"Cool. Whatever, you need money.

But you know someone who's going to be interested in buying a bomb like that is also going to be interested in using it, right?"

"Well, you can't use it, either.

You're a smart one ⁱ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ
If you use that, and we all die."

"That needs to go. 𝙣𝙤𝙬."

— transform into a small, black and white alien.

"Yup. Ben Tennyson. Ben 10. Either works."

Large hands crumpled up the wrapper as the hero split into multiple copies of himself, each of them spreading out and kicking the 'ball' to each other like she had done—leading up to one final 𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬 into —

"Yeah, I get it.

Still, I'd start giving those contracts a look with your own eyes. I'm just speaking from experience."

He'd turn to get a look at who he was speaking to—Just in time to catch that sick throw into the trash!

"Hey, nice. You're--"

Ben paused, raising an eyebrow.

"I've seen you —

— design. Then before you know it, some guy you've never heard of is making a movie about you."

"You're right. I don't.

You talking about the amount of aliens or the unlocking them on accident?"

Is she... crying...?

"You.. uh, you good back there?"

💭 ( Could just get a burger. But man, I got one a few days ago. Gotta get something different. Maybe... )

As his eyes scan the area for places to eat, he catches sight of the very woman reading his mind, watching from afar.

💭 ( What's she looking at? )

Ben turns around to check for anything —

"I'm starting to lose track of how long it's been since I had a huge, universe-threatening adventure.

That's a good thing, obviously. But--
It's 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢 boring?

...Maybe I should keep my mouth shut before I start regretting those words, though."

"Seems like everyone's always out busy these days. Super boring.

. . . Maybe I need to make some new friends.
Or get new hobbies."

"Aren't those the funny ghost dudes from that game with the italian guy?"

"Yeah? I get that a lot. Though it's usually followed by an evil speech and 'raaagh, Tennyson, give me that watch!!'

Fight happens. I kick their butt. Rinse and repeat at least once a week. You know how it is."

"Nothing 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 of ice like Heatblast is with fire..."

. . . 💧

"But I got something. I at least owe it to you to cool you off after that."

Using the watch again, Ben then transforms into a large, moth-like alien. Already, the air around them begins to cool.

"It's pretty awesome to meet you in —

"Lucky for you, I got one that fits that description perfectly."

Some more dial turning before a big button emerges from his watch, which he quickly hits.

Ben transformed in a burst of green light and fire, shooting a thumbs up to the other.

"So, how's this?"

"Anyone else notice the uptick in certain heroes?

Like, the Avengers. And Avengers-like.

What do we call those? Avengers-Adjacent?"

‼️‼️‼️‼️

@missnanochip.bsky.social

"Yeah, that'll happen out of the blue sometimes."