Chapter Text
“That’s life,
/
You’re riding high in April, shot down in May.”
—
John sighed as he stepped off the plane, going through the work of getting his luggage and everything else he normally had to do during trips like these. He was tired, as per usual when he flew. It was something about being that high up that made his bones ache and his eyes sag. But maybe, that was just him getting old. He sighed as he stood in the main lobby area, scanning the crowd for any sign of his ride. He caught a glimpse of a sign, the big ‘JOHN’ crudely written on it, and an ice cube drawn next to it in case he was unsure that it was meant for him. John made eye contact with his friend as the sea of people split and he saw the other’s eyes light up. John on the other hand, went back to looking, pretending like he hadn’t seen anything at all yet. His eyes squinted as he looked from his person.
He walked forward, straight to Smitty who seemed pretty unimpressed with his amazing acting skills. John had to hide his slight smirk, raising an eyebrow as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“Hey, have you happened to have seen a guy around here with brown hair, kinda short, and he kinda looks like he plays golf, but only to show off how he’s a rich fuck?”
John asked, pretending to be asking like he was genuinely lost and looking for someone, but as he looked at the other he couldn’t help the snicker he made at Smitty’s offended face. He pulled his luggage closer, watching the gears turn in Smitty’s head. He loved seeing Smitty take a second to come up with something to shoot back, it was very amusing, apparently unlike his acting abilities.
Smitty hadn’t changed much in appearance, but John wasn’t expecting him to since it wasn’t that long since their last meetup. He was in a white turtleneck, rare for Smitty, some black sweatpants, and some beige shoes. Wasn’t a bad outfit, and honestly it fit the other quite well, from a fashion view of things. He’d also noticed that Smitty had been growing out his hair, which was something John requested the Canadian do again. That made John smile a bit, a smug feeling in his chest.
He watched Smitty purse his lips and look around before looking back at John.
“Can’t say I have..”
Smitty said, sounding like he was thinking about it before speaking again, with a sort of aha! tone.
“.. However! I have seen this egotistical guy built like one of the twin towers walking around, maybe he could help you find who you’re looking for.”
John let out a laugh, something warm and hearty, unlike how he had felt moments prior when he got off his flight. He stepped closer, giving Smitty a friendly, one armed hug before stepping back, a loose grin on his lips as one hand went back to his pocket, and the other on the handle of his bag.
“Good to see you, Smit.”
John said easily. After a late night call with the other, Smitty had somehow convinced him to come stay up in Canada for a few days. John had protested, saying he didn’t really want to figure out hotels, flights and all, but Smitty had insisted. Smitty offered to let John stay at his place for the week, and to cover the plane ticket up here. John couldn’t really say no to an almost free trip to go see some stupid Canadians, having been promised he could hang out with Matt and Rectrixx as well while he was visiting. So he agreed, and then a day later at daybreak, he was on a flight up here.
“Yeah yeah. Better be good to see me bitch, I paid for that plane ticket.”
Smitty huffed, no heat at all behind it. John had learned better than to know that Smitty was hardly actually mad, and that if he was, he would argue loudly, not stew quietly. So, John just smiled a little wider and slid his bag to the other, taking the sign Smitty had made for him.
“Hm.. I don’t know.. If you really loved me you would’ve flown me first class, I think.”
John added, seeming smug as he folded the sign under his arm watching as Smitty shook his head and let out a disappointed sigh, adjusting the luggage John had made him carry. But, he didn’t protest about it, so John took it as a win on his end.
“Shut up, or I might just leave you here.”
Smitty muttered, already starting to walk towards the exit with John’s bag rolling behind him. John just grinned and strolled right behind him, easy going and comfortable, like almost always.
“Think that would be the biggest lie you’ve told all year.”
John said in a know it all voice, glancing to see Smitty's slight smile as they pushed their way through their first pair of doors.
—
“Some people get their kicks,
stomping on a dream.”
—
John groaned dramatically as he carried his luggage up the stairs to the guest bedroom, Smitty not far behind. He only struggled somewhat, not about to fall down the fucking stairs trying to get this suitcase up.
Smitty had made John get his suitcase out of the car, his apparently never ending benevolence, coming to an end.
“You’re so mean, so awful, making a guest do this by themselves. Just say you hate me already, Smit.”
John complained as he hoisted it up the last step with a grunt, pausing for a moment once he got to the top of the stairs. Man, he needed to start getting to the gym more often. Or maybe..
“Jesus, Smitty, so rich yet you can’t invest in actually easy stairs.”
John hissed, faux anger in his tone as he spoke the words. He looked to the other, who was leaning against the wall with a stupid smug smirk. He already knew from that damn look that something stupid was going to come out of that mouth. He sighed, preparing himself for it.
“Sounds like a skill issue.”
Smitty said teasingly, and John shouldn’t have even looked a second ago to see the smirk, he could’ve heard it in the bastard's voice. He glared at Smitty, a frown pulling at his lips and it turned into a sneer as he stood up straight.
“You’ll see skill issue after I push you down the fucking stairs.”
He walked down the hallway, ignoring Smitty’s snort from behind him
“Hostile as always, I see.”
He heard Smitty mumble with a stupid, ‘smarter than you’ voice.
He made his way to the guest room, ignoring Smitty’s comment. He already knew which one he was staying in since Smitty had told him. He walked in, sitting his bag by the edge of the bed, then flopped down on the thing. He let out a heavy sigh, then groaned.
“Dude that flight was so fucking exhausting, do not think you understand.”
John whined as he moved so he was looking at the ceiling, feeling the dip in the bed as Smitty sat beside him. He looked over, seeing the other carry a curious expression. He raised an eyebrow at him, then the other one two so he was just wiggling his eyebrows at Smitty, giving the other man duck lips.
Smitty just giggled slightly and shoved John’s face to the side. John let out an offended noise, but didn’t do anything to move back to how he was.
“What, baby crying on the flight, sat next to a Karen, stinky ass plane?”
Smitty questioned as he tilted his head slightly, moving on from the stupid bit that happened in silence. He let his legs sway off the bed slightly, and John watched the motion before speaking again.
“Nah, not really I won't lie, just was a bad flight.”
John muttered, his face shoved against the blanket, letting himself relax into something soft after hours of being on a plane, and an hour of being in a car seat. He heard Smitty snort, and he forced himself to turn his head to look at the younger.
“Sounds awful, I agree.”
Smitty said sarcastically, and John didn’t respond, the silence between them becoming comfortable as the two of them existed for a moment. Then, he watched Smitty stand up and clear his throat, stretching slightly. He turned back to face John.
“Well… I’m gonna go make some breakfast, come join me if you want some.”
Smitty invited, giving John a solid pat on the back before he walked out, shutting the door behind him and not giving the older man time to answer. John watched Smitty leave, before he stuffed his face back in the bedding, mumbling into it.
“... Alright.”