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

Lost Treasures

The night had been quiet, with only the distant hum of the city filtering through the cracked windowpanes of Ben 23's apartment. In the dim glow of the streetlights, Ben 10 sat beside his distraught counterpart, the silence heavy with the weight of stolen memories.

Ben 23's shoulders shook with silent sobs as he clutched at the remnants of his once-beloved possessions, now reduced to mere shadows of their former glory. The room felt colder, emptier, the loss palpable in the air.

His bag, once filled with cherished treasures, lay open on the floor, its contents scattered haphazardly as if tossed aside by an indifferent hand. Among the scattered debris were the remnants of his dreams – exclusive comics adorned with signatures from his favorite artists, the watch his late grandfather had passed down to him, and his phone, a repository of cherished memories and secrets.

Ben 10 watched in silent anguish as Ben 23 cradled the remnants of his shattered world, tears slipping silently down his cheeks. His heart ached for his counterpart, for the innocence stolen, for the violation of his sanctuary.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay," Ben 10 murmured softly, his voice a gentle balm against the raw edges of Ben 23's grief. He reached out, wrapping his arms around the younger boy, offering solace in the warmth of his embrace.

But Ben 23's cries persisted, the weight of his loss too heavy to bear. "They're gone, Ben," he whispered brokenly, his voice raw with emotion. "Everything I cared about, everything that mattered to me..."

Ben 10's heart constricted with empathy, his own eyes stinging with unshed tears. He couldn't erase the pain, couldn't turn back time to undo the damage. All he could offer was his unwavering support, his silent presence a testament to their enduring bond.

Slowly, Ben 23's sobs began to subside, the storm of emotions gradually giving way to a fragile calm. He nestled against Ben 10, seeking solace in the shelter of his arms, the weight of their shared grief a burden they carried together.

"We'll figure this out," Ben 10 promised, his voice a quiet vow against the darkness. "We'll make it right, whatever it takes."

And in that moment, as they huddled together in the quiet darkness, Ben 23 found a flicker of hope amidst the ruins, a glimmer of light to guide him through the long night ahead. And though the road ahead was uncertain, he knew he didn't have to walk it alone.

As memories flooded Ben 23's mind, the weight of his loss bore down on him like a suffocating blanket, threatening to engulf him in a sea of despair. The image of his grandfather's weathered face, the warmth of his smile as he presented the cherished watch, lingered in the recesses of his memory, a beacon of solace in the darkness.

But now, that beacon was gone, stolen away by callous hands, leaving only a void in its wake. The realization hit Ben 23 like a physical blow, his chest constricting with the force of his grief, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to contain the storm raging within.

And then, it was too much. The floodgates burst open, and Ben 23 was swept away in a tide of anguish, his cries echoing through the silent apartment, a symphony of heartbreak and loss.

Ben 10 held him close, his arms a lifeline in the tempest, his touch a soothing balm against the raw edges of Ben 23's pain. He pressed tender kisses against the younger boy's tear-streaked cheeks, his own heart heavy with the weight of their shared sorrow.

"It's okay to let it out," Ben 10 whispered softly, his voice a gentle melody in the darkness. "I'm here, Ben. I've got you."

And so, they clung to each other in the quiet of the night, the darkness illuminated by the flicker of their shared bond. In that moment, Ben 10 vowed to be the anchor in Ben 23's storm, to stand by his side through the darkest of nights and the brightest of days.