Chapter Text
Pregnancy Stage:2 Weeks (Month 1)
Rook walked back into the medbay. This time to get prints of the twins. Murray handed him the photos without much conversation. Rook tucked the papers in his tigh pouch as he walked outside into the main hall. He passed a couple Plumbers on his way to the computers. Who seemed to notice his uneasy demenor.
He was never thought he had noticebale nervous ticks. Apparently he was wrong. In front of a computer from pinky to index his fingers were tapping in a monotonous rhythm like the drums of an impending army coming to an enemy line. To yell, and burn, and cut the opposing force down for their cause. And... in a way... he felt like that opposing army. Outgunned, outnumbered, and unprepared.
He has looked Incursans in the eye, he has taken Kundo's Stonecutter and LIVED to tell the tale, he has stared at the beginning of the UNIVERSE. But nothing- NOTHING could have prepared him for this. None of those experiences could have prepared him FOR THIS.
The monitor buzzed a few times which was like claws on scrapping metal for Rook's head before he is met with a pair of legs on his screen followed by muttering.
"How do you work this damned thing?"
"Father- father you need to lift it up- no- no, father just-"
"Damned this technology. Why must it be so complicated?" Da muttered as Rook got a very good look at his pure white beard.
"Father- father- move it back- backwards, just a little bit- yes, yes, now up- too far- down slightly- no, father that is too far again- you are pushing the camera too far,"
"I am not pushing it too far!"
"Yes, you are, I am looking at your torso. Just lift it up slowly, slooowly."
Rook Da did as instructed slowly moving the camera upwards until.
"STOP! STOP! Perfect! You are there."
Da let go of the projection only for it to fall on the table he was sitting on... somehow. Rook sighed as his father simply picked it. Grumbling in annoyance.
"Ugh, blasted things." He muttered fixing it again with slightly less difficulty. "Regardless. How are you my son?"
"I am fine, father. How are you?"
"I am as well. Now what do you want?"
Rook flinched the full weight of what he's about to do sinking into his gut. He felt his hands tighten. Trying to not show weakness... or how he was two seconds from puking.
"W-Well um..." Rook studdered. "I um- I wanted to talk to you, because um-"
Da just raised a stern brow. His eyes boring into Rook's soul."
"B-Because-"
"Why are you hesitating, son? If you want to say something, just say it!"
"I- um- I just wanted to say... I am- I am..."
Rook Da stared at his son getting thoroughly annoyed at his son's stalling.
"You are WHAT?"
"I- I-... I MISS YOU VERY MUCH AND GREATLY LOOK FOWARD TO OUR NEXT MEETING. NOW I BELIEVE MAGISTER TENNYSON IS CALLING MY GOODBYE FATHER!"
"What- BLONKO-"
Rook hung up with the slam of a button. Panting nervously. Rook let out a long grown before just sinking his head into the console. Heavens he was a coward. A coward who couldn't even face his own father. A coward who couldn't hold back the feeling of bile rising in his throat at the smell of pure citrus rising in his nose. A coward who- dear heavens what was that SMELL?!
"Heeyyy," a familiar voice said behind him. Ben, as Four Arms, walked in slowly, with a bowl of what looked like Amber Ogia pie, and two Mr. Smoothie cups. "Special delivery."
"Ah. Thank you." He said straining. Ben placed the pie and smoothie right next to him on the console.
"I got you that smoothie you liked from this morning and I got you some Amber Ogia- pot pie thingy. Doctors orders."
"Thank you... Ben," Rook said. Taking the smoothie and taking a few sullen sips. Ben looked at his partner's guilt ridden face and sighed as the Omnitrix deactivated shrinking him down to normal size. He sat down and placed a consoling hand on his shoulder.
"Lemme guess. Tried to tell your dad?"
"Yes."
"Got scared?"
"Yes."
"Chickened out?-"
Rook raised a hand.
"-it means you didn't do it, cause you were scared, nervous, a chicken," Ben explained.
"Yes..."
"Cool, me too. How's your day been?" Ben said sitting next to his partner.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I called my folks on my way here and ALMOST called Grandpa but-" he sighed. "I wussed out."
Ben put his head in his hands staring down at the pie as if it were a lake or a stream with his face staring back.
"By the way, you gonna eat this or-?" Ben nudged the pie foward. Rook visibly cringed at it.
"N-No. No thank you, I am, not hungry."
"Rook! The doctor said you need to eat more. Don't make ME have to be the responsible one!"
Rook giggled. Nodding as he knew Ben was right, carrying two children would a lot of engery and calories and dispite the nauseous rolling of his stomach he was actually hungry. Taking the pie and hesitantly taking a few small bites. He has eaten this pie about... Lords only knows how many times throughout his life. Never once has he had an issue. He actively remembers missing it at the Plumbers Academy as well as the rest of his mother's cooking. But the Amber Ogia tasted like sludge on his tounge. The texture went from a comforting , warm, and juicy, reminding him of the quiet love his mother put into their meals, to the taste and texture of the meat of a muroid. Thick and slimy, that slowly goes down your throat to the point it just barely chokes you, but you can still breath, like something only eaten during very poor harvest. Ben was talking to the point he was oblivious to Rook's internal cringe.
"I know we gotta tell them, tell Grandpa at least. And Kevin too, cause he's my best friend, plus we need his ID Mask. And if WE don't tell them Gwendolyn might, and that's gonna make the conversation- EVEN MORE awkard. So we should probably just- just rip it off like a banda-.. Jesus you good?"
"Fine- fine I am- Fi-" Rook lunched forward hand over his mouth, his stomach rolled from nausea as he quickly leaned to the side clutching the central console as he just threw up violently on the floor. A pool of bright orange yellow with chunks of curst. Ben jumped back in shock, a deep feeling guilt pooling in his gut. He slowly leaned foward and began stroking his partners back.
"CHRIST, Ro- Blonko!"
Rook coughed up the last of his food and just sighed.
"I- do not understand..." he groaned "Why am I so nauseated?"
"Well, Murray did say you'd experience other symptoms. I think he mostly meant stuff that happens with a human pregnancy. Like foods you loved make you throw up. My mom, once told me that she absolutely HATED broccoli when she had me. Apparently it made her sick to her stomach."
"You are telling me this is a COMMON THING for human women?! Why?! What could this possibly do. The women on my home planet are usually just sore due to the weight and eat and sleep more for energy. What could possibly be the reason for more?! What does limiting your food preference and hydration, POSSIBLY do for the young ones?!"
"I dunno, hormones?" Ben couldn't help but giggle hearing Rook go on a mini-rant.
"That is not an actual answer!" Rook said. "And what is so funny?"
"It's just- I've never seen you so VISERALLY angry before. It's actually kinda cute."
"How is my rage cute to you?"
"Well you know how when I get really pouty and you're endeared by it? That's how."
"...Oh. that actually makes sense."
The Elevator dinged behind them as Ben and Rook saw Blukic and Driba bickering with a very irritated Grandpa Max rubbing his forehead.
"Back on the topic of telling people..." he eyed the shocking emptiness of the console room.
"No one else around. Blukic and Driba already know..."
"I agree, we should-"
"There you two are!" Max said walking up to the group.
"I saw the TRUK in the garage and got worried. Why aren't you two still on patrol?"
Now, what Ben MEANT to say was:
"Rook teleported us back for his physical and now you're gonna be a great grandpa!' Or something around those lines. But the pounding in his chest and the closing of his throat said:
"Oh! Uhhh- well cause we uh- wanted.... we wanted toooo...."
"Um... uh- t-talk to um... m-my FATHER!" Rook said standing up, his voice his voice audibly shaking. "About... um.... my SISTER! MY SISTER! She is... not well and I wanted to send my fair wishes."
"Is that so?"
"Besides nothing else is happening minus a robbery at Bauman's." Ben said. "Nope. We checked everywhere. Nothing else is happening with anyone all over town."
"By the way. What did your dad say about the-"
Ben grabbed Blukic with one hand and started squeezing him like a stress toy.
"Nothing..."
"Well... alright then, if you sure." Max said. In a tone that somewhat showed sadness. As he walked to the otherside of the room to check his own monitors.
Ben and Rook gave eachother a look. Ben dropped Blukic right on top of Driba as Rook put his head in his hands.
"Are we.... chickens?" Rook asked.
"Yes, yes we are."
"So do we try again?"
"Are you emotionally, mentally, spiritually ready to try again?"
"No..."
"Than no. Let's just... try again another time, tomorrow! Definitely!"
"Yes... tomorrow..."
Pregnancy Stage:2.3 Weeks (Month 1)
Ben slowly approached Max rubbing the back of his neck.
"There you are!" He said. "Where's Rook?"
"Sleeping. He's been a bit off probably should let him rest."
"Is he alright?"
"He's... fine-ish. Uh might sleep in though, but uh, he listen speaking of Rook can I talk to you about something?"
"Sure kiddo, what's up?"
Ben felt a like the Y2K incident all over again. His throat closing up, words failing to just GET OUT THE DAMN HOUSE! He felt his pits sweating like he ran 10 miles before coming here.
"Well-"
*BOOM*
An explosion could be heard by the next room over
"Magister Tennyson- WOAH!" Rook suddenly ran in before tripping on the table. Ben instinctively rushed over getting a mild smirk from Max.
"Dude, you okay?!"
"I am fine but we are having some... technical difficulties in Blukic and Driba's lab."
"Of course." He sighed. "How about we talk about this later? Alright?"
"Y-Yeah sure."
That 'later' had to be the day after due to the Galvan's recent... experiment taking all damn day. Imagine whatever because it was all that and then some.
Pregnancy Stage:2.4 Weeks (Month 1)
Rook was in the cafeteria searching the refrigerator for some peanut butter. He happily found it. And began to spread it on his sandwich. A sandwich consisting of meatballs, chilli fries, passion fruit, and some apples slices.
Kevin and Patelliday was staring mortified holding their Moon Pies and grilled tentacles respectively.
"You're not- actually EATING that are you?"
"Of course I am. I am hungry. OH! I may I have one please?" Rook asked pointing at Kevin's moon pie
"....SUUUUUURRRRE?" Kevin said. Slowly handing it to him.
"Thank you." Rook smiled before promptly adding it to his sandwich. The cream and cake grossly leaking onto everything else.
"By the way I wanted to speak with you on-"
A small female giggle could be heard in the cafeteria door as a nice Kinceleran woman Rook vaugly knew named Haurna was watching them.
"I like where you heads at Magister." She complimented.
"Oh! Ms. Jet. I have not seen you in quite some time."
"Now ain't you supposed to be on leave?" Patelliday asked.
"I am, I just came for my stuff."
"Oh. I did not know you were on leave. What ever for?"
"Well, can't really be a plumber when your pregnant." She said jokingly.
"P-Pardon?"
"Yeah, soon as I told higher ups I got put on leave. Kinda boring but, hey, it is what it is." She shrugged.
"So... you are no longer a active plumber while pregnant?" He said. His face morphing into nervousness.
"Guess not. I can't be too mad though like- I get WHY I'm on leave and- you alright, hun?"
"..." Rook didn't respond for awhile before just saying.
"Fine."
"You sure? You seem tense..." Kevin said
"Just... tired."
Haurna and Kevin dropped it but was still visably concerned as she rolled her way out the cafeteria.
"Dude... you know you can say when somethin's bothin' you... right?"
"Yes... yes, of course." Rook said. Avoiding eye contact and eating in silence.
Pregnancy Stage:2.5 Weeks (Month 1)
Max, Ben, and Rook stood side by side at a shuddle. Visibly waiting for something.
"Heeeey Grandpa? Can we talk?"
"Sorry, sport, not right now. We're temporarily holding people from other prisons til we can get them somewhere more secure."
"Why what was wrong with their old place?"
"They've been having a lot of breakouts lately and our security has been upgraded recently. To keep these guys in check."
A ship slowly landed as the hatchet as Plumbers started pouring out with big dangerous aliens of all shapes and sizes, with handcuffs on arms and scowls on faces.
"Eh... these guys don't seem that tough. But- look Grandpa we have something kinda REALLY important to-"
Ben was interrupted by Rook tapping his shoulder. Ben looked over to see Rook with the angriest scowl he's ever seen. He looked over to see what the big idea was... and he saw him. Kundo. Walking down the isle staring daggers at them with all the other crazys. If looks could kill these two had knives to their throats.
"Best not to mention THEM with HIM... he does not take kindly to... people like us."
Max did a side eye at that word choice but chose to keep quiet. Just like the boys did.
Pregnancy Stage:2.6 Weeks (Month 1)
"We should probably tell him today..." Ben said simply. Playing with his smoothie cup off the table.
"We should..." Rook paused. "But... I do not even know where we could begin."
"Hey gramps, were pregnant!" Ben said sarcastically.
"That is too informal." Rook said.
"Yeah..."
Awkard silence...
"But we still should tell him."
"Absolutely!"
"And-and we should tell him today!"
"Agreed!"
"Let us tell him then!"
"Yeah!"
"Let us go now!"
"Yeah!"
"Tell me what?" Max smirked as he suddenly appeared behind the boys.
The two flinched and as if of instinct-
"NOTHING!" In perfect sync.
Max sighed. "Are you sure? Are you SURE there's something you don't wanna-"
"YES!" the boys said almost instantly.
Max just sighed and walked off... as the two boys groaned and slammed their heads on the table.
Pregnancy Stage:3 weeks (Month 1)
Ben cleared his throat as he began pacing.
"Hey Grandpa, can we talk for a minute?"
"Oh my god..." Gwen groaned before giving her best Max impression.
"Of course Ben, what is it?"
"Well, first I wanted to say I like boys!" I've always liked boys. And Rook and I are in love!"
"Oh? Really I didn't know- and also wouldn't care because I've dated like 50 alien women. And I'd be concerned for both of you if you just told me about the baby!"
Ben groaned.
"Really Gwen?!"
"Really me?! It's been days and you still haven't told him?!"
"No..." Rook said rubbing his temples. "This whole experience is giving me a migraine..."
"Look, we know what we WANT to say, but we just don't know how to SAY it. Ya know? Like this is BIG! REALLY BIG!" Ben said.
"I understand, Ben, but you both can't keep procrastinating on this forever." Gwen said simply. She put a hand on her cousins shoulder.
"Look, if you two can't I'll tell him, and we can go from there."
"No. No not a good idea. Than Grandpa will want to know why we didn't tell him personally. It's better if we do it but... DAMMIT it doesn't make it any less hard."
"Well you've both faced harder."
"Agreed. But those instances of 'harder', were not as personal as this." Rook said. "They usually had consequences on a much grander scale, compared to simply, us and Magister Tennyson."
Rook felt a beep in his pouch.
"Speaking off..."
Ben tapped the Omnitrix. Max's voice spoke.
"Ben, Rook, I got something you gotta see,"
Ben looked at Rook as they two left the room. Heading down to the main computers. Holding hands the entire way down.
_____
Max was standing in front of the console eyeing the damage to what looked like downtown Bellwood. Cars flipped, buildings burned and turned into rubble, on the street. Pretty standard fair if we're being honest.
"Let's see, destruction, destruction, OOO! More destruction!" Ben said. "Any clue whose on the loose this time?"
"Actually it's not one of ours. Some of the criminals from the transfer got loose and is wreaking havoc all over the city."
"Why?"
"By the looks of things, for fun."
"I asked Gwen and Kevin to deal with the guy in uptown. You two, have the one downtown-"
He cut the camera to a large beefy alien, with a comical amount of muscle in a prison uniform with hot pink skin, and a bright red face. Veins popping from his head to his thighs.
"Yesh, who pissed in his Cherrios?"
"He's been nicknamed 'Heracles' by the inmates of the prison. He's criminally insane and seems dead set on causing as much damage as possible. Think you can take him?"
"You can count on us Magister Tennyson-"
"WOAH! WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH!" Ben interrupted. "What do you mean 'US'. I'll go after big strong and ugly. YOU are staying behind."
"What?!" Rook said.
"Rook, you are staying here and.... I dunno do something else!"
"Ben, I am not staying behind playing with my fingers, while you take that man alone!"
"And I'M not risking your saftey, against THAT guy!"
"I've always risked my saftey! That is part of being a plumber!"
"Yeah! But now we got- YOU-KNOW-WHAT to worry about!"
"Ben, where is this coming from?" Max asked concerned and midly angry.
"Are you implying I am incapable now?"
"No, I'm implying, you're in no shape to fight capable or not! You know what Murray said! I'm not risking it!" Ben argued. "One punch to the gut and you're DONE!"
"What did Murray say?! What are you talking about?!"
"The ba-" Ben paused... he paused for a good few seconds.
"Just... Rook's saftey. In general. He... hasn't been feeling too hot lately. Look I'm going alone, and I'll put him in a Four Arm headlock he'll never forget." He looked over at Rook with a quiet pleading look on his face. As he walked to the teleporter.
"Teleport. Downtown Bellwood." He said as he was wicked away without a word.
____
People screamed and cried as they began to flee. Heracles grabbed a old timey model car and chucked it too the ground, causing it to crumple like a piece of unused paper. He pounded his massive arms to the ground proppellinfimself foward and SLAMMING on top of it. The ground, unable to hold the sheer weight began to crack, and CRACK! Tearing the whole road in half. The aliens of the Undertown streets running and screaming to dodge the rubble.
The people were running in all directions, but several were unable to outrun the widening hole. A man felt the ground below his feet began to dissappear, clutching his young daughter to his stomach, his back to the ground as it grew closer and closer! He closed his eyes and braced for impact when- he felt something sticky insted. He opened his eyes and saw a large this spider web holding him and his daughter.
Spider Monkey was swinging around the hole as fast as he could, webbing up all the civilians he could find in web nets.
"I got ya! OOH OOH! I got ya! I got ya!"
He looked around at his work of saved lives proudly before hearing a desperate cry.
Ben turned to see a woman desperately leaning just off her web clutching a stroller that was wailing loudly. Ben quickly leaped off into action but before making it to her- the stroller slipped and the baby started to fall!
"I GOT IT!" Ben pounced after the stroller, shooting web on the wall of the asphalt. He grabbed the stroller with four of his six arms. But apparently the was the heaviest stroller in the universe! He moved it to his lower hands as he opted to cut his chances. He unbuckle the little one and pulled him out. Letting the stroller fall and shatter in the Undertown streets. The poor woman looked horrified before he held up the screaming little one. He looked at him for... longer than he'd like to admit. He screamed and wailed, he needed his mama.
He tried not to think in fights. Act all funny while saving lives... but he right now he wondered. Are all babies this helpless? This needing? This.... small? No shit he knew the answer, but there was a crazed lunatic running around and there was nothing the little guy could do than just hope mama, papa, or this weird blue monkey do something about it.
Ben was suddenly pulled from his thoughts as he felt a tug on his tail, he and the baby were hoisted by the tail. Heracles dangling him by the web staring daggers into his eyes.
"Hello, little one. Aren't you a little far from home,"
"Actually, I live just round the- BLOCK!"
Ben swung his leg into Heracles's eyes he dropped both him and the baby as they fell back down into the crater. Ben quickly made a web from his tail onto the side of the wall again, bungeeing down to the woman from before. He swung forward as hard as he could, quickly rushing the wailing baby into her relieved arms
"Here's your baby back- WOAH-!"
Heracles grabbed him by the webs again only this time taking a more... violent approach. He SWUNG Ben over his head. Spinning him around like a lasso as fast as possible before SLAMMING him into the asphalt. Picking him up again, ans stinging him to the otherside into more asphalt! Back and forth Back an forth, over and over SLAMMING Ben into the same two patches of road, before swinging him like a shotput and THROWING him into a 7 story building! Glass shattered from every direction as Ben flew through the window. A whole group of office people jumped and running out the way as he SHATTERED the wooden table they were sitting at into the dirt.
The Omnitrix timed out as ben turned into his human form... a very bruised human form.
"Uuuggggh- mmmgh. I'm- OKAY!.... as soon as everything stops spiiiiinning."
Heracles jumped in the building.
"Ben Tennyson, Hero of the Highbreed Invasion, Baine of Vilgax, Creator of the Universe..."
"What can I say.... I-I have a resume.."
"And he is just a small, weak, human, child. I wonder how much time I have. So I can break you myself?"
Ben slowly rose from the table and began to dial a beefy alien for this guy preferably Humongousaur- but as he dialed, Heracles grabbed him by the left wirst and pressed it down. Ben morphed and changed into... Chamalien?! He doesn't even remember the last time he even TOUCHED Chamalien!
"Oh man! You've gotta be kidding AGH!"
Heracles squeezed his arm and slammed him into the ground. Ben winced as the alien loomed over him menacingly. Ben growled. No point in disappearing cause he has him hin his grasp and could see his tail. He could fee his body pushed deeper and deeper pressing against his spine until.
A familiar boomerang looking device decked Heracles in the arm letting Ben go as he rolled out of his way. Ben's three eyes looked up and locked on a FACE THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE!
Rook caught the Proto-Tool as it turned back into a gun.
"Do. Not. Touch. Him." He said stern.
"ROOK! GET OUT OF HERE! YOU'RE IN NO CONDITION TO FIGHT!"
"I am your partner first and foremost! I will not leave you to fight this maniac alone! No matter what!"
"Rook, NO!"
Rook flashed his badge.
"By order of the Plumbers, you are under arrest for-"
He didn't even get to rattle off the list of broken laws. Before Heracles CRIED out. Picking up a large chunk of desk and throwing it at Rook, who quickly backflipped out the way
Rook began firing as he began to dodge the swing of his wooden end. His lazers doing little to taze the enemy jumping left right, ducking under. Ben quickly jumped into action as well, wrapping his tail around the assailants weapon.
"I'll take that!" Ben was quickly thrown to the woods away, not before being thrown himself right into Rook. Both boys began falling 7 stories. Ben quickly turned them both over. Rook landing on Ben's back and Ben landing on his stomach right on top of a car.
"Ow... you okay?"
"I am all ri- LOOK OUT!" Rook quickly rolled them both off the car onto the road as Heracles quickly flattened it. With his body.
Rook was sweating. He had JUST gotten there and and he was sweating. Ben couldn't believe it! Rook was stubborn almost as stubborn as he was. He KNEW the health risk but still chose to fight. Probably because Ben couldn't take this guy alone. But he should've called Gwen or Kevin! Not go HIMSELF! They're two began running as he locked eyes with the duo.
"I will keep him busy! Find a moment to poison him!"
"With WHAT?!"
"WHAT ELSE?!"
Ben looked at his tail, as a single, sharpnes, black stinger rose from inside.
"Oh. I forgot about that!"
Ben quickly went invisible and ran in a different direction. As Rook stopped dead in his tracks, and drew his Proto-Tool as a shield. What followed as a constant back and force of Heracles throwing punch after punch and Rook blocking or jumping out of the way, off walls, the ground, and where ever he could. Rook got a good swing in the arm. Waiting for Ben strike. Heracles picked up a boulder and threw it. Rook ducked behind. His shield as it came flying. It was only taking a few seconds but- that was all Heracles needed to give Rook a good punch to the gut.
"BLONKO!"
Rook flew back smashing into a car. Ben made himself visable just as the Omnitrix timed out. He gave him a good kick to the head as he pounced off to help his partner.
"You okay?!"
"....mgh
Heracles started charging like a bull. Looking at the boys as if they were a bright red cape. Ben quickly went to dial another alien but- recharging- ARE YOU KIDDING?!
Ben insted opted to helping Rook get up. Which was a lot easier said than done. Heracles started running. Ben desperately trying to get a disoriented Rook off the ground. The guy grew closer and closer, head out like a bulls horns! Rook wasn't even in running position as he got three feet closer. Two feet. One foot. Then-
....he collapsed. Chamalien stung him. He fell foward into the pavement, WAY too close to the heroes.
"...Thought he was immune for a minute..." Ben mumbled. Helping Rook up completely.
"That was..."
"Too close." Rook said panting.
"You okay-?"
"I... will be fine."
Ben sighed. He couldn't tell when Rook was lying sometimes. Usually when he lied about himself. He kept thinking about what Dr. Murray said about miscarriages being hazardous to Revonnahgander parents. Say what he will about the babies, he can't afford that for Rook... he can't risk his partner, his friend, his boyfriend!
"...No more stalling."
"What?"
"I said... no more stalling."
______
After the Plumbers recaptured him. Ben and Rook marched straight back to base. Looking around they saw Max and Patelliday playing cards with Kevin. Who was badly loosing.
"Grandpa? We gotta talk." Ben said.
Max slowly put his playing cards down with a smirk. He might as well confess to Kevin and Patelliday, now along with Max. Being another Magister they work with Patelliday KINDA has to know as well.
"Oh? Talk about what?" He said. With knowing glint in his eyes.
"Um... Rook and I... have a confession we wanna make."
"Oh, do you? Do you finally have something to tell me?"
"Yeah, uh, don't be mad but-"
Max just started chuckling as he stood up.
"What's so funny?" Ben asked confused"
"Ben, I already know."
"WHAT?!"
"Not gonna lie, I've had my suspicions for awhile know, Patelliday giving me my twenty was all the proof I needed. My question is, why on EARTH would I be mad at either of you?"
"Well um-"
"I have dated countless alien women, and0 poop admittedly a few strapping young menack in the day."
"I- wait what-?"
"The 60's were a helluva time son, but that's not the point. My point is-"
Max's voice began to fade. The a loud insistent ringing filled his ears, bile rose in his stomach as the bright colors of the people and things around him began to twist and blurr to unrecognizable blobs and pinwheel. His eyelids felt weighted by lead, his legs began to burn, as if his bones were made of hot metal, as if he pulled every muscle at once and aggravated it just by standing...
"-my love life is a heaping mess of alien and human women, it'd be hypocritical to be angry at you. I want earth to be place where people can be free just as much as you do, not just for aliens but for people with what you and Rook have. You're my grandson, no one you love can change that..."
"U-Uh th-thanks... Grandpa but-"
"And Rook that goes for-"
*THUD*
"ROOK!"
He fell to floor. Everyone jumped out of their seats, Ben rushed to his knees, frantically grabbing and shaking him.
"ROOK?! BLONKO CAN YOU HEAR ME?! C'MON MAN, WAKE UP!"
"GET MEDICAL IN HERE, NOW!" Max ordered quickly getting down to assess Rook. Max only had a split second to see the sweat clumping his fur, the glossy unfocused look in his eyes, the slight tinge of green under his blue-purple coat, the way his eyes rolled back as he fell. Almost all of it was still on full display. Medical team hoisted him to a stretcher and Ben still held his body and whispered into his ear. Half a joke and half a plea.
"If you die, we're over. I don't mean that... but please get up!"