[29] After the Storm

Chapter 29: After the Storm

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The world snapped back into focus as XLR8 skidded to a halt in the hallway outside Jessica's apartment. The blue-green blur of super-speed travel dissolved, leaving Jessica's stomach somewhere three blocks behind.

Her enhanced durability meant she could handle the G-forces better than most, but damn if it didn't still make her head spin.

"Smooth landing," she managed, steadying herself against the wall. The faded wallpaper was rough under her palm, grounding her in reality after the insanity of the past hour.

"I aim to please." Ben's voice carried that cocky edge that should've been annoying but somehow wasn't. Not when he was looking at her like that, like she was the only thing in the universe worth focusing on.

The hallway was dim since the sun was already down, lit only by a flickering fluorescent light that cast strange shadows across his alien features. Even as XLR8, she could see the intensity in those green eyes. The same look he'd had when he'd thrown himself between two rage monsters without hesitation.

God, this guy's either the bravest person I've ever met or the stupidest. Maybe both.

The “Omnitrix” flashed, and suddenly Ben stood before her in human form. It was a flash of green this time instead of red, and it was startlingly bright in the dim space, making her blink. When her vision cleared, she took in the sight of him.

Dust-covered, clothes torn in places, hair sticking up at odd angles. He looked like he'd been through hell.

He looked perfect.

"So," he said, that crooked smile making her pulse race, "you sure your sister won’t mind me crashing in the middle of the night for a simple homemade smoothie—"

“Ben.” Jessica grabbed his shirt and pulled him down, cutting off whatever joke he was about to make. The kiss was fierce, desperate, tasting of concrete dust and adrenaline. His hands found her waist, pulling her against him like he needed to confirm she was real, solid, alive.

When they broke apart, both breathing hard, she could feel the heat radiating between them. Every nerve ending felt electrified, hypersensitive. The battle high mixed with something else, something that had been building since their last encounter.

"Smoothies can definitely wait," she breathed against his lips.

Her hand fumbled for the doorbell, missing twice before finding it. The familiar chime echoed through the apartment, and Jessica tried to compose herself.

Tried to look like she hadn't just been making out with an alien-transforming superhero in the hallway like some teenager.

The door swung open to reveal Trish, her blonde hair swaying to the side, immaculate as always in designer jeans and a silk blouse that probably cost more than Jessica's entire wardrobe.

"Jess, oh my God, I saw the news! There were monsters and you—" Her adoptive sister's mouth hung open, stopping herself from questioning about the news reports from Harlem, the words dying on her lips as she took in the scene before her. Trish's eyes widened as they landed on Ben. "Oh. Oh, you're not alone."

Here we go.

"Trish, this is Ben. Ben, my sister Trish." Jessica tried for casual, but her voice came out rougher than intended.

"The one who gave you your costume," Ben said smoothly, extending a hand. "Nice to meet you. Jessica's told me a lot about you."

Trish shook his hand automatically, but Jessica could see the gears turning behind those calculating eyes. Her sister took in their disheveled appearance, the way they stood too close together, the charged atmosphere between them.

"Well," Trish said, a teasing smile starting to form, "this is new. Our Jessica actually bringing home a guy who isn't bleeding out or needing witness protection. Should I check him for handcuffs? Make sure he's not a case file?"

"Very funny," Jessica muttered, but Ben laughed.

"No handcuffs, I promise. Though after today, witness protection might not be the worst idea."

Trish's smile faltered slightly as she really looked at them. The dust, the torn clothes, the lingering intensity that had nothing to do with normal date activities. Her eyes darted between them, taking in the way Jessica's hand had found Ben's without conscious thought, the way he angled his body slightly in front of hers like he was still protecting her from invisible threats.

"You were there," Trish said quietly. "In Harlem. Both of you?"

"We're fine," Jessica said quickly. "Just need to... clean up."

She started forward, tugging Ben with her, but Trish didn't move aside immediately. Her sister's expression had shifted from teasing to something more complex. Concern mixed with curiosity mixed with... was that envy?

"Jess—"

"We're using my room," Jessica said bluntly, tired of dancing around it. "Probably gonna be l-loud. Sorry in advance."

Trish's mouth fell open. Actually fell open, like something out of a cartoon. Jessica had seen her sister face down aggressive managers and handsy directors without flinching, but apparently, this was what broke her composure.

"I... you... what?" Trish said. Initially, she must have thought this was some guy from her class who was here to study together, but this… Ugh, was it really that surprising to Trish that she brought home a man to spend the night?!

But Jessica was already moving past her, pulling Ben down the familiar hallway. She could feel Trish's stunned gaze boring into their backs, could practically hear the questions forming. But those were tomorrow's problem.

The click of her bedroom door closing felt like punctuation on the day's insanity.

…..

Behind them, Trish stood frozen in the living room, trying to process what had just happened. Her superhero sister, who never dated, who treated relationships like particularly annoying case files, had just dragged a boy into her bedroom with intentions that were crystal clear.

Jessica... dating?

The thought should've made her happy. God knew she'd tried to set Jess up enough times, worried about her sister's tendency to isolate herself. But watching them together, seeing that raw intensity...

Trish sank onto the couch, emotions churning. She was happy for Jessica, she was. Her sister deserved someone who looked at her like she hung the moon. But after her own string of failed relationships, after watching every attempt at love crash and burn...

She's beautiful, she has superpowers, and now a stable relationship too?

The thought came unbidden, ugly and petty. Trish hated herself for it immediately. This wasn't a competition. Jessica's happiness didn't diminish her own worth. But logic and emotion rarely aligned, and the little voice of jealousy whispered anyway.

The universe really does have favorites.

From down the hall came the unmistakable sound of furniture being pushed against a wall, followed by muffled laughter and moans. Trish grabbed the TV remote, turning the volume up high.

Whatever was happening in that room, Trish Walker, future alias Hellcat, definitely didn't need the play-by-play.

****

The moment the door clicked shut, the last threads of restraint snapped.

Jessica found herself pressed against the wood, Ben's mouth on hers with a desperation that matched her own. The kiss was nothing like their sweet moment in the hallway—this was raw need, hands grasping, bodies pressing together like they were trying to crawl inside each other's skin.

His hands tangled in her hair, and she gasped against his mouth as he tugged gently, angling her head to deepen the kiss. Every nerve felt like a live wire, hypersensitive after the adrenaline of the fight. She could still feel the phantom vibrations of his super-speed run thrumming through her bones.

"Let’s… mmh… bed," she managed between kisses, already working on the buttons of his torn shirt. "Now."

They stumbled across the room, a clumsy tangle of limbs and half-removed clothing. Her suit got stuck coming over her head, and they had to pause their frantic kissing to wrestle it free.

"For a guy who can turn into a ten-foot alien," she panted, tossing the offending garment aside, "you're struggling with simple clothing."

"Four hands would be useful right about now," he shot back, finally managing to unhook the spandex with only minimal fumbling. "I'm at a disadvantage here."

The banter felt good, familiar. Even as her body burned with want, even as every touch sent sparks through her system, they were still them. Still Jessica and Ben, trading quips like their lives depended on it. I think I might fall for him, dammit…

Her hands found his chest as his shirt finally fell away, and she paused. "Holy shit."

"What?" Concern flickered across his features.

"You're..." She traced the defined muscles with wondering fingers. He'd been kind of fit before, but this was different. Harder. More defined. "Have you been working out? You're definitely more muscular than last time."

A pleased grin spread across his face. "Yeah, noticed that too. I’ve been working out lately, but yeah the muscle-gaining speed definitely isn’t normal. Think the Omnitrix is doing something to my baseline human form. I'm taller too."

She gave him a skeptical look, measuring with her eyes. "I don't believe that part."

"It's true! I'm like an inch taller. Maybe two."

"Sure you are, stretchy." But her teasing died as his hands found her waist, pulling her against him. The feel of skin on skin made her breath catch. "Ben..."

His lips found her neck, and coherent thought became significantly harder. She tilted her head, giving him better access as he traced a path from her jaw to her collarbone. His palms slid up to cup her breasts through her bra. Jessica arched into the contact, suddenly impatient with the layers still between them. She yanked her tank top over her head and reached behind to unhook her bra in one fluid motion.

Ben's eyes darkened as he took in the sight of her. "You look incredible," he murmured, and the raw honesty in his voice made something flutter in her chest.

His hands were everywhere then. They skimmed over her shoulders, down her sides, across the flat plane of her stomach. Each touch left trails of heat in its wake. When his fingers found a small scar on her ribcage, a souvenir from her early days as Jewel, he paused, then bent to press his lips against it.

"Awh, I remember you, little buddy," he whispered against her skin. "As delicious as last time."

She laughed, “Oh, Ben, stop it.” The tenderness of the gesture caught her off guard. Ben seemed to accept her scars as simply part of her, worthy of attention but not defining her.

Jessica's hands weren't idle either. She traced the contours of his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart beneath her palm. The Omnitrix gleamed on his wrist, reminding her of his other life, his other forms. She wondered briefly what it would be like to be with one of his alien forms, then pushed the thought aside immediately. I’m losing my mind.

"Stop teasing me already…" she managed to get out as his mouth found the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder.

They rolled on the bed, shedding the rest of their clothes along the way. Soon they were both naked, breathing hard, eyes locked in mutual hunger.

Jessica pulled him down on top of her, reveling in the weight of him, the heat of skin against skin. His hands slid down her body with growing confidence, finding the places that made her gasp and arch. When his fingers slipped between her thighs, she bit her lip to stifle a moan.

"Don't hold back," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "I want to hear you."

"Trish will—"

"Let her hear. It’s not as if she can’t guess what’s going on here." His fingers moved in slow, deliberate circles, and Jessica's objection dissolved into a throaty sound of pleasure. "God, you're already so wet," he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

"Enough playing," Jessica growled, wrapping her hand around his hard length. "Stop doing that. I need that fat juicy cock inside me. Now."

Ben's eyes gleamed with mischievousness at her directness, but he didn't need to be told twice. He positioned himself between her thighs, the head of his cock pressing against her entrance. “Here you go, hungry girl.” Their eyes locked as he pushed forward, filling her in one slow, delicious thrust that made them both groan.

"Fuck," Jessica breathed, her nails digging into his shoulders. "You feel even bigger than last time."

He began to move, setting a rhythm that slammed into her again and again. Each thrust sent waves of pleasure coursing through her body, and she hissed for him to keep going. Jessica wrapped her legs around his waist, moaning softly, changing the angle, taking him deeper.

"God, Jess," Ben panted, his pace increasing. "You feel amazing."

The room filled with the sounds of their pleasure, skin against skin, breathless moans, whispered encouragements. Jessica felt herself getting close, that familiar tightening low in her belly. When Ben's hand slipped between them to circle her clit, she nearly came undone.

"Right there," she gasped, her hips bucking up to meet his thrusts. "Don't stop, don't stop, don't—ahng!"

Her orgasm crashed over her like a tidal wave, intense and all-consuming. She clung to Ben as her body pulsed around him, wave after wave of pleasure washing through her.

“W-wait, slow down a little, I just-!” She begged, but he was too mischievous to stop. He followed her over the edge moments later, his rhythm faltering as he buried his face in her neck, prompting Jessica to throw her head back as he groaned her name while cumming.

For a long moment, they lay tangled together, sweat-slicked and breathless. Jessica felt boneless, satisfied in a way that went beyond the physical. There was something about Ben—something in the way he looked at her, touched her, saw her—that made her feel both vulnerable and powerful at the same time.

"That was..." Jessica started, then laughed softly. "I don't even have words."

"Mmm," he agreed, running his fingers through her damp hair. Oh, the way he touched her, it made him look so reliable, even though he was younger than her. "But I think we can do better."

She raised his head to look at her, eyebrow arched in question. "Better? Hmm… yes, actually, I have an idea.” Now it was her turn to smile mischievously.

She flipped them over in one smooth motion, straddling his hips with a wicked smile. "Round two. My turn to be on top."

Ben's hands settled on her waist, his expression a mix of amusement and desire. "I’d love to continue, but you know I have to return to Grandpa and Gwen?"

Jessica leaned down to capture his mouth in a slow, deep kiss. "They can wait," she whispered against his lips. "We've got all night. Unless you’re not strong enough to continue, little Ben?"

He spanked her in response, and she laughed. Oh, he had no idea she loved that yet, did he? Jessica Jones, the girl with an innocent face who used to masturbate reading magazines, was finally having some real fun.

As she began to move above him, setting a rhythm that had them both gasping again within minutes, Jessica knew they wouldn't be keeping track of time. The world outside, with its monsters and battles and responsibilities, could wait. Tonight belonged to them.

The night deepened around the Walker apartment, stars appearing in the New York sky, as inside, two young heroes lost themselves in each other, forgetting for a few precious hours about the dangerous world that awaited them come morning.

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