MISADVENTURES
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L O C A T I O N: Somewhere in New York City
T I M E: Present Day ( July ) Sometime around 10 AM to 1 PM
T I M E: Present Day ( July ) Sometime around 10 AM to 1 PM
Benjamin threw on a tee shirt with the blocked out words of IT'S ABOUT TIME written across the front. The shirt, being out an off-white with the print in faded black ink, gave it an intentionally aged look. On his lower half was one of his few surviving pairs of good jeans. He held them up with a belt that had a few trinkets dangling from it. Mainly a lucky rabbit's foot and a spinning coin.
Feeling completely dressed for the outing, he slipped out of his room and moved down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, his pace slowed. His hand reached out then carefully cracked the door open. He risked a glance before closing it behind him.
Last night his parents returned. Daniel simply slipped into bed and passed out, unconcerned about the whole situation. Mainly that Benjamin had arrived home first. It didn't matter to him, but it wasn't the case with the Dragon Lady. The woman had been subtly stalking him ever since.
Seeing his chance to escape, Benjamin bolted for the back door. It clicked softly behind him as he stepped onto the concrete steps and toward Athena waiting for him with a wide smirk on his lips.
"Quick, let's get out of here. I managed to escape her claws, but I’m not sure how long it will last." Benjamin urged great haste with his tone.
Athena nodded, decked out in a sun hat with a pastel blue shirt with billowy sleeves and string that comes from the collar. With black shorts, the top hanging low on her hips and wrapped comfortably around her butt, and some comfortable, gently worn grey chucks, she looked ready for an outing in the city. On her back was a small black backpack with golden accents. Sunglasses helped hide her features from under the brim of her sun hat that when she turned toward Benjamin, she grinned.
"Glad you managed to escape, even if it's for a short while," Athena said, falling into step next to him as she followed after him with a hand on her hat for minute adjustments.
"Where are we going?" she asked after a moment.
“Umm…” Benjamin pressed his finger to his lips, imitating thoughtfulness. After a moment or two, he once more returned to smirking at her.
“You’ll have to guess or wait until we get there. But, I do know that you’ll like it though.” He gestured toward the bus stop with his thumb indicating they needed to use it. The large metal beast was already drawing to a stop at the sign, waiting for the line to enter.
Athena huffed as they made their way to the bus. Once cleared and paid for their fare, they found a discreet spot in the back to sit and Athena began to try and guess all the possible places where they could go. Already ruling out all of the possible places that might be overly crowded, she guessed their mutually favorite places in the city, but since it had been more than a handful of years since she was last here, her guesses were varied.
After changing buses a few times to get to their desired destination, Athena was starting to wane in her guesses and she opted to watch the scenery pass in the hope she could figure it out by where they were going.
Recognizing the streets, she eyed Benjamin as the bus rolled to a stop so that they could walk the rest of the way on foot. She held her breath, not wanting to be hopeful for something as magical as a show. Stepping off, Athena replaced the sunglasses as the buzz of the city blared around her, humidity and heat greeting her from the manufactured air-conditioning of the bus.
“This way. Need to move fast before the tickets run out.” Benjamin stated, giving her a hint and gesturing his head toward a very famous building: The Lincoln Center.
Athena was unable to help the squeak of surprise, the corners of her lips pulling up as her heart skipped beats.
“Figured you might want to enjoy being a paying viewer rather than an actress in a show. Especially with things being put on hold.” He watched her reaction as they walked through the crowded sidewalk.
She laughed, beaming at Benjamin with a look of disbelief and utter elation. "Benjamin! For real? Honest? I can watch a show?" It almost looked like her eyes was sparkling with anticipation when she leaned in, grabbing his arm in excitement.
“I don’t see why not? There’s no rule in the universe that you, of all people, sit and enjoy one show. You've worked hard enough to earn it.” His hand came out to push her along as a gruff man pushed his way through, his eyes glared at the younger pair. Benjamin just rolled his eyes. He didn’t care. Right now, all that mattered at this moment was Athena’s reaction.
“So, let’s get going. I think the play is about a man named Hart Moss and has a rotating stage, something I think you’ll like.”
Athena didn't notice the gruff man tried to push past them since all she could think about now was the show. Instead, she was further pressed against Benjamin, which worked out because her hands separated from his arm to jump and give him an excited hug.
"Yes! I've heard about it—ah, thank you so much, Ben!" She exclaimed, gleefully squeezing him in a tight and near breathless hug. And then he's free, Athena grabbed his wrist and started running to the Lincoln Center.
Zooming through the people with surprising agility, she nearly dragged Benjamin to the box office with her energy barely contained as she fidgeted in place.
Benjamin’s eyes widened and his feet pushed to keep up with her. For a small girl, he realized quickly she could move fast. As the growing line forced them to stop, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. When they finally reached the window, the woman took his debit card and then gave them the tickets. He passed one to Athena before ushering her inside.
One of the male ushers took their tickets and showed them to their seats. With a gentle nudge, he let Athena slip in first and get comfortable. He followed suit while they waited for the seats to be filled out.
The moment they got to the ticket counter when they finally settled in their seats, Athena was unable to hide her excitement as she tucked away her sunglasses and hat. Her eyes practically sparkled, words spewing quickly in a mix of Chinese and Korean as she smashed the languages together, and the continuous tugging of Benjamin's shirt. The tugging, the excited gibberish, and the consistent number of hugs she kept throwing his way had her positively beaming between her fits of giggles.
Once Benjamin let her into the seat, she slowly began to settle down, reading through the offered pamphlet that was filled with information regarding the actors and actresses that were to take part in the play. Since Athena had been mostly abroad, unfortunately, the names aren't familiar, but that didn't tamper her excitement and curiosity toward the play. Glancing around the theater, she was glad they got one of the higher box seats since it made things easier when they needed to leave.
When the curtains slid open to reveal their grand stage, she was shaking Benjamin's arm in her enthusiasm.
And then her attention was entirely on the revolving set of the play. So engrossed, she became quiet, gaze focused on the words that were passionately spoken from each actor and actress and their turmoil that came to life. Athena watched as Moss Hart made attempts in writing plays that they would eventually reach stardom. The extensively large stage spun between each scene, each change in interactions between each actor and actress—personal, intimate, and deeply felt that Athena was enraptured. Recognizable buildings and architecture of The Bronx slowly changed into different scenes as Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. The lights and the extra effects on top of the revolving stage left an impression, and she was mesmerized.
It ended in success with the renowned and triumphant release of the play Once in a Lifetime. It was the beginning of one of the most renowned collaborations in American theater. And it was when the curtains drew to a close after the final bow and applause from the people that she leaned back, breathless.
"That was wonderful!" Exuberantly, she turned to Benjamin and again, reached around his neck to give him another hug and slumped once more back into her seat. "I haven't gone to see a play in so long—thank you, Benjamin."
Her voice went soft, her longing apparent as she stared at the stage.
“I’m glad you liked it and that’s payback for the surprise you gave me,” Benjamin stated as he rose from his seat and held out his hand to help her.
After a moment, Athena turned her head to Benjamin and took his hand, making sure she had all of her personal belongings before following him out. Only when she was steady on her feet did her hand drop from his and she quickly fell into step next to him.
“I’m feeling a craving for ice cream, what about you?” he asked.
She hummed, lightly placing a finger to her cheek in thought. "That actually sounds like a lovely idea." And then looked back to him as she donned her hat. "Do you know any good places to go?"
“Depends on how far you want to go. Grom, though pricey, has some good gelato and among good reviews. If you don’t mind taking a bus, the other option is Emack’s and Bolio’s. They got some unique favors ranging from cereal to candy.” Benjamin began to file out, gesturing for Athena to keep close and move with him.
Keeping close to Benjamin's side, she seemed thoughtful. "I don't mind either option," she said with a grin. "After all, it's your city—and you know me, I'm always up for an adventure." When they stepped outside, once more, she placed her sunglasses back on when the sun greeted them from the darkness of the theater.
"How about—whichever you think is best?"
“Not much for overly sweet stuff so leaning to Grom. I'd rather pay more for something savory than getting something I won’t really enjoy.” He pointed out, deciding based on his own preference than hers to save them time.
At that, Athena gave a nod of approval.
As they exited the theater, they chatted about the storyline. It had become obvious that Benjamin had lost interest about half-way through as he struggled to fill in the gaps. He finally admitted the only reason he ever went to the Lincoln Center was for the orchestras. Getting on the bus, the trip to Grom was a shorter one than if they had walked.
As Benjamin stepped off, he pointed to the building, and inside they went. He fell into the line before he spoke again.
“So, what do you want? I can get them while you wait by the door. We can eat outside and enjoy the day. Sound fun to you?” It took him a bit to realize there were no tables or chairs in the establishment. It primarily ran on orders made to go.
Athena was already looking at the options in the glass and refrigerated showcase of gelato. With a finger on her chin in thought, she hummed. "That sounds good." She nodded. From behind the counter, there was a young woman who was asking if their orders had been taken already. They were next in line, but she was offering samples that gave Athena a grin.
"Which one's your favorite flavor?" Athena turned to him.
“Stracciatella, with dark chocolate. Not milk.” Benjamin pointed to a white gelato with swirling chunks of chocolate within it. It seemed to be a more traditional style from Italy rather than the more modernized favors of raspberry or mango.
Tapping a finger to her chin in thought, contemplating her choice. When it was their turn, she asked for sample tastes on a few of the flavors and finally settled for one that was coffee-based and cookies. She took a small spoonful of her order and made a noise in the back of her throat indicating her pleasure.
As they stepped up to order, she set aside her order to pull out her wallet.
The clerk smiled then pointed at the card reader, indicating that Athena swiped it when the order was rung up. In a well-practiced phrase, she thanked then gave them a number. 19. It seemed when the monitor’s red numbers changed to it, they could pick up their order. Right now, the order said 16.
Benjamin sighed and then gently pulled Athena to the side while the next customer made their order.
“Coffee and cookies? Really?” he teased.
Athena lightly shrugged, despite the fact he was teasing her. "So sue me, I'm forever a kid at heart," she quipped. "And it's my favorite, ok?"
Benjamin shook his head then looked to the number display. The red number had changed to theirs finally.
“How about you go find us those seats and I’ll bring these out for you?” Casually, he moved to the pickup side of the counter and grabbed the containers. He balanced one in each hand as he carefully avoided others pulling into the pickup section then leaving with their own orders. The place appeared to have gotten packed during their conversation causing him to frown. With a bit of time and awareness, he managed to exit the building. His head turned about to locate Athena.
Athena gave a nod at his suggestion and moved to find a seat. Unfortunately, it was a busy place so it didn't leave very many options. With no seats available, she stepped outside to find a spot outside in the shade that they could take cover. Pulling her hat a little more over her eyes to shade her from the sweltering sun, Athena made do with an alcove just in front of the store and took a seat.
Humming one of her songs, Athena pulled out her phone to begin checking for recent news and emails from her manager. With how engrossed she was in her emails and texts, she didn't notice Benjamin exiting the shop.
Not seeing her, Benjamin closed his eyes. His nostrils flared as he inhaled a deep whiff of the air and twisted his head, catching which direction had been strongest. Every step, he paused and repeated the process. Finally, his eyes caught her toying with her phone in the shade. Rolling his eyes, Benjamin plopped down beside her.
"Athena? Athena, your gelato. Grab it before it melts, or worse mine does!" He stated, the bag bottom rested under his foot and his hand presenting her container to her. His other one held his, placing it in his lap for safekeeping.
Lifting her gaze, her eyes widened to grab a hold of the gelato. Athena set the cellphone in her lap. "Sorry! I was checking my emails and texts from my manager," she explained as she started to take a spoonful of the frozen delight. It's only when she had a spoonful in her mouth did she continue. "Mmm! So good!"
People walked along the sidewalk, moving to and fro about their day that Athena started people-watching as she ate her gelato. "It's kind of nice not to be mobbed by the press," she mumbled.
"I can see that and you were ignoring the world. I had to sniff you out." Benjamin stated. His hand moved his and began to dig in. He savored the taste, both enjoying the gelato and the peace.
The pop idol merely grimaced, not for the fact he had to sniff her out but because she was engrossed in her phone.
"Or horrible dragon ladies. I haven't done this for a while and didn't realize I really missed it. I can not remember the last time I've done something this normal without something shitty happening shortly after."
Athena nodded, listening quietly. There was another spoonful of gelato in her mouth, slowly savoring the frozen delight as the summer heat rose from the sidewalk. The spoon was left there as she listened.
"It sounds like she's been busy keeping you rather occupied doing asinine things then," she said, taking another spoonful of her gelato. "It's a good thing I'm here for a while so I can always just sneak you out of the house."
"Worst part, I wish I could blame her for it. Getting a bit seemed to open a can of worms and normal for me is a fucking joke. Between trying to deal with my own issues, we kept getting dragged into more and more. Finally, when it was done, poof—everyone's gone, leaving me to drown." Benjamin sighed, and then clenched the wooden spoon.
"I am now starting to understand why Duff doesn't trust anyone besides other werewolves. People do not have an instinct that roots them to a pack and make them care. They can simply give you the bird and leave."
As she continued to listen, the wooden spoon stilled in her mouth. Pulling it out partway through what felt to be a vague explanation of what's been happening, Athena dropped her head onto Benjamin's shoulder. She popped another spoonful of gelato into her mouth before speaking.
"Is that why he's so angry?" She hummed thoughtfully. "Sorry I wasn't there to toss you a life preserver—wish I had been." And then sighed. "I didn't know you were in such dire straits, Benjamin. I would've come flying over here if I had known. But, at least you have someone, right? Through all of it? I mean, you have Duff, at least?"
"Duff was kicked from his. He challenged the alpha and lost. Barron introduced me to him afterward, his figure was sickly thin and depression dragging him down. It saved me. We bonded immediately as pack mates and he had been a great help." Benjamin smiled, finishing off his gelato.
Around the moment he finished, Athena did too, setting the spoon into the cup as Benjamin spoke.
"You couldn't have known or likely helped. According to Duff, non-wolves have no instinct that drives them to create pack bonds. Mixed packs are doomed to failure since there have been no recorded successes. But, it doesn't stop me from bonding with others—it's just one-sided." He looked into space, enjoying her head weight on his shoulder. His free hand reached for hers and clasped it in his own, giving it a squeeze. A selfish need for comfort.
Watching his hand reach for hers, Athena couldn't help the small smile. She squeezed back as though in silent promise. "Still, it doesn't change the fact that I wish I could've. It sounds like you went through a lot and it makes me appreciate Duff, even though he seems to see me as a threat."
She squeezed his hand again, setting down the empty gelato cup to the side of her. "Don't get me wrong—I get why since you explained it. But, I guess he's afraid we'll bond? Or at least, you bond to me because if I leave or something, it hurts you, right?" Her voice softened, worry evident in her tone.
"It seems to happen whenever I stick around someone for long enough. And yeah, it would. The best way to describe a bond is like my very existence is centered around you, from your emotions to your presence, and when people leave… my center, my motivation vanishes. I would miss you in the worst possible way."
Benjamin spotted a trash can nearby. Taking his finished container and hers, he tossed them inside alongside the wooden spoons.
"When White Witch left after the hound attack, I didn't have the motivation to live. I just stopped eating, moving, or doing anything. The wolf inside me had given up and… it impacted me."
It was a bond that Athena couldn't understand, but had a vague idea, based on his descriptions. Did the person he bonded with have an idea as to what they were doing when they left Benjamin? The idea of leaving him at all already hurts, but it was probably nothing compared to what he felt.
With her hand in his, the other moved to grasp his arm and squeezed. Athena didn't have a lot of words that she could use that would reassure him.
"I'm here—I know I can't promise a lot, but I want to be here for you." No promises, but this will do. "I'm glad he was there for you to connect so quickly to become pack mates."
Benjamin glanced her way. A softness entered his usually indifferent and distant eyes, seeing her in an appreciative light.
“I didn’t think it would nearly kill me. So you can’t blame me for being worried about it. I’m also the mutt that decided to sniff a gun barrel and it went off in my muzzle. I’m really lucky that werewolves have high regeneration or I might not have a nose now.” Benjamin chuckled at the story that had been retold to him.
Lifting her head to rest her chin on his shoulder, she scrutinized his face. "You're honestly just too curious for your own good sometimes." With that, she released his arm, and with their hands interlinked, she tugged him to his feet. "Come on, let's go—we still have a whole day of stuff to do!"
Feeling completely dressed for the outing, he slipped out of his room and moved down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, his pace slowed. His hand reached out then carefully cracked the door open. He risked a glance before closing it behind him.
Last night his parents returned. Daniel simply slipped into bed and passed out, unconcerned about the whole situation. Mainly that Benjamin had arrived home first. It didn't matter to him, but it wasn't the case with the Dragon Lady. The woman had been subtly stalking him ever since.
Seeing his chance to escape, Benjamin bolted for the back door. It clicked softly behind him as he stepped onto the concrete steps and toward Athena waiting for him with a wide smirk on his lips.
"Quick, let's get out of here. I managed to escape her claws, but I’m not sure how long it will last." Benjamin urged great haste with his tone.
Athena nodded, decked out in a sun hat with a pastel blue shirt with billowy sleeves and string that comes from the collar. With black shorts, the top hanging low on her hips and wrapped comfortably around her butt, and some comfortable, gently worn grey chucks, she looked ready for an outing in the city. On her back was a small black backpack with golden accents. Sunglasses helped hide her features from under the brim of her sun hat that when she turned toward Benjamin, she grinned.
"Glad you managed to escape, even if it's for a short while," Athena said, falling into step next to him as she followed after him with a hand on her hat for minute adjustments.
"Where are we going?" she asked after a moment.
“Umm…” Benjamin pressed his finger to his lips, imitating thoughtfulness. After a moment or two, he once more returned to smirking at her.
“You’ll have to guess or wait until we get there. But, I do know that you’ll like it though.” He gestured toward the bus stop with his thumb indicating they needed to use it. The large metal beast was already drawing to a stop at the sign, waiting for the line to enter.
Athena huffed as they made their way to the bus. Once cleared and paid for their fare, they found a discreet spot in the back to sit and Athena began to try and guess all the possible places where they could go. Already ruling out all of the possible places that might be overly crowded, she guessed their mutually favorite places in the city, but since it had been more than a handful of years since she was last here, her guesses were varied.
After changing buses a few times to get to their desired destination, Athena was starting to wane in her guesses and she opted to watch the scenery pass in the hope she could figure it out by where they were going.
Recognizing the streets, she eyed Benjamin as the bus rolled to a stop so that they could walk the rest of the way on foot. She held her breath, not wanting to be hopeful for something as magical as a show. Stepping off, Athena replaced the sunglasses as the buzz of the city blared around her, humidity and heat greeting her from the manufactured air-conditioning of the bus.
“This way. Need to move fast before the tickets run out.” Benjamin stated, giving her a hint and gesturing his head toward a very famous building: The Lincoln Center.
Athena was unable to help the squeak of surprise, the corners of her lips pulling up as her heart skipped beats.
“Figured you might want to enjoy being a paying viewer rather than an actress in a show. Especially with things being put on hold.” He watched her reaction as they walked through the crowded sidewalk.
She laughed, beaming at Benjamin with a look of disbelief and utter elation. "Benjamin! For real? Honest? I can watch a show?" It almost looked like her eyes was sparkling with anticipation when she leaned in, grabbing his arm in excitement.
“I don’t see why not? There’s no rule in the universe that you, of all people, sit and enjoy one show. You've worked hard enough to earn it.” His hand came out to push her along as a gruff man pushed his way through, his eyes glared at the younger pair. Benjamin just rolled his eyes. He didn’t care. Right now, all that mattered at this moment was Athena’s reaction.
“So, let’s get going. I think the play is about a man named Hart Moss and has a rotating stage, something I think you’ll like.”
Athena didn't notice the gruff man tried to push past them since all she could think about now was the show. Instead, she was further pressed against Benjamin, which worked out because her hands separated from his arm to jump and give him an excited hug.
"Yes! I've heard about it—ah, thank you so much, Ben!" She exclaimed, gleefully squeezing him in a tight and near breathless hug. And then he's free, Athena grabbed his wrist and started running to the Lincoln Center.
Zooming through the people with surprising agility, she nearly dragged Benjamin to the box office with her energy barely contained as she fidgeted in place.
Benjamin’s eyes widened and his feet pushed to keep up with her. For a small girl, he realized quickly she could move fast. As the growing line forced them to stop, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. When they finally reached the window, the woman took his debit card and then gave them the tickets. He passed one to Athena before ushering her inside.
One of the male ushers took their tickets and showed them to their seats. With a gentle nudge, he let Athena slip in first and get comfortable. He followed suit while they waited for the seats to be filled out.
The moment they got to the ticket counter when they finally settled in their seats, Athena was unable to hide her excitement as she tucked away her sunglasses and hat. Her eyes practically sparkled, words spewing quickly in a mix of Chinese and Korean as she smashed the languages together, and the continuous tugging of Benjamin's shirt. The tugging, the excited gibberish, and the consistent number of hugs she kept throwing his way had her positively beaming between her fits of giggles.
Once Benjamin let her into the seat, she slowly began to settle down, reading through the offered pamphlet that was filled with information regarding the actors and actresses that were to take part in the play. Since Athena had been mostly abroad, unfortunately, the names aren't familiar, but that didn't tamper her excitement and curiosity toward the play. Glancing around the theater, she was glad they got one of the higher box seats since it made things easier when they needed to leave.
When the curtains slid open to reveal their grand stage, she was shaking Benjamin's arm in her enthusiasm.
And then her attention was entirely on the revolving set of the play. So engrossed, she became quiet, gaze focused on the words that were passionately spoken from each actor and actress and their turmoil that came to life. Athena watched as Moss Hart made attempts in writing plays that they would eventually reach stardom. The extensively large stage spun between each scene, each change in interactions between each actor and actress—personal, intimate, and deeply felt that Athena was enraptured. Recognizable buildings and architecture of The Bronx slowly changed into different scenes as Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. The lights and the extra effects on top of the revolving stage left an impression, and she was mesmerized.
It ended in success with the renowned and triumphant release of the play Once in a Lifetime. It was the beginning of one of the most renowned collaborations in American theater. And it was when the curtains drew to a close after the final bow and applause from the people that she leaned back, breathless.
"That was wonderful!" Exuberantly, she turned to Benjamin and again, reached around his neck to give him another hug and slumped once more back into her seat. "I haven't gone to see a play in so long—thank you, Benjamin."
Her voice went soft, her longing apparent as she stared at the stage.
“I’m glad you liked it and that’s payback for the surprise you gave me,” Benjamin stated as he rose from his seat and held out his hand to help her.
After a moment, Athena turned her head to Benjamin and took his hand, making sure she had all of her personal belongings before following him out. Only when she was steady on her feet did her hand drop from his and she quickly fell into step next to him.
“I’m feeling a craving for ice cream, what about you?” he asked.
She hummed, lightly placing a finger to her cheek in thought. "That actually sounds like a lovely idea." And then looked back to him as she donned her hat. "Do you know any good places to go?"
“Depends on how far you want to go. Grom, though pricey, has some good gelato and among good reviews. If you don’t mind taking a bus, the other option is Emack’s and Bolio’s. They got some unique favors ranging from cereal to candy.” Benjamin began to file out, gesturing for Athena to keep close and move with him.
Keeping close to Benjamin's side, she seemed thoughtful. "I don't mind either option," she said with a grin. "After all, it's your city—and you know me, I'm always up for an adventure." When they stepped outside, once more, she placed her sunglasses back on when the sun greeted them from the darkness of the theater.
"How about—whichever you think is best?"
“Not much for overly sweet stuff so leaning to Grom. I'd rather pay more for something savory than getting something I won’t really enjoy.” He pointed out, deciding based on his own preference than hers to save them time.
At that, Athena gave a nod of approval.
As they exited the theater, they chatted about the storyline. It had become obvious that Benjamin had lost interest about half-way through as he struggled to fill in the gaps. He finally admitted the only reason he ever went to the Lincoln Center was for the orchestras. Getting on the bus, the trip to Grom was a shorter one than if they had walked.
As Benjamin stepped off, he pointed to the building, and inside they went. He fell into the line before he spoke again.
“So, what do you want? I can get them while you wait by the door. We can eat outside and enjoy the day. Sound fun to you?” It took him a bit to realize there were no tables or chairs in the establishment. It primarily ran on orders made to go.
Athena was already looking at the options in the glass and refrigerated showcase of gelato. With a finger on her chin in thought, she hummed. "That sounds good." She nodded. From behind the counter, there was a young woman who was asking if their orders had been taken already. They were next in line, but she was offering samples that gave Athena a grin.
"Which one's your favorite flavor?" Athena turned to him.
“Stracciatella, with dark chocolate. Not milk.” Benjamin pointed to a white gelato with swirling chunks of chocolate within it. It seemed to be a more traditional style from Italy rather than the more modernized favors of raspberry or mango.
Tapping a finger to her chin in thought, contemplating her choice. When it was their turn, she asked for sample tastes on a few of the flavors and finally settled for one that was coffee-based and cookies. She took a small spoonful of her order and made a noise in the back of her throat indicating her pleasure.
As they stepped up to order, she set aside her order to pull out her wallet.
The clerk smiled then pointed at the card reader, indicating that Athena swiped it when the order was rung up. In a well-practiced phrase, she thanked then gave them a number. 19. It seemed when the monitor’s red numbers changed to it, they could pick up their order. Right now, the order said 16.
Benjamin sighed and then gently pulled Athena to the side while the next customer made their order.
“Coffee and cookies? Really?” he teased.
Athena lightly shrugged, despite the fact he was teasing her. "So sue me, I'm forever a kid at heart," she quipped. "And it's my favorite, ok?"
Benjamin shook his head then looked to the number display. The red number had changed to theirs finally.
“How about you go find us those seats and I’ll bring these out for you?” Casually, he moved to the pickup side of the counter and grabbed the containers. He balanced one in each hand as he carefully avoided others pulling into the pickup section then leaving with their own orders. The place appeared to have gotten packed during their conversation causing him to frown. With a bit of time and awareness, he managed to exit the building. His head turned about to locate Athena.
Athena gave a nod at his suggestion and moved to find a seat. Unfortunately, it was a busy place so it didn't leave very many options. With no seats available, she stepped outside to find a spot outside in the shade that they could take cover. Pulling her hat a little more over her eyes to shade her from the sweltering sun, Athena made do with an alcove just in front of the store and took a seat.
Humming one of her songs, Athena pulled out her phone to begin checking for recent news and emails from her manager. With how engrossed she was in her emails and texts, she didn't notice Benjamin exiting the shop.
Not seeing her, Benjamin closed his eyes. His nostrils flared as he inhaled a deep whiff of the air and twisted his head, catching which direction had been strongest. Every step, he paused and repeated the process. Finally, his eyes caught her toying with her phone in the shade. Rolling his eyes, Benjamin plopped down beside her.
"Athena? Athena, your gelato. Grab it before it melts, or worse mine does!" He stated, the bag bottom rested under his foot and his hand presenting her container to her. His other one held his, placing it in his lap for safekeeping.
Lifting her gaze, her eyes widened to grab a hold of the gelato. Athena set the cellphone in her lap. "Sorry! I was checking my emails and texts from my manager," she explained as she started to take a spoonful of the frozen delight. It's only when she had a spoonful in her mouth did she continue. "Mmm! So good!"
People walked along the sidewalk, moving to and fro about their day that Athena started people-watching as she ate her gelato. "It's kind of nice not to be mobbed by the press," she mumbled.
"I can see that and you were ignoring the world. I had to sniff you out." Benjamin stated. His hand moved his and began to dig in. He savored the taste, both enjoying the gelato and the peace.
The pop idol merely grimaced, not for the fact he had to sniff her out but because she was engrossed in her phone.
"Or horrible dragon ladies. I haven't done this for a while and didn't realize I really missed it. I can not remember the last time I've done something this normal without something shitty happening shortly after."
Athena nodded, listening quietly. There was another spoonful of gelato in her mouth, slowly savoring the frozen delight as the summer heat rose from the sidewalk. The spoon was left there as she listened.
"It sounds like she's been busy keeping you rather occupied doing asinine things then," she said, taking another spoonful of her gelato. "It's a good thing I'm here for a while so I can always just sneak you out of the house."
"Worst part, I wish I could blame her for it. Getting a bit seemed to open a can of worms and normal for me is a fucking joke. Between trying to deal with my own issues, we kept getting dragged into more and more. Finally, when it was done, poof—everyone's gone, leaving me to drown." Benjamin sighed, and then clenched the wooden spoon.
"I am now starting to understand why Duff doesn't trust anyone besides other werewolves. People do not have an instinct that roots them to a pack and make them care. They can simply give you the bird and leave."
As she continued to listen, the wooden spoon stilled in her mouth. Pulling it out partway through what felt to be a vague explanation of what's been happening, Athena dropped her head onto Benjamin's shoulder. She popped another spoonful of gelato into her mouth before speaking.
"Is that why he's so angry?" She hummed thoughtfully. "Sorry I wasn't there to toss you a life preserver—wish I had been." And then sighed. "I didn't know you were in such dire straits, Benjamin. I would've come flying over here if I had known. But, at least you have someone, right? Through all of it? I mean, you have Duff, at least?"
"Duff was kicked from his. He challenged the alpha and lost. Barron introduced me to him afterward, his figure was sickly thin and depression dragging him down. It saved me. We bonded immediately as pack mates and he had been a great help." Benjamin smiled, finishing off his gelato.
Around the moment he finished, Athena did too, setting the spoon into the cup as Benjamin spoke.
"You couldn't have known or likely helped. According to Duff, non-wolves have no instinct that drives them to create pack bonds. Mixed packs are doomed to failure since there have been no recorded successes. But, it doesn't stop me from bonding with others—it's just one-sided." He looked into space, enjoying her head weight on his shoulder. His free hand reached for hers and clasped it in his own, giving it a squeeze. A selfish need for comfort.
Watching his hand reach for hers, Athena couldn't help the small smile. She squeezed back as though in silent promise. "Still, it doesn't change the fact that I wish I could've. It sounds like you went through a lot and it makes me appreciate Duff, even though he seems to see me as a threat."
She squeezed his hand again, setting down the empty gelato cup to the side of her. "Don't get me wrong—I get why since you explained it. But, I guess he's afraid we'll bond? Or at least, you bond to me because if I leave or something, it hurts you, right?" Her voice softened, worry evident in her tone.
"It seems to happen whenever I stick around someone for long enough. And yeah, it would. The best way to describe a bond is like my very existence is centered around you, from your emotions to your presence, and when people leave… my center, my motivation vanishes. I would miss you in the worst possible way."
Benjamin spotted a trash can nearby. Taking his finished container and hers, he tossed them inside alongside the wooden spoons.
"When White Witch left after the hound attack, I didn't have the motivation to live. I just stopped eating, moving, or doing anything. The wolf inside me had given up and… it impacted me."
It was a bond that Athena couldn't understand, but had a vague idea, based on his descriptions. Did the person he bonded with have an idea as to what they were doing when they left Benjamin? The idea of leaving him at all already hurts, but it was probably nothing compared to what he felt.
With her hand in his, the other moved to grasp his arm and squeezed. Athena didn't have a lot of words that she could use that would reassure him.
"I'm here—I know I can't promise a lot, but I want to be here for you." No promises, but this will do. "I'm glad he was there for you to connect so quickly to become pack mates."
Benjamin glanced her way. A softness entered his usually indifferent and distant eyes, seeing her in an appreciative light.
“I didn’t think it would nearly kill me. So you can’t blame me for being worried about it. I’m also the mutt that decided to sniff a gun barrel and it went off in my muzzle. I’m really lucky that werewolves have high regeneration or I might not have a nose now.” Benjamin chuckled at the story that had been retold to him.
Lifting her head to rest her chin on his shoulder, she scrutinized his face. "You're honestly just too curious for your own good sometimes." With that, she released his arm, and with their hands interlinked, she tugged him to his feet. "Come on, let's go—we still have a whole day of stuff to do!"
