Love After Love Drabbles: Volume VII

LOVE AFTER LOVE DRABBLES: VOLUME VII
Episode 28: Rules of Engagement
"Well done, Ben," Rook said, as he went to pull Fistina's head out of the wall, "Now to take her in!" Rook grabbed Fistina's head with both hands and tugged, grunting out as he did, "It should...only take...a moment!" With one last grunt, he managed to pull Fistina's head free.
XLR8 grinned and said, "Wow, she must have really gotten herself stuck!"
"Perhaps I didn't feel like showing off," Rook replied with a smirk, then his expression shifted to warning as he cried, "Ben! Look out!"
XLR8 turned around to see Fistina's body stumbling towards him. He tried to run, but Fistina's body placed its foot on his tail; XLR8 wasn't going anywhere.
Rook went into action and pulled his proto-tool off it's shoulder-mount and fired an energy net to capture and stun the criminal's body, causing it to fall on XLR8.
Fistina looked about at Rook and grinned as she said, "Oh, very effective, Plumber." Rook ignored her as he ran to Ben's side. By now, Ben had reverted back from XLR8 to his own form.
"Are you alright, beloved? Forgive me, I did not expect Fistina's body to fall on top of you!" Rook exclaimed. He made as though to help Ben out, but Ben managed to crawl out on his own.
"Yeah, I'm alright, don't worry about it," Ben said before moving into Rook's right arm as it pulled him close. Ben looked around Rook to Fistina and frowned. "Why'd you knock over that jewelry store anyway?"
"I adore pretty things," Fistina replied before looking up at Rook with, what Ben could only guess to be, sultry eyes and adding, "Such as you, Little Man. I like the way you move!"
"Hey, eyes off the rhevonnahghander, he's taken!" Ben exclaimed before his own eyes got caught on a nearby electronics store. In the display window were TV's of every shape and size, all of them depicting his best friend Julie Yamamoto at the local tennis court.
Ben had first met Julie in 8th grade, and they had quickly become good friends. During that summer, Ben had discovered that he was gay after finding that he couldn't take his eyes off of a topless Cash Murray, the local bully, while at the beach. Ben had spent several nights there after having dreams of Cash that went from platonic (the two actually being friends), to romantic (the two sharing a kiss under a full moon), to erotic. Ben had immediately decided to, figuratively, lock himself up in the closet.
When he started school again, now in the 9th grade, he decided to take his mind of boys, and Cash, by dating a girl...any girl! Ben had ended up setting his sight's on Julie. Julie was a pretty clever girl, and quickly realized that Ben was gay and in denial, but had humored him. Ben and Julie had gone on over a dozen dates before Julie had decided that enough was enough, and had confronted Ben on the fact that he was in denial. At about that time Ben had had his Big-Chill-Baby incident, and Ben was already crushing on his long-time rival, Kevin Levin. Julie had encouraged Ben to talk to Kevin, which had led to the beer-drinking contest, which had led to Ben drunkenly revealing his feelings for Kevin, which led to the two having sex and starting their, now infamous, secret relationship.
During said relationship, Ben had maintained a close friendship to Julie, who was fond of calling Ben her 'Gay Boyfriend'. It occurred to Ben that he hadn't spoken to her over the phone for quite some time!
"Hey, Julie's back in town." Ben said acquiring his fiance's attention.
"She is your old friend from shortly after gaining your new Omnitrix, correct?" Rook questioned.
"Yeah," Ben said, frowning. "Wonder why she didn't tell me she was in town?"
"Something to ponder," Rook replied, as he touched Ben's shoulder, turning him around to face him. "After we have taken in the prisoner."
"Hey, Fistina, you in any hurry?" Ben asked the head under Rook's arm, after a moment of quiet frowning.
"No, I have a nice view," she tittered from her location.
Rook looked down at the Akrolian's face, before looking up to frown in disapproval at his Beloved. "Ben, we really do not have time..."
"Please, Rook? For me?" Ben cut him off, hands clasped together and eyes brimming with a pleading shimmer.
"Ben..."
"For your beloved, who would give you a whole lot of appreciative kisses and affectionate love bites later?"
Rook frowned, mostly in embarrassment at Ben referring to their private time in front of a criminal, but the way Ben looked just broke Rook's heart. Rook let loose a sigh of resignation and asked, "Your heart is really set on this?"
Ben nodded eagerly at Rook's words.
"Very well, Ben, but it will be quick," Rook said, smirking seductively, "That way, you may repay me all the sooner."
"Thanks Rook!" Ben exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around Rook's neck,mindful of the severed head of Fistina. He then planted a big kiss to Rook's cheek and the side of Rook's lips before pulling away with a happy smile and rushing over to the Proto-TRUK.
"Rook, Rook..."
Rook was startled, having temporarily forgotten the Akrolian head still under his arm, saying his name in a sing-song voice. "What a wonderful name."
"Be silent." Rook retorted peevishly, annoyed by her attention.
-BRoken-
"Hey, Julie!" Ben cried out with a smile before jumping out of the Proto-TRUK, which was still hovering several meters above the tennis court. Landing in a crouch, he stood up, only to get smacked in the back of the head with a tennis ball. Julie giggled before using a remote to turn the ball-thrower machine off before she ran up to Ben and hugged him.
"Ben! I was wondering when you were coming to visit!" Julie said.
"What?" Ben asked confusedly, "I didn't even know you were home! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Uh, I did tell you. Remember last week when I called you?"
Ben thought back to last week. He remembered he had been playing video games. Wait a second...Julie had called! "Huh," Ben said as he grinned sheepishly, "I guess you did call."
Julie rolled her eyes. "Let me guess," she said, "I caught you while you were playing video games, right?"
"Yeah," Ben said before he noticed the young blonde man who was now standing closely to Julie.
"Uh, who's he?" Ben asked as he pointed at the man.
"This is Hervé, my boyfriend," Julie said.
Ben's eyes widened as he said, "Why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend?"
"Your the one who told me to go for it; to tell Hervé how I felt," Julie said, smiling knowingly at Ben, "or did I catch you while you were playing video games, again?"
"Eheh," Ben chuckled sheepishly as he now realized just what he had, unknowingly, said to Julie ("Go for it! I swear to God, if you don't grab that treasure I'll never speak to you again!"). "I guess I did bring you and Hervé together. I really need to pay more attention to my phone calls," Ben said.
"Ze famous Ben Tennyson, c'est un honneur," Hervé said as he took Ben's left hand and placed a gentle kiss upon the knuckles.
Ben blushed and said, "Uh, thanks...I think?"
Julie giggled and said, "He says it's an honor to meet you." She then grinned and in a teasing tone added, "And don't mind the kiss, that's how all Frenchmen greet women."
"Indeed, you 'ave a beauté féminine about you," Hervé said, "yet you are strong and willful. 'Héros de la Galaxie', oui?"
At that moment, Ben turned around sharply as he heard someone yell out, "Ben! Oh, thank the Proteans! Come quickly!" Standing at the top of the bleachers surrounding the court was Ester! Jumping down to the court, Ester said, "The Kraaho need your help! The Hot-Spot is under attack!"
-BRoken-
Ben just couldn't believe his luck was that bad! Turns out, it was Princess Looma attacking the Kraaho. Ben couldn't wrap his mind around it; he thought they'd already settled things when Rook proposed to him in the traditional rhevonnahghander way!
"Ben Tennyson!" Looma exclaimed. "I had planned on sending a servant to your home to announce your invitation, but perhaps I could announce you invitation myself!" Looma then hopped off the ledge she was on and landed in front of Ben.
"Huh? What invitation?" Ben asked.
"To my wedding!" Looma said with such joy.
"You are getting married?" Rook asked.
"Yes! After that horrible Kevin Levin tricked me, I was so heartbroken I nearly declared war on all Earth men!"
"Glad she didn't," Julie muttered.
"But then, a Plumber scout team arrived requesting fuel. Among the crew was this handsome tetramand halfling. It was love at first sight!"
Ben smiled and said, "That's great, princess, really! But, why are you attacking the kraaho?"
"Oh, it is a tetramand tradition! Before her wedding, the bride must collect four things: something conquered, something bruised, something severed, and something blue!"
"And how do the kraaho fit into that?" Rook asked, aiming his proto-tool and the tetramand princess.
"Well, since Manny is half human, I decided to find my items here on Earth, and since the kraaho are the only warriors here on Earth, I decided I would take one of them to be my 'something conquered'." Looma's eyes then widened in realization as she said, "Ooh! You can be my 'something blue'! Ben won't mind if I borrow you, right Ben?"
"Actually, Looma? Yes, I would mind," Ben said just before he activated the omnitrix and transformed into Humongosaur. "And so would Humongosaur!"
Humongosaur was joined in his fight by Fistina, who didn't want her 'Little Man' put in harms way. Looma, however, proved to be more than a match for them both. After incapacitating Humongosaur and Fistina, Looma ran off with Rook, Julie, Ester, and Hervé in her bag.
Ben came to and realized that he was going to need help.
-BRoken-
Ben and Fistina managed to track down Looma to a small house in the outskirts of town. This was the home of Manny's human mother. Ben and Fistina arrived just in time to see Looma presenting her sack of four items to Mrs. Armstrong.
"Looma!" Ben cried out.
Looma turned around and, with a pained expression said, "Now is not the time for this! As is tetramand tradition, I must present my items to my mother-in-law before the wedding ceremony can commence!"
Ben sighed and said, "I really hate to do this, Looma, but you've given me no choice." Ben then activated the comm in the omnitrix and said, "It's your turn."
Looma gave a look of confusion until a voice said, "Looma! I thought we'd talked about this!"
All eyes shifted to the roof of the house where stood Manny Armstrong, both pairs of arms crossed in a displeased manner.
"Beloved! I-" Looma stuttered out.
"Save it. I told you I didn't want you to kidnap people to satisfy your tetramand tradition. If we're gonna make this work, you have to abide by Earth tradition as well. I told you that you were only to collect 'something old', 'something new', 'something borrowed', and 'something blue'."
"Well, I did collect something blue, beloved," Looma said proudly. "I also found us a photographer!" She then placed her bag down and opened it to reveal the people inside.
Manny jumped off the roof and landed in front of Looma. It was a rather silly sight to see; Manny at only 6'5" and Looma at just over 7' tall, and yet, Looma seemed to be wary of Manny! Manny growled at his mother to go back inside, saying he would handle this. His mother, fully aware of tetramand customs (her late husband having been one) nodded her understanding and obeyed. "Let them go, Looma," Manny growled. "It's bad enough you kidnapped a Plumber, but that you also kidnapped the leader of a group of refugees and two innocent humans, one of which doesn't have Plumber security clearance of any kind!"
Manny quickly ducked and did a sweeping kick to knock Looma off her feet. He then jumped on top of the downed tetramand princess and placed on hand around her throat, another hand pulled back for a bunch, and the other two holding down Looma's top row of arms.
"The next time you feel like harming innocent people, don't," Manny hissed before punching Looma in the face with all his might before getting off her and walking over to the group of onlookers; Ben and Fistina had ran over to Looma's bag to help everyone out during the commotion. Everyone was starring at Manny like he was a monster except for Fistina.
"Sorry you had to watch that," Manny said, "but that's tetramand's for you; all the know is violence." He then winced and shook the hand he had punched Looma with in the air. "Damn, girl's got a skull made of concrete!"
"Will the princess be alright, then?" Rook asked.
Manny turned around to Look at Looma who was getting back on her feet. She rubbed her face where Manny had punched her as she walked over to Manny. Ben and Rook took fighting positions, but were stunned when Looma knelt down and, with a contrite look, said, "I apologize to you all for my actions. I dishonored my husband-to-be and my tribe. The tribe of Red-Wind will pay for all damages done to the kraaho hot spot in Undertown."
"That...will be acceptable," Ester said, unsure of what was going on.
"Silly runts," Fistina said, "in tetramand society, arguments are solved by fighting! The loser must then make reparations or their honor, and that of their tribe, will be forever tarnished."
"Well, Manny was one to always try and settle a problem with his fists," Ben quipped with a wry smirk. "It's the one thing he's good at."
"Mmm, yes, but that's not all he's good at...right, Beloved?" Looma huskily cooed into Manny's ear. Her right hand was sliding along the side of his chest suggestively, causing Manny to clear his throat as he caught her hands, but didn't remove them.
"Well, that part I wouldn't know," Ben said with a chuckle, as Manny growled out Looma's name warningly, but with a husky undertone.
"I am proud to say I am Ben's first," Rook said with a pleased smile.
This poorly phrased statement, however, had everyone's eyes turned first to Rook, and then to Ben. Julie's was the worst, though. Her brow was quirked upwards and her grin was rather leering in nature.
"Alien boyfriend! He meant alien boyfriend," Ben said, laughing nervously as he elbowed Rook's side.
"First and last," Rook purred as he rubbed his side gently, easing the slight pain; Ben had a very bony elbow. He then pressed a kiss to the side of Ben's face.
"Aww, they're so adorable," Looma gushed, tightening her arms around Manny, causing him to be lifted off the ground.
"Oui, love is always belle," Hervé added, before giving a loving look to Julie.
"Yes, they are indeed a pretty sight," Fistina said, sighing in reluctant agreement. "It's always that way: the cute ones are either married, gay, or interdimensional time travelers."
No one had a comment for that one.
-BRoken-
It was almost sunset, and Manny had taken Looma back to Plumber HQ to fill out the necessary paperwork for the trouble she'd caused. Ben, Rook, Julie, and Hervé were flying back into town inside Ship. Fistina had been handed over to Loom and Manny because Rook could no longer stand her making doe eyes at him.
"So, uh, just how bad was this day?" Ben asked Julie.
Julie chuckled and said, "You know, I should be really mad at you for dragging me and my boyfriend into your usual alien-mess. But for the life of me, I can't!"
"Really?" Ben asked, a hopeful smile on his face.
"Really," Julie confirmed. "Ben, you've been my best friend for so long, I've gotten used to the life you lead. Your a hero, and you always will be. Just don't expect Hervé to kiss you on the knuckles ever again."
The two laughed while Rook and Hevé watched on in amusement.
-BRoken-
Ben and Rook had returned everyone to their respective homes, and underground Tribes, when Ben realized that he'd forgotten to return the necklace Fistina had stolen.
"Aww, man!" Ben groaned, holding up the gold chain with emeralds and pink sapphires dangling from it. "Now we gotta make another trip to the store to return the necklace!"
"Perhaps we should keep it. I will send a payment to the jewelry store tomorrow," Rook said, once the two had stepped into his apartment.
"Really?!" Ben exclaimed as his head spun around to face Rook, who had put up his proto-tool, while Ben had flopped on the couch and discovered the necklace still in his pocket.
Rook took the necklace from Ben and draped it around Ben's neck. Rook grinned, purring in pleasure at the dazzling contrast of the bright colors against his Heart's Flame's more earthly color.
"I couldn't ask you to buy this for me, Rook," Ben said, slipping it off and putting it on the coffee table. "It's way too expensive, we'll just take it back in the morning."
Rook frowned, but acquiesced to Ben's decision. "Alright," Rook said, sitting down next to Ben, and taking Ben's hands into his own as he did. He then began to rub them with an intense fondness, something Ben felt and which caused him to lean against Rook with a happy sigh.
"But I would like to be able to give you such a gift in the future," Rook said into Ben's hair, pressing a kiss onto the top of Ben's head. "It is my right as your future husband and Heart's Flame."
"Mmmm," Ben moaned contentedly, "well, if you can find a way that won't bankrupt you...go for it." Ben sighed in pleasure as he was held in Rook's arms.
Rook immediately decided that he would indeed find a way to give Ben such a wonderful gift. Looking over at the necklace, spread out on the table, shinning like so many stars, made Rook imagine it over Ben's neck, contrasted against his bare, sweaty chest as he laid out on their marital bed.
Such thoughts soon had Rook adjusting himself, and planning on immediately seeking out a way to gain such a gift for his beloved.
---
Episode 29: Rad
All of Undertown echoed with a loud, sharp screech as Ben Tennyson, in the form of Diamondhead, drug a large metal cage with the Gracklflint inside. This was quite an unusual site, even for Undertown, which led to many onlookers. Rook was leading the way, using his proto-tool's map function to lead them to their rendezvous point.
"Ugh, this would go a lot quicker if somebody was helping!" Ben said.
Rook smirked and said, "You need not strain yourself anymore, my love. Our transportation is here."
Ben/Diamondhead dropped the rope tied to the cage and snatched the proto-tool out of Rook's hand to look for himself. The small circular screen depicted two orange dots standing in front of a large black dot, with razer teeth jutting out at an angle. Diamondhead frowned and asked, "Our ride's in a black hole? Great! So what are we doing in Undertown?"
Rook caught his proto-tool as Ben/Diamondhead threw it back to him. "Not a black hole," Rook explained to Ben, "the Black Hole."
They both turned to a bar just up the street with a sign depciting the same spiralling black spot Ben/Diamondhead had seen on the proto-tool's screen.
-BRoken-
Rook was a tad uncomfortable. This was his first time being in an establishment such as this. He was surrounded by the roughest and scariest bunch of aliens he'd ever met. Not to mention just how filthy the place was! And everyone had their eyes on him and Ben!
Ben...Rook had to admire Ben, or should he be concerned? Ben/Diamondhead sat there, looking very disinterested and unimpressed. Rook knew from Ben's record that his Heart's Flame had been in some rather rough alien neighborhoods and establishments before, but enough to make him this blasé?
"Magister Tennyson said that our pilot is the best in the business," Rook explained to Ben/Diamondhead, who had just eaten a chip dipped in some kind of green dip, only to cough it up and say that the green dip was not guacamole.
"What kind of business?" Ben/Diamondhead asked. "If he hangs out in this place, he must be one tough dude."
The old western-style cantina doors slammed open, with a short, squat figure standing at the threshold. The figure said, "Dudesman."
Immediately, a fearful chill swept through the other occupants of the bar. Rook and Ben/Diamondhead noticed the looks of wariness and fear on all of the other aliens as the figure walked towards them.
"Rad Dudesman," said the small baby-blue feathered duck. "You're plumbers?" he asked.
Ben/Diamondhead stared at Rad in incredulity for a second before bursting into giggles as he pointed at Rad and said, "You're a duck!"
"Ben," Rook gently admonished, not understanding why Ben found Rad to be amusing. Of course, Ben could find humor in almost any situation, and Rook found that trait to be quite endearing.
"Oh, sorry," Ben/Diamondhead said as he tried to stifle his chuckles, "But, come on, a duck? Am I the only one seeing this?"
In the blink of an eye the bar was devoid of life, save for the three of them.
"Got a problem with ducks, rock-face?" Rad asked as he stepped right up to Ben/Diamondhead.
"Not yet," Ben/Diamondhead growled, not in the least bit intimidated by the alien fowl.
"Uh, Captain Dudesman, sir?" Rook butted in apologetically. "This 'rock-head' is Ben Tennyson: wielder of the Omnitrix."
Rad gave Ben/Diamondhead a lookover before saying, "Thought you'd be taller." He then walked away, leaving Rook and Ben/Diamonhead to follow. As Ben/Diamondhead was still in charge of dragging the Gracklflint's cage, Rook was given ample opportunity to run up to Rad and say, "Captain Dudesman, I believe you and I had our own business deal, did we not?"
Rad tilted his head up to look Rook in the eye and replied, "Our business will conclude later." He then added in a mocking tone, "You don't want any distractions from your mission, do you?" Rad then jerked his head in Ben/Diamondhead's direction and smirked.
Rook frowned at the subtle insult towards his Heart's Flame, but could not disagree with Rad's logic. Later would be good.
-BRoken-
"Ha! Gotcha!" Ben/AmpFibian exclaimed after directly hitting the intruder with his electrical attack. As Ben/AmpFibian neared the downed intruder, he silently cursed to himself as he recognized who it was before they got up.
"Pax?!" Ben cried out after returning to normal.
"Hey man! That's just wrong: zapping a dude when..." Pax fell silent when he realized he had been about to incriminate himself.
"What are you doing on the Lovely Duck?" Ben asked.
Pax stood up and replied, "Well, somebody needed to be sure the poor little guy was treated right."
"Who? Rad Dudesman?" Ben asked.
"The Gracklflint, man!" Pax clarified. "I'm here to, you know, look after his interests."
"The Gracklflint has only one interest," Rook said, very annoyed by the presence of the bumbling, peace-loving Florauna, "killing everything that isn't a Gracklflint!" It was a testament to how annoyed Rook was that he used a contraction.
"That's no reason to put it in a box, Plumber-man!" Pax shot back as he pointed an accusatory finger at Rook.
Rook was now quivering with rage. Ben noticed this and immediately went to his side and grabbed his hands. "Easy there, Rook. Just breath," Ben said to calm his Rhevonnahghander down.
Rook complied, taking a few deep breaths before his face relaxed. Looking down at Ben, Rook smiled and said, "Thank you, beloved. I fear what I might have done had you not intervened."
Ben smirked and replied, "Eh, after all the time's you've had to keep me cool-headed? Only fair I return the favor." Ben then gave Rook a teasing wink.
"D'awww, inter-species love at it's finest!" Pax said, looking at Ben and Rook. The two were so focused on each other, it was easy to see how much they cared for and loved each other. "Can you feel the love, Ducky-man?" Pax asked Rad.
"I think I'm going to be sick. We don't have time for this!" Rad said as he turned around and walked back the way they came.
-BRoken-
Things were going from bad to worse. With the engine, and many more of the Lovely Duck's systems damaged by the Gracklflint, they were losing valuable time to get to the marooned Plumbers. And now, with an Incursean battleship bearing down on them, they were sitting ducks!
"The Incursean's are about to board us, and the Gracklflint has disabled our weapons!" Rook said. "If they capture us, they are likely to commandeer our cargo!" Rook gave Rad a pointed look. "What of our business deal?"
Rad looked back at him and said, "Relax, I stand by my promises...my paid promises."
Ben looked back and forth between Rook and Rad with a look of curiosity and suspicion. "What are you two talking about?" he asked.
"It is nothing to concern yourself with at the moment, beloved. There are more pressing concerns," Rook answered.
Ben narrowed his eyes for a second, but then shrugged and said, "If you say so. I trust you."
As the Lovely Duck was pulled into the holding bay of the Incursean ship, Rad pulled out two pistols and readied them, turning off their safety switches. Rook set his proto-tool to it's assault rifle mode and armed it. Ben activated the Omnitrix and transformed into Grey Matter.
-BRoken-
After a flawless execution of Ben/Grey Matter's plan, the Lovely Duck finally made it to Terminus 3 and quickly administered the Gracklflint's venom to the marooned Plumbers. Once everyone was back on board, and Pyxi had the ship on a course back to Earth, Rad intercepted Rook as he and Ben went to join the other Plumbers in the ship's med-bay.
"Here, as promised," Rad said to Rook as he handed him a small rectangular box. It was about a foot long, two and a half inches wide, and about one and a quarter inches deep.
"What is that?" Ben asked.
Rook turned to Ben with a smile and said, "Ben, do you remember the necklace Fistina stole? It had been my intention to give it to you as a gift, but you insisted that it wouldn't be right if it meant bankrupting me."
"Yeah, I remember," Ben said, not quite following.
"I said that it was my right as your future husband and Heart's Flame to give you precious things. In the end, we agreed that if I could obtain precious items for you without spending more money than I had, you would take them gratefully."
It suddenly hit Ben what was going on. That box...wrapped in a lush violet velvet...
Before Ben could say anything, Rook offered the box to Ben with both hands and said, "It is with great joy that I offer to you, Ben Tennyson: Bearer of my Heart's Flame, and my future husband, this token of my love."
With shaky fingers, Ben lifted open the box and gasped as he saw the necklace inside. Two thin gold chains connected to a diamond-shaped pattern in the middle, like a four-petaled flower with four leafs. And hanging below this pattern was an oval-shaped emerald.
Rook smiled warmly and said, "It is called a Centauri Moon-Diamond necklace. Do you like it?"
"Do I like it? Rook, this is...how did you get this?" Ben asked, a very surprised look on his face.
Rook grinned sheepishly and said, "Captain Dudesman is not just a well-known pilot, he is also a well-known smuggler: capable of obtaining rare and precious items and selling them at discount prices."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Ben exclaimed, "Is this necklace stolen?!"
"Hmph, hardly," Rad said.
"With the collapse of the local economy in the Alpha-Centauri Conglomerate," Rook explained, "these once rare and precious necklaces, given to young women of affluence on their wedding day, were being auctioned off. I did some research, looking for the buyers who had purchased a necklace from the auction, and I found Captain Dudesman was one of them."
Ben looked quizzically at Rad and asked, "But why would you want a priceless piece of jewelry?"
"You never know when you might need it," Rad answered.
"Indeed," Rook said, "for I most certainly needed it."
Ben was stunned! Rook had done all of this for him! How had he gotten so lucky as to find a man who was willing to jump through hoops for him? Ben looked up at Rook with a smile, tears of happiness slowly crawling down his cheeks. "Will you put it on me?" Ben asked, his voice a little shaky.
"It would be my honor," Rook answered softly.
Ben handed Rook the box and turned around. Rook then gently pulled the necklace out of the box and reached around Ben's neck with it, before doing the clasp in the back. When Ben turned back around, Rook couldn't help the jolt of lust that shot through him as he saw the necklace upon Ben. In the blink of an eye, Rook grabbed Ben and pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss.
They wasted no time with formalities; Ben quickly granting entrance to Rook's forked tongue, which slithered around Ben's mouth, probing and stroking all of Ben's favorite spots before meeting with Ben's tongue. Together they moved from one mouth to the other, dancing along to the beat of their owner's heart's.
Eventually, Ben and Rook pulled back a bit to catch their breath. They looked into each other's eyes and smiled, basking in each other's presence and love. They never made it to the med-bay.
END VOLUME VII
---
LOVE AFTER LOVE OMAKES 2
Fistina: "Look at the cute way he wrinkles his nose."
Ben: "I know, but you should see the dimples on his cheeks."
Fistina: "But...he has no dimples."
Ben: (smirk) "I didn't say they were on his face."
Rook: "Ben, save kraaho now. Innuendo's about my butt later."
Ben: (pouts)
Rook: "Look at the cute way Ben pouts." (wink)
Ester: "Rook, stop flirting!"
-BRoken-
Rad: (looks at Diamondhead's feet, then his crotch, before looking Ben in the face) "Thought you'd be...bigger."
Ben: "WHY I OUGHTA!" (Rook holds him back) "Admit it! I'm just some immature, inexperienced Twink! And your gonna leave me..."
Rook: "Ben...are you honestly suggesting I would leave you?"
Ben: "Well, his 'GYRO' certainly got you excited!" (Rook embraces Ben tightly)
Rook: "Ben, though I may be...conflicted...about the attractiveness of Mr. Dudesman, HE is not my Heart's Flame, HE is not the one I am going to marry." (cups Ben's face, kneel's down and stares into Ben's eyes) "And HE isn't the one I promised to NEVER leave...EVER." (deep, tongue dueling kiss, Ben leans back helpless as Rook lifts him RIGHT off the ground with his kiss)
-BRoken-
Pyxi: "Skdfhkosdfhnlausidfusdfblckjhsblfgjyb"
Grey Matter: "Uhuh, I see..."
Rook: "What did she say?"
Grey Matter: "Rad is an exhibitionist that enjoys 'displaying' in front of her!"
-BRoken-
Rad: "Two things I never kid about: my ship...and the size of my cock!"
-BRoken-
Rad: "Once you go 'quack', you never go back!"
END OMAKES