Disclaimer: I don't own Ben 10 or Careless Whisper by George Michael.

Author's Note: I know I haven't updated in forever. I hope this will help out in getting ya'll to forgive me. I know many of you wanted me to write a oneshot about their movie night, but I couldn't find the inspiration to write it. Instead, I found inspiration in the song Careless Whisper as covered be Seether. It just reminded me so much of Kevin. I would definitely recommend listening to it or looking up the lyrics. It really sets the feel of the chapter. I apologize ahead of time if you think they're being to dramatic, but I wanted a realistic look of what would happen after 'In Charm's Way'. Now whether this chapter is in the same universe as the first two, that's up for ya'll to decide. After the first two, I don't think the rest of these oneshots will share the same continuity unless otherwise stated. I plan on writing an upcoming chapter that's set in an AU future which I hope will be the next one. Anway, before this note gets any longer, I just want to thank everyone who's read, reviewed and favorited this piece. It really means a lot to me and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Remember to read and review!

Chapter Three: Careless Whisper

He screwed up.

No, not just screwed up. He royally, monumentally, completely fucked up.

He drove aimlessly in his beloved green Challenger. His deformed hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that it was in danger of being crushed beneath the stone and steel. The conversation he had with Ben kept playing in his head. How could he be such fool? How could he have doubted Gwen?

Because he was an idiot, that's why.

Kevin had a problem with self-esteem. After spending so much time on the streets and believing that he was worthless, he just became so infused with an inferior complex. Of course, he would never admit that to anyone. No, on the outside, Kevin was always overconfident and cocky. It was his armor. Like his powers, it helped him survive.

Fate just decided to be cruel to him. His armor was on the outside in a physical manifestation of his powers permanently. It took away the only confidence he had left, the one that he clung to like a lifeline. Not only was he a monster inside, but now everyone could see him for what he was.

Somewhere deep down, he knew that Gwen didn't care about any of that. It was the kind of person that she was. She was so kind and sweet and pure. Kevin knew there was no way to deserve her. No matter how he felt about her or how strong those feelings ran, he knew that he would be bad for her. He knew that in the end, he would tear her apart piece by piece and break her down until she was just as broken as he was.

Maybe that's why it was so easy to believe Charmcaster. Just maybe he could sense that they were made from the same cloth, and maybe he wanted to believe that Gwen didn't care about him so that he could bring her down from the pedestal he placed her on. That way, they could be on the same level and she could be just within his reach.

He should have known that Gwen was beyond pedestals and inferior complexes. She cared about him (loved him even) so much that she spent all her free time going through her books to find a cure for him. While he had been thinking how hot Charmcaster was and falling prey to her deception, Gwen's only concern was his well-being.

His traveling brought him right outside Gwen's house. He looked up to her dark window. He was surprised that the lights were out. Kevin was almost sure she would be awake and angry with him, ready to give him the bitching he knew he deserved. Closing his eyes, he tried to will away the guilt and the hurt and all the events of that night, but when he opened them, they were still there haunting him.

---

Gwen never liked the dark. She had always been a fan of sunlight or anything that made her environment brighter. She was like a plant, thriving on the nurturing rays that shone down upon her. It matched her personality. She was a warm, cheerful person, at least when her cousin or Kevin weren't annoying her. Lately, she found that she didn't mind the darkness so much. It was a good contrast that kept her balance. She wouldn't admit that it was Kevin's earthen eyes and twisted smile that would be the thing that kept her balanced especially not after the way he betrayed her tonight.

Although she adored the light, tonight she laid in darkness and allowed it to envelop her because in the darkness, no one, not even she, could see how badly she hurt inside. She was in her bathtub with a sea of foamy bubbles covering every square inch of the surface water. The only lone light that shone to offer her guidance around her bathroom was the nightlight she had near the mirror. The only thing visible was her head from the chin up that hovered above the sweet bubble bath.

The scent of lavender filled the air. It was suppose to relax her, but Gwen still found tension in her muscles and in her heart.

She didn't know what was worse: the fact that Kevin doubted her faith in him or that he kissed another girl, Charmcaster at that.

Both were like painful stabs in the back and she vaguely wondered if that was how Caesar felt when he realized Brutus was against him. Then again, Caesar wasn't in love with him.

Gwen remained in her bath brooding for a long time. She wanted to cry all her tears out now so that when she did face Kevin again there would only be her anger and indignation to show him. She didn't want him to see how badly he hurt her because that showed how much she cared. She thought Kevin felt the same way about her, but was just too shy to admit it. Now she wasn't so sure. She wore her heart on her sleeve, but look where it had led her.

The bathwater had long grown cold and the bubbles had already dispersed, but the tears would not come. With a heavy sigh, she drew herself out of the tub and dried her body with a towel. Her bright red hair was a darker shade with all the moisture in it, dropping rivulets of water down her back. Gwen tugged on her soft pink bath robe before pulling the plug to release the water. She watched despondently as the murky water slowly swirled down the drain.

How could he not know how much she cared about him? Didn't she show him every day? He might aggravate her sometimes with his antics, but she loved him nonetheless. Her chest felt tight and for a moment she felt like she couldn't breathe. There was that familiar hitch in her throat and she thought that just maybe the tears were ready to come. Gwen closed her eyes to will the wetness out, but all she got was the sound of the water escaping down the watery rabbit hole. A part of her wished that she could join it.

--

Kevin just wanted one look. She was probably sound asleep by now. Her lights were out. He just wanted to one look at her face where it wasn't angry at him. It was easy to creep up to her window. It took a little creative maneuvering, but before he know it he was right outside. Unfortunately, he found her bed empty in the darkened room. His heart leapt into his throat.

If she wasn't in her room at this hour then where could she be? There were no signs of life at all. Worry raced through ever y fiber of his being. With the kind of life that they led, his first assumption was that she was kidnapped. They had many enemies and it wouldn't be a surprise if that did happen. He needed to investigate for any signs of odd disturbance in her room.

Her window slipped open easily. Gwen, despite her experience against aliens and all, was very trusting. He would scoff if he wasn't worried sick. Kevin slid into her room, but before he could two steps in, the girl in question stepped out of the bathroom.

The first thing he noticed was the slinky robe she wore. Her body was still damp in some places, causing the fabric to cling to her in a sensual way. The sight of her stirred feelings in him that told him he couldn't be trusted around her right now for fear of what he may do. Those feelings were quickly put into check when he caught sight of her face. The face that was usually cross with him or smiling at him depending on the day or what he was doing was so desolate that it only added to the weight on his shoulders.

Gwen stared at him, pink lips parted slightly in surprise. She didn't expect to find him in her room of all faces. She wasn't ready to face him yet. She still needed time to lick her wounds.

"Gwen, I . . . I thought something happened to you," he said lamely, hands outstretched in a sign of penance.

His voice made her heart twist painfully. She wasn't ready.

"I'm fine as you can see," she replied coolly as she went to her vanity table to retrieve a brush to smooth out the tangles in her wet mane. She turned her back to him, facing the mirror instead to work on her hair.

Kevin stared at her back forlornly. He hated that they were like this. Her indifference was killing him. He wanted to see the fire in her. He wanted to yell at him, to throw things, something. Anger would tell him that she still cared not this lack of emotion.

All Gwen had to do was focus slightly to the right of her expression and she would see Kevin's kicked puppy expression, but Gwen couldn't deal with that right now. She needed to hold onto to her composure because she refused to let him see her tears. They finally decided to make an appearance at the worst moment though she would muse later that they were triggered by the person who caused them.

They stood in silence for a few moments, one unsure what to say and the other unsure of her voice.

Kevin couldn't stand it. He let loose a weary sigh as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Gwen," he started again, "look, I know I screwed up."

She only continued brushing her long hair. He wasn't sure if she was even listening to him, but he kept going. There were words that needed to be said.

"I know I was a total Grade A idiot tonight and I'm really sorry. I should have never believed Charmcaster when she said you weren't trying to help me. I should have known that you're a good enough person to help guy like me out."

Gwen slammed the brush down, interrupting his speech. He jumped in surprised at the small outburst. Quietly, he watched as she placed both her hands palms down on the vanity. Her shoulders were heaving, but no sound came out of her.

"Kevin, you are an idiot. I'm not looking to find a cure for you out of the goodness of my heart or because you're my friend," her voice began steady, but it wavered as she continued, "I'm doing it because I'm in love with you! Because I know how much this means to you!"

Perhaps she didn't want to wear her heart on her sleeve anymore, but that didn't mean that Gwen was tired of their constant dancing around each other. It was time for her to get it all out once and for all even if it only added salt to her wounds in the end.

Kevin was taken aback at her words. He knew that she felt that way for him, but it was different hearing it spoken aloud and from the horse's mouth. His mouth opened, trying to form the words of reply, but nothing came except nonsensical garble. Gwen took a few deep breaths to calm herself before she finally turned around to face him.

She looked like an avenging angel with the moonlight shining on her features and dancing in her hair. Tears glittered like diamonds down her pale cheeks as pained emerald eyes stared back at him. He found that he had to take a step back from the onslaught of it all.

"Yes, Kevin, I'm in love with you. I can't help it and I wish I could stop especially after tonight, but I can't. I love you just the way you are, no matter how you look," Gwen's voice was a hoarse whisper, "and I think the worst thing about tonight is that you still can't admit that you love me too. What's so wrong with me that you can't? It was so easy for you to kiss Charmcaster and admit that she was hot and for you to believe her. Am I not tall enough? Is my hair to red? Do I need to look like a model?"

"No, no, Gwen! It's not any of that. You're perfect the way you are," Kevin argued back desperately.

"Then what is it?"

For a moment, he was overjoyed to see a flash of anger overtake her sorrow because that was the Gwen he knew. There was that fighter in her that he adored so much. He couldn't stand seeing her lay down and take the pain like a helpless kitten. She stood there, arms wrapped protectively around her. Kevin knew that it should be his arms holding her, to make her feel better. He knew that he should close the space between them and kiss away her tears and say the things to make all this better.

But Kevin wasn't going to do any of that.

Kevin wasn't going to do any of that because he didn't deserve her. They both knew it.

"Well?"

"Because. . .because in the end, I'll just hurt you with all the things I really want to say."

Silence reclaimed a hold over them as she processed his words. He stared downcast at her hardwood floor, wanting to look anywhere but into her eyes. A dry laugh cut through the quiet. It was a laugh he'd never heard from her and it was one that he never wanted to hear again. It was so dark and self-deprecating, reminding him of serrated knives.

"God, Kevin, you're a bigger idiot than I thought. Don't you realize you're already hurting me with the things you don't say?"

His head shot up to look at her, stunned, but she had already turned away from him. Gwen resumed brushing her hair. It was her turn to avoid looking at him.

"Gwen. . ."

"Don't. Just don't. I would really appreciate it if you left now It's late and I have school in the morning."

"Gwen, don't do this."

"Kevin, I said don't."

Her voice was sharp and it held a dangerous warning. If he wouldn't leave of his own accord then she would make him. Dejectedly, he turned back towards the window. He gave one last look over his shoulder in hopes that she might have changed her mind, but her back was still to him.

"I should have known better," he mumbled to himself before creeping out of her window and back into the night.

Gwen's reply was soft though it didn't matter since he was already gone.

"You really should have."