Chapter Text
G-Man held onto his son’s hand tightly, trying to ignore how his heart twisted knowing that it had been more than a few years since he was able to hold his son’s hand like this. Tommy was older now, much older than G-Man was expecting. He was an adult now, a scientist at Black Mesa. He was still just as childish as he was when he was younger however, and G-Man realized that he probably didn't have much of an education after G-Man abandoned him at Black Mesa. G-Man’s mouth twitched down into a frown for just a second before he forced himself to regain a more happy expression. He was with him now, that’s what mattered. “Hey, dad?” Tommy’s voice broke him away from his internal monologue.
“What is it… child?” G-Man asked, his voice uncharacteristically caring when he addressed the other. He looked over at his son, who was holding his half-eaten ice cream cone in his free hand. The two were sitting in a park, it was spring and a cool breeze passed through the air in contrast to the warm sun.
“Well I was talking to Gordon and Benrey and they said that it was Joshua’s birthday soon and I realized that I don’t really have a birthday or I don’t know when it is so I was wondering what day my birthday was or is?” Tommy asked, never pausing for air or to end the run-on sentence he was somehow forming through spoken words. G-Man took a second to register what he was saying before he paused. What day was Tommy’s birthday anyways? G-Man took a second to think before coming up with an answer on the spot, just picking a day he felt fit Tommy’s personality.
“Oh, yes… well. Your birthday is on April… 1st,” G-Man replied, internally applauding himself for his quick thinking. Egotistical much? Tommy’s eyes lit up excitedly while a smile spread widely across his face.
“Wow, that's my favorite day! It’s also next week! I’m so excited, thank you for telling me!” He beamed before doing back to loudly slurping his ice cream, which he assumed Tommy learned after being forced to be around Coomer and Bubby for longer than any human other than Gordon should be forced to endure. G-Man was about to applaud himself again for his amazing date-creating skills when he realized what Tommy had said. His newly chosen birthday was next week and G-Man now had to figure out what he was going to do for his son. A party, yes. A party was surely in order for his son, and G-Man knew the perfect person to help him set it up.
[...]
Benrey was quick to agree to it, but again he wasn’t really keen on saying “no” to a lot of things, G-Man realized. Benrey wasn’t really his first choice on this, he’d rather deal with the level-headed Gordon, but G-Man quickly realized that Benrey and Tommy were not only closer friends but Benrey could stoop down to the level of immaturity that Tommy was consistently at and come up with things that Tommy would like to see at a party while still keeping it a surprise. He was going to ask Darnel, but he wasn’t very good at keeping secrets, especially when it’s something he knows that will make Tommy happy or excited. “You should, you should uhhh take him to Chuck E. Cheese. You should take him there, yeah. He’d like the cheese rat probably. They also have games there he likes playing games like arcade ones and minecraft lol,” Benrey suggested - or rather just spewed from his chain of thought - from where he was draped in an uncomfortable-looking position on Gordon’s couch. G-Man sat on the reclining chair separate from the couch, looking at him and wondering how both of them were aliens but were both so different in nature.
“Alright then, I’ll make… a reservation. How about stuff like… his cake… and drinks?” G-Man asked, pulling out his cellphone. The more time G-Man spent around Benrey the more time he realized that Benrey was a loud thinker. Benrey hummed and hissed and made a plethora of noises as he tried to come up with an answer to G-Man’s question. Benrey’s tail - G-Man had no idea when or why Benrey had decided to grow one - thudded against the fabric of the comfortable couch.
“Tommy likes that one meat pizza, not beef it’s uhhh….. Pepperoni yeah. He also likes balloons so get some of those uh. Get a chocolate cake and any soda, he’s not picky with soda and shit. I’d also suggest getting some dog treats for Sunkist. For gifts just get him like a videogame or a PS5 or something? You could buy him like a new gaming setup or something if you have that kind of money hahaaa…” Benrey finally replied to G-Man’s question, and answered a surprising amount of questions the older man had. He nodded in comprehension of Benrey’s words. G-Man almost commented on the fact that Benrey insinuated that he was not rich enough to spend a few thousand dollars on his son’s birthday, but decided against it to keep from starting anything amongst the group.
“Does my son have… any other friends… than you guys? How old is he turning, anyways?” G-Man muttered the last part quieter, embarrassed that he didn’t even know his own son’s age. Benrey stared at him blankly for a moment, not making any noises as he narrowed his eyes at the man before finally looking away and answering his final questions.
“Nah, just me, Gordy, Bubby, Coomer and Darnold I think. As for his age, I guess he turns 38 next week?” Benrey answered and G-Man’s stomach dropped. Well, Tommy was much older than he was expecting. Has it really been 31 years since the two last really talked? G-Man’s lips pressed into a firm line as he stood. Benrey scrambled to his feet as well.
“Well, thank you for the help. I should be on my way now,” G-Man stated, turning to leave. Benrey opened his mouth to say something but closed it, watching G-Man leave Gordon’s house. He shrugged and stretched, his back producing an absurd amount of cracking noises as he did. Benrey dragged himself into the kitchen, now in the mood to consume some food. Gordon walked into the kitchen a few moments later, still dressed in his work clothes. Benrey internally questioned how the man could be so quiet when he wanted to.
“Why was G-Man here?”