Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion Chapter 347

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure/Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Chapter Summary: Josie, Johan, and Awilix visit the old HQ.
Word Count: 1176

Rating: Teen
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS

 

         It’s not like anywhere they can go looking is danger-free. Going to the original Council Headquarters is probably asking for trouble even more than they usually do, but playing it safe isn’t really their style, and while she’d gotten the text about the eyeball traps, same as everyone else, she’s pretty sure it’s not as dangerous as all that. Rush had very recently killed the occupant of the house Cousin Jotaro, Kakyoin, and Willow had investigated. The HQ, on the other hand, had been vacant for some time. Unless Rush had any further business there, leaving around eyes to find would serve no purpose except to give more evidence that could potentially be traced in some way. Like with that one weirdo working for the Speedwagon Foundation, maybe, or a spell. Trying to kill them might work, but now that they’ve been warned, it’s far more likely for the attempt to fail, and she’s pretty sure given how careful he’s been so far and how little information there is out there about the bloke, Rush is too careful to waste an attack on a potentially failed attempt. The improv attack was him trying to make the best of a bad situation, nothing more. To wipe away evidence and erase witnesses, because one of his secrets might have been discovered. Now that it’s out, she has the feeling he’s not going to try the same trick twice. And whatever he’d been looking for, he’s had time to look. It’s likely he’d found whatever he was looking for.
         No, if anything, he’s probably either cleared out any of his ‘eyeball surveillance’ or he’ll do his best to hide any sign of it, curious about what would draw them back now. Because just as they’re looking for clues about Rush, he’s probably trying to learn more about them, too, if Cousin Jotaro’s theory is correct, and after so many years of chasing down rogue Stand Users his instincts are pretty good.
         Awilix is pretty enthusiastic, rushing in by herself without so much as a warning. Then again, she hadn’t been phased by B3’s corridors of We’ll Be Waiting, so perhaps that isn’t so surprising after all. Johan’s already starting to relax a little, actually smiling genuinely at the sound of the door slamming and turning toward her direction, eye vaguely glancing toward her. “I vote we let the Queen of the Night find all the traps for us.”
         She has to laugh at that, to which he looks pleased.

         It’s mostly a waste of time. She’d suspected it might be, that Rush had already found what he was looking for and skedaddled, but being thorough was worth it and it was a calculated risk. She takes definite pleasure in Johan’s stride growing longer and more confident. Sure, he may have been mostly stationed abroad in places like Africa, but it seems like he’d been at the HQ enough to memorize it, like you’d know your own home. And it doesn’t seem like enough has changed that he’s stubbing his toes, wandering around in the everlasting night he’s now subjected to, like getting up when you’re sleeping to go get a glass of water. “Mum, you’ve got your ‘granddad was spoiling you silly’ phone, right? Can you take pictures of everything?”
         She doesn’t ask him how he knows about that. His Stand, she assumes. And at least he’s thinking strategy again—if he can’t use his eye, then he can borrow someone else’s. It’d be good to have the record.
         The kitchens are intact. They find Awilix drinking milk straight from the bottle on the counter. Assuming it’d been freshly bought, it’s probably still good, but that’s her business.
         Apparently a lot of the weapons are gone. It’s unclear if they were taken because Rush wanted to learn more about them or because he didn’t want them used against him. Either way, it’s not altogether surprising. Johan spends a whole lot more time touching everything, and he’s a lot more frowny here. “Do you see some boxes anywhere?” he asks suddenly.
         Josie glances around, even calling out B3 to check out some hard-to-reach corners. “Don’t think so.”
         “Damn.” Johan sighs. “’Course, I wasn’t here, so maybe she finished, but Buffy was sorting through some boxes of rare books, the last I saw her, and I’m not sure we had them marked on inventory.” So if they’re missing, there’s no way to know what exactly is missing.
         So it’s not the complete home run she’d been hoping for, smoking gun and all. That’s hardly the end of the world. She hadn’t expected it, really. They don’t get attacked (she would’ve thought Awilix would be disappointed, but mostly the Lady of Death just seems generally amused and keeps jumping out of places like she’s trying to scare them to death with plausible deniability), and they’ve got possible indications of what he was looking for, but nothing concrete. Johan’s perking up, though, so it’s not a total waste of time.

         And then, like a disappointed senior warden, his friend—Robin, was it—is just standing there (in the entrance of the room they left, how), waiting for their return, arms crossed. He doesn’t have a weapon. Johan’s hamon sensing must be still working incredibly well, because his laughing and babbling dies away, leaving nothing but uneasy silence. Except for Awilix, who is just as amused by this as she is by absolutely everything else and settles in to watch, lounging naturally.
         They shouldn’t be fighting. That should be saved for this Rush bloke. But at the same time it still feels like a condemnation of her parenting skills, and she bristles. She hadn’t been a good mum, no, but she’s trying this time. She’s absolutely trying. It’s probably not even meant as judgment, but it sure feels that way.
         “Locking my son in a cage isn’t going to help,” she snaps as her son shrinks at her side, fragile confidence fading as easily as his chatter.
         Robin sighs and nods reluctantly. “Point taken, and sorry about that, Jojo, but you should have said something. We’d have been happy to come with you. Pretty sure Beefheart’s just as sick of doing nothing as you are. And no, Miss Higashikata,” he adds, as she opens her mouth to protest further, “I’m not saying you’re not capable on your own, just that it doesn’t hurt to have an extra hand, in situations like this.”
         Johan sighs. “Point taken.”
         “I suppose we really should’ve made it more of a party,” Josie agrees after a moment—after all, if he’s on board, then why should she say no?
         “Yes, please, invite them next time,” Awilix agrees, with a cat’s grin, and wanders off. Probably to look for a culinary treat, which, as much as she doesn’t want to follow, she’s a bit peckish and her son is rather fond of food himself, so they probably should do so. They all exchange glances first. Well, not that Johan can actually meet their gaze, actually, but he’s trying his best.