It's The Same Old Story Well They Just Didn't Realise

As he walked into the mansion, he could hear the cameramen scrambling after him. He’d never wanted to be a reality tv star. He’d wanted to be an actor. He was an actor. But, unfortunately, fame had its dark side, he let it consume him, hurting many in his path and causing countless scandals along the way. He’d finally gotten out of rehab, and wanted to find a way to clear up his public image.

Only for Father dearest to apparently have it all worked out before Johnny had even left the rehab centre.

‘You just got Caged’, a reality show that followed Johnny and his family's day-to-day life, trying to show a different softer side of the man. He knew what it really was though. His Dad had always lived vicariously through Johnny, as had his elder brother to some degree. This was really just their attempt at propelling themselves into the spotlight too.

Yet, Johnny had still gone along with it. Partially because maybe he really could show a different side of himself, the person he was before drugs and alcohol. And partially because his father had threatened to sue him for all he was worth. Johnny knew he didn’t actually have a case, given the man didn’t know what he was suing for aside from the ‘emotional distress’ of Johnny being in rehab. Still he didn’t want the absolute ball ache of him even attempting to get it into court.

So far, he felt like he’d done a good job. His father and brother had been the ones doing outlandish and quite frankly assholeish things, meaning the producers weren’t pressuring him as much to cause drama. He was thankful for that, he supposed. At least maybe people could get an idea of how he’d turned into such a fucked up mess with this shithole of a family.

He came to a halt when he spotted Becky standing against the doorway, looking annoyed by something. His elder sister was the opposite of the rest of their family, wanting to stay out of the spotlight, and only agreeing to make sporadic appearances in the show. No cameras following her around constantly. Johnny made sure that was honoured, given she was the only one who really helped him during his stint in rehab.

“Everything okay Becks?” He asked, walking up to peer through the doorway. He could see their father in the middle of the lounge, surrounded by cameramen, and another young man Johnny didn’t recognise. Whatever was going on, the man looked extremely upset, on the verge of tears and his father was practically screeching at the guy.

“I… Have no idea.” Becky shook her head, looking utterly disgusted by something. “From what I’ve made out from Dad’s screaming is he might be dating this guy?”

“What?” Johnny exclaimed, feeling a little bad when Becky flinched as he sprayed spit all over her face. It was just… so completely unbelievable. He took another look. This guy looked fucking younger than he was, granted probably only by a year or two at most, but that wasn’t the point. Not to mention, his Dad was a fucking homophobic asshole, had threatened Johnny many years ago not to let his bisexuality be known to the public because it’d make him look bad.

“I know, John, I know.” Becky petted his back a couple of times, before sighing. “I feel bad for the guy.” She paused and screwed up her face. “The young guy, to be clear, not our Dad.”

“I should fuckin’ think not,” Johnny muttered, watching as the young man in question ran off towards the back doors, looking like a hurt puppy. Maybe I should take the chance to go and make sure he’s alright, and maybe get him outta here if I need to. Johnny turned to the cameramen following him. “Hey, guys, could you gimme a minute?”

“Sure,” one of them shrugged.

He nodded to them, before trying to give Becky a reassuring smile. She did smile back, but it was the sort she gave when she was glad she wasn’t the one having to play into this bullshit. Still Johnny slipped down the other corridor, mainly to avoid his Father, and went straight for the other door out into the garden.

On the patio, he found the young man sitting on the swing, staring blankly across the garden. Johnny sighed, he had no idea how long this had been going on, or what his Dad had done to the guy, but he knew if he could do something to maybe help him out, he needed to try.

“Hey, you alright?” He asked, lightly walking up to him. The guy jumped slightly, but raised his head in Johnny's direction. Johnny swallowed slightly. Whatever was going on here, he had to admit, the guy was pretty cute. And definitely way, way too fucking young for that asshole. “Sorry, I kinda saw the whole argument and shit, wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

The man blinked a few times, before giving Johnny a small smile, “I’m fine, thank you.”

It didn’t sound believable, but Johnny decided to just accept the answer for now. He made his way over to the swing and sat down next to him. He wasn’t really sure where to go from here.

“Uh, so. It’s nice to meet you, I’m-”

“Johnny Cage. I know. You’re kind of famous,” the man completed for him, making Johnny snort laugh. Yeah. Course the guy knew who he was. There were few people who didn’t at this point. “I’m Kuai Liang.”

“Kuai Liang, huh?” It was a nice name. “Look, I don’t wanna butt into your life or anything, but I’m gonna be real with you…” He looked over his shoulder, making sure neither his father or any of the camera crew were around to catch him. “You could do so much better than that raging asshole.”

“I know,” Kuai quietly said, still wearing a small smile on his face. “Good job I’m not actually dating him, hm?”

“Wait… What?” Johnny paused and stared at Kuai, who stared back at him looking equally confused.

“Wait. You mean he didn’t tell you?” Kuai’s brows furrowed.

“I didn’t even know you existed until today,” Johnny explained, trying to figure out exactly what the fuck was going on here.

“Your Dad is paying me to pretend to be his boyfriend,” Kuai informed him, brushing his hair out of his face. “For the show.”

“You’re kidding me?” Honestly, he could believe his father doing something so fucking dumb. What he couldn’t understand was what Kuai Liang would get out of it. “Why the hell would you agree to that?”

“Because I’m a broke post-grad student who’s trying to keep a roof over mine and my brother’s heads.” Kuai bit his lip, eyes looking towards the mansion like it was something completely alien to him. “And the amount of money he offered me is enough to pay my tuition, all my bills, and still have some left over for future savings, plus general fun money.”

Johnny actually nodded along to that. He understood Kuai’s motives, but it didn’t make it any less slimy from his father’s side. He was taking advantage of a younger man’s desperation. And that didn’t even account for how things could potentially escalate. The way his father was screaming was far too real.

“I didn’t anticipate him to be so… shouty, though,” Kuai admitted quietly, as if reading Johnny’s mind. “I guess he thinks the drama will bring in viewers, but… I don’t think he’s thought it through that much. Times are changing, people are more likely to call it what it is rather than be entertained by it.”

“Nah, he probably knows exactly what he’s doing,” Johnny sighed in frustration. “The problem is he’s one of those there’s no such thing as bad publicity people.” It was part of why Johnny’s problems had gotten so out of control. Sure, Johnny had gained a reputation as a drunken loser, but he had a reputation and that was what was important. “So long as there are eyes on the show, we’re making money, and that’s all he cares about. People hatewatching to be able to make memes on the internet is sadly common, so that’s what he’s banking on.”

“Oh.” Kuai didn’t seem to have anything more to say to that.

“Look, I dunno what kind of contract he’s made you sign, but… If you wanna get out of it, I know a really good lawyer who’ll help you out.”

“No. I think… I think I should at least see the period through. It’s only about a year long, so…” Kuai rubbed the back of his neck. “I can put up with it, at least until I’m done with my Masters degree.”

Johnny wasn’t happy by that answer, but knew he couldn’t force it. All he could do was keep an eye on the situation, and make sure Kuai knew he had an out if he changed his mind.

“Alright, well, how ‘bout this?” He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone and clicking until he found his phone number and passing it to Kuai Liang. “That’s my number. If my Dad does anything that makes you super upset or uncomfortable, or you just plain decide you don’t wanna do this anymore, just give me a call.”

Kuai stared at the phone with wide eyes, before they flicked up to Johnny. He was clearly trying to figure out if Johnny was being serious. All Johnny did was give a short nod that it was fine. Kuai scrambled for his pocket, pulling out his own phone and transferring the information.

“Thank you,” he whispered as he passed the phone back to Johnny. “I appreciate it.”

Really, Johnny was just offering what he wished he’d had when he started out in show business. He wished he’d had someone looking out for him, rather than just his father cheering him on to destruction. He supposed Becky had done her best, but she was a little too close to him for him to have taken her seriously. She just didn’t understand the industry, is what he’d told himself. If someone, anyone else, on the set of any film he’d starred in had just taken him aside and given him help…

Well.

He supposed there was no point pondering if he’d have taken it or not. All he could do was try to be what he wished he’d had.

“I suppose I should go back in there.” Kuai looked over his shoulder and through a window back into the mansion. “The show must go on and all that.”

“Mind if I cause a shitload of drama for the cameras and storm in demanding to know why my Dad’s ‘dating’ someone who’s younger than his youngest kid?” Johnny asked with a smirk. Sure it wouldn’t do anything to dissuade everyone, but fuck it, if this show was a chance to show a better side to him, objecting to some shit like that would be a good look. He just didn’t want to do it if it’d make Kuai Liang uncomfortable however.

“Go for it,” Kuai claimed, pushing himself to stand and brushing himself off. “I’m interested in how he’ll react.”

“Bitchin’,” Johnny said absentmindedly, also going to stand, however he went to the door he’d originally come out of, intending to burst in the other entrance like he hadn’t been talking to Kuai already.

He did pause a moment, watching as Kuai entered the room, and even through the walls, he could immediately hear his father going off. He rolled his eyes. Fuckin’ dick.

He smirked, even though there was nothing really funny about the situation, except maybe some healthy humiliation he would inflict in a few seconds.

All he knew is that he wasn’t about to let what happened to him happen to Kuai Liang.

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