Chapter Text
Another day.
Another. Fucking. Day.
Those are the thoughts that plague Johnny’s head as he all but crawls from his bed. He eyes his walking aids and ultimately decides it’ll be too much work to get on the wheelchair only to go to the bathroom, so he flails his arms and upper body until he reaches those damned crutches.
With a heavy sigh, he hoists himself up and drags his body to the bathroom, thus starting his day.
It wasn’t easy, oh no.
But there was a little something that made his days easier.
Or rather, a little someone .
Gyro 💚🐻: [buongiorno tesoro~ ❤️]
It always made him smile when he saw the messages in a language he had come to blush at. They did say Italian was the language of romance.
They were just friends, but Johnny had long learned that European folk were much friendlier than Americans.
That is, unless you’re Diego Brando.
Johnny 🩵⭐: [mornin gyro. isn’t it like.. afternoon there tho]
He could feel the man’s grin, the sound of his laughter, that stupid “Nyo-ho~” sound he made. He was an eccentric, with golden grills on his teeth that, much to Johnny’s dismay, said “Go! Go! Zeppeli!”
To say Gyro Zeppeli was an egocentric was an understatement
Gyro 💚🐻: [it was morning when i texted u sleepyhead. pluuuuus we say buongiorno all day]
Right, Americans liked to overcomplicate things and have four different greetings for the entire day. He had learned that in most latin languages, they liked to say the same thing until the sun set down.
Johnny 🩵⭐: [riiiiight, anyway how are ya?]
Gyro 💚🐻: [gooood was so bored while u slept >:(]
Johnny 🩵⭐: [awweee wittle gyro missed his johnny boy?]
Johnny liked to tease the other, especially with the different time zones for them. Gyro was from Naples, in Italy, where he was living with his family. Johnny knew he was the eldest of five brothers, and they all lived with their father. Johnny also knew their mother had passed a couple years back.
Gyro 💚🐻: [i did! these FIVE hours of loneliness kill a guy you know!?]
Johnny smiles at that. Yeah, maybe it could be a good day. He uses the crutches that day, moving around the house to his computer, to start it and start his shift.
He had a bit of a boring job as a programmer, but he did have the studies and it was something that allowed him to work from home, which, given his condition, was something vital.
Between working and getting his seventh cup of coffee that day, Johnny continues the incessant chatting with Gyro. It’s nice, light hearted and sometimes they even video chat or speak on the phone and, along with some other friends, they have movie nights.
All in all, they’re good friends.
But Johnny keeps a dark secret from everyone in that group.
The fact he’s on a wheelchair.
Well and the fact he was a famous jockey. He thanks the heavens that horse racing isn’t popular anywhere else.
Because even Hot Pants (he had no idea what her real name was) who was American, didn’t really follow sports.
If they knew about his past as a jockey, then they would question why he no longer raced and he would have to explain the accident, the abuse, his condition—
He stumbles out of his thoughts at loud buzzing. His phone. WhatsApp.
[Gyro 💚🐻 incoming call]
He quickly puts on a smile, propping his phone next to his laptop and answering.
Gyro’s face comes on screen. He has his cute glasses propped on his nose, his luscious hair tied into a messy bun.
“ Ciao tesoro ~” He says, his voice as sweet as honey.
“Hi Gyro, ‘sup.” Johnny’s accent never fails to put a smile on Gyro’s face. The American has also grown very fond of the thick Italian accent that laces Gyro’s voice when he speaks English.
And when he hears Gyro talk to someone at home during their calls? Fuck.
“Nothin’ much, just thought I’d call ya.” He grins and Johnny can’t help but shake his head.
“Are ya ever gon’ take those off?”
“No! How else would I cheer myself on!?” Gyro looks offended by that, but Johnny knows it has no bite to it.
“I would cheer ya on, stupid.” He huffs. “Go!” An arm up. “Go!” Another. “Zeeeepppeeeellliiii!!” He waves his arms, smiling at the phone when he sees Gyro doubling over in laughter.
“How cute of you, tesorino .” He smiles, a bit of a peachy dust on his tanned cheeks. “My own little personal cheerleader.”
Johnny giggles, his hands returning to the keyboard on the laptop. “Don’t get used to it, dum’ass.”
“Are ya working?” Gyro asks.
“Yeah, but yer good. Ye don’t bother me.” He says, looking between his phone and his computer.
“Mmm mkay~” Gyro says with a pleased tone and they keep each other company until, well… Until Johnny finishes his shift.
The call ends so Johnny can get around to eat something, take a shower and such. After all, the group would be gathering on their Discord server to watch a movie that evening, so he would be spending time with Gyro anyway.
So, as it was to be expected, they gathered that evening (not too late because of Diego and Gyro being in Europe) and started a movie together. Of course, they talked more than they watched, with Diego complaining about Gyro’s jokes and telling Johnny to fuck off, Hot Pants sighing and rolling her eyes at their banter and Lucy giggling every once in a while.
That was the group. Hot Pants was 26, from New York and she was a graphic designer. She lived with her little brother and their mother and she mostly spent her free time drawing or doing freelance gigs for small brands.
Diego was the 24 year old fierce British student majoring in Archeology in London. He was a bit of a son of a bitch, but he was also kinder than he let on.
Lucy was the youngest. At 18, she had just graduated high school, but she was so sweet that all of them were more than fine with having a baby in their little get around. She was from Minnesota, living with her father, Steven. He was a cool guy, who was happy his daughter had such fun friends.
Gyro, the eccentric Italian who had just graduated med school and was starting an internship in Rome. The group questioned his tastes a little, from the patchy beard to the teeth grills, but he was a well of kindness.
And then Johnny, age 23, a programmer with an engineering degree, working mostly freelance projects and making good money. He was a bold guy who didn’t hold his tongue and his accent only made it better .
The entire group got along quite well and they spent a long time talking, but clearly Johnny and Gyro spoke twenty four fucking seven.
Everyone would always make jokes that one day they would wind up married.
And while they’d bicker about it, about being bros , both were blushing behind their screens.
But of course, their secrets would stay like that. Secrets.
Because Gyro would never want to date a cripple, right?
And Johnny, who was openly gay, would never in his life want to date a guy without a dick.
Right?