It's Hard

A Third Opinion

After that fateful night, Ben found himself on the previously-known comfort of his bed. The clock ticked silently, casting the midnight shadows upon the city. The boy was silently staring into nothing, yet his eyes fixed on the blouse and vest he had thrown out on the floor, and the pair of jeans hanging from the bed below his feet on the bed. All he wore was a black tank top with a gold chain, and back shorts with a gold belt-chain. His hair was unkept and his usual wavy hair, making no effort to straighten it like he usually does.

"This is wrong," he mutters quietly to himself, realizing just how much he was wasting away by sulking and brooding here, curled up under his sheets with dried tear-stains on his cheeks. 

Benjamin stood up, putting on his converse shoes and just a varsity jacket over his black tank top and shorts, and made his way to his cabinet with a combination. He clicked it open, and took out a small yet sophisticated device.

"I have to. I can't keep up with it. I'm being pathetic...but...I got nothin' else to lose."

With that, he clicks the red, circular button on the electronic gadget.

________________

Meanwhile, Ben Prime and Rook are talking amongst themselves, their clothes slightly tattered from their latest mission. The green-eyed teen had that same, sassy hand-over-hip pose to make his point. 

"Rook, for the last time, I wasn't being reckless! I was just doing what heroes do, putting themselves in danger for the sake of others, ya know?" 

The Revonnahgander sighed, shaking his head. However, the moment he felt an unfamiliar step, he swung his Proto-tool towards the source of the noise. His eyes widen as he quickly lowers his weapon at the frightened individual he had mistook for an opponent. 

"23?" Prime muttered, his voice trying to hide the sheer worry as he ran to his young counterpart, who immediately broke down at the sight of the blue alien pointing the weapon at him- as if life hadn't been hard on him enough. As if the multiverse hadn't been crushing him with responsibilities, guilt, and self-doubt every single day, minute, second. The older teen held his narrow, young shoulders in his hands firmly, trying to get the blue-eyed kid to look at him. But alas, no response except for a continuous flood of tears gushing down like a water-fall from his sea-blue eyes.

"Ben..." Prime trailed off, not knowing what to say in a situation like this. Heck, no one knew the spoilt brat could even feel a pinch of remorse after that stunt he had pulled by nearly ripping Azmuth in half. But this was different. Something was wrong with the boy. Nonetheless, he wasn't a monster for letting a young kid with the universe's most powerful device sob his way to pity and grief. 

"Shh..." The older gently rubbed the young teen's back to and fro, wrapping his free arm around his arms. The sudden urge to act paternal was hard to ignore, before quickly pulling the boy into his arms, wrapping them around him in a firm yet gentle menuever. Gosh, he had never known this 13-year-old was so small in size, so vulnerable and so delicate and fragile. He heard the kid speak, his voice breaking and his already raspy voice making it hard to make out what he was saying.

Rook had seen this feeling immediately and gave the two some space after seeing the reaction he received from the young one. 

"I-I miss G-Grandpa Max..." A little, soft sob escaped his mouth, his lower lip trembling as he tried to stop himself from crying like a fool in front of his mentor, which only strained his flood-gates and gushed out more tears.

Prime felt like a monster. He'd assumed that all this kid ever was was some sort of bill-board advertiser who saw no value in morality or knowledge. He used to see this boy as someone who used this device for his own selfish desires, who never once thought of others. 

Who never felt. Who never suffered.

But then he looked at 23 one more time. 

He took in what the kid was wearing. A sleeveless black top with just a gold chain, and just shorts with the belt chain. He had forgotten to wear his socks, and not even bothered to straighten his hair. Damn, he was almost unrecognizable, he nearly pulled away from thinking he was hugging the wrong kid.

He felt 23 sink into his arms, before almost leaning completely against him as the sobs died down to tiny sniffles. He looked at the young one's face in worry.

The kid had worn mascara the previous day for his celebrity appearance, but it'd been running down his face comically, his eyeshadow smudged slightly from what might have been him rubbing his eyes. And his concealer had been fading, showing the dark circles beneath his eyes. 

Then the kid suddenly dropped his full weight on his older counterpart, making the latter produce a small yelp and quickly holding 23 in his arms.

"Hey- You okay?"

Nothing.

"Rook! Rook?!"

The older plumber quickly jolted to the scene and immediately understood his task. He gently lifted the now-resting boy carefully, the messy-haired head resting against his shoulder.

"Get him to my house, I just gotta make a quick call." The green-eyed teen said as the blue alien took the young boy to his counterpart's home.

________________

Upon reaching there, 23 was kept on the couch. He slowly sunk into the warmth and comfort of the furniture, resting for what seemed to be hours. Slowly but surely, his pretty, sapphire blue eyes flutter open, looking up at his older counterpart looking at him with a worried frown. Before being able to even take a breath, he's bombarded with questions from the other. 

"What happened? Was there an attack? Did your Vilgax attack? Or Malware? Did someone insult you? Did they tell you that you can't get a car? Did-"

"PRIME!" 23 yells, huffing heavily with wide eyes. He quickly darts his gaze away. "I-I- N-nothing! Just... Feeling...hopeless..."

The older paused,  not minding his outburst. However, he quickly brushed the younger's hair away from his face.

"Let me guess," He huffs. "Guilt."

"How did you-"

"Been there done that."

...

"...How did you...get over it?" 23 asks in a soft voice.

"I-"

The duo was interrupted by a harsh, ground-pounding rumble and a crash.

"Ben?" Prime started.

23 knew what this meant. "It's hero time."