Chapter Text
Outed
cercareetrove
The afternoon sun filtered through the windows of Station 51's dayroom, casting long shadows across the checkerboard linoleum. Johnny Gage sat at the table, absently shuffling a deck of cards while Roy DeSoto paged through a fishing magazine across from him.
"You know what I don't get?" Johnny said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.
Roy didn't look up. "What's that, Junior?"
"Why do people always assume you're gonna settle down and get married? Like it's some kind of mandatory life requirement."
Chet Kelly glanced up from the couch where he'd been dozing. "Because that's what normal people do, Gage. Meet someone, fall in love, ring on the finger. It's not exactly rocket science."
Johnny dealt out a hand of solitaire with more force than necessary. "Yeah, but what if that's just not... I mean, what if someone's perfectly happy without all that?"
"You thinking about staying a bachelor forever?" Marco Lopez asked from his spot by the coffee maker. "My mother would say that's a waste."
"Not exactly what I meant." Johnny frowned at his cards. "I just think maybe some people aren't cut out for the whole white-picket-fence thing with a wife and 2.5 kids, you know?"
Roy finally looked up, his expression curious. "You feeling okay, Johnny? You've been kinda quiet lately."
"I'm fine." Johnny's jaw tightened. "Just thinking, that's all."
"Dangerous pastime," Chet muttered.
"I'm serious!" Johnny's voice rose slightly. "Why does everyone act like there's only one way to live your life? Maybe some of us want something different. Maybe some of us want—" He stopped abruptly, his face flushing.
The dayroom had gone very quiet.
"Want what?" Roy asked gently.
Johnny stared at his cards like they contained the secrets of the universe. "Nothing. Forget it."
"Johnny—"
"I said forget it, Roy."
Captain Stanley emerged from his office, sensing the tension. "Everything alright out here?"
"Fine, Cap," Johnny said quickly, gathering up his cards. "Just fine."
But the way he wouldn't meet anyone's eyes suggested otherwise, and the sudden silence that followed him as he retreated toward the dorm said more than any words could have.
Roy exchanged a glance with Marco, then stood. "I'll go check on him."
"Give him a minute," Cap said quietly. "Sometimes a man needs a moment to himself before he's ready to talk."
In the dorm, Johnny sat on the edge of his bunk, head in his hands, wondering how a simple conversation had spiraled so quickly—and whether he'd just revealed more than he'd ever intended to.