Run

Run Alone

Title: Run
Rating: K+
Series: Ben 10
Sub-Series: Multiverse Series
Pairing: Ben/Gwen (BWEN)
Summary: [Ben/Gwen] [BWEN] Ben runs away after realizing his feelings for Gwen, this doesn't sit too well with Gwen or Grandpa Max.
Disclaimer: Ben 10 and all associated characters are the property of Cartoon Network and Man of Action.

Multiverse Disclaimer: All Fanfiction by its very nature is an Alternate Universe, some are just more alternate than others. My multiverse stories are my versions of 'what-ifs'. Some are based on what if another author had done 'this', some are what if the actual writers had done 'that'. My stories will all have a main multiverse ID for the series and a unique (Branch) ID for that specific AU. I am a firm believer in the suspension of doubt, but doubt can only be suspended so far before it gets to the 'come on' point. My stories will never reach that point. So, all I ask is that you sit back, relax and enjoy the story, and if you liked it enough please leave me a nice little review.

AN: This story takes place in the Original Series of Ben 10 and has references to Secret of the Omnitrix. It has been years since I've seen the show so please keep that in mind. The songs listed below were inspirational to the creation of this story, they are all available on YouTube Music and other streaming services.

Songs: "Say Goodbye" – Skillet

"Everything I Need (Film Version)" – Skylar Grey

"No More Heroes" – Aviators

o.0.o.0.o

Primary Multiverse ID: BTN4512613
Branch ID: GWN543150
Target Lifeline: Ben Tennyson
Target Age: 16 s.h.y. (Standard Human Years)
Target Location: New York City, New York, United State of America, Earth.

o.0.o.0.o

Chapter 01: Run Alone

There is a phrase that has been said in many languages and many variations, but the meaning of the phrase never changes; you can't help who you fall in love with. The heart will love who the heart wants and there is nothing you can do once it has been decided.

Matters of the heart are often complex and come with innumerable troubles that are not easily solved, a fact that Ben Tennyson found to be truer than he'd ever imagined.

For the past several years he'd embarked on summer road trips across the country with his Grandpa, Max Tennyson, and Cousin, Gwen Tennyson, who many would consider being Ben's twin in several ways. For instance, they were born seconds apart in the same hospital and share the same bright green eyes, and throughout their summers together they had become as close as siblings, and therein lies the problem. For reasons beyond his understanding, sometime during their many summer adventures together, Ben's heart had fallen in love with Gwen.

Now, it should be noted here that this was not a simple case of stronger than normal familial love, no, this was true and real romantic love.

Many things were true about Ben Tennyson; he was a hero, he wasn't as smart as Gwen, he loved his Grandpa Max and their summer trips, and he was hopelessly in love with his beautiful cousin and he knew there was no way he'd be able to ever even contemplate being with her and that fact alone tore his heart out.

However, at this point, Ben didn't care about anything other than his overwhelming feelings of disgust and shame. He cared for nothing except the feelings that drove him out into the night and half-way across the country to a city he'd never been to just to escape the sad truth. He could no longer look upon his cousin without feeling his love for her rise to the surface, a love he'd forced back down into the depths so many times that it had become second nature to suppress his emotions, specifically that of love, leaving him a cold shell of the happy boy he'd been before. His façade had served him well and protected him from feeling almost anything like love.