Parallel Mental Journey

[madimpossibledreamer]

The need to write aimless SDC fluff is unexpected and very real.  (It was partly successful)
~Dreamer~

Main Points:
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Universe Optional
Summary: Late night Crusader bonding conversations.
Word Count: 1035
Rating: Gen

 

            “You’re quiet.”  Like most of what Jotaro says, it’s noncommittal, low, terse.  But it’s Jotaro, so the words have more impact than Polnareff’s nonstop commentary.

            “I thought you would’ve appreciated that.”  Kakyoin allows himself a smile, and hopes that he’s not transparent.  Jotaro isn’t the type to easily read people, is he?

            That’s a quick smirk.  “Not this kind of quiet.”  He’d been inspecting the bed, possibly judgmentally, but now he straightens, looking straight at the fellow student.  The gaze is…knowing.  Understanding.  Forgiving?  “I don’t care for pointless conversations.  But the silence is…”   He swallows hard.

            This is what Jotaro Kujo looks like when he’s afraid, Kakyoin realizes with shock.

            “And it’s not like Polnareff’s nonsense helps.  Even when he’s talking, it’s too...”  He places one hand in his pockets to retrieve the cigarette case.  Kakyoin does him the service of pretending he doesn’t see Jotaro’s hand shaking as he withdraws and lights one.

            “Does your grandfather let you smoke?” Kakyoin asks with curiosity.  His certainly wouldn’t, and he’s trouble enough as it is.  The least he can do is not be a bother to his family.

            This time, the smirk is even more terrifying.  Longer, more drawn out.  “Like Gramps can stop me.”  He sighs out a visible breath, and the silent darkness descends, covering them in a suffocating, deadened world.

            It’s long enough before he speaks again that Kakyoin almost thinks he’s dropped the subject.  “Whatever’s bothering you, Polnareff’s probably next to useless, Avdol’s…hard to read, and it’s impossible to tell whether you’ll get the serious old man or not.”

            Kakyoin glances up from arranging the few belongings that survived the trip.  He’s…slightly touched.  And a little confused.  Of course, he knows all the social conventions by heart, and he can be charming enough, but it all feels…fake.  Here, with this awkward, socially clumsy giant, he can be himself.  “Why, Jojo, are you telling me that you could be my confidante?”

            If he’s not mistaken, that’s the slightest hint of an embarrassed blush on the other teen’s cheeks, quickly hidden by a hat tugged lower.  “Don’t hurt yourself,” he responds gruffly, casually walking over to the window.

            Hierophant’s User watches the other student for a bit.  It’s not in his nature to casually trust like that, to actually show his feelings and thoughts so plainly to another.  “I’m just…worried about the Stand Users we’ll encounter.”  He meant to actually say more, to put it into words, but the other just came out.

            “Hmm.”  Jotaro’s still staring out the window like he’s not even listening.

            Suddenly the redhead feels bad.  Jotaro’s hands have stopped shaking.  But for better or worse the teen had actually been exposing his inner self, at least as much as someone that stoic does, and here he’d backed off.  Yet it’s hard.

            “You’ve been holding back.”  Jojo, again.  He actually is trying to have a conversation, however hard.  At Kakyoin’s bemused expression and eyebrow, he sighs, signature yare yare daze hanging on the air.  “In the fights.”

            “I’m not going to control anyone like Dio controlled me.”  The words burst out of his mouth a passionate outburst.  Instantly he’s mortified.

            But Jotaro glances over and snorts.  “Don’t tell me that’s still bothering you.”  He instantly looks away, as if he realizes what a stupid statement that is.  “You’re not a monster.”

            “I…I enjoyed that, Jojo.  Hurting people.  You can’t tell me that’s normal.”  His mask is shattering, but suddenly he’s desperate.  Jotaro’s the closest thing to a friend he’s ever had, but more than that.  This stoic, seemingly emotionless teen saved him.  Looked at him, even at his worst, and decided somewhere that he was still worth saving.  He craves some sort of verification.

            “I wouldn’t know.”  Broad shoulders tense.  “I always had a bit of a temper.  I like showing the assholes that they don’t have things all their own way.  It’s important to keep in mind who you’re hurting, though.  Some people don’t deserve any of it.”  It is his mother who’s in danger, Kakyoin reminds himself.

            As if he’s rapidly depleting his store of words for the day, green eyes glance away and Jotaro returns to his cigarette.  Kakyoin’s in the middle of trying to figure out a proper response when the deep voice, rougher from the habit, breaks the silence again.  “If I’d had my way, I’d still be in jail.  Out here…it’s different.  It’s like all those war movies they’re always showing, and Gramps’ rambling stories.  Back then…it wasn’t like they were even threats.  But it took everything I had to hold Star back.  I was out of control.  I nearly killed them.”

            It’s not the whole story.  Kakyoin doubts he’ll ever hear the whole story.  But at the same time…it’s enough.

            Somehow, it makes him feel better.  “I…I don’t want Mrs. Kujo to get hurt.  Nor any of you.  So I suppose…you’re right.  I can’t keep holding back.”

            Jojo nods.  Toward the window.  He still gets his point across.  And that might be the slightest hint of a smile, but given the lighting it’s rather hard to tell.

            He does have a heart.  He’s a good guy.  Who cares.  He’s just not obvious about it.  But if you pay attention, you can read him.

            “And you’re not a monster either,” he adds, because he suspects his fellow student might not know.

            Jotaro doesn’t seem like he hears, so Kakyoin patiently grabs a book he’d picked up in one of the used book sale stands and begins reading.

            “Thanks.”  He glances back up, and Jotaro, cap and all, has arranged himself on the bed and closed his eyes.

            Well, if his new friend doesn’t believe it, it’s up to him to convince him.  Luckily, it looks like the other teen isn’t bothered by the lamp on, though he’ll probably spend a little more time thinking about the task ahead—reassuring a friend—than reading.  It’s still a worthwhile task, just as saving Holly is.  He owes the hulking student his life, but it’s more than just a life debt that ties them together.  He actually cares about the Kujo family, despite the fact that he’s not usually one to let anyone new into his life.