They were his only friend growing up, one of the only people in his life who didn't make fun of him being adopted by Nancy, one of the only people who he felt understood him, even if they didn't know some... Things about his life and his family. They didn't have to know, and honestly, he didn't want them to know. Their relationship felt so pure and untainted. He wasn't sure if he wanted to risk that. He wasn't sure if he could kill them, if it went south. It'd be like losing a part of his soul, or what very little of it he has left.

His best friend, Johnny thinks. They live in town an hour out. They used to see each other at events when Nancy and Grandpa would take him, Nubbins and Sissy into town, and they got closer over time... Eventually, as Johnny got older, as he earned independence, and a license, he would drive into town just to see them. Just to hang out. It was so uncomplicated. They spoke about normal kid stuff, then normal teenager stuff, and now, normal adult stuff.

Johnny's time with them has always been the most regular aspect of his life. He loves his family and he loves his fucked up life, but he loves his one friend too, in his own special way, and he loves how normal they are.

Now, they're laying in one of the fields on the outskirts of Nancy's property, Johnny's legs are crossed, his arms are folded under his head. "Y'ever think about just... Runnin' off?" Johnny finally speaks, after a long period of comfortable silence between them. Sissy ran off, and when she came back, she had so much to talk about. She'd seen so much, heard so much, learned so much. His habits are getting so stale. He's... Sort of jealous of her, even if she missed a lot of Grandpa's later life.

"How much fun'd it be to jus' disappear for a while? Hit the road, y'know? Go see some new shit... Not the same fuckin' fields all the time." He grumbles.