Chapter Text
It’s moments like this when Johnny wonders why he didn’t leave Chicago sooner. Do not misunderstand, he will always have love for his hometown and misses it, his family and his friends that he left behind 3 years ago like something fierce. That being said, nights like this are hard to come by back home. He is at some house party that his roommate dragged him to - well Johnny says he was dragged but honestly it really did not take too much convincing to get Johnny out of the studio for the night. Johnny had been spending so many nights trying to perfect his long anticipated debut album, that he was slowly getting sick of the sound of his own voice for the first time in his life.
So needless to say, Johnny really needed this night to get back to a version of himself that he could at least sort of recognise. When Johnny first moved to LA part of him - and all of his forever ego boosting mother - had expected success to just happen. Sure, he knew that he was going to have to work hard, but it was only after a year in the city of angels - and with way less money than he left home with - did he realise that hard work is not always enough. It was only after he met his roommate, Ten, that things started to look up.
Johnny has known Ten for well over a year now and he is only just accepting that the Thai man will always be an enigma to him. He remembers meeting him, at another house party just like the one that he is at now, and falling a little in love with him in about 8 seconds. Johnny might have fallen the rest of the way if Ten hadn’t taken Johnny under his wing and introduced him to all his industry friends at the party. Turns out what Johnny was missing was not hard work, but connections - and Ten had a lot of them. It was quickly clear to Johnny that everyone at that party was a little in love with Ten, and none of them found it strange that Ten had somehow managed to pick up a stray wannabe singer-songwriter during the night, and was treating him like his new best friend. To be fair Johnny and Ten did become best friends that night, Johnny just needed a bit more time to get with the program.
Fast forward back to the present, and Johnny has been at this party for a couple hours now. The host is a friend of Ten’s and is clearly more than a little in love with Ten, and Ten seems to know it too, but is choosing not to do anything about it. Which is for the best Johnny thinks. If Ten went around confronting all of his friend’s who had at least a little crush on him then Ten would not have any friends left.
“So is the host going to get us some more drinks?” Ten asks, giving Kun a smile that Johnny would call flirty if he did not know better. Johnny is not sure if Kun knows better though, if the subtle way he perks up like an eager puppy is anything to go by.
“Anything for you, Babe.” Kun says with a smirk earning him an eye roll from Ten. Johnny’s eyebrow raises at the exchange. Kun turns to Johnny and asks him what he wants and Johnny declines, indicating the drink that he’s still halfway through. Kun nods and sends Ten a wink, which is ignored before heading off to get Ten’s drink.
“What the fuck was that?!” Johnny yells loudly over the music once Kun is safely out of range.
“Why do you always get so loud when you're drunk? I’m standing right next to you.” Ten gripes with a roll of his eyes, stealing Johnny’s drink from him.
“Chittaphon!” Johnny whines his voice only slightly softer. Ten lets out a long suffering sigh.
“Who knew my roomie could be this cute?! You Liiiiiiiikkkkeeee him!” Johnny sings, acting way drunker than he actually is.
“Calm down. Kun is just some guy I’m in love with. Don’t be so weird about it.” Ten says rolling his eyes, handing Johnny back his now empty drink.
“OMG! YOU FUCKING LOVE HIM!” Johnny yells in shock
“Did you just say eommhg?” Ten looks at Johnny like he is crazy.
“I’ve always wanted to give someone the shovel talk!” Johnny is giddy, now eagerly anticipating Kun’s return to get into protective best friend mode.
“Kun and I are just friends. Calm yourself John.”
“Why? Kun is obviously whipped for you.”
“I know that.” Ten says in a duh tone.
“So then why aren…”
“Youngho” Ten interrupts his voice even and face strategically neutral. Youngho ? Johnny ditches the drunk act and faces his friend with concern. Ten just shakes his head softly and puts on a small smile.
“Don’t worry about it Johnny Suh.” Johnny looks into Ten’s eyes, searching. Ten seems fine but he can’t help but worry.
“Is this another…. You know who situation?”
“You can say his name, he isn’t Voldemort.” Ten snorts, amused.
“You first.” Johnny challenges.
“I promise Johnny, this is not another Lucas situation.” Ten reassures affectionately patting Johnny’s shoulder.
“Would you tell me if it was?”
“Yes, John! Stop worrying about me! I’m a big boy now. I’ve learned my lesson.” At the genuine amusement in Ten’s tone at Johnny’s antics, Johnny relaxes and smiles.
Johnny is about to go back to teasing best friend mode when he spots him. Wow Johnny thinks to himself, and he knows that if he were to say that out loud, he’d be more than a little breathless. Standing across the room at this LA house party that he wasn’t even supposed to be at was the most good looking guy Johnny had ever seen. If Johnny were someone a little more cheesy he probably would say that this god of a man looked as if Prince Charming jumped out of his dreams with the one mission to steal his heart. Johnny likes to think that he’s better than such clichés, but still in his awestruck daze all he can manage is a breathy “Wow.”
Johnny is vaguely aware of Ten telling him to go talk to the beautiful stranger and Johnny almost does, if there is one thing that Johnny Suh has a lot of, it is confidence. He has never been one to not shoot his shot and this stranger, no matter how beautiful, is not going to be any different. Johnny is just about to make his way over when someone in the group the stranger is talking to says something and unintentionally kills Johnny's every ounce of bravery. Johnny watches the adonis as if in slow motion laugh at whatever is said. Watches the way his eyes start to disappear the harder he laughs and for a moment Johnny’s heart stops. How did he get even more beautiful? Johnny wonders to himself in awe. That laugh has Johnny feeling so warm and cozy that it makes him wonder how long had he been cold before.
“What’s up with Johnny?” Johnny doesn’t even know when Kun came back. Johnny is vaguely aware of Ten shrugging as he tries to come back to his senses.
“I’m fine.” Johnny reassures putting on a smile and turning to face them.
“I figured Ten would have gotten impatient and stolen your drink.” Kun says, handing Johnny a beer. Johnny is so grateful for the drink that he did not ask for that he decides right then to give Kun his full approval.
“You gonna talk to him?” Ten asks Johnny, no need to specify who he is talking about.
And Johnny considers it. Really he does. He pictures himself going over there with a simple ‘Hello’ to start. And because Johnny is tall, handsome and has a confidence about him that blurs the lines between ridiculous and sexy, that will be half the work done. If his stranger likes boys then Johnny will charm his way into a first date. He’ll pick a place fancy enough to impress him but still lowkey enough so that he does not look like he’s trying too hard. Johnny sees them going on little wine and coffee dates and falling in love. Johnny has never been into the rain but looking at the stranger he suddenly thinks that he could learn to love the rain if it leads to them standing close together under one umbrella. So close together that he can almost feel the other’s warmth. He imagines them moving in together after four months and Ten telling him that he’s crazy as if Ten isn’t spending most nights at Kun’s place. Johnny pictures the moments of vulnerability. Sharing tales of old lovers and heartbreaks. He imagines holding each other close because some scars still sting. He sees the fights. He sees the makes ups. He sees them missing each other while he’s on tour. He sees them missing each other those long nights when he's locked himself in the studio needing his music to be perfect, desperate for it. He sees them breaking up because it's all too much and they never see each other anymore. He sees Ten’s pitying gaze as he pointedly doesn't tell Johnny that he told him so. He sees himself dying his hair blonde and writing an album about him all while pretending that he is over their breakup. Johnny sees it all.
“I’m good.” Johnny answers Ten, who gives him a questioning look but ultimately lets it go. For the first time in his life, Johnny is too scared to talk to someone, but strangely Johnny is okay with that. The thing is Johnny does not need to cross the room and talk to the adonis. He already knows what he needs to know about the stranger. Johnny may not know the stranger’s name but he does know one thing. He loves him. He is In Love with him. And he’s perfectly fine with leaving it at that.