The afternoon was a haze of kids, counselors, and adults running around getting ready for the dance. Most of the kids insisted on leaving halfway through, burrowing in their cabins in hives to get dolled up.

"Daniel!" Jessica's hand clasped his shoulder just as he picked up some streamers in curiosity. Just through that touch alone, he could tell she was trembling; through nerves or excitement, he didn't know. "Daniel, I gotta tell you something, ohmygoodness--"

"What's going on?" Daniel asked. "You alright?"

"I'm just peachy, but--come here!" Jess pulled Daniel over to behind a nearby shed that was used to hold supplies. "Um...Bobby asked me to the dance!"

"Oh," Daniel smiled, holding Jessica's hands, matching her excitement. "That's great, Jess! I had a feeling you liked him...and I was positive he liked you." (In all honesty, Daniel wasn't entirely sure what was up with Jess at any given time, but this seemed to make sense.)

"Um...uhum..." Jess squeezed Daniel's hands a bit too hard in anxiety. "So did...so did Ali."

"Oh," Daniel's eyes widened slightly, his mind going double-time trying to figure out how to phrase this. "And do you...want to go to the dance with...an Ali, or a Bobby?" He couldn't help but feel as though he were being condescending; when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much--

"Yes," Jessica nodded, her face flushing. "I mean, um...we talked it out. We're all three going. As a date."

"Oh," Daniel repeated. "Like a...group couple...?"

Jessica nodded again, hesitant, avoiding Daniel's eye. "Look, we all like each other, and I know it sounds stupid--"

"No, it doesn't sound stupid at all, Jess." Daniel replied quickly. "Trust me, my...my boyfriend," just saying the word made Daniel break out in the most infectious grin. "Is Johnny Lawrence. I've seen a thing or two. I...I'm happy for you. Thank you for telling me."

"Oh, geez," Jessica tried to roll her eyes, but it was a hard task as they were a bit misty. "Of course I was gonna tell you, you're my best friend. And Ali said it was alright, and...well, we all kinda know about you and Johnny...except for Tommy, I guess."

"Yeah, I think we're gonna keep it that way. For now." Daniel laughed softly. "It's really nice, knowing I'm not alone--"

"Hey, Larusso," Johnny interrupted, looking exasperated. "I've been looking all over for you, what are you two girls chit-chatting about?"

Jessica scoffed, crossing her arms. "As if we're the ones slacking. I've busted my ass decorating and all you've done is check out Daniel's every time he gets on a ladder."

Johnny huffed as soon as the comment clicked, but when Daniel laughed, his shoulders relaxed. "Whatever, will you guys come on and help get the tables set up?"

"I bet you're having troubles with the locking legs," Jessica remarks, walking past him and out to the pavilion without waiting for an answer.

"I am not," Johnny sneers at no one in particular, though his face flushes when he meets Daniel's eye. "I am."

Daniel let out another soft laugh, coming up to Johnny and cupping his cheek in the seclusion behind the shed. He was hesitant to say he loved Johnny again. He was sure they could, but it still felt like a tender, sore bruise. But he could dance around it like a curse word, like a childhood playground secret.

"I'll help you," Daniel said, forehead resting against Johnny's, and he didn't mean for it to come across as emotional as it did.

"I'll help you, too," Johnny replied, seeming slightly confused, but fond nonetheless. "Idiot. Bet you can't even lift one of those tables."

"Wanna bet?" Daniel pulled away suddenly then, catching Johnny's brief look of longing for only a moment before turning and heading to the pavilion, Johnny on his heels.

---

The Leaver's Dance was, pointedly, not for counselors. Technically, it was for the kids, like everything in the camp, and they had to chaperone. Even so, that didn't stop the girls from showing up in semi-formal dresses. Daniel noticed Ali was wearing the same knee-length frilly pink dress from Homecoming, and Jess was in something similar, but royal blue. Susan, true to form, was in a white blouse and dress pants, flipping off some campers when they poked fun at her.

"Are you sure you think what I got on is alright?" Daniel asked Johnny as they entered through the ornate balloon entrance gate together. He couldn't hold Johnny's arm or even stand "too close" to him lest they not look like two totally straight bros, but they could still walk in together. Johnny's Straight Aura would prove a strong barrier for anyone to try to see through.

"Yeah, don't worry about it, you look...quaint," Johnny grinned wolfishly, as if he'd been waiting all summer for this. (He probably had).

Daniel scowled. He had no other formal clothes, so he was running the old frilly baby blue prom suit down the fashion runway again. He wouldn't care, but Johnny kept looking at him like he was a toy doll that some little kid had half stripped as a joke.

"Yeah, yeah, fuck you," Daniel scoffed. "It's easy for you. Tall, blond, California surfer body--"

"California surfer body?" Johnny purred low by Daniel's ear. He was in simple, comfortable looking dress pants and a white button down rolled up at the sleeves. Which, honestly. Getting horned up about Johnny's forearms made him feel like someone in Victorian England getting a look at a woman's ankles.

"Yeah," Daniel insisted. And then, more quiet, curious, wondering how he'd never asked before: "Wait, do you surf?"

"I dabble," Johnny replied with a shrug, as if they were some pretentious art snobs taking a stroll about the gallery; his country-club tone actually made Daniel grin. He hoped no one else could see just how admiring his gaze was. "I did more when I was younger, but I can still do it pretty well now."

And it was a funny thing, because Daniel never considered California surfer boyfriend to be on his list of goals when he'd originally moved here. (Or, it probably was, just crossed out under California cheerleader girlfriend). But hearing Johnny admit to it, he couldn't help but imagine it, imagine admiring him from the beach with a picnic...

"We could go to the beach sometime," Daniel said, linking his pinky finger with Johnny's under the safety of the darkness and crowds of people. "You could teach me to hang ten?"

"Yeah," Johnny laughed, and Daniel could tell by the way that his eyes lit up under the fairy lights, that his pinky finger just so slightly squeezed Daniel's before pulling away, that he meant it. "I could teach you a lot of things, Larusso."

And Johnny probably didn't mean for it to come out so sexual (or he did, because it was Johnny). But even so, Daniel raised his brows. Grinned. Opened his mouth to ask him to dance, then frowned. A beat tapped by off-kilter.

"What is it?" Johnny asked.

"We should be dancing," Daniel replied, his smile a little sad.

"Oh," Johnny immediately looked out into the crowd as the starting notes of I Melt With You started to play. He looked back at Daniel. "If you wanna dance, let's dance, Larusso." With that, he took his hand and lead him towards the floor, which was basically just the dining pavilion cleared of its tables.

"I meant something a little slower?" Daniel suggested over the noise, but Johnny was no longer listening, because he found Bobby. Daniel met Jessica's eyes over his shoulder, and her face was filled with the same amused regret as his own.

Daniel was sure the ex-Cobras could tear apart any board set in front of them. But they could not tear up the dance floor.

One of the things that was attractive about Johnny was how tall he was, but now, with his arms flapping around like a deranged chicken, Daniel wished he wasn't quite so noticeable. Johnny, Bobby, and Tommy were doing something of a group routine, an organized wreck that Daniel had a feeling they'd performed before.

"And to think I wanted something a little more romantic," Daniel commented to Jessica, raising his voice slightly over the music and shouted conversation.

"What are you talking about?" Jessica replied. "I've seen this number at parties before, it never gets less sexy."

Daniel snickered, remembering just how many times Ali and Jess had asked him to their parties. Cheerleaders, Cobra Kai, everyone else...they all had their meticulous rankings, but once they threw off those caps at graduation, they were really all in the same spot. Probably were before then, too. "Never am I so glad to not be in the popular crowd."

"I still got another year," Jessica said, smiling sadly as she wanted Bobby dance...if one could call it that. "Bobby's going to some Christian university an hour away, but Ali's staying local at UCLA...I just," Jessica shrugged dismissively, but it was clear that she was upset. "I don't wanna damper the mood, but every time I start to feel happy here, knowing I got everything I wanted...I remember that they're gonna leave me behind..."

"Hey, wait, that's not true," Daniel frowned, reaching out and lightly squeezing Jess's hand. "From what I heard, Bobby's going to an all boy's school, so you got nothing to worry about there. He's probably gonna be chomping at the bit to call and write letters and visit every weekend. And Ali, she's gonna get into the college life, for sure, but she's not going anywhere. She's really loyal, Jess, and I can tell she likes you a lot. Whatever this is that you guys got going on...if it makes you happy, I know you got what it takes to make it work, okay?"

Jessica was silent for a moment, letting the words sink in as the song faded out. When she looked over at him, her smile was sweet and genuine. "Thanks, Daniel." She started to say something else, but Bobby came over, huffing out a breath. He was wearing a suit jacket that looked too big on him, and his tie was loose in a way that gave off more of a disgruntled office worker then a sexy vibe.

"So," Bobby nodded over to the floor. "What'd you think of my moves?"

Jessica looked as though she was trying not to laugh. "I think maybe you should take me for a spin, make everyone jealous I'm with the best dancer around."

Bobby didn't seem to sense the joke, gladly taking Jess to the floor, her shooting back a look to Daniel that read 'please end the mortification'. Daniel, however, was too distracted as Johnny came by, doing that little nod to flip his bangs out of his eyes. He thought of all those times he secretly thought about relaxing with Johnny, a lazy Sunday with an afternoon nap, his head on Johnny's chest. He was so pretty it almost hurt to look at, and now, that was their future. It was theirs for the taking. Probably.

"Punch?" Daniel asked, and Johnny nodded, leading the way to the refreshments table. He got Daniel a drink, helping himself to a brownie on one of the platters.

"You ever think about the future?" Daniel spoke up, tense with nerves. One day into their new relationship, and he was already talking about the future. But to be fair, this relationship was forever in the making, so Daniel supposed he was somewhat entitled to emotional security.

Johnny gave him a quizzical look. "Calling me John all the time and asking about my future...you know, acting like my mom is not a good look on you, Larusso."

Daniel gave him a slightly vexed look in return. "I'm being serious, John." he replied, but he smiled a little, too. Just to let him know he wasn't mad at him; it was a waste of time at this point, them being upset at each other.

"I am, too. Have you seen the stuff out about this movie, Back to the Future? I saw a thing about it on the TV in the Big Cabin. It seems to be a big hit, I'll take you to see it sometime." Johnny replied, taking another brownie. If Daniel didn't know any better, it looked as if he were stress eating.

"Your plan for the future is to take me to a movie called Back to the Future?" Daniel asked, looking at Johnny doubtfully. Technically, he answered the question. But also? He dodged the question as if Daniel were a sketchy salesmen.

"Yeah," Johnny shrugged. Daniel thought about it, and it seemed nice, going to the movies with Johnny. The arcade, playing Streetfighter. They couldn't hold hands or anything--they had to show the world they were Just Bros with a capital B--but they could still hang out.

They were silent for a minute. If Daniel knew anything about the last six months, it's that unless they had a solid exciting plan, graduating seniors loathed discussing their post-high-school plans. And Johnny hadn't said a word about his.

To be fair, Daniel had been fairly tight-lipped about his idea, too. Ever since his mom had moved and he came to this camp, he'd been uncertain about the months to come. Adding in Johnny Lawrence of all people made it a complete fever dream, waking up sweaty and all. He thought about one of the first (and only) letters he'd received from Mr. Miyagi, saying he'd left to "attend to things" in Okinawa. Damn mysterious old man. Daniel would have given an arm and a leg to go, too, but by the time he'd gotten it, he'd settled in at camp and Miyagi settled in his home country. He said he'd be back home by the time Daniel returned, and Daniel thought amongst all this that nothing would make him happier than to see his best friend.

"Young bee need young flower, not old prune." That's what he said on the night of the Halloween dance. And that's what he said in his letter, wishing him well at camp. Daniel wondered what he'd say if he told him that the Cobras were here, if he returned arm-in-arm with Johnny...

Mr. Miyagi had said in his latest letter he was bringing back two people from Okinawa to live with them here in California. He said Daniel would like them, and he really hoped he would, too. With his mom gone and the future uncertain, gathering people like one big family sounded really nice. Like what he needed right now.

Daniel only hoped Mr. Miyagi would be on board with his idea, and the folks from Okinawa. His college funds were riding on this.

"Hey," Johnny bumped his shoulder. "You okay? You're really quiet...we don't have to see Back to the Future...it's got a DeLorean in it, anyway, and those cars suck--"

"No, no, goin' to the movies sounds fine, I'm just...thinking about the future, after camp." Daniel said, nodding as if Johnny needed help along what he was saying.

"Yeah?" Johnny eyed Daniel, nodding too. The way he was looking at him so thoughtfully would, if they weren't together, make him blush. Now that they were together, he was left even more flushed. "I am, too."

His voice was soft, and just as Daniel looked up at him curiously, Ali came up and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey, guys. Um," She looked a little embarrassed to speak, her face as pink as her dress, but she smiled sweetly. "Jess and I made a little private dance area behind the supply shed. You guys can borrow it, if you want..."

"Oh," Daniel replied, smiling back at the thought. He hadn't been able to dance with Johnny, not in the way he really wanted to, all night. And now they could, using Ali and Jessica's space that they made. "Thank you, Ali..." His eyes felt a little misty, and as he looked up at Johnny, he could only hope he was up for it. "Care for a dance, Johnny?" He asked, voice hushed over the music and babbling crowd.

"Sure, yeah, let's go," Johnny nodded, looking back at Ali. Daniel wondered what he thought of her then, when his romantic feelings faded but love still remained in his eyes. "Hey," he reached over and grabbed Ali's hands, squeezing gently. An understanding seemed to pass between them. Different, but same. "Thanks, Ali." he pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Don't be gross, Lawrence," Ali replied, but even so, she was grinning. "Um...promise me a dance later?"

"Absolutely," Johnny smiled back at her. "And if Andrews or Brown gives you any problems, you let me know and I'll straighten them out, alright?"

Ali nodded, rolling her eyes. "I would go to literally anyone else first, but thank you."

"Wait, what do you mean by--?" Johnny started, but Daniel pulled him away then by his shirt sleeve before he could get too wrapped up in becoming Ali's overprotective ex.

Johnny and Daniel slipped into the crowd, weaving between people and trying to casually move away so no one would follow them. Finally, they managed to tuck away to behind the supply shed.

"Oh, this is beautiful," Daniel breathed, taking in the little scene. Fairy-lights lined the top of the shed, trees making a border on the other side of the wall. Taped to the shed were polaroid pictures--Daniel remembered little bits and pieces of when Ali had her camera out, but she seemed to take a lot more pictures than Daniel had given her credit for. There was her, Jessica, and Susan hanging out in the girl's cabin. Daniel practically passed out on Johnny's shoulder after rolling his ankle during the introductory hike; then, Daniel healing in the nurse's office, where he met Cookies the kitten. Johnny hitting the gaga ball. Bobby leading arts and crafts.

There was one of all of them together, that rainy day, when Daniel's shirt got soaked and he had to wear Johnny's cozy sweatshirt. Ali must have gotten one of the campers to take it, and Daniel thought then that they looked so stable, so permanent. Not like Judy, or Freddie or any of his other failed friendships. It was something real.

"Don't go all sentimental on me, Larusso," Johnny said, but if Daniel wasn't mistaken, he'd say Johnny sounded a little emotional as well. "Come on, I thought I was promised a dance."

Daniel turned to him with a smile, offering his hand. "How about I lead, then?"

Johnny scoffed, taking Daniel's hand in his and putting Daniel's other hand on his shoulder. Johnny's hand went to Daniel's waist, giving it a little squeeze. "You can lead when pigs fly," he said, starting to move to the music faintly playing. It was Foreigner's I Wanna Know What Love Is, because of course. 

Daniel scoffed, burying his face in Johnny's shoulder for a moment, but he was unable to help but grin. "You can gladly lead to this song, and I'll take the next one."

"What's wrong with this one?" Johnny laughed softly. "It's not your taste?"

Daniel shrugged, pulling away from Johnny. "No, it's just...corny, that's all."

Johnny let out an over-the-top offended noise, squeezing Daniel's hand affectionately. "Corny? I thought you were all about this romantic shit! Don't you wanna know what love is? Don't you want me to show you?"

Daniel's face flushed, could feel himself sweating like this was some middle school dance. "You're so embarrassing. Were you ever this embarrassing with Ali?"

It slips out in a split second, the way all dumb things that come out of Daniel Larusso's mouth does. He frowned, heart skipping a beat; damnit, he was always getting himself in trouble with his stupid questions--

"No," Johnny replied. He's the one that looked embarrassed now. "If anything, I wasn't embarrassing enough. I was always putting up a front with her, with my parents and everyone at the country club. Everyone at the dojo, even. I think Ali always knew that, but with everyone pulling me in twenty different directions, it was like I couldn't please everyone. And when everything fell apart, and I picked up the pieces, you were there, then." His eyes flickered up to meet Daniel, an uncertainty in them that unsettled him. It wasn't like Johnny to be uncertain about anything, but this summer...

"You were always there, you stubborn bastard." Johnny murmured, as if saying it quietly didn't make it real. He pressed a kiss to Daniel's cheek. "And now I gotta figure out who I am, now, without...without karate. And I think I know where to start. I wanna be...not much of an asshole. And I wanna be your embarrassing boyfriend. I mean, absolutely humiliating--"

"You wanna be not much of an asshole?" Daniel asked, pulling his hand away from Johnny's only to wrap both arms around his neck. Johnny wrapped his arms around Daniel's waist, like the hundreds of times they'd kissed before. "Wow, that's really brave of you--"

Johnny rolled his eyes, but he was laughing. "You know what I mean..."

"I'll believe it when I see it," Daniel shook his head. "Kidding. I don't actually remember you slapping down any kid's books after the tournament, so you're on a good track."

Johnny only looked a little annoyed at that, and a comfortable silence spanned between them.

Then, from Daniel: "Join Miyagi-Do with me."

"What?" Johnny asked. It looked as if the comment was registering, and then: "Are you talking about your dojo?"

"Yeah," Daniel nodded, tangling his fingers in Johnny's hair, which would hopefully constitute as flirting to help his point. "It's been a little lonely, being the only student. Besides, it'd make Mr. Miyagi really happy to help someone else--"

"Mr. Miyagi as in, the same old man that beat the shit out of me on Halloween? I think he'd actually kill me if I set foot on the property." Johnny shook his head.

"Come on, he wouldn't hurt you unless it's self defense," Daniel insisted. "Besides, he saved you when Kreese was...he got you out of a bind with your old sensei." He wasn't sure if he was even allowed to mention it or just dance around it, but it was a good point. "Just give him a chance, I think you'd really do well learning my style of karate."

"Your style..." Johnny frowned in thought. "If I do it, can I teach you some moves of my own?"

Daniel looked at him curiously then. "Do you mean some actual moves, or are you trying to flirt with me to get me down on the mat? Because either way, I'm interested."

"I meant actual karate, but now I'm interested, too," Johnny smirked slightly. "I think it sounds nice, training with you...if you're not going away for college...?"

"Oh," Daniel raised an eyebrow. "So now you wanna talk about the future?" he asked, heart racing a bit at the implication, but in a good way. The idea that Johnny actually wanted to talk about the future, and he'd asked Daniel if he was leaving with that hope in his voice that he'd stay...Daniel kissed him on the cheek, leaning his forehead against Johnny's. "I'm staying right here, promise."

"Good," Johnny was a beat away from breathing a sigh of relief. "I mean," he shrugged. "It's up to you, it's your life, but I was just thinking...you know...it's cool that we'll both stay here...together..."

Daniel nodded. "What's your plans, then? UCLA, like Ali?"

Johnny shook his head. "I've never been much for, um...academics. I was thinking of going to the trade school over by USC...? I know I should go to college, but I thought it'd be better to learn some skills like electrician and A/C stuff, I might be pretty good at that..."

"You kidding?" Daniel asked. "That sounds awesome! You should definitely do that if it interests you. To be honest, that kind of stuff could come in hand for my idea...if you wanted to help, I mean...and any good boyfriend would wanna help." he gave Johnny a pointed look.

"Oh no," Johnny shook his head, smiling slightly. He honestly looked relieved that Daniel didn't shoot down his idea, though Daniel wasn't sure why. Working a trade was honest work, and you could get good money from it. "What kind of scheme would you need my help with?"

"Well," Daniel started, shoulders shrugging like he were a tortoise working its way shyly to its shell. "You know the place where Jess works, that pottery place her aunt owns? There's this building right by it--"

"That place?" Johnny asked, looking properly clutching-his-pearls taken aback that Daniel had even mentioned it.

"Wait, you've been there?" Daniel asked. Given that it was--quite literally--on the other side of the tracks, he was surprised Johnny even knew about the building he was talking about.

"Bobby wanted to drop by the pottery place to visit Jessica. He did this whole thing where he pretended to be just in the neighborhood, it's not important." Johnny waved a hand dismissively before returning it to Daniel's waist as if it belonged there. Honestly, all this talk with Johnny made Daniel almost forget he was dancing, but in the best possible way. "Anyway, the building across from the pottery place is a certified dump, it's got roaches chewing up the walls and shit--"

"Come on, Johnny, it's not that bad. I went inside it, and it looks better on the inside--"

"Oh, that'll attract people. 'Come on in , folks, it's better on the inside'. What do you even want to do with the building, anyway?" Johnny asked.

Daniel scowled at him. "If you must know, you judgmental asshole, it's a business idea. Mr. Miyagi's Little Trees. It's a bonsai tree store."

"Oh," Johnny stopped short at the explanation, looking slightly confused. "I've never actually seen a bonsai tree before. I don't think people around here actually know what those are. You think they'll sell well?" he asked, though there wasn't a hint of malice or judgement in his voice. Just a soft curiosity, as if Daniel knew things he didn't and Johnny wanted to learn.

"Yeah, I really do," Daniel nodded. "The people buying them--as much as I want them to--they don't have to know the culture or work behind the trees. They'll just see a cute tree for their living room, and it's a good way to spread this...this happiness and patience that Mr. Miyagi and I have worked on. We have loads of them waiting for new homes. Oh, you should see them, Johnny. They're really something to look at and work on..."

"Then let's make plans for me to see them," Johnny replied. "I'll admit I'm not super excited about seeing...Mr. Miyagi...or potentially working on a roach-infested building...but if you believe in this plan, I wanna do what I can to help..."

Daniel felt himself blush with a warm pride he never thought he'd feel for Johnny Lawrence of all people. He was being so mature, so agreeable--

"And if this business falls through, I'll be the first person there to tell you 'I told you so'." Johnny finished smugly.

Daniel playfully shoved Johnny with a scoff. "You're such an ass, you know that?" he asked, but even so, he laughed. Leave it to Johnny to be the most supportive boyfriend and the biggest challenging asshole in the span of thirty seconds.

"Well, you know what they say," Johnny's hands moved down from Daniel's waist--Daniel wondered how he managed to keep his hands up there for so long, to be honest--and strayed down to his ass, giving it a squeeze. "You are what you love." he winked.

Daniel felt his face flush bright red, though he made no move to push Johnny away. "I think the phrase is 'you are what you eat.'"

Johnny raised his eyebrows, and now he was the one who looked flushed. "We'll have to see about that."

Daniel laughed, and Johnny's hands seemed unable to return to Daniel's waist. Daniel pushed him up against the part of the shed that was void of pictures, cupping his cheeks and kissing him. It was something so deeply relieving, when Daniel pictured the future ahead of them, that he didn't even mind that they had to hide behind a shed to kiss.