Chapter Text
The days following the tournament are eventful, to say the least, and quite challenging at times.
After joining Daniel for his celebration dinner the day following the tournament (despite the aftermath, winning the All-Valley is an accomplishment Daniel will be proud of forever, and Johnny knows the feeling), Johnny goes home to an empty house, and tries to go to sleep that night, alone. But when he closes his eyes, all he sees and feels is Kreese’s arm wrapped tight around his neck, and he briskly sits up, choking and gasping for air. It's like he can still feel the pressure on his neck and he still can't breathe , and he panics because he doesn't know how to make it stop.
Johnny ends up calling Daniel, trying to hold back his frantic sobs, and Daniel calms him down with his soft voice, and tells him to come over. Johnny does, and when he falls asleep on Daniel’s chest with Daniel’s fingers combing through his hair, he doesn’t dream, but he doesn’t have that nightmare anymore either. Daniel is a reminder that he’s safe , and that Kreese won’t be able to hurt him again. He’s okay, Daniel is okay, and they have a future to get ready for.
Johnny spends the next few days at Daniel's house, because he seems to sleep better with his boyfriend at his side, no nightmares, only warmth and safety. They don't do much during those days due to Daniel's leg being in a brace, they just lay on the couch and cuddle and lazily make out and argue about what channels to watch and what music to listen to. It's much less activity than Johnny is used to, but he can't lie and say he didn't enjoy it, wasting the days away with his boyfriend.
Johnny only goes home the day before Christmas Eve, when his mom and Sid return from the trip they went on (without him, as usual, not that he's complaining). He leaves Daniel reluctantly, with kisses and the promise to call him before he tries to sleep and to see him again soon. When Johnny arrives back home, his mom asks about the tournament, and also where he's been the past few days because the house looks relatively un-lived in, and of course, about the fading bruises around his neck. Johnny doesn't tell her much, only that he won second place this year and that he quit Cobra Kai, blowing off the rest of her questions. He can't talk about what happened with Kreese, that he destroyed his second-place trophy and tried to kill him, because Johnny knows she'd want to go to the police, and that's not what he wants, so he leaves it at that.
Sid, though, doesn't let him hear the end of it (it being him quitting Cobra Kai, the sessions which Sid paid for with his precious money), throughout the entire fucking holidays. He nags Johnny every time they're in the same room together, which, due to the holidays, is more often than usual. Sid tells him how he always knew investing his money in Johnny's karate lessons would be a waste, just like everything Johnny was into before.
Johnny still remembers the disastrous conversation at the dinner table when he first wanted to join Cobra Kai. Johnny was twelve and a bit of a loser at the time, but when he was riding his bike and came across Cobra Kai, he had hope that he could be more. He was so excited, and his mom was happy to listen to him, and then Sid came home from work and made Johnny feel like shit, just like he always did. That's why Johnny looked for a father figure elsewhere, and found Kreese. Granted, Kreese made him feel like shit too, but at least then it was for a purpose (and not for his own amusement, like with Sid), to break him down so he could build him up. Too bad it all turned out to be a bunch of horseshit. At least Johnny still has most of his confidence and dignity.
For once, Johnny manages to ignore Sid and his constant bullying. He doesn't react at all, and instead thinks of his and Daniel's phone call the night before on Christmas Eve. Daniel had invited Johnny over to his place after Christmas dinner, his voice sounding a bit suggestive, and Johnny accepted. And somehow, the thought of spending time with Daniel makes it easier to get through the several parties at the country club his mom drags him to, wearing that awful tight tux she always forces him to wear.
Normally, it would be almost insufferable, spending two days surrounded by Sid and other snobby, fake people. Johnny kept his eyes on the clock, but kept his complaints to himself. The notion of seeing Daniel later, kissing him and holding him in his arms all night long, made the wait worth it. (Is Johnny attached? Yes. Is it a bad thing? No, because he knows Daniel is attached to him too.)
Shortly after arriving back home from the country club's Christmas party, Johnny is packing his overnight bag and heading back down the stairs to the Avanti, so he can go see his boyfriend. But his mom stops him at the door, confused and curious as to where he spends all his time lately.
"Where are you going?" Laura asks, and Johnny rolls his eyes. Of course, she picks the perfect moments to show interest in his life, when all he wants to do is be with Daniel.
"Nowhere," is Johnny's automatic answer, but his mom is persistent, and she's blocking Johnny's way to the front door. "I'm going to a friend's house, damn." Johnny tries to make his escape then, but apparently, that half-assed answer isn't enough for Laura, who gently grabs his upper arm to stop him, and Johnny lightly groans in frustration. His mom is being fucking nosy .
"You've been at your "friend's" house a lot lately. Is there something I should know about?" Laura questions, and fuck , now she's calling him on his bullshit. Shit.
Johnny knew he probably wouldn't be able to hide his relationship with Daniel from his mom forever. It's obvious that she knows he's seeing someone, or rather, he's the one being obvious if she's able to catch on like this (his mom isn't dumb, she's just a bit dense). He's never spent this much time with his actual friends before (in fact, he hasn't even seen them since the tournament, only talking to Bobby on the phone once or twice). Hell, he's never even spent this much time with Ali before, but now Daniel has all of his time and attention.
And now, Laura is noticing her son's change in behavior. Johnny seems less angry, less tense, less empty. Not to mention the far-off look in his blue eyes, the laughter coming from his room at late hours of the light, all that time spent away from the house (more so than usual, Johnny tends to avoid Sid as much as possible). It's clear that Johnny has it bad, but for whatever reason he's not admitting it. He seems serious about whatever girl he's seeing, but yet he won't talk about her or even let Laura meet her. Laura doesn't get it.
Johnny wishes he could tell his mom about Daniel. He really does. If he could speak freely, he'd tell her everything. But with the way things are with Sid, he's never mentioned Daniel at all. The closest his mom has ever come to meeting Daniel is that night at the country club when Daniel ended up on the floor covered in spaghetti (which, now that he and Daniel are past everything that happened then, is fucking hysterical), and she's too scatterbrained to even remember that, despite her stupid husband chewing Johnny out for running off early.
But also, the thing is, Johnny is somewhat afraid to tell his mom about Daniel. Fear does not exist doesn't apply when telling his mom about his boyfriend could lead to him getting disowned and getting kicked out. He may not give a shit what everyone else thinks about him being gay or bisexual or whatever, but his mom is a different story. He has no idea if she'd be supportive or throw him to the wolves, but Johnny doesn't want to take that chance. He just has to keep Daniel a secret until he's moved out (if he ever gets off his ass and makes some fucking money so he can stop relying on Sid).
"Nope. Can I go now?" Johnny avoids eye contact with his mom, because he knows she can see right through him and he really doesn't need more of an interrogation than the one he's already getting.
"Honey, if you have a girlfriend-" Laura starts gently, but Johnny cuts her off, flustered and annoyed because seriously , he just wants to get out of this stupid house and go make out with his smoking hot boyfriend.
"Jesus Christ, mom, no! I don't have a girlfriend! Now back off, please!" Johnny snaps, feeling a bit guilty after, but Laura only looks amused, and a bit puzzled. Johnny wouldn't get this defensive if she was wrong about him seeing someone, but she doesn't understand why he's being so secretive. He was never so secretive about Ali. But he's clearly getting upset and she doesn't want to push him, so she drops it (for now).
"Okay okay, no need to be so moody. I get it, you're a teenager," Laura smiles, lightly patting Johnny's cheek, gazing at him with loving cerulean eyes that resemble his own. "Have fun with your "friend"." She winks, and Johnny scoffs, finally making it past her and out the door.
"Thanks," he mutters over his shoulder, shutting the door behind him and heading straight for the Avanti, already knowing he's going to be speeding the entire way to South Seas. He can't wait to see Daniel.
It's been forty-eight hours, but Johnny feels deprived of Daniel's attention, and he can't wait to see his cute baby face and his big brown Bambi eyes, can't wait to feel Daniel's warm body in his arms and feel those wet lips pressed against his own. Merry Christmas, indeed.
~
Johnny speeds to Daniel's place, leaving tire marks on the pavement as he swerves into a parking space. Daniel would yell at him for his reckless driving, but Johnny only smirks at the thought and grows more excited to see his boyfriend.
Before Johnny even makes it up the flight of stairs leading to the second floor, Daniel is opening his apartment door, eyes lighting up with excitement and a smile wide across his pretty face. Johnny grins brightly when he lays eyes on his boyfriend, opening his arms for Daniel to run into. (He realizes Daniel has probably been waiting by his window for the past hour, and finds the image oddly endearing).
Daniel all but throws himself at Johnny, arms wrapping sweetly around his neck and Johnny holding him by his waist, nuzzling Daniel's soft hair. He only pulls slightly away to press a chaste kiss to Daniel's lips, admiring the way his boyfriend's cheeks turn crimson after, the way his beautiful brown eyes glow as he gazes at Johnny like he's the world.
"Merry Christmas, babe," Johnny says, and Daniel smiles at him, presses their foreheads together. For the first Christmas in California, this is turning out to not be so bad at all.
Daniel misses Newark winters. He loves the snow, and it sucks that he won't get to see any in the valley, because the lower temperatures here are the highest back in New Jersey. His ma tells him they'll start planning trips back to Newark (Daniel no longer refers to Newark as home, because he's found a new home here in Los Angeles) for certain holidays, and honestly, Daniel wants to bring Johnny with him. Johnny has never been out of California, and has never seen snow, and while Daniel has a feeling he won't like it, he wants Johnny to experience a real winter.
The point is, Daniel wishes it were cold and snowing, but having his golden California pretty boy in his arms makes up for it in every possible way.
"Merry Christmas, baby," Daniel replies, voice low and smooth like velvet. "Get in here." Daniel pulls Johnny in the door and kicks it shut behind him with his good leg (he can't wait to get this fucking brace off), combing his hands through Johnny's hair as he reels him in for a deeper kiss full of nothing but pure passion.
And hell yeah , this is what Johnny has been missing for the past two days, Daniel's lips against his, his small frame pressed tight against Johnny's larger one. Johnny can't wait to get Daniel alone in his room, lay him down on his bed and have his way with him. That would be better than any Christmas present Johnny could ever receive.
"Someone missed me," Johnny remarks teasingly as their lips separate, still holding Daniel in his arms. Really, he can't tease, because he missed Daniel just as much.
"Yeah, you wish," Daniel retorts, playfully, and Johnny huffs, pretending to be offended.
"Shut up, punk," Johnny shoots back, dodging a swat from his boyfriend, sliding a hand into Daniel's back pocket and pulling him in for a quick, sloppy kiss, because he can't seem to get enough.
"You're the one who missed me, asshole." Daniel kisses him again between their traded insults, since that seems to be their trademark, not that they'd have it any other way.
"Yeah, I did." Johnny grins against Daniel's lips, resting his forehead against the other boy's.
"I missed you too," Daniel admits, and Johnny chuckles, because he already knows. Every time he leaves Daniel, he already can't wait to see him again. He fucking loves him, and that love only grows stronger every day.
"I know." Johnny pulls away then, holding Daniel's hand instead, the other boy hitting him with the full force of his Bambi eyes at his simple display of affection, and Johnny wants .
"So, what do you wanna do first? We have leftover cookies if you want any, or we could open our presents-..." Daniel trails off as he feels Johnny's lips and teeth on his neck, sucking marks into his sensitive skin. "Really, Johnny? My ma is gonna see that," Daniel groans, not really irritated at all. It's not like she doesn't know what they get up to anyway. Daniel just would prefer to not be embarrassed even more than he already is when she relentlessly teases him about Johnny.
But, now ow, Johnny has a present for Daniel in his car, and there's one that Daniel got for him under the Christmas tree, the only one left unwrapped, and he bets Lucille makes awesome cookies. But, there's one thing better than all of that combined, and that's the boy in front of him. Everything else will just have to wait, because Johnny can't wait to properly get his hands on Daniel, no barriers like clothing between them at all.
"Oh well," Johnny shrugs, gripping Daniel's waist and pulling him in for a long, heated kiss, expressing how much he wants him, desires him. "Those are nice suggestions, but I think we can do better," Johnny drawls, his voice low and seductive, his big hand slipping underneath Daniel's shirt, caressing warm, tan skin. Daniel pleasantly shivers, anticipating what comes next, what he's been craving ever since Johnny gave him a blowjob on his birthday. Intimacy .
"Oh, can we?" Daniel gulps, turned on more than he's ever been. Johnny really knows how to get him going. "Is this gonna be like your little surprise on my birthday?" He questions, and Johnny smirks as he inches farther into Daniel's personal space (impossibly closer), both hands on Daniel's ass.
"You bet your ass it is," Johnny says, winking, no pun intended, and Daniel snorts. Then, his features soften, and he looks at Johnny with a sweet smile and wide, dreamy, dark brown bedroom eyes.
"Sounds good to me." Daniel lets Johnny lead him to his own bedroom, heat pooling in the pit of his stomach as Johnny squeezes in his hand.
Johnny would really like to keep his lips on Daniel's as they make their way to his bedroom, maybe roughly kiss and slam each other against the walls of the hallway as they head there (Johnny makes a mental note to do that later, when they have somewhere to themselves, that would be fucking hot), get real frisky and feverish, but he settles for what he has, as long as Daniel is with him. With him, Johnny could never be disappointed.
Daniel locks his bedroom door and turns on his radio (WHAM!'s Last Christmas will surely tune out the sounds that he and Johnny will inevitably make), even if his ma is asleep. He's not taking a single risk while she's in the house and he's about to get his very hot boyfriend naked. Well, rather, Johnny is about to get him naked, because Johnny is the one nudging him on the bed and climbing on top of him, kissing him like there's no tomorrow.
Johnny "traps" Daniel on the bed, yanking Daniel's shirt over his head, letting Daniel do the same to him before their lips are locking again, tongues tangling together as Daniel runs his hands all over Johnny's toned back and chest, unsure of which part of him to touch because he wants to feel everything , feel all of Johnny. God, he's so fucking in love, and all he wants to do is show Johnny that (he already has).
"Can't keep your hands off me, huh, Danny?" Johnny teases as he undoes Daniel's sweatpants, not bothering to waste any time, sliding them down Daniel's perfect legs and tossing them elsewhere, ready to be hit with a full view of Daniel naked as he gets rid of his boxers too, exposing Daniel completely (and fuck if that isn't the most beautiful sight that Johnny has ever seen. He wishes he could have this picture in his mind forever).
"This was your idea," Daniel mutters, his breath catching in his throat as Johnny wraps a hand around his length, his other hand keeping a firm grip on Daniel's thin hips.
"And you're gonna love every minute of it," Johnny says smoothly, his voice full of arousal, and Daniel relaxes at his touch.
Daniel has no idea what Johnny has planned (neither does Johnny, he kinda does things in the heat of the moment), but he knows he's about to feel nothing but pure pleasure. He waits as Johnny fully undresses himself too, and he fondles him until Johnny is back on top of him, hovering over Daniel and experimentally rolling his hips, brushing their erections together, and Daniel can't help the noises that leave his mouth then, because this is so good.
"Damn, you're a real hot babe," Johnny compliments, watching Daniel moan and pant beneath him, bucking his hips and wanting more . Johnny is happy to comply, the heat and friction making him hazy, making his head spin.
"So I've been told," Daniel murmurs between moans, gazing up at Johnny with starlight in his doe eyes. "And you're a blonde pretty boy," Daniel adds, tugging at Johnny's golden locks, and Johnny only picks up the pace of their slow grind, holding his head back because this feels fucking amazing . The best thing Johnny has ever felt before.
"You're the pretty one," he groans, chuckling lightly, his cheeks red and flushed and dizzy with want . But he wants this to last, so he goes at a steady, easy pace, sending sparks of pleasure through his bones. And he knows Daniel feels it too, if the way he squirms and arches his back and claws Johnny's back tells him anything.
It doesn't take long for them to approach the finish line, and Johnny kisses Daniel, hot and heavy, as they both tip over the edge, swallowing up each other's breaths and moans (and Johnny swears when he tightly shuts his eyes he sees actual stars ). Johnny pulls away after to admire Daniel's swollen lips and dark eyes, collapsing on top of him and Daniel holds him close, skinny arms wrapping around Johnny's middle as Johnny buries his face in Daniel's neck.
"That was one hell of a Christmas present," Daniel mumbles, softly shaking and panting, and Johnny swallows thicky, because hell yes it was.
"Yeah. I needed that,” Johnny breathes, trying to recover from the absolutely mind-blowing release he just experienced. If he wasn't so tired from a long day of activity, he'd be ready for round two. But, he and Daniel have plenty of time to try new things, so he settles with that.
Johnny rolls over to his side and leans up, gazing at his boyfriend, trying to figure out what he did to deserve him (someone so great), wondering how he got so lucky. He wraps his arm around his still-breathless boyfriend, holding him close and admiring the way the silvery moonlight colors his skin.
Damn, he wishes he could spend every night like this, and spend every morning waking up with Daniel by his side. Johnny wants it so bad, and he can almost see it, but then he remembers the second semester of senior year hasn’t even started yet, and his grades are still remotely shitty (he spent the first semester focusing on Cobra Kai and also Daniel that he barely found the time to study), and he has to spend the next few months getting them up so he's not in danger of not graduating. Never mind the fact that he has to be cautious going around the hallways with Daniel on his arm, just in case anyone wants to pick a fight. And worst of all, he has to hide his relationship with Daniel from the people he lives with, including his mom.
Which, Johnny must not be doing as well as he thought about keeping Daniel a secret, because she seemed very suspicious when he left earlier. Fuck, he doesn’t know how he can keep this up until he moves out, whenever that will be. He doubts he’ll still be living with Sid’s money to get him by after he graduates, unless his mom convinces him to let Johnny be a freeloader. But Johnny doesn't want that. He despises Sid, and doesn't want his money, he wants to make his own, and then maybe he and Daniel can find a place to call theirs. He’ll have to somehow get his shit together and figure out how to make it work before then. He only hopes everything goes smoothly. At least he has Daniel to motivate him when things get hard. Johnny would be lost without him. But really, Johnny wants to get through the semester without any major problems, and his mom finding out he's dating a boy could be one of them if he's not careful.
"You know, my mom thinks I have a girlfriend,” Johnny comments, breaking the silence (where usually Daniel is the one to do that, the motormouth), and Daniel’s eyebrows shoot up, interested and surprised.
"What?" He questions, eyeing Johnny quizzically, because damn. Johnny's mom finding out he's seeing someone would happen eventually, though, all those late-night calls and weekends spent elsewhere is a clear giveaway. If Lucille hadn’t caught on almost instantly to Daniel’s feelings before Johnny even asked him out, she’d know for sure now. Moms are dangerously perceptive.
"Yeah. It's 'cause I spend all my time with you," Johnny sighs, ruffling Daniel’s fluffy hair. "I can't tell her the truth though. Not when Sid could find out." And at the mention of Sid, Johnny scowls, and Daniel frowns, because he never really thought about Sid and how he impacted Johnny so negatively. Kreese was always the bigger threat, but with him out of the picture, Daniel remembers the other monster in Johnny’s life.
Daniel feels lucky that he has a family here to support him. His ma and Mr. Miyagi are accepting and supportive and all they want is for him to be happy, even if the rest of the world isn’t kind. It's not a good time for people like him and Johnny. The world is against them, and it’s not fair how he can’t openly be with Johnny in some places. Maybe it'll get better one day, Daniel sure hopes so, but that day probably isn't any time soon. It's risky, being the way they are and being together, but Daniel finds being with Johnny absolutely worth it.
"I get that," Daniel coos, his hand brushing through Johnny’s blonde hair. "I wonder if anyone at school will treat us differently. Ya know, if they saw us kiss at the tournament." And right, that. Johnny realizes that it was a dumb move that could’ve gotten him in a lot of trouble (especially if anyone from their school saw), and he’s thankful that the tournament didn’t publish anything about it (although he imagines that picture is in their archives somewhere), just an article titled Mystery Dojo with Single Student Defangs Cobra (that Daniel has framed on his dresser, a proud display of his victory).
And that alone will be talked about for years. The time Johnny, Cobra Kai’s star student, All-Valley winner for two years in a row, got beaten by the underdog. It was a close match, but Johnny fought and he did his best, and Daniel won fairly, and Johnny is proud of him. Only, no one (except a select few) knows the real truth behind the newsletter's title. Daniel did in fact defang Johnny, and not just by beating him in the final match. He took an angry, broken boy, and made him want to be better. He gave Johnny the love he’s been looking for, and Johnny would gladly leave everything, Cobra Kai and his wins included, behind if it meant he got to be with Daniel. And if anyone who witnessed or heard about their kiss wants to give them shit, Johnny will give them hell in return, and he knows Daniel will too (although, if anyone who has a problem with them saw what Mr. Miyagi did to Kreese in the parking lot and if they have half a brain, they’d wisely keep their mouths shut).
"If they do, all you have to do is swan-kick their face,” Johnny says, laughing as Daniel sharply elbows his rib.
"You know it's called a crane-kick, and it was awesome. It put you on your ass, man,” Daniel remarks, and Johnny’s laughter grows louder. It sure did, and Johnny won't forget it either, even if he busts Daniel's balls about the kick being illegal.
"I'll get you back for that one day,” Johnny tells him, and Daniel jokingly scoffs. "I don't know if I can get my leg that high, though. You’ve got those skinny ass deer legs,” Johnny grins, and Daniel can’t help but smile back fondly, heart warming at the affection tone that Johnny uses with him.
"I guess we'll just have to train together to find out,” he shrugs his shoulders, and right, Johnny forgot that Daniel invited him to train with him and Mr. Miyagi.
Honestly, Johnny has mixed feelings about it all. In the past, he was so loyal to Kreese and Cobra Kai that the thought of training at another dojo never crossed his mind. He’s still in that mindset a little bit, even after what happened after the All-Valley. According to everything he was taught, if Johnny trains at Miyagi-Do under a new sensei, he’s a traitor.
But that’s not the case. Johnny just has to find another way to look at it. He’s training with his boyfriend and his boyfriend’s sensei, who also saved his life from his deranged former sensei (sounds like some kind of karate soap opera). There’s nothing wrong with learning new methods, with taking some time to focus on balance instead of striking first, even if Johnny knows by heart which method he will always prefer, because it fits who he is. Maybe he can teach Daniel a few new moves as well, and they'll both find true balance that way.
"I guess so, after you get that brace off." Daniel rolls his eyes. That brace is annoying to deal with, and he gets it off in a few days, thank god. "Then your scrawny ass is going down, baby,” Johnny jests, even though Daniel’s smaller size doesn’t matter, he can still get Johnny on the ground and straddle him. He can knock Johnny off his feet, in more ways than one.
"Okay, blondie. You're such a pain in the ass,” Daniel jeers, sighing in contentment as Johnny rests his head on Daniel’s shoulder, wrapping him up like Daniel is his pillow or teddy bear or something, keeping Daniel warm and cozy. Yeah, he's glad he invited Johnny over. He's relaxed after what they did earlier, and it's nice to fall asleep with Johnny in his arms again. Daniel would do this every night if he could (and maybe one day in the future, he will. For now, he chooses to focus on the present).
"And you love me anyway," Johnny bites back, and Daniel can't help the sleepy smile that forms on his face at Johnny's bratty tone.
"Yeah. I love you, asshole. So much." Daniel kisses Johnny’s head and shuts his eyes, feeling safe and comfortable and happy .
And it doesn’t feel like winter, it’s not snowing, but this is the best Christmas that Daniel has ever had, easy.