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Johnny approached Buster and he leaned on the wall in what he hoped was a causal manner.
“So….what was the name of that restaurant you and Eddie went to?”
Buster looked up from his clipboard “why do you ask?”
“Well…I was plannin’ on takin’ Ryan. Some place roman’ic ya know?” Johnny rubbed his neck nervously “firs’ date an’ all that.”
“Ah. Young love.” Buster shook his head with a smile.
He paused a bit “it's pretty pricey though. Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”.
“Well, yeah. It’s roman’ic innit?” Johnny asked.
“Well…yeah. But it’s expensive. Are you sure that’s where you want to take him?”
“My Uncle Stan says ya can’t put a price on romance.”
Buster relented, Johnny seemed pretty determined to take Ryan to the best spot in town.
“Les Calamar.” Buster answered “it’s fancy so wear something nice.”
Johnny looked down at his clothes “what’s wrong with what I’m wearin’?”
There was half snort, half giggle from behind them and he turned to see Porsha and Ash standing a few feet away.
“Nothing wrong per say….” Porsha put a paw on her hip “it’s just…not fancy?”
“What she means is if you wear that,” Ash gestured to him up and down, “they wouldn’t even let you in the front door.”.
Johnny looked at his clothes again, they were right. Torn jeans and a leather jacket didn’t exactly scream fancy romantic dinner outfit.
“Oh.”
——-
He had wanted to deal with the outfit later, he was sure he had nice clothes somewhere.
But the girls had deemed it important to get it out of the way, so now he was sitting on a crate while they raided the costume department.
Right now he had to focus on all the reasons he couldn’t screw this up.
And the girls weren’t helping.
“Oh my gosh, there was this one guy who got SO nervous, he like, totally up-chucked on my shoes.” Porsha flipped through the clothing rack “I had to throw them out like, right there. On the bright side I found the CUTEST wedges that day!”
“You think that’s bad? When Lance and me were dating, we once got kicked OUT of the restaurant because he didn’t want to wear a tie.” Ash scoffed “they would’ve settled on him wearing a clip on but he refused to let it go!”.
“When my grandma and grandpa were dating, his car stalled on the first date and they had to walk six miles to the nearest phone.” Meena shook her head “in the rain.”.
They turned to see Johnny just sitting there, looking on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
“But I’m totally sure none of that will happen to ya!” Porsha added, cheerfully holding up two shirts “now I personally LOVE the green one, but black is VERY slimming!”
He didn’t respond.
“Johnny? You okay?” Meena tapped his shoulder, making him jump.
“Yeah! I’m fine!” He tried to reassure them.
Definitely not thinking of all the possible ways he could screw this up and make Ryan hate him forever.
“Johnny. I’m sure that no matter what happens, you’ll be fine. Ryan’s a good dude.” Ash shrugged “let’s focus on clothes right now, okay? I like the black one. Meena?”
Meena looked between Porsha and Ash, then Johnny and the shirts “why not white?”.
“NEVER a good idea on a first date.” Porsha waved a paw up and down “so easy to ruin it. Sweat. Coffee. Food. Mascara.” She listed them off “and it’s like so cliche!”
“Cliche just means classic.” Ash retorted “and everyone loves a classic.”
That was when he started to tune them out on purpose, he really didn’t get fashion or why a white shirt wasn’t as good as the rest of the other ones.
Did it matter?
Was it really that big of a deal what he wore?
He and Ryan already hung out a lot, and he said his jacket was cool.
What difference did it make?
Would Ryan really care or notice what color his shirt was?
“Alright alright, what’s all the fuss about over here?” Rositas voice cut over the squabbling.
The girls held up the shirts they’d been trying to settle on “Johnnys got a date and we can’t decide on what he’s wearing.”.
Rosita put her hands on her hips “all this noise over a shirt?” She asked, sounding pretty amused.
She eyed the selection “I haven’t been out to a fancy restaurant in years…but I have to say the black one. I think you would look just lovely.”
——
After THAT had been decided Johnny had been able to make an escape before he could get roped into anything else.
It was nice they cared so much though.
But he had been relieved to get home and away from their endless questions and suggestions.
He was already nervous enough, and he knew his family was going to be worse about it.
But to his surprise, no one was home.
Not even in the garage.
Which meant peace and quiet.
A rare but truly wonderful thing in a house full of guys, and he had just enough time to get ready and get OUT before his dad came home.
He’d be asked all sorts of questions, then he’d want to meet Ryan all official like and then he’d probably scare him off.
It wasn’t even that his dad was trying to do that.
He just had a really scary face….and mannerisms.
Sure Ryan and his dad had met before, but that was BEFORE they started dating.
So it was better safe than sorry.
——
Dressing up had definitely been the right call, because Buster hadn’t been kidding.
This place looked fancy.
He had found a nice looking sports jacket in the back of his dads closet and a pair of slacks that were just a bit too big but fit well enough.
He scanned the room for Ryan and for a split second wondered if he was too early, until he spotted him sitting at a table towards the back.
From what Johnny could see he was dressed nicely, a crisp blue shirt and black pants with a jacket.
“May I help you sir?” A female ocelot asked.
“Oh! Uh, yeah. Magilla. My dates over there.” He gestured to where Ryan was waiting.
“Oh yes, the Magilla party. Right this way sir.”
It felt a bit weird being addressed as ‘sir’, but that was quickly overshadowed by the nerves of the date returning as they got closer.
“Please have a seat and your server will be right with you.”
And like a ghost, she vanished seemingly into thin air, leaving Johnny and Ryan in semi-awkward silence.
“So…how have you been?” Ryan asked, setting the menu he had been looking at down.
“I’m…good. You?” Suddenly the intricately folded napkin was the most interesting thing in the world.
“Besides Kickenklober being a pain in the butt? Pretty good.”
The conversation was pretty stilted. Like neither of them knew how to really act.
“Sorry. I’m no good at this sorta thing.” Johnny rubbed his neck nervously.
Ryan smiled “me either. As progressive as Redshore is, I didn’t exactly have cute boys fumbling over themselves asking me out.”
“You think I’m cute?” Johnny asked, the knots loosening a bit in his stomach.
Ryan leaned forward on his paws “very cute.”.
“Well you’re not half bad looking yourself!” Johnny responded.
That’s what he was supposed to say, right?
Just he had to guess based on Ryan’s reaction, it seemed to work.
——
Conversation after that was easy, like falling into one of their dance routines.
Even if there were more dishes on the table than either of them could name.
But something was nagging at Johnny the entire time.
Like he was being watched.
Every now and then Johnny could swear he saw a porcupine peeking over their menu at him before ducking behind it before he could get a good look.
“Is everything okay?” Ryan asked.
“Huh? Oh yeah.” Johnny picked his menu back up “thought I saw someone I knew. That’s all.”.
Ryan looked in the direction Johnny had looked “who?”.
Johnny laughed “Ash. But it can’t be her, this isn’t her scene.”
Ryan shook his head in amusement before turning back to his menu.
Just as he was contemplating between two items, a voice next the them made them both almost jump out of their skin.
“Bonjour!”
A koala in a suit holding an order pad looking up at them with a smile.
“Ah ze gentlemen on a date?” He spoke in a French accent as he looked between them “what do you like to order?”.
“I’ll have the pasta and bread, please.”
A flash of color caught Johnny's attention out of the corner of his eye, something tall and white.
He turned just in time to see a gray and white fluffy tail turn around one of the fish tanks.
“Monsieur?” The koala repeated “what is it you would like to order?” the small gray mustache under his nose wobbled.
“Oh…uh…soup of the day? Water too please.”
The koala nodded “ah yes wonderful, a fine choice indeed monsieur!”
There was something about the koala that seemed so familiar to him, but he couldn’t place it.
But before he could really see, they guy was gone.
Something weird was going on.
“Uh…Johnny?” Ryan tapped his hand “isn’t that Meena?”
“Where?”
Ryan pointed over Johnny's shoulder to an elephant wearing a wig and really big sunglasses.
She was sorta dressed like his Nan used to back in the day.
The elephant noticed them looking and quickly folded her ears over her face.
Definitely Meena.
Which meant….
Johnny groaned as he subtly look around the room.
The porcupine from earlier was now sitting with a lynx cat.
A very FAMILIAR porcupine and lynx cat.
Ash and Nooshy.
Which meant PORSHA was here too no doubt.
Were they SPYING on them?!
“I have to use the bathroom!” Johnny stood abruptly, almost knocking the chair to the floor “be right back!”
He was gone before Ryan could say anything.
——
The individuals had fled their tables and were now whispering conspiratorially together in a corner, seemingly unaware Johnny had found them out.
“Come on guys!” Johnny whispered “wha’s the matter with you! Spyin’ on us!”
“In our defense, we didn’t think you would notice.” Ash lowered her sunglasses.
“We just wanted to make sure you didn’t mess this up, lover boy!” Nooshy clapped him on the arm.
“Great!” Johnny threw his hands up “who else is here?”
“…Gunter.” Meena answered sheepishly “that’s where we got our disguises….”
They turned to see Gunter in a sparky suit excitedly waving to them.
Wonderful.
“Aren’t they just fabulous?” Porsha gushed “so chic! It’s like those sneakin’ around movies!”
Johnny sighed.
“Is anyone else here? ‘Cause you have to go, now!”
“Yeesh, fine.” Ash muttered “cmon Buster! We’ve been spotted!”
“Who is dis Buster?” The koala with the mustache asked “I am Monsieur Fauxnom! Esteemed waiter!” holding his paw to his chest as if offended at being mistaken.
Only for the mustache to fall to the floor.
“Alright alright, we’ll lay off. Good luck on your date kid!” Buster called as Johnny shooed them away, at least to a different section where they wouldn’t be able to spy on him anymore.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way back to the table.
——
Dinner had actually gone pretty great so far, despite their friends almost making Johnny question his sanity.
He went to ask Ryan a question, only to almost choke on his water when he spotted the two figures entering the restaurant.
Stan and Barry.
He wanted to sink low in his seat, but that would only make them look more suspicious.
Maybe they wouldn’t notice them? They had no idea he was even going on a date, but he knew if they saw him and Ryan then they'd tell his dad.
“Don’t look now but my uncles just walked in.” Johnny whispered.
Ryan’s eyes widened “you’re kidding right?”
“No! Out of all the places! They chose this?”
“You said it’s the most romantic spot in town right?” Ryan peeked over his shoulder “it’s so busy in here they probably won’t even notice us!”.
——
“Uh…love?” Stan tapped Barry on the shoulder “aren’t those Johnny boys friends?”
Barry looked in the direction Stan was pointing, to a group of animals all crowded in one booth in a corner.
“Looks like it. What’re they all doing ‘ere?” Barry scratched his head.
“Was wondering the same thin’.”
“You don’t think they’re plannin’ on doin’ a show ‘ere?”
“Better not be. We paid good money for a quiet dinner.” Stan grumbled.
They were led to a table towards the back, only for a familiar laugh to get both of their attentions.
They looked around to see Johnny and a bengal tiger boy in a corner of the restaurant, really chatting it up. Both were dressed very nicely and there really was no denying what was happening.
Johnny, their Johnny, their slightly awkward and shy Johnny boy, was on a DATE.
And being a right gentleman from the looks of it.
“Well ain’t that somethin’.” Stan chuckled “Johnny boy’s gotta fella.”
“Isn’t that the boy from Redshore?” Barry pointed out “he was in that show with him right? Wassis name, Rico? Ralph?”
“Ryan.” Stan corrected him, trying to get a closer look at Ryan without either boy noticing him “yeah that’s ‘im.”.
Marcus was going to frighten the kid off before the second date, Barry just knew it.
Marcus had almost scared HIM off then he and Stan started dating!
He pulled his phone out to discreetly type out a message to Marcus
Don’t scare off Johnny's date tonight!
Don’t go embarrassin’ ‘im either!
A few minutes later his phone pinged.
What?
Don’t scare off Ryan. They’re at the restaurant.
Don’t embarrass Johnny when you pick us up!
Marcus was typing for a good minute before the message came through.
Alright.
He made eye contact with Johnny from across the restaurant and gave a little wave, who slunk down in his seat in what could only be embarrassment.
He chuckled and went back to his menu.
Kids.
——
Dinner itself went off without a hitch, to Johnny's absolute relief.
Even if seeing his uncles just a few tables away kind of killed the mood at first and he knew his friends were just waiting to bombard him with questions tomorrow.
The date was actually really nice. The food was great and the conversation was better.
Now all he had to do was get out of the restaurant with Ryan and call them a ride.
Once he paid, denying Ryan’s insistence he chip in, he shuffled past his uncles and avoided eye contact.
But if their stifled laughter was anything to go by they found it amusing.
The outside air was a relief.
“Sorry ‘bout them. Can’ believe they picked this place.”
“It’s fine. Kinda funny actually.” Ryan smiled at him “besides we can always try again on the second date, right?”
“Second date?” Johnny repeated.
“Well I was hoping we could do this again sometime?” Ryan’s tail was flicking around playfully.
“Yeah! Definitely!” Johnny agreed as he waved down a taxi for Ryan “I’ll talk to ya’ later then?”
Ryan pecked his cheek “you’ve got it, love.” he teased as he climbed into the taxi.
Johnny waved bye as the car drove away, heart pounding in his chest.
A SECOND DATE?!
“Aw did yer date already go?” A voice behind him teased.
Stan.
“Yeah. Had ya’ get home ya know.” Johnny tried to play it off.
“We wanted to meet the guy, all official ‘an all ‘at.” Stan grinned “not every day our Johnny boy is out wit’ a boy.” he threw an arm over his shoulder.
“Aw lay off, ‘is been a long night!” Johnny groaned as he tried to push his arm off.
“Alright’ alrigh’, quite teasin’ ‘im.” Barry chuckled “his dad is gonna do that enough for the both of us!”
“My…dad.”
“Told ‘im not to go embarrasin’ ya in front of Ryan. He was waitin’ for him to go.”
Oh no.
As if summoned, a familiar black truck stopped beside them “alrigh’ boys, in the back.” Marcus jerked his thumb “gotta have a talk to my boy!”.
Well….
This was going to be a long night.