Love After Love Drabbles: Volume VIII

LOVE AFTER LOVE DRABBLES: VOLUME VII

Episode 31: T.G.I.S.

Three beeps and a flash of green, and Ben Tennyson was standing where his one of his alien alter-ego's, Shocksquatch, had previously. He shook hands with Zak Saturday as the young man introduced him to his father and brother, though how Zak could be related to Fiskerton was beyond Ben. "Huh...makes sense, if my boyfriend is a humanoid cat-snake alien," he'd said.

Zak's eyebrows rose into his hairline at that, but said nothing for now...though he would certainly have to make a priority of meeting this boyfriend of Ben's.

"We worked with your grandpa, Max, a while back on a Cryptid-related matter," Doc Saturday explained to Ben, trying to get back on subject.

Ben let his eyes take in the bulky figure of Doc Saturday, imagining the muscles underneath all that armor and chocolate skin. "Oh, those Saturday's! Grandpa Max told me about you guys," Ben said, now putting the pieces together of some story Max had told him that he'd only half-listened to. "But obviously not enough," he added with a tart wink.

Doc Saturday blinked stupidly, not quite understanding, and not really wanting too; didn't this young man just say he had a boyfriend?

"Dude, that's my dad!" Zak hissed in protest.

"What?" Ben asked, his tone defensive, and his grin disarming, proving that this was all just a joke. "A guy can't look?"

"Uh-huh," Zak crossed his arms raising a eyebrow at the hero. "Anyway, we hunt down and track earth animals not yet identified by science; we call 'em Cryptids. Like Fisk here, and that chupacabra." Zak then looked up and smiled at his 'little brother', who loomed over Ben, obviously sensing his 'big brother's' attraction to the Hero. 'It's those eyes; damn if I couldn't get lost in them,' Zak sighed in his mind.

"Chupacabra's?" Ben huffed a laugh of disbelief, shaking his head at Zak, while Doc walked behind Ben to stoop and hold a device over some claw-prints. "Come on, Chupacabra's aren't real!"

Zak gave Ben an incredulous stare and replied, "Says the hotty with the 'Magic Watch' that lets him turn into different aliens. Chupacabra's are real." Zak smirked at slipping in the compliment. Ben was briefly distracted by staring at his watch when it was mentioned.

"Magic?!" Ben cried out before holding up the Omnitrix and pointing at it, before stopping and processing what Zak had said. "...You think I'm hot?""

Zak responded by placing his hand on his waist, cocking his hip to the side, and giving Ben a cocked-eyebrow smirk.

"Sorry, Ben, but my son is right..." Doc spoke up and got to his feet to turn to the two teens.

"You think I'm 'hot', too?" Ben asked cheekily.

"Wha-What!?" Doc sputtered in surprise. "I meant that the chupacabra's are real."

Zak and Ben chuckled at the embarrassed look on Doc Saturday's face while Fiskerton gave Ben a frown of disbelief. Doc just awkwardly looked off to the side as a blue-furred figure jogged up to the group.

"I am afraid the creature eluded me, beloved," Rook said, bending over and grasping his knee caps as he tried to slow his speeding heart rate. He then looked towards Ben and saw that he was not alone. Smiling amicably, Rook said, "Hello, you must be the Saturday's. Thank you for coming."

"This must be the boyfriend you mentioned. I can see the appeal," Zak said with a grin as he gave Rook an appreciative once-over.

"Dude, that's my boyfriend!" Ben exclaimed.

"Turnabout is fair play," Zak replied with a wink.

Understanding filled Ben's eyes before he chuckled and replied, "Okay, okay, you win."

Rook tilted his head to the side in confusion and said, "I am not sure I understand. Have I missed something?"

"Don't ask," Doc Saturday answered with a mild blush.

Fiskerton added a growl of agreement.

-BRoken-

"Down there is the Control room, and there's the game Room," Zak said, as he lead Ben and Rook down a hallway in the Saturday's airship.

Ben turned a pair of bright green puppy eyes upon Rook and said, "Rook, we definitely need our own Air-ship!"

"We already have a space-ship, and an underground headquarters, beloved," Rook responded in a tone similar to that of a parent chiding their child for coveting a friend's toy.

Zak, however, took pity on Ben and replied, "Don't worry, we can stop by there afterwards." He then smirked and added in a flirtatious tone, "I'm curious to see how you handle a 'joystick'."

Rook felt a bit incensed that Zak Saturday was so openly flirting with his boyfriend! However, he was confident that his Heart's Flame was only taking it in jest, and was not legitimately considering servicing the other young man.

As they approached the med-bay doors, they found their way blocked by two creatures; a pterodactyl-like creature , and an overgrown lizard. Zak introduced them as Zon and Komodo. As Ben knelt before Komodo, the green lizard lept into Ben's lap and began licking his face.

"Whoa!" Zak exclaimed in surprise, "Komodo doesn't warm up to anybody that quickly!"

Ben pushed Komodo off and wiped the saliva off of his face before saying with a cheeky grin, "I have a way with guys with forked-tongues." He then gave Rook a wink and said, "Right, Rook?"

Rook blushed and looked away, though deep down he was pleased to be the focus of Ben's attention.

-BRoken-

After meeting Zak's mother, who Ben had to admit was quite beautiful, they decided to conclude the tour with Zak's bedroom. Zak was about to show Ben files on all the Cryptids they had encountered when an advertisement for the show 'Weird World' appeared.

"It's too hard to catch on TV when you're saving the world all the time," Zak said jokingly to Ben.

Ben smiled in return and replied, "I know, right? And every time I'm about to get past Level 12 on 'Sumo Slammers: World Tournament', some bone-head alien tries to destroy the universe or something."

Rook noted how close Ben was to Zak...and not just in means of distance from each other. They were both human, they both had the same taste in entertainment, and they were the exact same age! It never really bothered Rook in the past how different he and Ben were, but now that it was on display...

Finding it unbearable to remain silent, Rook cut in by growling, "Yes, it must be difficult for you, not being able to watch your favorite programs."

Ben and Zak quickly looked behind them to Rook. Ben was particularly surprised at how upset Rook appeared to be. So, he turned to Zak and said, "Don't mind him; he grew up on a farm. A very serious farm."

Zak smirked and gave Rook an appreciative glance as he said, "But they do grow 'em big and tall; just the way you like them, right?" He then winked teasingly at Ben who was blushing like mad.

Suddenly, a deep, rumbling, growl echoed through the room, startling the two human boys. There heads began bobbing this way and that trying to locate it's source.

"What is that?" Ben yelps.

"Sounds like a Bobcat, or something really, really pissed," Zak answered.

Rook quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, surprised he had gotten mad enough to make that sound. He'd never heard himself or anyone in his family make that sound...except for his Ma'jun. But then again, Rook Da always stated that she was...special.

-BRoken-

Following the chupacabra's trail lead Ben, Rook, Zak, and Fiskerton straight into Undertown. As they walked through the streets, Ben and Zak started chatting about their adventures. Ben spoke proudly of the summer when he first obtained the Omnitrix, making Zak jealous as his didn't start saving the world until he was 12.

"But I gotta say," Ben stated, looking over his shoulder at Rook, "I never thought I'd wind up working with, or dating, a tall, blue-furred, ninja, cat/snake-ish, Plumber."

"I don't think anyone could've imagined either of our lives," Zak responded with a chuckle.

"True. But I wouldn't trade Rook for anything in the world," Ben said, giving Rook a fond look as he did. "Not even for a Omnitrix."

At those flattering words, Rook gave a pleased smile, swaying side to side with delight.

"Yeah, I wouldn't have considered giving up my Kur powers for anything," Zak replied. "But if someone came by with the right offer," Zak said with a playful wink at Ben, "I might be willing to consider a trade."

Ben blinked, confused, but then quickly regained himself and smiled at Zak, as though nothing had happened.

Rook, on the other hand, was looking at Zak like a male animal interested in a female would a competitor.

"Mmm-fiikk, ba-ja ju," Fiskerton muttered under his voice. Zak, however, heard what he had said.

"Fiskerton!" Zak scolded. "I am not acting like a Caladonian boar in heat!"

Ben's and Rook's eyes widened in surprise and stared at the gorilla-cat, who simply crossed hisarms and muttered back some more unintelligible words that only Zak seemed to understand.

"That's different," Zak replied. "He understands how I am." He then added with a bitter tone, "And besides, he's not here is he?"

Fiskerton just huffed and turned his head to gaze at the various stands they walked by, ignoring his older brother.

-BRoken-

After the battle, as they watched the Plumbers load up the evil Cryptids, Ben turned to Zak and said, "Reporters will be here soon, Zak. Ready for that interview?"

Zak turned to Ben with a somber smile and replied, "Thanks, Ben, much as I'd like the world to know what I do, our work has to stay secret. Animo's not the only one who wants to hurt Cryptids. I'd rather keep them safe than be a star."

Ben turned to Zak and held out his hand as he said, "Well, it's been great saving the world with you."

"You too," Zak replied as he took the offered hand and shook it.

"And your dad!" Ben added bashfully, getting one last eye-full of milk chocolate skin.

"Still my dad, dude!" Zak exclaimed, giving Ben a playful push on the shoulder. "Oh, one last thing! Picture with you as an alien?" He then tossed a camera to a frowning Rook.

"You bet!" Ben replied, reaching for his Omnitrix as he spoke.

"I do not understand your fascination with Ben's aliens," Rook growled, glaring murderously at Zak. "I am an alien, as are most of the aliens in Undertown. In fact, to us, Earth is an alien world! And I do not appreciate your flirting with Ben, Zak Saturday. Just so you know, I am his boyfriend, his fiancee and his Flame Sharer." He then shoved Zak's camera into his chest before continuing. "That means our life and souls are united, so you can forget about stealing him away from me!"

Ben was speechless; he just stared at Rook like he didn't know him anymore.

"Dude! I don't want him, I have a boyfriend!" Zak replied.

"Yet you feel the need to flirt with my fiancee?" Rook asked suspiciously.

Zak sighed and looked down as he answered, "He's been a little...distant...lately. He's the king of an underwater city. I thought if I got a picture of Ben and you in a suggestive pic with me, it would get his attention and make him get on track."

Zak then rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as he said, "Sorry, I knew you were together, but not engaged. My bad...guess I let my hurt feelings hurt someone else."

A look of sympathy replaced Rook's earlier frown and glare as he said, "I too understand the troubles of a busy and neglectful boyfriend.

"And just who is this 'busy and neglectful boyfriend'?" Ben asked, hands on his hips, and a frown on his face.

Rook replied by giving him a pointed look.

A light-bulb seemed to go off inside Ben's head then, as he sheepishly replied, "Oh, Rook. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to...I shouldn't have..."

Rook smiled, having already forgiven Ben given the circumstances (though he would certainly have a long and in-depth discussion about Ben's obsession with the male head of the Saturday family). "Fear not, Beloved, I still love you," he said. He then took on a thoughtful look as he said, "Perhaps there is a way to regain your boyfriend's attention."

"How?" Zak asked, a look of excitement and mischief appearing on his face.

Rook answered by detaching a palm-sized rectangular chip from his Proto-Tool, pressing a few buttons, and then placing the chip on Ben's chest.

Zak and Rook then watched as a holographic 'second skin' appeared around Ben, effectively turning him into a copy of Zak Saturday.

Rook glanced at the real Zak with a smirk and said, "You may wish to capture this, as I will not do it again." He then moved to stand behind Ben-Zak, who was ogling his new appearance, and wrapped his arms around Ben-Zak's waist, and rested his head on Ben-Zak's left shoulder.

With a very sultry look, Rook whispered huskily into Ben-Zak's ear, "You really should smile, Ben. We are trying to make someone jealous."

Ben simply blushed, speechless at this rather mischievous side of Rook.

"Better Ulraj than you, Rook," Zak replied, as he quickly snapped a picture of the two.

Episode 32: Food Around The Corner

While Blukic and Driba were installing the chip that would allow Ben to remain in his Galilean form (having no clue how to initiate the Omnitrix's life-form lock function) Rook had been in the control room prepping the monitoring equipment. He had wished very much to be by Ben's side through this, but it was his responsibility to make sure they had fully-functional eyes and ears in the conference room. Settling for simply placing his index and middle finger against his lips before touching Ben's image on the screen, he then said a quick prayer for the success of the negotiations.

"The video feed is up and operational, Magister Tennyson," Rook reported as Max entered the monitoring room, along with the two Galvans.

"Our guests have arrived," Max replied, a touch of concern in his voice. In an effort to ease both his and Rook's tension, though, Max added with a smile, "And Rook, I told you to call me Max. We're gonna be family one of these days."

"Not if these negotiations go sour," Blukic drawled. "Most likely, they'll go south, and Ben will be forced to step into the war, wind up a casualty, and Rook will go crazy from grief."

Driba, Max, and Rook all leveled angry glares at Blukic, who just starred right back and replied, "What? This is all based on very sophisticated calculation of probabilities. I estimate the aforementioned scenario will have a likelihood of 87.41%."

"Let's get back to the matter at hand," Max said.

It was at this point that Ben asked Lt. Malice, "Are you wearing pants? Wait, wait, wait, time out! You wear clothes? Appoplexians wear pants?!"

"OF COURSE WE WEAR PANTS!" Malice replied. "LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, BEN TENNYSON, APPOPLEXIANS HAVE A HIGHLY ADVANCED SENSE OF SHAME. OOH, YEAH!"

There was absolute silence in the monitoring room for all but a few seconds before Driba said, "But that would mean, all this time Rath has been running around..."

"Buck. Naked," Blukic finished.

Max turned to Rook with a smirk and single eyebrow raised, and asked, "Did you know about this, Rook?"

"I assure you, Mag...I mean, Max," Rook stuttered, causing a grin to form on Max's face, "that had I known about this, I would have made Rath put on clothes."

"Mhmm," Max replied, not quite convinced, and glad to have something to tease the young man about so as to take both their minds of the delicate nature of the situation.

Rook, meanwhile, was losing himself to the mental image of Ben running around without any clothes, yelling out everything in an enraged tone, and acting tough. It was both amusing and arousing.

"Uh, son? Are you purring?" Max asked, pulling Rook out of his daydream.

Rook coughed and cleared his throat, all the while blushing at having been caught. "Forgive me, Max," he said.

Max patted Rook on the back and said, "Nothing to be ashamed of. You're not the first young man to have your imagination get away with you in public."

"Not to interrupt your touching male-bonding moment," Driba said, "but I believe there is something wrong with Ben."

At those words, Rook's eyes immediately went to the screen. Apparently, Ben had an unbearable itch. "Blukic and Driba, can you enhance the image?" he asked.

After a moment, the spot just under the right corner of Ben's mouth was magnified, and what appeared to be several dozen dark points were found to be clustered in that spot. Once the dots were identified as Huleks, the question of how to communicate with them arose. It was finally suggested that Rook be shrunk down, and enter the conference room through a ventilation shaft. He would also be given a two-way radio.

Of course, it was not until after Blukic and Driba had finished setting up the machine in the monitoring room that Driba chose to mention that it was still in alpha testing. However, it would take to long to contact any outside help. So, with a resigned sigh, Rook said, "Activate the machine."

A flash of light later, and Rook was no where to be seen. Blukic, Driba, and Max waited with baited breath to hear Rook's voice through the radio. When not a sound came, Blukic and Driba walked over to the platform to see if they could see him.

"It didn't work!" Driba exclaimed.

"We vaporized him!" Blukic added. He then leveled his partner with a glare and cried out, "Driba! This is all your fault!"

"No it isn't!"

"Yes it is!"

"I am right here!" Rook said, repeatedly tapping the communicator in his ear. "Can you not hear me?" The worry in his tone rose as he realized they did not.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Max yelled, his voice filled with fury. "YOU KILLED MY GRANDSON'S FIANCE, AND THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE!"

"We didn't mean to," Driba sobbed out an apology.

"Do you have any idea what this will do to Ben?" Max growled. "It was bad enough when Levin dumped him, and he was just a cliché bad-boy asshole!"

Rook was startled by Max's use of a swear, as well as his venomous tone.

"But Ben is honestly and truly in love with Rook," Max continued. "Ben will never recover from this...never..."

It was then that Rook shot a volley of laser blasts at Driba from his Proto-Tool.

-BRoken-

After the conference had concluded, and Paltroon and the Huleks had been apprehended and locked up, Rook wrapped his arms around Ben and nuzzled his cheek. Ben chuckled and said, "I'm glad to see you too, Rook. Anything interesting happen while I was in the conference?"

"Mmm, not much," Rook said, too busy reacquainting his fur with Ben's skin. "Grandpa Max, Blukic, and Driba thought they had vaporized me, and that you would become lost in grief. That sorta thing."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up!" Ben said. "Did you just call Grandpa Max, 'Grandpa Max'?"

Rook purred an affirmative, to which Ben shook his head in amusement, and simply walked towards the elevator with Rook attached behind him.

Episode 33: Oh Mother Where Art Thou

Ben's and Rook's eyes went straight for the small crater as they climbed out of the garbage bin. Both were grateful that there were no signs of gore: just the tell-tale sign of a complete and utter vaporization of all matter in the blast radius. Thankfully, neither had a chance to think on the matter further as Ben's cell phone rang once more.

"Mom! Hi. Sorry about before," Ben said after flipping open his phone and putting it to his ear.

"You didn't forget, did you?" Sandra Tennyson asked. "You and Rook are coming over for dinner?"

"Yes," Ben answered, "we've just been buried in work." Honestly, it seemed like his mother had forgotten just how much effort it took to keep the universe safe from evil. Plus...Ben really wasn't a fan of her cooking.

"Can't wait. I really must remember to ask Max about getting in touch with Rook's family; we could have a lovely family dinner together."

Ben grimaced, already having nightmares of what Rook Da would say about Earth, it's culture, and it's food. "Um, maybe we should hold off on that for now. Don't worry, we've got plenty of time."

"Alright, I'll let you and Rook get back to work. Keep the planet safe, honey!" Sandra said before hanging up.

-BRoken-

Rook glanced at a twitchy Ben as they walked up to the front door of Ben's home (which was only until Ben turned 18 and could move in with Rook).

"Ben, are you well? I have not seen you like this before," Rook stated, "except when a peacock was nearby..."

"This is worse than a peacock, Rook," Ben replied with a shudder, "or do you not remember the last dinner with my Mom and Dad?"

"I remember it quite clearly. There was a meal consisting of...Buffalo Wings...though I am still confused by it's name," Rook said, frowning as they stopped at the front door. "I have researched buffalo's, and they do not posses wings of any kind."

Ben dropped the frightened expression to shake his head in amusement at his boyfriend's ignorance of human slang and terminology.

"Yes, but do you remember mom's dessert?" Ben asked his pointy eared boyfriend.

"The spinach smoothie?" Rook replied with a confused frown. "I found it quite delicious."

Ben gaped at Rook, before shutting it and looking to the front door as he pulled out his key to the house. "Well, that makes one of us...," Ben muttered.

Ben opened the door, yelling out, "Mom! We're here!" before he and Rook stepped inside.

Sandra stepped out around the corner and beamed on seeing her only child and future son-in-law.

"There's my two favorite men in the universe!" Sandra beamed, wrapping the two tightly into a warm embrace.

"Don't let dad hear that; he get offended," Ben joked.

Sandra huffed out a laugh, lightly tapping Ben's nose in response; her little gesture of affection from when he was younger.

"Your father knows he's my number one He-Man," Sandra said with a impish wink and giggle.

Rook didn't get the implication, but Ben gagged in mock disgust before crying out, "Moooooom!" in a horrified manner.

"Oh!?" Sandra exclaims in mock surprise, "I can't talk about my husband, but you can talk to your cousin about Rook?"

Rook turned to Ben with a raised brow and a smirk and asked, "You talk about me to your cousin?"

"And Julie," Sandra added with a grin."

"Moooom!" Ben whined once more.

A few minutes later, Ben and Rook were seated at the dinner table waiting for Sandra to put the finishing touches on whatever overly-healthy dish she'd concocted.

"I must admit, I do miss having meals at a table with family," Rook said to Ben. "It gives me a...'warm furry' feeling?"

"Warm fuzzy," Ben softly corrected with a smile.

"Right, a warm fuzzy feeling," Rook replied, obviously perplexed by the phrase, "that your mother would be accepting of me to eat dinner at her table."

"Well, when you gave me that ring for Christmas," Ben said, holding up the simple silver band on his finger, "you pretty much branded yourself a Tennyson." Ben then smiled coyly as he added, "The necklace was just icing on the cake."

Further flirting was brought to a halt when Sandra came out of the kitchen carrying a casserole dish full of tofu and wheat-germ nastiness.

-BRoken-

After Sandra confronted Ma Vreedle and convinced her to leave their planet, and Ben, alone, Ben and Rook climbed into the Proto-TRUK and headed back to HQ. Along the way, Rook said to Ben," This experience has certainly given me a new appreciation all mothers. They are, in their own way, great heroes."

Ben chuckled and said, "You can say that again. I certainly learned the hard way never to get between a mother and her child."

Rook nodded in agreement before taking on a pensive look. Finally, he said, "Have you ever thought of what it might be like to have children of our own someday?"

Ben looked to Rook with a wry grin and replied, "Technically, I've already got a dozen children."

Rook slammed on the brakes before turning to face his fiance. "What?!"

"Last year, Big Freeze gave birth to a clutch of Necrofriggian eggs. They're all floating out there in space somewhere," Ben replied with a grin before looking out towards the setting sun in a wistful manner. "Doubtful I'll ever see them again, but at least I know they're there."

Rook placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and replied, "You would very much like to have a child of your own, wouldn't you."

Ben nodded and said, "Yeah, but human biology doesn't work like that."

"Do not give up hope, Beloved," Rook replied. "I promise you, you will become a mother someday."

END VOLUME VIII

LOVE AFTER LOVE OMAKES 3

Ben: "Gotta tell you, loving the salt and pepper look, dude."

Zak: "Thanks. I have to say, even when your an alien, you're still pretty damn fine yourself."

(Rook growls)

Zak: "You don't need to get jealous, Rook. Matter of fact, I think my boyfriend might be a little possessive too."

Ben: "You have a boyfriend?"

Zak: (struts) "Can you take a look at this bod and really think I'd be single? He's a merman king of an underwater city."

Ben: " 'Once you go non-human men...' "

Zak: (fist pumps Ben) " '...The fun never ends.' "

Rook: "I feel very much like a pet or a trading card at this point."

Ben: "Guess us heroes have a knack for getting the hot alien guys, huh?"

Zak: "Ulraj is more of a human, but one that evolved to live underwater, but yeah I get your point."

Rook: "Knack for getting the hot alien guys? You speak as though I were a fish!"

Ben: (wink) "Your my catch of the day, babe."

Rook Blonko: (wraps arm around Ben in possessive one armed hug) "So long as you 'Noodle' for me alone."

Ben: O/O "Rook!" (whispers) "Not in front of my new friend!"

-BRoken-

Blukic: "Not if these negotiations go sour. Most likely, they'll go south, and Ben will be forced to step into the war, wind up a casualty, and Rook will go crazy. Then, he'll begin stalking an old Lakeside Children's Camp, killing any and all teens he catches having sex, due to his outrage over never losing his virginity to Ben."

Driba: "Blukic! How can you think such a thing!? I'm certain Rook isn't a virgin."

Max: "THAT'S YOUR CONCERN WITH WHAT HE SAID!?"

Rook: "If I go crazy over anything, it will not be over not losing my virginity to Ben!"

Driba: "Really? I'd have guessed right off."

Max: "Can we get back to the situation at hand?"

Driba: "We are. Blukic and I have 500 jektars on Rook and Ben copulating before the summer solstice!"

-BRoken-

Malice: "Maybe we can end this meeting another way?"

Gravatack: "I doubt..." (is startled when Malice puts his claw on his hand) "Uhhhh?"

Malice: "Let me tell you something, Ben Tennyson! I know how you prefer the big strong types, and ones with fur! And I'm the best of both worlds!"

Driba: "Did he just..."

Blukic: "He did..."

Max: "Rook...put the gun down!"

-BRoken-

Ben: "Well, at least our kids will be genetically stable and have thumbs!"

Sandra: "And a forked tongue, if what I overheard you telling Gwen was right."

Ben: "Mom! You listen to me talking to Gwen?"

Sandra: "Oh?" (mock surprise) "I can't put my ear to the door, but you'll let Rook put his..."

Ben: O/O "MOM!"

END OMAKES