Jen Tennyson POV
"You have a date?!" Gwen's surprised—almost shocked—voice hit me just as I settled more comfortably into my chair, my milkshake in hand.
The tone she used made me raise an eyebrow, as if I didn't have any charm to attract the opposite sex, which definitely wasn't true.
"Is it really that strange that I'm going out with a guy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I brought the straw to my lips. Mr. Smoty's chocolate and caramel milkshake was cold and thick, with that sweet flavor that always knew how to get me back on my feet.
After a day spent chasing crazed aliens and trying not to blow up half the city, it was practically my therapy.
I took a long sip, trying to ignore the curious—and vaguely judgmental—look Gwen was shooting me from across the table. The milkshake's chill slid down my throat, and for a moment, I actually felt normal.
I set the cup down and sighed. "Seriously, Gwen. Is it really that absurd that, every now and then, I just want to experience something simple? Instead of aliens screaming at me in incomprehensible languages while trying to kill me?"
Gwen crossed her arms, watching me with a mixed expression. "Well, it's not like you've ever shown real interest in guys. Honestly, I thought you were into girls. Especially after your breakup with Julie."
I froze mid-sip. Her comment hit me harder than I wanted to admit. "In a way, you're right," I murmured, lowering my gaze a little. "I do find girls more attractive, yeah. But only because I hadn't met a guy who could actually make me feel something."
Gwen smiled with that classic little smirk of hers, the one that screamed told you so, though she tried not to seem too smug. "And does he?"
I feigned indifference, even though the tips of my ears were starting to burn. "I like spending time with him. He's different. Really kind. He doesn't try to impress me just to sleep with the most famous heroine in the universe. He's just… himself."
"Hmm. Interesting." Gwen leaned back on the couch, then peeked over at me with a sly look. "And how exactly did you two meet?"
I let out a half-stifled laugh, trying not to remember just how ridiculous the whole thing had been. "Well… let's just say I was in the middle of a fight. You know, the usual: out-of-control alien, chaos everywhere, a couple of explosions to spice things up, and me trying to keep the damage contained before the whole city came crashing down."
Gwen looked at me with slightly raised eyebrows, leaning forward with her arms crossed on the table. "What about Rook? He's usually with you. How come he wasn't there this time?"
I sighed, shrugging. "He was on a mission on another planet. Diplomatic stuff. You know, those boring intergalactic meetings that feel like they came straight out of a badly written Star Trek episode."
"Ah, okay. Makes sense," she muttered, nodding slowly, though her tone betrayed a hint of concern. "So… what exactly happened?"
I gave her a sideways glance. "I was getting to that, if someone could stop interrupting me every five seconds, nerd."She shot me a glare that would've made even Vilgax tremble, but I just shrugged it off and continued:
"So, while I was trying to keep the civilians safe, one of the aliens—one of the smarter ones from the bunch—took the chance to grab a hostage. A little girl, no more than twelve. He picked her up like she was a grocery bag and aimed an energy rifle at me that was as big as my arm."
I paused for a moment, the memory still vivid in my mind. "He told me if I didn't stand still and let him shoot me in my human form, he'd hurt her. I didn't have many options… so I just stood there, locked eyes with him, hoping for some kind of miracle—like the kind that usually happens to me."
Gwen had grown more serious, arms crossed, eyes locked on me. Her slightly narrowed gaze showed just how focused she was. "And then?"
I burst into a short laugh, still a bit stunned just remembering it. "And then… the miracle happened. A guy, around our age, came out of nowhere. Literally. He was behind the alien, hidden among the debris. No powers, no magic, no futuristic weapons. Just a brick in his hand. A brick, Gwen."
Her eyebrows lifted, but she didn't interrupt. "He raised it over his head, snuck up quietly… and bam! He smashed it down with all his strength on the alien's head."
I made a hand gesture for emphasis. "The alien staggered, roared in surprise, dropped the little girl he was holding hostage—who the guy immediately caught. And in that exact moment, I transformed and took the alien down before he even realized what had happened."
Gwen stared at me for a moment, mouth slightly open, then narrowed her eyes with that classic "are you serious?" expression. "Wait a second… are you telling me you were saved by a brick?"
I nodded, still smiling wide. "Yeah. I know, it sounds like a joke, but that's exactly what happened. The alien was huge, and in the end, he was brought down by some random guy with a chunk of concrete. It was one of the most ridiculous—and honestly satisfying—moments of my entire career."
A little smirk crept onto Gwen's face as she slowly shook her head. "And does this hero of yours have a name, at least?"
"Ichigo," I answered with a softer tone, still taken by the memory. "Kurosaki Ichigo."
Gwen blinked once, surprised, then burst into a laugh. "Wait… he's Japanese?"
I raised an eyebrow, confused. "Yeah, he is. Why?"
"No, nothing…" she said with a mischievous grin. "It's just that I was starting to think my dear cousin had a type, but I never would've guessed it was an ethnic kink."
"I do not have a kink!" I protested immediately, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. I could already tell she was about to start teasing me—I could see it from that half-smile forming on her face.
Gwen slowly raised her eyebrows, casually stirring her vanilla milkshake. "Oh no? That's odd… you dated Julie, who just so happens to be Japanese, and now this new guy—also Japanese. I'm seeing a pattern. You're not?"
I stared at her, blinking a couple of times, unsure whether to laugh or feel accused. "Wait, are you seriously saying I have a… an ethnic preference?"
Gwen shrugged with a sly smile. "I didn't say anything. I just pointed out a modest pattern."
"Modest, my butt." I huffed, crossing my arms. "Julie was a coincidence. And Ichigo… I don't even know how we ended up talking. It all felt so natural. I wasn't looking for anything. It just happened..."
She looked at me with a gentler expression this time, setting her glass on the table. "I know. I'm just messing with you. But it's obvious you like him, even if you won't admit it."
I stayed silent for a moment. Not to deny it, but because something inside me hesitated. It wasn't the usual crush—not the shallow kind that fades in a week.
"Maybe," I finally admitted, lowering my gaze. "I'm not sure. It's hard to explain what I feel. It's like… he actually sees me. Not just the heroine, but me."
Gwen smiled softly, and this time, she didn't laugh. "Then hold onto him. A guy who looks at you like that, without fear, and bashes an alien with a brick to save a stranger? That doesn't come around often."
"Ugh. Maybe you're right."
Gwen gave me a knowing look. "So? When are you introducing us to this famous Ichigo?"
I smiled, glancing at my phone and seeing a certain message that lifted my mood. "Soon. But you have to promise me you won't ask weird questions."
"No promises," she giggled. "But now I'm really curious."
[Interlude]
Kurosaki Ichigo POV
"Sorry for making you wait!" Jen's voice reached me as I adjusted the collar of my shirt. I turned and saw her approaching with confident steps, though there was a slightly embarrassed expression on her face.
I had to admit—Jen was cute. And kind of dense. The female version of Ben had developed quite well, despite her slimmer counterpart.
She could definitely give Orihime a run for her money. In fact, I had to admit—Jen was even cuter.
In terms of looks, she was stunning. Somehow, she was even prettier than the adult version of Gwen. Guess who got the better looks and genes—damn.
Even her long, graceful brown hair was tied into a ponytail behind her. She wore a green and black shirt with a number 10 on it, which revealed a bit of cleavage from her rather large breasts.
She also wore brown shorts and thigh-high socks that hugged her thick thighs in a way I couldn't help but stare at for a long moment.
The Omniverse version of the Omnitrix rested neatly on her lovely wrist.
She looked... normal.
But in that way that makes everything seem perfect.
"No problem. I just got here," I replied with a half-smile. It was a lie—I had been there for at least ten minutes—but she definitely didn't need to know that.
It was truly curious how things had turned out like this. From the start, my goal in coming to this universe was clear: use the power of soul destruction to implant a fragment of my essence into Ben Tennyson, so that eventually I could access the power of all his aliens.
A cold, calculated plan. Almost perfect.
But I never imagined I'd end up in a version of the universe where Ben was actually a girl.
Not that it changed my goals—at least not at first. But then that random encounter happened. Me ending up saving her without even knowing who she really was.
And after that, we talked. Just a simple, honest conversation. And without even realizing it, I found myself questioning everything I had come here for.
At least for the moment.
She smiled, more relaxed for the first time in days. "Thanks for accepting my invite. I really needed a night where I don't have to think about explosions, rescues, or arch-nemeses randomly showing up to ruin my day."
"Well," I replied with a smile as we walked side by side under the soft city lights, "I hope I'm a satisfying enough distraction for you. Sometimes it's good to remember that, first and foremost, we're just kids too."
"Exactly!" she laughed, brushing a strand of hair away. "Just two kids who want to enjoy some pizza, maybe a movie, and absolutely no dimensional portals to close before the world or the universe explodes."
"Though, to be fair, that last part sounds a bit extreme." I smiled, tilting my head. "But hey, if we do get attacked by some alien, at least I've got the toughest and hottest girl in the multiverse by my side."
Jen struck a theatrical pose, patting her chest with a proud expression. "Well, duh! As long as I'm around, no sane alien would even think about attacking us. It'd be suicide."
BOOM!
An explosion ripped through the air behind us. The ground trembled under our feet and a column of black smoke rose in the distance, followed by screams and cries. People began running in all directions, panic overtaking the entire street.
Jen tensed up, her expression turning serious instantly. "...Okay, maybe I spoke too soon," she growled in frustration, clenching her fists.
Then, through the screams of the fleeing crowd and the growing sound of sirens, a familiar voice rose into the air—deep, menacing, filled with disdain.
"Tennyson... No matter how many times you manage to defeat me. I will always return. Your life belongs to me."
Jen paled. She turned slowly toward the source of the explosion, her lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze tight.
And there, amidst the flames and debris blackening the road, advanced the colossal figure of Vilgax, his armored body gleaming under the flickering firelight. Behind him, an alien ship loomed in the background like a harbinger of imminent war.
But what caught the eye more than anything was the figure to his right. A girl—or rather, an albino copy of Jen, but with some disturbing differences.
Tall, slender, with long white hair that swayed in the wind like silver threads. Her skin was pale white, but that only enhanced the allure of her body, which was in no way inferior to the girl standing at my side.
Her eyes, red like freshly spilled blood, glowed with icy rage and a contempt that pierced straight through the soul.
"...I guess those are some old friends of yours, huh?" I commented with clear sarcasm and not a trace of fear in my tone.
Jen clenched her jaw, replying with a hint of amusement in her voice, "Oh yeah, just two of my biggest enemies ever. Nothing to worry about, really."
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Marvel: I'm Spider-Man in this Damn Reincarnation: 1 advanced chapters
Hybrid Man (Ichigo Si/WC Fic) 2 advanced chapters
Son of Li Qiye?: 2 advanced chapters
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Chapter- 16: Shocker - Chapter- 17 (Incoming)
Chapter- 24: Deadly Darts - Chapter- 25: Destiny in My Hands -
Chapter - 8: New Hunt - Chapter - 9: Past unknown
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