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The heat from the campfire felt like it was burning Ben’s legs. He knew it wasn’t, but it felt like it. He shifted, sitting on them instead. Ben and Kevin were on one log, and Grandpa Max and Gwen were on the other.
Kevin had finally accepted Ben’s offer to join the Tennysons on their vacation. He came with Ben in the escape pod, & had actually managed to un-mutate—mostly, at least. He still had Ripjaws’ gills and some spots of Heatblast’s outer shell, a little antennae sprouting out from his head, tiny Stinkfly wings, and a shorter version of XLR8’s tail.
The last few days had been a lot of getting used to. Kevin was like a stray dog. He would shovel food into his mouth and snap when someone tried to clean him up. Kevin’s clothes were all ripped up, so Grandpa Max had offered him some while they went shopping to get him a couple outfits. Ben couldn’t lie, Kevin looked better in his jeans than he did himself.
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Gwen was really suspicious of Kevin. Come on, he had tried to kill Ben at least three times! And Ben just let him join in on their family vacation? He forgave Kevin way too easily. Every time they were together, Gwen shot a glare at Kevin. She would knit her brows and do a “I’m watching you.” gesture.
Ben seemed happier, though. She liked that for him. Gwen noticed he’d been getting more and more impatient and quiet as the summer went on. She hoped if Kevin did anything for him, he would be there for him. Was she jealous that her cousin had a friend for once, and now he was spending less time with her? Gwen shook off the thought. She was still not trusting Kevin “I’ll come barge in on your family and act all soft towards your cousin” Levin.
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Ben wrapped his arms around Kevin, pulling himself closer to him. He placed his head on Kevin’s shoulder, feeling Kevin tense up and then loosen. Ben nuzzled his face into Kevin’s long black hair. It became soft after Kevin had showered. (don’t ask why he knew that.) His hair smelled like pine and electronics, an oddly comforting smell. Ben could breathe that every day of his life if his best friend Kevin was there.
He caught Gwen glowering at them. Ben glared back, a hint for her to leave them alone. She rolled her eyes and turned back to converse with Grandpa Max. Ben sighed, letting his breathing sync up with Kevin’s. Ben shut his eyes, he was tired. He’d been having nightmares, and his new wounds were keeping him up; he’d emptied the bottle of painkillers.
“Remember when we were chained together?” Ben whispered, trying to strike up a conversation so he didn’t have to listen to Gwen bore him out of his mind with her classic literature. Kevin laughed.
“That was only like 4 days ago, idiot.” Ben smiled.
“It was fun when you pretended to care about me.” Ben reminisced about riding on Kevin’s back while instructing him to combine the aliens’ abilities. He felt Kevin shift.
“I was never pretending. I do care about you, Ben.” That statement made every neuron in his brain scream and feel like he was choking—in a good way, of course.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
“I’m sorry about your hand.” Kevin said, still turned towards the sky. Ben didn’t realize how close he was to falling asleep.
“You’ve apologized for that so many times, man—“
“Well, get it through your skull then! I hurt you and you still trust me! I wouldn’t do that!” Ben peeled his eyes open.
“You hurt me, and I’ll give you as many chances as you need to finally start kicking butt for good, Kev.” Kevin looked at him, awestruck. He put his arm around Ben’s back, placing his head on top of Ben’s.
“You know, if you’re here, I think I will.” The two gazed up at the stars, which seemed to glow brighter for them.
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