Chapter Text
Diego makes his way into Griddy's Donuts, the cool autumn air making his hair stand on end. Though he is still fuming from the fight, he just had with Luthor. He knows it was dumb, someone ripped a hole in one of the training mats, and Diego knows it had to be Luthor. No one else is strong enough, but Luthor said Diego went with one of his knives for some reason. Allison stepped in before another brawl could start, but the damage was already done, and Diego needed to blow off some steam.
Diego knows a day from now they will all forget how the fight started, but at this moment he just needs to get out of the house. Ben offered to tag along, but Diego shrugged him off, saying he just needed some time to cool down and be alone for once in his life. Luckily dad wasn’t there to see the fight, because Diego doubts that he would be able to walk out of the house at this point.
The bell chimes above his head as Diego pushes through the door. The comforting smell of yeast and sugar wafts over him like a warm blanket. It’s busy, most of the tables taken up and about half of the counter space as well. The two waitresses are running like chickens with their head cut off. He hears one of them tell him to sit wherever. Diego quickly finds a place up at the counter and waits patiently for the waitress to get to him.
“is this seat taken” an old, somewhat shaky voice brings Diego out of his head. He looks up to the old man and tells him no one is with him. The man smiles and gingerly sits down.
Diego watches the old man out of the corner of his eye. He is old enough to be a great grandparent at least, heavily wrinkled skin and stark white hair. He wears a plane-looking polo and blue jeans. Diego also notices a wedding ring on the man’s hand and a pair of dog tags dangling from his neck. The man seems to see Diego staring and gives a gentle smile.
“Vietnam,” the man says simply. Diego blinks up at the man and gives a nod appreciating the answer to the unasked question, before going back to looking at the menu.
They sit in silence for quite some time. Nither one of them really needing or wanting to talk. The waitress comes and takes their orders, and Diego can tell that she thinks he’s with the old man, but she leaves before he can correct the order.
“it’s okay,” the man says “I can cover you.”
“I-I have money, I can pay for myself” Diego returns
“I know, you can, but I want to.”
Diego doesn’t especially want to fight with the old man; he’s had enough fighting for one day, so he lets the old man pay for his food. He’s glad that the man lets them sit in silence as they eat, he’s had too many old people talk his ear off at Griddy's.
Diego finishes his treat and feels more human by then end of it. No longer just a spinning ball of knives and anger. He looks over to the old man who is still nursing his cup of earl gray and nibbling on his donut. The man raises an eyebrow when he sees Diego getting set to go.
“you’re heading out already?” The man asks
“Yeah, I better be getting home” Diego shrugs “dad will be home soon, and I better be there before him.”
The old man nods “well thank you for letting me pay, young man.”
Diego scoffs “sure thing; free food is always good.”
“Amen to that!” The man cheers. Diego stands, and so does the man. He looks at the man confused for just a moment when the man sticks out his hand and smiles brightly “it was nice to meet you, my name is Dave.”