Chapter 7

Mike didn't expect to see Johnny gazing at him with contempt when he turned around, after closing the door to his room.

"Hey," Mike greets gently. Johnny continues staring at him, even as Mike crosses the room to stand in front of him. There's no happiness, or usual Johnny jubilance anywhere on his person. Who was this person sitting on bed?

What did Mike do to bring this stranger out?

Mike looks back at him, moving forward a little more so that he rests his hand on Johnny's shoulders. Johnny leans back a little, looking around the room with a distracted expression on his face.

And thus—

Mike had to conclude to himself that Johnny was extremely off. He couldn't say or do what he felt earlier when they were with Jakes.

Thankfully he found Johnny waiting in his room. He was hoping they could be alone to touch base with one another.

"Did something happen?" Mike asks, stepping back a little. He could still feel a strange resistance emanating from Johnny.

"Mike…is there really no other way?" Johnny huffs, finally looking Mike in the eyes and it takes Mike aback. What is he-?

"No other way for what? What are talking about? C'mon just say-"

Johnny continues giving him the same, 'are you kidding me?' look. There's so much pain penetrating through his entire being it practically knocks Mike off his feet. Mike chooses to just bury his face in his hands groaning softly. Why did this feel exactly like talking to Paige awhile ago about how he couldn't get those girls out sooner?

What happened days ago when he and Johnny were good? When they were in the bathroom, then Johnny had to go to the Solano's? What happened to Johnny in that time?

And this new plan they went over with Jakes-

It was foolproof.

Why couldn't everyone just do as Mike asked of them so this could be over and done with?! They could go on with the rest of their lives sooner if everyone just did what he said, when he said it.

He lifts his head up after a minute. He feels his head starting t "What is wrong Johnny? Just tell me." They never had this much tension between them when they were just friends. But Mike was determined to make this work out best for both of them. IT was apparent that things were over with Paige and him for a long time now. Well not such a long time. Their hooking up was almost a mistake.

"With Lucia. Is there really no other way for me to…do we have to bring her to Mexico?"

Mike sighs. This again.

And Johnny. He cares so much for people. Like Paige, he was going to give Mike a hard time about this. He thought Johnny would be the one to keep him grounded…would encourage him…help him feel loved and not hated.

"Look, I get it. You care-"

"You said that. Earlier."

Mike stops.

Yeah he did, didn't he?

"But I do get it. We just-"

"It's bullshit."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Did he just say-?

"John, if there was another way I swear we'd do it. I'd do it. But Lucia, she has to take you to Mexico. Jakes and I explained this to you. Why we needed to do it this way."

Johnny answers by gazing away from Mike for a second. Mike notices it's done in a deeply dejected manner. More crestfallen than Mike has ever seen him in a long time.

It wasn't natural.

Johnny looks back up at him in pure agony suddenly as he says, "I know that Mike. And I know you won't stop until we put the bad guys away-but Lucia. She…she isn't like them." He shakes his head sadly at Mike, while taking the bottom part of Mike's shirt between his fingers. Mike can tell he wants to say something else, but continues his silent focusing on Mike's eyes.

Mike didn't know much about Lucia.

Based on her file, Mike knew that Lucia usually stayed clear of her father and brother's daily dealings. The murder, drugs and mayhem had just Carlos Sr. and Carlito written all over it. Then this other shady business with Markum, attaching himself to the Solano clan.

Mike couldn't wait to catch his shady ass.

How dare he call himself someone of the law. How dare he vow to protect and serve the public when he was giving them the tools needed for their own slow execution? No, their suicide.

The smarmy bastard was out taking advantage of innocent girls too. These poor girls only wanted a slice of the American Pie, to better their own lives… And using them as property?! To use them as cattle to push drugs around state lines?! To pump into the streets and kill the young, deluded and uninformed on a daily basis... It all pissed Mike off to the highest degree.

Unfortunately, it was routine. He saw a similar situation when he was shadowing Bello way back when. Seeing 'how the sausage was made' and nearly getting himself killed for it.

So, by proxy, The Solanos and Markum were guilty of everything…so all of them and their associates had to go down.

"-ike. Mike?"

Mike wakes up out of his reverie to find Johnny watching him in concern. The previous look of disenchantment melted off his face when Mike wasn't looking. However, there was an edge of something else gripping at Johnny's expression.

Johnny rises out of where he sat, so Mike braces himself for whatever.

A swing, being cussed out- Maybe both.

"I better go before you eat me or something."

"Wh-What?" Mike sputters, feeling himself laugh, but he clears his throat to cover it. He definitely wasn't expecting that response from Johnny. "Eat you?"

"Yeah, you don't hear your stomach growling?"

Mike looks down at his stomach the exact moment a large rumble came bounding through his insides.

"Oh-"

He's in further shock when Johnny brushes his lips against his cheek, then his mouth briefly. Mike licks his lips, gaping at Johnny. He notices Johnny's keeping somewhat of a distance still and Mike doesn't like it.

So-

He grabs Johnny by the arm, ignoring the fleeting look of amusement on Johnny's face. They have to talk about this more. Us…this…-themselves, more. Whatever happened, they could fix it. Mike knew they should try-

"John, stay."

Johnny bites the corner of his lip, staring unblinkingly back at Mike.

Why is he acting so strange? He was the one who needed to keep Mike sane.

Johnny smirks faintly, as he comments, "I get it Mike. I was…Don't I have to, like, go-?"

GUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

He's interrupted this time, by Mike's ever obnoxiously growling stomach. Mike jumps away from Johnny, self-conscious now. How did he not hear it earlier?

"We can go eat together downstairs…or something. Before I leave. If you wanna,"Johnny suggests softly, fidgeting a bit where he stands. Mike doesn't know how to answer him. He feels more relieved though at the question and Johnny's current mood. Except, Mike could tell a bit of melancholy tapering around them both. Before he knows it, Johnny reaches a hand out to him, dragging him closer, by the neck, so that their temples and foreheads slightly touched. Mike caught a whiff of him earlier when they were with Jakes, but being in closer proximity like this…Mike enjoyed the entrancing flowery soap even more. Maybe if they had the time they could finally show-

"C'mon el pulpo," Johnny muses, narrowing his eyes in the playful manner Mike always loved. He wraps the rest of his arm around Mike's shoulders, pulling Mike along with him to the closed door of the room. "Let's go get something in you. Can't have you dying on me."