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When the kids first suggested adding a hammock to the dojo yard, Daniel had been skeptical. Sam and Johnny had turned big, blue eyes on him, pleading (and that was a team up now occurring with alarming frequency) a chorus of “Come on, sensei!” from the boys behind them and he caved.
Now, cradled within it, the sun warm on his face and the soft sounds of the pond the only noise in the yard, he had to admit it wasn’t a bad idea. His body relaxed into the soft cords, swaying ever so gently, and he let his eyes drift shut, resting his hand on the skin of his stomach where his shirt had ridden up.
Even after the divorce it was hard to come by any extended peace and quiet. Whenever he did get peace and quiet, he made it all of fifteen minutes before he started missing one particular voice.
Daniel wondered what Johnny was up to. Maybe he’d text him later and ask him over for dinner. He’d been wanting to make a spicy sausage and marinara dish which would go wonderfully with the tiramisu from the place a couple of blocks over. And if he caught Johnny before he got home, he wouldn’t have time to grab beer and Daniel could rally another valiant attempt to inject culture into the heathen’s life. Or at least a decent wine into his glass. Knowing Johnny like he did, and how many times he’d already tried coaxing him, Johnny would take one sip, look at Daniel like he’d poured him piss and grouch about it until Daniel made him an old fashioned or something “more manly”. After dinner, he knew Johnny would help with the dishes and then they could watch whatever nonsense number Fast and Furious movie they were at in the series.
Daniel smiled to himself, pleased with his Friday night plan.
He had almost dozed off when the hammock dipped wildly to one side and his eyes flew open. His breath caught when he saw Johnny grinning down at him, bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
“What are you doing?” he managed, trying to keep himself from falling all together.
“Scoot over.” Johnny replied.
“Scoot over? John, that’s not how hammocks - watch out!”
Johnny heaved himself into the hammock, half in and half out, practically in Daniel’s lap. It swung, taking Johnny’s legs out from under him and he crashed nose first into Daniel’s shoulder. Daniel started laughing and grabbed onto Johnny’s arms, trying to pull him in before they both fell on the ground. He continued laughing as Johnny squirmed, the two of them a tangle of limbs.
“Jesus, how are you still this bony?”
“You chose to climb in with me!” Daniel protested.
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Stop moving, we’re never gonna stop swinging.”
“Gotta find a more comfortable…there we go.”
Daniel’s laughter faded and he felt himself flush, grateful that Johnny’s head was tucked under his chin. Johnny swung one leg over his and wiggled one arm under his shoulder. With his other hand, he reached across Daniel’s torso and rested his fingers almost at the top of his hip, fingers brushing his skin. Slowly, the hammock calmed and returned to a small, almost unnoticeable movement. Daniel hesitated before resting his hand on Johnny’s bicep, squeezing softly. Johnny hummed, the sound reverberating through Daniel’s chest. Emboldened, Daniel shifted ever so slightly so he could run his fingers through Johnny’s hair, scratching gently at his scalp. The resulting sound was so much like a purr Daniel laughed again.
“Stop laughing. Feels nice.” Johnny grumbled.
“I thought you were a snake, not a cat.” he teased gently.
“Badger.”
The more deftly Daniel moved his fingers across Johnny’s scalp, the less vocabulary he seemed to contain. Affection flooded through him, a sudden wave that almost kept him from processing what Johnny had said.
“I’m sorry, a what?”
“Badger. Miguel made me take an online test thing. BubmleEats quiz or something stupid. But the badger’s kind of cool.”
Daniel puzzled the statement through for a minute. “BuzzFeed?”
“Hmph.” Johnny rumbled.
Daniel thought about it some more. “Yeah. Badger. I can see it.”
He let his eyes close again, body warm from Johnny laying against him, the contact easing something deep in his bones. Daniel tipped his face towards Johnny, cheek and nose resting near his hairline. He continued moving his fingers slowly through Johnny’s hair, unsure of when he’d get this proximity again.
“You’re a swan.” Johnny nearly whispered a few minutes later. “What’s for dinner?”
The sudden topic swap gave him a brief moment of mental whiplash.
“Swan?” he echoed.
“We’re not having swan for dinner.” Johnny said.
“What…of course not. Wait, go back. How do you know I’m a swan? And other things I never thought I’d say out loud.”
“Took the quiz again. As you. You got a swan. Congratulations.”
“I have so many questions I’m afraid to ask.”
Johnny shrugged, the motion awkward with their positions. It pushed his hair further into Daniel’s face and really, how was he so stupid for this man?
“They’re pretty. And graceful. And have shotgun tempers.”
There had to be an age limit on blushing, but whatever it was, Daniel apparently hadn’t reached it yet. Johnny Lawrence called him pretty. Well. He called swans pretty, but he was telling Daniel he was a swan, so it was practically the same thing.
“LaRusso. You’re thinking too loudly. We’re relaxing here.”
“I was relaxing. Now I’m having an identity crisis.”
“Hey, it’s not a crane but you’re still a bird.”
“A badger and a swan. Pretty unlikely pair.” Daniel mused.
“About as unlikely as a crane and a cobra.” Johnny paused, then squeezed Daniel’s hip. “But here we are.”
Daniel exhaled unsteadily, but he held Johnny a little closer. “Yeah. Here we are.” He swallowed. “Hey, Johnny? Can I tell you something?”
He felt Johnny tilt his head up and mustered the courage to shift so they were eye to eye and nose to nose.
“Yeah?” Johnny breathed.
“I’m really glad we got the hammock.” Daniel murmured.
Johnny grinned and the affection sweeping Daniel pooled in his ribcage, dangerously close to his heart. He grinned back, bringing his hand to Johnny’s face and touching his thumb to the corner of the smirk he loved. Johnny’s fingers found their way up further under the hem of his t-shirt and Daniel shivered, which only caused said smirk to grow.
“You are, you know.” Johnny said.
“Are what?”
“Pretty.”
The mischief in his eyes told Daniel it was a trap, but his heart was already in it. Johnny stretched lazily, rolling Daniel impossibly closer and slid nimble fingers up Daniel’s back.
“Pretty hot tempered.” he finished.
Daniel laughed. “Oh, shut up, why don’t you,” he said.
Johnny’s smirk grew. “Make me.”
He closed the minimal distance between them and kissed Johnny, still smiling.