Chapter Text
Johnny hated his Older Self.
Hated, hated, HATED him!!!
He was so annoying!! Dragging him by the ear like that, scolding him - He wasn't some child!
He was Johnny Flipping - Uh, Fucking Cage! Yeah, fucking. He wasn't a kid, he didn't need to censor himself. Who was going to censor Johnny Cage?!
Of all people that should understand him, it'd be himself, right? Wrong! His Older Self was just so- so- annoying!!
. . . And his stupid, stupid actions didn't help. Telling Johnny he did a good job after training, patting his shoulder with a soft smile. Or tying his shoes because Johnny refused to do so! He could walk around with untied shoe laces, he didn't need someone helping him!
Johnny was surprised he didn't regress then and there. He had been teetering since he got here. Stupid time traveling, stupid everyone being mean . . . And stupid older him shooting down his TimeQuake idea!
"Hey," John's voice snapped Johnny out of his thoughts, "You have been silent for the past seven minutes."
Johnny rolled his eyes, making John chuckle.
"Can't a star sit in his own silence?" Johnny asked. "Can't get any peace and quiet here!"
This time is was John's turn to roll his eyes, "It's not that bad kid. I'm just saying that seven minutes of silence sounds like a new record for you. . . Us. Something on your mind?"
"Jax told me to take a chill pill," Johnny shrugged.
Wasn't a complete lie, Jax has told him to sit down and chill out. But that was mostly because Johnny was trying to flirt with almost all the guys and girls here before the meeting, and John was getting tired of keeping him under control.
In truth, half the reason Johnny was acting out was because he wanted to stay big. He didn't need the others knowing he regressed. Sure, his olderself probably knew he regressed, but he still couldn't chance it. He wasn't going to chance it.
"So we're listening to orders now?" John raised an eyebrow.
Johnny sat up, "I listen! I listen very well, thank you!"
"Like how you listened to how the meeting ended already?" John asked.
Johnny looked around the room. There weren't many others. Other than him, his olderself, and that Cassie girl, who was standing near the door, clearly trying not to snicker at her Dads interaction.
"I - Like I said, just a star sitting in his own silence!" Johnny quickly stood up, dusting himself off. "Absolutely no privacy in this entire facility! Can't a guy just wonder in his own mind?"
Johnny shook his head, ruffling Johnny's hair after he stood, "Whatever you say, Squirt."
Oh that had done it.
The hair ruffling, the silly nickname. John's entire fatherly persona.
That had done it.
It was such a simple action.
There was nothing bad or wrong about it.
And yet it pushed Johnny over the edge. Making him feel small. Tiny . . . Vulnerable.
"I'm going to go report to Jacqui," Cassie said. "Maybe help Jax and Sonya with training.
"As if they need it," John chuckled. "I'll come with. Johnny-"
"Gonna go on a walk," Johnny mumbled, slowly backing away. "Don't wanna be near guns right now, you know?"
John and Cassie wathe him leave. Why would they stop him? Why would they notice how tiny he was? He wasn't lying to them, he didn't want to be near those while small, especially when they were being shot.
Although Johnny quickly found out that there was nowhere to go.
Nowhere to hide.
No one to come and protect him. Tell him he was okay, lead him to somewhere to be coddled.
He was alone, in a strange place.
He was usually alone, he regressed alone, he could take care of himself fine.
But here? here where he barely knows anyone? Where he's already made so many bad first impressions?
Nuh-uh, not happening, why couldn't he just stay big? He wanted to be big now, thank you!
Where was a place he could hide in? Where'd he'd get some privacy? Where no one could catch him little and he could break down and cry there?
. . . Oh gosh, he was going to pull some 2000s movie stunt.
Johnny quickly made his way to the restroom, b-lining so no one could catch him. Most people didn't stop him, just letting him run past.
There wasn't anyone in the restroom, so he was easily able to lock himself in a stall.
And now he was alone again.
But it was a good alone!! No one would be able to see him tiny, and he could have his own space, it was fine! Everything was fine! He could play games on his phone for a bit, he had some kiddie ones!
Now he'd just have to wait for himself to be big . . . .
Wait, what was his phone battery at?