Chapter 10: New routine

While I didn't plan for it, this whole setting up arc being character driven works for me. There IS going to be action and all that, the Ultimatrix is here for a reason, but it'll start up when Canon does. This portion is about developing the pair as characters, as well as building up the relationship aspect of the pair, because even though the link/bond forced them together, a relationship needs to actually be worked on to advance and grow. There's also the setting up a reputation for the wider world, exploring what some aliens can do outside of Ben 10 and just fighting, which is alot when you really think about it, and building the gear/base up.

Don't like it, then oh well. I do listen to criticism and the like, but complaints about things that I've already explained will be ignored. This is my story after all.

TheClowningPrince - Thanks. I have no idea how long this'll end up, but if it somehow gets as long as TWPAD, I'm gonna lose my mind. And yes, Taylor deserves the best for all of Worm's shit.

It's been a few days since we watched the meeting, and I 'Convinced' Taylor to share beds. We also agreed to swap rooms every once and a while, and also to sleep in our own for a day, but that day hadn't come yet.

So far... Things were awesome.

The first day Taylor and I slept together, the first two didn't count, she was too anxious to go to sleep so we just laid side by side for a while, my other half constantly worrying and trying to psyche herself up... Eventually I got annoyed, and got her to roll onto me, wrapping her in my arms so she couldn't escape. She was embarrassed and surprised at the sudden change in position, but after a quick kiss to the forehead, she crashed long enough for me to go to sleep. Taylor was still weak to sudden shows of affection, and I was going to milk it for all it was worth. (I'm gonna be sad when she adjusts to it... Hopefully she doesn't, and stays easy to tease forever.)

She apparently followed me into dream land a bit later.

The morning we woke up, I didn't like it but I got used to waking up at normal times now, we just laid in bed, content and the most comfortable either of us had ever been. I understood why Taylor considered this to be addictive, it felt like nothing else mattered when we were laying with each other, and even after my sessions as XLR8 to help me not give into my Sloth and Apathy, I was hard pressed to get up and do stuff.

Again, Taylor was the more mature one between us, and shunted her Tiredness into her bugs, leaving her with the majority of her happy emotions, making her annoyingly active. Though, aside from dragging me out of bed, which had happened twice now, she didn't do anything that I hated. It was more like she was constantly happy now, walked around with a pep in her step, all that good stuff. It was nice to see her getting better, her moments of self deprecation were nearly non existent, she'd only had three of them over a five day period, and those were all stopped before they got anywhere. She'd even stopped one herself, without having to rely on her Swarm too, which I thought was enough to earn her a kiss to the cheek.

She needed a few minutes to reboot, giving me enough time to get her dumbfounded shock on camera and in HD.

Our new mornings and Taylor's positive development aside, we kept on doing what we usually did. We trained, I spent time as the big brains to keep improving our home and gear, I also somehow managed to convince myself to start cutting off crystals from Chromastone to refine and use as better Power Cores... Brainstorm was a scary crab like that.

Self mutilation for a good cause, while it hurt, it mostly made my back feel like it fell asleep, was strange. But it worked anyway, and that was what mattered!

Another thing that made its way into our schedule was patrolling. From 2-4PM and 8-11PM, we patrolled Brockton Bay. I never saw myself as the Hero type, for obvious reasons, but there was something about running and jumping across rooftops that just made me giddy... Probably my inner child getting the better of me.

Good for him.

Being out in the field was... Interesting, to say the least. Free running and Parkour were skills neither Taylor and I, or my new body, had, so we had to practice. Thankfully, I'd managed to recreate the Danger Room, an unfortunately more limited one that couldn't handle bigger or more robust settings, Capes or Endbringers, but I'd spend time upgrading and making an A.I to manage it later. At the moment it was enough for us to practice at home, and applying what we figured out in the real world. The Danger Room also helped us get used to working as a team, and dealing with different situations that we might/did find out in the field. Merchant's were such easy test dummies to find.

... It was also really fun to recreate a zombie apocalypse, and other movies/games in real life. Sure, Taylor might've wanted to beat the shit out of me for making a Witch from the Left 4 Dead games as a hostage, getting the biggest scare of her fucking life when the 'Woman' she saved turned around and tried to claw her throat out, but it was hilarious!

I appeased my almost girlfriend with a movie and cuddles though, so I was safe from her wrath for the time being.

We were also getting better with our guns, Taylor didn't need to rely on her bugs and suit to help her as much, and I was a decent shot with my Pharaoh's Curse Longbow and Code of Honor Wingman. I could get better, but it would be a steady process that my suit handled until then. I was tempted to make us Prowlers, the Egyptian skins would do great for us, but neither of us were fully proficient with our guns yet, so that'd probably come later. (Though I really want to make a Devotion and introduce everyone that annoys me to the bad end of that motherfucker.) It was the dream of all men to shoot the dogshit out of things, and I'd fulfill mine eventually.

Other then that, life went on... And so did our relationship.

Checking around, I plopped my Cloaked ass onto a ledge of the building we were on, and sighed. [You sure you want us to get involved in this?] Granted, I didn't mind if we did, kicking Nazi ass sounded fun, it just seemed like a bother to be honest.

Standing by my side, Taylor, Cloaked in her Khepri suit, nodded. |If we can manage to get rid of a few of the E88 Capes, there'll be less violence when they start fighting the PRT or the ABB.| She had a point, I knew she did, I was mostly bitching just to bitch. |Have I ever asked why you curse so much?|

Thinking about it, I realized no, she didn't. [I just like doing it.] ... That makes sense. I snorted. [Mhm. Cursing for the fuck of it is nice, don't you think?] I turned and grinned at my other half at that.

Said other half rolled her eyes, and just shook her head. Goof. Looking away, I felt her Interest rise a bit, and turned to look where she was looking. |Looks like the FBI are starting to leave.| Seeing the same thing she was, which was easy given we were on a pretty tall building, I hummed. With the feds heading out, the Nazi's were predicted to make some moves... Though I wondered if they would be dumb enough to do something the same day the FBI left. By my side, Taylor huffed. |They're Nazi's.| Blinking, I realized that yeah, that sounded legit.

Taylor snorted.

Anyway, we watched the FBI vans leave, Taylor idly used her bugs to pick out and stop random crimes, some weirdos were playing real life Street Fighter, the no...- ""Wait, what?"" Normally, I'd be amused that we both spoke at the same time, but I was more focused on the fact I saw two guys dressed up as Ryu and Ken fucking around in the street.

I just stared for a bit, not sure what the fuck I was looking a...- |Ub3r and L33t. Idiots that 'Give gamers a bad name' from what I've seen going around on PHO.| Blinking, I turned to her, wondering if they seriously used numbers in their names. Humor and Exasperation hit me. |XLR8.|

[He was named by a 10 year old!]

I could practically see Taylor deadpanning at me from behind the helmet. |You keep the name.|

Opening my mouth, I thought about what to say to that... And realized I didn't have any ground to stand on considering I liked the name... "It's a fun name." Her Humor and the way her shoulders subtly shook let me know what she thought of that response. [You're lucky I care about you so much.] That made her freeze, and I felt my lips twitch at the Affection she felt.

|A-Anyway!| I snorted at the mental stutter. |You shoot Ub3r and I'll shoot L33t.| Surely she knew I was going to bring this u...- The thrum of her Sentinel made me huff in amusement, but I got ready anyway.

Setting up was easy thanks to our suits, so I took a knee and set the barrel against the ledge, the stock resting against my shoulder as I lined up my sight. [Kneecaps?]

|Since you're using live rounds, yes. I'm free to get headshots thanks to pulse rounds.| Rolling my eyes at that, I took a breath. Khepri breathed with me, and Calm washed over us as we waited for the right moment.

That moment came quickly as the two idiots started to grandstand for the 'Adoring Crowd', and my partner gave the order. |Fire.| Thunder rang out in our ears, but neither of us were bothered. Rather, we both felt Satisfaction as both of our targets went down. L33t was being electrocuted, while Ub3r was clutching his leg in pain. I smirked, but paused when I felt the Apprehension from my partner. |I still wish you'd use something non lethal.|

Getting up, I shrugged. [We've talked about this already Taylor.]

Sighing, she got up with me, and we both started roof hopping towards the idiot duo. It didn't take long, and we got in range to hop down. |I know... It's just... It's just the blood... And the screams...| Dropping down to street level, I brought out my cuffs and made my way to Ub3r, his white Gi being stained red.

When I got close enough, I gave him a good kick to the head, knocking him out, and cuffed him. [Do you want to take a break for now?]

Cuffing L33t, my partner mentally shrugged. |We could, but should we?|

I turned to stare at her, my time to deadpan had arrived. [Taylor, we both know what you're feeling.] She grumbled nonsense, and after taking a bit to think about it, sighed. Feeling her Acceptance, I grinned. [Good. Now where the hell is 'Fugly Bobs.'] The snort from my 'Not yet girlfriend', made me smile.

After porting to the park, we swapped out of our suits and into our normal clothes. Though, there had to be some irony that the both of us were wearing sweaters and jeans. Mine was gray zip up with a furred hood, sleeves rolled up so the indents of my bracer/gauntlet weren't shown, and my jean were just some normal black ones. Taylor on the other hand had a thin black zip up hoodie and light blue jeans.

We really were two of a kind.

While we walked, we talked about random stuff, not really focusing on one thing in particular, and just acted like how we usually did.

When we got to Fugly Bobs though, I stared at the joint, specifically the logo. "What the fuck?" I was reminded of the guns and ammo guy from Borderlands 2... Just fatter. And with a fuller beard... And greasy... (Maybe I'm not thinking of him after all.)

By my side, Taylor hummed. "No, no, I see it." Oh, oh well. "Anyway, let's go." Getting dragged along, I took a moment to register that Taylor grabbed me by my arm, and mentally snickered that she purposef...- |Hush.| I in fact, did not hush, and audibly laughed. |Ugh.| She wasn't helping herself either with this.

After that little bit, we ordered our food, the normal burger and fries, and waited. While we did though, I decided to be a brat, and lightly kicked one of her legs. My partner raised a brow at me, |Are you serious?| I grinned, sending over Curiosity and wondered if she'd go for it. Then she smiled and kicked me back.

Thus begun the legendary war between opposing nations. It was a long and arduous battle, Didn't think he knew that work, one where the taunts of the enemy general were ignored as the vicious battle raised in inte...- (Ah, food!) I looked up to Taylor after the burger and fries were set down. "Ceasefire?"

She rolled her eyes. "For now." Good enough for me. Still going to lose though. I deadpanned at her for that, though she just happily started munching on fries without a care in the world.

Not about to be left behind, I dug in... And had to admit that this was good. The fries were like good Chinese ones, and the burger was greasy, fatty, had BACON in it, and was basically a heart attack waiting to happen... Which meant I loved it. (I'm yoinking me some more of these.)

Taylor kicked me at that. |First off, we're on a diet you goof,| Curse you Grey Matter and Four Arms! |Uhuh. Secondly, we're going to have to work out like we owe money to the mafia to burn off these calories.| I blinked... That, that was oddly specific. She huffed in Amusement at that thought. |Anyway, as good as the burger is, no buying seconds. We can't afford to mess up our training.|

I sighed, [Ruin my fun why don't you.] My other half just smiled at me and went back to eating... Then I kicked her remembering she kicked me.

The ceasefire died a glorious and meaningful death. |It lived for a few minutes and was completely forgotten about.| I almost choked on my fries at that. The cheeky woman had the nerve to grin at me too! I was going to spank the hell out of her for that someday.

Now it was Taylor's turn to choke, and to rub salt into the wound, I lightly kicked her. Grinning as she glared back at me. |It's on now you asshole!| Challenges were always fun.

I also filed away the spark of Interest my comment got.

After eating and finishing the war, I claimed victory due to my body having stronger legs, we walked out of Fugly Bobs, full and content. I was totally going to buy an unholy amount of burgers and gorge myself on them as Wildmutt.

That aside, I hummed, and asked my partner something. [Where's the nearest movie theater? Or should we head back home to watch a movie?]

Taylor nearly tripped at that, and whipped her head towards me so fast that I thought she cracked something. Dulled jade met glowing emerald, and I could practically see her thoughts race. We conveniently stop patrolling early, he asked me where a good hangout spot is that has good food, paid for it all, and now he wants to go to see a movie? The growing Affection would've been enough to tell me she figured it out, but the look she was giving me just confirmed it. "Phoenix... Are we... Did you... Is this?" She was getting redder every time, and I was living for the Embarrassment she was feeling.

I cackled, and reached out to grab one of her hands. Clasping it, our fingers slid into place like they were supposed too be together the whole time, and I grinned. "Yes, we are in fact on a date." I was pretty sure the shear intensity of Affection, Adoration, Appreciation, and the bonfire of Love, would've been visible to anyone. I had to take a moment to take it in, then smile at Taylor. "Haven't answered by the wa...-" An explosion went off near us, and we both turned to see... "Wow, the Nazis work fa...-"

"No." It was like a switch was flipped. The positive emotions I'd been getting from Taylor were set aside for an all encompassing WRATH. "My first date isn't going to be ruined by fucking NAZIS!" The beating of chitinous wings filled my ears, and I froze when something crawled over my shoes.

Looking down, I saw a bunch of roaches, centipedes, beetles, and even spiders crawling out of... Everywhere, and looked back up to find the street/sky being blanketed by hundreds of thousands of flying insects. The street went dark and quiet as the only noise to be heard were the clicking of mandibles and chitin against the pavement, and the buzz of bees, hornets, flies, and any other bugs that could fly.

Then the screaming started as people recognized that yes, the Plague of Egypt had arrived.

It was too bad that that was when every bug... Swarmed, towards the Nazis, who were fighting some Merchants... (Is that Mu...-) The walking trash heap was swallowed by the insects, his shouts being drowned out by everything else. (Nevermind.) I stared at the scene for a bit, then slowly nodded.

Turning away from that, I looked at Taylor, a look of anger and annoyance on her face as she tunnel visioned against everything to the right of us. After a minute, the screaming stopped, and Taylor dismissed the Swarm, turning to me and smiling as her Wrath disappeared like it was never there. "A movie at home sounds great!"

I stared at her for a second, then said the first thing that came to mind. "I have the weirdest fear hard on right now."

She blushed and squeezed my hand a little bit. Again, this is my goof. Great catch Taylor. I snorted, and gently tugged her towards the park. Despite the thought, her smile coming back full force as she radiated Affection and Anticipation.

[Taylor's POV]

Knowing my other half as well as I did, I REALLY Should've seen this coming. Seeing I was worried about something, he decides to take my mind off of it by taking me on a date. Seriously, the fact even asked about Fugly Bobs should've given me an idea about what was going on. But the smart son of a bitch just didn't think about it being a date, and focused on what was happening in the moment. For a self proclaimed lazy and apathetic person, he was sneaky and bold as hell when he wanted to show affection. (And damn isn't that attractive.)

I doubted he knew how much self control it was taking me not to kiss the damn goof, especially after just out right grabbing my hand.

Shaking the thought off, I looked in the mirror. It was weird to do now instead of just ignoring them.

I didn't change.

My face was the same.

My lips and mouth were still the same.

My eyes didn't look any brighter.

Maybe my hair was smoother and brighter then before...

(So why does it look like I'm seeing a completely different person?) It really did.

My hair looked better then it had in a long time.

My eyes looked... More... Happier.

My lips looked fuller.

My face and skin looked healthier.

I looked... 'Sexy, the word you're looking for is sexy.' Shaking my head, I paused when I saw my smile. I knew I smiled before, it was just so... Natural, with Phoenix around being himself, But I hadn't seen it...

It was... I looked... Nice. Coupled with the pajama pants and black top, and I could probably pass off as pretty...

I waited for the whispers of Emma and everyone else... But none came. It was just me and the comforting presence of Phoenix in the back of my mind. Thinking about him, and remembering the first half of our date, I couldn't help but smile wider, my cheeks starting to hurt just a bit. The Three Bitches were reaping what they sowed, and I had a boyfriend, I objectively knew we were going to be official by the end of the day, who not only cared about me, but did his best to help me heal...

And it was working.

I was the happiest I'd ever been since mom passed, and all it took was the worst day of my life and for some multiversel shenanigans to give me a boyfriend... "That sounds so stupid." Huffing, I turned around and made my way out of my room. Sure, it might've sounded stupid, but it was the best thing to ever happen to me, so I wouldn't complain.

It was right after stepping into the living room when I heard from my soon to be boyfriend. [I've got enough popcorn!] I was used to the raspy voice of XLR8, still a dumb name, and one I thought he should change, but who was he to listen to the daughter of an English professor?

Rolling my eyes, because only my goof would run across the country to look for good popcorn, I made my way to the couch. |Then hurry and come home.|

[Kay.] I wasn't surprised a few moments later when I felt him come into Bond range, or the fact he was holding a big bag of popcorn. Sure, we'd eaten at Fugly Bobs earlier, but there was always room for popcorn. "Damn right there is." Changing back and dropping down by my side onto the couch, he reached for the remote and opened Netflix. I was interested in what we were going to watch, when he blinked. Ah, didn't tell her. Raising a brow at him, he waved it off. "Starting off with one of my favorites. Thank fuck your godless world has it."I wanted to say something, but he had a point about the world so I didn't.

"Annnd? What is it?" So I asked that instead.

Mischief pulsed from him, and I narrowed my eyes as he grinned at me. "Ever heard of Child's Play?"

I deadpanned at him. "No, but it sounds like a horror movie." If it was anything but I'd eat my suit.

The momentary blink and small bit of Bafflement was his initial response. "Ignoring the second thing, yeah, it's a horror movie." I was sensing a clic...- "It's stupid enough that we can both have fun calling everyone who dies, idiots." He was onto something here. The smirk I got was annoyingly attractive. "Thanks honey." I fought down my blush and focused on the TV.

Phoenix's low chuckle went on in the background, but I was more interested in the movie as it started.

It was official, Child's Play was now one of my favorite movies.

The premise was stupid and bullshit, especially because the Butcher existed, the victims and characters were so damn stupid I felt like I was losing brain cells, and the ways people died were unbelievable...

But fuck was it hilarious! Watching the first victim slowly walk to a weak window and fall out of it because she was scared of a living doll?! Bitch, Vista would turn that stupid little shit into a Modern Art piece! Hell, if he was in the Bay, the only people that guy would've managed to kill would've been Merchants, solely because they'd be too high to recognize the killer was real instead of a figment of their drug trip.

Us Brocktonites had the inherent ability to identify bullshit and nope out with unholy efficiency. Came with the territory of having Nazis, Slavers, and super powered crackheads in our city.

Still, laughing at people being idiots was great, especially with popcorn. "Oh, just the popcorn?" Shuddering at the way my partner's breath felt against my ears, I decided to get back at him and ground against his length, getting a shaky groan from him, and a wave of Lust that I was pretty sure came from the both of us. Somewhere along the halfway point, I'd sat on his lap, preferring to be wrapped up in his arms then just sitting side by side, and I'd been 'Ignoring' how hard he was the entire time. [Liar, you've been teasing me for 20 minutes at the very least!] Oops.

Grinning, I turned to my... Boyfriend, the Affection, Lust, and Desire that I felt at the thought only made my grin grow, and looked him in his eyes.

He knew what I wanted.

I knew what he wanted.

I remembered what he'd said a few days ago, so I said what we both wanted to hear. "Then do something about it."

In moments I was laying against the couch, my arms reflexively wrapping around my boyfriend's neck as he loomed above me, I saw a look in his eyes that made me shudder and burn in a way I'd never felt before. But because of our Bond, I knew what it was.

Desire.

Lust.

Affection.

Love.

I felt it plain as day.

I was wanted.

I was loved.

And as our lips met, as our Bond let us know just how much we both cared for each other, I knew that no matter what, I refused to lose the reason my life turned for the better.

No matter what stood in our way, we'd come out of it together.

{A few days later}

Looking at the alerts, my boyfriend and I shared a look... And I mentally prepared for the chance of our first fight as a couple.

The Simurgh was going to make landfall at Canberra in 45 minutes.