downtrodden expression was brought back to a smile when Ben put an arm around her shoulder.
"They will be okay, my dad went out earlier to the hardware store and bought some stuff to prepare for winter." Arguably, they were better equipped for the power outage than Gwen and him. The frigid temperatures of rime and frost drew shivers down their spine, the hot cocoa that provided them warmth was now cold and finished. With no internet or entertainment, the cousins sat on the couch with their blankets over their bodies. The occasional ticking from the battery run grandfather clock and the sound of the snow falling to the ground was the only source of sound.
The two sat in continued silence for a long time, perhaps for minutes or hours they never knew. Yet drowsy Ben noticed the blizzard outside had started to let up, and howling winds of the north had started to die down with visibility gradually returning. He turned to Gwen and felt his face flushed lightly at how close she was to him, huddling together for warmth seemed wrong for a pair of cousins but given the circumstances, it can't be helped. Still, Ben was kicking himself at how much he was staring at Gwen, maybe because there were no distractions and he could take in the moment to appreciate her company.
"The blizzard is lightening up." His soft whisper echoed throughout the house, the absolute silence just seemed to amplify whatever noise they made. Now cleared of the storm and sleet, the cousins could clearly see the outside streets again despite the veil of darkness engulfing the neighborhood. Gwen's lips curled upwards when a thought passed through her mind, she had just the activity they can do during a time like this. She placed the blankets aside and stood upright, her black thigh-high stockings provided much comfort and style to their current situation but it also accentuated her slim and voluptuous figure.
"Come upstairs Ben." He raised his eyebrows over his cousin's request but obliged nevertheless. He followed her to her bedroom and found the windows tinted with frost and slush. He let out a whistle when Gwen opened the window, but not without any struggles as ice seemed to glue them together. The sudden blast of cold air from the opened windows chattered their teeth but it wasn't as intense as they initially thought.
"Where are we going?" Gwen shot him a look and merely pointed upwards of the roof. The brunette followed his cousin closely, careful to watch out for her incase she slipped off the slippery roofs. The cousins managed to climb above the rooftops without any trouble and Gwen used her powers to push aside all the snow for a dry spot to sit on. In fact, why didn't she warm them up with her magic?
'Probably too energy intensive which is the last thing you want when conserving heat.' He stared at his cousin and found it amusing she seemed to be comfortable sitting her ass on a roof filled with snow seconds ago.
"Never take you for the type to do this." She scoffed at his backhanded compliment, she can be rebellious too! Just because she has perfect grades and never causes trouble for others doesn't mean she likes following the rules, especially if they were set by her parents. Ben sat down next to her and stared up at the skies, his emerald green eyes sparkled in awe and wonder when the whole universe seemed to be within his view. The brush of blue, white and purple blended together perfectly the gradient sky filled with many stars twinkling and blinking about. For the first time since summer break, Ben's memory rapidly flashed through the adventures and shenanigans that happened when he was 10.
"The stars are beautiful, I thought you could barely see the stars during winter." The voice thick with emotion and disbelief crept a smile to Gwen's lips, she was glad she brought him up here.
"Colder temperatures lead to lower humidity, meaning less water vapor in the air to scatter starlight. The cold air also reduces atmospheric turbulence which can distort the image of stars. That's why during winter nights, you can see things clearer." The scientific explanation explains a lot, it also explains why the sky seems brighter when it's about to rain because the water droplets and moisture of the clouds scatters and refracts light. Ben seized the moment to stare at his cousin, she seemed deep in thought, perhaps having a philosophical debate or existential contemplation with herself. They were in their teens after all, soon enough they would go to college, get a job and settle down with a beloved.
"Do you often go stargazing Gwen?" Barely dressed for the occasion, she sat closer to Ben and grazed their shoulders together.
"All the time, especially when I'm feeling stressed or down. It's good therapy for me." No doubt Gwen is always stressed, oftentimes Ben can't help but to worry how much is on her plate. She has so many responsibilities and duties that time together between them was getting shorter and shorter. As proud he is of her, he did missed the days where she was free to hangout with him whenever he asked for it.
"You know you've always been rooting me and Julie to be together, but I was wondering if there's anyone you like." She tilted her head to the side, wondering what spawned Ben's curiosity of her personal love life. It's true, she never expressed interest in any boys before, certainly there were the cute and hot ones but it never went more than physical attraction. Besides, she has so much going on her plate, adding a boyfriend there would complicate things further.
"Not at the moment." Ben smirked and placed his hands behind his head, leaning his back onto the roof with Gwen by his side.
"Really? No cute boys or charming debonairs?" Gwen chuckled and waved him off, there were plenty of boys who fit those descriptions in her school, none of them caught her interest.
"They're too immature for my taste and I prefer someone more sensitive and sweet." That was not surprising to Ben, she always did seem to like those tough on the outside but sweet on the inside type of boys. The type that only she can make them open up to her emotionally and show their more vulnerable side.
"Like who?" The adoring emerald orbs from Ben stared back at her and Gwen found herself scowling at the improper thoughts rummaging through her head. She sat upright with her cheeks tinted red, using the cold as an excuse to end their little moment together.
"We should head back." The abrupt end to their session made Ben sit upright, wondering if he had done anything wrong to upset her. Now devoid of her body warmth, he felt the bitter chill of Bellwood winter and exhaled the cold breath. Careful not to slip off the roof and fall to his horrible demise, Ben jumped back through the window and felt entombed into the freezer of a room. How can it be that it's colder here than outside?
"Brr, why is it so cold?" Gwen closed the windows but left it ajar, allowing ventilation and air flow in their otherwise non-air conditioned room.
"Our houses aren't built for winter, so heat tends to escape easily. Something that you don't want during a freak blizzard." Right, Bellwood has mild weather all year round, the occasional heatwave and storm was the only thing to worry about.
"Can barely see anything." With only the light of the stars seeping through the windows, Gwen's hands glowed pink with a ball of light floating in mid air.
"I will go get the candles, stay here and keep my bed warm." Ben saluted and did just that, although he hesitated to sit in Gwen's bed given- well it just feels wrong. Still, the warm covers and the fluffy duvet was enticing enough of an offer that Ben crossed his legs and sat on the queen sized bed. He looked around the room for a brief moment when the faint orange glow from the door frame caught his attention.
"Stay there, I can handle this." He crossed his arms and watched in great interest that Gwen placed the candles around the room, creating a warm and vibrant glow. The flickering flames danced to the tune of winter while the wick of the candle slowly charred with every passing moment.
"I figured this is how you practice your magic, now we're just missing chalk circles." She chuckled in response and placed the last essential oil candle on her nightstand, right next to the picture of Ben and her when they were 10 years old. She shoo him aside and Ben rolled over to the other end of the bed. It seems they are now going to stay here since she went through all the effort lighting those candles up.
Ben pulled his phone out and decided to play a few offline games, jumping over platforms and slashing monsters, the pixel art game filled with atmospheric graphics, stellar story and fast fluid gameplay was recommended by Julie. His eyes darted from the screen to Gwen for a moment and found it amusing that she brought a book out already.
"A novel?" Her collection of teenage novels about dystopian governments, fractured societies split into different factions, numerous book titles starting with "The" and novels about high school unrequited romances is honestly impressive.
"Mhmm, Throne of Glass. It's about an assassin who went from an imprisoned slave to becoming the king's champion in order to win back her freedom." That just sounds like gladiatorial combat to Ben, though history did have similar feats of pauper to prince stories. He laid his head on the pillow and placed the phone next to him, his eyes were beginning to strain from the excessive glare of his phone given how dark the room was even with the lit candles.
"I will go shower first and don't use your phone like that, it's bad for your eyes." The stern lecture from his cousin made him sighed and turned to face the other direction. No Sumo Slammers, no Youtube, no texting Julie, how did people spend their time before sleeping back then? Twist and turned, Ben was getting restless over the lack of things to do. He grumpily sat upright and swung his legs over the bed, staring at his cousin's room with a small smile.
'This is weird, it's been a while since it's just the two of us like this.' Strangely tranquil, more so than in his own room even. Gwen's room was neat and organized, everything was prim and proper with not a speck of dust seen on her table. It made him realize despite being so close with each other, they are very different people.
'Some day she will have to leave for college.' He frowned at that thought, even entertaining that just made his heart churned. It was safe to presume Gwen would enter the Ivy League and enroll in one of the most esteemed institutions America has to offer. For Ben and his mediocre grades, well he is content with going into any university, perhaps a sport focused one.
'I wonder what's her plan after college.' It's funny that he never directly asked her this before, in fact neither of them ever brought up what they wanted to be when they grow up. Gwen has ambitious career goals and dreams but she never made it clear which industry she was interested in. Ben personally has his own plans for his future, one which Gwen may or may not be happy with if she finds out.
"Water is freezing, ugh I hope the power goes back on." The voice of his cousin from the door made him turn his head. His body froze solid when Gwen appeared in her pajamas, the loose fitting shirt and long pants did little to hide her curves while her hair was still wet from the showers despite her best attempts at drying them. She sat down at her dresser table and proceeded to straighten her hair, oblivious to her cousin taking occasional peeks at her. The awkward silence of the room made Gwen slowly turn her head behind her, eyeing her cousin who seemed shy and bashful all of a sudden.
"What?" Caught off guard by his staring, Ben held the pillow on his lap and shook his head vehemently.
"N-Nothing. Umm, I'm going to shower too." Skittish as he goes, Gwen raised her voice to remind Ben that his spare clothes were still in his duffel bag by the front door. She let out a sigh and continued to dry her hair with her microfiber towel. She hummed a soft tune and crossed her legs over one another, the soft glow of scented candles really had her at ease. Aromatherapeutic candles were a gift by Auntie Sandra during Christmas last year, their purpose was to provide stress relief and improve sleep qualities, both attributes which Gwen appreciates wholeheartedly. Now, they serve as light source and a calming mood setter.
Chilled to the bone by the gust of winter frost, Gwen rubbed her arms and brought her comb and towel to the comfort of her bed. She rested her legs under the covers and continued to straighten the strands of locks when the sound of her door creaking opened. Immediately, he eyed her cousin and shook her head over how wet his hair was. It's freezing outside and he didn't even bother drying it properly. The male Tennyson sat on the study chair close to the window and flinched visibly over the piercing cold of the wind. Rattling the windows and frosting the glass, the snowstorm seemed to be kicking up again.
"You're going to freeze Ben. Come on, sit here." The awfully inviting sight of Gwen patting the empty and lonely spot next to him made Ben fidget. The clothes he brought over were a little on the thin side, short t-shirt and long pants but it's serviceable for modesty sake. The brunette sat next to his cousin and heard the sound of bed creaking over the increased weight.
"Did you even dry your hair?" Her motherly concern was met with a forward response. He always sleeps with his hair slightly wet because he always showers before he sleeps. Air dry is best dry.
"Yeah with a towel." Gwen rolled her eyes and touched his hair, running her fingers through the obviously damp hair. She is not going to let her pillows be stained with his wet hair, not to mention the hair breakage that might harm his scalp.
"It's still damp." Grabbing his towel from his hand, Gwen draped the towel over his head and rubbed it softly. Ben felt his face slowly reddening but the shivering chills gradually subsided into a fiery warmth blazing his heart with the mellow and soft features from Gwen.
"There, all dry." He could still her fingers through the thin fabric of the towel and soon she rubbed the towels against his cheeks. The childish antics made him smile before he took the towel from her, expertly tossing it over the top rail of the study chair with much precision and accuracy. He ran a hand through his hair to get the fringe right and leaned on the pillows again, finally his aching body can relax on something soft and comfy. He turned to Gwen and rested his hand on his stomach, this is certainly one of the birthdays of all time.
"This is the lamest birthday isn't it? No family, no party and no power." Her nimble fingers closed the leatherbound book and placed it on the nightstand. She certainly didn't think the birthday was lame, different yes but it's also special and unique. Sometimes a simpler life is all you need to be happy.
"Not really. It feels strangely homey and cozy. I'm always so busy with my schedules that I rarely get the time to relax and have a calm night. No distractions, no parents and no planning ahead, just vibing with my cousin." Alone together in their room, Ben leaned closer to Gwen to show his appreciation for her. In their private moments, they always opened their more vulnerable side with one another, confiding their fears, insecurities and moments of triumphs. For Gwen, Ben is surprisingly a good listener who will give solid life advice if you ask him for it, the witty one liners and the genuine heart to heart talk made her all mushy inside sometimes. For Ben, Gwen's perspective of life and methodical approach to things gives him a balance to how he should handle his problems.
"It kinda reminds me of Summer Break, remember the campfire sessions we had with Grandpa Max?" How could she forget, no matter how bitter their bickerings or the amount of cold shoulders they gave to one another, they will always sit before the campfire and stare at the stars together, pointing out the different constellations with Gwen often correcting him on the made up names he gave them on the spot. Orion's belt should definitely be called the bowman, essentially the same thing!
"Things were somehow simpler back then." Her voice trailed sentimentally, Ben leaned forward and interlocked their hands together, squeezing it lightly to let her know that they will always be together. Lips curled up between the cousins and Gwen continued to brush her hair slowly to loosen the tangles.
"I always wondered how girls dried their long hair." The inquisitive tone from her cousin made her chuckle at how curious he was. She presumed Julie never had a problem drying hers since she liked keeping them short.
"We usually use a hairdryer but not all the time, it damages the roots. So towel and air drying helps, brushing the hair helps detangle them and create volume. See?" The admittedly complicated process that goes to haircare made Ben question how much he doesn't know when it comes to self-care. His mom frequently does yoga and is very conscious of her body, Julie also keeps in shape and is keen on her figure since tennis is her passion. Seeing his cat-like curiosity, Gwen handed the brush to him with her confident smile.
"Here." The stalwart swordsman found himself at a crossroad when his cousin handed him the brush. He slowly reached out for it with his eyebrows furrowing at why she is offering her hairbrush to him.
"What?" Her cousin can be a little slow sometimes, but she loved him the same.
"Brush my hair." The blunt tone did little to make the situation less awkward, I mean thinly dressed nightwears, scented candles in a dark room and no adult supervision? That's a level of intimacy that most couples would shy from in their age group, or not who knows? Teenagers can be wild.
"Umm, I don't know how." She expected that answer from him, in fact she would be more impressed if he did. She turned her back against him and sat upright, ushering him to practice with her.
"Good time to learn then. If Julie decides to grow out your hair, you know what to do." The thought of a long hair ponytail Julie just invoked a primordial feeling within Ben, actually any changes of hairstyle done by Julie would probably make him feel flustered regardless, she looked cute with anything. Still, his cousin's persistence did make him wonder why she is making a deal out of this.
"In what scenario will I get to brush her hair after she finished showering?" Gwen gave a long sighed, did she really have to explain to him?
"When you guys are dating, duh? After- you know." The look of realization from Ben's face was followed by a crimson red glow. The image of Julie clad only in her towel with water glistening from her smooth skin and flushed cheeks while her bedroom eyes beckoned him closer was just divine. He cleared his throat and held the brush at hand, slowly running his fingers onto his cousin's hair with the faintest of hesitation.
A shiver of pleasure ran down Gwen's spine, she bit her lower lip when Ben seemed enamored by her scented hair, twirling and tussling them with his fingers that defeated the purpose of him combing her hair. He managed to snap out of his primal instincts and began to brush the long auburn locks over her shoulders. His fingers gripped the handle of the brush tight, trembling forward as they went. The scent of her lavender conditioner permeating the room was both intoxicating and calming, yet it did little to calm Ben down from the thoughts of accidentally tangling or pulling her hair too hard with his clumsy fingers. The bristles kissed her silky strands, his hand movement awkward and robotic. But experience is a rewarding teacher and gradually over repeating motions, the movements become fluid and gentle, a rhythm has been established akin to ebb and flow. The sharp inhale from Gwen quickly made him stop as panic overwhelmed Ben, did he pull too hard? Did he hit a knot? Was he too rough with her?
"Does it hurt?" The hushed but soft whisper from him drew a tentative smile on her. She didn't gasp because of pain, rather it was the opposite. She shyly looked away to the side, averting her green orbs to the pair of concerned eyes that pumped her heartbeat.
"A little, you have to be gentler." Mustering the gentlest of motions, Ben's sheer focus and commitment to his task drowned out reality and distorted the fabric of time and space. His once shaky hands were steady and firm, his strong fingers nimbly ran through her hairs with the soft caresses. It was a very strange feeling to Gwen, never had anyone pampered her so much before, and to think it came from her cousin of all people.
"I can hear you breathing loudly Ben." The cheeky tone broke his lucid trance. He held the handle tight, he was so focused that he forgot that this was Gwen's hair he was stroking. The soft and silky strands grazing against his fingertips was electrifying to touch, it almost gave off the same feeling of holding Julie's hand. A concerning comparison all things considered.
"Sorry, just really nervous and concentrating." The autumn haired lady accepted that explanation wholeheartedly. The amount of effort he is putting into this is commendable, Julie is lucky indeed.
"Mhmm, that's a good response." Taking that as a sign of good work, Ben continued and felt serenity washed over him as he eased into the flow. The frigid cold on the outside was nothing compared to the cozy situation he found himself in, what they were doing was intimate, profound and comforting.
"Good?" The eagerness for approval and job well done made Gwen giggle, he had skilled and delicate hands that's for sure. She stroked her hair and smoothed it out, running her fingers again and again to feel the silky smooth locks devoid of friction or frizzle.
"You're not bad at this." Now with Gwen facing him, Ben felt tongue-tied at how gorgeous she actually is. He was always aware she was attractive, given that the boys in his school always seemed to pester him about it. But now in the dimly lit room and the hush intimacy between them in her room, the plump and soft lips, the adoring emerald eyes that popped in the dark and the curvaceous body puberty had blessed her, she really is a total knockout through and through. Every sway of her body accentuated her large bosom hidden behind the fabric, the occasionally hiked up shirt showed glimpses of her bare waist and hips that made Ben shift his legs around the bed uncomfortably, and yet for all of the beauty and body her cousin exudes, it was the fact that he was glad to be stuck with her during a winter snowstorm more than anything.
The bitter fang of winter chill howled and hounded their windows, the little gap of the window was necessary given the air circulation and the lack of weatherstrips to retain heat. Ben sitting on the side of the bed near winter's call shielded Gwen from most of the cold air and thoroughly felt it affects chilling his bones.
"You're shivering Ben." The brunette held the pillow tight to him to generate some warmth, but even the pillow was frozen solid by the long exposure to the cold.
"Y-Yeah, I am." Pity of his shivering state, her maternal instincts flared up considerably. Gwen ignored the red cheeks crepting onto her face and decided that practicality must take over prudence. She meekly shuffled closer to him and slipped to the covers next to him, pinning her body side by side to generate some friction and conserve body heat together.
"Better?" He mustered a nod to her quivering voice and leaned against her shoulders. The pair huddled closer and felt their respective hairs grazing and interlocking one another. The rhythmic breathing, the slow rise and fall of their chest was the only source of sound for the moment when Gwen's warm hands grasped Ben's much colder ones. The soothing warmth and the soft lithe touch sent a blaze down his heart, heating his body up considerably.
"Warmer." She smiled with her eyes and laid against his head, relishing this rare moment they have together. It was an odd feeling for the both of them, arguably this was the first time any of them had done something like this together. Ben had always thought Julie would be the first girl he would share a night with, not in terms of sex but just sleeping together in each other's arms. Now, it was Gwen, at least at the rate they are going. In the shadows of the night, his eyes caught a box shaped item wrapped in what seems to be gift wrap on her study desk. The little ribbons and gift card on it seemed to indicate a birthday present of sorts, which quickly reminded Ben that he hadn't wished his cousin a happy birthday yet.
"I know it's kinda late but happy birthday Gwen." The sweet laced tone was reciprocated by a snuggly hug from her. Strongs arms were wrapped around each other with Ben's hand instinctively stroking her luscious auburn hair that he brushed so tenderly before. Her nose buried on his chest with the soft nuzzle against his chin tickling his senses.
"You too Ben, happy birthday." Content with the embrace they found themselves in, Ben pulled her closer to his body to capture the newfound heat they grasped. He briefly rubbed her back, feeling her soft body through her thin fabric of her nightwear.
"I would have given your present but it's at home so no present." The sheepish answer was met with a nervous one when Gwen keenly realized she doesn't have an excuse. Her eyes darted to her study desk before going back to her cousin, an act that Ben keenly observed.
"Well mine is uh, I will give it to you once I receive mine." He laughed at the reasoning and nodded, maybe she wanted the gift giving moment to be special. There was a time where he didn't get Gwen a birthday gift due his goldfish brain and she was pissed, refusing to talk to him for weeks when she went out of her way to get his. Needless to say, a guilty Ben had learned his lesson and had done the unthinkable, actually setting an alarm on his calendar.
"Deal." The warm smiles gradually turned into pensive ones when Gwen bit her lower lip at how intimate they were with one another. Content and safe within his strong arms, she could feel him softly rubbing her shoulders in a steady back and forth motion. Her fingers touched his chest, feeling the broad and strong muscles that were a result of vigorous martial arts training and sports. Without thinking, she found herself dancing her fingers around his chest, twirling around certain sensitive areas with the faintest of wickedness. The feeling of satisfaction and power when he shuddered under her touch was just exhilarating and addictive. The wordless strokes of affection between them continued, with neither side bulging or giving up on their embrace around the other. The boundaries between cousins have been crossed, they are now in uncharted waters, seeing how much they can get away with without the other raising any alarm bells. Gwen stiffened a moan and tightened her thighs together to suppress the sensation of Ben's hand rubbing the back of her bare sensitive neck. She felt her breathing increased with speed, her body flared up in heat.
Perhaps cleared from his lust-addled mind, Ben stopped caressing her neck and realized the gravity of the situation when she shifted around the covers. This was Gwen, his paternal cousin and best friend, what he was doing here is sick to the core. Guilt rapidly consumed him and he retracted his hand, ashamed that he harbored impure thoughts about her when she was vulnerable and in need of comfort. He had once sworn to protect her, be her unwavering pillar of support and stay by her side, and now he had lost that right.
The sudden loss of warmth made Gwen raise her head up, she caught his guilt-ridden expression and attempted to reason with him when he took the covers hastily.
"I-I should leave." The bitter tone and ashamed tone was hushed by the strong hand clutching his arm firmly, her eyes softened to plead him to stay and while she never expressed it verbally, her body language told Ben enough that she didn't feel weirded out by it, but he did. She tugged his arm towards her, ushering that he shouldn't leave the comfort of their bed.
"There's no heating and the living room is cold, you can stay here. I don't mind." A mixture of conflicting emotions stormed Ben's mind, he knew Gwen long enough to tell apart the inflections of her voice and the meaning behind them. She wanted him to stay- begging even. His heart thumped widely, wondering if her intentions were completely pure, certainly his wasn't.
"I guess I can sleep on the floor, any sleeping bags?" Gwen wasn't having any of it, any resolved tensions or issues they have must be solved one way another. She disliked reading the mood or walking eggshells around others, nor was she afraid to be direct to her cousin whom she knew since birth. She interlocked his fingers again, squeezing their clasped hands to pull them on top of her luscious thighs.
"The floor is freezing, and I'm cold." She was basically asking him to sleep in her bed to warm her up, it couldn't get more forward than that. He contemplated the situation a bit more, two hormonal teenagers sharing a bed with one another, what could possibly go wrong? She is supposed to be the reasonable and mature one among them but maybe she's just too exhausted and cold to consider the implications of two cousins sharing a bed together.
"You sure?" She was honestly surprised how reluctant he was, certainly her privacy and boundaries must be respected but she was the one offering here. She loved and trusted him enough to stay with her, perhaps in ways she never thought possible. Whatever comes out of their night together, it doesn't need to be awkward nor do they need to feel bad. This was out of necessity, at least that was the story she is telling herself.
"Do you really have to ask that Ben?" His gaze tendered and rubbed her shoulders, any reluctance of physical affection seemed to be forgotten right then and there. Gwen beamed at this acceptance and giddily laid down next to him, feeling a sense of nostalgia and familiarity in this. She snapped her fingers and in an instant all the lighted candles in the room were snuffed out, leaving nothing but darkness engulfing her room again. Within the shade of black and blue, the cousins found themselves in close proximity, their lips near kissing distance, their arms tightly knitted to their sides despite their prior openness. The aura exuded from the two was akin to a newly wed couple, a loss at what they should do.
The Omnitrix chosen smiled at the adorable fidgets from her, where was the confidence and assertive demeanor when the candles were lit hmm?
"Good night Gwen." She closed her eyes in delight when Ben leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Though it was short, the soft and affectionate kiss brought out a little mews and mumbles of noises from his cool calm cousin. He chuckled at her reaction and set his hands at the gap between them.
"Night Ben." The little murmurs from her were followed by their clasped hands between them. As temperatures rapidly fall with snow dressing the streets of Bellwood, the pair of cousins slowly succumbed to slumber with each other.
The rhythmic soft breathing of his cousin stirred his senses. His eyes fluttered open and readjusted to the sunlight seeping through their windows. Tangled in blankets and in the warm embrace of the sorceress, he realized that both of them held each other at one point during their slumber. Her nose was buried near the crook of his neck and their clasped hands rested on top of his chest. His eyes trailed from her serene expression that he adored, to the voluptuous body hidden underneath the layers of their covers. Their legs seemed to be intertwined, with her one of her thighs dangerously close to his crotch.
His conscience barred fang and claw at him, scolding him harshly that he spent an intimate night with his cousin, sullying their supposed sacred relationship. Certainly, he felt bad, felt worse when he realized that his first intimate encounter with a woman should be Julie, and not Gwen. Curses and profanities ensued, yet he didn't have the heart to wake Gwen up. Her loose strands of auburn hair covered her porcelain face and against his better judgment, he pushed the strands aside and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.
Only for him to scold himself again.
'Damn it Tennyson, what is wrong with you?' The sudden low groan from her froze him solid. Her eyes slowly opened and the sight of her cousin staring back at her nearly jolted her up. She almost screamed when she remembered everything that happened last night. Tongue-tied and speechless, she slowly sat upright and ran a hand through her hair, pushing them aside over one shoulder while in the process of finding the right words to start their conversation.
"Morning." Her voice was cheery and firm despite the awkward tension. She slowly stroked her hair again and again, eyeing her cousin with shy eyes.
"Morning." Like a bunch of strangers in a friend's house party, the two shifted eyes over one another until Gwen's eyes noticed that her study chair was miraculously placed next to her side of the bed. She crawled on all fours to reach what seems to be a note on the chair and felt absolutely livid when recognized the handwriting.
We prepare some warm toast and hot chocolate, come down when you're ready.
-Mom.
Wordlessly, she showed the note to Ben who scanned the contents. Surprisingly, he looked calmed and unalarmed, probably because the visceral reaction was done internally and he was panicking that both of their parents saw the two cuddle together like lovers in a love hotel.
'Oh god, this is so awkward.' The urge to jump out of the window and run away from his problems couldn't be more prevalent in Ben's mind, but saner thoughts prevailed and leaving Gwen alone to explain the situation to their parents was not a good look. The two sighed and decided that delaying the inevitable was good for neither of them, Gwen glanced at her digital clock and found it to be working again, which put a smile to her face.
"At least the power is back on." Pointing towards her alarm clock that read 10:37 AM, Ben loosened a smile and stretched his limbs out. The sound of birds chirping and the warm sunlight was welcomed, a sign that the worst of permafrost was behind them.
"I don't know about you, but hot chocolate sounds good right now." She chuckled at his tongue and cheek tone, she couldn't agree more. The pair got decent and descended downstairs, as if it was a horror movie. They cautiously looked out for any signs of Tennysons, only to find business as usual with the sound of TV blaring and kitchen movements.
"There you two are, we were worried that you were never going to wake up." They cringed internally when Sandra spotted them, rallying the rest of the adults who smiled that their children had survived the whiteout of the century. Carl crossed his arms and grinned at the teenager's bashful and embarrassed look, no doubt they found it awkward they had to find unorthodox ways of keeping warm..
"You two must have had a good night's sleep, it's almost 11." They wordlessly shuffled their way to the dining table, where hot cocoa and warm butter toast awaited them as promised. Frank smirked at the silence from the two, thoroughly enjoying his daughter and nephew's fractions. The Tennysons had woken up at the crack of dawn and defied statewide emergency orders out of concern for their children who had no heating or power. Fortunately, their worries were laid to rest when they saw the two safe and content in each other's arms.
"When the power went out, we feared the worst. But seeing you two hugging for warmth put us at ease, we were debating whether to wake you up but you two got comfortable huh?" The sight of the two sleeping together for warmth was not surprising or shocking to the adults. The two are close and some skinship between cousins shouldn't be foreign to them especially in the name of survival. Still, the parents secretly took pictures of them because of how adorable they looked.
"D-Dad!" The pouty outburst from his daughter made him cackle as the Tennyson brothers laughed at their children's misfortune. Their wives sighed and took pity on the blushing children and placed their footdown, or mug in Natalie's case.
"Frank, please." The two fathers seized their actions with Frank taking the moment to take out his DSLR camera from the living room in preparation for the moment. No matter the frostpunk-like scenario or bitter winter chill, the old ways must still be respected regardless of the circumstances they find themselves in.
"Oh we can't forget the pictures, to the couch." The yearly tradition of taking both cousins pictures during their shared birthday was a must for memorabilia and collage sake. You can honestly see the duo's relationship growing closer over the many years and this year seemed like the two were the closest they have ever been with one another.
The cousins sat on the couch, though the awkward tension between them was still obvious to the observant eye, the glaring gap between them made the adults raise their eyebrows. Did something happen during the night?
"Sit closer, come on you two." Ben took the first step and swung an arm around Gwen's shoulders to close the gap between them. His sheepish smile made her chuckle at his sincerity and she leaned against his shoulders with a peace sign gesture. Frank snapped the picture and beamed a smile at how well it turned out, the two are all smiles and cheers in the photos. Sandra managed to sneak behind Ben after the photo session and tapped his shoulders, quickly passing a wrapped gift to him as if it was a shady deal.
Parcel in hand, Ben gave a thumbs up to his mom and hid them behind the couch pillow. As their fathers wore their winter clothing and took their snow shovels out from the storage to clear the snow piled paths, Ben glanced around and waited for the coast to be cleared before taking the parcel out from the hidden depths of couch pillows.
"So I have your birthday present." The small gift was decorated in the soft shade of pastel pink with silver ribbons adorning it. Gwen loosened out a smile at the sight and gasped that he brought her a present. It was to be expected given it was their birthday but she still squealed at the sight nevertheless.
"Really? Wait here!" Sprinting to her room with much speed and enthusiasm, the adults leaned their head at the sound of Gwen stomping upstairs, wondering what got her so excited when moments ago she seemed so quiet. Their question seemed to be answered when she ran back down with a large looking gift box wrapped in black paper.
"Happy birthday Ben." The two cousins exchanged gifts, a juxtaposition between Ben's slick cool black box and Gwen's much warmer and soothing pastel pink passed between hands. They glanced at one another, both having the exact same thoughts in their head. Fingers twirled around the ribbon and slowly unwinded them until the box's covers were free from the constraints. Gwen was the first to unwrap the fit and was surprised to see a vintage wooden keepsake box, though the craftsmanship was a little on the rudimentary side, the lacquered coating of the box was undeniably beautiful and contemporary. Her giddy eyes met Ben's and he simply ushered her to open them, she unhooked the lock and felt stunned at the sight of a bronze necklace cushioned against the velvet pillows. Her fingers slowly reached out for the cool metals and the pendant that had the emblem of her spellbook cover carved onto it. The deep purple coloured centerpiece had bronze geometrical lines in the shape of circle, diamond and a cross, creating the familiar shape that allowed her to cast spells and incantations.
"Thank you Ben, this is beautiful." The heartfelt gratitude was displayed when she tightly embraced him, squeezing Ben as she nuzzled against him without any reservations. The swordsman smiled and returned the hug back, every penny spent on this was worth it.
"Glad you like it." The custom made pendant didn't come cheap, but thankfully the simple design was a saving grace in Ben's otherwise limited budget. Though it wasn't engraved with magic runes or enchantments, at least it gave off that mysterious feel and style. His face flushed when she kissed him tenderly on the cheek as thanks before she pulled back with her smiling eyes.
"Open your present." Anticipation swelled up within Gwen when he slowly unwrapped the gift wrapped. He took off the cover of the box and found himself grinning at the fashionable jacket that fit both practicality and panache. The dark navy colour scheme was a stark contrast to his usual green jacket, but given he was spicing his wardrobe with different outfits and design, this is a fantastic gift.
"Cool jacket!" The absolute relief when Ben loved her gift cannot be understated. She spent a few hours looking for a nice jacket for him and knowing that he liked wearing the same jacket for multiple wears, she figured she got him something durable and stain resistant.
"Try it on." The jacket fit perfectly into Ben's frame, not baggy but provided enough mobility for him to twist and turn. He paused when Gwen seemed to struggle to put on her necklace, she fiddled around the clasp when she felt a pair of familiar fingers grazing against her neck again.
"Here, let me." Gently as he went, Gwen lifted her hair up and felt Ben's warm breath tickling her earlobes. He leaned the pendant against her collarbone and tightened the clasped, the audible click secured the placement and Gwen placed her fingers on the precious pendant her cousin bought for her.
"There." Pleased with how well it fitted her, Ben stepped back for a moment to get a good look when she leaned her back against his chest, closing her eyes in glee and affection over the swell of bubbling emotions within her. He managed to catch her waist and chuckled at her behavior, resting his arms around them and hugging her from behind.
"Best birthday ever." The soft whisper from his cousin drew an affectionate smile he held her closer to his embrace.