Chapter 3: Where do you live?
"Well, Ben, may I call you Ben?" Phil Coulson asked, his tone calm yet probing, a subtle attempt to build rapport.
"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night," Ben replied nonchalantly, leaning back in his chair as the cuffs rattled slightly against the steel table.
"So, Ben," Coulson continued, his gaze steady, "where do you live?"
Flashback Glitch
"Well then, off you go, Ben Tennyson," Paradox said with a knowing smile, the stopwatch in his hand snapping shut. The last thing I saw before darkness consumed me was the faint glow of his pocket watch.
When I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar apartment. The air smelled faintly of dust and something metallic. Blinking a few times to clear my vision, I sat up, the weight of what had happened settling heavily on my chest.
"Wait... was that real?" I muttered, running a hand through my hair. The conversation with Paradox replayed in my mind. He had called me Ben Tennyson.
I glanced around the room, the dim light filtering through the blinds casting long shadows. The walls were bare, the furniture sparse—a bed, a chair, and a small table. My heart raced as I looked down at my hand. There it was, resting comfortably on my wrist—the recalibrated Omnitrix from Alien Force.
A mix of relief and disbelief washed over me. The metallic green band and the iconic hourglass symbol glowing faintly on the watch's screen were unmistakable. It wasn't just any toy or replica; this was the real deal.
A smile tugged at my lips as nostalgia hit me like a wave. Growing up, every kid from my generation dreamed of having an Omnitrix. And now, somehow, it was mine.
But relief was short-lived. If I was Ben Tennyson in this world, that meant the dangers of his universe could be lurking around every corner—Vilgax, the Highbreed, the Forever Knights.
"Okay, focus!" I said aloud, giving myself a sharp slap on the cheek. "One thing at a time."
I spotted a small stack of documents on the table across the room. As I leafed through them, the reality of my situation began to unfold.
Scene Skip
Correction: this isn't the Ben 10 universe. It's something far more dangerous—the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Based on the information I've gathered, I'm in Central Manhattan, and the year is 2009. Tony Stark has just revealed to the world that he's Iron Man. Great, no chance of buying Stark Industries stock for a quick payday. Not that it matters—my current bank balance is a pathetic $1,000.
No Grandpa Max. No Gwen. Just me, the Omnitrix, and ten aliens.
The internet doesn't mention Thor or Hulk, though I did stumble across a strange report about an immovable hammer discovered in New Mexico. As for Hulk? Any related searches are likely flagged by S.H.I.E.L.D., and the last thing I need is to draw their attention.
Speaking of S.H.I.E.L.D., their watchful eye over Earth might give them the illusion of control, but the real safeguard of this world lies with the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj.
That brings me to another question: if Ben Tennyson is part Anodite, does that make me part Anodite now? The possibilities make my head spin, but that's something for another day. Right now, survival is priority number one.
I need to lay low. Luckily, my new identity includes a job—apparently, I'm a delivery boy. Not glamorous, but it'll do for now.
Flashback Glitch Ends
"I live in Central Manhattan," I told Coulson evenly, locking eyes with him.
Coulson nodded, jotting something down in his notebook. The tension in the room thickened, but I forced myself to remain calm. The game had just begun, and I needed to stay one step ahead.
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