10 x Infinity | Ben Tennyson x Reader | Book 2

Episode 32: If All Else Fails

A/N: I AM ALIIIIIIIIIVE!!!! YIPPEE!!

I stare at the sunset with a soft smile, resting my head on Ben's shoulder. Max laughs as he struggles to tell a comprehensive story from back when he and Dad were Plumbers. Kevin starts reaching for the patties, "You said you were gonna tell a story about my dad." He says, Max smacks his hand away from the grill "Ow!" Kevin yelps, yanking his hand back. Max flashes a good natured smile, "Y'know, a story's a lot like barbecued squid—can't rush either one." He states. I stretch and walk over to the grill, leaving a pouting Ben behind.

"Squid? I...I thought those were hamburgers..." Kevin mutters, I look at the purple patties, cringing slightly. "Yeah, that would explain the tentacles..." I laugh. The ground shakes, my eyes widen and I look around in confusion. Ben's already by my side, wrapping his arms around me protectively, "Whoa...feel that?" Gwen asks "It's an earthquake." I state, looking around. The ground stops shaking, "There. It's nothing to worry about." Max says, he keeps a relaxed grin on his face. It doesn't take long for him to continue his story as he fixes Kevin's plate.

"-Zap! One shot took down the three of 'em. Now, all I had to worry about was the bomb. But time was running out." Max states, Kevin takes the plate of Max's hands. He stares at the burger suspiciously, "This is a regular burger...right?" He asks, I lift up the bun to get a good look at the patty. "I see eyes and a beak in there. Is that ok?" I ask jokingly, Kevin cringes. Max lets out a groan and leans forward, smacking Kevin's plate to the ground. Kevin and I glance at him in confusion, "I thought you liked weird food." Kevin says. I frown in concern, "Max? Are you ok?" I ask. Gwen and Ben approach us quickly, Max lets out a loud, pained scream before collapsing. Max crashes into the grill, "Grandpa!" Ben gasps.

"Are you really sure you're ok?" Gwen asks "I'm fine. Thanks. Just got...a little dizzy for a second." Max sighs weakly, we all surround him in concern. Max flashes another smile, "Well, let's eat." He says "I can't. You dumped my burger." Kevin states. "You dumped the whole grill. Remember?" Gwen asks, Max glances at the grill and lets out a disappointed sigh. "That was the last of my ground squid too. I've got some hamburger meat in the freezer, though. I guess we could eat that..." Max states.

Kevin perks up and walks inside RB2, "Well, if you're outta squid, you're outta squid. What can ya do?" He says. Ben and Gwen lead Max to go sit down, I stand the grill back up wordlessly, I see Max pause suddenly out the corner of my eye, "Drone seeds located and activated...command in control sequence activated...commencing command code self-tests" He mutters, I rush over to Max, knocking the grill over again in the process. "Wasn't hungry anyway..." Kevin huffs with a pout.

"Max?" I ask in concern "Grandpa?" Gwen gently shakes Max, he groans and massages his head. "Huh? What?" Max mutters. "It happened again." Gwen tells him "Maybe we should get you checked out." I suggest. Max flashes a comforting grin and pats my shoulder, "There's no need to worry about me. I'm fine. Look." He says softly. Ben, Gwen, and I frown in concern, "Tell you what. Let's get some sleep, and if something still seems goofy in the morning, we'll deal with in then." Max states "...Ok." Ben says. Max ruffles Ben's hair, "Goodnight kids. I'm gonna clean up the campsite" He says.

~💚~

I wake up to the sound of Kevin's loud *ss yawning. "I'll get the chow. Last time Max made breakfast, we had scrambled eggs and eyeballs..." He says. I keep my eyes squeezed shut as I try to go back to sleep.