Benji shippers (me included) seem to forget that Kenji is a very caring character, who doesn’t admit it, but he’d die for his friends. He’d protect them all if he could, and he can’t live without them. Not being able to be there for them in crucial times makes him feel anxious. Showed especially in s2 when he was doing a lot of daredevil stuff.
The reason we think he’s doing it (in both cc & ct) out of deeper love for Ben/Brooklynn is because the writers like to particularly put the B characters into near-death scenes.
(Ben ‘dying’ at the monorail, Brooklynn getting kidnapped by Wu, bumpy getting chipped by DK, Ben almost dying when trying to free bumpy, Brooklynn being ‘dead’ and undercover in ct, Bumpy teased to be dying in ct s1, Ben getting electrocuted in ct s1, Bumpy being taken by Biosyn, Brooklynn almost dying in 4x05 … there’s probably more.)
Sure, the others have gotten hurt too, but it never lasted more than one episode, ie Sammy’s injury. Yaz went to get the injury cause she’s the fastest and obviously Yasammy ship building; but if Yaz couldn’t have, kenji would have for sure gone instead. (Okay, Yaz was disabled throughout many episodes, though the writers never teased her to be dying or in need of urgent help. Also there was a whole episode of Kenji helping disabled Yaz.)
Making it look like Benji & Kenlynn in a love corner thing at that point, cause kenji always cares the most about rescuing them. But he’d for sure do the same if the other characters were in that near-death situation.
This is hinted in the episode in Senegal when they ‘left’ Yaz alone at night, and Kenji then hugs her first once she’s safe with them.
Like if Darius got stung in s4 instead, we might’ve not gotten a similar heartfelt conversation in the hyperloop simply because they are already close and talk a lot, and Darius doesn’t have the same uncertainties as Ben, but he’d for sure have done the elevator scene to save Darius. If Brooklynn got stung instead, there would be no necessity for Kenji to be with her, cause I’m sure anyone is able to carry Brooklynn; Kenji however is the second strongest physically, so it was sorta necessary for him to stay with Ben.
He also proposed to go alone to the chicken farm, just so Zayna (and the others) won’t be harmed. And we can all agree on that that was not out of potential romance.
The only reason why he didn’t go after Brooklynn to Malta, apart from not completely trusting her, is cause he got at his limit. Which he told Darius earlier in the car ride. Then why would he have played the hero for Ben in s4? Because he was there when it happened. For Brooklynn, he’d needed to travel to Malta and then hope first that she wants to be rescued; there was no certainty, the whole rescue mission could’ve gone totally wrong/been useless. But Ben did need rescuing, needed to quickly get medical help, out of the dinosaur forest, and was very close to death. Big difference.
I’m not saying that romantic feelings can’t develop when someone plays a hero for another person all the time because that one person just loves being tortured like that by the writers. So, yeah, sure, Kenji (and Ben too) might have totally fallen in love during all that heroism action scenes.
But we do gotta keep in mind Kenji’s character and how much he’s gone through in CT especially. He wouldn’t have been able to take another death (as he said in s1 when Bumpy was ‘dying’), so it was moreso him making sure he doesn’t get another scar on his heart for losing a loved one, and not the fact that it was Ben injured in particular.
Fandom: Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous
Pairing: Ben x Kenji
Rated: T (?)
Plot: Kenji was weak. Years have passed and now he's sneaking around with his best friend...while still dating his girlfriend.
I'm baaaaaack!!
For like, a lil bit cause I got an even coming up. But, I wanted to write something because I'm so excited for the last JW movie and season of JWCC.
Please enjoy!
He panted into Kenji’s mouth, both breathless from the kiss.
Kenji’s brown met his gray blue, and his heart skipped a beat.
Their lips met again—
“Kenji?” Brooklynn called from the kitchen.
“Damn it.” Kenji whispered. “I have to…”
“I know.” Ben said, grabbing his face and kissing his cheek. “I know.”
“I’ll come find you later.” He said and slowly pulled away, fingers lingering on his lover's shoulders.
“My door is unlocked. It always is.” Ben said reassuringly.
Kenji blushed and nodded, leaving to meet his girlfriend, Ben left hidden behind the staircase.
*
Of course he knew this was wrong.
Of course he did.
But fuck…he was a coward.
He had been a coward for six years.
“Kenji?” Brooklynn asked from beside him. “You okay?”
“I’m cool. I’m great even.” He said and slammed another shot.
She nodded and kept chatting with Sammy.
It was a bi-yearly thing for the Camp Fam.
Meet at a lake house in summer and winter, and just relax together.
While they text and video chatted and even dropped by, this was a full week of living together like they did as teens.
Ben smiled at Darius, and he squeezed his shot glass until Ben glanced at him.
He made sure no one was looking at them before he ran his tongue over his upper lip, Ben looking away quickly and drinking from his glass.
“Ooh, Ben.” Sammy said. “Slow down, Honey. You’re blushing like your drink.”
“It’s really good. Love the pomegranate soda you put in this, Brooklynn.” He praised.
“I’ll remember to bring more of that Korean soju. I thought Sammy would like Blushing Rose since she loves alcoholic soda.” She teased and the girls laughed.
“Ooh, I think I do need to lay down.” Ben said, smiling and touching his cheek.
“I’ll help you. Don’t want you to run into a wall, Jungle Boy.” Kenji joked and led him upstairs.
*
He cradled the back of Ben’s head to protect him from the hard wood of the door, feeling it on his knuckles as he kissed him softly.
“Kenji…” He moaned and they paused.
Kenji stared into his eyes, pressing his forehead to Ben’s.
“You should go.” Ben whispered. “It’s been too long.”
Kenji shut his eyes and shook his head.
“Please…not yet…”
“Kenji…” Ben nearly whimpered.
“I…I’m so sorry, Ben.” He said and Ben cupped his face, kissing his lips softly.
“I know.” Ben said. “But I can wait…I don’t want to…I’m a bad friend.”
“I’m worse.” Kenji said. “I…I’ll text you?”
“Yeah. Night.” He said, pecking his cheek.
Kenji smiled and left the room to see Yaz waiting, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
“Yaz!” He said. “Hi—”
“I didn’t want to believe it.” She said, not looking at him. “How could you…”
“I…” Kenji looked away. “I love him.”
“What about Brooklynn?” Yaz hissed, looking up at him. “This will…”
“I know. But I can’t…Yaz, I will break it off, soon. I promise.”
“With who?” She asked.
Kenji stayed silent at this and Yaz shook her head, walking away.
*
It had happened a few months ago.
He and Ben had been texting and he had confessed he had a crush on them as kids.
Ben had been silent a few days and Kenji grew worried, texting him every opportunity he got.
Then he got a phone call around two am and he was still gaming while Brooklynn stayed over.
“Ben? Hey, it’s like four am…hold on.” He said, sliding out of bed, Brooklynn sleeping peacefully.
He heard sniffing.
“Ben?” He asked. “Hey, why are you crying—”
“Me too! I liked you so much and I should’ve…I should’ve…” Ben sobbed. “I’m sorry, Kenji! I’ll…I’ll call later!”
He hung up, leaving Kenji stunned in his living room.
Kenji felt his heart skip a beat, confused at the feelings he had. He felt his face warm and he sat.
What?
Two days later, he was a little spaced out as Brooklynn was talking to him.
“Kenji?”
“Mm?”
“You okay?” She asked.
“Yeah.” He said. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Something private. Sorry, Brook.”
“It’s okay.” She said and patted his arm. “Want some coffee?”
“Yeah.” He said, watching her walk away and felt horrible imagining Ben with messy bed hair walking back with said coffee and sitting next to him.
“Kenji?” Brooklynn asked and he blinked away the image of Ben.
“Sorry. I’ll lay down for a bit after this.”
“Want me to join your little cat nap?”
“Um…not this time.” He said and walked away with his cup.
Now he saw Ben stretched on her side, cuddling that Bumpy plush Sammy and Darius had made him. Big blue eyes blinking up at him as he smiled and held a hand out.
He shook his head and laid down.
Sleep came with its own problems.
He had Ben in his arms as a teen, kissing him softly and smiling as Ben’s cheeks and exposed shoulders flushed red.
“Kenji.” He said and it felt good to hear his name spoken with such adoration.
He blinked and now Ben was taller and aged to his current twenty one, hair slightly longer and brushed back, body now with lean muscle, but still shorter than Kenji by half a foot.
Kenji cupped his cheek, long lashes closing and lips saying his name again.
Their lips met again, and he felt Ben’s long fingers in his hair as he pulled away, rosy lips saying
“Kenji?”
He woke to see Brooklynn smiling down at him.
“Nice dream?”
“It’s…I…I’m still tired!” He said and rolled over.
Brooklynn huffed and smacked his hip playfully.
“Tell me what’s wrong, you butt. I wanna help my boyfriend.”
“Brooklynn, please.” He pleaded.
“Okay.” She said, voice even. “I’m going home then. Please rest up, Kenji.”
“Okay.”
“I love you.” She called.
Kenji felt horrible when he pretended to be asleep.
He called within the hour.
“Hey…we need to talk. I can be there—Now?!” He yelled and heard the doorbell ring.
When he answered it, there was Ben, looking nervous, but not ready to bow.
“Th-there was a conference in San Diego, so I—”
Kenji yanked him inside and pulled him into a kiss. Ben didn’t hesitate and soon they were in his bed, hands everywhere and lips rarely separating.
“Kenji…stop!” Ben pushed him back. “We can’t…”
“I was a coward!” Kenji yelled. “I wanted you too but that’s not…my father would have never allowed it.”
“Kenji. We—”
“I know.” He said. “I know but…Ben…”
Ben nodded and pulled him close again.
*
Now here they were.
He sat near the window in an armchair, looking out at the lake, fireflies around the glass.
He heard the door open and close.
“We need to talk.” Brooklynn said and he turned.
She sat on the bed across from him, sniffing.
“Is it me?”
“What?” He asked.
“I know we don’t have a physical relationship and you’re a guy.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa…” He said and put his hands out, standing. “Brooklynn there is nothing wrong with your sexuality—”
“Then why are you cheating on me?!” She yelled, shutting him up.
Kenji clenched his jaw. “Because I suck…”
“That’s not an answer I need.”
“…I…I…” He looked away. “I didn’t…I didn’t want to hurt you, but I did.”
“…oh my god…” She whispered. “Do you want to break up?”
Kenji sighed.
“Yes.”
She sat and sniffed.
“Brooklynn—”
She held up a hand. “No. No, not…”
She chuckled and shook her head, then looked up at him with watery eyes.
“It’s Ben.”
Kenji’s eyes widened, but he nodded.
“It’s always been Ben.” She said with a sigh. “Kenji?”
“Yes?”
“We’ve known, haven’t we?” She asked, wiping her eyes. “Just two kids who paired up cause of stress and hormones and the belief…”
He kneeled in front of her, taking one of her hands in his.
“I am sorry.”
Brooklynn looked at their hands, silent.
“I don’t think I can see you right now.” She said. “But I love you and I want us to be friends.” But I need time after this.”
She cupped his cheek with a free hand.
“I know you’ll make each other happy.” She said. “So man up and say it.”
Kenji bit his lip and nodded, taking a deep breath.
“Brooklynn, I think we should break up.”
“I agree.” She said in a shaky voice. “I had fun.”
Kenji hugged her. “Me too.”
“Now go get him.”
“What?”
“He left for the airport.” She said and took his keys from her pocket.
He took them and paused, both sharing a sad, but meaningful look.
“Well?” She asked. “Go get him!”
He nodded and ran out to the living room.
“Kenji?” Darius asked as he quickly shoved his shoes on and went outside.
He ran to his SUV and stopped when he saw a figure in Ben’s car, the headlights on.
Kenji walked over, hearing gravel from the driveway under his sneakers and crickets. He tapped on the glass, Ben turning to him in shock and wiping at his face. He unlocked the door and got out.
“Kenji—mmph!”
Kenji had pulled him into a kiss, arms going around him. It didn’t take long for Ben to kiss him back, going lax in his arms, eyes shutting.
“You better take good care of him, Kenji!” Brooklynn yelled from the patio. “You hear me?!”
Ben pulled away, blushing and looking from Kenji to Brooklynn and back.
“Wha—”
“I’m single. Want to be my boyfriend?”
“I—Yes!” He nearly shouted and yanked Kenji back into a kiss.
*
Brooklynn smiled and sighed.
“So…” Darius said as he walked to her side. “Need to talk?”
“Sure.” She said. “Get the girls and put the coffee on.”
“We’re gonna be in the guest house!” Ben yelled.
Yaz rolled her eyes and Sammy gave an awkward smile before turning to Brooklynn.
“You okay?”
“It’s been a time coming, I guess. And no. This wont affect the camp fam. Just a new version, I guess.” Brooklynn said. “Its always been a different love. Very different from…oh, come on! Stop eating each other’s faces and go already!”
Ben and Kenji separated.
“Sorry!” They chorused.
“We’re still giving them shit.” Darius said.
“Mmhm.” Yaz hummed.
“I mean, we’ve kinda knew…”
“Sammy!” Darius and Yaz said together.
Brooklynn snorted a laugh, seeing Kenji and Ben walk hand in hand to the other cabin.
She would heal, she told herself. She would so give both of them crap from years to come and totally tease them when they got married and adopted some kids, but…she would heal.
Title: Lips of an Angel
Pairing: Kenji Kon x Ben Pincus
Rating: TBA, most likely M or E
Tags: Angst, cheating, college age, drinking, secret relationship, we do not Brooklynn bash despite the plot
Synopsis: He was a coward. Had been one for years. He couldn't break it off with his girlfriend. But how do you tell her you've always been in love with one of your best friends? As well as seeing him in secret for over a year?
-------------------------------
He panted into Kenji’s mouth, both breathless from the kiss.
Kenji’s brown met his gray blue and his heart skipped a beat.
Their lips met again—
“Kenji?” Brooklynn called from the kitchen.
“Damn it.” Kenji whispered. “I have to…”
“I know.” Ben said, grabbing his face and kissing his cheek. “I know.”
“I’ll come find you later.” He said and slowly pulled away, fingers lingering on his lover's shoulders.
“My door is unlocked. It always is.” Ben said reassuringly.
Kenji blushed and nodded, leaving to meet his girlfriend, Ben left hidden behind the staircase.
I know we know Brooklynn would be big on TikTok, but Kenji would do every meme, song challenges, and reaction and daily vids with his "Totally Capable, but scrawny" boyfriend.
