Ben 23 Oneshots || Cuz they ain't enough on this planet

Spoiled Milk

The digital clock on Ben 10's nightstand blinked 12:03 am as the soft whine of Ben 23 pierced the silence of the night. Stirring from his slumber, Ben 10 blinked away the haze of sleep, his senses gradually returning to him. He turned his gaze towards the door, where the silhouette of Ben 23 stood, the faint moonlight casting shadows across his tired figure.

"Ben 23? What's up?" Ben 10's voice was groggy with sleep, his concern piqued by the unusual visit at such an hour.

Ben 23 hunched over Ben 10's bed, his face contorted in discomfort, squirming with evident distress. "My stomach hurts, Ben. It's really bad."

Sitting up, Ben 10 rubbed his eyes, the seriousness of the situation slowly sinking in. He reached out to gently pat Ben 23's back, trying to soothe him. "Stomachache, huh? What happened?"

Ben 23 winced, his voice strained with discomfort. "I don't know... It just started hurting after dinner. Feels like I might throw up."

Realization dawned on Ben 10 as he remembered the milk they had with breakfast that morning. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach as he realized he hadn't bothered to check the expiration date. Now, Ben 23 was paying the price for his own recklessness.

"Ben 23, I think... I think the milk might've been spoiled," Ben 10 admitted with a heavy heart, his voice tinged with guilt. "I should've checked. I'm sorry."

Ben 23's expression twisted with a mixture of pain and frustration, but he managed a weak nod. "It's okay, Ben. Not your fault..."

But Ben 10 couldn't shake off the feeling of responsibility weighing heavily on him. He had to do something to help Ben 23 feel better.

"Alright, let's get you sorted out," Ben 10 said, determination creeping into his voice as he gently helped Ben 23 to his feet. "Let's see what we can do about that stomach of yours."

Ben 10's heart ached as he witnessed Ben 23's distress, his knees buckling under the weight of the pain. With gentle hands, Ben 10 scooped up Ben 23 into his arms, cradling him like a fragile treasure as he made his way downstairs to the sitting room. Carefully laying Ben 23 down on the couch, Ben 10 tenderly lifted his shirt to assess the source of his discomfort.

A wave of concern washed over Ben 10 as he felt the heat radiating from Ben 23's stomach, confirming the severity of his condition. Without hesitation, Ben 10 reached for an ice pack, pressing it gently against Ben 23's abdomen. At first, Ben 23's reaction was one of shock and discomfort, his body tensing at the sudden coldness. But as the ice pack began to soothe the inflammation, Ben 23's tense muscles gradually relaxed, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips.

Ben 10 watched with a mixture of worry and relief as Ben 23 melted into the couch, the tension easing from his features. The sight of Ben 23 finding some semblance of comfort brought a small measure of solace to Ben 10's troubled mind. Yet, he couldn't shake off the guilt gnawing at him for causing Ben 23's suffering in the first place.

"I'm sorry, Ben," Ben 10 murmured softly, his voice laced with remorse as he continued to hold the ice pack against Ben 23's stomach. "I should've been more careful with the milk. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

But Ben 23, in his state of discomfort, could only manage a weak smile, his gratitude evident in his tired eyes. For now, all Ben 10 could do was stay by Ben 23's side, offering whatever comfort and support he could muster until the pain subsided.

As Ben 23's tears began to flow, glistening against his long lashes like delicate jewels, Ben 10's heart clenched with a mixture of sorrow and determination. He couldn't bear to see his young friend in such agony, and he resolved to do everything in his power to alleviate Ben 23's suffering.