Story title: it scares me how much I need you

Shipping: Ben X hope

Chapters: prologue only

Story description: none

Writing style: new writing style, more description

Concept: Ben is betrayed by everyone and sent to rot in jail for a crime he didn't commit

*Ben was sleeping peacefully, holding his wife in his arms when he was woken up by the cell door of his room being opened. Ben looked and had to control his anger as it was a plumber opening his door. The plumber looked at the former hero of the galaxy, with a neutral expression on his face, as he looked down at him. Ben took a deep breath and didn't even get up. In fact, he made himself more comfortable.*

Ben:Is there a reason you're interrupting my beauty sleep asshole?

Plumber:by orders of max...

* The plumber said and instantly felt as if he messed up since the atmosphere became difficult to breathe. Ben gave a throaty chuckle as he slowly let go of his sleeping partner without waking her up and sitting up straight on the bed. Looking at the plumber with a smile that sends a shiver up his spine, those shivers got worse when tennyson finally spoke up.*

Ben:I'm gonna stop you right there right now. Tell me. Do you have a name?

Mike: Mike.

*the plumber said as Ben got letting the blanket fall off his body, where max could see a large number of scars on the former hero, mostly centering around his chest, in his vital organs, whoever did this, were going for the kill. But to be fair, so was Ben against them. That's just the nature of things in this prison. Ben took a step forward to him, making Mike feel jumpy, which Ben just found amusing.*

Ben:you can tell that disappointment of a grandfather that whatever he wants he can go to a pharmacy to get it and while he's there he should buy some Viagra so he can go fuck himself

Mike: don't move another step

*Mike said in fear, since the whole vibe that Ben was giving out was that he could kill him if he really wanted to. And the smile he was giving him, told Mike that Ben wanted to. Ben glanced down at the weapon of the plumber. Since Ben saw the plumber's trigger finger twitching to where his blaster was holster, Ben smirked and looked at the nervous plumber walking closer to him without fear of being shot of by this Rookie*

Ben:You really want to do that? I mean, you can, but i can promise you, you'll live to regret it

Mike: I said stay back! I'm warning I'll...

*Mike tried to say, but in a flash, when Mike to take out the blaster and shoot it, Mike's eyes widen since, at the last second, Ben was next to him and grabbed his wrist hard enough to make Mike winced. Ben aimed it to the ceiling. Mike looked at the ceiling and then at Ben, horrified. Ben, for his part, just grew a smile as he saw the fear in the poor boy's face. But then again, Ben didn't care if the boy was scared. This place had a way to kill any sympathy from everyone who lives there.*

Ben:So where is my dear old grandpa waiting for me?

Mike: he's...he's at the entrance

* Mike said with a stuttter, as he gave a rather loud yell, since just mentioning his dear old grandpa made Ben so mad that he accidentally broke Mike's wrist, Ben seeing that he may have crossed a line by a step, decided to end this quickly, before he got more angry, it was too early too feel this angry, but knowing they were their did just that. So with a breath, he stopped smiling at Mike.*

Ben:Great, and just know this isn't personal

Mike:What....

*mike tried to say, but Ben head-butted him with enough force that the officer lost his balance losing the grip of his blaster, Ben caught it and pointed it at the man who knew to put his hands up. Ben walked past him and slammed the blaster on the plumber's neck, making him pass out. Of course, the struggle woke up Ben's sleeping partner. As Hope yamwed, she sat up straight, holding the blanket to cover her privates. She looked at the unconscious plumper on the ground and then at Ben.*

hope: Mh.... what's going on?

Ben: Apparently, my dear old grampa wants a word with me, I'll be back. You can go back to sleep

*Ben said with a more calm smile now that he was talking with hope. The woman always had a way to calm him down and be reasonable. Hope stood up from bed, she definitely was gonna go back to sleep, but first she was gonna do something for Ben, she's not about to leg him to meet those people, with just one basic issue hand blaster.*

Hope:hm... fine, but here

Ben: Come on, do you think I can't defend myself?

*Ben said with a crooked grin. Hope didn't respond she just rolled her eyes and gave Ben a peck on the lips before she spoke in tongue and gave Ben enhanced strength. Ben made a hand into a fist, feeling the extra power he now had at his disposal, and nodded, as a thank you to hope. As for the Mike? Hope placed some magical handcuffs on him and went back to bed, making herself comfortable*

Hope:be quick foods coming soon

*Hope said with her eyes closed, while Ben just hummed in response and walked away. On his way, he passed by his neighbors/cellmates, giving each other's nods. He made it to the entrance, seeing a table there with something that made him chuckle. In the table was a tray of chili fries and a Mr. Smoothie smoothie as a pathetic attempt of a peace offering. Ben, with nothing else to do, he sat down and ate a fry or two as he waited. He got tired of waiting and leaned back on his chair, putting his legs on the table as he looked at where he sensed the group of them.*

Ben: Alright, I'm here. Hurry up with whatever it is you want from me so i can go back to my room

Max:....

*Ben heard the sigh as his grandfather as one Max tennyson walked out of the shadows. Along with other old faces, like his cousin, his partner, his friend, who ben given way to many second chances, while kevin never gave him such a luxury. Ben gave them a twisted smile, looking almost giddy seeing the gang all together again.*

Ben:Oh well, isn't this a surprise, Kevin eleven, Gwen and rook? How long has it been? 5, 10 years? It's so hard to tell time here. i just stopped trying.

* Ben said each word was filled with venom it made Rook and Gwen unable to meet Ben's gaze. Max and Kevin, on the other hand, kept a hard expression, although Ben could tell Kevin was having a hard time in it, so he concentrated his gaze at Max, who took a breath before speaking.*

Max: it's....been 8 years

Ben:Ah, so I'm 24 cool makes what happened 2 years ago less of a problem for me

*Ben said absentmindedly, as he grabbed his smoothie and started drinking it, making a loud slurp on purpose, to keep the uncomfortable atmosphere just that much more uncomfortable. Gwen finally decided to speak as she took a step forward.*

Gwen:What happened 2 years ago?

Ben:Did i tell it in the form of a question? Sorry if i made it seem that way, but that's none of your business now. Is it "cousin"

*Gwen flinched and felt Kevin's hand on his shoulder for support. Max saw this as pointless since no matter what, it was gonna end badly, decided to just bite the bullet, and sat down in the chair opposite Ben while the rest stood behind the old plumber, Ben kept the slow slurp of his smoothie, waiting for Max to speak, keeping an almost bored expression on his face.*

Max:Yes, it's...been almost a decade since that day happened

Ben:Since what happened? Come on max your a big boy, you can say it

*Ben said as his bored expression turned more into an amused smirk, since he wanted to hear it. If Max was here, the least he could was to grow a pair and say it. Max looked like he was in pain as he spoke the words that broke his family in half. But he held his hands together and said it.

Max:Since the case that brought you to  the null void

Ben:Since the case that framed me to the null void, don't you dare try to change history, you know what you all did.

*Ben said in an annoyed tone, amusment in his tone quickly s
dissapearing as if never existed. Ben was, quickly losing his patience, and how could he not? Seeing them their, seeing them no worse for ware than the last time he saw them, but then as quickly as his anger came, his relaxed fake smile returned*

Ben:But hey, it's not all bad null guardians. Meat is pretty good. it tastes like chicken. Yup, this place really has become home for me. Thanks, do you all? Now, how about you stop dancing around the issues and get to the reason you're here

Max: we're..... we're here to bring you home

*Max said plainly. It took a moment for those words to truly hit Ben, but when they did hit him, Ben couldn't help but laugh at them, a big bitter belly laugh, as he took a sharp breath to calm down and glare at all of them. Before looking at his grandfather. The man who should've known better, the man who should've trusted him. But he didn't. He didn't, and Ben changed because of it, so he gave him a smug twisted smile.*

Ben:Oh? But i am home Max, this is my home. My cellmates are my people. After all, i belong here. The worst of the worst, and I'm the worst of them. That's what you said, right? Thought i guess my memory is a little foggy. You could've said much worse, but that's the gist of it if i remember correctly

Rook: Ben, the plumbers were mistaken. You didn't cause the death of those representatives it was...

*Rook began, but Ben raised a hand stopping his old partner from even speaking, as he already knew who was responsible. He knew from the moment he was accused. But did they listen? Of course not. They wanted to follow the bureaucratic method of a trial. Which really made Ben just lose hope in the system.*

Ben:a mixed of Vilgax and albedo? Gee, who could've guessed? Oh, that's right, me. I told you all i was innocent, i told you it wasn't me, i fucking told you vilgax and albedo were working together. But did any of you believe me? No. You all sent me here to rot, and I took the omnitrix from me. You know, the one thing that I needed to survive in a place like this?

Ben" not that it matters. Since I have something so much more powerful than that watch."

*Ben thought as he got up. Gwen's eyes widened for a moment, but then she shook her head as she thought that she saw one of Ben's eyes turn pure white, but as soon as it came, it disappeared. Ben saw Rook and Kevin subtly get in a fighting position just in case. Ben growled even with the blaster hidden on his back he wouldn't be able to win, not with Gwen here, so he huffed and sat back down with his arms crossed*

Max: Yes... you were right, and I'm ....

Ben: Shove that apology up your ass old man. 8 years, you all took 8 years of my life, you all turned your backs on me and didn't belived me, no you would rather put your faith on technology then your own flesh and blood, your friend, your fucking partner. So no, don't you dare say sorry, sorry is not gonna bring me my years back. Saying sorry is not gonna make any of this go away. Your apology is just so you can stop feeling guilty. You don't get that. No, you don't get to forget and move on to find some semblance of peace, i want you all to suffer with the guilt because it's what you deserve

*No one said anything. Since what could they say? The once kind, goofy, lazy Ben they all knew was long gone. One voice cut through their silence. A voice that made Ben calm down and let a small smile grow on his face.*

Hope:god dear, you're far too cruel. Oh, how i love it, especially seeing Gwen she looks like she's gonna cry