Johnny, my friend (m/m)

[FelixSH]

Tim is an 18 year old boy. Typical in many
ways. He is decent at school, plays video games, watches soccer games.
Tim is unusual in one way, though: He has no friends.
Today, his life would change. He would find a friend. And experience
happiness again, for the first time in years.

Part 1

It was on my 18th birthday, when I got a VR helmet from my parents. Not just any VR set, though. It promised to be a completely new experience, something never seen before. Realizing new, virtual worlds. Stretching experienced time. AI companions. Whatever you could imagine, it would offer. So Visionary Realities, the company that had created the VR set, had promised.

“Happy Birthday”, my mother said, smiling at my obvious joy. It had been a long time, since I had seen her happy like that. “Don't overdo it, ok?”

I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from my new toy for more than a second. What an amazing gift! But...

“Wait, you told me this was too expensive. Again and again.” I finally really looked at my parents, wondering.

My father smiled, happy, like my mother. “Don't worry about that, Tim”, he said, before ruffling my hair. I giggled.

As I realized what I had just done, my cheeks turning red. My parents laughed. Not at me, of course. They were only happy, to hear me react this way. Something I hadn't done in years.

I forced my focus back to the helmet. I wasn't a little kid anymore. I shouldn't react like that! It felt so embarrassing!

My parents probably saw me grimacing. When my mum said something, I could hear a note of sadness coming back, like I had gotten accustomed to. “Sorry, we shouldn't have laughed.”

I couldn't look at her. The sad eyes...

“No, no, it's fine”, I said, forcing a smile. “Can I go to my room now? I'd like to try it out.”

I ignored the cake, still uncut. 18 candles, unused, sticking out. Chocolate. I wanted to try it. But I also needed to get away.

“Of course. It's your birthday, you can spend it however you want”, mum said. Heavy, every single word. I wanted to say something. Anything. Hug her.

“Thanks. And thanks a lot for the helmet.”

That was all I could muster. Trying not to meet their eyes, I grabbed my present, and walked away.

It got easier, after the door was closed. Now I could focus on my new toy. The glee I first experienced when seeing it came back, forcing me to rush up the stairs.

The helmet was simple to use. Just plug it in, and put it on. It was all I read from the instruction manual. No time!

I did as instructed. Darkness and silence enveloped me. My eyes, my ears, completely blocked off from the rest of the world. Fascinating! I tried to clap. Not a sound.

Slowly, my body seemed to fade away. My thoughts were still there, but I found it harder and harder, to do simple things like move my hands. This should have scared me, but I was too excited. The experience was so strange, so alien.

Soon, only my thoughts were left. My body – it was gone! Everything was gone. Like I was floating in Space.

Calm. I felt so calm.

Suddenly, a thought appeared in my head. No, not a thought. Someone, something, talked to me. Or rather, shared their thoughts. There was no sound.

“Welcome to your world. Please tell us your name.”

I found the voice very pleasant, nearly cozy. “Tim. I'm Tim.” A warm feeling enveloped me, and I saw a light, far from me, growing brighter.

And then, he appeared. As a silhouette of comfortable light only, at first.

“I will be your guide and friend, inside here. Please give me a name. Or, if this is preferable, I can choose one at random.”

The silhouette had spoken, a voice as soft as the light it was made of. It made me feel comfortable. More than I had been in such a long time.

A name. One came immediately to mind, but...

I shook my head. Why not? “Your name is John. But I will call you Johnny.”

The silhouette nodded. Even with the minimal features, it felt inviting. Something drew me to it, but I couldn't say what.

“Thank you, Master Tim. John, or Johnny, will be my name.”

There were more questions. The gender, hair and eye color, age, clothing style. I had full control. Trying out different versions, higher or lower voice, casual and elegant clothes. No matter what I asked of him, he followed my orders. No, my suggestions. I didn't want him to feel just like a puppet to me.

I had lost my sense of time, but after a lot of fun, my new friend was ready. He looked perfect. A bright, purple hoodie, dark chinos, light sneakers. A mop of messy, brown hair. Slightly larger then me.

And the most important thing. The kindest smile of all.

I wasn't able, to make it reach his eyes, though. But that was just a little detail. Everything else was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

“Thank you, Master Tim”, he said. Right, I had forgotten about that.

“Stop that Master nonsense. I am Tim” No, that wasn't quite right. “Timmy. I'm Timmy. Your friend.”

Johnny nodded serenely. “Very well, Timmy. I will do my best, to be a good friend.”

Only now did I realize, how perfect the voice was. I could feel it, a tear forming. It had been so long...

No, not now! Before Johnny could realize that I was starting to cry, I rubbed it off. Tears had no place here. This was my world. Somewhere, where I was always happy.

“We have to work on how you talk, Johnny”, I said. “It's way too formal. Let's work on that.”

He nodded. “Of course, Timmy. Is that what you want to do now?”

I looked at him. “I mean, what else can we do here?” I looked around, only now realizing, that everything was still drowned in soft, cozy light. There wasn't even a floor, despite me clearly feeling like I was standing on something.

Johnny smiled at me. “We can do whatever you want. This is your world. It can create nearly every scenario imaginable. Just tell me, and it will happen.”

There were many things, I wanted to try. I had so many exciting ideas, not sure what to start with.

Then I looked at Johnny. The hoodie. The hair. The smile.

Even the smell. It was even the same smell.

All those things, I knew so well.

There was only one thing, I wanted to do with him. Finally, again, just like old times. I looked at him, happier than I had been in years.

“Can you tie me up?”

Normally, I wouldn't ask this question. The days, where it wasn't met with ridicule, where long gone. Where people wouldn't stare at you, thinking you were a freak. Or at least someone, who got stuck in childhood, playing silly games for kids.

I couldn't ask people anymore. But Johnny was different. He wouldn't judge me. I knew that much.

“Of course, Timmy”, he said. “How do you want to be tied up?”

He would do it! I couldn't believe what I had just heard. He was ready to tie me up. No judgment, no mocking. Just a question, about how I wanted it to happen.

And yet...after all the time, where I had imagined this to happen...it was off. Something was missing.

I looked at Johnny. Those brown eyes, the perfect tone. And yet, once again, the smile didn't quite reach them.

It didn't matter! He would tie me up! In a place, where nothing could go wrong. Where I could stop at any time.

Which brought me to a question. “How do I stop the program, Johnny? How do I turn this world off?”

Johnny answered, without delay. “When you say “Computer, end program”, the helmet will be turned off. It will feel, like this world slowly fades away. A few seconds later, you will feel your body again.”

Before I could articulate the question, Johnny continued. “And don't worry, the main settings of me and the world will be saved, for later sessions. You will not have to recreate me.”

And so, we began. I wanted to test it, for now, asking Johnny to tie my hands in front. In a way, that I could get out of on my own.

As my hands got tied, it soon became clear that it wasn't the same. I remembered excitement, having fun with my friends, as gleeful about tying me up, as I was happy to be tied.

It was not how I was tied. Johnny did an excellent job, using rope that was comfortable, but also inescapable. He was better at it, than my friends had ever been.

But then, this was only a test. It couldn't be the same, with my hands in front. I had explicitly asked Johnny, to give me a chance of escape. And as good as he was, it was obvious to me, how to get out. Using my teeth took some time, but in the end, the rope fell off.

“Did you have fun, Timmy?”, he asked, as I rubbed my wrists. Trying to fake a smile, I nodded. “Yeah, it was great. Thank you, Johnny.”

There! This was a real smile, I was sure of it! His eyes, shining!!

It didn't matter. There was still time. I needed, to work with him, to give him time. When we were done, it would be like back then. And he would have as much fun, as Johnny always had. Back, when we were kids.

[BoudBoy22]

Johnny was a real boy? I need a second part

[Canuck100]

I really enjoy the plot. And the writing is impeccable. Well done!

[FelixSH]

Thanks guys, I'm very happy you enjoyed it. : )

[Gino]

Great Story

[FelixSH]

Thank you, Gino. Glad to know you liked it. : )

[Gino]

I'm waiting impatiently for the continuation of your story...