Chapter Text
The last thing Daniel expected when he stepped into the Golf n’ Stuff parking lot was to walk right into an auto show for rich kids.
But show, that’s what it’s all about in the Valley. And Daniel is just standing there with Ali on his arm, the sweetness of the night turning sour in his mouth when she leans into his side like she's got something to prove by telling her friends no.
She tightens her grip on him a little, says "You guys have a good time. I'll call you tomorrow, ok?" but her voice in his ears is just a distant buzz, and her blonde hair as she shakes her head again is just a blur.
Daniel only has eyes for the gleaming red convertible and the wicked curve of Johnny Lawrence's smile.
There's just something about it that tells him this menace of a boy has found a brand new way to put a knife between his ribs.
"Your little friend could come too." Johnny says, voice saccharine but eyes raging like the sea on a stormy day as they hold Daniel's gaze "If it’s ok with his mommy."
And Daniel knew a strike was coming but still, there's nothing he can do about the helpless embarrassment that blazes through him when he hears his mom pull up behind them with a cheerful "Hi, kids!".
Daniel tries to think about balance, breathe in, breathe out, but the air in his lungs feels like acid.
“Hey mommy can Daniel come for a ride?” Dutch jeers holding his side like the whole thing has him in stitches.
The whole car erupts into laughter and Johnny revs up the engine to match it, tipping his head back, cackling. Something in Daniel simply snaps. He surrenders to an uncontrollable and reckless kind of rage, tears himself from Ali's hold and slams both hands on top of the car's door.
The three boys in the Avanti snap to attention like they’ve been conditioned to loud noises and in the second it takes them to re-adjust Daniel experiences a moment of lunacy.
"It's fine, I'll come." he grinds out through something that’s half a fake smile and half a sneer.
And before anyone can stop him, before he can hold himself back, he hoists himself up and over the frame.
“Hey! Watch out!” Susan squeals in surprise when Daniel falls into the seat next to her.
The rear bench is too tight for four people and her only option is to retreat and jump into Tommy’s lap, fussing with her skirt, cheeks red and scowling in Daniel’s direction. It has him thinking he advanced her night a little faster than she expected it to go.
“Hey, Susan. What’s cooking?” Daniel says unbothered and to Tommy, who’s making a face like he’s not sure if he just hit the jackpot or stepped in shit, “Thought you said you could make room.”
Before either of them has a reply ready, Dutch is the first to snap out of it. He promptly flings himself over his backrest, snarling like some rabid dog and going for the front of Daniel’s shirt. But Susan stacked on top of Tommy is in the way now and it earns Dutch a shove from his friend when his hand grazes her breasts on the way to its destination. Chaos breaks loose as the two boys and the two girls start to tussle over it in a flurry of flying limbs.
Grateful for the distraction Daniel dodges an elbow, ignores the ensuing shouting match of “What are you doing?”, “What are YOU doing?!” between Tommy and Dutch and leans forward in his seat to slap Johnny on the shoulder.
"Thanks for the invitation. Appreciate it, man." he says to him with a defiant grin.
The tendons in Johnny's jaw tick and his nostrils tremble, something passes through his eyes that Daniel can’t quite place. It’s a thing akin to hunger that makes him look like a beast on a leash.
And Daniel thinks that he’s finally going to die tonight, that he’s not gonna go up the hills but six feet under instead. That he better make it count. His hand tightens on Johnny’s shoulder.
The beast, however, doesn't tear free, instead that smile returns with teeth.
“Sure, man.” Johnny says and Daniel’s whole body tingles.
With what, fear, anticipation, he cannot say. All he knows is that it stops the moment Ali reappears next to him, leaning over the side of the car.
"Daniel, cut it out! If I really wanted to go I would've said yes." she shouts, bewilderment on her face.
An ugly voice in Daniel's head says that the look doesn't suit her, that it makes her a little less pretty.
"Well, I’m going. You do what you wanna do. Makes no difference to me." he shrugs, faking indifference but seething on the inside with humiliation.
Ali stumbles back a few steps like she’s been hit. She looks hurt and that pisses Daniel off even more. As if she would pick a lift in his mom's shitty station wagon over a ride in a fancy sports car for any other reason than pity. Daniel doesn't need anyone's pity and especially not Ali’s. He’s not some fucking charity case.
“Daniel! What is wrong with you?!” his mom cries from her car window, watching the unfolding disaster and her son at its center with an exasperated expression.
But he never gets the chance to reply because Johnny steps on the gas and leaves Ali and Mrs. LaRousso behind in a cloud of tire smoke. Daniel catches one last look of their shrinking figures as the convertible rips out of the parking lot before they disappear around a corner.
His heart is galloping in his chest like he’s riding out a high, a rush that’s only made stronger by the speed of the car. It must be some kind of hysteria Daniel thinks as Johnny puts in a higher gear. The motor howls and the force of the acceleration presses their bodies deeper into their seats, hurling them forward and into the night.
“You're dead, man!” Tommy hollers next to him, grins like a hyena “She’s gonna dump your ass and bury you!”
“Not if mommy kills him first!” Dutch screeches and the two boys high five.
“You guys are so mean! Let him go, you can’t just abduct him!” the other girl, the blonde one whose name Daniel doesn’t know, yells over the noise of the raging engine.
She looks as panicked as Daniel feels but he forces his face to stay calm even though feels like he's dancing on the edge of a volcano when he shrugs and says “No it’s cool. I said I wanted to come. Don’t worry about me.”
Part of him wants to laugh, part of him wants to scream but he got himself into this and all he can do now is own the situation. Daniel folds his arms in front of his chest and gets comfortable in his spot like he belongs there.
“You really don’t know when someone is trying to do you a favor, do you?” Susan snaps, casting another dark look in his direction.
But Daniel doesn’t listen to her, his ears are filled with the rushing of the wind and Johnny’s wild laughter as they lock eyes again in the rearview mirror.
They race down Ventura Blvd. for a few minutes before they take a sharp left, away from the busy stretch of shops and small businesses littering each side of the road and into a quieter neighborhood.
As the homes around them start getting bigger and the gardens greener Daniel sees the mass of the hills rise before them. It isn’t long before the road turns dark and steep and they leave the last houses and street lights behind on their climb to the top.
The girls look decidedly more uncomfortable with every passing mile and Daniel begins to feel a little sorry for ruining their night. Then again, he also doesn't miss the way Dutch and Tommy whisper to each other, snickering and eying him like they’re plotting his murder.
It’s fine with Daniel. He tried Mr. Miyagi’s way and failed but no matter what happens tonight, at least he won’t end his life as a ridiculed coward.
The asphalt of the road turns into gravel full of bumps and potholes. Daniel's never been this far up the hills. The air is crisp and clean here filled with the woodsy scent of dry vegetation. Above them, the full moon suddenly looks so much clearer, like it's just one step out of reach. It’s brighter too, the silver light dousing the scenery around them and the inside of the car in a soft glow. Daniel watches the way it scatters in the flying wisps of Johnny’s blonde hair, tossed around by the headwind.
He swallows once, twice, harder, to keep the yearning that’s starting to bloom in his chest, bittersweet and aching, down. All the way down. But Daniel can’t help but think that if the people in the car were his friends, he would probably be having the night of his life. That this is the kind of thing people in Newark dream of when they think of California.
Eventually, the tires crunch to a stop and Daniel snaps out of his sullen thoughts.
“Move!” Susan demands as soon as Johnny opens the door and gets out and when Daniel doesn’t react immediately she simply climbs across his legs and folds the driver’s seat over mumbling, “I have to do everything myself.”
Daniel climbs after her, but he hardly has a minute to stretch his legs before he's surrounded by Tommy and Dutch, circling him like vultures.
It’s not five to one this time but no matter how he turns his head he can only see either of them, while the other hovers in the periphery of his blind spot.
“What are we gonna do with him, now?” Tommy grins stepping closer.
Daniel plants his feet, assumes a guarding position readying himself for a fight but Dutch comes in from the other side and slams into him, hard. His slim body has no weight to set against the broader and heavier boy who knocks over his feeble stance easily.
“We do whatever we want!” Dutch cackles as Daniel stumbles back a few steps and connects with Johnny’s chest.
A hand closes around his upper arm and Daniel’s eyes shoot up in confusion when it does nothing but keep him upright.
“Let him be.” Johnny says not even looking at Daniel but holding him firmly in place “Sensei told us to leave the prima donna alone until the tournament."
“But he dropped a challenge, Johnny!” Dutch complains, looking borderline betrayed, eyes hunting between his two friends like he’s hoping for backup from Tommy.
“Yeah? That’s not how I remember it!” Daniel spits, bile bitter in his throat.
The anger that's been simmering under his skin explodes again and Daniel tries to free himself, feet kicking up dust as he struggles.
But Johnny holds him like a vice. His hand is large enough to fit completely around the skinny arm he's holding and Daniel already feels the tell-tale sting of finger-shaped bruises forming on his skin under the unrelenting grip.
“Maybe I need to refresh your memory?” Dutch threatens and moves to make a charge at his incapacitated enemy but one nod from Johnny and Tommy is there to hold him back. Dutch makes a furious sound in the back of his throat and face going red, he bellows “Let me! I’ll take him on alone, this is between him and me now!”
Daniel can't stand the guy. Dutch is so damn eager to prove to Johnny how much he hates Daniel that he's got to make the whole thing about himself. He even bleaches his hair like he's trying to be some discount copy of their leader, like he can't think on his own because he's too keen to fight someone elses battles. A part of Daniel hungers to settle this once and for all, despite the odds being against him but it never comes to this because a figure that's been hovering on the sidelines steps between the arguing boys.
“STOP IT!" Susan, shouts and stomps her foot. "If you keep fighting Barbara and I are gonna leave.”
And surprisingly, that's all it takes.
Dutch blinks, seems conflicted for a second but the risk of ruining his chances seems to outweigh the fun of knocking Daniel around. He finally calms down but not without giving one last angry snort and pointing a finger at Daniel.
“Fine. Have it your way LaRousso. We’ll settle this in the ring.” he snaps, straightens his clothes and walks over to Barbara to put an arm around her.
Johnny’s hand on Daniel’s arm disappears too, but his touch lingers there, even as Daniel starts rubbing the spot to chase away the memory of it. He’s at a loss, yesterday it had been Johnny who needed to be stopped from beating him up and today he’s the one protecting him.
His anger fizzling out into an awkward uneasiness, Daniel watches as Tommy and Dutch steer their girls away from them, down a little trail winding around the shoulder of the hill and out of sight between a cluster of trees.
As the presence of the other teens dissolves into the night Daniel is left alone with Johnny and the song of the cicadas under the brilliant moon.
Alone-alone. The realization makes all of Daniel’s senses come alive and he’s suddenly hyper-aware of Johnny behind him, bodies close enough that their shadows merge on the rocky ground. Daniel only realizes he’s been holding his breath when they separate. He turns his head to see Johnny move away and stand several feet from him and the car, close to the side of the hill where it forms a steep drop into the valley.
Daniel exhales, the sudden tension draining from his body. But something about Johnny’s silhouette, the straight line of his broad shoulders, the relaxed pose of his long legs, the angles of his profile, irritates him. Johnny is a little too handsome, a little too confident, too popular. He's got his own field of gravity like a supermassive star and Daniel is trapped in an orbit around him, pulled closer and burned harder every time he tries to break free. Even with his back turned to him Daniel seems to be unable to escape Johnny Lawrence.
And the thing is that Daniel can see far enough in the light of the moon to make out the road they took here, just a little further down. The opportunity to simply walk back and find a payphone is right there, all he has to do is take it and call it a night.
But he is just standing there, feels like he always just stands there as things around him happen while he’s trying to find a way to cope. Daniel is tired of it, tired of always just reacting to Johnny, so he takes initiative and walks over to him.
A shimmer begins to rise behind the edge of the hill as he gets closer and when Daniel reaches the spot next to Johnny, he realizes it’s the city laid out at their feet in a web of glittering lights reaching as far as the eye can go. The view is mesmerizing. Looking down at the glowing Valley makes Daniel feel like he's soaring.
"Oh." he breathes “It's beautiful here.”
Next to him, Johnny lets out a scoff and turns to look at him, the piercing gaze of those blue eyes prickling where it lands on Daniel's skin.
“You're lucky, LaRousso. I only bring hot babes up here, normally.” he says sizing him up.
"But you did invite me." Daniel retorts unable to control his tongue around Johnny again. He silently curses himself and then hastily changes the topic when he sees the way those eyes on him sharpen "So, uh, where did the others go?”
The corners of Johnny's mouth curve like he tasted something delicious.
“Where do you think they went?” he asks sweetly.
Daniel flushes so hard he can hear the roaring of his blood as it rushes to his face.
"I…" He sputters but turns away when he comes short of any reply that makes him sound less like an absolute virgin.
Johnny laughs softly and is suddenly a lot closer when he speaks again.
“I'm a little curious, now." there's something sly in his voice and Daniel realizes there's no way of taking back what he just gave away "What base you got to with Ali, casanova?”
Daniel rubs his arm again where Johnny's touch still echoes, he feels stupidly flustered but at the same time a little wounded, doesn’t want to think about the bitter end his date with Ali took right now. He likes her. But sometimes he hates his own position in their relationship.
“Hey, LaRousso." Johnny pulls him out of his thoughts “Stop squirming. I asked you something!”
"What does it matter to you, man? I ruined everything with her tonight." Daniel scoffs, defensive. “Hope you’re finally happy.”
He steps closer to the edge, just to get a distance between him and those eyes that always seem to want to dissect him. His toes hit a pebble and in a sudden surge of frustration, he kicks it off the ridge. The hills are so steep here, it's a long way down for the tiny rock. But watching it skitter away makes Daniel feel a little better.
He casts a look over his shoulder when Johnny doesn’t answer and finds him humming noncommittally and gnawing on his lower lip. It’s almost as if he's tossing the thought around in his head for inspection first or reassessing everything about Daniel. Either way, the gears are turning.
"I’ll still beat you at the tournament, though." he says finally.
It almost makes Daniel laugh in disbelief.
“Gee thanks, Johnny.” he shakes his head “I’m so glad you’re still interested in kicking my ass. At least I didn’t fuck it up with you, huh? Gotta count my blessings.”
Johnny smirks.
“Don’t worry LaRousso, I’ll never let you out of my sight.”
There it is again, that tingling, and this time Daniel recognizes it for what it is. Adrenaline flooding his veins like he’s gearing up for a fight. But also different.
He inhales sharply but the breath stutters on its way in and Johnny must notice it because he takes another step, bringing them chest to chest and forcing Daniel to angle his head back in order not to lose eye contact with the taller boy.
The tingling intensives to the point that he’s almost shaking but not quite, not yet and not for Johnny.
“Me either.” Daniel finally replies, feeling lightheaded suddenly, fearless.
“I know. Caught you looking when you thought I wouldn’t notice.” Johnny says "Makes me wonder if you see something you like."
"Could ask you the same." Daniel swallows, feels the heat pulsing in his cheeks."Cause it sounds like you got eight more eyes on me."
Johnny scoffs out a laugh like he can't believe Daniel's nerves.
"You know you're starting to make me think this is what really does it for you."
"What is?"
"Flirting with disaster."
Daniel's eyes go wide, the words throwing him off his rhythm, because what the hell.
And Johnny, sensing the opening, brings his fists up in a flash. It's a feint, just one of Johnny's cocky games, Daniel realizes, too late, as his reflexes take over and he quickly jumps back a step. But that is where the ground stops.
Daniel feels himself tipping, feels the undertow of the emptiness sucking his back down the ravine. But Johnny's faster than even that and catches Daniel's slim wrists before he can fall. He comes to a halt, dangerously balancing on the edge, more rocks coming loose under his heels and skittering down the hill.
There's a moment, in which time seems to split. Suddenly, there are two Daniels. One who's hanging over the brink of the hill, suspended by Johnny's grip and the counterweight of his body and another one who's already free falling, inevitably tumbling through the air towards the glowing city lights and his certain demise.
Daniel's heart is beating out of his chest with honest fear not knowing which one he is for a second but Johnny's strength proves true and he pulls, pulls him up almost effortlessly and puts him back on his feet.
Daniel stumbles forward, clammy with cold sweat, and a few steps past Johnny into safe terrain before his knees give out.
The world around him spins as if part of him is still falling but the ground underneath his hands, the sand and rock between his fingers, are real. Daniel is saved.
It takes a few seconds of measured breathing before Daniel manages to compose himself but then he whips around to face Johnny and shouts. "The hell, man! That wasn't funny! You almost killed me!"
"Don't be dramatic, I told you I'm saving it for the tournament." Johnny snorts like he thinks this is all real fucking funny, just one big game.
He steps towards Daniel holding out one hand to help him up. But Daniel can't believe he let his guard down around this massive jerk for one second, like some fool, and smacks it away.
"I'm not dramatic! I'm just not crazy like you!"
Daniel jumps to his feet, positively furious now, and shoves Johnny as hard as he can. But the other boy moves backwards with the force of the impact, goading Daniel further away from the edge, feet light, step sure.
"Yeah? Then why do you keep pushing, huh?" Johnny demands, brow creased, and with an easy turn of his hips he spins their bodies, swapping positions and changing the direction of their movements to Daniel’s disadvantage.
It's infuriating and momentarily forgetting all about balance, all about defense Daniel charges, really telegraphs his punch.
For Johnny it's an easy thing to dodge the first throw and the next one that's even more desperate too. Daniel realizes he's being played with, that he's being led around in something like an angry dance. But again that knowledge comes too late and he makes the mistake of letting his steps carry him too close to Johnny who promptly uses his momentum to turn them both a second time, with effortless grace, and then hook a foot around Daniel’s ankle, sweeping his leg.
Daniel slams back and into the side of the car that's suddenly too close but he doesn’t fall, manages to keep himself up with one hand against the door.
Johnny is not done with him, though. He moves in, grabs Daniel by the front of his shirt and pulls him up to his eye level, leaving the shorter boy no choice but to follow until his toes are barely scraping the ground and he has to hold on to Johnny's wrists for balance.
Johnny is red in the face, breath crashing hard on Daniel's lips, wearing the same mix of emotions Daniel is experiencing. It's anger and confusion and frustration and something else that burns so brightly in their veins that it makes them blind to its nature.
"Tell me LaRousso. Why do you keep coming back like you just can't get enough?" Johnny pants and shakes him once "Why do you keep haunting me?"
Daniel's fingers clench and unclench in the material of Johnny's red jacket. He doesn't know, only knows that he won't go belly up and surrender for him. But his eyes, as they haunt across his rival's face in search of an answer, get stuck on Johnny's lips. They're so close to his that they're almost sharing the same breath.
Johnny makes a wounded noise somewhere deep in the back of his throat and opens his fists, drops Daniel back on his feet. But the hands on Daniel don't disappear, instead they move up to cup his face.
Daniel gasps in surprise but Johnny's mouth closes over his and swallows the sound whole.