Hidden inheritance

Chapter 4: Incomplete Truth

She was looking at them both, deeply sighing because she seriously wanted to just go to bed and forget any of this ever happened.

"Are you finally done giving him the cold shoulder or what, doofus?" she said.

Ben hesitated, looking back at Max. In less than 24 hours, his whole life was turned upside down, and not by the Omnitrix this time. He wanted answers, he wanted to know why Max did that, why he made himself an enemy by taking him away years ago. But...

But that wasn't what bothered him the most.

"I'm not mad about Vilgax." he finally said.

"W... what?" Max asked.

"I said, I wasn't mad about what happened with Vilgax. I now know what kind of guy he is and what he's capable of. I know why you were scared for me after everything he's done and what you did to him but... That's not the problem."

Max narrowed his eyes, realizing where he made a mistake.

"I am mad because... because all this time, all you did was lie. To me. To mom and dad. And to Gwen too. You lied about everything you did to everyone! And that really ticks me off because, I looked up to you, Grandpa Max."

"Ben..."

"I always felt like I could trust you with everything I have to deal with. I wanted to be as confident as you, I wanted to do things your way. But... you still lied to everyone. I know you meant well and you just didn't want us to get ourselves into trouble, but it hurts me to know you didn't think we'd understand or that we'd try making it easier for you."

Max looked sadly at Ben. He really messed up this time.

"You didn't explain to us how you knew Vilgax or about the Omnitrix until he came for me. You didn't tell us anything about your real Plumber career until we almost died because of it. And even now, you didn't tell us anything when you knew Phil was up to something. It took me and Gwen helping you to come out of it alive and I'm mad because... because I always trusted you, but you didn't."

"Ben, I-"

"I'm not even sure you've told us everything, you didn't even say a thing when Aunt Vera was put into danger! I need you, we need you, to have faith in us, Grandpa. You always told us we could trust you, but what you're doing makes me feel like you don't trust us." Ben sighed. "I know that you want to keep us, to keep me safe. But until you tell me everything, I don't think I'm okay with your way of doing things."

He looked down. He really couldn't stand it anymore. He wanted to know more, he wanted to know who he really was, and he wanted to hear it from Max's mouth. He wanted to trust Max, he wanted to feel like it was still the Grandpa he grew up knowing and having fun with, the one who always helped him making the right choices.

But he knew he couldn't pressure Max into saying the truth, he knew his Grandpa all too well.

"I forgive you this time, but I don't care what's stopping you from telling me. I won't be mad if you don't say it, but please, Grandpa, just... talk to me!"

His eyes were getting misty as spoke. He didn't see that Max himself was starting to tear up, too busy pushing away the tension and pressure he felt ever since he left Vilgax's ship.

"Ever since I came back, you kept saying you were sorry, and I know you are. You're my grandpa and nothing will ever change that, but my trust is something you'll have to earn back."

The same words he had told Ben when Kevin caused them trouble now echoed in Max's mind. He really messed up, didn't he?

His grandson was the one pointing it out for him, and that was after risking his life once more for him. Ben was completely right. He was doing a terrible job at protecting everyone. He failed to put an end to Vilgax, he let Ben get kidnapped and possibly tortured, his failure to look after his grandchildren lead Ben to get involved in a grudge older than a decade, and whenever he tried to cover things up or explain himself, it only made things worse.