DAY 1: FREE CHOICE - Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham AU
The grand hall shimmered, drenched in the warm glow of gold and amber light.
Music reverberated off the palace walls, laughter mingling with the rhythmic jingle of bangles and the soft patter of footsteps on polished marble. Nobles twirled gracefully on the dance floor, while servants darted between tables, balancing trays laden with delicacies. Somewhere deeper in the crowd, a voice rose above the rest, singing far too enthusiastically.
And in the midst of it all—
Johnny Bravo was talking.
“—and THEN I said, ‘Baby, no one wears silk better than me,’ and honestly? I was right.”
A nearby group erupted in laughter, their eyes sparkling with amusement.
Johnny grinned, oblivious to the storm brewing across the hall.
Jack leaned against one of the intricately carved pillars, his arms folded tightly across his chest. He was watching. Still. Very, very unimpressed.
Tonight, his long black hair cascaded over his shoulders, softer than usual under the palace lights. The pale pink outfit he wore—layered fabric draped elegantly around him, adorned with glimmering gold jewelry—should have made him look gentle. Instead, he radiated an aura of quiet intimidation, especially as his gaze locked onto Johnny.
And Johnny, unfortunately, had finally noticed.
Jack began striding toward him, calm and collected.
Johnny chuckled nervously. “Hey, samurai—”
His tone was neither loud nor angry, but it carried an unmistakable weight of danger.
Johnny pointed at himself, feigning innocence. “Me?”
Jack halted in front of him, a formidable presence.
“…You promised me you would handle one task.”
Jack narrowed his eyes, his disappointment palpable.
A few nearby guests pretended to be engrossed in their own conversations, but their ears were tuned in.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Johnny leaned in closer. “Can we maybe not do the scary disappointed stare in front of everybody?”
Jack’s expression remained unchanged.
With a dramatic sigh, Johnny relented. “Yes, dear.”
That earned him a sharper look, but somehow, it delighted him.
Once the palace doors closed behind them, the music faded into the background, leaving only the cool night air, fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers from the garden below.
Johnny rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the weight of the moment. “Look, I know I messed up.”
Jack stood near the railing, his back turned slightly, a picture of calm fury.
“You assured me it would be completed.”
Johnny sighed deeply. “...I know.”
Silence enveloped them, thick and uncomfortable.
Jack rarely let his anger truly surface; frustration was his constant companion, annoyance a daily occurrence. But this—this felt different.
Johnny stepped closer, cautiously. “...You’re really mad, huh?”
Jack exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders evident. “I entrusted it to you.”
That stung more than any shout could have.
Johnny’s usual bravado faded, replaced by genuine guilt. “...I didn’t mean to ruin the night.”
Jack finally turned to face him, his gaze piercing. “And yet you nearly did.”
Johnny opened his mouth to joke, but the words faltered.
No quips. No flirtation. Just raw honesty. “...Sorry.”
The apology felt small, vulnerable, hanging in the air between them.
As a gentle breeze tousled Jack’s hair, Johnny caught a glimpse of something softer in Jack’s expression. “...You look really pretty tonight, by the way.”
Jack blinked, momentarily taken aback. “...Johnny.”
“No, seriously.” Johnny took a step closer, his tone softening. “That outfit? The jewelry? The hair down?” He placed a hand dramatically against his chest. “You’re trying to kill me, samurai.”
Jack averted his gaze slightly, but Johnny noticed the tension in his shoulders ease ever so slightly—a tiny victory.
Johnny smiled, feeling emboldened. He reached into his pocket. “...I actually had something for you.”
Jack’s curiosity piqued as Johnny revealed a delicate bracelet. Simple. Silver. Not flashy like Johnny’s usual taste, but somehow more sincere.
“I was going to give it to you earlier,” Johnny admitted, a hint of sheepishness in his voice. “Before I got distracted.”
“A frequent occurrence,” Jack replied dryly.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Johnny stepped closer, their proximity electric. “...Hold still.”
Jack hesitated, then slowly extended his wrist.
With unusual gentleness, Johnny slid the bracelet onto him, his fingers brushing against Jack’s skin, sending a shiver through the air. “...Might be a little tight,” he murmured.
Jack examined the bracelet quietly. “...It is acceptable.”
Johnny snorted softly. “That’s the closest thing you’ve got to ‘I love it,’ huh?”
Jack remained silent, but he didn’t pull his hand away.
The distant echoes of the palace music floated outside, warm and inviting.
Johnny glanced at the bracelet, then back at Jack. “I heard people talking in there about soul connections and destiny and all that dramatic stuff.”
Jack raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Johnny smiled faintly. “I don’t really get half of it.”
A pause hung between them, charged with unspoken words.
“But I know this.” His thumb brushed lightly against Jack’s wrist. “When I mess things up… you still come find me.”
Jack’s expression shifted, not softer, but quieter.
“And when you’re angry…” Johnny grinned, a hint of mischief returning. “…you still drag me somewhere private instead of leaving me alone.”
Jack stared at him for a long moment, weighing his words.
Then, with a resigned sigh, he muttered, “...You are insufferable.”
Johnny chuckled quietly. “Yeah. But I’m your insufferable problem.”
In a moment of unexpected intimacy, Jack lifted his hand slightly, fingers brushing against the bracelet—not rejecting, but accepting.
His other hand caught the front of Johnny’s shirt, not pulling him closer, but keeping him there.
Johnny blinked, taken aback, then smiled—a smaller, more genuine smile.
The music from inside grew louder as the ballroom doors opened, but neither of them moved. Because for all of Johnny’s noise… and all of Jack’s silence… somehow, they had always managed to return to each other anyway.
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