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Johnny got back into bed. It had barely managed to cool down from when he was last in it. He had taken a quick shower to pass some extra time and to get himself ready to sleep, but it hadn't helped a bit. Still as awake as before, only now with wet hair.
He was lonely, sure he had just been done shooting his latest movie with plenty of people around him at all times. Either chattering with him while doing his makeup or his co-stars and him having a little chit-chat between scenes. Yet now it was over, and all he could do was dwell on how he really had no friends.
No friends that were easy to reach that was. All scattered somewhere throughout Asia, one without a phone, one who never picked up calls, and one that was always too busy for a proper call. Sure, there were plenty of conventions, meetups, and general places he could go visit, plenty of potential friends to find, but given his stardom, a simple visit would always end up the same.
He enjoyed it, of course, but sometimes he wished it to be different. To be distracting in a way that wasn't overwhelming.
He reached up to the ceiling for no particular reason, tracing the pattern on it in the air, hoping to find some kind of distraction for which he didn't have to leave his bed.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He grabbed it with the non moving hand and picked up the call without looking at the number or the name.
"Johnny Cage." He sighed, who would call at- it was only 8 PM.
"Kung Lao." A voice at the end spoke, and Johnny groaned it relief that it wasn't a scam call or another person who wanted something more than conversation from him.
"Lao?" He was used to small talk with Raiden over the phone, never did Lao pick up calls, let alone call him. He put the phone on speaker and put it on his chest, feeling the vibrations as the other man spoke.
"You've been texting non-stop, I thought a call would be easier. So, what's up?" The question made a lump get stuck in his throat, and he suddenly felt awkwardness creep over him. What was up? What did he have to call about? Talking about his new movie and the behind the scenes drama had happened via text already, so really, all that was left to say was-
"I miss you guys." He blurted out, hoping it was loud enough for Kung Lao to hear coherently, not wanting to repeat himself. As a distraction, he traced the ceiling again, sighing.
There was a sigh at the other end of the phone. "Don't tell Raiden I miss you as well."
Both the men managed a chuckle.
"He's lost his sense of humor completely, feels like it's his responsibility to make sure the new recruits are serious, almost devoid of humor." Kung Lao scoffed at the other end, and Johnny nodded despite not being seen by the other man.
"Any news of Kenshi?" Johnny interrupted the current topic. He knew he had started his F-B-Outworld thing, and last he heard that was going well, but it felt like months since he last heard of the man's whereabouts.
"Last I heard, he started working with some guy called Jackson." Johnny hummed, the name was familiar in his memory.
The other end went silent, and so was Johnny. In truth, he had so much to talk about, but he didn't want to interrupt the other man's day. It must've been early morning for him.
"Lao, how much time have you got?" The rest was all a blur as the men reflected, laughed, and talked about whatever came to mind. Embarrassing childhood stories, dirty secrets, celebrity gossip, anything from years ago to their current mornings.
Johnny felt it all go silent again after everything had been said. It was a satisfying silence, Kung Lao had a day to start, and he had sleep to catch up to.
"When will we speak again?"
"When I wake up too early again." Kung Lao responded, a smile in his voice.
"See you soon, or not." The men managed a final chuckle as their said their goodbyes and went about their lives again.
Johnny put his phone on the charger and prepared to finally sleep when he was interrupted again. He instinctively looked back at his phone, met with a blank screen. The tune was different, and he noticed it was his doorbell ringing instead.
What time was it? 10:25, no longer a reasonable time to bother him.
After it rang a second time, he managed to get himself out of bed. He looked ridiculous in his sleeping outfit, overly expensive swim shorts paired with a cheap white blouse, but he couldn't be bothered. If whoever was at his door would be to judge him, they should've picked a better time.
After making it through the maze that was his house, he opened his door with a yawn. The most unexpected sight in the doorframe.
"Did I come at a bad time?"
"Kenshi?" Johnny practically yelled, leaping to the man in front of him and tightly embracing him.
Kenshi faint vision had his prepared for the hug, but it still nearly sent him falling to the gravel behind him. He laughed at Johnny's excitement, patting him on the back in response.
"Holy shit how did you get here?" Johnny let go of the other man.
"Questions for another time, may I enter?"
"Glad you're more polite about it this time." Johnny joked, earning him a playful punch from the other man as he walked in. Sento gave him enough of a view to be able to navigate the house blindly, but he put it in an umbrella stand, putting his hand on Johnny's shoulder, trusting him to guide him when Sento couldn't. Preferring not to walk around with it everywhere unless needed.
Johnny guided him to a dining room chair, joking about when he had him tied up to one. He was glad they could laugh about it all now. He knew his jokes were risky sometimes, but he was glad Kenshi could seem to appreciate them.
"A drink, something to eat? Anything my guest desires?"
"Nothing, thank you?"
"Good to know you didn't come to raid my pantry." Kenshi smiled widely at where he could hear Johnny's voice coming from.
Johnny would sit down if it wasn't for his own desire to eat something. "Mind if I grab something?"
Kenshi shook his head, and Johnny quickly made his way to the kitchen. Not wanting to keep him waiting, he grabbed the first thing he saw that would satisfy him enough. A stray bag of popcorn from God knows how long ago. Easy enough, and it would do.
He put it in the microwave and pressed the buttons the package suggested. Hoping time would pass faster as he waited.
He looked back at Kenshi, waiting patiently for Johnny to return. He had to break the silence.
"You wanna watch a movie? I've got popcorn."
"You know I can't see."
"I'll describe it to you, we'll watch one of mine, and you'll get the behind the scenes drama bonus as well." Kenshi laughed softly but agreed. He had no reason for coming other than to be around Johnny for as long as time allowed him.
"How's selling the house going?" Kenshi bothered to make small talk as the popcorn started popping.
"You'd think I'd be sold in no time." Johnny clicked his tongue. "People keep out-bidding each other."
Kenshi scoffed.
"To think anyone even wants this place." His memory and vision of it was vague, mainly remembering how he was caught off guard by the smell as he entered. The only thing he could compare it to was a men's perfume aisle of a store.
"Yeah, the pool is a bit too much, maybe." Johnny admitted but got distracted as the microwave loudly beeped. He opened the bag and nearly burnt himself on the steam, putting the hot popcorn into a large bowl.
He walked back over to Kenshi. Catching him off guard by grabbing his hand, he would've reached up to put it on his shoulder, but Kenshi got the hint himself, dragging his hand up his arm as resting it on his shoulder.
It send shivers down Johnny's spine, and once again, he was reminded of how lonely he had been. Nearly melting at the simple touch from his friend, who meant nothing by it.
He led Kenshi to the television, too big to really fit on his wall, and sat him down on the couch, Kenshi's hand dragging over his arm again, leaving his skin right before it touched his hand.
Johnny sighed but was relieved at the loss of touch, not knowing how he would've functioned if he had lingered.
Picking out a movie had been easy, simply picking one he had most to say about.
Kenshi stretched his arms up as he heard the sound of something starting, resting them at the back of the couch.
Johnny looked at Kenshi. The sounds in the back had become a blur as he watched him. Watched his lips move, his brows furrow and felt his hand poke his shoulder, snapping him out of it.
"Hey, which movie?" Kenshi sounded mildly annoyed but still had a smile on his face. Clearly not too bothered by Johnny's lack of attention to him.
"Oh, Ninja Mime," He stuttered out. Feeling a bit somber as Kenshi laughed and called the title ridiculous. It was, he was, he thought.
The music started, and Kenshi immediately asked what was going on. Johnny managed to catch himself before it happened again, before he stared at his friend again, not paying attention to his words. Breaking his trance by an excited ramble about fun facts about the music producer and, of course, exactly what was going on on screen.
This lasted as long as the movie did. It was too long for Kenshi's liking, nearly falling asleep twice throughout the rants and loud French music. Despite this, it was most enjoyable. It would've been more if it wasn't for the clock hitting midnight long before the credits even started.
When they did, Johnny announced it with a clap that woke Kenshi up from his half-asleep state.
"You look tired." Johnny pointed out as if Kenshi didn't know.
"I am. Sleep is hard to get." Kenshi was usually able to stay awake for days at a time with only a few hours of sleep. It wasn't healthy, but he had to be alert. Now, he was no stranger to being tired, but nearly falling asleep with other people around wasn't like him.
"I've got a king-size bed if you don't want a leave." The suggestion was sudden and bold, but Johnny kept his offer, only changing when Kenshi frowned. "I can sleep on the floor if needed."
Kenshi smiled, turning his head in Johnny's direction. "This is your house, Cage. I won't let that happen."
"Couch?" Johnny made a last suggestion, but it was denied as well.
"Bed." Johnny's throat went dry, and he couldn't find a sarcastic comment to ease the awkwardness of the demand. Simply nodding as he grabbed the man's hand again, quickly shutting the television off, cutting off the cheery music still playing.
He led him up to his bedroom, Kenshi, once again being met with the smells of luxury perfumes. Only this time, they nearly stung with how vibrant they were. Eventually, it stilled, but the initial shock was enough to send him back a bit.
"I assume you don't wanna sleep in... that." Johnny pointed at Kenshi in his work attire. The long red coat and armor were unlikely to be fitting for a good night's sleep, so he laughed and shook his head.
"Alright," Johnny nodded and grabbed about the same as he was wearing. Handing it to Kenshi once either had been sorted out.
He didn't bother turning around as Kenshi started to undress. His coat first, then his armor, the shirt underneath still obstructing his skin. Once it had been taken off, Johnny wanted to turn around, but he was distracted by the red, blue, yellow, and black painted across Kenshi's back along either scars breaking it apart.
He didn't mean to, but he swore an invisible hand dragged him closer and connected his hand with Kenshi's back, obviously starling him as the touch was cold.
As Kenshi turned around to him in shock, he noticed further ink and scars. Most noticeably, the ones right under his pecs that mirrored his own, more faint ones.
"You're beautiful." Johnny couldn't help but spit it out, finally figuring out why exactly he had been staring at the man. His hand connected with his skin again, dragging softly over the scars.
Kenshi wanted to back away, but the sheer appreciation Johnny seemed to hold for him sparked his curiosity, even leaning into the touch slightly.
Only when Johnny's other hand connected with his skin as well did he back away, curiosity no longer the dominant emotion, now simply confused.
"Kenshi," Johnny fell over his own words, wanting to stutter out whatever sweet nothings he had to show him his love was real and nothing Kenshi had to be scared of, but again his throat was dry, his only escape at showing his emotions was touch. Touch Kenshi seemed to back away from.
Softly, he grabbed his hand, choosing a different touch. Leading it under his blouse, he put his fingers on his own pecs, hoping the scars weren't faint enough to be missed for once.
Kenshi's shoulders seemed to relax, and in a moment on mutual understanding, they smiled. While it had never been meant as a secret, both were happy it was out.
Kenshi knew it was impulsive, but for him too, words seemed to fail him. As he freed his hands from under Johnny's blouse, he dragged it up his chest again, resting it on his neck. He took one step closer, and Johnny's body seemed to go in rhythm with his as their lips softly collided.
The kiss was nothing to remember if it wasn't a first for both. Too soft and gentle for both of them to remember something like this from before, too short to memorize the others' lips.
Pulling away made both of them feel empty, so it only took a single breath before both men leaned in again, making sure it lasted until the breath was deemed not enough for them to hold out. Their bodies were closer to one another, hands lingering even after the kiss broke.
Johnny opened his eyes again, not knowing what to say, so he connected his lips with Kenshi's cheek, not wanting to take more of his breath away.
They breathed heavily in sync for a moment before they started to laugh.
"So," Johnny started.
"So?" Kenshi repeated.
They both laughed again, hands not separating from the other for a second.
"You still wanna sleep here?" Johnny joked, though the question was meant seriously. Kenshi didn't answer it, simply responding with another kiss. It comforted Johnny enough to step away and give Kenshi the space to dress up for sleep.
Johnny wished he'd realized sooner, wished this night had happened weeks, maybe months before now so he could hold Kenshi throughout the night, but neither dared to get thar close just yet, and Kenshi preferred his personal space.
Despite this, the night went by peacefully, Kenshi finally rested a full night's worth of hours, and Johnny could ease his loneliness. It couldn't have been a better use of their time.