▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰

After his first visit to the Salvatore manor, Benedict had quite regularly visited. When it was his father talking business trips for long periods of time or at times that his father has grown tired of his presence. His father was a strict man who had specific expectations for his kin, and indeed he grew tired of his son's childish behavior. It stung when the young boy apprehended after the first few times he was sent to the manor at odd times during the day.

But after a while of visits, little blonde O'Crowley did not mind being sent away as he grew fond of Stefan, who showed nothing but kindness and seemingly understanding towards him.

During one of his visits, he had met Damon Salvatore, Stefan's older brother. The blonde boy had seen the older Salvatore male around when he and Stefan were allowed to roam, but he has yet to speak with older teen.

"Stefan. I am so bored." Benedict whined as he grew tired of playing with toys. When he stayed in Stefan's room, the blonde boy had the habitat of kicking off his dress shoes and taking off his suit jacket, that his father made him wear, to get more comfortable. "We should go outside. We never do that." His blue eyes twinkled in excitement and a bit of mischief.

The little Salvatore boy looked at his friend in thought. "My father said we need to be inside." He added in reason.

Benedict's excitement slightly shimmered down at the logic in Stefan's words. "But I am a bit bored too, so let's do it." The two young boys each exchanged grins before quickly putting away all the wooden tools.

The young blonde boy went down on one knee to put on his socks and dress shoes while Stefan carefully opened the door to see if any maids were near before closing it with a nod. "No one around. Are you ready, Ben?" Since their first meeting, the younger Salvatore had rather preferred using his shortened name than his full one.

The blonde boy lifted himself from his knee and walked toward stefan with a gleaming, toothy smile that reflected his excitement. At the same time as it made him look more opened and brightened than his usual expression of dread.

He nodded and stood beside Stefan. They moved closer to the door before pausing. "Stefan do you know if there is a woods near here?" He asked. Even though he has had his visits to the manor quite often, Benedict still hasn't fully explored as he was restricted to being inside the large mansion.

"Yes, there is and I can show you my favorite spot there." Stefan exclaimed. It had been a while since he has been there as his older brother was the one who normally took him there but Damon has been particularly busy as of late.

Without much thought, Stefan opened the door wide enough for them both through and motioned Benedict to follow him. Luckily it seems the maids were out of sight which gave the two boys a chance to leave without being caught. Stefan and Benedict carefully tip-toed down the hall and tried not to make a sound as they strolled down the old wooden steps of the stair. They would shush each other when the other stepped on a particularly stair step that creaked.

In no time, the two boys were mere spaces away from exiting the Salvatore manor. Benedict began to become impatient and the minute his feet touched the ground floor, he immediately yet quietly ran to the door and opened it. Stefan laughed at him before following him out of his house.

The slight breeze of the afternoon sky blew into their faces while Benedict closed the door behind them without making much noise.

"It is such a beautiful day." Stefan commented, brushing off his brown hair out of his eyes. Benedict nodded in agreement and reached out his arm in the direction of where he wanted them to go.

"I am pretty certain there is an opened field behind here. We should go there!" Benedict did not wait to receive an answer and instead impulsively grasped onto Stefan's hand, unintentionally resulting in the two boys holding hands.

The blonde boy giggled at Stefan's shocked expression as he moved onto the large sidewalk. As they continued on with coming around the side of the Salvatore boarding house, Benedict noticed a variety of trees and bushes planted just outside of the windows and walls. It oddly enough gave the large manor more life and a lighter feel to it. Benedict tightened his hold on an entertained Stefan. The two boys are now in front of an empty field with bright green grass that shined against the sunshine.

The O'Crowley boy easily released their interlocked fingers and took a few steps forward. Benedict paused before placing his hands on his hips and taking a dramatic inhale and exhale, resulting in the younger Salvatore rolling his eyes as he snorted. "Stefan do you smell that?" Ben asked ending with a huff of air.

The Salvatore boy glanced at him in confusion. "What should I be smelling?" He countered with a small tilt of his head toward the blonde headed boy who has his back turned to him.

"Isn't it obvious, Stefan?" Stefan shook his head, not getting what he was meaning. Benedict turned to him and sighed with a pout tugging on his lips. "The green grass. It has this certain smell and I never forget it." A playful grin stretched on his lips yet there was a glimmer of sadness in his blue eyes.

Stefan noticed his eyes showing a different emotion than what he was displaying in his grin. He wasn't sure what to do and decided to say something that would cheer his friend up. "Ben, I am sure that faster than you. Can you prove me wrong?" Stefan challenged with a playful smile. From the short period of time the younger Salvatore has spent with Benedict, he has seen that he has a competitive nature and wasn't one who liked to lose. Even at the simplest things the blonde boy wanted to win at.

The O'Crowley boy's mouth formed an O in shock and he took a step back at the surprise challenge. "Stefany!" Benedict exclaimed dramatically, making up the nickname on the spot. His furrowed in mischief as the sadness in his eyes disappeared. "You better start running if you plan on winning-" his words were cut off when Stefan turned and dashed into the nearby forest, his laughter echoing the further he ran.

Instead of finish his sentence, Benedict immediately ran after Stefan. The wind blowing into his face and a wide smile. Due to his short legs, he found it a bit hard to run fast before his determination motivated him to keeping running forward. "I'm gonna catch you!" He voiced out loudly.

When the blonde boy was catching up, Stefan took a turn around a tree and ran back to the opened field with the purpose of throwing off his friend. Oh boy, did it serve it's purpose well. The little blonde boy almost ran into a tree when the younger Salvatore suddenly took a turn.

Fortunately Benedict stopped himself inches away from the tall tree. He stopped and puffed out in tiredness before once again sprinting, feeling determined to catch up.

Stefan purposely slowed down as he came back to the spot where him and Ben were in the beginning. What he did not expect was to be tackled by a certain implausible blonde boy.

"Ben!" Stefan called out, shock seeping into his tone. He didn't even hear the boy near before he registered he was on the ground.

Benedict hugged him with a smirk of victory. He released his hold but remained on top on the Squamish Stefan who was trying to push Benedict off. "I win, Stefan!" He declared proudly, lifting himself off of Stefan and holding out a hand to his friend.

Not wanting to refuse his offer, Stefan took his hand and lifted himself off the ground. The Salvatore scoffed. "Yes you did but I'll win the next round." With that the two boys, continued to chase each other around for hours and hours. Their high pitched laughter filled the empty air. The two didn't seem to notice the sky darkening the longer they remained outside.

Time seemed to be irrelevant as the two boys were lost in each other.

▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰