madimpossibledreamer

will probably be beta'd tomorrow

Main Points:
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure/Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Chapter Summary: Johan's crew regroups.
Word Count: 1118
Rating: Teen
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS
warnings: light mentions of PTSD

        Fitz watches Johan with concern. He would never go so far as to claim his friend’s not up to this, but usually a nap helps him recharge, puts him in a better mood. That’s probably largely due to his Stand and the power…what had he called it? The Colour and the Shape? That didn’t work, this time.
        Sure, he might be hiding it pretty well, but he’d practically had a panic attack, out there in the water. And yes, he’d almost drowned at the zoo, but he’d seemed fine after, cracking jokes and the like. He’s preoccupied enough he hasn’t even realized Darling was a little shaken from the crash, or he’d be trying to cheer her up, because he’d practically declared himself her adopted older brother.
        The blond would let it go, but Xander’s still on edge and that’s anything but a good start to what will probably be a difficult fight. If he’s developed PTSD from nearly drowning, and it’s still bothering him…Fitz is certainly no therapist, but as his friend he can listen and try to help.
        They didn’t have a lot of time for such things, particularly if they’re being hunted, but night is falling and while they’re not in the middle of the desert in Mexico, out here near Guadalajara, it still probably gets cold at night, and the temperature doesn’t even have to drop much, like Robin had said, for them to start noticing ill effects. Even now, Darling, as the smallest among them, is already beginning to shiver.
        He glances over at her. Well, if Jojo’s not going to do it… “If you want, you could help Robin with the map.”
        She flashes him a smile and goes, Whisper curled tight around her body like it’s trying to hold in every ounce of heat remaining. He suspects her enthusiasm is more about the prospect of being near a fire, though she’s certainly grown closer to the two since they’d all had the fight with the zombies. Von Stroheim had tried, cursing in German all the while, to use a lighter to start the fire. It’s odd that she even owned one, considering the fact that he’s fairly certain she doesn’t smoke, but perhaps she used to do so and quit.
        They’re so close to one of Mexico’s biggest cities. The lights, skyscrapers, and other buildings, including what might be a cathedral, are visible from here, as the sky darkens. He would absolutely love to visit the International Book Fair, or FIL, and has heard that the city’s architecture is beautiful, but it isn’t the time for it, and they hardly have the time to go sightseeing, anyway, as much as they could probably pass themselves off as tourists with the approximate amount of common sense that comes with falling in a lake. British tourists, alongside some friends across the pond, maybe. But all of their money, likewise, was lost, and without so much as a passport, obtaining aid would be difficult. He vaguely remembers hearing from his friend (now deceased, as much as he’d been trying not to think of it) that a Speedwagon Foundation office was stationed in the area, but it’s not like he can research the location when all of their equipment is lying at the bottom of the lake.
        “Do you still trust me?” Xander whispers quietly without preamble the second Darling’s out of earshot. He’s absent-mindedly rubbing at the star birthmark on his shoulder, now that he’s taken off the probably ruined leather jacket for heating using hamon or old-fashioned fire.
        Fitz frowns and answers immediately. “Of course, Jojo.” He watches his friend’s posture relax in relief, and then adds, “…Although this does nothing but prove my fears over letting you fly a plane solo during the incident with the statues were well-founded.”
        It’s a shaky smile, paired with a laugh that’s more the release of tension than any proper amusement, but it’s something. “Yeah, at this rate, I’m tied with Jotaro, at least.” He pauses, then adds, “…do you…feel that?”
        It’s still rather vague, but Fitz gives the question the thought it deserves. As he does, he makes the connection. “I’m certainly more worried, but not more than would be warranted by being shot at, I’d guess. The others don’t seem any more paranoid than they should given that people actually are attempting to kill us.”
        Johan nods. “Okay, good. It’s just me then.” He pauses, and then adds, “Yeah, nearly drowning again might have rattled me and we might need to put that on the list of Joestar Hazards for the future, but nearly dying isn’t, you know.” He swallows and looks away, and Fitz gets a glimpse of a man who’s never quite come to terms with the idea, despite having become used to such a dangerous environment, rather than the goofball telling potentially tall tales. “I just have this feeling of menace that has nothing to do with someone trying to kill us, I’m pretty sure. Unfortunately, Pretender’s being really vague, so…” He shrugs, helplessly, and Fitz concedes that it’s possible. Pretender could certainly be more sensitive to such things than any of their Stands, perhaps excepting Whisper.
        “Let’s get warm and dry, first, before we go borrowing trouble. Being waterlogged is a disadvantage in a fight.”
        Xander holds out a hand for the blond to pull him up, moving easily to his feet as he does so. The restless anxiety has given away to burning determination—just as watchful, just as ready, but no longer distanced from the calm center or feeling of control.
        As they rejoin the others, huddling around the fire, Darling glances up quizzically and returns Jojo’s smile enthusiastically, relaxing.
        “We were supposed to land in Guadalajara,” Robin tells them, which is a little of what the blond suspected.
        Johan rubs his hands together and holds them out toward the fire. “I vaguely remember us having a conversation about the pluses and minuses of an actual airport versus the possibility of Wolfram & Hart knowing we were coming and possibly sabotaging us.”
        “You were half asleep. I didn’t know whether to be disturbed or impressed,” the Captain remarks, and apparently Fitz had managed to be of use, because that impish smile says Jojo is feeling back to his usual self.
        “Both? Both is usually good,” he quips.

When they feel ready to continue, or as ready as they’re going to be, they start walking. Fitz hasn’t forgotten Johan’s foreboding feeling when the battered old truck with an equally ancient looking driver pulls over and offers to give them a ride. They accept, but Darling has Whisper ready, and the blond double-checks his water pistol, just to be sure.