Words: 1076
Warnings: minor swears, Sniper's a little upset but no tears!!
Ship: Canon era!Snipehen
Type: fluff with a dash of angst (I promise)
Prompt: "Get anything good from the deli?" "I think I just accidentally met the love of my life."
~~~
It wasn't often that Henry and Sniper crossed paths. They hadn't even met yet with both their busy schedules; Sniper working in his father's laundromat and Henry working day and night to buy his families deli back. Mr. Jacobi was a nice enough man, but he wouldn't let Henry take the deli for free. Instead he became a regular customer, helping out the back for a spot of extra cash or popping in to buying a sandwich after a long day. He was even regular enough to have his own table. So you can imagine Henry's surprise when he saw a boy sitting at his table looking worn out with at least three left over newspapers in front of him.
"Excuse me," He said, as he sat down at the table across from the new boy. "Uh, this is my—" Then he caught sight of the boy's saddened expression. It wasn't fair for someone to look that sad. "Are you alright?"
The boy had looked up so pitifully that Henry didn't even need an answer to know he needed a hug. He stood from his seat to wrap his arms around the kid, not even questioning if it was a wise decision to hug strangers, his heart had felt it was the right thing to do to someone upset. "Thanks." He mumbled. "I kinda really needed that."
Henry nodded, shifting back to his seat. "Anytime. 'M Henry." He stuck his hand out, shaking it with the boy.
"Sniper."
Once pleasantries were out of the way Sniper seemed to ease up immensely and Henry was able to rattle on and on about what he was doing at the deli – first for a spot of lunch and then to help Mr. Jacobi with the dishes and clean-up before he closed up shop. He was also able to share with Sniper his favourite menu item: fresh pastrami on two pieces of rye bread with sour pickle hidden between the three items. It wasn't extremely cheap by any means but Henry loved it and was willing to split it with the boy he'd met. Anything to help someone in need.
"So," Henry chirped around a mouthful of sandwich that left Sniper laughing when he spat some of it out. "Why're you so glum? When I walked in I was sure you was about to cry right there!"
"Erm," Sniper had shrugged initially, not answering for a good while. It had begun to convince Henry that he'd said something wrong when finally, he continued. "My fatha... he works the laundromat upstairs and, well, he wanted me to stop sellin' papes so I could help with the family business—but I love sellin' papes so I said no, and he..." Sniper paused, shrugging slightly. "He booted me out for ta'night. Dunno if I'll be allowed back for a bit."
Henry's giant heart practically broke in two hearing the sorrowful tone Sniper used. Sure, they'd only met an hour or so ago but he'd already felt so deeply for him. So you can understand where he was coming from when he blurted, "You can share my bunk."
Sniper burst into a fit out laughter. Henry was so impulsive that he truly wondered if the guy had any money left—surely if he was this impulsive, he'd be a natural gambler, taking all the risks and whatnot.
"Nah it's alright," He wiped away some laughter-induced tears before taking a deep shuddered breath. "I'll talk it out with dad or sneak in later, thanks for the offer though." He leaned over to peck Henry's cheek in a spur-of-the-moment action of extreme gratitude and it left Henry with the dopiest smile on his face.
"You're welcome."
The two of them continued to chat, bonding over slingshots and lost parents, even their favorite items at Jacobi's. In the next hour Sniper had learned that Jacobi's was in fact Henry's father's deli before he died peacefully in his sleep, and when Henry was left alone he couldn't run the deli. So he had to sell it to Mr. Jacobi... for an 11 year old with more money than he'd ever seen it didn't exactly last very long and he took up selling papers to survive. "But," He assured him more than once that evening. "Give me a good cut of meat and I can still make a mean sandwich." And by the time Henry had finished helping Mr. Jacobi, they were much more than good acquaintances, best friends even.
~~~
"Where's your mom?" Sniper asked, swinging his legs back and forth as he sat on the bench next to the sink in the back of Jacobi's while Henry washed the dishes vigorously.
"I never had one. My dad had me."
Sniper snorted. "Everyone has a mom at least sometime in their life, men can't have children."
"Oh..."
"You see, a mom has the—"
"NO, EW DON'T TELL ME!"
Sniper opened his mouth to begin again when Henry's hand clasped over his mouth. "SHUT UP, I DON' WANNA KNOW!" He snickered, licking his hand. "EWWWWW SNIPE!"
~~~
Sniper led him around the back of the block to where the rusty fire escape hung, leading up to the second floor residence. "I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, though it was more begging just to see Henry again. He felt like they had unfinished business. "I really enjoyed this afternoon— uh evening." The giggle he made was music to Henry's ears.
"Yeah, of course. I'll meet you back here and we'll sell together."
"Sounds perfect."
Sniper leaned forward to capture his lips in a sweet kiss. But right before Henry could respond or even react, he pulled away with a shit-eating grin on his face. "Bye!" And he left Henry at the bottom of the stairs, touching his lips with utter shock.
~~~
Race jumped up from his game of cards with Albert and Finch—really it was more him playing by himself as the other pair kept stealing lazy kisses—when he heard the main door to the lodging house creak open. "Henry!" He cheered, slipping an arm around the happier than usual boy. "Get anything good from the deli? How was Jacobi?"
"I...I—"
"Spit it out!"
"I think I just accidentally met the love of my life."
And as Henry reached to touch his lips for the thousandth time (still not quite believing it) the lodging house erupted in cheers and whistles in congratulations to their friend.
