Ten looked at the clock for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last five minutes.

"You can just call him?" Kun said, looking up from his Uno cards.

Ten gave him a glare and placed a plus four on the pile. "Call who? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Ouch, no need to take out your frustration on me and I'll get you back for this plus four."

"Yeah, right. I have," Ten pretended to squint at his cards, "like three more of these so keep threatening."

Two minutes and some bickering later, Ten had spaced out yet again, eyes fixed on the clock.

Kun threw down his cards with a sigh. "Seriously, Ten, just call him."

"I can't call him until it's at least twenty minutes past the recording. Otherwise, it will seem like I was waiting for him to get free."

"But you are. You were waiting so just do it," Kun said, calmly.

Ten glowered at him. "You just wait, Qian Kun. Just wait until the day you have someone you like as desperately as I do and then I'll see if you're so calm. Ugh, you have no idea how it feels."

Kun scrunched up his nose. "Anyway, it's twenty minutes now. You can call him without sounding like you were waiting. Which you were but that's, of course, not the point, yeah?"

"Haha, don't be sarcastic with me. I'm the only sane one in this dorm. You're lucky you have me."

"You're as much a baby as the dreamies." Kun smiled before leaving the room.

Ten watched him leave and then picked up his phone. He dialled Johnny's number and thought about how far Johnny was. All the way over in LA. Their recording for Jimmy Kimmel Live would have finished by now. Johnny and the others would have changed out of their stage clothes. Maybe they were already in the van, traveling to their next schedule. He hoped Johnny would pick up.

"Hello?"

Of course, he would. He always did.

"Hey, Johnny!"

"Tennnn! Guys, it's Ten. Say hi, everyone!"

There was a chorus of loud excited hellos and shouts and he smiled, already feeling at ease. Johnny must have moved away soon after because it quietened down.

"How are you, Ten? Missing me?"

Always. "No, you dork, I have the spawns of Satan to keep me entertained."

"Hey, the dreamies are my babies!"

"That's what I said." Ten laughed.

"Ehh, so mean."

"How was your day? You were recording for that show, right? What was it...was it Jimmy Kimmel or Jimmy Fallon?" Ten was happy Johnny couldn't see him blushing at this obvious lie. He couldn't show he was too interested.

Johnny laughed. "Jimmy Kimmel. It was real fun. LA is fun, overall. I miss my favourite photography buddy though."

"Take lots of photos for me," Ten said.

"I will. How was practice?"

"Gruelling but I think we're done with the tough parts. You're going to love the dance break."

"You got to show me as soon as I come back. Take care of your knee though. And eat well."

Ten rolled his eyes. "My knee is totally fine, John."

"Still, you should take care."

Ten could hear someone calling Johnny in the background. He said, "You have to go."

Johnny heaved a sigh. "Yeah, there's another performance. It's okay, we can still talk. Go ahead. How was your day?"

Ten could hear manager-nim saying something. He nodded to himself. "It's fine. You take care of yourself. Remember to drink lots of water. See you soon. Bye bye."

"I'm missing you, Ten, like always."

"Johnny, go. You'll get late."

"Okay, okay. Bye, Ten. See you soon. Bye."

Ten stared at his phone after they'd cut the call and realised that he was feeling even worse than before. Johnny felt so so far away. Something very much like loneliness gripped him and he laid back on his bed, staring at his phone, grimly looking through his messages. There was one from Johnny but he had already seen it in the morning.

[6:10 am]

Johns: Good morning, have a lovely day, Ten!

He looked at his reply. What time is it there? Your brain still on Korean time? XD

[6:12 am]

Johns: haha, jetlag?

Ten hadn't replied after that. He had fallen asleep. It was too early in the morning to be awake enough to know what to text. In fact, all of Johnny's early morning messages were too early to reply to.

He typed a reply now. I miss you too.

Johnny's reply came within seconds. Hey, I'll be back soon. We can try out the restaurant Jaehyun recommended.

You'll be too busy. He shook his head. He couldn't send that. He erased the words and typed again, I'd like that, yeah. Good luck for the performance. You'll do well.

He added before he could think twice. I'll be watching the AMAs tomorrow. Fighting!

Johns: Ooh, I'll get nervous if you're watching haha

Johns sent you a picture!

It was a selfie of Taeil and Johnny, making crying faces.

Johns: Missing you.

Ten replied, I know, I know, I'm too charming.

He looked up from his phone as he heard a crash from outside his room.

Gotta go, I think the dreamies are wrestling again.

-

[6:10 am]

Johns: Good morning, I look hot today

As usual ;)

Ten: I'm sleeping

But fine send me a pic whenever and I'll be the judge of that ;)

-

Johnny was busy clicking a hundred pictures in a variety of poses when Taeil tapped him on his shoulder.

"Johnny, I'm pretty sure your phone is running out of storage space with all that narcissism you're feeding it."

"I'm just looking for the perfect picture, Taeil hyung," he groaned in response. "I can't seem to find the right lighting or the right angle."

Taeil quirked an eyebrow. "Why? Do you plan on—"

They stopped talking as Jungwoo walked past them, talking loudly on his phone. He had been pacing around the room, talking worriedly into his phone since the last five minutes and his volume had progressively increased.

"Woah, that's the first time I've seen him this excited. What's he so worked up about?" Johnny asked.

Taeil shrugged. "It's Lucas, I think."

Jungwoo was nearly shouting now. "Oh my god, Lucas, I'm telling you it's right there. You always keep it there. Have you even looked? Under the pile of shirts in the second shelf of your cupboard. Of course, you don't think it's there. Now, go check."

There was a pause for a few seconds in which Jungwoo stood in the middle of the room and exhaled into his phone, looking partly irritated and partly worried. Then, he put the phone away from his ear.

"Lucas, you're going to damage my eardrums this way." His voice softened, "You found it, right? You should have called me right away. What would you even do without me?"

Lucas must have said something because Jungwoo snorted into his phone. "Don't act cute with me. Yeah, okay, love you too. Bye. Don't forget to eat. Yeah, me too. Bye bye."

Jungwoo slipped his phone into his backpocket. He was smiling as he turned around, only then noticing that there were other people in the dressing room. His smile dropped as he tried to appear nonchalant. "Lucas couldn't find his passport," he said, walking out quickly.

Johnny groaned. "They're so adorable. Ugh, how is everyone in cute relationships!?"

"Speaking of cute relationships," Taeil began, "I was about to ask you. You taking all those pictures to send to your boyfriend?" He winked. "I know everything, John," he said in put-on Ten voice.

Johnny spluttered. "Ten's not my boyfriend."

"Whatever you say, whatever you say," Taeil said, laughing. He waved as he left the room.

Johnny ran a hand over his face and sighed.

"Why isn't he your boyfriend?"

Johnny jumped at the voice. He looked around with a frown, only then noticing that Doyoung was sprawled across a chair, quietly busy with his phone. He looked up from his phone once with a questioning stare.

"I-I didn't know you were here."

Doyoung smiled. "It's alright." He put his phone down. "So, why isn't Ten your boyfriend? I mean, you two...would look good together."

Johnny looked away. "You guys shouldn't assume things. We're best friends. That's all."

"Sorry if it looked like I was intruding," Doyoung said, apologetically.

"You don't need to apologise. It's okay." Johnny looked at him. "Why are you so quietly sitting in a corner?"

"I like peace?" Doyoung laughed. "And I have a horrible headache."

"Maybe stay away from that screen for a bit?"

"Okay, Mom." Doyoung rolled his eyes before going back to his phone.

"That's my line!"

Doyoung waved him away, attention on his phone again.

Johnny sidled up to him. "Which one of these look the best?" He showed Doyoung his pictures gallery. "Don't laugh, okay?"

Doyoung looked at the offered phone, taking it in his hand. He scrolled for a moment. "Hmm, I'd say this one?"

"Okay." He sent it quickly. "If he says I look ugly, it's your fault."

"Eh, it's your fault if you look ugly," Doyoung replied.

Johnny glared at him.

"Just kidding. You look good. You should ask him for a selfie too."

"I should? No way. That would be weird, wouldn't it?"

Doyoung shrugged. "I thought you were best friends."

"Fine, I'm asking for it."

10/10: Nooo, I look totally not-hot rn

You're wearing a fucking tuxedo and glowing

This is unfair

Fuck off, I'm not sending you a pic

Johnny took a deep breath. "You're really bad at this whole wingman thing, Doyoung-ah."

"Sorry." Doyoung patted his shoulder. He added as an afterthought, "I'd still say you guys would look good together."

"I'd still say I need a better wingman."

"Being a wingman is too much effort. Maybe ask Yuta?"

Johnny made a face. "Have you seen his love life?"

"At least he has a love life."

"Aww, Doyoung, do you want someone too? I can set you up with a blind date."

"Too much effort," he replied.

Taeyong called them from the door. "Let's go, guys. It's showtime."

Johnny nodded, smiling as he was reminded that they were going to the AMAs. He whooped. "Let's go!"

It was sometime during the end of the AMAs when he checked his phone. He had been too distracted by all the millions of minute and wonderful things that had been going on around them to remember his phone.

10/10 sent you a photo.

The timestamp was two hours ago. It was a picture of Ten rolling his eyes and looking like a meme, his hair all brown and soft in the light and his t-shirt all wrinkled comfortably.

10/10: I hate you but here is a pic!

Johnny felt like his heart would burst from happiness. He had replied. Ten had replied! It was such a small thing but he couldn't help but feel like screaming on the top of his voice.

"Bro, did you just win a lottery?" Mark asked, from beside him.

Johnny smiled widely. "Uh, something like that."

He sidled up to Doyoung later and ruffled his hair. "You're a fantastic wingman."

[ and we are back with a new nct fanfic! put your hands up for johnten *_* whenever they are together it's so cute. like HAVE YOU SEEN HOW HAPPY TEN MAKES JOHNNY? UWU

we really hope you enjoy this! please let us know how the start is. we promise it will be a roller coaster of events. thank you if you're reading this after juice cartons beacuse then it means you didn't leave us yayyy! and if you are a new reader, welcome! <3

don't forget to vote, comment, add to your library and support this story, johnten and nct. hype up the queen regular-irregular. also omg nct china is coming in november, so excited for them.

love, positive vibes and a good wingman/wingwoman/wingperson~~ ]