Nathan and Johnny

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Johnny goes to see Nathan about Jean-Paul's birthday and is put to work for the party effort.



It hadn't taken much consideration for Johnny to decide that if anyone could put together a proper shindig for their common friend, it was Nathan Dayspring. He barely knew the man himself, but he seemed like a good guy and, more importantly, like he was capable of relaxing Jean-Paul more than most. Or, at least, of wearing down his serious disposition enough to pull him into a prank war. He smiled to himself and continued the short jog out to the boathouse, silently and fleetingly disappointed to see that it had since been returned to its proper color. The pace of his feet slowed once he reached the small steps leading out to the porch and wooden door, and he knocked lightly on the latter.

The door opened and a small redhead looked up at him through the screen with a sunny smile. "Hi!" Rachel said cheerfully.

The teen was smiling back at the unfamiliar sprite behind the screen before he could consider doing otherwise, though the thought that she must be Nathan's daughter was slow to come, "Hey." When it hit, he almost laughed despite himself. The girl was cute as a button and her dad was, well... He swallowed the sound and leaned down enough to put his hands to his knees as he addressed her again, "Is your dad here?"

"Dad!" Rachel sang out, then squeaked as she was abruptly picked up and tucked beneath her father's arm, giggling.

Nathan grinned down at her, then opened the door for Johnny. "Come on in," he said. "We're all done for the day in here. Would you like something to drink?"

Johnny kept his smile on and straightened, watching the giggling redhead as she dangled contently in her father's grasp and silently deciding he was definitely a good guy. His thoughts turned very briefly to his own father and he forced them back, shaking his head as he stepped inside, "I'm okay."

Nathan turned Rachel upright for long enough to drop a kiss on the top of her head before he set her back on her feet. "Go clean up your toys, trouble. Dinner soon."

"No fish, Dad?"

"No fish. Promise." Nathan watched for long enough to make sure she was in fact heading for the legos, then turned back to Johnny with a smile. "Have a seat," he said, finding one himself. "What can I do for you?"

Johnny watched the domestic scene continuing to unfold, feeling strangely out of place as he did and even after Rachel had meandered off to tend to her toys. He seated himself as the older man did and the question returned him to familiar mental territory . He smiled back, dropping his elbows to rest on his knees, "Well...I heard Mr. Beaubier's birthday is coming up. I was hoping we could do something for him. Thought you might be the guy to talk to."

He got an instant grin in return. "I'd had some thoughts," Nathan said. "After all, with all the trouble he went to for my birthday, I have a certain standard to live up to in return."

"So, really, he has it coming," the teen quipped cheerfully, clearly pleased with Nathan's attitude toward the matter.

"I've actually lined up a... special cake," Nathan said, with a perfectly straight face. "That's as far as I'd gotten, though, what with all the distractions yesterday. Did you have any ideas?"

"Special?" Johnny replied, head tilted very faintly to one side and his features touched with just enough honest confusion to amuse the miraculously straight-faced telepath. He let the question fall from his mind, considering Nathan's instead and smiling playfully, "Outdoors to make the inevitable lakings more convenient for him? Honestly...I've never planned a party before. But I'm ready to be put to work, whatever we need."

"Well, I may give you a to-do list, then," Nathan said briskly, his eyes kind as they lingered on Johnny's face. "Nothing too onerous - we're not looking at a mammoth celebration here."


As the birthday boy would probably prefer it. Johnny mused and nodded easily, seemingly happy just to be doing his part, "Sure. Just tell me what you want me to do."