114Ben 10: Bride To Be: Volume Two
Chapter 76: Alien Guy No More: Part One
I Don't Own Ben 10 Or Any Of The Characters
Author's Note
* Hello and welcome to chapter one of Ben 10: Bride To Be: Volume Two! This is the first chapter, but if ya'll don't mind, I'm still going to go by the chapter number. So, the last story ended on Chapter Seventy Five and this story will pick up where it left off. I'm just doing this because I was at such a high number in terms of chapters, and I don't want to start at number one again.
* A lot has happened since the end of the Blood Brothers story arc. And I'm sure you guys have questions about that. Like, what happened? Is Kevin dead? Did Kevin survive? If he didn't survive, how will Ben take it? If Kevin did die, will Albedo, Gwen and Sunny be able to help him through it? Well, all of your questions will be answered in this chapter, as well as this arc!
* Also, this chapter will be switching between different points of time, labeled as then and now. So, please follow and favorite this story if you enjoyed Volume One! Reviews are most appreciated with the start of this new volume! Let's kick off Volume Two!
Ben
Now
Mid-November
Sleep. Very possibly the best thing in the world, only to be interrupted by an alarm every morning. Only this time, it isn't an alarm. Sleep is interrupted by an upbeat theme beginning to play.
"We're on Easy Street and it feels so sweet, 'cause the world is bout a treat, when you're on Easy Street. And we're breaking out the good champagne, we're sitting pretty on the gravy train," Gwen's alarm began going off. "And when we sing every sweet refrain repeats, right here on Easy Street."
My eyes were open, but I wasn't moving. Gwen was probably awake, seeing as she had shut off her alarm. She slept on the side of the bed that had the nightstand, where her phone charged every night.
"Ben." Gwen said.
I didn't respond.
"Ben!" she said, rolling over to face me. "It's time to get up!"
"No." I said in a glum tone, rolling over to face the wall.
"Benjamin, it's a school day and you're getting up!" Gwen said.
I said nothing.
"Benjamin!" Gwen said, as she kicked me in the back.
I sighed, as I sat up.
"You're the one who showers first every morning. So go." Gwen said, as she got out of bed and turned on the light.
I just sighed and got out of bed, opened the door and headed towards the bathroom.
I flipped on the light to the bathroom and walked in, closing the door behind me. I turned on the water to the shower and waited for it to get warm, taking off my pajamas as I did. I stepped into the shower and let the warm water douse me.
Four months. It's been four months and I still refuse to believe it. I don't want to believe it. I don't know how longer I can do this. Since I lost him, my life has been hell. The things I've given up since that day. Oh God...
I put my hand over my eyes and began to cry. Still crying, I slid down against the shower wall and sat down on the bathtub floor.
Then
Late July
"I don't know how long I can go, man." Kevin said, as he laid on the roof, Gwen and I holding both of his hands.
"Kevin, don't say that." I said. "You'll make it out of this. I swear. I've been a terrible friend Kevin. I just hope we can be friends again after this."
"Ben, you're my best friend. My best." he said, as he laid there, looking up at me. "I love you like a brother, man."
"So do I." I said, as I held his hand tighter. "We'll get you out of this."
"Ben, Ben-" Kevin began to speak, but he never finished.
His hand went slack in mine.
No. No, no, no. No!
"Kevin." I said, as I slapped his hand.
No response.
"Kevin!" I exclaimed, as I began to shake him by the shoulders. "Kevin! Kevin!"
I was wailing his name now, as tears began to stream down my cheeks. Gwen grabbed hold of me and pulled me back.
"It's okay, Ben! We won't let it end here! We'll get Grandpa Max!" she exclaimed. "Kevin'll be okay, I promise! We'll bring him back!"
It didn't matter. As Gwen tried to pull me away from Kevin, I still cried more that day than I'd ever cried before.
Now
I sat on the floor of the bathtub, my head resting on my folded arms, still crying. It was all I ever did now. I heard the door to the bathroom open. Footsteps heading towards the shower followed.
The shower curtain was pulled back and I looked up. Gwen stood there, with her arms crossed, blocking my view of her bare chest. Not that I cared.
"You haven't done anything but cry in here, have you?" she asked, as she stepped into the shower with me.
I didn't answer, as I stopped crying. Gwen sat down across from me, with her arms folded across her chest.
"Ben, I realize that you're still broken up about it. But it's been four months." she said. "I think it's time to move on! Kevin wouldn't want you to be like this!"
I stiffened up and began to cry again. Gwen said nothing for a second or two.
"Oh crap, Ben. I'm sorry." she said. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm so sorry."
I said nothing, as I continued to cry.
"Come here." she said, as she pulled me closer to her, so she hugged me. You might think that having Gwen's bare chest pressing against mine would turn me on. Well, no. A lot of stuff has happened. Having my girlfriend hug me, naked or not, hardly comforted me.
After a few seconds of her hugging me, she let go of me and stood up with her back to me, blocking off the warm water coming from the shower head.
"Now, you can either help me out by washing my back or you can get out." Gwen said, as she began to let the water douse her. "Today is a big day and I don't need anything getting in the way. Take your pick."
Usually when Gwen and I showered together, which was often, we helped one another out by washing each other's backs. But, frankly, what she had said kind of pissed me off.
I got up, yanked the curtain back, got out and walked back into the part of the bathroom with the sink, where Gwen had left out a towel for me.
"Was it something I said?" Gwen asked, as she poked her head out of the shower to look at me.
I didn't look back at Gwen. I just grabbed my towel, wrapped it around myself and stormed out of the bathroom. I headed down the hallway back to my old room.
Even though Gwen and I shared a room now, we didn't get dressed in the same room. It would be a little more awkward than we were used to.
Then
Late July
"No, I'm being serious Aunt Sandra." I listened to Gwen on the phone with my mother. "It's urgent. That urgent. The service is in a week, I know you guys could miss it. But you have to get back here."
Gwen didn't speak for a second.
"No, he refuses to talk to anyone, even me. And we've been doing fine for the last three or four weeks." Gwen continued. "He doesn't need me, he needs his parents. You just have to get back here."
That was lie. I didn't need my parents right now. I didn't need anything. I didn't want anything. All I wanted was to be left alone.
"Yes, that's all Aunt Sandra. Tell my mother and father that I love them." Gwen said, as she was about to hang up. "I'll see you guys when you get back, love you!"
Gwen walked into the living room, where I was sitting by myself.
"Okay, your parents will be back in a week." she said. "But they'll miss the service."
I didn't say anything.
"Ben? I really wish you'd say something." Gwen said.
"I don't care. How's that?" I asked harshly, as I got up.
"Look, I know you're still grieving about-" Gwen began to speak, but I interrupted.
"Don't." I said, as I stepped up to face her. "He wasn't your best friend since the second grade!"
With that, I stormed away from her, leaving her confused.
Now
I sat at the kitchen table, all alone, not touching the pancakes that my mom had made me for breakfast. Gwen might have still been in the shower, I didn't know.
"Ben, you need to eat!" my mom urged me.
I didn't answer, nor did I pick up my fork. My mom sighed and walked away.
"Carl, you need to do something! Your son hardly eats or talks anymore!" she whispered to him, loud enough for me to hear. "He is clearly not well!"
"Don't, Sandra. He just has to let it work its course." my dad said.
I got up from my chair and walked towards the hallway that led to the basement stairs.
"Ben? You're sure you don't want to eat, buddy?" my dad asked as I walked.
I didn't stop to answer.
Then
"Ben," Gwen whispered, sitting next to me. "You should say something!"
I said nothing; I just remained in my spot on the bench and waited for the whole thing to be over.
"Ben?" Gwen asked again.
I just got up and walked past Gwen. I walked over to a lady who was crying pretty hard. I stopped when I got over to her and cleared my throat before I spoke.
"Um, Ms. Levin?" I asked.
The lady looked up at me.
"I-I am so sorry for your loss, Ms. Levin." I said, as I began tearing up again.
"Oh, Benjamin. I hope you know that you meant the world to him." Ms. Levin said. "He loved you like a brother."
I sniffled.
"I know he did, Ma'am." I said.
It surprised me when Ms. Levin got up from her seat and hugged me. I was taken aback, but I hugged back after a while.
"Thank you for being his friend for so many years. Thank you for guiding him when he was lost and had no idea what to do with himself." she whispered loud enough for me to hear. "You have no idea how much you meant to him."
"I do ma'am. He was like my brother, too." I said.
After her standing there hugging me for a few more seconds, she let go.
"You go kid. And you have a good life." she said. "You deserve it."
I was about to walk away, but turned back to face her.
"Ms. Levin, I just wanted to say, that I hope the future is kind to you." I said.
"T-Thank you, Benjamin." she said, as she sniffled and rubbed her nose with tissue.
Now
Sick of being around the people that were supposed to support me, I retreated downstairs, to the storage room. There, as you should remember, I keep my comic book collection, assorted in multiple boxes, my mementos and old clothes.
I was hoping to have some time alone down there, but no such luck. When I got there, Albedo was leaning up against a stack of boxes, making out with Sunny, as he held her knee up to his waist.
"Ahem." I said, clearing my throat.
I didn't get a response.
"Ahem." I said again, louder this time. "Why can't I have my own room in this house?"
Sunny held up her finger as she and Albedo continued to kiss, telling me to wait a minute.
"Hey!" I shouted, as I banged the door with my forearm.
They both jumped, causing Albedo to knock over one of my boxes, spilling my Amazing Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man comic book collection all over the floor.
"God damn it!" I exclaimed with anger, as I walked over to the spilled box.
As I looked at the comic books on the floor, I got angry. I looked at Albedo with anger and he looked at me with fear.
"Get out." I said.
"But, Ben-" Albedo began to speak, but I cut him off with anger.
"Didn't you hear me?! I told you to get the hell out!" I exclaimed. "So do it, damn it!"
Albedo left, giving me a look of anger. Sunny was right behind him, but stopped and came back over to me.
"Sunny, I told you to-" I began to speak, but she cut me off.
"We're all here for you." she said as she hugged me.
I honestly didn't believe that Sunny was actually hugging me and trying to comfort me right now, as four and a half months ago, she tried to kill me.
"We didn't know him like you did, that's why we recovered so fast. We supported your decisions over the past months." she said. "Today is the anniversary and I know that you're planning on skipping school. I don't think you should."
I just huffed, as I lightly hugged her back.
"If "supporting" me is telling me that I should move on four months after it happened, you need to get your head on straight." I said.
"Well, God damn!" Sunny said, pulling away from me. "If you're gonna be like that; then we're not here for you. Especially not me!"
She pushed past me and stormed out of the storage room, leaving me alone with a pile of disorganized comic books.
Then
I stood in front of the hole in the ground, where a casket laid, as well as a grave waiting to be made. I looked down at the dozens of roses that lay on the top of the casket.
"Ben, we've been standing here for almost half an hour!" Gwen whispered to me. "Everyone else has left, we should go!"
I said nothing; I just remained where I was, in silence. I heard Albedo whispering behind me. He eventually walked over to me.
"Hey brother, we're going to wait by the car. Take all the time you need." he said.
I didn't answer.
"Come on guys, let's go." Albedo said, as I heard their departing footsteps.
Once they were gone, I stood there in silence for a minute or two. Then, I finally spoke.
"I have a few things I need to say. And even if you can't hear me, you'll listen anyway." I said. "I wasn't a good friend. I can accept that. But in the end, you admitted that I was your best friend. I don't deserve that."
I sniffled, but didn't start crying. I was done crying for the day.
"You are my best friend. I just wish you could hear me say it. I feel like this whole thing is my fault. I feel like if last month, if we hadn't of shook hands, maybe, just maybe, you'd be alive today." I said. "I take full responsibility. I'll carry this burden for the rest of my life."
I got onto my knee and sighed.
"I'm sorry this happened to you, brother." I said, as I placed the rose on the casket with all the other flowers.
I got back to my feet and walked to the car where Gwen, Albedo and Sunny were waiting for me.
"Time to go?" Gwen asked.
"I call shotgun." I mumbled, nodding as I headed for the passenger side of the car.
Now
I sat on the floor, with my back against the boxes and my legs outstretched in front of me. And yes, I had been crying again. I heard footsteps coming down the basement stairs and eventually into the storage room.
"You didn't eat your breakfast." Gwen said.
I didn't reply.
"Would you just talk to me?" Gwen asked. "Today is the anniversary and at school they're having a memorial at his lo-"
"I'm not going to school today." I said, just loud enough for her to hear.
"Benjamin Kirby Tennyson, you most certainly are going to school today!" she exclaimed. "Today is the four month anniversary and you will go to at least pay your respects!"
"No." I said.
"Benjamin!" Gwen exclaimed.
I looked away from her, ignoring her. All of a sudden, she grabbed my ear and pulled me up to my feet, causing me a lot of pain.
"Ow!" I exclaimed, as I rubbed my ear and looked at her.
She crossed her arms, with a determined look on her face.
"Fine, I'll go get my fucking backpack!" I snapped, as I stormed out of the storage room.
Then
I laid on the bed that Gwen and I shared. I was alone in the room, as I needed time to think. After thinking about what I needed to do and how to do it, I got up off of the bed. I walked into the living room, where Albedo, Gwen and Sunny were at.
"Uh, I have an announcement." I said.
They all looked up.
"What is it?" Gwen asked.
I took a deep breath before speaking.
"I'm quitting." I said.
"Quitting what, exactly?" Sunny asked.
"I'm quitting Alien Guy. I'm done." I said. "I don't want to do it anymore."
"But you can't quit!" Gwen exclaimed, as she got up and ran over to slap me.
"Yeah, Ben! What are you thinking?!" Albedo asked. "And we just started the team, too!"
"You can't just quit! You're a super hero!" Sunny exclaimed.
"No! I'm not a super hero! I'm just some guy!" I yelled. "I'm just some guy who set out to do something and failed miserably. I'm not a super hero. I'm just some guy."
"Ben-" Gwen said, but I interrupted.
"No, no, no. Don't you see, Gwen? You were right all along!" I said. "I'm not a hero! I was just a kid playing dress up! I'm just a stupid, insignificant kid!"
"Ben, don't say that." she said.
"It's the truth." I said, as I walked back to our room, leaving them alone.
Now
I walked into school with Gwen, Albedo and Sunny, holding one strap of my backpack as I walked. A lot of people came up to me to say they were sorry about the deceased, but I never responded.
We went to our first class of the day and after that, I stopped by his locker. The locker was decorated with ribbons of his favorite color, pictures of him with friends and family and other things he liked.
I stood there for a second, before sighing and gently placing my hand on the locker. And with that, I walked away from the locker.
Gwen didn't seem to complain about how I paid my respects. No one said anything.
Then
I drove out to the downtown area. Once I got there, I got out of my car and walked into an alley, with a pile of stuff in my arms.
I kept walking and stopped once I got to a trash can. In my hands, was my mask, my gloves and wrist gauntlets, my leather jacket, black T-shirt, jeans, boots and lastly, the Omnitrix.
I dumped it all into the trash bin. Then, looking at it all one last time, I turned around a few seconds later. I walked back to my car. And I didn't once look back.
Now
I sat at the lunch table, staring off into space. I think Albedo was trying to make conversation with me, but I just ignored him. Gwen had her hand on top of mine, but I acknowledged nothing.
All of my memories with him flashed through my head, which slowly threw me into disarray. It was then that the school intercom came on in the cafeteria.
"Attention students, this is your principal." the principal's voice rang out. "Due to the blizzard that is supposed to start in only a couple hours, the staff has decided to postpone school."
Everyone cheered, except for Gwen and I, that is.
A blizzard a week before Thanksgiving. That's not normal. Is it?
"All classes are suspended until further notice. After lunch is over, you are to report to the busses and get home safely. No need to rush." he continued. "Thank you, get home safe and have a great weekend."
Albedo and Sunny high fived each other. I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked over at J.T., who had his hand raised in my face, offering the chance to high five each other. I just went back to eating my lunch.
Then
Standing in front of the grave, I got on my knee and sighed.
"I'm sorry this happened to you, brother." I said, as I placed the rose on the casket with all the other flowers.
I looked at the gravestone. The gravestone said:
Here lies Kevin Ethan Levin. Born November 1999 – Died July 2017. A brother, a true friend.
Author's Note:
* And that's the first chapter of Volume Two! Are you feeling all of the pain that Ben feels right now? Did everyone like how it was set in two different timelines? So, I was able to release this chapter earlier than I expected. However, it may take a few days for me to release new chapters. So yeah, Kevin is dead. He died at the end of Chapter Seventy Five. Just to clarify what exactly happened to him, how exactly he died, his body gave out is what happened.
* His body could only take so much with the addiction that he had to the Omnitrix's power. And the last transformation that he made into Kevin 11,000 was the last his body could give without causing irreparable damage. So when he transformed back into Kevin at the end of the previous chapter, his body gave out from all of the strain it put on him and he died of a heart attack.
* In the aftermath, there was Kevin's funeral, Ben and Gwen's parents came back home and Ben away the Omnitrix, along with his costume. If that reminded you a lot about a very, very, very similar in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 (2004), where Peter Parker does essentially the same thing, it was supposed to. I pull a lot of inspiration from comic books, especially Spider-Man, as he's my favorite Marvel Super Hero, as well as my favorite hero overall. And I just couldn't resist taking that iconic scene in which Peter Parker quits being Spider-Man and replicating it for when Ben quit being Alien Guy in this chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it!
* Speaking of Ben and Gwen's parents, expect more than one shock coming in the next chapter or two. They're going to be big! I promise you that! And I'll let you know that Ben isn't going to be retired for long. He will eventually become Alien Guy again. (He kinda has to!)
* Anyway, that's going to do it for me. I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter of Volume Two! Please favorite and follow this story if you enjoyed the first chapter! Anyway, I'm going to go though, so have a Bwen-tastic day and bye! (Yes, this is seriously going to be my new outro! Catch you guys on the flip side!)
Review Responses:
csgt: "Mr. Stark, I don't feel so good" XD I definitely noticed the Infinity War reference I think Kevin is dead, but he may come back. If Kevin comes back, I think he will come back as a complete monster, not as Ben's friend anymore.
I got the feeling that Albedo would get laid before Ben XD Yes, it's in-character for Sunny to tease Albedo in that way, that was a very funny moment, and I'd say you stole the idea right out of my mind XD (Just kidding, I had an idea for a Ben/Charmcaster scene for Mystic Vanguard that would be very similar to what you did with Albedo/Sunny here)
Savage Animo was a beast! Come on, S.E.C.T. should probably throw him in the Sun, because coming back from all that? Wow. Yeah, I noticed that Kevin used a lot of aliens: Spider-Monkey, Overflow/Water Hazard, Eye-Guy, Arctiguana, just to name a few others that you didn't mention. Very great fight scene, and great ending for Volume 1.
I'm glad you caught the reference to Infinity War. Well, Kevin is obviously dead. As for if he will come back and how he could come back? My lips are sealed. I won't confirm/debunk anything. I'm glad you enjoyed the scene with Sunny and Albedo. Oh, I stole the idea right out of your mind? Crap, I'm under arrest then, XD But if you still want to use that idea, go for it! Yeah, Savage Animo was a tough one. I'm glad you enjoyed the fight scene and the end to Volume One.
Sishen123: Ok just had to let you know i am okay with you calling me justin or sishen but please know it is pronounced. (Psy)-(shin) people get that wrong all the time but anyway what i ment by the watch boy& lucky girl way was that verdona was only Gwen's grandme in that story. Now i haven't read the chapter's yet i just had to let you know but anyway i will re review when i am done reading tomorrow. Until then peace out :)
Thanks for the feedback, Justin and thanks for the tip on the pronunciation. As for what you meant by the WB and LG thing, again, I don't know how I'm going to introduce the Anodites in my story, let alone if I'll actually introduce them. Again, thanks for the feedback.
jasongd: Great story and great but sad ending congrats
Q-1 No I don't think that Kevin is dead and I realy hope that he will be OK
Q-2 I think he managed quite well even though I would first shock him and then freeze him in water pond
Q-3 Oh I very much enjoyed that :-P :-)
Q-4 Yes It's a pretty good idea, provided that this rule works when Albedo turns into an alien first and then Ben will not be able to turn into the same alien as Albedo of course it would work both ways
I'll be witing for next Volume
BWEN Forever
Well, uh, Kevin is dead, so there's that. I'm glad you think that he managed well in the fight. I'm glad you enjoyed that scene. As for if the rule works for Albedo, I'll consider it. Thanks for the review.
Next Chapter: Ben finally reveals what Professor Paradox said to him after they defeated Emperor Vilgax in Old Man Ben's dimension. Ben's mother and father have shocking news for him.
