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It wasn't supposed to rain today, the storm had moved in fast and had caught him in the middle of his walk with nothing but a thin hoodie.
Johnny was soaked by the time he ducked into the small market, looking out at the downpour and contemplating buying a new umbrella, his old one had been left at Archie's.
He had left a lot of things at Archie's when he had packed and left, taking only the essentials and what mattered most to him.
The umbrella hadn't made the cut.
He leaned his head against the glass, trying not to think of his ex.
"Johnny?" A familiar voice called.
He jumped in surprise and turned around, he hadn't heard that voice in almost a year...
"Middy?"
His friend ran over and tackle hugged him into a wall, pulling back with a laugh.
"Dude you're drenched!" He looked down at his own now wet clothes with a smile. "Got caught outside or what?"
"Yeah," he huffed a laugh "what have you been up to? I haven't seen you since..."
"Since Archie made you stop talking to me and Taz?" Middy provided, a sad smile on his face.
Johnny grimaced, "Yeah..."
Middy looked around, "is he with you?"
He let out a sigh, "no, we... I broke up with him a couple weeks ago."
His relationship with Archie had been growing more and more turbulent as time had gone on, but the last couple years had been the worst. He had steadily encouraged Johnny to not talk to any of their mutual friends, especially Middy and Taz, saying they were just jealous of their relationship, trying to break them up.
Outside of work he ended up only going out if Archie was with him, talking with only Archie's friends if he even talked much at all; their fights stopped being what he had always dismissed as petty squabbles and became terrible yelling matches.
But Archie laying his hands on him in their last fight had been the breaking point. He had promised to never hurt him and breaking that had finally given Johnny the push to leave him, even if it was with a sore scalp, bruised, and with a bloody lip.
He told Middy all of this, shivering not only from the cold by the end.
"I've been texting with Samy every once in a while... He and Taz are hanging out quite a bit lately." Johnny told him, feeling guilty he hadn't reached out to Middy yet. He hadn't talked to Taz in so long, and it had already been a few days since he had texted back Samy... He needed to get out of the headspace Archie put him in.
"I will kill that asshole, how dare he lay a finger on you!?" Middy swore.
"I'm ok now Mid, but where have you been? How are things for you?"
Middy scowled for another minute before sighing, "yeah I've been kinda living off the grid, as it were. It's so peaceful man, you should try it."
Johnny chuckled a bit, "so what? You're off in cabin in the woods like a hermit?"
"No no!" Middy's face grew bright, "It's like a community! Everyone is so nice and it's so quiet there, you can really breathe ya'know?"
Johnny sighed, it sounded like heaven, getting away from the city; not having to worry about running into Archie in a store or on the street.
He had been ignoring all his calls and texts, alternatively pleading for Johnny to forgive him and come back to him, and calling him every insult he could think of.
"That does sound really nice." Johnny admitted.
"We have an open house thing in a couple of days, why don't you come check it out?" Middy suggested, "it might be a good break for you, you can stay with me for a night or two, get away for a beat."
Johnny bit his lip, he did have some vacation days he could take...
"C'mon, I'll even pick you up." Middy offered.
Johnny chuckled, "alright, why not right?"
They talked a little more, Middy giving him his number as apparently he had a new one, and making arrangements to pick him up from his temporary housing in two days; the plan to stay with him for the weekend, the open house that Friday.
Johnny checked out the place, it had a social media presence just like everything else after all.
He felt his eyebrows raised when he realized that there was a religious element to the whole place, almost hippyish, reconnecting with nature and your fellow human type of thing; he had never pegged Middy for the religious type, but he supposed this wasn't the typical kind.
He bit his thumbnail, maybe he didn't know his so well anymore... It was his own fault for letting himself get shut off from his friends.
The pictures certainly looked nice, although he really couldn't tell where it was based on them. It looked secluded enough though, and the promise of peace was enough to make him excited for the trip.
That and reconnecting with Middy.
He would have to hit up the others too once he was back, now that there was no one to stop him.
So he packed a backpack and found himself being whisked away by Middy and a new friend of his a couple days later, Middy sitting with him in the back and chatting his ear off.
He had thought they may be getting close when they got off the highway, but that street turned to another, then another and another, almost as if going deeper into a labyrinth, the treeline seeming to get thicker as it came closer until they eventually turning down a narrow road taking them into the woods properly.
"This really is back from the rest of the world, isn't it?" Johnny remarked.
"Oh it is!" Middy's friend said from the driver's seat, "but it's nice to not get noise from the city."
"He's right, you can actually relax out here." Middy agreed.
When the trees opened up, he was shocked at the sprawling complex; several large buildings, rows of what looked like houses, and a shining structure in the back.
"Come on, I'll show you around!" Middy jumped out of the car, excited, and pulling him towards one of the buildings.
There was a quite a few people gathered, seemingly also being shown around by others. There was a pair of men near the entrance greeting people as they arrived, one skinny and tall with shoulder-length blonde hair, the other a short brunette with long curls; he recognized them from some of the photos, the leaders of this weird little commune in the forest.
"Brought a friend, Middy?" The blonde asked with a small smile.
"Yep! This is Johnny," he turned to him and gestured at the other two in turn, "this is Joel and Niko, they run things around here."
"Welcome," Joel told him with the same smile.
"Nice to meet you!" Niko told him, a gleam in his eye, "we're always happy to meet friends of our members."
Johnny murmured a thanks before Middy dragged him away to start showing him around.
"Joel and Niko are pretty cool." Middy told him once they were out of earshot, "Niko can get a bit intense in services but nothing that scary really. Those two over there." He pointed to two men, one with pale blonde curl and the other a mop of black hair, "are Joonas and Aleksi, they're high priests."
The two were giving a group a tour it seemed, and Middy pointed out more staff and new friends he had made.
There was a man walking with his hands behind his back, smiling and greeting people as he passed.
Such a kind smile...
He was a bit shorter then Johnny, with honey colored curls and stormy blue eyes. Simply he was gorgeous, and Johnny felt his breath catch at the thought; Archie had always reacted bad if he thought Johnny was looking at other men, even though he never was.
But Archie wasn't around anymore.
"Who's that?" Johnny whispered.
"Who? Oh, that's Olli." Middy told him, "also a high priest, he's kind of the favorite here. Feels like you can really talk to him, ya'know?"
Johnny looked over at Olli again, not trying to be too obvious, indeed everyone seem to want to talk to him, he's clearly very popular. And he had such an indulgent smile on his face as he talked to everyone.
"Come on," Middy tugged his sleeve, "let's go to the temple."
When they got to the temple Johnny couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. To see such an impressive structure, flush with the tree line at the back, was simply breathtaking.
It was even more impressive inside, warm wood floors and loose seating gave the impression that services were not as regimented as most beliefs, a fact Middy confirmed. He showed Johnny down the hall that led to a handful of offices, mostly for the priests and administrative staff, a large open meeting room, and a small library.
"What's down that way?" Johnny asked as they started to leave, pointing to a pair of double doors at the end of the hall.
"Oh," Middy frowned a bit "I haven't actually been down that way, but it's just some more small meeting rooms and some storage and stuff."
Johnny nodded, he didn't care too much to see some boring meeting rooms, but he felt something odd as they were about to leave, almost like he could hear whispering on the edge of his hearing. But Middy didn't seem to be hearing anything, so he let it go, figuring it must have been a tour group being shown around.
Next Middy wanted to show him the living quarters, telling Johnny how he had his own little apartment, as nice as anything he could get in the city without paying an arm and leg, but a group called to him, wanting him to go over.
"Go talk with your friends," Johnny encouraged, "I wouldn't mind having a couple minutes to myself here."
"You sure?"
"Yeah," he sat on a bench near the entrance to the cathedral, "I'm just going to hang here, get a feel of the place."
Middy nodded, promising to be back soon.
Johnny watched him go before letting his eyes slip closed for a moment, the fresh air and lose buzz of conversations helping him to relax fully.
Middy was right it was quiet; it had never been quiet around Archie and for the first time in years he feel like he could truly take a deep breath and listen to his own thoughts. It was like a little slice of Heaven, a secret world Middy had found and he was so glad he had taken him up on the offer to spend a couple days there.
"Hello there."
He jumped a little bit, eyes snapping open to see the friendly priest from earlier.
"Hi." Johnny responded, surprised as the man sat next to him and offered his hand.
"Olli Elias Matela."
"Joonas Parkkonen- oh but everyone calls me Johnny."
Olli smiled at him, "are you enjoying your time here, Johnny?"
"I am. It's..." Johnny swallowed a bit, the other man's smile and warm eyes distracting him. "It's very peaceful here, it seems."
Olli nodded, "it is, you should see it when we don't have an event going on, it's quite lovely in my opinion."
"I actually do get to see it, my friend invited me for a couple nights." He told him.
Olli's smile grew wide, "that's perfect! I would love to show you around, as your friend seems to have disappeared?"
"He's right over-" Johnny looked to where Middy had been, but the group he had been talking with seemed to have left, taking him with them.
He gave a little laugh, "yeah, actually. He already showed me this," he gestured to the building behind them.
Olli hummed, "did you like it?"
Johnny nodded enthusiastically, "it's amazing. To find something like that out here..."
"We're very proud of it." Olli agreed, standing and waiting for Johnny to follow suit, "let me show you what else we have."
Olli showed him the rest of the area, asking him casual questions about himself, if he was from the area, if he had heard about them before Middy, explaining a bit more about what they believed.
So much of it made sense to Johnny, being surrounded by nature, being with a group of others that watched out for each other...
And if Johnny didn't know better, he would be tempted to think the smiles and almost intense eyes were flirting; but the man was a priest, surely that wasn't even allowed?
It almost felt like a shame for the impromptu tour to end when they returned to their starting point, Middy spotting them and hurrying over.
"There you are!" He huffed, "I was looking all over."
"Sorry, Mid." Johnny said sheepishly.
"No need to to worry," Olli assured him, "I took good care of him."
Middy thanked him for watching out for Johnny, leading him away to his place for the night.
Olli watched the pair walk away, Joonas coming up next to him.
"He seems like a good fit." Joonas said softly. "Want me to work on him a bit?"
Olli just smiled, one that only those closest to him could truly understand the intent behind.
"No, he's mine."
...
It was almost too easy.
Olli couldn't help but find it rather cute the way Johnny was following his friend around the next day, staying close to Middy's side.
Poor little lost lamb, he thought as he watched the pair, he just needed someone to guide him to their path.
Something Olli intended to do.
Middy wasn't an exceptional member of their community, although devout enough to not cause any concerns, but he definitely seemed to playing his part, telling his friend all about them and what daily life was like.
The best part of it was that Johnny seemed to be pulled again and again to the temple, in the same way certain other members had been when they first saw it. It bode well for Olli's plan, especially when Middy left him by himself the second day he was there.
"Enjoying your time here?" He asked softly, trying not to smirk when Johnny jumped, apparently having been lost in thought.
"It's so peaceful here." He gave a little half laugh, "kind of makes me wish I didn't have to go back."
Definitely too easy.
"We always have room for more." Olli told him with his most beckoning smile. "Everyone is welcome here."
Johnny met his eyes, sadness clouding them.
"It's..." He gave a sigh, "I can't lie, it's very tempting. But I... I have to get back to my life."
Olli hummed a bit, "of course, I'm sure you have a lot of friends and family waiting for you."
He would put a good-sized bet he didn't.
Johnny looked down, shifting uncomfortably, "not really... I actually just got out of a bad relationship, lost most of my friendships in the process and-" he looked up with a bit of a blush, "sorry I shouldn't talk your ear off."
"No, please do. Counseling is actually part of my duties here, my office is open a couple days a week for anyone who needs it." He assured him, "We could go there if you would like?"
Johnny bit his lip for a moment before nodding, letting Olli lead him away.
When they were settle in the office Olli leaned back in his chair, observing the man in front of him.
He looked nervous, biting at a thumbnail and his gaze skittering around the room.
"What were you saying? About a relationship?"
Johnny sighed, "I was with him for a while... It wasn't healthy but I couldn't see that at the time. And I lost touch with basically everyone I had been close with because of it, even running into Middy had just been a coincidence."
"Perhaps not." Olli leaned forward a bit, "it sounds like you ran into each other right when you needed a change in your life."
Johnny looked up at him, "what, like fate?"
"The gods move in mysterious ways," he shrugged, "but it sounds like a change in scenery might be good for you. Of course, if your ex is completely out of your life now I understand wanting to stay were you feel most comfortable."
He gave a little laugh, "don't feel that great at home anymore." He muttered.
"Surely that isn't so?" Olli asked with faux surprise, "We strive to ensure everyone is safe and secure here, I couldn't imagine not feeling so in my own home."
Johnny nodded a bit, "that does sound nice... I can't keep imposing on Middy though..."
"We have plenty of space, you could have your own place here."
"But my job..." His voice had gotten a bit weaker, he was trying to justify staying away.
Perfect.
"Of course, you wouldn't want to give up a beloved job." Olli agreed, "if it's something you truly enjoy you must stay with it."
"It's nothing special, just pays the bills."
Olli just hummed a bit, letting his words sink in.
"I guess I could always take a leave for a bit." He said almost to himself, "I only have temporary housing right now anyway, it would be nice to get away from everything." He met Olli's eyes and smiled, "I do really like it here. Maybe I should take you up on your offer."
Olli couldn't help but smile back; he had him.
When Johnny returned home it was only to pack his things before returning within the week and he kept a close eye on Middy while he was gone, looking for any indications his friend had changed his mind about joining them.
He intrigued Olli, there was an almost innocence to him, a hopefulness even with just getting out of a bad relationship...
And he was quite easy on the eyes.
He hadn't had a bedmate in a while. The image of Johnny breathless underneath him, writhing in pleasure, was burned into his mind.
If all went well he would make that a reality.
He wanted to keep Johnny close while he settled in, make sure he had no second thoughts until he truly joined them and took his vows to the gods.
It had been a while since he had someone working directly with him, a counselor in training so to speak. Johnny would be a good fit for that role; Olli had watched him closely when he was there and he was able to talk with everyone easily, listening to them happily and with genuine concern.
He felt a bit off the remainder of that week for a reason he couldn't quite place, he had made arrangements not just for Johnny but for a few other new members that had resulted from their event and a ritual night had passed easily, he didn't have many worries at the moment.
Although their secretary was starting to ask probing questions, something they would all have to be keeping an eye on so she didn't find out anything she shouldn't.
When Johnny returned he realized his mood improved, a pleased humming in the back of his head making it clear.
The gods wanted him.
Even better, he wouldn't be a faceless part of the flock but someone that would one day know it's secrets.
But not until he had been eased in.
Johnny was excited about the job Olli wanted him to do, happily agreeing when he was told about it.
"I do like working with people," he said, "but I don't really know much about your faith yet..."
"Don't worry, I can handle those questions until you know more." Olli assured him, "this is just training right now. Take your time, we want you to be comfortable here."
That bright smile was back and Olli couldn't help but return it.
It didn't take long for Johnny to fall into the faith's open arms, only a few short weeks; Olli kept him close, talking with him about it whenever he had the opportunity, and he made sure he was able to often. He was so eager for something to believe in, to hold on to, that it didn't surprise Olli when Johnny started asking about the vows members took.
Seeing him blindfolded and leading him (among a couple others) to the alter was a thrill for him; Niko and Joel leading the initiation as they always did, ever the public leaders.
He looked a bit out of it when the blindfold was removed, the new primal connection to the gods was minor but hit some harder than others, and Johnny seemed to be one of them.
Another good sign, the connection deeper than the others that took their vows that day.
"Glad you joined man!" Middy was telling him as Olli watched, clapping him on the back.
"Thanks," Johnny mumbled before heading to his place.
Olli followed after him, offering to walk him back.
"Feeling alright?" He asked innocently when they were away from the others.
Johnny nodded, "it's... I feel a bit odd, but good?"
"Perfect, the oddness will fade but the pleasantness won't." Olli told him.
"Good to know. Thank you for everything." There was the smile again, "you've been so nice since I came here, we've talked so much and you've been so helpful..."
"Of course, after all you seem to be flourishing here." Olli paused by Johnny's door. "I do have something to ask you though."
"Oh?"
"Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"
Johnny's breath hitched, a blush spreading across his cheeks. "As- as a date?"
Olli chuckled, "yes, I'd like to take you out."
He swallowed a little, but nodded, his blush deepening.
"Wonderful, meet me out front at 6 tomorrow. You should get some rest today."
"Ok."
He left Johnny by his door, planning the next night.
...
Johnny hadn't quite expected this when he decided to try living out in the forest alongside his friend.
A simpler life, a break from the city, and the assurance he wouldn't run into Archie had been all he wanted.
But he found himself pulled to the temple repeatedly, to talking to Olli about nature and the old beliefs they wanted to reconnect with, a passionate spark in his eyes as he spoke about his time there.
It had all sounded so right, so appealing and comfortable.
He wanted to be part of it.
He had felt slightly woozy after the ceremony, a strange dull headache forming almost immediately after drinking... Whatever it was. Being blindfolded for it had been a surprise, Middy hadn't told him very much, telling him it was nothing to be nervous over but better experienced than explained.
But somehow it was most surreal to find himself in the passenger seat of Olli's car, on their way to a restaurant.
He was a picture of a perfect date, witty, charming, and attentive in a way Archie had never been and he found himself laughing until there were tears in his eyes. Any thoughts of his ex slipped away as the night went on, dinner being followed by a simple starlit stroll around the nearby lake, Olli even taking his hand as they started walking back to the car.
The drive back home felt longer in the dark of night, nothing but the headlights illuminating the road as they went deeper and deeper into the woods, Olli keeping his hand firmly in his, a thumb stroking over his knuckles as they talked, music playing quietly.
It was still dark when they eventually arrived back, the quiet hum of the car's engine shutting off and leaving an almost deafening silence.
"Did you have fun tonight?" Olli asked softly, turning to look at him.
"Yes, it was wonderful." Johnny sighed.
Olli smiled, raising a hand to cup his cheek and pulling him closer over the center console, connecting their lips.
What started out slow and probing quickly became passionate and dirty; Johnny finding himself breathless when they finally broke apart.
The only light in the car was moonlight, bathing Olli in a silvery glow, his pupils so wide the stormy blue had almost disappeared.
A moment later he pulled Johnny back to him, the kiss picking up right where the last had ended and he found himself winding his arms around Olli's neck, wishing there was nothing between them as the kiss deepened.
He swallowed hard when they pulled apart again, Olli keeping a hand in his hair.
"We shouldn't stay out here all night." He mused.
Johnny didn't want the kisses to stop, but he was right, they couldn't sit there making out in the dark like teenagers.
"No, I suppose you're right.. I should go back to my place." He sighed
"You could." Olli trailed his fingers down his neck, making him shiver, "Or you could spend the night with me."
Johnny felt his breath hitch, just for a moment.
It was clear what would happen if he agreed to that offer, the hand on his neck and look in Olli's eyes spoke to it.
Some part of him wondered if this was all happening too fast, it hadn't been that long since he had to leave Archie, since he had come to this hidden retreat, and barely over a day since he had been blindfolded and given a strange drink.
But a louder, more persistent part of him yelled that if he wanted to go on a date and spend the night with someone there was nothing and no one to stop him anymore; especially when it was someone as sweet and caring as Olli.
Olli that was still waiting for an answer, staring into his eyes as if to pierce his very soul.
"Let's go to your place." Johnny whispered.
Olli gave him a short kiss before hopping out of the car and crossing to open the door for him; slipping an arm around his waist to guide him to his apartment. It would be fine.
After all, he trusted Olli, he would follow wherever he may lead.
It wasn't the last time; Olli seemed to love to take him out, to spoil him, as if he knew he had never been in his last relationship.
They worked together during the day, would see each other every other night (and inevitably Johnny would be covered in marks revealing what had happened the next morning) and he would get to know the other members in his free time.
Johnny knew he was falling fast, being with Olli was as easy as breathing; he tried to keep some of it to himself, not wanting to scare him off.
But something seemed to change a few weeks in, on a day Olli had a horrible migraine; he explained to Johnny through his frustration that it occasionally happened and could knock him out for a whole day, but the timing was bad as new secretary was starting the next day and Olli wanted to be the one to show him around.
Instead of letting him languish in his office, Johnny helped him back to his apartment, making sure it was completely dark and silent, getting him water and making food for him.
To him it was obvious, a way to help the man he was dating, but Olli looked at him in wonder.
"You're taking care of me?" He croaked.
"Of course," Johnny told him with a small frown, "why wouldn't I?"
Olli observed him for a moment before a smile spread across his face, one softer than he had seen before.
"I'm lucky," he said softly "to have such a sweet boyfriend."
Johnny's breath caught, they hadn't talked about that yet.
"Really?" He asked.
Olli propped himself up to look in his eyes, that piercing look back, "yes, assuming you want that?"
"Yes," he breathed, "absolutely."
Olli pulled him into a kiss before whispering in his ear.
"Then you're all mine."