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"Kenshi!" Johnny practically yelled as he caught a glimpse of the man's shoulder. The sky temple had been an endless maze, and he had been looking for Kenshi for a while now.
Battle was ahead, and he didn't fancy on his last conversation with Kenshi to be during said battle, or never again, so he had hurried everywhere looking, now rushing over to him to avoid missing him again.
"Kenshi,"
"Cage."
Finally greeted by the other man fully in his sight, he stopped his light jog and stood in front of him. the man couldn't see his rather messy state. Unkempt hair and stained clothes weren't a good look for him.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you for hours?" Before Kensi could answer, or barely even show sign of answering, johnny already cut him off. "Doesn't matter, I've found you."
He rummaged through his pockets, grabbing a small box from one of them and displaying it in front of Kenshi.
"I," He didn't know how to start this sentence, wanting to give an immediate explanation but not wanting to spoil the surprise. "Got you something."
He grabbed one of Kenshi's hands softly, trying his best not to startle or confuse the man, failing as he was met with a frown as soon as Kenshi's hands were lifted up and touched the small box.
Johnny let go, entrusting the box to Kenshi, who just kept the box in his hands."Well,"
"Open it." He sounded too nervous, too nervous for a star like Johnny Cage, the same guy that asked fans to pay to simply be in his presence was now shakily breathing because he had to hand his best friend a gift. What if he didn't like it?
It was the thought that counted, right?
Kenshi held the box in one hand, softly letting his fingers slide over the top of it. The wood was pleasant under his fingers, some words he couldn't make out, probably spelled in cursive, on the top. His fingers slid past the side and hooked under a small crevice, opening the box.
Johnny let out a sigh and held his breath as Kenshi's fingers slowly went inside the box.
"I wouldn't do that. You'll put stains on the glass," Kenshi stilled his hand for a second, but curious to what exactly was in the box, he ignored Johnny's advice. He slowly felt the cold prick of metal, and like he expected from Johnny's words, glass. It didn't take him long to figure out the box contained a pair of glasses.
He wasn't sure what to think. Did Johnny intend this as some kind of mocking joke? Was he about to break out laughing thinking this was the funniest thing ever? It would certainly be in character for him, and Kenshi wouldn't put it past him. He gave johnny his best 'are you serious' look and closed the box.
"I thought," Johnny found his reasoning to be quite cheesy and would've walked away if it wasn't for everything ahead of them. "I thought when everything is all over, back to normal, these would be more subtle than a blindfold."
A silence fell between them before Johnny took the box from Kenshi and opened it, taking the sunglasses out and putting the box back in his pocket. He wiped off the small stain Kenshi's fingers had made and unfolded them.
He rapidly reached his hand up to Kenshi's face before calming his hand and softly touching where the blindfold met his skin. Kenshi leaned forward, aware of what Johnny was doing.
Johnny slowly slid his fingers over the fabric, putting the tip of the sunglasses's temples in his mouth and using his other hand to slowly loosen the blindfold, lifting it from Kenshi's head and discarding it somewhere.
Kenshi stuck his hands out to grab the glasses, but Johnny softly slapped them away and grabbed the sunglasses himself, lifting them up to Kensi's eye level and putting them on for him.
Kenshi adjusted their position a bit, but the fit was near perfect.
"How do they look?" A soft smile couldn't help but appear on his face, somewhat dumbfounded by Johnny's act of kindness.
"Better than they did on me," Kenshi laughed in response, but Johnny could only stare at his friend. They stood like that for a moment, and Johnny thought that this could be the last time they ever spoke, at least while things were relatively normal for both of them. He could find peace in the moment, but the haunting thoughts of tomorrow couldn't help but swarm his head.
"Do you want to keep them in the box for now?" Johnny tried to focus on what was now for as long as he could.
"I'm never taking them off, Johnny," a sad smile sat on Kenshi's face as they both simultaneously accepted their fates. Johnny nodded despite Kenshi not being able to see it.
"Yeah," Johnny nodded again, sighing, looking at Kensi. Accepting this would be their last goodbye, he slowly reached a hand up to Kenshi's face, he hesitated but once there seemed no protest from the swordsman, he leaned forward, pressing his lips to the other man's cheek, stroking the other softly with his thumb.
He stayed with his face pressed to the other for a while, eventually pulling away, a soft but shaky breath following.
"I'll see you tomorrow then?" Johnny slowly walked backwards, keeping his eyes fixed on the other man.
"Tomorrow," Kenshi responded. Enough confirmation for Johnny to nod and leave him again.
While he would have him on his mind for a while, he had long ago accepted that nothing could last forever, not him, not Kenshi, not them.