Ben 10 Porn Story: Postbellum Concerns – Chapter 5

Listen

Kevin was fixing his car.

Gwen was reading a book.

It was the same old, same as always, American-as-cherry-pie situation they always found themselves in, except for one thing.

Lately, Gwen had gotten in the habit of talking. She wouldnt talk directly to Kevin, she would just talk. She would start explaining what she had learned in English that day, or which girl was cheating on her boyfriend and when upcoming pep rallies were. At first, Kevin made an effort to acknowledge that he was, indeed, listening. Soon enough though, he realized she didnt need or want any acknowledgment. She knew he was listening.

He liked listening to her talk. It was just a little silly, but he thought she had the most soothing voice in the world. He would sometimes fall asleep under his car, just from listening to her talk. She would talk about the most mundane things, he would admit, but that didnt matter; what mattered was that she was willing to share the mundane things in her life with him.

He sometimes wished he had mundane things to share with her, but even his mundane things werent as exciting as hers. What was he going to say?

So. Fixed my car. Um worked on the car some more. Then you came over and I listened to you talk. And uh worked on the car some more. Oh yeah, then I went to Wendys and got a crispy chicken sandwich. It was good.

That day, however, Gwen wasnt talking- they were having a fight.

Kevin thought it was mostly Gwens fault. How was he supposed to know she was a vegetarian? No, he hadnt noticed the way she always ordered Veggie Burgers when they went out. He thought he was being considerate ordering dinner for the both of them; he didnt even think twice about warning Gwen there was meat in the pierogies. Next thing he knew, Gwen was throwing up and refusing to talk to him.

Gwen knew it was mostly her own fault, but she wasnt about to tell him that. She shouldnt have gotten so upset, but it was their third almost-date and she was nervous enough and then the meat made her feel sick and She wasnt going to cancel their daily hang out time though. Instead, she would just concentrate on reading about the drama unfolding between Jane and Rochester.

Kevin glared at the stick still stuck in the underside of his baby. He had been trying for the past ten minutes to get it out, but somehow the damned thing had gotten lodged in just so that it was practically impossible to get out in one piece and breaking the stick would result in further damage to the car. He abandoned his tools and tried pulling at the stick with his bare hands again. Before he knew what was happening, the stick was out. Unfortunately, the effort he had exerted resulted in slicing the back of his hand against the metal of his car.

Shit! he yelled.

Gwen didnt say anything. She was used to him swearing while working.

Kevin grabbed his handkerchief and pressed it to his hand, Gwen?

She said nothing.

Kevin removed the handkerchief and looked at his hand- by his judgment, he needed at least a few stitches, Gwen? he called again. Usually any injuries he sustained, he mended himself, but he never had to give himself stitches before. Gwen still didnt respond and Kevins heart began to race, Gwen? He ducked his head a bit and sighed in relief at the sight of her black shoes, Gwen, I get it youre mad at me, but I kinda might need some help.

He heard her shift, What?

I might be bleeding?

Im sure you have band-aids someplace.

Kevin watched in horror as his handkerchief grew completely soaked through. He removed it and couldve sworn he saw a bit of bone, Gwen?

If you ask nicely and tell me where they are, I might go get them for you.

Gwen!

What? Gwen demanded, throwing her book onto the seat next to her.

Kevin wheeled slowly out from under the car and held up his hand.

Oh my gosh! Gwen cried, stumbling out of her chair towards him, Where are the band-aids? What do we do? That looks so serious!

I need you to get the First Aid kit, he gestured to the box on the wall, And, uh, I think theres a sewing needle and fishing wire in it. And a lighter near it?

Gwen tripped over herself several times before making it to the kit and back. At Kevins request, she found an antiseptic wipe and handed it to him.

I have a Red Cross certification, Gwen said, her voice shaking as Kevin cleaned off his cut, But I Kevin held up the sewing needle, already threaded with the fishing wire, What do you she realized what he wanted and held the lighter up to the needle, I dont suppose you want to go to the hospital then?

Costs too much, Kevin said, I dont have insurance.

Gwen paused for a moment, So are you saying you dont have car insurance?

No, I have that, there was no need for her to know it was slightly illegal, Just not health insurance. He looked at Gwen, whose hands were shaking and eyes were wide, You can close your eyes if you want.

She did. Kevin was silent as he stitched up his hand.

Im done, he said, wrapping a bandage around his hand.

Should I even ask how that happened? Gwen asked softly.

No, Kevin grumbled, feeling like an idiot, redness creeping over his cheeks.

Gwen looked at the floor for a moment, This makes me feel stupid.

Huh? He looked at her.

It makes this whole thing seem really juvenile, huh?

Are you talking about that uh dinner? he was afraid if he mentioned the meat itself, she would explode.

Yeah, she said, That. She bit her lower lip before looking up at him hopefully, You know, they say a little fighting is good sometimes.

Kevin stared at her. She was scared. He looked back at his bandaged hand and mumbled.

I didnt catch that, Gwen said anxiously.

Im tired of fighting, Kevin repeated so she could hear him.

Oh, Gwen said, thinking about how this was the shortest relationship she had ever been in and how real relationships werent supposed to be this short and maybe it wasnt a real relationship anyway since neither of them had come right out and said anything serious and all this thinking wasnt helping and just making her feel worse instead.

Ive been fighting for so long, Kevin said, I mean, my mom used to say that I came into the world fighting and stuff. I dont want to fight for a while, especially now that the DNAliens and Highbreeds are gone and stuff.

Gwen nodded, already making back-up plans. She had seen a coupon in the paper for free ice cream from the supermarket and there were some Oreos in the cabinet she could deep-fry. Julie was at tennis, but she would be available to come over around five or so for a cry-fest and Thelma and Louise had just come in through Netflix.

Gwen figured she would be all set. Except, of course, for her heart, but there really wasnt a whole lot to be done about that.

Are you even listening? Kevin demanded.

Gwen nodded.

Then why do you look so upset?

Gwen thought that there was no better way Kevin couldve ripped her heart from his chest (because her heart already belonged to him, after all), ground it into the cement floor and poured lemon juice all over it.

I mean, Kevin said angrily, ripping her eyes away from her to glare at the ground, I just thought that forget it.

Thats when Gwen realized that she probably missed something, Huh?

You deaf or something? Kevin demanded and then, somehow thinking that it was a distinct possibility, began to panic, You are okay, right? I mean, you didnt hit your head or anything, right?

Im fine, Gwen said hurriedly, I just think I sort of zoned out. What was that you were saying? She hoped he didnt think she was silly.

He always thought she was silly, but in a good way. He sighed.

Nothing. Just Kevin did not have a way with words and he knew there was no way he would be able to repeat what Gwen had just missed on, I got some Hot Pockets I was going to heat up. You want one?

What flavor? she would eat one with meat if it made him keep her.

Cheese and Broccoli, Kevin said with a half-smirk/half-grin.

Definitely, Gwen said, Are you sure youre okay to heat them up? she eyed his injured hand.

Fine, Kevin stood up, Be back in a moment.

Gwen concentrated, trying to recall what Kevin had said in the few moments she had lost her concentration. He was talking about not wanting to fight anymore and he had said it in such a defeated tone that Gwen was sure he meant they couldnt be together anymore (even though they were never officially together to begin with), but

Im sick of fighting for your attention and fighting this well, you know that old song by the Countdown Singers? Theyre kinda old. But I kinda just want us to be together for as long as I can make you happy and stuff. And if Im not making you happy, just tell me and I swear I can change, okay? Cause I dont know. I think I might be you know. Really bad. With you. Are you even listening?

Gwen hated herself. He probably thought she was a spastic idiot who didnt care about his feelings at all.

He thought she was spastic, but in a good way, and never an idiot; she was the smartest person he knew. As for how she felt about his feelings

Kevin knew how she felt the moment he returned balancing one Broccoli and Cheese and one Pepperoni Hot Pocket on top of each other in his good hand. She just gently took his injured hand and brushed her lips against each one of his fingers. He put the Hot Pockets on a napkin.

Nothing needed to be vocalized- they simply pressed their lips together and listened to what the other had to say.

AN: Not too happy with the ending, but oh well. I tried rewriting it several different times and this seemed to work the best :/ I dont know if Gwens a vegetarian or not- she seems like she might be for some odd reason. (The Countdown Singers totally rock my world, by the way). As always, criticism and comments are always welcome!