Ben 10: City of Sin

"So.. where the heck did you ever live?" 

Ben, his clothes, his face, everything covered in grime as he lay back on the park bench, having just awoken from a difficult night sleeping outdoors. 

Olivia sat up next to him. Her clothes were still ripped and burned, and while she managed to tie her hair back to its original style, her disheveled look also gave the impression of having been shoved through a blender. 

"Full disclosure? I break into people's homes and sleep in their closets, then I leave before they notice me."  said Olivia. 

"What!? Dude!" Ben exclaimed. 

"I know its creepy, but its better than sleeping outside! But there's two of us now and I don't think we could both comfortably sleep in the same closet." 

"I ain't sleeping in a closet even if we do fit, that's just wrong." said Ben. "I mean you have your cash from your last jobs right? I mean hotels don't exist anymore cause there's no tourist industry, but you said being a merc pays well."

"I'm..  gonna make a confession. That job I did was the 3rd one I ever did, the one with the doodad, and I took it at cheap, only reason they'd hire a girl my age anyways." said Olivia with a shrug.  "Plus I didn't have a partner so it made me seem even.. more inexperienced."

Ben moaned. "Greaaaat. My apartment's burned down and condemned, I lost my entire Sumo Slammer collection, heck the only think I have left is the Omnitrix, which I guess is something-."

"A super device that changes ya into a badass super powered alien!? Bruh! Fuck all that other shit, what you got was worth more than 50 mansions!" said Olivia. "That's the kinda shit that'll get us to the top of this city!" 

Ben gestured at the park bench. "You FEEL like we're at the top?"

"Not yet, but we're gonna be- specially when my Jugs come in." said Olivia. 

"You think a delivery man will give them to you?" Ben asked

"OH I HOPE So.. I wonder if there's a government database of girls who need their Jugs delivered." Olivia said. 

"Beats me." said Ben.  "Anyways, it doesn't look like your Jugs are coming in yet, and we need.. like.. a roof and a shower.. "

Ben and Olivia sighed as they looked out over the large park filled with black marble pathways and walls and artistic angel fountains, as a woman in a sports bra jogged by and a well dressed man passed by walking his well groomed poodle. 

As far as parks went, Olivia was right, the Commercial District Park was the better one to sleep in at least. Man rich communities had it so good. 

But Ben could feel sweat drenching his clothes and body, seeping into his eyes and stinging them. He felt absolutely uncomfortable. He couldn't live like this. His apartment had been shit, but at least it had been cool and air conditioned. 

And he couldn't just go back to the factory and work his hours right now. The moment the boss saw how dirty his uniform was on his way in, he'd get fired without severance.  Missing a day would simply earn a demerit if he called in sick. he needed to find a place to himself and his clothes cleaned till the next day, then he could start earning money, maybe save up a place for him and Olivia-.. if there were any slum housings available. 

"It'll take a few months maybe, but if we can- I don't know- buy a tent and pitch it next to a laundromat- I can work at the factory for a bit then-." 

"WHAP!" Ben clutched his head as Olivia smacked him upside the head. 

"OW!! What the fuck!?" Ben snapped at Olivia.