A/N: Flashback Chapter! Can be skipped, but I already wrote it, and some of you might be interested.
TL;DR: How he ended up learning to cook.
...
___
"I already aired it, you can eat it directly," the old woman said, looking at him who was just staring at the bowl. She might’ve misconstrued his hesitation.
Finn’s stomach gurgled then, and the aroma of the ramen was too good; it felt like he was floating, and it was just asking permission to let him float into it.
Finn was no longer used to kindness in his years on the street, so a part of him thought this might have rat poison or something.
However, he looked up and saw the genuine concern in the old woman’s eyes, and his lips pursed.
Even if it was poison and he died from it, then it was just because his stomach was too weak.
...
His stomach was not too weak. It was very strong, and he only felt sated after his third bowl of ramen.
"...thank you..." He said, his voice still small at this age, far from the cracking voice puberty would give. He also rummaged in his makeshift pocket and handed a bit of his savings to her.
The old woman just chuckled. "No, no, this is a free trial," she said. "Was it delicious?"
He nodded. The most delicious he had ever eaten.
"Then will you be my recurring customer?"
He blinked and nodded after a while. Next time, he would order and pay. He didn’t like giving free things after what happened to his parents. Similarly, he didn’t want to be the same.
That was how he met Grandma Han. She was a wonderful chef. He reluctantly admitted that she was an even better cook than his mother.
For the next meal, he paid with his pitiful savings. She did not have a menu, so he couldn’t exactly tell the price; he hadn’t entered it when there were customers either.
He just found them really cheap because she charged him an entire meal, including side dishes, for the price of a small piece of bread outside.
He didn’t question it much because he had always been eating leftovers for years. He would occasionally treat himself and buy something whenever his borderline illegal junkyard job paid something, but he assumed the lady sold low because there were few customers and her location was so hidden.
Then, by chance, when people were walking out, he heard about the prices. They were even more expensive than outside, but it made sense because grandma was so skilled and she did not want too much workload.
To summarize, she practically didn’t charge him at all with the prices she set for him.
"Why are you being so kind?" he asked, his cynical and prickly self made his tone bitter. However, instead of being offended, she simply patted his head with a smile.
"It doesn’t cost me much, but doesn’t it help you?"
Suddenly, he was reminded of his parents. He had always hated their kindness, and now he was the recipient of something similar.
Did he really have the right to hate it?
...
"Would you like to work for me, even if it was just for a while?" she asked. "You seem hardworking and strong for your age. Food and accommodations are included."
"What?"
He pursed his lips. This cost her something, didn’t it?
"Child, I’m getting old, and helping kids makes me feel better. Not everything is about you."
"..."
In the end, Finn, who was looking for a job, naturally didn’t refuse. He worked hard as a dishwasher and helped out Grandma Han prepare some ingredients (she was surprised he could do it, which admittedly made him a bit smug).
For the next several weeks, the customer base started growing by word-of-mouth. He couldn’t blame them; grandma Han’s food was really, really good.
Grandma only put a few tables there, though, which made the meals even more expensive, and she also set up hours because she was old and wanted to relax. Sometimes, the job of telling people away landed on him because she was busy in the kitchen.
With growing popularity, however, came a bit of trouble. One of the customers tripped him and forced him to clean up the mess they had made.
The customer forced him to kneel and beg simply because he didn’t get to take out specific vegetables. The old woman was angry and she kicked the man out, threatening to call the police.
When the man threatened never to return, to give bad reviews, the old lady laughed at him instead, daring him to do so. She stood in front of him, defending his honor even if it meant losing customers.
At a little over ten years old, the young Finn finally met an adult who genuinely cared for him after his parents died.
...
Mostly peaceful days followed after that, though it did get a bit hectic when Han found out about his talent for cooking.
Who knew what she ate but she transformed from a gentle old lady to a roaring dinosaur who was intent on teaching him everything.
Later, he found out that she was apparently a top chef who worked in a very premier restaurant. However, it got too tiring and she retired.
At some point, the pushing got too much even for Finn (who could study and practice for a whole 12 hours?!). Finn couldn’t help but want to defend his tired hands. "Grandma! I’m tired!"
"Ah, yes," Grandma Han paused, realizing what she had been doing. She laughed and patted his head. "Well, I’m sorry, you learn at your own pace. It’s just that your talent is really surprising."
The compliment stuck and, while he did make sure to get proper rest and leisure time, he really did get into cooking a lot, and he started to genuinely love it.
It felt different...to be able to create something so delicious with one’s own hand.
He knew what he’d be doing for the rest of his life then.