One shots || Jake and Johnnie

Mental hospital || Johnnie & Jake

Johnnie is doing really bad mentally, so bad that he decides to check himself into a mental hospital. While he's in there he sees someone he thought he would never see again.

(TW: Depression, self harm)
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Johnnie sat with his back against the bare white walls inside of the mental hospital corridor, the sterile smell of antiseptic was filling his nostrils. He looked down at his trembling hands, still unfamiliar with a space that smelled less like home and more like a froce. He saw a small bookshelf filled with self-help books in the corner. It was a far cry from his normal life he curated on his YouTube channel.

He had hoped this stay would help to lift the fog of depression that had wrapped itself tightly around his thoughts. But the familiar ache in his chest reminded him that even though he got help, the past would continio to feel like a heavy shadow over him.

"Remember what I said about letting things go in the past?" Johnnie murmured to himself, the irony not lost on him. The truth was, he was no longer sure if he could even let it go anymore.

So much had been happening in Johnnie's life laitely. After he filled 28 his life has been worse then ever, but he could still remember it all way to clearly.

Jake and Johnnie had started an argument over something stupid, both of them said things they maybe shouldn't have said. That night, Jake moved out. He left Johnnie at the house and went to live his own life again, And Johnnie havn't heard from Jake since then. That was two years ago now.

And now he sat in a mental hospital once again, waiting for his first therapy session, then he heard familiar footsteps echoing in the hallway. He looked up, expecting maybe a nurse or another patient, but instead he was met with a sight that made his heart stop. Jake.

"Johnnie?" Jake's voice was tentative, a mixture of surprise and concern. He hadn't changed much, still had the same long hair and the kind smile that felt so distant.

"Jake... What are you doing here?" Johnnie couldn't keep the edge of confusion from his tone.

"Uh, well... I'm here for a few reasons," Jake began, pausing as he searched for the right words. "I guess it's a long story."

"I've got time," Johnnie replied, trying to mask the surprise that tinged his voice. The two of them hadn't spoken in years. Neither had reached out after the fallout, it was easier that way.

Jake shifted uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't think I would see you here of all places. I mean, I thought you were doing better?"

"I was... I guess." Johnnie's gaze fell to the floor. "But things got bad again. Really bad. So, I checked myself in." Johnnie said as he itched at his arm, his relapse eating his brain away.

A silens passed, thick with unspoken feelings. Johnnie felt an urge to dive deeper, to address the issiuse of the past, but he hesitated. Would it matter now?

"What about you, though?" Johnnie finally managed. It felt strange to inquire after someone he had once known so well. "I didn't think you had... issues."

Jake took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Well, I didn't either. But after my little sister passed away last year, everything changed. It's been hard to cope, you know? I didn't want to feel like I was drowning alone, so I came here."

"I... I'm sorry," Johnnie said, genuine regret filling his voice. "I had no idea."

"It's okay," Jake said, though Johnnie could see the pain flickering in his eyes. "I didn't talk about it. Just bottled it all up, like we used to do. But then I realized, like you, that I needed help."

They stood in silence for a moment, an awkward distance layered with their shared history. Slowly, old memories began resurfacing, gaming marathons, cooking disasters, and late-night talks about everything and nothing. Each memory sliced through the tension, hinting at a friendship that they once had.

"Do you remember that time..." Jake started, a small smile creeping onto his face. "When we tried to bake a cake for your birthday and ended up setting off the fire alarm?"

Johnnie chuckled, despite himself. "How could I forget? I thought we'd somehow managed to ruin your grandma's recipe for life."

"Yeah!" Jake laughed, the sound lightening the mood. "It was completely burned, and we ended up ordering pizza instead. Best decision we ever made."

Embracing the laughter pushed away some of the heaviness, if only for a moment. But the solace quickly faded into a more serious atmosphere.

"Johnnie," Jake said softly, breaking the moment. "I know we had our differences, but I'm here for you. If you want to talk, about anything, you don't have to go through this alone again."

Johnnie searched Jake's eyes and saw not only sincerity but also the beginnings of reconciliation. He wanted to accept the offer, but a part of him held back, still raw from years of sadness and loneliness.

"I... I appreciate that, Jake. Really," he replied. "I just need some time to process. It's all a lot to take in."

"Of course," Jake nodded. "Take all the time you need. Just remember, we have each other's backs. No matter how long it's been."

They exchanged smiles, a mall gestures of forgiveness that sparkled like light through the dark clouds. Johnnie felt a flicker of hope within him, a warmth indicating that perhaps healing wasn't just a solitary journey.

As they returned to their separate routines, Johnnie couldn't help but feel that this unexpected reunion might signal a new chapter, one where friendships could could help him out of this darkness, and where two old friends could reconcile their past while forging a hope filled future.

Maybe, just maybe, they would find their way from the darkness together.

.