Ben’s Problem

Thank God, Ben's still outside. Probably saving people... or cats.

You cleaned up good, morphing your face to its original, handsome self. Newt also showered with you, letting the water wash off its blood stains and murky smell, "my suit is ruined!"

"Don't worry, Newt. I'll just buy you a new one," you pat its cute wobbly head.

Newt just pouted and went straight to the couch.

"Alright, let's make some dinner," on the way home, you bought enough ingredients to cook a spaghetti meatball. Believe me, when I say that I make the best spaghetti meatball.

The fragrance of the pasta you've been cooking had already spread through the whole house, "ooooh lemme taste it..."

You chuckled, "wipe your drool first, Newt."

"Aw come on! I'm hungry! I mean— we're hungry!" the clown rarely complains. Is the smell really that good?

"Alright.. alright."

THUMP*

Someone broke in.... It's probably Ben.

"Ben! Come eat this pasta!"

Someone roared a laughter, "you sound just like my Aunt right now." Ben's still wearing his Spider-Man suit but without the mask.

You cocked an eyebrow.

"What? You've already seen me in this," he chuckled, "besides, I wanna see Newt more clearly!" smoothly shifting the topic.

Newt zoomed into Ben's arms as if they're lovers separated for a long time.

You simply rolled your eyes and took out the plates, "Alright. Enough with the cringe fest. The spaghetti's done."

All of you sat down at the table and enjoyed the meal. Ben couldn't stop praising you for your cooking skills. He said he would pay you if you cook for him. Of course, the most nicest thing you would do as a friend is to—-

Accept the pay.

Well, he suggested it first, "la servante?" the clown sounded disappointed.

Newt replied, "yepsies, Jihn!"

Jihn just grumbled and went on mute.

Ben's already in his room. In fact, we're both really tired as fuck. The mutant's body parts were dumped somewhere out there. Don't really care. You just bought tons of vial to store the mutant's blood. And a little jar to store his eyeballs.

Plus, Newt had a secret little loot from their money stash. Amounting to 50,000 thousand dollars.

Don't ask me how Newt carried it all.. but it said that I'll know it very, very soon.

Hmm.. about a few more thousand dollars? You'll finally get out of Ben's hair and own your very own nice apartment.

You drowsily glanced at the clock and it's already past midnight. Newt had already cuddled up with you, now knocked out and asleep.

Its sleeping little purr made you feel all giddy inside...

...as you drift into a sweet slumber.

...

...

...

BEEP* BEEP*

"Who the fuc—-" an alarm woke you up, still dazed from the exhaustion.

"Sorry! It's mine! Gotta work. By the way, the deal's still on, right??" It's already morning?!?

You groaned, "Yes. Ben. God, it's 5 AM and it's my day off today. Now please, let me sleep in peace," he mumbled an apology and dashed out.

Ben probably meant about hiring you as a cook when you're both available.

Yes.

When you're both available.

Since you're both busy with jobs and personal shit.

...

...

"Anthony..."

"Anthony....."

Someone was calling you with a forlorn voice. It's strangely familiar and comforting, "Anthony Jihn.."

You hesitantly replied, "who are you?"

The gentle voice chuckled, "not yet my dear... soon, you"ll unravel who I am and who you truly are... you'll understand everything.... at the right time."

Suddenly, you felt like someone was shaking you.

"Hey!! Hey!!" Newt was crying in your arms. Snot and tears covered the cute lizard's face.

You immediately pulled Newt into your arms, "Why are you crying? What happened?"

"You.. you were gasping for air! Like you were being choked! A-and your eyes turned white!! You look possessed!!"

Oh. That scared him.

Jihn sighed, "We're alright, Newt... just had a weird dream and you don't see us speaking latin all of a sudden, right?"

Newt simply looked at you with its lizard-puppy eyes. Newt's like a dog, a cat, and a lizard at the same time. It's weirdly adorable....

"That was really vivid... when did we fall asleep? Who the fuck was that?"

6 hours had already passed?!?

"I don't know, mon ami. That dream took a fucking toll on me," the clown grumpily replies.

You immediately had a boding feeling about that dream... but there's nothing you can do about it right now. You're weak and not-so broke but still broke.

THUD*

A clatter was heard from Ben's room, "why doesn't he ever use his own damn door?"

"Anthony!" Ben seems... excited? "I err... kinda investigated Des' case? The preparator is an actual member of the cartel called Red Scorpion? I think...

he's an important figure. Weirdly, nothing came up after they kidnapped Des. It's like... the incident was just a magician's illusion— POOF!"

Well, what a damn coincidence. Surely this isn't a plot convenience, right?

You just stood there with your knitted brows. "Actually... me and that cartel had a LITTLE dispute." Little is an understatement since you've made a mess on one of their biggest income. Even killing off their members and guests. And burning... everything?

Carl Denvers would experience a real fucking nightmare from them, "so... what you wanna do, Spidey?"

Ben thought for a while, "I don't know... I think Des' completely safe.... for now. Of course, there's still a possibility that they might be pulling something."

It's not that you don't wanna work with Spidey. Both of you are just.. the complete opposite in purging evil. He might even come to hate you.

"How about this. Let's cut off their drug supply chain, anonymously and separately."

Ever since then, both of you worked in the dark. Their source of income continued to dwindle down.

Poor drugs.

Even human trafficking was involved.

At the same time, you were also busy in the hospital. Managing patients and their needs. Plus, the 2-hour shift you earned from Daily Grind Cafe on every weekend. Coffee business is just a breeze to you now, like taking a walk in the park.

"Hey Des, how's it going?"

Des breathed an exhausted sigh, "work's been shit.. I have a diet to follow, y'know, modeling and all." At least, she's alive and well.

You sympathetically shook your head, "here's your pumpkin spice latte."

"Thanks, babes. Hit me up when you and Ben decided to have a get-high party, hm?"

Truthfully, peculiar dreams had been plaguing your mind ever since. It continuously visits you in the middle of the night and would result to Newt waking you up to stop the 'possession'.

Newt watched too many horror movies.

You dropped on the couch and decided to call Jonathan's number, "hey, Anthony here. I was wondering if me and my friend could have a dinner at your grandma's house. I'll do the cooking."

A little breather wouldn't hurt. Besides, every week you're either cooking or eating at Granny Mary's house.

"Ben, come with me," you knocked on his door.

No one answered, "Ben?" You knocked again. Did he got out of the window?

It was eerily quiet.

BAM*

Ben barged out of the room frantically, "what's wrong?"

He looked at you as if he's deciding to if he should answer or not, "I.. I uhh got a call from an old friend.. his aunt got into stroke. I'll just visit him for a short time."

"Do you want me to come with you?

"What?" Ben was stupefied.

You rolled your eyes, "I said.. do you want me to come with you?" Maybe, you already got a gist of what happened to his 'old friend'. And danger is just around the corner for him.

Do people actually know how many times Ben died and got resurrected? Even Death became interested in him.

This time, you'll save this knucklehead.

"Actually. No buts, I'm coming with you."

Ben was in a dilemma. Of course, you're probably his closest friend right now but... he never got to tell you who he really is and the fact that he's just a clone from the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker.

"Whatever you're hiding.. Ben, I'm sure nothing can surprise me anymore. C'mon dude, I'm your friend. And I kill people." Well, that's just the cherry on top.

"Hehe," Newt was just amused by the shenanigans while Jihn is probably in his La la land.

Ben could only sigh, "what about your job?"

"Whatever, I could live with getting fired." Newt got us a ton shit of money anyway, "besides, my shift is on weekends so..."

"I'm talking about the hospit—"

"Shhh, don't make this harder for us." I mean, you did earn a good amount of money from that job but the best thing out of them all... is getting Polaris' favor.

Ben looked at you and Newt for a minute, "don't blame me if shit hits the fan! Alright, let's pack our bags," his voice sounded more excited than ever.

This kid....

I guess dinner time with Granny Mary will be cancelled for the meantime. Sigh.