The Alley [Johnten]

1.3

Johnny's POV

Johnny's heart had missed about three beats as he awoke suddenly to a loud noise coming from across the small house he shared with Ten. Initially, he feared an intruder, but as he looked at the couch he had left the other boy on and saw that it was now empty, he became truly terrified.

Johnny jumped up from the armchair he had situated himself on to stay close to Ten. Ignoring the slight pain in his neck from the uncomfortable sleeping position, he began running towards Ten's room.

However, before he could make it to the younger boy's room, he heard a tired sob come from the bathroom he was passing. Johnny stopped dead in his tracks, turned to the door and opened it slowly. What he saw as he finally entered the bathroom would be an image he would never be able to forget.

There Ten was, staring up at him from a laid out position on the cold tile floor. His glassy eyes staring directly at Johnny with one of the most pained expression the older boy had ever seen.

Johnny reacted quickly, instantly running to Ten. He had planned to help ten up, tell him that everything was going to be okay, and then bring him to his room. Unfortunately, Johnny's plan was completely ruined when he attempted to reach his hand out to Ten.

"N-no please, please don't touch me Johnny. Please."

Those were the first words Ten had uttered since his attack, and they shattered Johnny's very being. 

Johnny understood of course, but now he was at a complete loss for how to help Ten. How was he meant to help his bestfriend off the bathroom floor if he couldn't even make contact with him? 

This is when Johnny realized that perhaps it wasn't quite time to fix anything yet, maybe all Ten really needed right now was comfort. So, Johnny chose to comfort Ten with the first thing that came to his mind, maybe Ten just needed to know he wasn't alone. 

With that thought, Johnny lowered himself to the floor and mirrored the Thai boy's position. The two boys now lay face-to-face, their hands inches apart between of them. The boys remained in this position, Ten crying and Johnny staring, for a few moments before Johnny finally decided to speak up.

"It's okay if I lay here with you, right?" 

Johnny had intended for this to break the ice, but ultimately it made Ten's sobs return. He quickly continued to speak.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, don't cry."

Ten's response came from trembling lips, his eyes glued shut in a desperate attempt to stop the tears,

"I- I'm so sorry" was all he could manage to utter.

"Sorry for what Ten? You didn't do anything. It's okay."

"I'm sorry you have to take care of me Johnny. I'm so sorry I'm so weak."

Johnny's eyes widened, he quickly responded,

"Hey, open your eyes, look at me." Johnny whispered in a soothing tone, when Ten obeyed, Johnny looked him directly in the eyes and continued,

"You did nothing wrong, you are anything but weak. I'm going to help you through this in any way, okay? I'm going to be here the whole time, whenever you need me, do you understand? You don't have to do this alone, none of it. I would lay on this bathroom floor for the rest of my life if it brought you comfort. I'm here for you, I always will be."

With that, Johnny stretched out his hand ever so slightly and intertwined his pinky finger with Ten's. He didn't want to overwhelm the other boy, but he knew that Ten needed to understand that Johnny was truly there for him.

Ten opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. As tears continued to stream down his face. He accepted Johnny's gesture by slowly intertwining their hands completely. 

Now they lay in the bathroom, holding hands as Johnny whispers comforting words to Ten as the tears slowly diminish, eventually stopping and allowing Ten to drift to sleep once again.