Red and Green (Ben 10 Omniverse)

Chapter 5: A Sad Reunion

Gwen paced outside the urgent care unit, while Albedo and Rook sat on a bench right by the door. Gwen couldn’t stop thinking of the worse possible scenarios, and tears fled down her cheeks. Rook had a blank look on his face, his orange eyes seemed to stare off into space. Albedo had his face in his hands, but Gwen couldn’t tell whether he was crying or not. Gwen somewhat smiled at the fact that Albedo had a change of heart toward Ben.

Inside the Care Unit, Max sat in a chair next to Ben’s bed, looking over a clipboard. When he was done, he turned to a young nurse, and asked

“So, is he going to be okay?” The nurse nodded, but still had a stern look on her face,

“He’s going to be okay, but…his eyes might take a year to heal…” The nurse said, her voice low. Max instantly stood up, his eyes wide,

“A-A year?! How will tell him?” Max said, his voice cracking. Looking over at his unconscious grandson, Max sighed, his shoulders felt heavy. Max placed a wrinkled hand on Ben’s, gasping as it twitched, then Ben shivered awake, instantly saying,

“W-Why….w-why can’t I see?” Ben’s voice sounded very weak and shaky, it broke Max’s heart to see him in such pain. Max also noticed his eyes, they weren’t green anymore, they were dyed red by all the blood. Ben repeated his question again, probably thinking that he’d spoken to an empty room. Max opened his mouth to reply, but the nurse spoke first,

“Ben, I hate to break it to you, but you won’t have your eyesight for a year, at the latest…”

Ben’s eye grew huge, and his body froze in shock, “A y-year?”

Max wanted badly to comfort him, but he didn’t know how. The nurse sat in a chair next to his bed, and pulled out a clipboard,

“Ben, I want you to answer a few questions for me…is that okay?”

Ben didn’t say anything, all he did was nod slowly, still wide-eyed with shock. The nurse motioned for Max to leave the room. Max gave an upset, but small nod, and joined Gwen, Albedo, and Rook outside. Instantly, all three of them jumped up, their eyes eager,

“Is he going to be okay?” Gwen asked first, her green eyes filled with faint hope. Max stared into her green eyes, instantly tears filled his. Gwen walked up to Max and hugged him, her face lodged in his chest. Rook and Albedo stood there, equally awkward, and concerned,

“Magester Tennyson, is Ben okay?” Rook repeated, Max nodded, and replied

“His injuries will heal in a couple of weeks, but his…eyes…” Max stuttered, Gwen looked up at him, her face, and shirt wet from tears,

“His eyes?” Albedo had joined Rook from the bench, his usually scathing, scarlet gaze, was mellowed with concern and regret.

“Get out…” Max muttered, lifting his eyes to glare at Albedo. Albedo stumbled back,

“But, all I want to do is hel-“

“Get out! Get out!” Max snapped, his eyes scathing, “You got my grandson into this mess! Just leave!”

Gwen let go of Max, her eyes defensive,

“Grandpa, Albedo helped Ben!” Max shook his head, stomping towards Albedo. Albedo shrunk under his gaze. “Get out before I send you to the Null Void!”

Albedo scrambled to get up and ran through the hallway, Max turned to Gwen,

“Follow him, make sure he doesn’t cause trouble.” Gwen gave a reluctant nod, and sped after him. She caught up to him, and grabbed his shoulder,

“Albedo, I’m sorry-“

“No you’re not, nobody is! I’m alone in this hellhole of a world!” Albedo snapped, then he turned and ran through the entrance. Gwen stood there,

“You’re not alone…”