Chapter Text
Johnny’s first real boyfriend is an LA cop; a pretty little thing named Vince Romano who’s all rhythm and muscle underneath his clothes, and who flirts twice as hard as Johnny. He’s got more hair, more pick up lines, and impossibly, just as much nerve, and Johnny doesn’t know if it’s going to be forever but he sure as hell knows he’s never had quite this much fun with a partner.
They go dancing at least once a week, twirling together on the floor, trading off girls and glances, and it’s all low key and easy to pretend they aren’t really there for each other, but they both go home alone as far as the rest of the world is concerned.
In reality, Johnny spends his nights jumping between the station, his apartment, and Vince’s place, and except for scheduled dinners with the DeSoto’s and whatever the hell Vince gets up to with his friends, they’re just about attached at the hip when they both wind up off duty at the same time.
And that’s exactly how they are right now, hip to hip on Vince’s couch, with Vince’s left arm around Johnny’s shoulders and his right on Johnny’s jaw, and Johnny can tell he’s not used to kissing men just by the way he holds himself, and the way he always wants to lean down instead of up, but they’re working it out.
Johnny’s own hands are roaming Vince’s chest, dragging down over warm fabric and back up to pluck at random buttons, and he pulls back every so often to look at the slow reveal of skin, absolutely dazzled by the man before him. He’s built like an athlete, no extra padding, stacks of muscle on a slim frame, and he’s smaller than Johnny but they can pick each other up, and the whole thing makes Johnny just shiver with delight. He can’t believe he’s got a boyfriend of his own, can’t believe it’s mutual, can’t believe Vince likes to listen to him ramble, chin in his palm with thoughtful brown eyes and playful interjections, can’t believe the guy is showing up at his place early in the mornings with avocado breakfast sandwiches and guava juice for two, and they eat on the balcony as the city wakes up and it feels like home.
Johnny slips his left hand into one of the openings he’s made in Vince’s shirt, fingers reaching out to cup Vince’s waist and squeezing, and Vince arches into it like he’s startled, breath catching abruptly as he squeezes Johnny’s jaw.
“Okay?” Johnny asks, backing off, but Vince just smiles back at him.
“Just not used to someone as strong as you,” He chuckles, and then he’s pushing in, angling Johnny towards the back of the couch, and Johnny lets him because it’s kind of fun to be pushed around. He hums, rubbing Vince’s side while his right hand pulls at more buttons, and then he sucks at Vince’s tongue when it pushes into his mouth, tugging the other man closer. Vince raises his right leg up to straddle Johnny’s lap with a pleased sound at the invitation.
A sudden knock on the door makes them both freeze, and Vince’s eyes flash open.
“Romano! Open up!” A woman’s voice.
Vince stares at Johnny for a breath before lurching back and frantically buttoning up his shirt.
“Uh, one second!” He gestures for Johnny to move to the bedroom as he lurches towards the door. Johnny stands up quickly, quiet and practiced as he hides away, and that’s the one thing he didn’t miss about dating guys: the secrecy.
Vince opens the door, smiling brightly as he leans his head through the opening. “Stacy! Hey!”
“Nope! I’m coming in, Romano!” Stacy says, pushing the door open so it bumps across the top of Vince’s socked foot, making him hiss.
“Stacy, wait!”
“No way! It’s been three weeks! I’m meeting her!” Stacy says firmly. Then her voice shifts, sweet and playful as she approaches the bedroom. “Hello! Hi! It’s me, Stacy, Vince’s best friend!”
“Stacy!” Vince says, stumbling after her on his injured foot. “Stacy, wait!”
In the bedroom, Johnny looks around frantically, silently cursing himself. No closet to hide in, no space under the bed. Fuck! Oh please, please let Vince stop this! Please!
The door swings open abruptly and Johnny stands in the middle of the room, trying to look casual even though his heart is in his throat. Does he look as ravished as he feels? Is it obvious what they’ve been doing??
A small, blond woman is standing there, gaping at him. Vince is behind her, right arm braced against the door jamb while his left squeezes the bridge of his nose.
Johnny stares back at her.
And it all comes tumbling down in three… two…
“Oh. My. God,” Stacy says, and then she grins, eyes bulging with delight as her lips rise up, mouth open in shock. She looks back at Vince. “A boyfriend, huh?”
Vince winces, hunching down on himself.
Stacy turns back to Johnny and steps forward, thrusting out her right hand. “Hi! I’m Stacy Sheridan!”
What.
Johnny gapes at her, eyes slowly drifting down to her hand. “Uh… John. John Gage.”
He takes her offered hand, surprised by the strength of her grip as she shakes it and then turns, pulling him back into the living room.
“Stacy, please…” Vince says, straightening up.
“Oh no, Romano. You get to know all about my boyfriends, so it’s only fair I return the favor!” She says as she plops down on the couch, letting Johnny’s hand go to pat the space on her right side eagerly. “Alright, John Gage. Tell me about yourself.”
Johnny looks over at Vince nervously. Vince has shifted to rest his back against the living room wall. His arms are folded as he glares at Stacy with an irritated frown. “You don’t need to tell her anything, Johnny.”
Stacy’s grin grows again, and she glances back at Vince briefly before returning her eyes to Johnny. “Oh, so it’s Johnny!”
“Stacy!” Vince says, voice rising.
“And what do you do, Johnny? You know, Vince has very high standards for men. If you’re not perfect, you’re really just not allowed to be around at all.”
Johnny swallows, eyes flickering back towards Vince. He doesn’t get the feeling he’s in any danger here. “I uh… I’m a paramedic.”
“A paramedic?” Stacy repeats, sounding almost disappointed.
“Yes!” Vince says, coming over and shifting around to grab onto Stacy’s shoulders, lifting her to her feet. He speaks quickly as he pushes her towards the door of his apartment. “He’s a paramedic, he’s originally from Florida, he enjoys camping and dancing and not being interrogated. And no, he’s not divorced or separated or seeing anyone else. Thank you!”
Vince pushes Stacy across the room as he talks. She tries to plant her feet and makes a few sounds of protest, but he successfully shoves her across the threshold and closes the door between them. Then he pauses, hands on his hips, and Stacy calls out, “It was nice meeting you, John!”
Johnny stares at his boyfriend’s back, heart still pounding in his chest. What the hell just happened. Should he worry? He doesn’t think he needs to worry. But he sure is used to worrying…
Vince sighs, and then he turns around with a sheepish smile. “She uh… she’s mad at me for judging her boyfriends.”
Johnny swallows, fingers gripping the couch cushions. “So she doesn’t care that—“
Vince’s expression suddenly shifts to slight panic and he quickly comes to join Johnny on the couch. “Oh! Oh crap, Johnny, I didn’t even think! I mean, I’ve never been with a guy before and Stacy wouldn’t care so it didn’t even occur to me!”
He reaches out, wrapping his right arm around Johnny’s shoulders and rubbing his bicep. “Damn it, I’m sorry.”
Johnny nods, huffing a loose breath. “It’s okay. Just uh… just not used to that, I guess.”
Vince chuckles nervously. “Me either.”
He ducks his head slightly to catch Johnny’s eyes. “I’m really sorry about that. I should have told you it was okay. I just uh… didn’t really want her to know about you yet.”
Johnny laughs, a bit more honestly. “Afraid I wouldn’t pass muster?”
Vince grins. “Oh, I knew you would. I’m more afraid she’s going to try and convince you I’m not good enough for you!”