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“Want some, Kung Lao?” Johnny offered the other man. They were at Johnny’s place while they ate some random things from the fridge.
“Nah,” Kung Lao waved his hand in the air, “I’m as full as I can be.” He declared as he rubbed his stomach. “Anyway, do you think Kenshi could stay here for the night?”
Johnny looked up with an eyebrow raised “Takahashi? I didn’t know he was in town.”
“Yeah, well, Raiden and I are gonna go out. You two should join us.”
“You and your boyfriend?” Johnny teased, with a knowing smirk. “Don’t wanna third wheel.”
A soft shade of pink covered Kung Lao’s face, “Shut it.. that’s so weird.”
Johnny’s smile faltered for just a second, “weird? Because you guys are just friends, right?”
“Yeah and because we’re both guys.”
That made Johnny pause. That’s a problem? Of course it is… obviously, “ah, yeah… I… forgot that detail,” Johnny lied. “You act so much like a damsel in distress,” he tried to play off his uncomfortableness.
Kung Lao scoffed, “yeah. Whatever, Johnny.”
———
Kenshi walked in the house. Johnny was leaning on the counter contemplating Kung Lao’s comment.
“Johnny?” Kenshi called, causing Johnny to snap his head up.
Johnny rushed over to Kenshi’s side “Oh! Kenshi!”
“You.. okay?”
“Course! You…” Johnny looked around Kenshi, “have any luggage? Or- how long are you staying, again?”
“Oh, I don’t know yet. My break from work lasts the rest of the week. I could stay somewhere else tomor-“
“Here’s some money to get clothes tomorrow,” Johnny interrupted, pushing cash into Kenshi.
“Absolutely not, Cage. You know I don’t take money from you.”
“Yeah! And I don’t see why! I’m a millionaire.” Johnny flashed his signature grin, and although Kenshi couldn’t see it, he could almost hear Johnny smiling at him.
“I have money, Cage.”
“Don’t waste it.”
“That’s something I should say to you.” Kenshi scolded.
Johnny huffed, “I’m not wasting it, Kenny! You need clothes, don’t you?”
“Cage…”
“I mean, can a guy not buy something for his best friend?? I don’t get it. I offer you money—nothing crazy!! It could be, like, a twenty and you wouldn’t take it! I’m not pi-“
“Johnathan.”
That shut Johnny up immediately. Anyone else he would’ve rolled his eyes but Kenshi sounded so.. serious that it made him shiver slightly.
“Show me my room, please.” Kenshi sighed.
“Yeah, yeah,” Johnny grumbled. He turned to walk away, but then he remembered Kenshi might not be able to navigate well.
Johnny turned back and gently grabbed Kenshi’s wrist before pulling him along.
While Kenshi was getting settled, Johnny sat on a couch placed under the window. He was thinking hard about Kung Lao’s comment.
Was it really that weird..? Of course, Johnny knows that he shouldn’t take Kung Lao’s words so seriously but…
“Johnny?” Kenshi called, softly. Almost like he was looking for Johnny.
“Yes?”
Kenshi tilted his head slightly “Are you… okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Johnny asked, confused as to why Kenshi thought he might’ve been in distress.
“You’re thinking hard. You’re not quiet unless you’re thinking about something,” Kenshi analyzed.
“Break down how I breathe next, huh?”
Kenshi crossed his arms, “Cage.”
“It’s nothing, Ken,” Johnny sighed. “I think I’m just a little antsy is all.”
“You should stay in the room with me for the night,” Kenshi offered, “I know you sleep better with other people near.
Johnny looked up at Kenshi. He couldn’t believe Kenshi remembered that detail about him. Especially since Johnny had told Kenshi it just because they were talking, meaning that Kenshi really did listen to Johnny.
Then, Johnny remembered how weird that’d be. It’s worse that he finds himself enjoying the thought of being safe near someone, like Kenshi, while he sleeps.
“No, that’s weird.” Johnny blurted.
Kenshi was slightly taken aback, “weird?”
“…Yeah. Weird. A guy sleeping next to another guy? Ridiculous.” Johnny let out a dry chuckle with his words.
“That doesn’t seem very weird to me.” Kenshi shrugged.
“It sounds gay, ya know?” Johnny clarified.
Kenshi’s expression hardens slightly, “how old are we, Johnny? There’s nothing wrong with that and you know it. Plus, we don’t mean it in that way.”
“Of course there’s something wrong with it!”
“How so??”
“It’s weird!” Johnny was mostly trying to convince himself now.
Kenshi shook his head, “it is not, Cage. You know that. I know you know that. What’s gotten into you?”
“Maybe I’ve seen that it’s not normal for a guy to be with another guy.” Johnny declared.
Kenshi paused. “What’s happening, Cage?” Kenshi asked as he tried to navigate the room. Johnny popped up and immediately helped Kenshi to the couch.
“Nothing, alright? I just think it’s strange.”
Kenshi angled his head towards Johnny’s voice, “You think love is strange?”
“Shouldn’t you know what I mean? You’re a Yakuza for Christ’s sake!”
Then it went dead silent. Johnny realized how he sounded, all because he wanted to be normal so bad.
“Were.. not—not…” Johnny corrected.
Kenshi interrupted swiftly, “it’s fine.” He said harshly. “You know that’s not part of me anymore. You’re just angry, but I can’t understand why, so it’s aggravating me,” he explained.
Johnny slumped next to Kenshi, tired of everything. He sighs, “Sorry.”
“Can’t you just tell me the problem?”
Johnny turns away, “It just feels… not normal.”
“Not normal?” Kenshi shifts, as if he could see Johnny in front of him.
“I want to be normal, Takahashi. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“…Normal or not, you’re still a beautiful person. Flaws, which are plentiful—“
“Ouch.”
“—still make you, you. And that’s perfect in itself, you know that, right? Normal is boring, and you, Johnny Cage, are the opposite of boring.”
Johnny about cried then and there. He couldn’t bring himself to even try and look up because the tears would pool out. “Shit, Kenny…” he muttered as he tried to hide the shakiness of his voice. “It’s not just… that. I’m— I think I’m in love with someone.”
“Who?” Kenshi asked almost too quickly.
“No one you know,” Johnny lied, “but they’re a guy.”
“And? There is nothing wrong with that, Cage. Especially since your stupid charm works on everyone.”
“Except mysterious folk like you,” Johnny teased, trying to lighten his own mood.
Kenshi shook his head, “no. Even on me.”