Do you by chance have any headcanons about my man Benny? We know so little about him and I really like what you already think (for example his relationship with Dani and the longer hair headcanon) Thank you, keep up the good work! ♡
I'm so glad you ask! Benny is an amazing character and I love him so much. Nina and Benny are in fact my favorite pairing from In The Heights, but sadly I don't write about them nearly enough because Benny's voice is really hard to get for me for some reason, and because Vanessa interests me more than either character (though it's a close call with Nina). But I'm more than happy to give headcanons!
Benny has a really good memory. Like, Andy Dwyer kind of memory, hears things, remembers them exactly by heart for a long time.
He comes from a family of several siblings, maybe 5 or 6, and he's the middle one. As a result, he gets the least attention because he's not from the older bunch or the younger bunch. That led to him always getting into trouble when he was little, and later he was very eager to prove himself. Also led to him not being that close to his own family and finding more comfort with friends.
Usnavi and him aren't completely childood friends, they met in middle school. Benny was pretty popular because he's awesome, Usnavi was that kid that everyone knows and likes but no one is his best friend? So Benny became his best friend, because he's an actual sunshine.
He keeps getting Usnavi dates, starting when they're like twelve, all throughout their teen years, also later. Usnavi is a disaster with the ladies, Benny is smooth af. Often both girls are there for Benny, and Usnavi gets super sad, so Benny spends the night just hanging out with him because his buddy comes first.
Sonny pierced his ears, actually. Benny was hanging out at the bodega during one of Sonny's shifts and was checking out magazines and he just said like "Man I should get my ears pierced it looks awesome" and Sonny, instantly, okay let's do this, borrowed some of Abuela's more neutral and small earrings, and pierced Benny's ears for him to wear them. Cold can of soda pop for fifteen minutes to get it all dull, then a needle, and the trick's done. Usnavi freaked the fuck out when he learned about the whole thing.
Benny will always accept a bet. No matter what. Already as a kid, still as a grown up. Can't resist the temptation.
He is very adamant about being super chivalrous with Nina, with all girls he's been in love with. He's very romantic and will do all the big romantic gestures, show up with a teddy bear at the airport, bring flowers all the time, he writes Nina songs? He's super romantic. Nina kinda laughs at this, because she just wants to be with him and doesn't care too much about that, but she secretly also really appreciate the thought.
One day, a couple years after he created Benny's Car Services, he had to hire Kevin as an emergency mechanic because his usual repair guy was busy, and it was just as awkward as you can imagine.
Feel free to add to this, everyone, Benny deserves all the love.
