Specific trigger warning for chapter one: there are multiple instances where a walking cane is grabbed/talked about in a negative way, and while this is not intended to be ableism it may be perceived in this way. It's more of a case of Johnny being a bit of an asshole/"helping" in his particular way.
"I know what this is about, LaRusso, you just want an excuse to come here and scope out the competition, right?" Johnny says as he pulls up in his car by the warehouse that he's made into Eagle Fang's dojo.
"No, as a matter of fact, that isn't what this is about," Daniel says from the passenger seat. "As I said, I was meaning to get rid of this stuff anyway. I was gonna donate it or put it up on that Facebook page Amanda was talking about, Free Stuff in Encino, I think it's called," he adds as they both get out of the car and Johnny pops the trunk. "But since I heard you were trying to run a dojo with no proper equipment, I figured you're the most in need right now."
Johnny leans into the trunk to pick up a box, but pauses and looks back at Daniel. "So who's the snitch, huh?"
Daniel rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "I'm not naming names. Listen, it's no secret what's going on at Eagle Fang. All the kids go to the same schools, they're bound to talk to one other."
Johnny picks up one of the boxes and hands it to Daniel. "Fine, don't tell me," he says. "I'll find out myself." He pulls out a pair of gloves that are still attached together by their retail tag. He narrows his eyes at Daniel. "Hey, some of this stuff looks brand new. Funny, that."
An odd look crosses Daniel's face, but he quickly suppresses it. "Oh, you know how it is. You order way too many and some of them never get used."
"I don't know how it is. I think how it really is is you're being a rich asshole and rubbing it in my face."
"Oh yeah, like you never used to do that to me, huh?"
Johnny smiles and shakes his head. "Yeah, all right," he concedes, picking up the other box. "But just remember, I don't need your pity."
Daniel sighs in frustration. "You know, you could just say thanks like a normal person."
"And let you win? Not gonna happen," Johnny says, closing the trunk and walking off towards the warehouse entrance.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for the kids. Just because they chose Eagle Fang doesn't mean they deserve to suffer. If my students beat yours, I want it to be because of more effective teaching methods, not because your Eagle Fangs are running around in an empty warehouse."
"Hey, it's not an empty-" Johnny begins, and then stops as he notices the chain that holds the lock on the door has been cut through. "Shit."
"What's the matter?"
"Someone's been in here," Johnny says, putting down his box.
"Oh Johnny, this wouldn't happen if you just rented somewhere legitimately."
"Can it!" Johnny barks, and kicks the door open.
Daniel frowns, then puts down his own box.
"The hell is that smell?" Johnny asks.
Daniel follows him inside. Someone has set up what looks like a chemistry set at one end of the warehouse.
"Making drugs in here, Johnny?" Daniel says.
"You really think I have anything to do with this?"
"Well, whoever-"
Johnny throws an arm in front of Daniel, stopping him in his tracks. "I think we've got company."
Someone emerges from the shadows, and it's just one scrawny looking guy.
"Hey, get the hell out of here!" Johnny yells.
"Um, Johnny," Daniel says as two larger, more muscular guys step out behind the first guy.
"Actually, I think you two should leave," the scrawny guy says.
The muscular guys step closer to them, one of them is swinging a metal chain, the other one hits his fist into his palm.
"I was here first!" Johnny says. He looks at Daniel with a smirk. "You wanted to help, right, LaRusso?"
Daniel frowns. "I didn't mean like this!"
"Oh, come on!"
They both look at the approaching men, then turn back to back, moving into their respective fighting stances.
The muscular guys are tough, but seem surprised to be ambushed by two karate instructors, despite the fact that it says Eagle Fang Karate in several places in the warehouse. It's hardly a fair fight. Not until more guys show up.
They're vastly outnumbered, but Johnny can't back down. He's only just established a dojo that's completely his own and he's not about to risk losing that. Screw that. Plus LaRusso is here and hell if he's gonna let him see him get his ass kicked. Not that Johnny wants to impress him or anything.
Johnny ducks under a chain that's swung at him, then winds the guy with a well-aimed punch, and when he's doubled over he kicks him in the face. He turns around to see if Daniel was watching, but he's too busy grappling with another guy. Daniel spin kicks the guy he's fighting, sending him crashing over a pile of pallets. Then he blocks a punch by another guy and crane kicks him in the face.
Johnny pumps his fist. "That was pretty cool, LaRusso!" he says. Then he realises what he said was pretty lame. And it's even more lame that he wants that kinda acknowledgement in return.
Daniel turns towards him, but then Johnny notices a guy coming up behind him. Johnny hits him with a back-fist and the guy stumbles backwards, but then there's yet another guy coming at him. Where the hell do they keep coming from?
There's a sudden crash. Johnny sweeps the legs from under the guy he's fighting and whips around. That big pile of metal bars that he moved out of the way with the crane has come crashing down. Several guys are running out of the way. Johnny laughs to himself until he notices Daniel on the ground.
Johnny runs over. Falls to his knees beside Daniel. His eyes are closed. He's not moving. Johnny takes his shoulders and shakes him. There's blood, Johnny doesn't know where it came from. He knows some got on him from busting a guy's nose, but there's way too much for that to be all.
"LaRusso, stop messing with me, man," Johnny says, shaking him harder. He had no regrets setting up Eagle Fang in this warehouse, but here they come. He feels suddenly cold. For so long he's wanted to best LaRusso, but not like this. Johnny suddenly imagines a life without him and it all seems so pointless.
Johnny manages to pull himself together enough to remember his first aid training, and he tilts Daniel's head back and checks his breathing. Daniel is breathing, shallowly. Johnny breathes a sigh of relief.
"Come on Daniel, wake up."
Daniel's eyelids flutter.
"Oh, thank god."
Daniel looks up at him, confused. "Johnny?" he says.
Johnny smiles, and has the sudden impulse to hug him. But that'd be lame. He suddenly remembers the guys they were fighting, and looks around. "Well, we got rid of them."
"Good," Daniel says, and tries to push himself up. "I can't move my leg."
Johnny looks down. He hadn't noticed that part before. "No kidding, it's stuck under a metal bar."
Daniel groans in pain. "Johnny, this is… not the time for this."
"Yeah. Yeah. Just hang in there. I'll get you some help."
Amanda is sitting at Daniel's bedside when Johnny arrives at the hospital, so he leans on the doorframe and puts a handful of chocolate covered raisins in his mouth. You're supposed to bring grapes to people in hospital, and these are the same thing but better.
"Daniel, I know you want to get back to work and back to the dojo as soon as you can, but the doctor said you need to take time to rest and recuperate. I think you need to listen to her."
Daniel looks sadder and more defeated than Johnny has ever seen him. "I know Amanda, but I just feel like I'm letting everyone down."
"It won't be easy, but we can manage without you at the dealership for a couple of weeks. And Sam already said she can teach some classes at the dojo until you come back. We can handle things. What we need you to do is take your medication and follow the doctor's orders."
Daniel sighs. "You're right, you're always right."
"I know, honey," Amanda says, and bends to kiss her husband. "I love you."
"I love you too," Daniel says, kissing her again.
Johnny stops munching on chocolate raisins for a moment, struck by the weirdest stab of jealousy. He's always kinda resented Daniel for his hot wife and perfect home life, but Johnny's with Carmen now and that rocks. So what the hell does he have to be jealous about?
"Hey, get a room," Johnny says, his mouth full.
Amanda turns around. "We already did," she says. "Have you heard of knocking?"
"The door was open, man."
"Well, I should be going, anyway. If you need anything Danny, just call me," Amanda says, kissing her husband on the cheek and standing up.
"I will. Thanks Amanda."
Amanda turns to Johnny. "Don't stay too long, and don't agitate him," she says.
"I don't-"
"I know what you two are like when you get together. Behave yourself."
"Behave yourself," Johnny echoes with a sneer as Amanda leaves the room. He turns to Daniel and expects him to laugh or at least crack a smile, but he turns towards the window. The view is of another hospital building.
"I brought you some raisins," Johnny says, setting the box on table beside his bed. "Most of the box is left. And, look what else I brought you." He takes out a packet of ham from the bag he's carrying and puts that next to the raisins.
Daniel turns his head to look, his expression unchanged.
"The packet wasn't open when I bought it," Johnny says, sitting down. "I got hungry on the way over. You won't believe the traffic on the 101."
Daniel scoffs. "Same old Johnny Lawrence. You never change, do you?"
Johnny finds himself grinning. "Why try to improve perfection, right?"
Daniel shakes his head.
"Hey, I know the food in these places sucks, so if you want any more snacks, I can hook you up."
"Thanks, but Amanda brought me some fruit, so I think I'll survive."
Johnny still thinks that what he brought him was better, but decides not to pursue it. "So, how you holding up?"
Daniel's shoulders slump. "Well, this was not the way I was planning to spend the next few weeks."
"Look, I know this was kinda my fault."
"Kinda your fault? This was totally your fault, man. If you'd have rented a proper place like a normal person, or if you hadn't left those steel bars in a pile like that, this would never have happened."
Johnny frowns, surprised and annoyed at Daniel pointing the finger at him. "My fault? It's your own fault. If you'd never played good samaritan and donated all that stuff to Eagle Fang, you'd have never been there."
"And what would've happened if you'd had to face those goons alone, huh? I bet you would've tried to fight them by yourself. And you'd have ended up in a worse state than me."
"So you expect me to thank you?"
"No I don't, but you'll excuse me if you're not exactly the person I most want to see right now."
"Fine," Johnny says, standing up. "I came to see if there's anything I can do to help, but if that's your attitude-"
"You've done enough, Johnny."
Daniel looks so defeated, and part of Johnny desperately wants to do something to raise his spirits, but another part of him is mad at him, so he stalks out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Johnny wasn't quite sure what compelled him to go to the hospital to visit every day after that. It certainly wasn't because Daniel wanted him there, he made that quite clear. But Daniel seemed to be at least bored enough that he let Johnny keep him company for a while. He did feel bad for Daniel, even though he didn't quite feel guilty. It wasn't like it was his fault this happened. All right, maybe it was his fault for not stacking those metal bars safely, but what is he, some warehouse safety expert? He had to see Daniel back on his feet, literally, and with every day that went by that he wasn't, Johnny grew more and more uneasy.
Today when he arrives, some guy in scrubs is talking to Daniel. Johnny hangs back, but stays within earshot so that he can listen for anything that Daniel might not be telling him about how he's doing.
"It might be hard at first, but make sure to take a walk every day. It doesn't have to be far, just try and make it a little longer each time."
"Okay, yeah I'll do that," Daniel says.
"Good. Now don't worry, keep it up and you'll be back doing karate in no time."
Johnny slips into the room after the guy leaves. "Doctor's orders to go for a walk? Is that what you're paying these guys for?" he says.
"That wasn't the doctor, it was the physiotherapist. He also brought me that." Daniel looked over and nodded at that, which was a walking cane that was propped up against the bed.
"What does he think you are? Ninety?"
"I don't like it either, but it'll help me walk while I'm still recovering."
"You don't need that," Johnny says, and Daniel reaches for the cane, but Johnny kicks it so it falls to the floor. He fixes Daniel with a stare. "What you need is a little encouragement." He pulls a paper bag out from inside his hoodie, and there is the sound of bottles clinking together. He steps backward. "Want one? Come over here and get it."
"I'm not playing this game."
"Is that because you can't?" Johnny says with a smirk.
Daniel throws back the bedsheets dramatically and swings his legs over the side of the bed. There's an awkward pause while he struggles to reach down to put on his shoes. Johnny wonders if he should go help, but no, Daniel has to do it himself or it means nothing. Daniel pushes himself to a standing position and takes a step. Johnny smiles and pumps his fist. But when Daniel puts his weight on his bad leg, he stumbles and falls to the ground.
"Oh, shit!" Johnny says, rushing over to help him up. He puts an arm around Daniel and Daniel leans on his shoulder. "Yeah, lean on me, like that."
"Let me grab my cane."
"No, you don't need that. You've got me."
"Johnny, I swear to god if you make me fall again."
"I won't. I've got you."
Daniel looks at Johnny as he's leaning on him, and his expression softens and he gives Johnny a little smile. Johnny feels a strange sensation in his chest. And that's it! That's why he keeps coming back here to visit! A smile from Daniel? No, it's not quite about the smile. He can't put into words what it is. All he knows is that it can't be normal to feel so damn good about walking down a hospital corridor with Daniel LaRusso leaning on him.
"Am I leaning on you too much?" Daniel asks.
"What? No."
"It looked like you were in pain."
Johnny realises that he has his forehead furrowed. "Nah, I was just thinking about something," he says, and he quickly adds, "Something else. Something... that happened at the dojo earlier."
"Anything I can help with?"
"No," Johnny says. "Just, uh, kids being kids."
Daniel smiles fondly. "Don't I know how that is," he says.
"Bet you're missing Miyagi-Do."
"Yeah," Daniel says, and his voice comes out strained. "This is the longest I've ever been away." He misses a step and stumbles, and Johnny tightens his grip on him. "I'm okay."
They continue walking, but Johnny can't help thinking how warm and pleasant it is to have Daniel literally pressed up against him. He tries to shake the feeling, but he can't. The hell? He touches people all the time, it's kinda hard not to when you teach karate, and he doesn't think anything of it.
"So how's it going over at Eagle Fang?"
"Oh, yeah, good," Johnny says, glad of a distraction. "Those drug dealers never came back. We must've scared 'em good 'cause they never even came back for their chemistry set. Had to toss it in the trash."
"You tossed it in the trash? What if some kids get hold of it? Did you not even think of that?"
"Look, if kids are dumpster diving they've got bigger problems than that."
Daniel is shaking his head at him. Johnny adjusts his arm around Daniel. And all Johnny can think about is how he wants to pull Daniel in closer. He has no idea where these thoughts are coming from. He normally only feels this way when he's got a hot chick on his arm. And yeah, he really doesn't need to think any more about that.
"Let's go outside."
"I'm not supposed to walk too far just yet."
"Nonsense. Further is better. You wanna go home soon, right?"
"I don't think it works that way."
Daniel relents. The sun is out, and it's pretty nice for the grounds of a hospital. They find a bench to sit on, and Johnny tries not to dwell on the mixture of relief and disappointment he has on letting go of Daniel. He pulls out two beers from his hidden bag, and opens them.
"Here, you've earned it," he says, passing one to Daniel.
Daniel takes it. "I didn't actually want a beer," he says.
"Then what did you come all the way out here for?" Johnny asks, taking a drink from his own bottle.
"You seemed like you really wanted to help me. Who am I to say no?" Daniel says. He lifts up the bottle of beer and looks at the label.
Daniel isn't wrong. Johnny feels uncomfortable that Daniel could see through him like that. He swallows, then takes another swig of beer. If he noticed that, what else has he noticed? Relax, Johnny tells himself. It's not like there's some huge secret that he won't even admit to himself. Nah, that'd be ridiculous. Daniel takes a sip of his beer. "I probably shouldn't be drinking this with the painkillers I'm on."
"I won't tell if you won't," Johnny says.
"You're a bad influence, Johnny Lawrence," Daniel says, and raises his bottle.
Johnny taps his bottle against Daniel's in a cheers, and they both take a drink.
The silence between them feels tense. Johnny feels like he should say something. But what? One beer isn't enough to figure it out.
In the end it's Daniel who breaks the silence. "Look, Johnny, I'm sorry I said this was all your fault. I didn't mean it, man. The doctor said it was a good job you lifted that bar off my leg when you did, otherwise I might have lost it."
Johnny opens his mouth, but finds himself lost for words. Seeing Daniel in this state is bad enough, the thought of him suffering a permanent injury like that is unthinkable.
"Good job you got your crane licence, huh?"
"Crane licence? Who needs a licence for those things? Doesn't take a genius to figure it out."
Daniel laughs and slaps Johnny on the back. Johnny breaks into a grin and starts laughing too.
They sit and finish their beers in the sun, and then Johnny helps Daniel get up and walk back to his hospital room.
Johnny continues to visit every day and takes Daniel for a walk around the hospital grounds, each day going further, until they end up doing three whole laps of the hospital wing. Each day, Daniel leans on Johnny a little less heavily, and is able to put more weight on his leg. But he still needs his support because Johnny won't ever let him use the walking cane. What he doesn't know is that Daniel also takes another walk each day, using the cane.
Carmen just smiles knowingly when Johnny tells her he's been to see Daniel again. He doesn't ask what it is that she knows that he doesn't. He doesn't think he's ready to face that.
Yesterday when he came over, Johnny overheard Daniel talking to Amanda about how the doctor was going to assess him for possible discharge. Johnny hadn't heard anything about Daniel being sent home, but what did he expect, a phone call? He charged down the corridor to Daniel's room, already feeling some kinda bad feeling about how yesterday might have been the last time he'd get to help Daniel walk.
Johnny pushes the door open and sees Daniel lying in bed, eyes closed. He stops. Suddenly feels boiling hot, then freezing cold. And it's like he's back in the warehouse, staring down at Daniel unmoving and covered in blood.
"Daniel?" he says, rushing over. He takes Daniel by the shoulders and yells his name in his face.
Daniel jumps and gasps, opening his eyes to see Johnny leaning over him, way too close.
"What the hell?" Daniel says.
Johnny forces his mouth into a smile, but he can't hide the sweat dripping off his face. "Just, uh, testing your reactions," he says.
Daniel eyes him suspiciously. "Right."
Johnny wipes his arm across his forehead in what he hopes is a casual manner. "Ready for your walk?" he asks.
"Let me get dressed first. If the doctors see me outside in my robe and pajamas, they might think I'm not ready to go home."
"You want some help with that?"
"No, Johnny. I'll meet you outside in five, yeah?"
Johnny sits on the bench nearest the exit, and waits for Daniel. The hospital is usually a place that he avoids unless completely necessary, but these past few weeks, he realises these visits have been what he's looked forward to the most. Funny, that.
He hears a clacking noise coming towards him, and looks up. It's Daniel, with his walking cane. He smiles at Johnny, and Johnny tries and fails to stop himself smiling back.
"What did I tell you about using that thing?"
"I can hardly rely on you to hold me up forever, can I?"
Johnny wants to say why not? but he restrains himself and says, "Fair point." He can't keep the disappointment completely out of his voice.
Daniel sits down next to him. "I get discharged today. Well, I hope so."
"Oh. Good," Johnny says, and as he says it, it sounds hollow in his mouth.
"So you won't have to keep on making the trek over here."
"Yeah."
"The doctor didn't think I was quite ready yesterday, but I hope she'll change her mind today. I just can't wait to get back to normal. Back to work, back to the dojo."
"Back to the dojo? How are you gonna teach with that thing?" Johnny says, giving his cane a kick.
"Well, my lessons might just have to be a little more descriptive for a while, but I'm sure I'll manage. We must always learn to adjust in order to overcome adversity."
"Your students are always welcome to join Eagle Fang. You know, temporarily."
"That won't be necessary."
"Why, you worried they might like it better?"
Daniel just smiles. "You know, this whole rivalry thing, it makes me feel like things are back to normal already."
"No problem, man. Any time," Johnny says, shoving Daniel on the arm.
Daniel fidgets with the handle of his cane. "I feel like I should say thank you, and I mean properly."
"Hey, it's no big deal."
"No, I mean it. You did technically save my life. And you've helped me a lot, coming here every day, practically carrying me at first. You didn't need to do that. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I know you mean well, Johnny, and I appreciate that."
Johnny notices a warm feeling in his stomach. As much as he likes to bicker with LaRusso and wind him up, it's nice to hear him express genuine appreciation. Not that Johnny did any of this for any reason other than he wanted to, but it's nice that Daniel acknowledges his efforts. He really doesn't know how to respond to that.
So he grabs Daniel's cane and hurls it as hard as he can into the bushes.
"Hey! What the hell, man?"
Johnny smirks. "Now here's the test. Go and get it, and I'm not gonna help you this time."
Daniel stares at him. He sighs. "I really can't believe you."
"Do you wanna get outta here today, or don't you?"
Daniel threw his hands up. "In what world do you think the doctors are going to test me like this?"
Johnny shrugs. "Seems reasonable to me."
"All right, fun's over. Go and get my cane."
"No. If you want it, get it yourself."
Daniel slowly gets to his feet and starts to unsteadily walk across the path towards the bushes. He struggles more as he steps onto the more uneven surface of the grass, and almost falls. Johnny hurries over to him.
"Woah. I got you, buddy."
Daniel leans on him. "Don't you dare do that again."
"Learn to walk without that thing and I won't be able to."
Daniel shakes his head.
"Glad I could be here for you," Johnny says.
Daniel looks confused. "Huh?"
Johnny laughs to himself. "It's what I should've said earlier," he says. "Bit of a delayed response, I know."
Daniel pats Johnny's shoulder which he's holding onto. "You know, I never thought I'd see the day, the two of us, friends."
Johnny smiles. "Yeah. I know, right?" he says. "Guess we gotta go back to being rivals as soon as you get out of here." Saying that, his heart feels heavy.
Daniel opens his mouth to say something, but then he shuts it again. He can't argue, that's just the way things are.
But for now they have this one moment. There's a sadness in Daniel's eyes, like he wishes things could be otherwise.
Johnny thinks now it's time to say something. Quickly, while Daniel is still close to him, leaning on his shoulder.
"Back in the warehouse, when I found you on the ground, I thought you were dead. And that was the worst moment of my life. Okay, one of the worst. There's been a lot. Definitely top ten. No, top five. It made me think, I don't know how I could carry on without you, man." He raises his arm up to pat Daniel on the back, and then keeps it there. "Don't think I could."
Daniel moves to meet Johnny's eyes, and lowers his voice. "Wait, did you think I was dead earlier, when I was sleeping?"
Johnny swallows, desperately trying to hide that he's getting choked up. Then he realises he doesn't need to act tough. "Yeah," he admits, his voice coming out weak. "Kinda stupid, right?"
"I don't think it's stupid," Daniel says, reaching out to take hold of the back of Johnny's head and leaning forward to rest their foreheads against each other.
Johnny closes his eyes, hearing his heart racing in his ears. It's reassuring to be held like this, but also it makes him nervous. He can feel Daniel's breath on his face, and it makes the breath catch in his throat. He rubs Daniel's back, and then scrunches his fist into his shirt. When he opens his eyes again, he sees Daniel is looking at him, and he's blinking a lot. Johnny hasn't noticed how long Daniel's eyelashes are, not until now when they're almost brushing against his face.
Johnny feels a hot wave of terror wash over him. They're so close. He's never been this close to Daniel before. So close he could just… He smells nice. Who the hell bothers to put on cologne when they're in hospital? He's too close to really tell what expression Daniel is wearing, but because they're so close he can feel every tiny muscle moving in his forehead, feel every slight change in his breathing.
Daniel's hand is slowly sliding down on Johnny's head. Johnny shivers and gasps as Daniel's hand comes to rest on his neck. Daniel's eyes go wide. Johnny silently begs him to please not let go of him. He doesn't want this moment to end. Not yet. Daniel seems to hear his plea as his fingers curl around the back of Johnny's neck.
Johnny closes his eyes, and doesn't realise he moved at all until their noses bump together. Daniel moves slightly, but it's not clear whether he's trying to move closer or further away. There's an ache in Johnny's chest that tells him he could so easily make a move right now. Is it weird that he's thinking about that? No, it'd be weird if he wasn't thinking about kissing Daniel considering how close they are. He tilts his head, and the ache in his chest intensifies. He wouldn't have to move much closer to close the gap between them.
Johnny tilts his head a little further and leans in, but then changes his mind at the last second and pulls away. He pats Daniel on the back. "Let's get you back inside," he says.
Daniel swallows. He's still leaning on Johnny's shoulder. "Can you…" He gestures towards his cane, which is still lying on the ground.
Johnny lets go of Daniel and bends to pick up his cane. Daniel takes it from him and walks back to the hospital building without Johnny's help. Johnny feels a terrible sensation of emptiness and confusion. He feels like such an idiot. It makes him want to kick something. But Daniel might still need him for something, so he follows him inside.
When they return to Daniel's room, Daniel sits down and rests his cane against the bed.
Johnny doesn't know what to say. "So, uh-"
They are saved by a doctor sweeping into the room. "Oh good, Daniel, you're back," she says.
Daniel looks up. "Dr Khan, are you here to re-assess me for discharge?"
Before the doctor can answer, Johnny butts in. "Hey doc, I tried to wrestle his cane away from him earlier, but I couldn't. He's getting better," he says, clenching his fist.
The doctor looks at him, horrified.
"I'll, uh, be going, yeah?" Johnny says, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. He turns to Daniel, but Daniel is more interested in talking to the doctor. Of course he is.