Chapter Text
Ben sometimes wonders why he likes Kenji.
The teen in question is currently giving a 'guided tour' to the others while they all ride segways (except for Ben who opted to ride on Bumpy). Since Ben is in the back of the group, completely tuned out to whatever Kenji is saying during this 'totally short ride' to the Kon penthouse, he allows his mind to wander.
If Ben is being honest, Kenji is a bit of a character.
For instance: He finds it fascinating that Kenji is somehow simultaneously very fit and the laziest person Ben has ever met. He's literally seen him take an hour break after doing one minute of work. And when he says one minute he means one minute. Ben counted. He imagines that if Kenji could, he would pay someone else to exercise for him.
And that’s another thing- His wealth. He’s sort of toned it down (emphasis on ‘sort of’) but he will absolutely take the opportunity to remind you that he’s rich. Ben used to find it annoying, but it didn't take long for him to get what the guy's deal was- It's not so much he wants to lord it over everyone, but so he can have something to feel proud of. Endearing, if not a little sad. Sometimes, it can be a bit much. He doesn’t have to impress anyone.
Still, for every thing Ben finds quirky about Kenji, he also has things he loves about him.
Like, Ben really likes how thoughtful Kenji is. It's unfortunately often, but whenever they find themselves in danger, Kenji will put himself in front of whoever he's near, even when he’s absolutely terrified himself. When one of them is down or upset, he’ll try to distract them or make them laugh. That's not say he can't be serious or well-spoken. When it comes to Darius and Brooklynn, he knows Kenji goes out of his way to talk to them when they have a problem. Kenji is a good guy.
Then again, he's also someone who calls his penthouse the p-house. The guy unironically thinks it's a cool nickname for his father’s multi-million dollar residence on the island. It's to be expected- he gives everything and everyone nicknames, Ben included. "Ben of the Jungle" or “Jungle-Boy” is what he’s been called so far. It’s Jungle Man, thank you. He figures Kenji only gave him that nickname because he keeps calling him “City-Boy.”
What? Ben never said he was good at nicknames either.
Ben's thoughts are interrupted by a sudden halt in the group’s segway ride through the jungle. A tall, carnivorous looking dino appeared, though Darius was quick to assure them it was no real danger- not alone, at least.
When they arrive at the condo, Ben finds himself excited to get searching for what they need, but an unnecessary comment from Kenji about Bumpy leaves him a bit miffed. Hmph. Why do I like him again?
The taller teen is fully in bragging mode, unfortunately. Kenji must have forgotten they've been here before, and last time, they couldn't get in. He hopes the access card Brooklynn found works, but he's not gonna hold his breath. Whatever excitement he had earlier has since waned. The building itself is a massive condo, and sticks out like a big eyesore in their otherwise natural surroundings. The light hits it just right that it blinds him to look at it.
He can already tell this day is going to be long.
Brooklynn’s keycard does work at the entrance, much to everyone’s relief, but unfortunately, it had no effect on the elevators. No power, after all. So, the group had to climb ten flights of stairs. This may have given Ben a chance to sneak a few looks at a certain part of Kenji, but by the fifth floor, everyone was winded and tired. Except for Yaz, of course, who had barely broken a sweat by the time they finally arrived at Kenji’s penthouse.
The place is just one big headache. The sun shining through the massive picturesque windows hurts his eyes more than the exterior did, and it isn't helped by the fact everything in here is obnoxiously shiny. There's a golden head of a Sinoceratops for crying out loud. Everything from the furniture, to the decorations, to the imported snacks Yaz finds just puts Ben on edge.
Despite his own annoyance, Ben takes notice of the shift in Kenji’s demeanor since they got here. Yes, he’s doing the whole, “I’m rich, please notice” thing he does, but there’s something else there. Like when Brooklynn notices the table sculpture and Kenji says his dad “doesn’t let him touch it.” Or when Sammy notices there’s no pictures of Kenji anywhere and Kenji proceeds to show her a photo album full of his dad’s accomplishments. Maybe it's because he's a creep and watches Kenji like a hawk, but he knows this isn't normal.
At the moment, though, Ben has a hard time being anything but irritated. They’re all relaxing or playing around- completely forgetting the mission they came here for in the first place.
“Hello! I thought we were supposed to be searching for gas? A patch for the boat? A GPS? Any of this ringing a bell??” He all but yells at them, ready to get out of here as soon as possible.
Kenji, along with everyone else, looks surprised at his outburst. As soon as he recovers, the taller teen’s eyes immediately soften as he smiles at Ben fondly.
“Dude. Chill. Have some water.” He tosses Ben one of his fancy Parisian waters and looks at him expectantly. His instinct is to throw it away, but after climbing so many stairs, the gesture goes appreciated. Still, without breaking eye-contact, he takes a sip- or, to paraphrase Yaz, it was an experience. He never knew water could taste even taste fancy. Turning away shyly, a smile on his face, he sneaks another look at Kenji, and downs the rest of the bottle.
Everyone immediately goes back to lazing about and it takes all of Ben's willpower not to have another outburst.
Since they’re going nowhere in a hurry, Ben decides to take a bit of a tour of his own. The first room he looks at seems to be a home theater- a fairly large one, complete with snack bar. The next is the restroom, which is just as opulent as the rest of the place. He wanders down the hall some more, and as he's about to go into the room at the end, the room next to it catches his eye. On the door, a slab of wood with a crudely inscribed “K.K.” hangs.
"No way... Is this...?"
This has to be Kenji's room. He hesitates for a second, thinking that maybe Kenji wouldn’t want him in there. If these guys came over to his apartment unexpected, he wouldn't want them barging around. However, since the rest of the group are preoccupied with enjoying what this place had to offer, Ben figures he might as well do the same. If he's quick about it, Kenji will never know.
The room itself gives off the same vibe as everything else here- luxurious and expensive. But looking at the place longer than two seconds, it's obvious that a teenager definitely resides here. There are posters of famous rappers and action movies (and a mermaid, for whatever reason) on the walls. The latest video game consoles sit in front of a huge television and wrinkled clothes are strewn on almost every piece of furniture. Out of all the rooms Ben has seen thus far, this definitely feels the most lived in.
He sits on the bed, which is so soft and comfortable Ben thought he might sink all the way in, and looks around some more. His eyes wander to the nightstand where he finds a lamp, a dinosaur bobblehead, and a framed photo. Curious, Ben picks up the latter to inspect.
Pictured is a young Kenji, a few teeth missing in his bright smile. If he had to guess, Ben would assume he’s seven years old or so. Next to Kenji is a beautiful woman, smiling just as brightly. Ben assumes she's Kenji's mom. He recalls not seeing a photo of her anywhere else either. As he continues to go over the photo, he notes that young Kenji’s hair is long and unkempt, making the now tall and commanding teen, look even smaller. It makes Ben chuckle.
Ben does a double take when he notices something. He squints at the photo, unsure if he's seeing things right.
Kenji is wearing glasses. No, not sunglasses. Prescription glasses. Big, round, Harry Potter-esque glasses.
He looks adorable.
“You know, if you wanted a tour of my bedroom, you could have just asked.”
The sudden voice catches Ben’s attention immediately. Standing in the doorway is Kenji himself, arms crossed and a smirk on his lips.
“I was just looking around.” Ben explains
Kenji’s eyebrows quirk and he strides forward. He takes all of two steps before he notices what Ben is holding in his hands, his expression faltering immediately. In a flash, he surges forward in an attempt to snatch the photo away. Ben, with his well honed dino-avoiding reflexes, attempts to dodge the other, but unfortunately fails to move in time. Colliding, the two ending up a tangled mess of limbs on Kenji’s unmade bed, Ben grunting at the sudden impact.
If any of the others were to walk in right now, they might assume something not-so-innocent was happening. As it is, Ben is embarrassed at the position he finds himself in, and if Kenji’s bright red face and wide-blown eyes are any indication, so is he. Their faces are inches apart, their eye contact unbreaking. It vaguely occurs to him this isn't the first time he's found himself under Kenji after being tackled by him, but that was back when they were almost run over by Yaz and Sammy in the jungle. This feels more... intimate.
It’s then he notices the outline of contacts on Kenji’s eyes. Kenji’s gorgeous eyes.
How has he never noticed before? The contacts, he means. Yeah.
Ben is the first to snap out of it, pushing the taller teen off of him and standing up- a feat considering their height difference. The photo is left abandoned by Ben on the bed, so Kenji rises and puts it back on the side table. The taller teen's eyes linger on the photo, a hint of a smile on his lips. When he turns back to Ben, he rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.
“Uh, sorry. I just sort of panicked and-”
“Tackled me?”
“I just… ugh. Sorry.”
“Hmm. Well, it wouldn't be the first time you've done that." He hears Kenji choke on his spit. "Can I ask what that was about?”
“Dude, seriously? I didn’t want you to see a totally embarrassing picture of me when I was younger.”
Ben doesn't like to think back to their time on the monorail, but a highlight of that misadventure was when he found himself in the control room, where a certain person's picture also resides. He smirks at the memory.
“Well you're outta luck, because I’ve already seen one before this.”
“What? When??” Kenji asks, looking at him quizzically.
“On the monorail control console. There was a picture of you there labeled 'Banned from monorail tours.' Just you by the way, no one else.”
Kenji laughs at that, his body visibly relaxing. Ben finds himself also easing up, the awkward tension from earlier fading. He's glad they've quickly moved on from the awkward position they were in moments earlier. Things became quiet for a beat, and a new kind of tension seems to form. So, should he say something? Or just leave? Do they go back to the others and pretend this didn't happen?
Finding it uncomfortable, Ben decides to speak up.
“So,” Ben starts. “You wear glasses, huh?”
“Dude. I swear, you better not tell anyone.” The taller teen groans as he flops onto his bed.
“Not a word. You been wearing contacts then?”
“Yeah. Obvi.”
“Okay, no offense, but how haven’t you lost them by now?”
“I brought, like, seven pairs with me to camp.”
“Wow. And how many do you have left?”
Kenji didn’t answer for a beat, but in a quiet voice, he replies.
“Two.”
Ben does his best to contain his laughter, though he knows he's failing. His suspicion is confirmed when Kenji sits up, mock-laughing with him.
“Ha ha ha. Anyway, it doesn’t matter cuz I have a stash of them here, too.”
“I guess you don't have your old glasses, then?” Ben thinks aloud, absentmindedly looking around.
“Funny you should mention that.” The taller teen opens the drawer of the nightstand and pulls out a hardshell glasses case. He takes the pair out and shows them to Ben. They aren't the round ones from the photo, but the lenses on this pair are still pretty big, the frame sleek and modern.
“Dad insists I keep a pair with my updated prescription. He says it's better to have one handy even if I don't use 'em. I left them here during summer, but they should still be fine to use. Not that I will use them.”
“Why not? I’d imagine they’re lower maintenance than contacts.”
Kenji stares at the glasses like they’ve offended him.
“They’re… dorky.” Huh. Not the response Ben was expecting. Feeling playful, he crosses his arms and scoffs in mock-offense.
“And what’s wrong with dorky?”
“Dude, I'm not like you. I can't pull it off.” Wait, was that a compliment or an insult? “I just… I don’t know. I think I look dumb with ‘em on.”
The other sits on the bed, looking downright childish with a sad pout on his very kissable lips. If he didn't think the other would give him hell for it, he'd laugh. Instead, an idea pops into Ben's mind.
“Put them on.”
“What??”
“I said,” Ben closes the distance between them and bends down to be face-to-face with the other, unsure where this confidence and boldness is coming from. “Put. Them. On.”
Kenji, dumbstruck, obeys him.
Satisfied with himself and that Kenji did what he said, Ben backs up a little and gives the other a once over. Which is a mistake.
The glasses enlarge Kenji’s eyes. The taller teen's facial hair has been growing out lately, accenting his sharp features and giving him a more rugged and mature look. But almost like magic, the glasses soften his whole face. He looks... cute.
If Ben was questioning it before, he has his answer now: He definitely likes Kenji.
“Dude. Ben. Are you still there? I’ve got double the magnification going. I can’t see.” Kenji manages to stand up, albeit wobbly.
Oh no. Cute and tall.
And he's all of two feet away.
Ben doesn’t realize he’s doing it until he’s already made contact, but his hands have found themselves on Kenji’s biceps, effectively holding the taller teen.
“Whoa. Thanks, man. Almost fell there."
"Uhhuh..." Ben replies, his brain and body on autopilot.
Time seems to move in slow motion. It feels like minutes pass in the moments that his gaze is fixed on Kenji's face. It's not until he's tip-toeing, his lips close to the other’s that he realizes how far he’s gone. Despite the sudden panic he finds himself in, he doesn't move. He lowers his gaze down Kenji's face, then focuses on the taller teen's Adam's apple- anything other than his eyes that he got lost in. It's not until Kenji swallows, the motion of which Ben finds mesmerizing, that he snaps out of it and pulls his hands away quickly.
"Ben? You good?"
Thinking on his feet, Ben pulls the glasses off Kenji’s face. The taller teen jumps a little, seeing for himself how close the two of them are. Ben swears he can see a faint blush on the other's cheeks, but dismisses it. Maybe he's the one who needs glasses.
“Oh. That bad, huh?”
“What? Oh. No, they looked grea--fine. They looked fine.” Ben looks away from Kenji as he puts the glasses in his hands. Kenji looks at them and then back to Ben.
“Then--”
“Didn’t want you to get a headache or whatever.” His fake nonchalance can't be very convincing, but Kenji doesn't question him any further. The taller teen puts the glasses back in the case, but instead of putting them back in the drawer like Ben expected, he pockets them.
"Since I have you, do want a tour? I could show you the twenty-seat home th--"
“No thanks, I think I’m gonna go get some air on the balcony.” Ben dismisses him. He needs to get out of here. Being in this place any longer may actually drive him crazy.
“Oh. Okay, then.” Kenji looks a bit confused, but once again, he says nothing further- which works just fine for Ben.
The two walk back to the living area where everyone else is. Ben glances at the others and he swears that Darius watches them come from the hallway. Weird. The younger teen immediately goes back to playing on the handheld he's holding and Kenji joins him. Ben takes that as his cue to go outside like he said he would.
He gets the feeling he’s being watched like he used to, but chooses to ignore it.
Ben doesn't bother closing the sliding door behind him. He just absentmindedly stares out over the balcony, letting himself replay in his mind what he almost did- what he came dangerously close to doing. Geez, he either needs to confess his feelings or forget them, because next time, he might not be so lucky and catch himself before he does something he may regret.
His eyes wander down, hoping to catch a glimpse Bumpy from up here. How hard can it be really? She's a ten-ton dinosaur.
What he sees is her agitatedly moving around, groaning loud enough he can hear her all the way up here. She wasn't like this when he left her earlier, so--
Oh no. Something is wrong.
BONUS! 2022 Redraw!
