Work Text:
"How are you doing, Sensei?" Miguel asks.
"Okay. Good."
Miguel hesitates, trying to find the right words. "Because you are not looking okay, you are looking pretty bad. No offence."
Johnny shrugs. "I'm not sleeping."
"Are you having nightmares?" He says, lowering his voice as if he were trying to make it seem more reassuring, as if Johnny could confide in him. This is the problem of the new generations, he thinks, they think you should talk about things. Nobody wanted to talk about his nightmares after the tournament (it's a lie, Bobby wanted, he just ignored him) or after his mother's death (Shannon tried but she doesn't count).
"No." He shrugs again. "I'm just not sleeping at all."
"Oh. "Miguel says. "Is it because-"
"It's because you are annoying as shit. Now go, don't you have something to do? Do I have to put you to clean the dojo? "
"But we don't have a dojo, we have a par-"
Sometime when Miguel doesn't stop talking he reminds him LaRusso. Not that he wants to think about LaRusso now. Or ever.
"Go."
"Yes Sensei."
"How are you doing, Daniel san?" Kimiko asks.
Daniel stretches his arms and his back makes a few creaks. He is no longer used to sleeping in a futon. For a while he had it in his house but when he and Amanda got married she was very clear about the need to have a bed that was as far from the floor as possible.
"Good. Fine."
Kumiko raises an eyebrow and smiles at him. She doesn't ask anything more and he feels safe to say more.
"Maybe not properly fine but better."
"I'm glad." She passes him a bowl with Tamago Kake Gohan.
"Thanks, it looks delicious." and then "And thanks for everything."
"It's just breakfast food, Daniel-san." She laughs "And don't get used to it, I have to work today so tonight you can choose between cooking yourself or ordering something."
"I wasn't referring to breakfast." Although Kumiko's idea of doing it outdoors turned out to be perfect despite the barely warm sun "I was referring to everything else, to this. Let me stay with you for some time."
Kumiko doesn't say anything.
"I know I was a pain in the ass in the first days and I know it's not easy to have someone in your house when you are used to live alone, so if you want me to move on I can book a ryokan like the one where I was with Amanda and the kids anytime."
The mere thought of Amanda leaves a bitter taste in his mouth, as if his breakfast wasn't so good anymore.
"Don't worry, I'm used to living alone but I like people, even you from time to time. "
Kumiko looks at her watch, gets up and takes her bag. "Are you clearing the table here? I have a lesson in a little while and the girls are always early."
Daniel nods.
When he is at the door Kumiko turns to him and smiles again "You look better, Daniel-san. Not okay but better, a little more relaxed."
"You know? I'm sleeping like a baby these days."
"No you don't" Carmen says when he declares his love to her. And then she laughs. Which is frankly offensive because who laughs when you give her your big speech? A speech that was really good. Listen, Johnny isn't a writer but he has read Shakespeare in high school and that speech? Well, Billy would have something to learn from him.
"Yes I do." He says because he isn't some pussy, he's not going to take back what he said.
Carmen takes his hands (her hands are soft and something isn't right in the way her touch makes him feel.) "Johnny you were trying to getting back together with your ex from high school just a few weeks ago. "And when he tries to talk he adds" Miguel told me, he didn't know what happened between us. "
Fuck.
"I wasn't really really trying to get back together with her."
"I'm not angry with you. This ..." and she tries to point out everything that is between them, or that there isn't apparently "It's not spite. I have nothing to be angry about, but Johnny, I'm not in love with you."
"Ah. Ok."
"And you are not in love with me."
Oh.
"And I know you care about me, and Miguel and we care about you too but we can care about each other without being in love."
She caresses his hand again and Johnny thinks about his mother, thinks about Shannon with Robby, his draws on the fridge, thinks about think of Miguel trying to explain how a stupid video game works and think of Mr. Miyagi assisting Daniel before the tournament. Families. Now her touch seems more right.
He feels sad anyway.
Carmen hugs him.
They stay like this for a little while. Without speaking.
"Do you want to stay for dinner?" In the end Carmen asks him. "I'm sure Miggy would like it if I knew where he is right now."
Johnny shakes his head and he starts to get up. "I'm okay."
"Are you?"
He is not. "Yeah, sure. I'm just having some trouble sleeping."
"Are you having trouble falling asleep? Nightmares?"
"No, I just don't sleep at all."
"I don't get it, why nobody is singing? I know we're in a different time zone but it must be pretty late there too, the show has been running for hours. "
Daniel stretches on the small sofa in his Reseda apartment, his eyes wandering from the television to Johnny.
"I've already told you a million times, finishing so late is part of the fun!"
"But why is it part of the fun? Shouldn't listening to songs be fun?"
Daniel snorts. He stretches out on the couch again and his leg gets stuck between Johnny's.."It's not just the music, it's all the surroundings that make the Sanremo festival so great!"
Johnny shakes his head. "Do you at least have any idea what the guy is saying? Or anyone?"
"Of course I have it."
Johnny raises an eyebrow and exchanges an amused look with his mother who has come to sit with them on the sofa, a bowl of popcorn in her hands.
"Of course I have it!" He repeats scandalized. "My Italian is just a little bit rusty right now but I'm sure he just introduced Fiorella Mannoia."
"I understood that too, the singer's name is written on the TV."
"I understood it only by listening."
"Boys!" His mother intervenes. "Let me listen to the song in peace, please."
"Why did you come if you don't care? You could have stayed at your house, swimming in the pool or having some caviar served instead of enduring this boring Italian music festival in our crappy apartment." Daniel mumbles, curling up more on the couch and turning his back to him.
Johnny ruffles his hair, his hand lingers for a few seconds.
"Because if I remember correctly someone has insisted for days that I come to watch Sanremo with him."
"Really? I don't remember."
Johnny throws popcorn in his face.
They remain to listen to Fiorella Mannoia singing Quello che le donne non dicono in silence. For five seconds.
"Oh man, it's so great! The other years dad's uncle sent us the recording of Sanremo to watch but live is much cooler! We should always watch it live, right mom?"
"Sure, love."
"Johnny, did I tell you that mum was lucky enough to win a month's subscription to cable TV? And just in the month in which Sanremo is in Italy! She hadn't even told me that she had participated in any contest and boom: shw won! It's so great, man! So great!"
While he is talking, he hardly notices the caress that her mother gave Johnny while she reached out to take a glass of coke on the table.
"Why did you give him a caress? Why are you smiling at each other? What are you hiding from me?"
"Are you jealous, love? Are you the only one who can be charmed by Johnny Lawrece now?"
"Mom!"
Johnny laughs.
His mother lowers her tone of voice. "Don't worry sweetheart, I'm sure he only has eyes for you."
Johnny never blushed so quickly.
The sound of a telephone interrupts the moment. Daniel wakes up with a start and grabs the smartphone with his hand.
His eyes struggle for a few moments to focus on the room, almost as if he can't get back to reality. Which is not Reseda, the apartment he shares with his mother and a boy with a hand in his hair.
"Dad!" Sam's voice is cheerful on the phone. Japan. A futon. His girl on the phone. "Is it too early? Were you sleeping?"
"I was dreaming." He says.
"Today you are not very focused Diaz, the lesson is not interesting enough for you?"
Johnny shouts for the 10th time in the last hour.
"No sensei!"
"This is the last time I tell you, the next time I will make it interesting with fifty push-ups, would you prefer it?"
"No sensei!"
The lesson ends and Johnny approaches Miguel. "Are you okay? It's your back?" and then in a lower voice "I wasn't serious about the push-up, it's just to avoid favouritism in front of the other losers."
"I don't think calling them losers is the best way-"
"I called all of you losers, not just them. Got it? No favouritism, no favourite son."
Miguel smiles at him openly. "The back is fine, sensei."
"At home, everything okay?"
"Yeah yeah all right, I'm just a bit out of focus because Sam came home yesterday and we haven't seen each other in a long time and you know, I can't think of anything other than when we meet again tonight."
Johnny isn't sure that "you know it." At least not anymore.
"Is LaRusso finally back from China or where the fuck had he been?"
"What?" Miguel looks perplexed.
"LaRusso, that idiot."
"No no just Sam and her mother and brother. Sam said Mr. LaRusso stayed in Japan. She didn't go into details but he and his wife had some problems, I think he kind of had a nervous breakdown."
Typical of LaRusso to have a nervous breakdown like a boring soccer mom.
"Anyway they went to her grandparents for a couple of weeks because her mom needed support and now they're back in town. Finally." He says finally like now he can breathe again.
(Is LaRusso finally back? Finally.)
"And where the fuck is LaRusso?"
"In Japan, I think." And when something inside Johnny aches when Miguel says it. "Should I ask Sam?"
"No, why should you?"
"Because you just - nevermind." Miguel looks at his smartphone and begins to move more quickly, as if he were hopping. "Can I go? Does you need me for something? I'd like to drop by and buy some flowers for Sam or some sweets. Or a bouquet of octopuses. I don't know yet."
A bouquet of octopuses?
"No, go go. Not that there's anything to do here."
"Are you all right, Sensei?"
Johnny shrugs. "Fine. I'm just not sleeping."
Daniel wakes up with a start when the car takes a bump.
"Sorry Sleeping Beauty, my bad." Johnny Lawrence says.
"Where are we?" Daniel asks looking around. He recognizes the inside of his car but it's dark outside and he can't see a shit.
"Three hours from Reseda." Johnny answers flatly. "You fell asleep shortly after we left."
"But why did we leave? Where are we going?" There are two duffel bags in the back seat, one probably belongs to Johnny.
"We lost, Daniel." Johnny said.
"What? What have we lost? Why are you calling me Daniel?"
"I always call you Daniel. Don't you remember?" Johnny asks. "Sam lost the All Valley tournament. We lost to Kreese and we have to leave."
"But to go where? Why?"
"We promised, Daniel."
"But he's a killer! Why do we have to be the one to leave? We should have called the police"
"We promised, Daniel."
"But what about Amanda? Sam? Robby?"
"We couldn't take them with us, they'll be fine. They'll be better. Don't worry, LaRusso."
"What about us? Will we be okay, Johnny?"
Johnny takes his hand. Daniel feels safe. "We'll be fine."
He wakes up still smiling.
"How did the call with Sam go?" Kumiko asks him. They are sitting in a cafe near her dance school.
"Good, I think. She told me how it went with her grandparents, I think they spoiled her disgustingly. She didn't talk about her school and her friends, only about Miguel but she looked calmer, better. "
"And Amanda?"
Daniel shrugs and slides into his chair. "We talked only about work, about what to do with the home insurance. She said that if we want to sell the house, perhaps it is better to do a more neutral renovation, nothing to fancy." He doesn't say why they're thinking of selling it, he doesn't talk about the moment when Amanda told him about a smaller house just for the three of them and Kumiko doesn't ask him anything.
"I'm sure they miss Daniel-san very much."
"Are you? I'm not sure they're not better off without me." And his mind goes back to Johnny's voice in his dream.
"Have you ever regretted?"
Kumiko looks puzzled. "About what?"
"Have you ever wondered how it would have turned out if we had stayed together?"
Her laugh is genuine, clear. "I would say that this answers my question."
Kumiko takes his hand, Daniel remembers the embarrassment of the first physical contact when they finally met again after so many years together, so different from the naturalness that is now in that gesture.
"No that's not an answer. I don't know, maybe. When I was younger, when the dance school in Tokyo seemed too difficult I allowed myself to think about a future together on the other side of the world. It was a beautiful fantasy and you were always my hero coming to save me. " Daniel can almost imagine that Kumiko lying on the bed in her room, with her feet aching, her head resting gently on the pillow. For a little moment it is as if they had remained in that time together. "But I'm happy with my life- I'm happy with the places I've visited, the music I've heard, the people I've met. I am even happy with the relationships where I was the hero of the story and where no one came to save me. I'm happy with where my life took me, aren't you?"
"I don't know. I don't know if it got me somewhere at all. I never seem to be able to go on. I'm stuck."
"Maybe you're not stuck, maybe you're in that place because there's something you don't want to let go of, you don't want to leave."
Daniel thinks about Johnny on the floor of the Cobra Kai. Daniel thinks about Johnny saying "We won't lose."
When was he ever able to let go of something related to Johnny Lawrence?
"What are you doing, sensei?" Miguel asks entering his apartment.
The room is in dim light and Johnny is sprawled on the couch with hot water bottles under his feet and what looks like an ice-cold bottle of vodka on his forehead.
"Come on, don't make any noise I'm falling asleep."
Except no, he's not falling asleep because they're talking.
Miguel hesitates staying at the door (at least a smart choice since in the dark he can't see the floor of the apartment well and knowing the sensei there could be anything, including a crocodile ready to kill him. Or more easily some toxic waste.)
"Why do you have that thing on your head? Are you trying to reheat the vodka you left in the freezer after the microwave fiasco?"
(A power move. They don't talk about the microwave fiasco)
"I saw it in an internet video. This former doctor said the best way to get to sleep is to put something warm under your feet and something very cold on your head."
"It doesn't sound like something a doctor would say."
"She said it, Diaz. She also had the white coat and everything."
Miguel doesn't seem convinced. "Are you sure you went to youtube and not some illegal site, sensei?"
Johnny takes the bottle off his forehead. "It wasn't that kind of coat, dummy. I know how to recognize them."
"Oh. Okay. I guess you still have problems with insomnia. Is it working?"
Johnny sighs. "No."
"Oh." Miguel thinks for a moment, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "Do you want me to ask my mother to arrange a meeting with a psychologist for you?"
" Please, psychologists are for pussies!"
"I went to a psychologist after the fall."
"And that's perfect for you, but I don't believe in these things."
He could talk to LaRusso if he came back. But he has not returned. He saved Johnny's life and then left, without taking responsibility for it.
Miguel is not sure if with these things he refers to medicines or psychologists or to talk instead of fighting.
"Maybe the problem is the bottle because it rolls, I can get some frozen peas from our house."
"That would be perfect, thanks."
"I will be right back." As he is about to close the door he holds back a moment "You know? Moon once said that when you can't sleep it's because you're awake in someone else's dreams."
"And that's why you should never listen to a hot babe when she talks."
The Cobra Kai's door is open and the room is barely lit. Johnny is on the floor, John Kreese on him, and Daniel can hear him emit some strangled cough.
A few more minutes, maybe even a few seconds and what will be in front of him will be a lifeless body, he knows it. But there is still time, he can still do something, he can still intervene, he can still stop Kreese and save Johnny.
Daniel tries to move a step but his leg doesn't cooperate. A jolt of pain runs through it, at the exact spot where Johnny had hit him at the tournament, and suddenly Daniel is sixteen again and is in the All Valley Tournament parking lot too scared to move as John Kreese tries to kill Johnny.
Move move move he says to his leg but just like that time he's stuck. Johnny is choking and he can't do anything and he's so scared (he's so angry).
Move move move he says to his leg. Wait for me, I'm almost there, he tells Johnny. I'm almost there, I'm on my way. Wait for me, please.
He wakes up with a start, in a cold sweat.
"I woke you up?" He asks Kumiko as he sees her walk into the kitchen. She walks past him, a hand gently stroking the back of his neck as she leans against the sideboard to pull out a cup.
"Every now and then I crave tea at night, would you like a cup Daniel-san?"
Daniel nods gratefully.
"Bad dreams?"
"Bad memories."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
They remain silent for a few minutes, the city asleep outside the window and the light from the stove illuminating the room.
Daniel sighs. "He will never forgive me."
Kumiko looks at him questioningly but asks nothing.
"Mr. Miyagi." he adds. "He will never forgive me." He sighs trying to find the right words, trying to stop himself from saying everything "I was going to kill a man, you know? That's what I was dreaming of, that night. I was going to kill a man. If Sam hadn't come with Miguel maybe I would have really done it. Killer instinct, he said, but it isn't true it wasn't an instinct I thought about it, I saw Johnny on the floor like that time in the parking lot and I made a choice. I ran away from those words all my life and then I ran to meet them. "
"Daniel-san."
"He will never forgive me."
"Oh Daniel-san, Mr. Miyagi loved you very much."
"And I have become the opposite of what he believed in. I really did a good job. He would have been really proud of me."
"He was proud of you and I know he still his. But maybe it's not his forgiveness that's the problem, maybe it's the fact that you can't forgive yourself."
Daniel lets himself go to a snort "I run to the other side of the world because I can't even look myself in the face, I would say that forgiveness is far away."
"You know, you may not be able to look yourself in the face yet but I really like the person I see in front of me. Maybe you should try to give him a chance, try to know him, all of him, even the parts you tried to hide under the rug, maybe in the light they are less scary."
They remain silent for a few moments drinking their tea.
"Daniel-san? The person you were trying to protect that night, it was worth it?"
We won't lose.
"Yes."
Remedies for insomnia:
Drink as many coors banquet as possible until you collapse. Already tried, I ended up throwing up on the toilet. Woke up feeling like I haven't slept at all, useless.
Eat 20 mini pizzas because digestion makes you sleepy. Ended up on the toilet again.
Having someone beat me (could Bobby do it? As friend) Until I pass out.
Go to a psychologist. No way, psychologists are for quitters.
Hypnosis. Search for videos on the internet.
Meditation. Call LaRusso and ask him about his wanker breathing techniques. LaRusso is not here and maybe he will never come back and you don't have to think about him.
Chloroform. Look for stores that sell it online.
Talk to someone about insomnia. He won't come back, idiot. don't think about him. he saved you one time, he can't do again.
Sam runs towards him, her shoes untied, the somewhat uncertain gait of someone who has grown 10cm in a very short time and doesn't yet know where to put them. Daniel embraces her in his arms and whirls her into the air.
"Dad! Dad! When will Mr. Miyagi arrive?"
"He said 12.30, sweet pea. Do you remember how to read the watch your mom gave you? When this arrives here" he says pointing to the numbers "Mr. Miyagi will ring our bell."
Sam stares seriously at the clock trying to memorize the information. "I got it."
"Now go to your mother in the dining room, while I start lighting the grill." He places her gently on the floor.
"Dad! Will Mr. Miyagi stay long enough to meet Robby?"
"Sweetheart, Robby is having lunch with his mother today but Shannon said she will bring him to us for a snack, I'm sure Mr. Miyagi will wait for him if you ask."
"Because he has to see our number." Sam waves him over and whispers in his ear "Robby and I have invented a secret karate show but you can't tell anyone, it's a surprise only for Mr. Miyagi."
"Then I'm sure we'll find a way for him to see it."
Sam's face lights up.
"Do you promise?"
"Sure, honey. Go now or we won't be able to eat anything."
As he walks into the garden he meets Amanda on the couch with a martini in her hand. "Do you need help out there?"
"Don't worry, you are a guest."
"Oh my favourite word." Amanda glances at the bedroom "Is he still in there?"
Daniel shrugs. "Probably, unless he went out the window."
"Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No no it's my job," Daniel says with a long sigh.
"Yes it is. Let me know if I have to turn up the music to avoid traumatizing again our little daughter."
"Amanda! It was only once!"
"I'm sure you'll repeat these words in twenty years for $ 150 per hour."
Daniel knocks on the door. The groan he can hear decides to interpret it as a permit to enter.
Johnny is sitting on the bed in front of an open wardrobe.
"Oh I see, the big question: which 80's band t-shirt is best suited for a casual lunch in the garden and which one goes best with a gala dinner with silver cutlery. Not a simple decision."
"Asshole." Johnny retorts back.
Daniel sits next to him, placing a kiss on the back of his neck.
"If you want my opinion the red shirt is the right choice. You are sexy in red. Or no shirt, you are even better."
"Ha, really funny."
"One of the two must be.You can be the grumpy one."
Johnny doesn't answer.
"Come on, it's not possible that every time we invite Mr. Miyagi you will react this way."
"Of course it's possible, he hates me."
"He doesn't hate you."
"Did he ever tell you? Did he ever tell you specifically Daniel-san I don't hate Johnny Lawrence."
"Well ..." Daniel hesitates. "No."
"See? I can still break through the window and leave."
"To be honest he never even said he didn't hate me."
"Funny, Daniel, very funny."
"Oh no, you even call me Daniel, it must be a really dramatic situation." Daniel throws a playful punch at him "Come on man, you know very well he doesn't hate you."
"Why shouldn't he? After all I've done to you? I'd hate anyone who treated Robby like that."
"Because he knows me. Mr. Miyagi knows what you did to me then and he knows what you did years later." Daniel takes his face in his hands and places a quick kiss on his lips. "He knows what you do every day."
"You are so cheesy, LaRusso."
"And he is back. I missed you, it's good to have you here again. Now dress yourself and come to the garden with me, you don't want to miss today's lunch. Our children have a secret karate number."
"Really? I can't wait to take one of them to the hospital then."
Johnny gets up and goes to the closet.
"There is no hope of you choosing the shirtless option, right?"
"In your dreams, LaRusso."
"Doesn't seem like a good idea." Bert says shaking his head.
"It's not but, trust me, the others were much worse." Miguel replies.
"How can it be worse than keeping the Sensei awake for 48 hours straight in the hope that after the sleep will come for real?"
"One involved chloroform." He sighs. "Hey don't stop slamming the lids, the noise must be unbearable." then he turns to Johnny standing leaning against the door jamb (he decided after several thoughts that this was the most uncomfortable position) "Sensei don't fall asleep, we're only 29 hours straight!"
"But why can't we just use an mp3?" Bert retorts again.
"Because mp3 wouldn't check if he's sleeping or not!" Obvious.
"I'm pretty sure my mom isn't paying for my karate lessons for me to end up playing pots and lids."
"Don't be a pussy, Bert" Johnny mumbles "With the thin arms you have you would be honoured to fight against a lid."
"Don't worry I already called Demetri" Miguel whispers " He will come to replace you in a couple of hours. If you see him starting to close his eyes, there is ice water. Or hot coffee but I'm not sure about that one."
"How did this happen? How did you get distracted? Dem, you only had one job!"
"Listen, I needed to read about the new GOT's spinoff, I certainly couldn't wait untilyour return to see the photos of Matt Smith with the wig. It would have happened to anyone."
They stand in silence staring at Johnny curled up on the floor, his mouth half open, completely asleep.
"And now?"
Demetri shrugs. "I don't know, but he looks happy."
Johnny does not recognize the place where it is. The road is dusty, a lot of people passing by. He doesn't know where he is but he doesn't feel lost. He feels safe.
A little girl runs towards him, her bare feet dirty with mud, her hair tied in a braid. She takes his hand and drags him to a small square.
"This way, this way! Hurry Johnny-san!" She tells him in an unknown language which he can understand.
On a stage some girls dance, a small audience has gathered to see them. Nobody seems to notice his arrival, except one person.
"I was waiting for you." LaRusso tells him. "I asked you every night to come and get me." He smiles at him. "I knew it was worth it. I knew you were worth it."
"I'm gonna miss you."
"You too. Text me when you arrive, let me know how are the kids. And you, Daniel-san."
"I wouldn't be here without you.You saved my life."
"It was a good life, I'm sure that someone will buy me a coffee for this."
"I hope so."
"Miguel! Can you open a punchstarter for me?"
"What?"
"A Punchstarter! That thing you do on the internet where you ask for help paying for a brain surgery or some shit like that."
"A kickstarter," and then widening his eyes, his voice already a little broken"Are you sick, Sensei? Is it the brain? The heart? No no it's the liver, I know, all those coors banquets it was obvious that it would happen . "
"It's nothing, dummy. I need the money for a ticket to go to China."
"In China?" Miguel frowns.
"Yes in China or where the fuck LaRusso ended up." he starts wandering around the house looking for something, throws a couple of pillows in the air and then pops open the refrigerator "I knew my passport was here! I knew it!"
"Mr. Larusso is not in China, Sensei."
"Oh Diaz don't start with that politically correct bullshit. China, Japan, Vietnam it's all the same. Now help me with that punchstarter."
"No no it wasn't a criticism of his racism, although it could be a problem, it's that Mr. LaRusso came home yesterday morning."
"What?"
"Sam told me on the phone, she didn't come to school today to be with her dad. I think they had a sleepover yesterday night at Miyagi-do or something like that since he doesn't live with them anymore. Where are you going?"
"Where the fuck were you at?"
"Good morning to you too, Johnny. You look great, I'm fine thanks just a little jet-leg." LaRusso rubs his eyes and leans against the Miyagi-do door without inviting him to enter.
"I look like crap, asshole. Where the fuck have you been?"
"In Japan."
"In Japan? In Japan?" Johnny raises his voice "In high school, wherever I turned, you were always there. With my girlfriend, with your ridiculous camo pants. Even with crutches you could always be in my way. And your stupid billboards everywhere and We kick the competition, may I ever think of anything else, may I ever try to move on. "
"Do I have to apologize for advertising my dealership without thinking about Johnny Lawrence's feelings?"
"You have to apologize because you disappeared into thin air for weeks." And he said it.
"Johnny."
"After that night. You saved my life and disappeared. For years you were everywhere and when I was finally ready to see you you disappeared."
"I wasn't."
"What?"
"Ready. To see you, maybe. To let you see me, mostly. Not after that night, not after what we went through together. I couldn't even hug my daughter, or look in the mirror, let alone see you after you saw everything. I wasn't ready. "
"And now are you?"
LaRusso takes a step forward entering his space, the door closes behind him. It is not a hug, it is just a contact. The first contact between them which is not a collision, a clash, a fight. LaRusso rests his head on his chest and sighs and Johnny lets his hands hold him, breathing on him.
They remain silent for a time that seems infinite and not enough at the same time then Daniel lets out a sigh and moves slightly to meet his gaze.
"You really look like shit." His nose touches Johnny's chin, his eyes sparkle.
Johnny would like to kiss him. Or hit it. Or do both.
"You seem to be doing better, asshole."
"I'm better now, yes." He tightens in the embrace "You are comfortable."
Johnny snorts. "Is that a way of telling me I'm gaining weight?"
Daniel laughs. "Nah you are still the hot one." He smiles again.
"You know? I dreamed of you all the time."