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One month into officially dating, Johan Liebert figured out a new side of his former-attending-physician-slash-new-lover he had never seen before. Tenma would occasionally throw corny dad jokes at him to lighten up the atmosphere when it was just the two of them in the house or in those moments when Johan spiraled into his dark thoughts again, or just whenever he sensed Johan's mood soured, a normal occurrence after his psychotherapy sessions. The problem was, Tenma didn't realize his jokes would be considered dad jokes for Johan's generation, let alone realize how corny they sounded.
Out of courtesy, Johan would usually still respond with his placating, serene small smile of his without telling the older his jokes actually made his mood even more sour. But when the puns were so obnoxious he couldn't even feign a smile, he'd just deadpan in hope the doctor would get the message and stop, without him needing to say it out right and risk offending him who only meant well. Gone were those days when he wanted to hurt Tenma emotionally. Now he just wanted to be good for the older.
In those times when Johan didn't give his usual response, Tenma, always thinking positively, would just chalk it up to Johan not understanding the jokes due to his unusual upbringing and didn't take it to heart. Instead, he would go to such lengths to explain the meanings and origins of the bad puns, much to Johan's (unshown) dismay.
It wasn't until Nina, who, in one of her regular visits, heard Tenma throw the puns at Johan, which were so cringe that Nina bluntly told him in front of Johan that his jokes were already outdated and off the radar for at least 2 decades. To which Tenma could only laugh drily out of utter embarrassment.
"S-so, Johan, it's not because you don't understand my jokes that you won't laugh? But because they're bad?" He caught the hint of disappointment lying underneath the older's question.
"Oh, they aren't bad at all. As a matter of fact, it's because I'm already too familiar with those kinds of puns. Back when I met with a lot of politicians, I heard that a lot as well. It's not on you. I'm pretty sure those jokes are still popular among those in their 60s-"
Nina burst out laughing.
"-so the hilarity probably has worn off on me, that's all." Johan lied through his teeth, making a point not to meet the gaze of her twin or his lover. The fact was, he was just not the type who liked jokes or puns. Yet, he didn't want to outright discredit Tenma's efforts either.
"Ah, I see, so you've heard them before. Why didn't you just say so!" Tenma smiled again. That bright Duchenne smile of his, which could light up even the darkest corner of Johan's heart, still with a sheepish expression but now with a touch of relief in his tone.
"Thank you for always trying to cheer me up, Sensei. It's much appreciated." Johan smiled back, evading his twin's now intense gaze at him. He could sense that Anna had probably realized he wasn't telling the truth.
From that day on, against Johan's prediction that Tenma would finally back off or at least tone down on re-using the provenly failed method, his lover instead doubles up his effort. Now in his regular calls with Dieter, he never forgets to ask what kind of jokes which are new and popular among the youngsters lately and makes sure to throw that to Johan again, to the blond's utter chagrin.
From then on, Johan realizes something crucial about the older man. He remembered Dieter mentioning offhandedly that Tenma could be quite oblivious when it came to reading the atmosphere, so sometimes he would need to be told explicitly when Dieter didn't like certain things he did.
When he heard that, it was quite hard to believe even for Johan because he thought his lover was the most sensible adult he'd ever had the pleasure to meet but now that he knows, it seems like that part about him is actually right to some extent. Not even the brightest and skillful doctor with a heart of gold would be free of flaws.
Again, it all comes back to the fact that the guy is just too nice for his own good...