-Benny's POV-

This is nothing like a bar fight. Benny knows this even though he's only been in one because in bar fights the guys are mad, drunk, and bad fighters.

Benny's dad is clearly drunk, he's god the smell on his breath, is wobblier than usual, and his eyes are less focused, less sharp. Benny's dad is definitely mad, he's got anger in his glazed eyes blazing fiercer than Benny's seen them, ever, his fists are clenched tight enough to Squeeze the life out of anyone, and his first words upon seeing his son aren't said. They're growled.

"You motherfucking disappointment of a son."

But Benny's father is not a bad fighter. This is what made Benny so ready to leave- his father got drunk and angry often. Too drunk, too angry, and chances were sooner or later Benny would get a lethal beating.

Yes, Benny's richass father has years of private instruction in martial arts. Benny is strong. Benny is a fighter. Benny doesn't usually give up- or at least he hopes this is true.

But Benny knows when it is best to run away. He never thought his dad would find him, as many dreams as he had.

When he was little, Benny got a little training. He doesn't remember much now.

But when his father grabs his wrist, Benny surprises them both by grabbing back, whirling around so they're standing back to back without letting go of his dad's arm, and breaking his father's elbow over his shoulder.

Benny's dad lets go immediately with a feral roar of pain and a string of cusswords he usually considers himself to dignified to utter.

Benny is shocked. He's never fought back like that before, usually only blocking and defensive counterstrikes. He must've changed since running away.

And he's shocked because he had no idea he still had those automatic responses. He was pulled out of instruction years ago after his father realized it would get in the way of beating Benny up.

And he's also shocked because Kevin is standing at the corner, gaping at both of them.

Benny figures he spent too much time being shocked because before he can tell Kevin to get out a fist comes into his jaw and pain explodes in his brain. He tastes the salty tang of blood as the force of the punch shoves him towards the ground and the wall.

Only Benny's well honed reflexes stop him from getting his head slammed into the bumpy wall of chipping paint concrete and even then his arm gets violently scraped as his other stings with a soon-to-be bruise as he blocks the punch that would send him to the wall.

"Get out," he manages to force out at Kevin. If Kevin gets hurt…

Benny know that he can't hold out much longer as his father stamping-kicks his knee and Benny falls to his knees on the concrete.

His father is still yelling at Benny, harsh insults that Benny knows are true.

Disappointment, missed a huge education, could've become so rich and had such a bright future, why did you run away goddamnit, fuck you.

Trembling on the ground, protecting his neck and head from blows, Benny realizes with a shiver that if his knee hadn't been bent the way he was taught was correct form, that kick would have broken his knee.

He burns with the shame of knowing that Kevin is probably seeing this. He can't bear the thought of Kevin- who already thinks he's scum- to see him curled up helpless like he is now.

It takes him a second to realize he's no longer getting beaten to a pulp. He jumps to his feet, ready to block a powerful kick, maybe even a jump one, those took time to wind up, or- it couldn't be a flying kick, could it?- and stops in surprise.

Kevin is beating the shit out of his father.

-Kevin's POV-

Kevin wonders what the man is getting out of the car for as he marches right pas Kevin and after a guy walking down the block a little faster than normal. Kevin blinks- Sonny isn't that buff.

Then he realizes it's Benny in Sonny's trademark had. Oh shit. Benny was the one they were looking for. In the second it takes him to think this, he's following the man who follows Benny, who rounds the corner.

He hears, "You motherfucking disappointment of a son," in the deepest, angriest voice he has probably ever heard, reminding him far too much of his own father.

Father.

Fuck. This guy, this rich black man with the chauffeur is Benny's dad. Kevin finally comes around the corner and watches Benny gracefully spin around to break his father's arm as his father grabs him, almost smiling at his father's roar in pain.

Benny catches sight of Kevin as Kevin bristles at Benny's father's remarks- that Benny is a disappointment. Because nothing in the world was ever less true.

"Get out," Benny tells Kevin, and Kevin's heart drops at the fear and concern in his voice, laced with pain. But Kevin doesn't move.

Benny is crying without realizing and Kevin feels a pang in his heart at this even as he feels oddly proud as Benny expertly blocks every punch thrown at him until his father kicks him to the ground and the pride is drowned out by something new.

Rage.

Benny's dad has the nerve to tell Benny he's a disappointment when he's anything but and that he's a terrible son and-

Wait. Benny ran away? He had a family that rich, and education all ready for him and he ran away? For the barrio?

Kevin realizes he knows nothing of Benny but that his assumptions were incredibly wrong.

"Fuck you," Benny's dad roars, punctuating a blow to Benny, who's huddled in a ball.

And something in Kevin just snaps.

With strength he didn't even know he had, he grabs Benny's father's shoulder and slams him against the wall. Benny's dad is simply surprised, and then his face morphs into one of disgust- but only for a second because then it's one of pain as Kevin's sloppy punch draws a satisfying crack from his jaw.

He proceeds to duck another punch, knowing from the sharpness and power of the punches that he won't last long. He doesn't care. "Fuck you," he gasps. Benny has stood up, astonished, behind him.

Kevin knees Benny's dad in the groin and Benny's dad doubles over with a gasp of pain. Kevin shoves him to the ground. "Gentlemen's fighting is for gentlemen," he growls, then steps back in surprise as Benny's dad gracefully rolls to his feet.

"Not you," he growls venomously, shoving Kevin, who stumbles backwards.

"Dad!" Benny's voice comes from behind him.

Kevin attempts several punches and suffers a few before he gets another one in. "You just don't know when to give up, do you?" Benny's dad sneers.

Kevin just shakes his head. "I could do this all day."

Benny's dad looks surprised as Kevin doesn't back down. Instead, he copies the move he saw earlier from Benny's dad and lets fury drive the kick.

He hears a bone snap. Hot damn.

"Son of a bitch!" Benny's dad screams as he falls- gracefully, yes, but the important thing is that he can't get back up.

Kevin backs up and mimes dusting his hands off. "I am but that doesn't mean I am a bitch, it just means my dad was one. The same goes for Benny, I would say."

Benny looks up at Kevin.

His dad speaks. "Benny disgraces the family. Scum like you wouldn't understand. We are rich enough to have a mansion, maids, butlers, servants, to pay for his education all the way to doctorate in advance and he was going to be great and successful. Look at him." He gestures in disgust.

Benny lowers his gaze again, blinking as though he's about to cry more. Kevin grits his teeth. How dare this man make strong, happy Benny cry?

"He is. Strong and successful, I mean." Kevin informs Benny's father. In his peripheral vision, he sees Benny's jaw drop. "Anyone with a brain would be proud to have him as a son. I certainly would. I wish Benny is my son every day you ungrateful idiot."

Kevin grabs Benny's dad and starts dragging him unceremoniously towards the car. "He works hard, he's so kind and open hearted, I would be so proud if he was my son. Seeing what an absolute asshole you are, it's your fault and no one else's that he ran away." Kevin throws Benny's dad at his horrified chauffeur. "Get the fuck out, both of you."

The chauffeur drags the spluttering man into the car. "Don't you dare-" he starts, but his chauffeur is already peeling down the street.

Kevin watches them leave until his hears Benny speak.

"Kevin?"