10 x Infinity | Ben Tennyson x Reader | Book 2

Episode 9: The Gauntlet

A/N: These latest chapters I've been working on have been requiring a lot of rereading of the first book....hurray continuity!

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I fiddle with my hands nervously, avoiding Ben's serious gaze. He gently grabs my cheeks, I cringe nervously as Ben turns my face to look at him "Y/N, I'm not mad at you," Ben sighs "I just want you to be honest with me." "Ok..." I sigh, handing Ben the letter, Ben looks at it seriously. "Grandpa Max gave this to you before he died?" He asks quietly "Yeah..." I sigh.

The room becomes quiet as Ben start to read the letter. Ship hop off my lap and walks over to the dog bed Gwen bought him. He flops down happily, nuzzling into the pillows. I smile a little before my eyes go back to Ben, he looks at me with a horrified expression. I can't help but feel guilty. "Y/N...how do we cure the Insanity?" He asks nervously, I shrug "I'm not sure. But that's the least of my concerns, I need to get Mom out of space jail before they kill her." I say seriously, Ben looks at me with wide eyes.

"Y/N, we need to find a way to cure you of the Insanity before you die. Do you remember what Grandma Verdona said?" Ben asks firmly, handing me back Mom's letter. I stare at the letter sadly, "Of course I remember...Benji, I don't know a lot about Mayhemians. I thought the black glow was just a cool bonus with my powers—not a sickness that was a punishment for my mom! There's no way of finding out how to cure it. The only people who could've given us any information are either dead or about to be killed." I sigh.

Ben looks at me fearfully, "I'm not giving up yet, N/N. We'll figure out the cure. I promise, ok. Promise me you won't give up." He says with an unsure smile as he holds his hand out to me. I sigh a little, but take his hand "Yeah. We'll figure out a plan...not now though...it's a school night." I joke awkwardly. Ben looks at me sadly before wrapping his arms around me gently. I frown deeply as Ben buries his face in my shoulder, shaking a little.

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I dodge the lasers swiftly, one of the lasers strikes Kevin's shoulder. He grunts, "You ok?" I ask as the stone chips off his shoulder "Been better." Kevin grunts.

Gwen hops from each of her platforms, she lands in front of us. Ben dials on the Omnitrix, "We're in trouble." Gwen says "You think?" Kevin scoffs. "How long before you can change?" She asks Ben, I glance at him, "Still need a few seconds." Ben states "Ooh, I'll handle it." I say excitedly, rubbing my hands together. Gwen stares at me worriedly, "Y/N, no." She says sternly "Gwenie, you know I love you dearly, but you can't keep stifling my chaotic nature like this. It's not healthy for our relationship." I pout before making my hands glow black. I charge up towards the robot we were fighting, "Y/N!" Gwen sighs "Let her go...last thing she needs is discouraging." I hear Ben tell her quietly. I huff a little bit, flashing a guilty frown.

I hate the fact that Ben's acting like I'm going to disappear at any moment. Sometimes he acts ok, but other times he looks at me with a broken look in his eyes. I understand why...but I don't want him to have to worry about all this. I'm doing my best not to worry about it.

I'm fine.

I'm just sad like 50% of the time....and I have a strong urge to break things 40% of the time...

But 10% of the time, I'm doing a-ok!

It doesn't really even feel like I'm gonna die.

I surround the robot in a black glow, "Haha, let's dance b*tch." I cackle quietly, levitating it high into the air. It breaks out of my hold, falling into the ground. "Oh crap." I mumble, quickly catching it "Ben!" Gwen sighs "Break out my hold again and I'll just let you fall and die." I call out to the robot. It shoot lasers at me, I dodge, accidentally dropping it again. "Idiot." I mumble, watching it hit the ground. The ground rumbles, "I warned you!" I laugh.