Run

Run Together: Part 01

AN: Text in a normal style is present time, text in an italic style is the past. Please note that most of this chapter will take place as moments in the past, so expect a lot of italics.

Recommended Song(s):
"Love of My Life" – Lucas Prata & Reina

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Chapter 02: Run Together: Part 01

Ben paced his carpet for the innumerable time, plans and backup plans and backups to the backup plans rolled through his head, well, through Grey Matter's head. Ben knew that in situations such as this it was better to let the alien genius plot and plan.

The next few days were far too important for him to 'doofus' them up, as Gwen would say.

His pacing calmed for a moment as thoughts of his redheaded cousin passed through his mind, a smile reaching his lips briefly, but it quickly passed as he returned to his planning. The next few days would change everything for Gwen and he and he had to focus.

With a sigh he reverted to Ben and collapsed on his bed, his left arm covering his eyes as he just breathed, the weight of the Omnitrix pressing against his right cheek.

Raising his arm, he stared at the alien watch, it was without a doubt one of the turning points in his life, but it wasn't the catalyst that brought him to his current thoughts and plans. That distinction belonged to the event that took place during the summer of 2012 when he and Gwen realized their feelings for each other at the age of 16.

Things had been so much simpler that summer, all they had to worry about was Ben's cross-country journey when he ran away from his feelings for Gwen and figuring out if the Omnitrix was at fault for the sudden emotions.

After consulting with Azmuth, after finally tracking the reclusive creator of the Omnitrix down, they had learned a great deal about how the alien device had influenced Ben.

"Azmuth," Ben asked as he gripped Gwen's hand in his, fear evident in his voice, "are the feelings I have for Gwen a result of the Omnitrix?"

"Hmm, hard to tell, will have to take a look. Put your arm on the table," the Galvan had said even as his chair had floated to the indicated table.

Ben fearfully released Gwen's hand and approached the table, placing his left arm under the machinery there.

"Hmm," Azmuth hummed as he examined the device, "very interesting, very interesting indeed."

Ben fought the urge to ask what was interesting, but he knew the alien would answer when he was ready.

"To answer your question, yes... and no, the Omnitrix did and did not influence your feelings."

"So, what I feel for Gwen... isn't real," Ben asked even as his voice trailed off, the fears they had all been harboring coming true. If the feelings turned out to not be real, it would destroy not only the new relationship he and Gwen had but also any chance of having any kind of relationship at all.

"I did not say that," Azmuth reminded as he hovered in front of Ben, data from his scans scrolling across the chair's computer screen.

"What I said was that it did and did not influence your feelings, allow me to explain. The love you feel for your cousin is genuine, the device did not affect that. However, given the story you told me about how your relationship formed it is clear that the device did affect your fight or flight instinct as well as your hormones."

"Meaning what," Grandpa had asked even as Ben and Gwen had embraced each other in a joyful hug.

"Meaning, that since you are still in the developmental years for your species, and the device was designed for a fully developed being to use, it forced the emotions you felt to be exaggerated, to be heightened. The panic and fear you felt, part of the flight instinct, caused you to react and escape without taking the time to consider whether or not your actions truly warranted the response you gave. To answer that question, no, your actions did not warrant taking off across the country to get away while thinking that you would be arrested on sight for your actions."