Kevin groaned hearing his phone go off. he rolled over and grabbed it, looking at his alarm clock. he groaned and answered.

"Ben what the fuck do you want? it's 2 AM-" Kevin started.

"where are you?" Bens quiet voice came over the phone.

"in bed sleeping like a normal fucking person. what the hell are you doing? speak up." Kevin hissed.

"I need your help. can you come get me? I'll give you gas money." Ben said just as quiet. Kevin rolled his eye's.

"fine. I can be at your parents in-" Kevin started.

"I-I'm not at their house." Ben said. that caught Kevin off guard.

"well where the hell are you?" Kevin glared.

"a pay phone down town. beside that dumb burger joint on Main." Ben said quietly.

"why on Earth are you in town?" Kevin hissed.

"can you come get me or not?" Ben ask.

"fine I'll be there in 10." Kevin grumbled and hung up. Ben waited around silently in the light, suit cases at his feet. Kevin pulled up and parked. he took in the sight of the younger teen and got out. he walked over and paused a moment, there was a dark bruise around Ben's eye and he looked beat to hell honestly. "who'd you pick a fight with?" Kevin ask, almost amused.

"my dad." Ben said quietly. Kevin straightened immediately and grabbed Ben's bags.

"c'mon." Kevin said. he tossed the bags into the trunk and climbed in. "you okay? need a doctor or anything? hospital maybe?" Kevin ask.

"no. I'm fine." Ben said,

"you're clearly not." Kevin said. Ben looked away silently. Kevin frowned and pulled up to the hospital.

"Kev please." Ben said softly.

"I'll take you back to my place after the doctors check you out." Kevin said. Ben sighed and nodded, knowing it was no use to argue. he let the bigger teen lead the way. Kevin took his hand gently. "you could've called me from your house." Kevin said.

"I had to get away Kev." Ben said softly. Kevin nodded and headed to the emergency check in desk.

"can we help you gentlemen?" the receptionist ask.

"my boyfriend had the shit beat out of him by his dad and needs to be looked over immediately. last time his father broke three ribs." Kevin said nodding towards Ben. Ben looked away from the lady, clearly ashamed. she looked at Ben then Kevin.

"sir did this man hurt you?" she ask. Kevin wasn't all that surprised.

"no! Kevin loves me! you can check the hospital records. I've been up here several times since I was a kid." Ben hissed. he winced and held his ribs. Kevin quickly scooped him up and held him. they were sent back immediately.

*Kevins apartment*

6 hours in the hospital, all Ben had was bruising and small wounds, and a fractured rib. he'd be okay. he was also asleep, curled up with Kevin. the bigger teen laid with him, watching over him. Kevin made sure to put Ben between him and the wall, holding him tightly. he heard the sounds of Gwen using her powers to portal into his room.

"Kevin, Ben is-" Gwen started.

"here. he's here." Kevin muttered moving some so Gwen could see him. "he called me on a payphone and begged me to come get him. then when I finally got him here, he was terrified his dad was going to find him." Kevin said. Gwen didn't know about him and Ben, Kevin intended to keep it that way. Gwen nodded walking over, Kevin moved away from Ben carefully. the teen was deep enough in his sleep he wouldn't feel it.

"he looks awful." Gwen said.

"he's not bad. hospital says he's fine." Kevin shrugged. "though the said not to let him curl up because of his fractured ribs, but not even holding his arms and legs down helped." Kevin muttered.

"how long have you been with him?" Gwen ask.

"he called me at 2 AM. we spent about six hours in the hospital." Kevin said. Ben shifted and winced in his sleep.

"well... if you've got him, I'll just go home." Gwen said. Kevin nodded put his back to Ben, pulling the blanket up over them both and mumbling. Gwen watched him a moment then left. once he was sure she was gone he rolled back over and held Ben tightly. he shifted and mumbled.

"Kev?" Ben mumbled.

"yes Benji?" Kevin ask, pulling him closer.

"was that Gwen?" Ben ask.

"yeah. she was looking for you. hows your eye?" Kevin ask.

"its better. thanks." Ben mumbled, cuddling closer. Kevin nodded and held him.

"yeah. you want breakfast?" Kevin ask. Ben nodded.

"yeah. that sounds really good." Ben mumbled. Kevin nodded and let him go, sitting up. "no!" Ben whined reaching for him.

"I have to get up to cook." Kevin said.

"order in." Ben whined. Kevin rolled his eyes and laid back down, reaching for his phone. he ordered and laid back, holding Ben. "thanks." Ben mumbled. Kevin nodded and held him.

"what happened last night Ben?" Kevin ask. Ben sighed and curled up against his side.

"I don't know how the argument started. but we started arguing about me moving out and he told me I'm not allowed to move out until I'm at least 20 so I told him he could go fuck himself and went to call you and... boom." Ben sighed. Kevin frowned and held him.

"it's alright Ben. we'll go get your stuff later. you're staying with me." Kevin said.

"We can't go in there, my dad-" Ben started.

"will have to get through me before he can do anything." Kevin frowned. Kevin got up when he heard a knock. "foods here love. come on." Kevin murmured getting up. Ben got up with him and cuddled to his side. "it's okay." Kevin soothed gently. they headed down stairs and Kevin opened the door. instead of their food, it was two cops. Kevin narrowed his eyes.

"Kevin Levin?" one ask.

"whose askin'?" Kevin ask.

"Officers Sal Xavier and Bruce Johnson. we have some questions about Ben Tennyson." Sal said. Kevin shifted.

"what about him?" Kevin ask, making sure they couldn't see him.

"he's missing." he said. Kevin rolled his eye's.

"he's not missing." Kevin said.

"his parents reported him missing last night after he-" he started.

"after he ran off and called me to pick him up off the side of the road in this middle of the night because his father beat the hell out of him." Kevin hissed. they looked shocked. "Benji." Kevin said moving out of the way. Ben walked over and hugged Kevin tightly.

"I won't go back." Ben said softly. he held tighter to Kevin, who wrapped an arm around him carefully.

"perhaps we could come in and talk?" Bruce ask. Kevin shrugged and moved, pulling Ben with him. he closed the door behind the cops.

"I won't go back." Ben said again.

"I won't make you." Kevin assured him.

"so you're a run away?" Sal ask.

"no. I told them I was moving in with Kevin and my dad lost it. he beat the crap out of me while I packed what I could." Ben said.

"you're suit cases are still in the car." Kevin mumbled heading for the garage.

"I can get them." Ben said.

"you have a fractured rib. sit down." Kevin warned. Ben sat down and watched him go.

"so after you left what happened?" Bruce ask. Ben shifted some.

"I took my suit cases and I left. I walked myself to town, found a pay phone, and called Kevin. my cell was dead.... I... he always comes and gets me when I call. he knows how my dad is." Ben said.

"how come he's never done anything about this?" Sal ask.

"he doesn't want to go to jail." Ben said quietly.

"why not?" Sal ask.

"because no one would be here to protect Ben." Kevin hissed.

"and why do you think protecting Ben would put you in jail?" Sal ask. Kevin huffed in amusement and shook his head.

"my protection and your protection are two different things. his dad would never walk away." Kevin warned.

"Kev." Ben warned gently when the bigger got in the cops face. Kevin backed off and took Bens suit cases upstairs.

"how likely is it Kevin would never hurt you?" Sal ask.

"he'd never! never ever! I'm his whole world. he loves me. he'd never hurt me. he never has." Ben said.

"victims of abuse often-" Sal tried.

"don't give me your shit. Kevin would protect me to the ends of the Earth and back. he loves me. his dad used to beat his mom. he'd never stoop that low." Ben said. he was getting upset and uncomfortable. Kevin walked back down and glared at the cops.

"you need to leave. you're upsetting him." Kevin said walking over to Ben, who looked close to tears. "go upstairs Ben. I'll bring breakfast up when it gets here." Kevin said softly. Ben nodded and headed for the stairs. "do you need help?" Kevin ask.

"no I got it." he said quietly. Kevin nodded and watched him go.

"out." Kevin hissed immediately, opening the door. the poor delivery dude looked confused. Kevin paid him quickly and took the food, nodding at him. "out. now." Kevin hissed at the cops. the two left quickly. Kevin slammed the door shut and headed upstairs to Ben. "Benji. foods here." Kevin called, walking into the bedroom. Ben was curled up on the bed, cuddled into Kevin's blankets. for a ruffian, he had the softest blankets and sheets Ben had ever felt and he had several blankets. Ben liked to cuddle them when he was upset. Kevin chuckled at him and sat on the bed. "sit up." Kevin said.

"I'm working on it." Ben said softly. he sat up and cuddled to Kevin. Kevin handed him some food to him and kissed his head. Ben nibbled quietly on his food and Kevin held him tightly. "I don't want to go home." Ben murmured.

"you are home Benji. I'll come with you to get your stuff." Kevin said. Ben nodded and nuzzles him.

"okay. thanks." he mumbles.

"eat up and we'll head over to get your stuff." Kevin said. Ben curled up. "don't worry about it Ben. I got you. it's alright. I can keep you safe. you know that." Kevin murmured. Ben nodded.

"I know I'm just nervous. I'm scared." Ben said softly.

"I know. it's okay." Kevin soothed. of course Ben knew Kevin would protect him. he always protected Ben, he was just scared what would happen. eventually everything would be okay, Ben was sure of that.