atelophobia 🖤 lawrusso

- 03 -

"Johnny, someone is here. You've got to get up, sweetheart." A warm hand rubbed up and down Johnny's back, and he groaned, closing his eyes tighter. Someone shook him gently, and a sweet voice drifted through his ears. "Someone at the door is waiting for you, honey. It's time to get up."

Forcing his eyes opened, Johnny peered up at his mother. She was smiling down at him, perfect as ever with her gently curled hair tumbling over her shoulders and those smile lines deep in her face. The corners of her eyes crinkled as she ruffled Johnny's hair and got up, tossing him a clean T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

"Thanks, Mom.." She waved and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Johnny got up, trying to remember who he had made such early plans with as he scrambled to pull on his outfit. As he tied the black cloth Ali had given him for Valentine's Day around his head, he remembered. Apprehension and excitement clashed in his stomach, and strangely, it made him feel sick. He felt himself getting paler as he tied his shoes with shaking hands and headed out of his room, walking through the winding hallways of his house and down the stairs. He could see Daniel standing in the entrance hall.

"Thanks, Mrs. Lawrence, but I'm really alright. I've got a water in the car, and my mom made eggs before I left." When Johnny approached, Daniel looked up, and his smile grew at least twenty sizes. It made zero sense for him to be happy with spending the day together, but for some reason the idiot seemed like he was already enjoying himself.

"Alright, if you're sure. Johnny, why don't you run into the kitchen and grab a breakfast bar or something? It's not good to exercise on an empty stomach." His mother smiled sweetly, and Johnny just nodded, turning and heading in the opposite direction. He paused and turned around, his mouth hanging opened stupidly as he stared at Daniel for a second.

"You can, uh, come with me, if you want.. You don't have to, just if you want." He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, hating the way he actually felt better when Daniel lit up and nodded, catching up in just two short strides. Johnny led him through his house, pointing out rooms quietly as they walked.

"That's where we usually watch television when we have guests. We have more TVs than necessary.. This is the kitchen. Usually someone cooks for us over the weekends, but my mom doesn't have a lot to do so she likes to do most of the housework herself on week days." He entered the kitchen and began sifting through the pantry, pulling out a box of breakfast bars. "Do you want one? You aren't allergic to anything, are you?" Daniel shook his head.

"No, I'm not allergic to anything, but I already ate. Thanks, though. You've got a really nice place." Daniel glanced around, visibly in awe of the size of the kitchen alone. Johnny found himself smiling a little as he put the box back. It was strange to him how easily he was settling in to Daniel's presence. It was almost comforting in a way, although he knew that if anyone besides his mother found out that he was spending time with LaRusso then he would be torn apart, and this time that old man wouldn't be there to save him.

"Thanks." Johnny let go of the cabinet door, turning around, only to hear the wooden panel slam shut of its own accord. He had forgotten that they just got the hinges redone. They moved closed by themselves if you didn't close it slowly. He flinched at the sound, holding his breath. He saw Daniel's watchful eyes and tried to play it off, fumbling with the wrapper of his breakfast bar. "Uh, we can get going whenever you want." Daniel seemed to be staring into his soul as he tore at the wrapper, fingers shaking slightly. He finally got it opened and took a small bite even though his stomach was churning like crazy.

"Alright, man. My car is outside. You're gonna have to remind me of how to get out of here, though." His eyebrow quirked, and he smiled goofily. Johnny first thought was that he looked stupid, but at the same time he had to admit that it was kind of silly. It put a small smile on his face and he pushed off of the counter he had been leaning on, heading out of the kitchen and leading the way back to the front of the house.