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"Hey, let's finish this tomorrow, yeah?' Daniel yawns, but it's a bit forced. He really is just making an excuse because Johnny looks like he's about to fall asleep in his chair.
The two senseis are in the small back room of the dojo, planning out their new joint business excursion.
"Yeah, okay." Johnny yawns back and then narrows his eyes at Daniel for starting it.
"Let's go lock up, unless Miguel has already finished everything." Daniel slaps Johnny fondly on the back a couple times as they head out.
"Whoa! Hey!" Johnny calls out in surprise as they walk out into the dojo and are greeted with what, for Daniel at least, is unfortunately a familiar sight.
Sam and Miguel jump apart like they've been burned, Sam wiping at her lips with the back of her hand, Miguel practically stumbling toward the open door to stand in the cool night air.
"I thought you two broke up!" Daniel shouts, raising his hands in the air. "What is going on here?"
"We did." Sam says firmly, nodding at her dad and Johnny and then turning to shake her head at Miguel. "We did. I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you. I'm… I gotta go."
Sam runs off, leaving Miguel awkwardly rocking back in force in place in front of their senseis.
"Hey, Mr. LaRusso." Miguel waves hesitantly. "Have I mentioned how grateful I am for you having me back at Miyagi-Do?"
Daniel sighs and shakes his head.
"Jesus, kid. You guys just can't resist the romantic drama, can you?" Daniel laughs and turns to Johnny. "Johnny, can you guys lock up, I'm gonna go after Sam. I don't want her to think we're upset at her or anything."
Daniel sighs again and hands Johnny his keys, and Johnny stares down at them in awe. He hadn't really considered the possibility that Daniel would trust him like this, even though they've been working in harmony ever since Miguel and Johnny got back from Mexico, and Daniel has keys to Johnny's warehouse, which is what they've been doing paperwork for co-owning.
"Yeah, alright." Johnny calls out, Daniel already halfway to the gate in a steady jog.
"I'm sorry, sensei." Miguel groans from beside him. "First day my mom lets me come back to the dojo and I've already messed everything up."
Johnny looks at his student and huffs in disbelief.
"What are you talking about? You're fine, kid." Johnny loops an arm around Miguel's neck and leads him inside the building. "Y'know, LaRussos may be a little hot headed, but they'll give you as many second chances as you need until you get it right."
Miguel just smiles over at Johnny and rolls his eyes.
2.
"What're these?" Johnny frowns as he grabs a couple folded up flyers out of the passenger door compartment. "Condo listings? You looking to invest in real estate, LaRusso? Really?"
Daniel just snatches the papers and sighs. He stuffs them in the center console and then puts the car in drive again.
Johnny frowns at him for the next five minutes straight but Daniel just drives them to the dojo.
"Sorry." Johnny finally mutters when they pull up outside. "Didn't mean to criticize your financial decisions."
"It's not that, Johnny. I-" Daniel bites his tongue and shakes his head. "It's fine. Sorry, I'm just stressed out. Stuff with the dealership, y'know?"
"Sure." Johnny nods, dubious frown turned away as he leads the way to the small building.
Daniel follows along and is about to say something to Johnny but is cut off as he lets out an exasperated groan instead.
"Oh, for crying out loud." Daniel rolls his eyes and turns away as soon as Johnny slides the door open.
Daniel is pretty used to his two oldest students (other than Sam) being affectionate with each other. Even more so in the last few days. Eli and Demetri have been dating for less than a couple weeks and already Daniel has seen them kissing goodbye at their car or holding hands and staring at eachother like the dopey, twitterpated teenagers they are, more than a handful of times.
"Oh shit!" Johnny shouts from beside Daniel, covering his eyes. "You guys better not have your dicks out in the dojo!"
" What , oh my god, we were just kissing!" Hawk's indignant voice cracks as he shouts back.
Daniel rolls his eyes and turns tentatively back to see the two boys a foot apart, Demetri now standing while Hawk is on his hands and knees reaching for his shirt.
" Hawk ." Johnny points a finger at Miyagi-Do's tattooed champion fighter, his own former student. "I thought we talked about the no shirtlessness rule in the dojo."
"Okay, in my defense? He took it off me." Hawk points at Demetri raises his hands in innocence.
"That is worse , I did not need to know that." Daniel scolds his best student, Eli Moskowitz, who finally puts his shirt back on and stands up. Daniel turns to Demetri. "And you! You're my oldest student! You're the person I leave in charge when no one else is here, Demetri! You're like… the only real adult amongst my eighteen year olds. What kind of example would this be setting for the younger kids if they had come in and seen you on top of each other instead?"
"I'm sorry! We didn't think anyone was here! We were just sparring, and then… we weren't." Demetri shrugs sheepishly.
"Oh, I know exactly how that goes. Which is why I know you shouldn't be doing it!" Daniel scoffs in exasperation. "Never again, are we clear? Keep your lips to yourselves inside the dojo."
"Yes, sensei." Hawk answers obediently as always when he's given a direction.
"I'm really sorry. I promise it won't happen again." Demetri scowls at the ground.
Johnny looks between them with a sympathetic wince before clearing his throat and speaking up, very awkwardly.
"You guys are like… being safe and whatever, right? I mean-"
" And I'm leaving." Hawk cuts his former sensei off and shakes his head. He leans toward Demetri, seemingly to give him a kiss goodbye, but then thinks better of it and glances at the karate teachers before swatting his boyfriend's chest with the back of his hand. "See you in the morning?"
"Johnny." Daniel levels his karate partner with a look once Demetri has left toward the other door to gather his things. "We really need to install cameras in here or something… even if they're fake. This is becoming a pattern."
"Alright, I'll get something." Johnny laughs and shakes his head. "So. Those two? Didn't they both have girlfriends when I left for Mexico?"
Daniel laughs humorlessly and shrugs his shoulders up to his ears.
"What can I tell you Johnny? A lot has changed."
Daniel gives Johnny a sad look and stalks into the back room to put away the supplies they'd bought.
Johnny hates the pit that has formed in his stomach, and wishes he knew how to cheer his co-sensei up.
3.
Daniel and Johnny get lunch after they leave the post office. They've finally submitted all the filings that Eagle Fang should've had before operating as a business, Daniel helping Johnny avoid the disaster that he'd managed the first time he tried to run a dojo.
They're now co owners of Eagle Fang, and as it's Daniel's credit that allows the business to get loans for equipment and gear, Johnny figures he should treat LaRusso to a meal. They decide to take it back to the dojo so they can have less expensive beers and not have to worry about driving.
They laugh and argue over the proper way to eat a burger, and it's the best day both of them have had in a long time. But it comes to an abrupt end when they reach their final destination.
"Okay, what the heck , Sam!?" Daniel says as he and Johnny turn the corner and get a look at the wooden steps of the dojo.
Sam quickly pushes Robby away, causing him to stumble and fall on ass inside the open dojo doors. Johnny steps forward instinctively to check if he's okay and then blinks in astonishment at his son who is not even a member of the dojo and as far as Johnny knew, wasn't on great terms with Sam.
Johnny looks back up at Sam who is staring at him with an apologetic frown, probably to avoid her father's exasperated glare.
"No, yeah, I'm… gonna agree with your dad here, Sam. What the actual fuck ?"
"It's not what you think!" Sam lets out a plea for understanding, but the two older men just give her twin looks of disbelief.
"Didn't you two learn anything in the past few… years ? This is… I know I said I wouldn't get involved, Sam, but I'm not exactly sure what you want me to say here! You keep doing this here ! In my dojo! What is-" Daniel throws his hands in the air and turns back around, starting to walk away. He pauses and spins on his heel to face her again. "Are you two dating again?"
"Dad, it's complicated!"
Johnny looks at Robby again, who has picked himself up off the floor but looks hesitant to come back into Daniel's line of sight.
"Hey, Robby, let's get out of here, yeah?" Johnny nods toward the direction he's parked. He sets the burgers down on the table near the door and looks at them regretfully. "You guys can talk about this later. After LaRusso has finished his hissy fit."
"Shut up, Johnny." Daniel rolls his eyes and gives Robby a conflicted look as the father and son duo let themselves out. He eyes the white bag containing their would-be celebratory lunch and sighs heavily. He sends one last glance in the direction the two men had gone and then focuses his pout on his daughter. "I'm sorry for snapping. Again . You hungry? Let's have a burger and talk."
Sam shrugs sheepishly but follows him inside.
4.
Daniel pulls up to the dojo just before noon on Sunday to find Johnny leaning against his own car.
"So Robby talked to me about the thing that happened on Friday." Johnny says as soon as Daniel gets out of his car. "Says that Sam probably wasn't gonna be very forthcoming with you about it and I get why."
Daniel blinks at his business partner and friend. He wonders how they got here, talking about their kids' love lives and getting so intensely personal with each other. Daniel sighs as he thinks about how much he cares about this guy in front of him. The Daniel LaRusso of a couple years ago would've laughed at the thought.
"I trust Sam." Daniel nods. "She's a good kid. I believe her when she says she had a good reason and that she has things under control."
"Well Robby said I could tell you… He said it'd save everyone the awkwardness." Johnny scratches his chin. "He uh… came out to me this weekend? Said he's bisexual ? I think I got that right."
Daniel's eyes widen in surprise and Johnny laughs sharply.
"Yeah, that's what I said." Johnny smiles fondly as he looks away. "I guess that's why he was here talking to Sam. He was confused or whatever? Thought he might be gay, and then one thing led to another, and she uh… ended up offering proof that he wasn't completely.. ."
"Okay, yeah, that's…" Daniel huffs out a laugh. "I get the point."
Daniel looks at Johnny for a beat and then clears his throat.
"You know… You can tell Robby, if he needs someone to talk to who can relate…" Daniel gestures vaguely at himself, heart racing at the idea of telling Johnny that he, too, has been into men for the greater part of his life.
"Oh." Johnny's eyes go wide in surprise and he clears his throat in an imitation of the way Daniel has just done. "No, uh. Me too, actually. I uh, I am too. I told him as much."
" Wow ." Daniel nods, eyes wide as he rocks back and forth on his heels. He smirks suddenly. "Must be a karate thing."
Johnny snorts and wordlessly leads the way to the dojo, sensing that the discussion is over.
They walk past Demetri, Miguel and Hawk practicing kata in the grass and slide open the door to the dojo.
Daniel is hardly surprised at the sight of two teenagers leaping apart with guilty expressions, but one of them isn't even a member of his dojo.
"Aisha, not that it isn't great to see you, but we kind of have a no making out in the dojo policy around here. Which honestly? Should be common sense, I feel." Daniel arches his eyebrows and laughs humorlessly. "But yeah, are you back? Or just visiting your… girlfriend? Please tell me you're at least actually dating if you're… y'know."
Tory turns bright red at that as shifts awkwardly as if debating making a run for it. Her eighteen year old girlfriend seems to be slightly more confident than her, but that's probably because she isn't the one who is still trying to get comfortable and find her place in the Miyagi-Fang gang.
"Yeah, I'm just visiting my girlfriend." Aisha laughs, stepping forward to give Daniel a hug. "Good to see you too, Mr. LaRusso. I'm actually staying with Sam for the weekend."
Johnny wonders how Daniel doesn't know Aisha is staying at his own house, but his thoughts are interrupted when she steps up towards him. She clears her throat and looks at Johnny with a shy look.
"Hey sensei. Long time." Aisha tentatively reaches out for a hug and Johnny gives her one with surprising ease, still a little shocked at seeing his old student. When they pull away, he looks between Aisha and Tory, his face melting into a knowing smile.
"Knew it." Johnny says smugly. He takes a sip of the soda he'd been holding before continuing to talk excitedly, pointing the cup at Tory. "I always thought you guys had a thing for each other. I was gonna have a talk with Aisha about manning up and doing something about it, but then you were dating Miguel. And I'm gonna be honest, I didn't understand that relationship at all, so I'm glad you finally got your shit together."
Everyone in the room stares at him blankly at Johnny's lengthy statement.
" Oookay ." Tory says finally, and then bursts out laughing. Aisha joins along and Daniel just stares at Johnny, a familiar fond and exasperated smile working its way onto his face. "Won't happen again Mr. LaRusso, Sensei."
Tory nods at both of them and leads her girlfriend out of the dojo with their hands intwined.
"Good for them." Johnny sighs and heads to the back to get ready for class.
5.
"So, I'll lead the younger ones through their ippons out in the garden and you can do the lesson inside with everyone who already passed." Johnny looks through the notes in his planner. It was a gift from Daniel, which he pretended to be annoyed by, but it had greatly reduced the amount of fuck ups in his day to day life. "You should have most of them, just not… twins and that Clayton kid."
"Sounds right." Daniel yawns as he parks in front of the dojo and then gives Johnny an apologetic smile. "Sorry, didn't sleep well."
"Oh yeah?" Johnny forces a smile back, joking around with the tired man. "Amanda got you sleeping on the couch?"
Daniel clears his throat and points to the gate.
"Let's go inside. I need to talk to you about something, and I'd like to make some tea first."
Johnny just shoves the planner back in his duffel and follows Daniel out to the dojo, following him to the unlatched gate with a frown. They hadn't noticed any familiar cars parked outside but they might have just not noticed one.
Daniel is cautious anyway and Johnny holds his duffel out to the side ready to drop it if there's a need to fight.
"Holy shit ." Daniel says as they turn the corner. Johnny stops right behind him and drops his duffel in shock.
"Okay… This is a lot to unpack."
Johnny takes in the sight of his son and his first ever karate student, side by side, standing at the edge of the deck, faces flush. He watches Robby wipe the back of his hand over his mouth as he takes a step back, nervously.
"Are either of you dating my daughter?" Daniel practically screeches the question out, running his hands through his hair as he looks between the two boys with wide eyes.
"We… think you should maybe ask her that?" Miguel suggests awkwardly.
"Hey, you guys ready to-" Sam jogs out from the dojo and moves to lock up, but freezes when she sees her dad and Johnny. "Oh. Hey ."
"They kind of… saw us kissing." Robby scratches his head still looking wholly uncomfortable with the entire situation, but to be fair, all five of them look about the same level of discomfort.
"Shit." Sam breathes out and closes her eyes.
"Samantha, what-" Daniel starts but is cut off by a loud laugh-shout from beside him.
"Holy shit , you're all dating each other ?" Johnny cackles. His eyes widen as he stares at Miguel. "Robby's gay panic was because of you?! That's hilarious! And this solves literally all of your problems now that Tory is a lesbian!"
"Excuse me?" Daniel looks at the three teenagers they've mentored on and off for the past couple years.
Sam just smiles at him, but it comes out more of a wince. Robby is still scratching his head like a nervous tic, and Miguel is looking at him and Johnny with a hopeful expression, like he wants their approval.
"Look, you're all adults." Daniel quirks his head in thought and looks at Miguel, who he recalls isn't eighteen for another few months. "Well, almost . Anyways, I am going to trust that you will be careful about this. You've all been through so much with each other, and no matter what Johnny says, it does not solve all your problems. But, if you'll promise to be good to eachother, that's all that matters."
"Thanks dad!" Sam says excitedly. "Okay, we're late for a movie though, so we'll talk more later?"
"Oh, you can bet we'll talk later. You're staying with me tonight, remember? You've still got a ten o'clock curfew while you're in high school!" Daniel warns her as she drags her boyfriends out of the yard with her. "Wait, did your mother know about this? Of course she did."
"Well. At least my son got his game from me." Johnny snickers from a foot away and kicks at LaRusso. "Hey, What'd you mean about staying with you?"
"Oh, uh…" Daniel shrugs. "I moved out. Got my bed delivered yesterday, finally. That's why I slept like crap. Hard to ger used to after sleep on a Tatami for three weeks."
"You-"
"We're separated. Amanda and I, we…" Daniel trails off and walks further into the dojo, setting his keys down in the small kitchenette and getting started on that tea. When Johnny follows, Daniel continues explaining. "We love each other, but we're not in love anymore and our relationship wasn't working, so we filed for separation a couple months back. We didn't want to risk pushing too hard at the cracks in our relationship and ending up too angry at each other to run a business together. Not to mention how we'd just be making everything worse for the kids. We're not sure about an actual legal divorce , but we're decided to see other people, and if it ever gets serious… we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Johnny sits down heavily in the nearest chair, staring up at the smaller man in awe.
"Why didn't you mention this sooner?" Johnny's voice is wounded and Daniel shakes his head.
"It's just been a lot, Johnny. You and I have been so busy. I was gonna tell you, I just didn't know what to say." Daniel shrugs.
"Yeah, yeah okay. I get it." Johnny looks down at his hands and then out the door at the unexpected movement outside. "Sounds like some of the kids are here early. I'm uh… go check on them."
"Johnny-"
Daniel cuts himself off as Johnny shuts the sliding door behind him.
+1
If they really think about it, Johnny and Daniel have been leading up to this moment ever since they were teenagers. The tension had to break eventually, and with Johnny's recent knowledge that Daniel is single, every tiny argument had inched the blonde closer and closer to snapping.
This particular argument isn't even serious. In fact, they're holding back laughter as they debate the better Bond actor.
Daniel rolls his eyes and shifts to leave the dojo completely in the middle of Johnny's third rant about Timothy Dalton's smile and suddenly Johnny is so exasperated, annoyed and fond, that he can't control his actions. He tugs Daniel by the arm and the shorter man turns and tumbles into Johnny's arms.
"Johnny, wha-"
Johnny swallows the question with his lips, kissing his old karate-rival turned business-partner. Daniel lets out a surprised noise that turns into a moan as Johnny holds him close with one arm, the other cupping Daniel's soft cheek as he kisses him breathless.
"Wait, wait, we can't ." Daniel pants against his lips, but kisses back anyway when Johnny silences him again. Daniel melts into it for a moment or two before pushing Johnny's chest gently.
"What, why? " Johnny groans, moving to kiss Daniel's jaw.
"Because we shouldn't , Johnny." Daniel is practically panting, hips pressing into Johnny's when the man pulls him impossibly closer.
"The way you're physically responding seems to contradict what you're saying." Johnny nips at Daniel's throat as he mumbles the words and the smaller man finally shoves him back with a little force.
Johnny goes easily, raising his hands in surrender, but his brow is scrunched in frustration and confusion. Daniel sighs and rubs a hand over his flushed face.
"For chrissake… Our kids are dating each other!" Daniel scolds him.
"Um, well… it's not like they're getting married . And neither are we! You aren't even getting divorced ! Look, you want me, I want you, it's pretty clear cut." Johnny rolls his eyes. "Now, do you have any more ridiculous objections?"
"Yes! I- Tons !" Daniel sputters. "For one, I'm not the kind of guy who fools around. I get attached ."
"So? I'd like for you to be attached to me." Johnny explains slowly, as if speaking to a child. "What is so hard to explain about that?"
"You really mean it?" Daniel laughs, incredulous, a little disbelieving. "You want to date me? For real?"
"Is that your hang up?" Johnny groans, offended and still very frustrated. He's had a taste of what he's wanted for a good while now, and he can't stand being so close and yet so far. "Yes, I will take you on a million dates. I'll date the shit out of you. For as long as you want me around, LaRusso. I was never planning on going anywhere anyway. You may drive me nuts, but I couldn't stay away from you if I wanted."
"Johnny, I'm serious-"
"LaRusso, I'm in love with you." Johnny exhales roughly, gripping Daniel's forearms. "I don't expect you to be there too, but I've felt this way since before I knew about your divorce. I felt so guilty looking at you all the time before that, I really did. But ever since you told me, I've noticed that you look at me, too . You can't tell me you don't, Daniel."
Daniel stands there, chest heaving just as hard as Johnny's. Brown eyes stare helplessly into clear blue eyes and Daniel shakes his head. Johnny deflates for a moment, disappointed, but then he's met with a soft press of lips to his own.
"I've been looking at you since I met you, Johnny Lawrence." Daniel laughs softly. "And it only gets harder and harder to look away with time."
Johnny grins and kisses Daniel again, the way he meant to the first time, and Daniel gives in, all out of reasons to protest. They lose themselves in the long awaited kiss, Daniel shoving at his hands under Johnny's shirt, desperate to finally touch him after all these decades. Johnny, helpful as ever, rips it over his head before kissing Daniel again, letting him dig his strong hands into the wide expanse of warm muscles across his back.
"You goddamn hypocrites ." Hawk's raspy, chriping voice cuts into the heated atmosphere and the two men jump apart.
Demetri is smirking from the doorway and Hawk is giving them an unimpressed and very judgemental frown.
"Hey, we'll just go… I'll take care of starting class while you two work on getting more presentable." Demetri snorts and pushes his boyfriend's narrowed gaze out of sight, shutting the door closed behind them.
"Well… guess we lost any chance of Hawk respecting the shirtlessness rules, didn't we?" Daniel sighs and turns to a smirking Johnny.
"Worth it." Johnny shrugs and pulls him into a kiss again, trusting Demetri to keep anyone else out for at least the next few minutes.
Daniel laughs into his mouth, but doesn't argue. He just wraps his arms around Johnny's shoulders and lets himself break his own rules for once.