But, what if something happens while I'm gone?" he asked, his fears getting the better of him.
"Then we'll handle it," Hawkeye casually remarked, waving the teen's worries away. "Despite what you think, Kiddo. We can handle things without you."
"What I believe Clint is trying to say," Black Panther stepped in. "Is that you need not worry about us. Should something occur that is beyond our ability to defeat, we shall contact you immediately."
Seeing the confidence in everyone's eyes, Ben felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
"Thanks, guys. That means a lot." He said sincerely.
"Don't mention it, Ben." Iron Man replied with a grin. Which was quickly followed by a curious expression. "So, any idea where you're gonna go?"
The Teen froze. "Uhh."
Now this was awkward. Ben spent all this time thinking about how he was gonna break the news to the Avengers, he didn't really think about how he would spend his off time.
Before he could say anything on the matter, Hulk suddenly cleared his throat.
"Banner says he knows a place where Ben can go." The Gamma Giant stated.
That certainly took the others by surprise. They hardly ever hear what Hulk's other half has to say. The Gamma Giant usually has private conversations with him or keeps what Bruce says to himself.
So, for Hulk to relay any information that the Gamma Scientist is saying is huge.
"Where?" Ben asked curiously.
After Hulk told him about the place. Ben and the Avengers agreed that it would be the perfect place for him to go.
Without wasting time, the Teen went upstairs to his room and started packing.
He didn't know how long he was gonna be gone, so he pretty much packed all he could fit in his bag.
The Young Hero couldn't help but smile as he pulled out his new suitcase. One of the many things Janet bought for him during his first week at Avengers Mansion.
Janet practically dragged him all across Manhattan to every small or shopping outlet she could find. The Fashionista wanted to ensure Ben had everything he could possibly need fashion-wise, according to her.
This included travel gear. She even picked out a travel outfit. Much to his confusion, he argued that his aliens could get him anywhere in the world faster than a jet. Not to mention that they already have the Quinjets. What use would travel clothes be?
However, Janet was insistent. Apparently, she foresaw Ben having the need to fly on a passenger aircraft someday, much to his chagrin.
It was a fond memory of one of the first days they spent together, just the two of them. Now he was finally using the luggage she got him: a dark green suitcase with an extendable handle and wheels at the base. It had plenty of space within for his clothes and even had compartments to tuck in his grooming kit, gaming devices, and whatever else he may need.
As he packed, it occurred to the teen that he should notify his friends about his temporary leave.
He immediately felt guilty for not contacting Carol and Laura, specifically because they would have been worried sick about him when he suddenly vanished.
Ben contacted Laura first, as she would be the most hysterical of the two.
She answered on the first beep of his communicator. Sure enough, the moment she learned he was missing, she attempted to track him down using her Plumber badge that he gave her.
When she received a ping from Ship while searching for him, Laura borrowed the X-Men's Blackbird and hightailed it to Russia, where she'd been searching high and low for any clues leading to his location.
She was in the process of hunting down Wonder Man after learning he was the last person to see Ben before he went on his Asgardian adventure, when Ben called her.
It took a while for her to calm down as Ben explained everything that happened while he was missing.
Laura listened intently as he recounted the events. Ben could see her body tense when he told her about the more dangerous parts of his adventure. Especially when he told her about the injury he sustained from Loki.
After showing her the scar, he could see her shaking in rage, seeing her friend hurt like that. Ben had no doubt in his head that Laura just put Loki at the top of her most-hated list.
When he was done, he finally told her about his leave of absence and where he was going.
He proceeded to spend the next several minutes convincing Laura not to follow him to the destination.
She was persistent and even tried to negotiate with him, with her sleeping outside the location so she could keep an eye on him.
But Ben was able to convince her to let him go. With the deal that he was to send her a text twice a day. One in the morning and one in the evening. If Ben misses one of those texts, Laura will come to the location immediately.
With that, he finally ended the call with Laura. Ben was a little sad that he wouldn't be hanging out with her for a while. They've become such close friends that even he didn't like the idea of going so far from her.
But he knew that it would be good for both of them. Ben needs to grieve, and Laura needs to socialise with people other than him.
He was about to call Carol's number when he heard a tap on his window.
Ben swivelled around only to see the Golden Haired beauty that is Carol Danvers floating just outside his bedroom window.
Her dainty finger tapped the glass as the lighting made her look like an ethereal spirit.
She smiled playfully at him as he walked over to the window and unlocked the latch. The frame swung open, allowing the evening breeze to flow into the room.
"Hey Alien X," Carol greeted with a teasing smirk. "You gonna invite me in?"
Ben smiled as he took her hand in his and guided her inside.
"I was just about to call you. How did you know to come here?" He asked curiously. Really hoping that SHIELD wasn't having the house monitored.
"Miss Van Dyne called me," Carol replied, still unable to call Wasp by her first name. "She said I should come over to talk to you. She sounded pretty serious, Are you ok?"
Ben sighed and shook his head. He couldn't tell if this was Janet being helpful or sticking her nose where it doesn't belong.
Either way, it got her here. But now comes the hard part.
"Well. That's actually what I wanted to talk about, Carol." Ben said, the tension building in his chest.
Carol gave him a concerned look as she walked over to him and cupped his cheek in her hand.
"Did something happen? You can tell me. Whatever is going on, we can deal with it together."
She was so genuine with her words, and that just made this even more painful for Ben.
Taking her hand, Ben took a deep sigh as he looked her in the eyes.
"Well. It's a little hard to explain…"
Her grip tightened on his hands as her blue eyes pierced his soul.
Gosh, this was hard.
"Ok, so… you know how I've been having regular therapy sessions with Doc Samson?" Ben started.
Carol nodded, indicating for him to continue.
"Well. During our last session, he made a lot of points about how I've been handling my family's death and how it's affected me."
"That couldn't have been easy," Carol said, giving him a sympathetic look. "Were the points he made helpful at least?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah, I think… He suggested that the reason that I haven't been able to move past my loss is because I've been trying to fill the void they left. His words. And that I need to take some time to grieve properly in order to fully heal from it."
Carol tilted her head in confusion. "I'm not sure what that means. But if this could help you. Then you should do it. Whatever it is."
Hearing her be so supportive just made Ben's chest tighten as he looked into her crystal blue eyes.
"That's the thing, Carol. From what Samson said. He suggested that I take a break from everything related to hero work. The Avengers, the city… Even you."
Carol released his hands and backed up slightly. "Oh…"
The awkward tension formed between the pair as the Half Kree averted her gaze.
"So.. When Doctor Samson said you were trying to fill the void left by your family. Did that include me? Am I.. Julies replacement?"
Ben didn't know what was worse. Him thinking it or hearing Carol come to the same conclusion.
Whatever guilt Ben had when the thought first entered his mind paled in comparison to the hurt look that Carol had the moment those words left her mouth.
"Carol, no…" Ben started to say, stepping towards her only for her to recoil in response.
"No. It makes sense. After all, why not? I am the easiest pick. It was so convenient for you." She then touched her hand to her forehead. "After all, why else would you forgive me so easily after I betrayed your trust?"
"Carol!" Ben shouted, grabbing her hand and forcing her to look at him.
Her emerald eyes staring into hers conveyed his profound and bold emotions.
"The fact that you still regret that day just proves I was right to give us a chance," Ben stated with complete confidence.
Carol wanted to back away, but for some reason, her super strength had shorted out, and she couldn't break free of Ben's grip.
"But what about what you said?" She asked him. "About the void and stuff?"
Ben lowered his gaze and clenched his jaw. "Look. I don't know if what Samson said is true or not. But I just know that I should at least follow his advice and see if it helps."
He then raised his head to her and cupped her cheek in his hand. "I need to know if what we have is real. It's not fair to you if I'm doing this because of my trauma."
The pair looked into each other's eyes. Each sharing their pain and trepidation without uttering a single word to each other.
Carol chuckled before tilting her head forward. Ben mimicked her as they placed their foreheads together with their eyes closed.
"I guess we both entered this relationship on the wrong foot," Carol stated softly with a smile.
Ben chortled softly as they opened their eyes to look at each other once more.
"I guess so." He admitted.
After a few moments, they separated. With Carol clearing her throat and patting down her jeans. While also drying her eyes before tears could fall.
"So, what does this mean for us? Are we breaking up?" She asked, a slight hitch in her voice.
Ben grunted as he reigned in his emotions before straightening up. "Um, well. I don't think we really need to break up. But more like we're just taking a break, I think?"
Carol placed her hands on her hips as she raised an eyebrow to him. "Are you saying that you want me to wait until you come back to decide whether or not we should keep dating?"
Sheepishly, the Teen Hero rubbed the back of his head. "I mean. When you put it that way…"
Carol sighed and shook her head. "That's a pretty selfish request, Ben. I thought the whole point of this was for you to be fair with me?"
"I know, I know," Ben replied regretfully. "If it's too much to ask. I understand. I would never make you do anything you're uncomfortable with."
He turned away, ashamed to look her in the eye. He really wasn't in a position to ask her something like that.
However, Carol walked over to him, turned his head to face her, kissed him on the lips and gave him a warm hug. Much to his surprise.
"Look, I started this relationship by spying on you. No matter what you say, that's still a hard thing to get over. So I owe you this much. And I'll be waiting for you when you come back." She said with confidence.
Ben was stunned. He didn't expect this kind of outcome. He felt so bad that he was stringing her along while she was still holding onto the guilt of betraying his trust.
She really is such a marvellous woman. Ben will make sure that he gives her a proper answer when he returns.
After that, Ben and Carol said their goodbyes, and she flew out his window into the night.
It was hard to let her go. But hopefully, this would not be the end, and they will reunite when he comes back.
As Ben finished packing the last of his stuff. He went to put on his jacket…
Only to pause when he held it in front of him.
His iconic green Jacket. His most cherished possession. The one thing that's been with him throughout his hero career.
Now torn apart with a tear slicing the collar and leaving a huge rip that almost took off the left sleeve.
Throughout all his battles, this jacket has been able to survive it all. But one brush with Loki leaves it in tatters.
It broke his heart to see it in such a state. But there wasn't anything he could do about it. It's gone.
Settling on his old black t-shirt, Ben placed the torn jacket on the bed, picked up his bag and walked to his door. Taking one last look at the place. He didn't know when he would see this place again. So he took a moment to remember the good times. His first home in this new world.
With a satisfied smile, Ben turned out the light and closed the door.
Making his way down to the hangar, Ben found Cap, Janet, Ship, Zed and… Bruce?
To his surprise, the Gamma Scientist was standing before him in the flesh.
"Whoa, Bruce? I didn't think I'd get to see you," Ben said, shaking the scientist's hand.
Bruce chuckled as he greeted the teen. "Hulk agreed to let me out for this. We agreed I would make a better tour guide than he."
The Teen shrugged as he picked up his luggage.
"Well. I'm not gonna complain. Glad to have the company." He quickly looked around. "Anyone else coming?"
"Sorry, Son. But the others needed to handle some business that came up." Captain America explained.
"Yeah. Turns out, suddenly disappearing off the face of the earth when you have other responsibilities leads to a few things piling up." Wasp stated with a playful snark.
Ben gave her an incredulous look. "Really? What responsibilities does Clint have?"
"He doesn't. He just didn't want to come. Says he said goodbye already. Why do it again?" She clarified, doing a poor attempt at Archer's voice.
Ben scoffed and shook his head. That's Hawkeye for ya. He missed him already.
Cap then raised his hand to his chin. "That reminds me, Wasp. Don't you own a company as well? Wouldn't you have the same responsibilities?"
In response, Janet casually waved off the Super Soldier. "Please, I have my business taken care of weeks in advance."
She then walked over and wrapped one arm around Ben, pulling him into a one-sided hug.
"Besides, no way am I gonna bail on seeing Ben off."
Ben smiled. "Thanks, Jan. And thank you, Cap."
The Super Soldier smiled and patted Ben's shoulder. "Of course, son."
Upon contact, Zed immediately started growling at Captain America, forcing him to back off.
Even after all this, the alien Dog still had an issue with him.
Ben made a mental note to find out what is causing this hostility between them.
With that, the group boarded the Quinjet.
After an hour of flying, the Quinjet arrived at the coordinates that Bruce programmed into the navigation system.
They had flown into the mountains in Montana, near the border of Canada, where a small wooden cabin had been constructed in a remote clearing in the forest.
It was a cozy little place, far from anywhere, and despite some weathering and cobwebs. The place looked nice.
Ben couldn't help but be reminded of the cabin that Bruce took him and Hawkeye to when the Leader unleashed his Gamma Dome on the world.
"Wait, Bruce. Is this the…" He started to ask, but Bruce cut him off.
"No, Ben, this is not the same cabin." The Scientist explained. "If you recall, that cabin was in Canada."
"Oh, right." Ben released, nodding his head.
Bruce walked towards the cabin as he continued. "I had several of these safe houses made while I was on the run. Each one served a different purpose. This one was for when I just needed a place to relax and feel at home."
He opened the front door and flipped the switch to turn on the lights.
The three heroes looked inside with awe in their eyes.
Inside the cabin was a warm, rustic country home, featuring wooden furniture covered in animal pelts, a cozy fireplace, dining tables, a well-equipped kitchen, a master bedroom, and even a second guest room with a functioning bathroom.
Bruce casually walked inside as he started giving Ben and the others a tour.
"Now, you'll need to chop wood for the fireplace. Axe can be found in the toolshed out back. There is running water, but I'll need to check the filtration system before you use it for drinking or cooking. Food is a little tricky, but since you mentioned Ben that your Dad and grandfather took you hunting, then I'm sure you'll find plenty in the woods and stream." Bruce went on as he moved through the cabin.
Heading into the kitchen, he pulled out a thin book and quickly dusted it off before handing it to Ben.
"This is a guide to edible plants you can find out there. Be sure you recognise the edible ones from the poisonous ones. I also have a book of recipes you can use for whatever ingredients you manage to acquire out there."
As the Scientist went on about the many features of the place, Ben, Janet and Steve couldn't help but look at the place in amazement.
Despite the layer of dust and cobwebs around the place, the cabin looked amazing. Like it was plucked straight out of a bed and breakfast pamphlet.
"So, where did you say you rented this place from?" Janet asked curiously.
The socialite has made it her mission to be in the loop of any hidden or exclusive resort, club, event or gathering in the world. How this little gem slipped past her notice is a grave insult to her ability to get in anywhere.
However, the Gamma Scientist gave her a confused look. "Oh, I didn't rent this place. I built it." He said in a casual tone.
Ben and Janet's jaws dropped while Steve gave Bruce a nod of approval.
Bruce built this place? Bruce? The lanky guy before them, who looks like he spends so much time in the lab that he looks pale next to Ghostfreak. He built this luxury cabin in the woods?
"How?" Ben asked, completely stunned. "I thought you were on the run, dude. How did you pull this off? The last cabin didn't look anything like this."
The Gamma Scientist looked around the place and nodded his head. "I can understand why this place would be surprising to you. But during my time hiding from the Government, there were moments when I found myself with a lot of free time. So I learned a few survival skills and put them to good use."
"That's an understatement," Wasp remarked, looking up at the deer horn chandelier that was hanging above them. "If this place is off the grid, where's the power coming from?"
"Oh, that's from a portable gamma reactor I constructed and installed." Bruce casually remarked.
"The what?!" Janet asked, tensing up. It was one thing to discover that Bruce had hidden talents in crafting and construction. But to find out there's also a jury-rigged radioactive device in the area.
Bruce is immune to radiation poisoning. She isn't.
Seeing her reaction, Bruce immediately held his hands up in a placating gesture. "Don't worry. I designed the reactor myself. We are perfectly safe from the radiation, and it'll be able to run itself for the next 50 years or so."
Hearing the calmness in his voice, Wasp relaxed while Ben continued to be blown away. "This place is awesome, Bruce. Are you sure that it's ok for me to stay here?"
"Of course, Ben." The Scientist assured. "Use it for as long as you need. I'm just glad I can finally do something for you. After all you've done so much for me."
"It wasn't that much." Ben shrugged. Only for Banner to shake his head.
"No, Ben. You've done more than you realise. Not just for me. But everyone. This is the least I can do."
With a pat on his shoulder. Bruce gave the Teen a warm smile before showing him to his room.
As Ben unpacked in his room, Ship and Zed immediately settled into the place. Zed jumped up on one of the fur pelts and curled up on top of it. Meanwhile, Ship began merging with the electrical systems of the cabin and instantly fixed and enhanced any faulty wiring to ensure everything ran smoothly.
The cabin didn't have a TV, and there was no signal this far into the wilderness. But thanks to Ship, he can turn himself into a TV or computer system and receive signals from anywhere on Earth, in case Ben ever needed him to.
But the Young Hero didn't see himself needing to connect to the internet anytime soon. He came up here to get away from all that, so he'd try to focus on the outdoors and nature.
Thinking about that reminded him of the summer camping trips with his Grandpa. The summer that started everything.
He looked down at the Ultimatrix. When he first came to this world, he thought he'd never use this thing again. Now he wonders how he can live without it. They've come a long way, this little device and he.
While it's not the original watch that crashed at his feet. It carries that same legacy, and it'll be a part of him now and forever.
A knock on the door caused Ben to turn around as Janet walked in. Trying to conceal something behind her back.
"Hey, Ben. Settling in ok?" She asked.
"Yep. Got everything set." Ben replied as he looked at the clothes he'd pulled out of his bag. "Though, I think I should've packed more winter gear. I don't think I'll last with the one coat."
"Well, since you brought it up." Janet coyly said, strolling over with a giddy hop in her step. "I was saving this for your birthday. But I think you'd better have it now. Since I know how cold it can get here."
She slowly pulled out a bag from behind her back. On the side, it featured the logo of Van Dyne Design Studio.
Taking the bag, Ben looked inside and his eyes widened as a big smile spread across his lips.
Reaching inside, Ben pulled out a hooded jacket. It was white, with two green bands on the upper sleeves and along the zipper, as well as the outline of the pockets and cuffs. It had the number 10 printed in green on the left side of the chest.
Ben held up the new jacket in amazement as he examined it. It was expertly crafted and felt really soft and warm. No doubt this was made by Janet herself.
"Jan, you shouldn't have," Ben said as he admired the jacket.
However, Janet waved her hands in front of his face to shut him up. "Ub, Ep, Ep. None of that. Now come on, try it on. I wanna make sure it fits."
Not wanting to argue with her, Ben quickly slid on the jacket. The material felt soft against his skin; the sleeves were the perfect length, and it fit his body perfectly. Not too baggy, not too tight, it was comfortable to move in and felt incredibly warm.
"I like it." Ben complimented. "Feels great, Jan."
"Hang on." The Fashionista said, looking the Teen up and down. "Give me a spin, I wanna see it from the back."
Ben rolled his eyes as his shoulders drooped. "Come on, Jan. I said it's fine, now can we?"
"Nah, uh, mister. Don't give me that, now spin." She snapped at him.
The Teenager groaned and begrudgingly obliged her. Every single time she had him try on something, they'd do this song and dance. Honestly, what was the point? Ben thought it felt good. Why did she always want to see what it looked like from all angles?
After spinning around like a show car on a lazy Susan, Janet walked up to him and did up the zipper. Then gently smoothed the shoulders out so it didn't have any creases.
As Ben saw her up close. He noticed her eyes were slightly red and some tears were welling up as she tried to avert her gaze.
Without a second's hesitation, Ben wrapped his arms around her and gave her a tight hug.
"Thank you, Jan," Ben said genuinely. "Not just for the jacket. For everything. Thank you for always looking out for me, for supporting me and for just being there when I needed you."
She tightened her grip on him as he felt his own tears welling up.
"But most of all. Thanks for being my Big Sister. I love you, Jan."
He could feel Janet trying to restrain herself from bawling and sniffling on his new jacket. After all the work she put into it, it'll be a crime against fashion for her to stain something fresh off the line.
Losing his hug, Janet lifted her head as Ben offered her his handkerchief to dry her eyes.
"I love you, too, little bro." She responded, her voice quivering from her emotions.
"It's gonna be so weird not seeing you every day. I'm really going to miss you."
"Hey, I'll be back before you know it," Ben promised.
"I'll hold you to that," Janet said with a mock threat, and she giggled. "And be ready. I'm gonna have way more outfits for you to try on when you get back. This little piece is just the start."
Ben laughed at her claims as the two adopted siblings hugged one more time.
Janet then pulled Ben's head down so she could kiss his forehead. "If you need anything. And I do mean anything. Give me a call and I'll be right here. Even if it's just to talk. I don't care."
"I will, Janet. I promise." The Young Hero replied as they finally let each other go and finished setting up the cabin.
After a few more minutes. The Cabin was fully set up for Ben, Ship and Zed to stay in.
With one last round of goodbyes, Wasp, Captain America and Bruce Banner all left in the Quinjet.
The sound of the engines faded into the distance, giving way to the eerie silence of the great outdoors. Really solidified in Ben's mind how far he is from everything.
Ben felt a little nervous, but he knew this will be a good experience for him. A break from the hero life and a chance to fully reflect on everything.
At least he has Ship and Zed with him. So he won't be completely alone out here.
Taking a few steps past the couch, Ben clapped his hands together, alerting the two alien hounds.
"Ok, how's about we light a fire and have our first dinner in this place?" Ben suggested to the pair.
The two alien animals barked in agreement as Ship turned himself into a flame thrower and blasted the logs in the fireplace, immediately igniting them.
Ben could already tell that ruffing it in the wild may be hard when he has a living multitool as a pet. But he'll have plenty of time to get used to this new environment.
He pulled out one of the prepackaged meals he had on him and was about to start prepping dinner.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door.
Ben's head turned to face the door.
Three more knocks rang out.
This was unusual. They were in the middle of nowhere. There's no other settlement for miles.
It couldn't be the Avengers, he would've heard the jet. Not to mention, no one else knows he's out here.
Could be a hiker who got lost?
Whoever it is, neither Zed nor Ship seemed concerned by the knock.
Still, Ben set the Ultimatrix to Swampfire, just in case, as he cautiously approached the door.
Unhooking the latch, Ben turned the doorknob, and the wooden frame creaked open.
The light from inside flooded out into the darkness of the outdoors, revealing Laura Kinney, standing on the cabin's doorstep.
Seeing her face, Ben felt both excited and slightly annoyed.
"Oh, Laura." He sighed as he swung the door wide open and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I thought we agreed on this. I know you're worried, but I need this time away from everything. This isn't easy for me either, but we have to be strong here."
Just then, Laura's usual neutral expression turned into a big grin as her eyes lit up with pure joy and excitement.
Such an expression was so unlike Laura that it immediately sent up red flags in the Teen Hero's mind.
As Laura threw her arms into the air, Ben's arms instantly snapped to the watch as he prepared to slam the dial down.
"PYCHE!" Laura screamed in a voice not her own.
Ben froze, his face going dumbfounded.
"Huh?"
The being he thought was Laura suddenly began laughing in a high-pitched, snorting giggle as her body turned into purple mud before shapeshifting into the form of Ben's alien cousin, Lucy Mann.
"Lucy?" Ben gasped as the Sludge Alien glomped onto him in a bone-crushing hug.
"Hey Ben! So happy I can do this again!" Lucy cried out as she lifted Ben off the ground and swung him around, all while laughing.
Eventually, the energetic cousin put Ben down as she held her arms behind her back and posed in a cute fashion.
Ben was still shocked by her presence here.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you, Cus. But what are you doing here, and how did you find me?" Ben questioned.
"Oh, that's easy," Lucy responded in a carefree manner. "For the why is pretty obvious. I'm here to spend time with you, silly. And as for how I found you. Well, the super obvious way is tracking you with my Plumber Badge. But the real way is that I came by the mansion that your team stays at, and they told me."
"Ok. But why?" Ben continued to ask. While it was nice to see his cousin again after all this time. She had to show up at a really inconvenient time for him.
Didn't Jan or any of the other Avengers tell her why he was out here and that he was taking time to be alone?
"Come on, Ben," Lucy responded in a cheeky tone. "You can read between the lines. It's obvious."
She then pulled out a silver cube from her pocket. From the size of it, there's no way that cube would have fit inside a regular pocket. Additionally, since Lucy's clothes are essentially her body reshaped to resemble human clothing, it implies that she kept the cube within her body.
She pressed the red button on the top of the cube. Instantly, the silver metal of the cube turned to liquid and expanded, then transformed into a suitcase that Lucy held by the handle.
Seeing the bag, Ben's eyes widened as her words sank in.
"What?" He gasped, taken aback.
Lucy continued to be as bubbly as ever. "I'm visiting for a couple months. But don't worry. I promise I won't get mud on anything."
She gave a playful wink, accompanied by her signature cheeky smile.
Ben blinked a few times as he processed what she said. Lucy, staying here with him? Now of all times?
Sure, Lucy had a history of spontaneously popping by to visit him and Gwen when they were kids.
But that was because their parents would normally get a heads up she was coming, and they would surprise him. Ben wasn't a kid anymore, he should've at least been given a heads up about this.
He was so lost in thought that he almost missed Lucy walking past him to explore the cabin.
"This is a nice place." She complimented having a look around.
Lucy started to make her way towards the guest room before Ben snapped out of it.
"Woah, woah, woah!" He jumped to his feet and got ahead of her. "Look, Luc. Not that it isn't great to see you. But you can't just spring something like this on me out of the blue. You should have at least called first."
"But, that would have spoiled the surprise!" Lucy gleefully jumped up and down while giggling.
Ben clenched his jaw as he held her shoulders to keep her still. "Yes, yes, I hear you. And you always give the best surprises. But this isn't a good time for me. I really need some time to myself and sort through some things."
Lucy nodded in understanding. "I totally hear ya, Ben, and I will support you through the whole thing. You won't even know I'm here."
She took his hands in hers and gently patted them. "Don't worry. I'll be right here to make sure nobody bothers you." She assured him.
Ben felt the vein in his head throb as he grew more frustrated.
"You're not getting it, Lucy." Ben hissed through his teeth. "I'm trying to be polite here, but I can't deal with you right now."
He dropped her hands and walked past her to the door.
"I came out here to get away from everything hero-related. I don't have time to play host to you right now. If you want to visit this universe, Janet and the other Avengers can set you up." He grabbed the doorknob and turned it before facing back into the room. "So if you don't mind, I would ask you to respect my privacy and…"
He paused the moment he looked back at her.
For a brief moment, he didn't recognise the being in front of him.
Lucy's form had completely changed. The colour drained from her skin; her eyes were sunken, and her hair had become messy and unkempt. With several strings turning dark. Most jarring of all, she wasn't smiling.
From the day he first met her, Ben had never once seen Lucy without her smile. She has always been the bubbly ray of sunshine wherever she went.
No matter the situation, Lucy was always in a good mood. And if others weren't, Lucy would go out of her way to cheer them up. If there's one thing Ben could always count on Lucy for. It's to cheer him up on a bad day.
To see her like this. So lifeless, so hollow. It was so jarring that he flinched at the sight of her.
Lucy lowered her head as she gripped her right arm with her left hand. Her lip quivered as her messy hair fell in front of her eyes.
"Y-You're not the only one who needs time away from everything…" she said in a shaky voice, barely able to get the words out.
Raising her head, Ben saw her eyes and the pain emanating from them. Purple mud tears rolled down her cheeks as she whimpered.
"They were my family too," Lucy said, her words carrying her pain as she stabbed into Ben.
Her legs then literally turned to mud as she slumped to the floor and started bawling.
Ship and Zed both went to her, whimpering and nuzzling her as she covered her face with her hands and cried.
All the while, Ben stood there, watching Lucy fall apart and mentally kicking himself.
What a grade A idiot! He called himself in his head.
How could he have been so insensitive and selfish? Of course, Lucy would be feeling the same way he was. She grew up with Gwen; she spent her summers in Bellwood with them, ate their grandpa's cooking, and attended family game nights.
While they may have drifted apart in their teen years, Lucy is still every bit a part of his family as anyone else.
So, of course, she would be feeling their loss just as severely as he was.
Walking over to her, Ben dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around his cousin.
Her muddy body was staining his shirt, but he didn't care.
"I'm sorry, Lucy," Ben said. "I should've known you were dealing with the same thing I am."
Lucy sniffed as her body started becoming more solid.
"I'm sorry too. I should've been honest from the start," Lucy said, reforming her body back to solid form.
She still looked sickly, likely due to her body's appearance reflecting her emotional state.
Ben hugged her tightly before backing up a bit. Seeing the mud stains on his shirt, the teen hero gave his cousin a little smirk.
"Thought you said you wouldn't get mud on anything while you're staying?" he said lightheartedly.
Lucy gave a weak giggle as she wiped away her tears.
"Does that mean I can stay?" she asked with a smile.
Ben grinned as he took her hand in his and helped her up.
"Of course you can. Stay as long as you need," Ben told her.
A big grin spread across her face as a bit of colour returned to her. It wasn't back to its usual brightness, but it was a start.
Ben had a feeling that it would be a while before he saw her true sparkle return to her. But for now, it was nice to see her brighten up.
The two cousins then set to work getting Lucy settled in.
It's the start of a brand new chapter for both of them in this new world.
"Good night, Steve," Janet called to the Super Soldier down the hall.
Captain America turned and smiled as the others walked to their rooms.
"Get some rest, Cap, you earned it." Iron Man called out as he closed the door.
The Super Soldier smiled at his team as they walked past. Only for it to fade the moment he opened his door.
They had arrived back at the mansion not too long ago. So much had happened in recent times that they didn't realise how late it had gotten until JARVIS reminded them of the time.
Captain America walked to his bed and put his bag on top of it.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he pulled off his mask and popped the joints in his spine to relieve some of the tension that had built up.
It had been a long day.
Looking down, the Super Soldier had a solemn look on his face as he unzipped the bag, reached inside and pulled out a shard of his shield.
It pained him to see his trusty weapon in such a state.
To some, it was merely a tool that could be easily replaced.
But, to him, it was like losing a part of his soul.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, Cap felt a chill run down his spine as he remembered the promise he made in order to help the Avengers in Asgard.
His fatigued state must be messing with his eyes, as he could have sworn that he saw the face of Hela in the reflection of the metal.
Shaking his head, Captain America looked back to see his reflection staring back at him.
Letting out a sigh, the Super Soldier pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his tired eyes.
"Steven Rogers." A voice suddenly cut through the silence behind him.
Captain America's head snapped to attention as he immediately turned around, getting into a fighting position.
Even without his shield. Cap is still a super soldier and will face anyone who threatens him.
But of all the people the Super Soldier could have expected to face off against. He did not expect to see… Himself?
Emerging from the shadows was Captain America himself.
He was identical down to the last possible detail. Same build, same uniform, same face, everything. Had Steve not known any better, he could've sworn he was looking in a mirror. However, this Steve Rogers had his mask on.
The First Captain America was stunned. How could there be another him? Was this some kind of trick, a clone, time travel, alternate universe, or was this his mind playing tricks on him again?
After everything he's seen since joining the Avengers, anything is possible.
However, his tired and confused mind was so caught up in the confusion that he failed to notice what was in the other Steve's hand before he raised his arm.
It was a gun. A strange-looking gun. It looked advanced, more advanced than any weapon he had seen in the modern world. Almost otherworldly.
His eyes widened as he realised too late, and the other Steve pulled the trigger.
A flash of light and one of the Captain Americas fell to the ground. A groan escaped his lips as the last of his consciousness left him.
The other Steve loomed over the downed Super Soldier as he lowered his weapon.
A sinister grin appeared on his face as he pulled out another device from his pocket. A small, rectangular device with strange symbols on the front and a blinking screen.
The Captain America doppelganger pressed a button on the device as his body started to change.
His skin shifted from the smooth, pinkish-white skin. To bumpy, green scales. His jawline grew wider with several bumps along the chin. His eyes turned black, with bright red pupils, and his ears grew longer, becoming pointed.
The False Steve Rogers had transformed into a humanoid, green alien creature as he spoke into the device with the Captain's own voice.
"The infiltration has begun."
And there we have it! XD
Ill allow those of you who have just finished to take a breather and come back when you've had a chance to rest.
...
Now that you're back! Let me first say that this was a MONSTER of a chapter. At 228 pages and 84,305 words, this is the longest chapter I have written to date!
I wasn't kidding when I said I pulled out all the stops. I had so many ideas buzzing in my head. Many of whom I thought up when I first started writing this story.
Now it's all done and dusted. Season 1 is down and now the Skrull Invasion is on the horizon. What will Ben do in the face of this new threat? Stay tuned for Season 2 of Avenging 10!
Now to get into some questions. Yeah Im sorry, no Alien X again. Im sure you're disappointed. But I hope Atomix is good enough? XD
Honestly, Atomix vs Loki has been my endgame from the start. Ive had this fight planned for years and ive been so excited to finally bring it to life. In case you're wondering, yeah I did have Atomix use the same moves in the exact same order as his debut episode. This seems to be a tradition among Ben 10 fan fictions (at least the ones ive read) so who am I to break the tradition? XD
But the other additions ive included. Fenris, the Destroyer, the Asgardians and many more. Ive had so many ideas come together and it's been a blast to write it all.
So much so, that I was worried that I might have gone overboard with it. Hope it didn't drag for too long.
Now, for those of you who've been saying that Cap was already a Skrull in my story and that's why Zed didn't like him. Bet you feel pretty silly now. XD
In all seriousness, I was thoroughly entertained by the number of theories that you all come up with for my story and potential plot lines. Some of you can get really close to what im planning while most of you are so out there that I can't help but laugh and wonder where you guys come up with that stuff. XD
But it just proves to me that you all have enjoyed and are invested in my work and I aim to give it my all.
That being said. I will be taking a little break for now. After devoting 10 years to this project. I feel like ive earned some rest to get my mind sorted and plan for the future.
I promise im not abandoning you. I will continue A10 with Season 2. But you'll all need to be patient for now. I have a very big life choice ahead of me and I will make an announcement in the near future.
Until next time, CaptainRex75 out!