The mustang rolls up at decent speed and pauses only long enough for Ben to get in. It's off and running again before the door is even completely closed.
In the driver's seat, Kevin sits undisguised and perpetually scowling.
"Kinda early, ain't it?" He grunts.
In truth, he could care less that Ben in skipping; approves of it even. But he can't resist the urge to needle lately; to dig. Probably because the feelings associated with doing so are easier than the other ones lurking under and related to his new exterior.
Kevin just grunts and glares at the road like it has offended him somehow.
As if Ben is really worried something might get out of hand. He's not; no way. It's just one of those things you say without thinking about what you really mean. Like how a lot of people call all tissues 'Kleenex'.
If Ben wants to get a jump on things, it's only because he's in the mood for jumping, Kevin thinks.
Without invitation, Ben is reminded of the Kevin he knew years ago. The Kevin who was angry at the world and at him; the kid who used to try to frame Ben so that he would lose his reputation as hero and be arrested. The Kevin that Ben had called an enemy.
Kevin isn't an enemy though and he isn't trying to kill Ben. At least not yet. Ben can't help but feel a little bad. After all, it's his Omnitrix's fault that Kevin is like this. The feeling of remorse passes quickly enough.
"It's just the Forever Knights. Pretty routine; I'd bet money on it."
Kevin's remained pretty angry at the world. The anger at Ben has only recently resurfaced.
It is his fault. Both for sticking him like this and for not seeming to give a crap about it. For not having freaked out and tried everything possible to fix it already, even if it is hopeless.
Hey, Ben wasn't the one who wanted to hack the Omnitrix. That was all Kevin's idea. Just like it was Kevin's idea to absorb the energy from the Omnitrix back when they were kids. Maybe Ben should just not let Kevin near the Omnitrix. That might help him to avoid any future mutations.
And Ben does give a crap. He's just not sure what he's supposed to do besides stick it out with his friend.
"I've got forty bucks; everything else I'm saving. I want to get Julie something nice for Christmas."
"You set the terms," Ben insists as he leans back in his seat.
"It's just us, but I don't think Gwen not being here will matter too much." There's an underlying arrogance there that implies that Ben thinks he's good enough to manage without one third of his team but he doesn't say so.
The answer to Ben's question is: anybody. Everybody. That's how you get your rep: go up against the last baddest guy and kick his butt. You don't stay on top by having done something in the past.
"Good," Kevin tells him.
That's probably the smartest thing Ben's done/said all week. Because bad guys don't take the weekend off.
There are times when Ben wants to be just an average teenage boy and not spend his free-time fighting aliens and saving the universe. But then he remembers how much he enjoys it and he doesn't really mind.
"I thought so; it'll be an awesome movie. I just know it. And you know a movie means they'll put out a game, too."
There are times when Kevin just wants to be an average teenage boy, but he has no idea what that is, actually, so these times are just as fleeting as Ben's.
Kevin nods.
"Let's hope so. Sometimes moviemakes mess everything up."
But he sounds faintly positive. Under that tough (particularly right now) exterior, Kevin is still excited about it. He's just too cool for school.
Who needs "average" anyways? Certainly not Ben 10. And he can't speak for Gwen and Kevin but he thinks they're doing all right without "average", too.
"The last movie wasn't bad," the shorter boy maintains. "I bet they have a bigger budget, too."
Sumo Slammers is a safe topic. As long as they don't make plans to break into a warehouse and spark a police-chase, it's a good topic, even. "I bet if we play our cards right we can get into the premiere, too."
In the driver's seat, Kevin sits undisguised and perpetually scowling.
"Kinda early, ain't it?" He grunts.
In truth, he could care less that Ben in skipping; approves of it even. But he can't resist the urge to needle lately; to dig. Probably because the feelings associated with doing so are easier than the other ones lurking under and related to his new exterior.
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"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."
He buckles up. "I wanted to get a jump on this. You know, just make sure nothing gets out of hand."
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As if Ben is really worried something might get out of hand. He's not; no way. It's just one of those things you say without thinking about what you really mean. Like how a lot of people call all tissues 'Kleenex'.
If Ben wants to get a jump on things, it's only because he's in the mood for jumping, Kevin thinks.
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Kevin isn't an enemy though and he isn't trying to kill Ben. At least not yet. Ben can't help but feel a little bad. After all, it's his Omnitrix's fault that Kevin is like this. The feeling of remorse passes quickly enough.
"It's just the Forever Knights. Pretty routine; I'd bet money on it."
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It is his fault. Both for sticking him like this and for not seeming to give a crap about it. For not having freaked out and tried everything possible to fix it already, even if it is hopeless.
It's the thought that counts.
"Do you want to bet money on it?"
Kevin is always willing.
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And Ben does give a crap. He's just not sure what he's supposed to do besides stick it out with his friend.
"I've got forty bucks; everything else I'm saving. I want to get Julie something nice for Christmas."
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It was Kevin's idea until things started looking wobbly. After that, it was Ben's idea to keep going.
"Okay. What's the bet?"
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"It's just us, but I don't think Gwen not being here will matter too much." There's an underlying arrogance there that implies that Ben thinks he's good enough to manage without one third of his team but he doesn't say so.
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"Okay. I bet it's some trap," he starts.
Forever Knights never learn.
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"Really? I think you're giving them too much credit. I mean, when have they been able to set a decent trap?"
He taps his fingers on his leg and after a moment opens his mouth: "Teaser for the new Sumo Slammer movie is due out!"
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A smirk tugs at Kevin's lips, but blink and you'll miss it.
"When?"
That's the most interested in anything he's sounded in a while.
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See? He said group.
"Saturday: during the new episode of the animated series," Ben tells him. "I've got it set to record, just in case."
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The answer to Ben's question is: anybody. Everybody. That's how you get your rep: go up against the last baddest guy and kick his butt. You don't stay on top by having done something in the past.
"Good," Kevin tells him.
That's probably the smartest thing Ben's done/said all week. Because bad guys don't take the weekend off.
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"I thought so; it'll be an awesome movie. I just know it. And you know a movie means they'll put out a game, too."
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Kevin nods.
"Let's hope so. Sometimes moviemakes mess everything up."
But he sounds faintly positive. Under that tough (particularly right now) exterior, Kevin is still excited about it. He's just too cool for school.
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"The last movie wasn't bad," the shorter boy maintains. "I bet they have a bigger budget, too."
Sumo Slammers is a safe topic. As long as they don't make plans to break into a warehouse and spark a police-chase, it's a good topic, even. "I bet if we play our cards right we can get into the premiere, too."
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