Chapter Text
Benny's known Richard Harrington and Maria Gamino, who are now together as the Harrington's, since his high school days. He and everyone else with a working brain had known that the two were a perfect match -- that they fit together like two bland, popular, peas in a pod.
Even before their senior year, Benny knew that the two would do something with business. The two of them and their families, which mainly consisted of alphas and betas, were working people, business people -- something about the way they held themselves said that they didn't belong in the school, or even the town. That they were meant for something 'greater'.
So, 6 years after their class graduated, when it's revealed through town talk that Richard and Maria had a child, Benny was a bit surprised to say the least.
Two, upper class, business-running alphas with a squirmy, doe eyed and pink cheeked brunette baby boy who greeted the world with a loud cry and tiny hands curled into fists to let everyone know that he's there.
-
As time passes , Benny, strangely enough, doesn't see much of the elder Harringtons around town. However, he sees their boy, Steven, while driving home after finishing his shifts -- the drive passing by the local elementary school -- sitting on a bench with his legs swinging back and forth, fidgeting with his backpack straps as the other children excitedly ran into the arms of their parents.
Not even a couple months after he sees the boy sitting there for the first time, waiting , a lady who is neither the boy's mother or father, starts waiting for him at the school's entrance, giving him the same warm smile other kid's parents give, before walking him back to the car, hand in hand.
Benny tried to not think anything of it.
Then passed one, two, three, four and then five years. Benny stopped seeing who he learned a while back was Steven's nanny , and would drive by the now 12 year old pup, seeing as he headed out of the building and toward the direction of his house all by himself, fists clutching at his bag's straps like they're what kept him grounded in that moment.
Something about how Benny never saw the Harrington's greet their pup at school rubbed him the wrong way, however didn't vocalize or act on his nerves because he had seen the boy with a nanny, and assumed she was at the house waiting for Steven to get home from his walk from school. Benny started working from opening to close, so he never got to know for sure if the pup walked home alone everyday or not.
And during his shifts, he'd get a nagging in the back of his mind remembering the lonely brown eyes watching the children and their parents.
Waiting.
-
It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon, the diner a gentle murmur of conversations from those who ran in to avoid the downpour and decided on getting a warm meal to pass the time. These days were Benny's favorite -- listening to the rain beating down, the smell of rain mixing with the warm, fresh meals being made as he flits around the kitchen making the plates and have them be served out.
The door's overhead bell chimed, alerting Benny of a new customer. But when he looked up he felt the warmth of the day in his chest crack.
It was the Harrington's boy -- who couldn't be older than 12 -- struggling as he held the door open with his foot and he peeled off his dripping windbreaker and revealed his bag that was hidden in the zipped up jacket, trying his best to avoid bringing any of the rain inside.
Benny quickly moved to pour a warm cup of cocoa and snagged a clean rag from a countertop, and headed to the window booth where the pup plopped onto.
The boy looked up the moment he heard Benny's footsteps and a sheepish expression took over his face, "M' sorry, sir." He said with a quiet voice, almost too quiet for Benny to hear.
"Why's that, boy?" Benny asked as he set the mug down in front of the pup who looked up at him and then back down at the mug, almost as if he wasn't sure if he were allowed to touch it.
Steven nervously swung his feet that hung in the air from not being able to reach the floor, and kept his eyes locked onto the warm mug, rubbing his small hands together to warm them up.
"For dragging the rain water inside," He confessed, and then quickly added in a small 'sir' .
Benny looked toward the entrance, only seeing small, harmless droplets of rain that dripped from the pup, and then back down at the said pup who looked so clouded with guilt that Benny honestly just wanted to hug the poor thing. But he safely settled on a gentle ruffle of the boy's damp hair and sat down on the empty booth seat in front of him, extending his hand, and with a warm smile he says "The names Benny Hammond, kid."
The pup blinks rapidly at the hand in front of himself, and then brings his own up to ever so gently shake the one that easily dwarfs his. "Steven," The pup says with a bit of a scrunch to his nose. "But I like Steve better. Sounds less… like an old man."
Benny lets a huff of a laugh slip out at that, and gives a gentle squeeze to the small and cold hand in his before letting it go and nudging the mug toward the boy.
"Drink this up, the weather must've gotten down to your bones, kid." Benny jerked his head toward the window, which displayed the afternoon downpour.
Steve's face brightened at the approval of the drink being for him, and happily took the mug with both hands -- his body relaxing at the warmth of it. He said a shy 'thanks' before taking a sip, and a smile played at his mouth with his childish joy. However just as he was bringing the mug back up for a second drink, the pup's eyebrows rose as he quickly but carefully set the mug down, reached for his bag and dug through it, mumbling as he tried to find whatever it was that he was searching for.
After a few huffs from Steve and a few more seconds of him digging around his bag, he pulled out a baby blue wallet, and opened it up, then stopped and looked up at the man sitting in front of him,"How much is the cocoa?" he asked with a slight tilt of his head.
Benny held back a fond smile at the boy's kindness, stood up from the bench, and ruffled the pup's hair once more. "It's on the house, kid."
At that, Steve turned his whole body to face Benny, craning his neck to look up at him, eyes wide, "But--"
Benny then cut him off with an 'ah', and held out the rag which Steve took with a slight furrow of his brows. "Free for your first visit, boy." Benny took a step backwards and gestured to the rag, "and the rag to help you dry off a bit more." And with that, turned around and headed back toward the kitchen, until the boy called out to him.
"Yeah?" Benny looked over his shoulder and at the pup who looked so small.
Steve wrung his wrist and pursed his lips before speaking up with his cheeks flushed in embarrassment, "Is… is it okay if I stay a bit to do some of my school work…?"
That made Benny go quiet for a second, something in his chest softening in that moment, "Sure, kid. You can stay as long as you need."
The boy's shoulders lowered from his ears and he seemed to breathe easier at the permission. Steve nodded, scooting further into the booth seat as he placed his backpack onto the empty area of the table.
"Thanks, Benny."
Benny looked at the kid, his hair damp, pinkened tips of his nose and fingers as he took the mug for another drink. The older man, smiled softly as he breathed out, "Anytime, kid." and walked back into the kitchen and began to prepare a warm plate of food.
Another item on the house.