Biography: Having just taken over his organisation Niccolo is looking for ways to improve and refresh the ways in which business was done. He forms an alliance with Giorno and Passione, seeking to skew the balance of power in their favor and keeping Diavolo's apologists at bay.
Being a young Don in a world so gripped by tradition he is constantly having to break through barriers, but his natural inclination to lead and excessive confidence has seen him accomplish almost everything he sets his mind to.
Morning Doodle: “After the meals, Nikolai would sequester himself with the head of the house, talking through reforms, requesting aid, smoothing feathers ruffled by the peril of change. Sometimes Nikolai would ask Zoya to join them when all she wanted was to fall into bed.” (Leigh Bardugo's King of Scars CH 11)
Yayy it's selfship Sunday, my free pass to be cringe (the rest of the days I'm aware and apologetic, not today hahahaha/j). I always wax lyrical about their dynamic but today is Bri just being a menace. I mean he's the one that made the roses anyway, and there was no vase?
Hope you're all doing great. I'll be back with some actual writing soon. Xoxo 😘 🤗
Yayy, it's Selfship Sunday 🐞🪽😍 just posting something here that I made yesterday. I tried my hand at animating it (poorly, lmao). I want to get back to writing the lore for Bri. For now, it's a Bri and Giorno stealing a kiss outside.
I know this was a request from my asks at one stage and was so wholesome I kept it in my drafts. Reader-chan helps the jojos relax by making them some cookies 🥺
It's just dumb fluff lol
Johnathan Joestar
You had been tending to your betrothed's wounds dutifully since that fateful night of his father's passing, however, his task wasn't complete and Jonathan had been training with Baron Zeppeli to hone his Hamon technique.
You were so proud of his progress and determination, how he bore his cross and still maintained his kind demeanor, and so you had made up your mind to support him in any way that you could. From your observations you could see how the recent events had been taking their toll on him and as such you decided to bake him his favorite cookies and deliver them to him in person during one of his breaks.
The sun filtered through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow on the flour-dusted countertops. You’d spent the afternoon preparing a batch of buttery shortbread cookies, shaping each piece with care. As you pull them from the oven, the inviting scent wafts through the house, mingling with the crispness of the cool air outside.
Just then, Jonathan entered, his tall frame filling the doorway. His eyes widened at the sight of the cookies.
“Is that…?” he began, a hint of excitement in his voice.
You nodded, holding out the plate.
“I made these for you. I hope you like them!”
He carefully took one, studying its golden edges, and with a soft smile, he bit into it. The buttery flavor melted in his mouth, and he closed his eyes, savoring the taste.
“They’re perfect,” he said, his voice warm and sincere. “Just like you.”
You felt your cheeks warm at his compliment, and you couldn’t help but smile back. “I’m glad you think so.”
He reached for your hand, gently squeezing it. “You always know how to make my day brighter. Thank you.”
You leaned in, resting your head on his shoulder as he continued to munch on the cookies, a sense of peace settling around you both.
Joseph Joestar
The aroma of melting chocolate and caramel filled the air as you pulled a tray of chocolate chip cookies from the oven. You’d added a twist this time—chunks of caramel and pecans mixed in, knowing Joseph’s penchant for surprises... and snickerdoodle cookies.
As the sweet scent wafted through the house, you heard the familiar sound of Joseph’s footsteps approaching. He bursts into the kitchen, his face pulled into that usual grin.
“What’s cooking, good looking? Smells delicious!”
You couldn’t help but grin. “I made cookies, but I added a little something special.”
He raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Oh? Let me see!” He took a cookie from the sheet , still hot from the oven and bit into it, pulling in air through his mouth as he chewed, “Whoa! You really went all out this time!” He chewed enthusiastically, the sweet and salty flavors dancing on his palate. “This is incredible!”
You laugh, pleased with his reaction. “I’m glad you like them!”
He grinned wider, his playful nature more pronounced as he nudged you with his elbow. “I knew you were talented, but this is next level! You should be my partner in crime in the kitchen more often.”
“Maybe I’ll let you help next time,” you teased, playfully bumping his shoulder, "but only if you promise not to eat all the cookie dough before it's baked.
Kujo Jotaro
Late nights and early mornings had painted shadows under Jotaros' eyes. It was difficult juggling the irregular hours of his work and the dangers he was always wary of from dealing with the threats of being part of the Joestar lineage.
It was one of the very rare times that he had been home, and you had wanted to give him the peace and warmth he deserved, the kind that can only be created in moments of calm domesticity. The kitchen was quiet except for the gentle crackle of the oven as you pulled out a tray of sugar cookies, their golden edges perfectly crisped. You arranged them neatly on a plate, admiring the simple, classic shape.
You heard the heavy footsteps of Jotaro approaching, his presence always commanding and stoic yet providing a sense of comfort and safety you didn’t experience with anyone else.
He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, looking intrigued. “What’s that?”
“Just some sugar cookies,” you replied, holding the plate up with a smile. His expression softens just slightly, curiosity overcoming his usual stoicism. “Did you really make these?”
You nodded, offering him a cookie. He took it, examining it closely before biting in. The sweetness hit his tongue, and you watched for his reaction. He paused, and for a moment, you thought he might not say anything.
But then, he looked at you, a subtle smile tugging at his lips. “Not bad. You’ve got skill."
“Really?” You beamed, encouraged by his praise.
“Yeah,” he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. You could see his mind was searching, trying to place the familiarity that induced a sense of nostalgia in him.
“Its a hint of nutmeg... I got the recipe from your mom the other day...” You leaned in, your shoulder brushing against his, a soft smile playing on your face, “I’m glad you like them.”
He looked at you, a flicker of warmth in his eyes. “I don’t say it often, but… you do good things. You’re good.”
Your heart swelled at his words, and you found comfort in the precious quiet moment shared together.
Higashikata Josuke (4)
The smell of freshly baked biscotti filled your cozy kitchen as you pulled a tray from the oven. Josuke was just finishing up a game he was playing, the quiet of the house being punctuated by stifled groans and a playful jibe thrown in here and there aimed at his teammates online.
It was a long process to make them, but you'd made sure to follow the recipe perfectly, adding nuts and a hint of almond flavor, knowing Josuke’s love for Italian treats. It might have been easier to have gotten them from Tonio, but you wanted a personal touch.
You had set the cookies on the counter, and just as you did, the door swung open, revealing Josuke, his usual lively energy lighting up the entire area. “What’s that smell?” he asked, his eyes wide and his smiled wider.
“I made biscotti!” You replied, unable to hide your smile. “I thought you might enjoy some.”
“Biscotti? For me?” He stepped closer, practically bouncing on his heels as he grabbed one. He took a big bite, and his eyes lit up. “Whoa! These are awesome!”
You watched as he devoured another piece, his joy infectious.
“I’m glad you like them! I tried to get them just right.”
He leaned against the counter, his smile warm and genuine. “You always know how to make me happy. This is my favorite!”
You couldn’t ’t help but blush at his enthusiasm.
“You really mean it?”
“Of course!” he exclaimed, pulling you into a side hug. “You’re amazing! I’m lucky to have you.”
He kissed your cheek, his smile softening as he reached for another biscotti, and started to make coffee for the two of you. "You spoil me, know..." he said, hands busy with the Espresso maker.
"Good, you deserve to be spoiled."
Giorno Giovanna
The expansive kitchen of the villa was filled with the rich aroma of dark chocolate as you carefully prepared a batch of cookies, each one a small piece of art, drizzled with even more melted chocolate and sprinkled with chopped pistachios.
You couldn’t wait for Giorno to see them; his gentle appreciation for the things you did for him always made your heart flutter. He was accustomed to the finest things and could have what he wanted at whim, but all of that paled in comparison to what your gestures meant to him.
As you finished arranging the cookies on a plate, Giorno walked in, his elegant demeanor somehow enhancing the everyday scene. It was always like that with him... he had the ability to make the most mundane of things beautiful by his presence alone, although he maintained that that was what you had done every day.
His gaze fell on the cookies, and a soft smile spread across his face. “What’s this?”
“Dark chocolate and pistachio cookies, just for you,” you say, holding out the gold-rimmed plate. His eyes gleamed as he picked one up, the rich chocolate and blushing green pistachios,enticing him.
It was so endearing... the way he lit up at desserts, no one would have guessed the intense appreciation he had for sweets by his stoic demeanor. He took a bite, and his expression melted into delight. “This is exquisite,” he says, genuinely impressed. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
You felt the warmth spread through you at his praise. “I wanted to make something special for you.”
He placed the cookie down and stepped closer, brushing a thumb across your cheek. “You always know how to bring sweetness into my life. Thank you.”
He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss against your lips, and you had felt your heart race with affection. “Let’s enjoy these together, shall we?” he suggested, his eyes sparkling with appreciation and love for you.
Jolyne Cujoh
There was nobody else like Jolyne, at least nobody that you knew. It was so rare to encounter that level of strength and softness in one person, and life with her was better than you could have ever imagined. Your lives were now the picture of domestic bliss, and given the circumstances that had brought you together and all you had fought through, this was the closest to heaven you could come to.
Among her many endearing qualities, Jolyne was fond of citrusy sweets. You’d just finished baking a batch of orange-flavored cookies, their zesty aroma filling the air like a burst of sunshine. The bright color of your confectionery creations seemed to mirror Jolyne’s vibrant personality, and you couldn’t wait for her reaction.
When Jolyne stepped into the kitchen, her expression shifted from curiosity to excitement as she caught the scent. “What’s cooking? It smells incredible!”
You hold up a plate, grinning. “Orange sugar cookies! I thought you might like them.”
She gasps, her eyes lighting up. “You made these for me? Awesome!” She reaches for one, taking a big bite, and her face lights up with delight. “Oh my god, these are amazing!”
“I’m glad you like them!” You laughed, watching her enjoy the cookies. Jolyne leans against the counter, her demeanor playful as she nudges you with her shoulder. “You really get me. It’s like you can read my mind.”
“Just lucky, I guess,” you replied, feeling your heart flutter. She wiped a crumb from her mouth and leaned in closer.
“You’re the best, you know that? Here, try one!” She broke off a piece and playfully fed it to you, kissing you soon after.
Johnny Joestar
The scent of warm apple cinnamon cookies filled the air, wrapping you in a cozy embrace as you took them out of the oven. You’d put so love and care into each one, knowing how much comfort Johnny found in familiar flavors.
When Johnny walked into the kitchen, he stopped in his tracks, his arms wrapping around your waist from behind you “What’s that smell?” he asks, his lips close enough to your esr you can feel his breath on your neck.
“Just some apple cinnamon cookies,” you replied, turning around in his arms, holding the plate in front of him. He looked closer, the sweet scent drawing him in. He picked up a cookie and took a bite, closing his eyes as the flavors hit him.
“These are amazing,” he murmurs, his voice filled with nostalgia. “Reminds me of... simple times.” You smiled, feeling a warmth in your chest. “I thought they might bring back some good memories.”
He glanced at you, a gentle expression coloring his face. “You always know how to lift my spirits. Thank you.” He wraps an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into a gentle embrace. “Let’s enjoy these together,” he says, his tone tender, his touch filled with affection.
Gappy (Josuke 8)
You pulled a tray of soft, chewy mochi cookies from the oven, the aroma wafting through the kitchen, filling it with warmth and comfort. You’ve made them just the way Josuke likes—soft, with a hint of cinnamon.
As you set the cookies on the counter, you heard footsteps approaching. Josuke entered the kitchen, drawn by the inviting scent of freshly baked cookies. His expression shifts from curiosity to joy as he sees the soft, chewy mochi cookies arranged on a plate.
“Did you make these?” he asked, a hint of affection in his voice.
You nodded, smiling. “I know you're rediscovering your palate, so I thought I’d make a batch just for you.”
He picked one up, inspecting it for a moment before taking a bite. His eyes closed in satisfaction as the soft texture melted in his mouth, with hints of cinnamon and chocolate chips blending perfectly.
“These are amazing,” he said, his tone filled with genuine appreciation. “You really know how to spoil me, you know that?”
You laughed, feeling a happy warmth settle in your chest. “Only because you deserve it.”
He looked at you, a soft smile blooming on his handsome face, and reached out to take your hand.
“Thank you. It’s little things like this that make me realize how lucky I am to have you.”
You averted your gaze at the intensity of his, feeling the weight of his words. “I’m just glad you like them.”
Without letting go of your hand, he broke off a piece of cookie and held it up for you. “Here, try it! You’ve got to taste your own masterpiece.”
You smiled and took the bite he offered, kissing his fingertip as you savored the sweetness alongside him. He watched you with a warm gaze, brushing a stray crumb from your lip with his thumb. “You’re the best, you know that?” he said softly as he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to your forehead.
I pretty much passed out last night after posting this to insta, haha. In the spirit of Halloween and Diwali or Diwaliween (lame I know, but how often does this happen?) I have Hades and Persephone Bri and Giorno. And Giorno in a sherwani 🤭
Happy Diwaliween from the Giovannas, k I need to go back to bed lol.
The Beguiling (Hades! Don Giorno x Persephone! Fem! Reader)
This concept has been on my mind for the longest time. This is loosely based off the lore of Hades and Persephone, set in a modern mafia AU, with Giorno as Hades and the reader as Persephone. 🥺💖🐞
“The truth of the matter I believe to be this. There is, as I stated at first, no absolute right or wrong in love, but everything depends upon the circumstances, to yield to a bad man in a bad way is wrong, but to yield to a worthy man in a right way is right.”
- Plato, Symposium
Being the Don of a mafia is a difficult task, being so far removed from everyone and everything else. Some would even say, its like being part of an entirely different realm…
Extremely beautiful but entirely unapproachable, Giorno didn’t appear in public very often, the burden of running the organization had brought many threats to his safety. Granted, he was able to thwart any plan to even remotely harm him, but one doesn’t have time for such annoyances when you wield as much power as he did. Taking over something so big at such a young age changes a person, and Giorno was no different, he was always seen as aloof and calculating, but there were other dimensions to his character that he was painfully aware of, but would not reveal to anyone else… yet.
“Don Giovanna, are you ready to go? The driver is ready for us,” his consigliere spoke in an even, respectful tone while addressing his don.
“Yes, we can leave, have you informed Fugo of the change in our plans?” Giorno’s voice was monotonous, soft and polite, but conveyed no emotion. The task at hand today was not a pleasant one… he hated having to deal with defectors and had avoided it up until this point. This case was different… the defector in question was your brother. You had always held a special place in his heart ever since he encountered you upon taking over Passione. You were always kind towards him, and all your conversations had brought about a sense of peace within himself. Nonetheless, he dismissed it as a simple juvenile crush, and continued with his mammoth task of remolding the diseased organization, excising the ‘tumors’ to allow for a healthier, better, stronger Passione to emerge. Sacrificing his youth, his personal life and precious friends in order to attain his dream, he was not going to let anyone destroy everything he had worked so hard to create.
As the years went on, there were many times that your path had unwittingly crossed with the young don’s which only intensified his feelings for you, but given the nature of his lifestyle, he tried to convince himself that loving you from afar would be good enough, but Giorno’s resolve- unshakeable in every other scenario- was quickly waning in this regard.
Meeting with your father was painful, his demeanor reminding Giorno of a shadowed figure from his past who had changed his life forever.
“He’ll have to be dealt with, you understand this, correct?”
“I’m aware of this, Don Giovanna. I… I’m willing to take any punishment you see fit… please keep my daughter out of this… I can stake my life on her innocence in all of this,” your father spoke emphatically, desperate to protect you, appealing to the don’s humanity. Giorno furrowed his eyebrows, surely your father knew he wouldn’t harm you in any way- was it normal for people to be this terrified of him? The sharp slam of a door and a greeting from a honeyed voice snapped Giorno from his thoughts.
“I’m home, I hope you’re hungry, I’m making octopus salad, squid ink risotto and I’ve got chocolate fondants for dessert… oh goodness! Don Giovanna- I’m sorry… I, um…” you stuttered embarrassingly as your gaze landed on the blonde’s handsome face and shifted to the ground immediately. Before Giorno could answer you to try and quell your discomfort, your father interjected, sending you away from the room. The young don was completely awestruck by your ethereal beauty, as if you had been crafted by the gods themselves, descended to create joy in an otherwise dull world. He made a silent promise to himself- he had to have you as his own.
“(Y/n), please give us a moment piccolina, I’ll come to you as soon as we have concluded our meeting,”
“Of course, please pardon my interruption,” with a small nod of your head, you took your leave, wanting to start making the dishes you had just rattled off. As you busied yourself with your preparations, your mind kept returning to Giorno, he was always calm and pleasant, but you hadn’t seen him with that kind of expression before. The fact that you hadn’t seen your brother in days didn’t bode well with today’s events… you hoped he was okay, but you experienced first-hand how aggressive he could be, something, you were told, he had shared with your mother. You didn’t have much of a relationship with her as her job had taken her away from the family a bit too much. You understood now that you were a young adult, but your emotions still vacillated between acceptance and resentment when you observed the families of your friends.
“You know… because of the difference in our ages, you’ve always told me that you cared for me as a father would care for a son, as a result, our relationship has always been cordial… its allowed us to speak frankly as we have always done in the past,”
“Yes, Don Giovanna… this is true.”
“Please, I’ve told you many times before, call me Giorno…”
“Alright… Giorno,”
“Good, good, see? That sounds better already. As I was saying before, if your affections for me run that deep… accept me as a son-in-law and allow me to marry (y/n) and you will never have to worry about her safety again. Nobody would ever think to harm her if they have to contend with me first,”
“What? Are you asking for permission to marry my daughter? I don’t think she has even considered something like that… you’ve barely spoken to each other…” your father was battling to make sense of Giorno’s request, if one could even call it a request.
“I don’t think you understand the situation you’re in… your son has singlehandedly created a colossal mess; we’d be in the middle of a turf war if it wasn’t for the quick thinking of my consigliere. That’s not to say other people wouldn’t want to exact their own personal brand of justice. I can guarantee you though, if she’s under my care, none of those things will ever reach her.” Just as the consigliere was about to speak, perhaps, an attempt to rationalize with the don, a sharp sideward glance from the latter had left all suggestions unspoken. The silence in the room was palpable… uncomfortable, until it was broken by Giorno.
“I’ve loved (y/n) for as long as I’ve known her, the best place for her would be with me, my strength is unparalleled… this is probably a lot to take in right now, I’ll allow you some time to come around to the idea, I’d hate to have to take her by force, but, if that’s what it will take…”
“Are you threatening me Don Giovanna?” asked your father with a restrained bite to his voice.
“Of course not, I’m merely making my intentions clear, my reach spans well beyond anything you could ever imagine… well, I’ve said all I need to in this instance. I’ll be back for her in three days, I trust you’ll be able comply with my suggestion. I’ll be taking my leave now.” With a flourish of his cerulean blue coat, Giorno and his consigliere left your home. Your father cursed his position, but there was little he could do about it. Finding you blissfully tinkering in the kitchen, his heart broke, knowing already that this was one of the last times he would be seeing you like this… or at all.
“You don’t agree with what I’m doing, do you, Lorenzo? You know I’m good at reading people, although you’re not even trying to mask your disdain,” asked Giorno, breaking the silence on the drive home.
“Well, if I’m allowed to speak freely, I don’t think you’re going about this in the right manner. She’s going to be terrified and resentful because you’re effectively abducting her, so in brief, I don’t agree with this at all,”
“Fair enough, and for the record, obviously I’m aware that she’s going to hate me… at first anyway, but she’ll come to understand eventually. Anyway, what’s done is done, in three days, I’ll be bringing home my goddess.” Giorno turned his attention to his phone and with that Lorenzo had backed off, knowing from years of serving Giorno that there was no talking to him when he resolved to do something.
“Father, you’re so quiet… did something happen?” you asked, part of you not wanting to know the answer to that question.
“It’s a mess, but don’t worry about that, I’ll handle it. There is something that I have to speak to you about though… it’s about Don Giovanna, he would like to see you in a few days, nothing serious, just be sure to keep your schedule open for the day,” your father explained, only divulging half the truth of your situation.
“He wants to see me? Do you know why? Have I done something wrong?” you were curious as to what Giorno could possible want with you.
“Of course not dolcezza, he just wants to have a chat with you, I think he’s just making sure that you’re alright… that’s part of why he was here today.
“Oh, alright, I’ll be available. Anyway, dinner’s ready, once you get washed up, we can eat,” you glanced up at your father to see his face contorted in grief. “What’s the matter? I know you don’t like talking about things that have to do with your occupation, but you’ve been like this ever since Don Giovanna left,”
Being too much for him to bear, he pulled you into a vicelike embrace, almost as if you would disappear if he let you go, which was not entirely false. “Aww, it’s okay dad, everything will be fine, come on, the food’s getting cold, you need to eat,” with that, you both ate in a comfortable silence as you always did, before you both retired for the evening.
While you tried to prepare yourself for your “meeting”, your soon to be captor was busy creating your sanctuary, or rather, overseeing the creation of your sanctuary- there was no reason why your surroundings couldn’t be as beautiful as you were, his aim after all was to get you to fall in love with him. Large, glittering mirrors with gilded frames adorned the walls of the hallways that lead to your room. Inside, was everything one could ever hope to have; an extensive closet filled with things that were made especially for you, various trinkets and baubles carefully selected for you, state of the art electronic devices, albeit with restrictions on the amount of things you could access… just for the time being though. If you were to start off as a bird in a cage, it should be a bejeweled cage worthy of a rarity like you.
As it got closer to the time you’d be seeing Giorno, your nerves started increasing exponentially, you knew that under normal circumstances, having to meet with someone like him without knowing what the subject matter would be was intimidating, but this feeling was something else altogether. As if something in your gut was telling you to cancel- to run- but you dismissed those feelings, and prepared yourself for the engagement.
“Buonasera cara, you look especially charming this evening…” he greeted you with a velvety voice that masked the true nature of him being there.
“Buonasera Don Giovanna, thank you for the compliment,”
“Shall we leave, (y/n)?”
“Um, okay… I just need to fetch my things and let my father know that I’m leaving…”
“Alright, perfect, actually, would you mind if I followed you? I’d like a quick word with him before we leave,” his expression was so charismatic, you felt guilty for not inviting him inside immediately.
“Of course, I’m sorry, please do come in.” you say as you stepped aside to make room for Giorno to enter. You lead him to the study and went to fetch your coat and purse to go, giving yourself a onceover in the mirror to make sure you were presentable and with that you kissed your father on the cheek and left.
The restaurant that you and Giorno went to was completely empty except for a single table set up for you both and the staff that were going to serve you, you found it odd, but dismissed it as one of the nuances of leading a mafia, privacy was of utmost importance. Ever the gentleman, the young don pulled out your chair for you and seated himself across from you.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me (y/n), I appreciate you taking the time to do so,”
“Of course, although I have to admit, I’m a little confused as to why I’m here,” you say with a nervous titter. The waiter brought a bottle of wine to the table, probably preapproved by Giorno already, and with a small nod, it is poured out into the awaiting glasses for the two of you.
“You will understand soon enough cara, come, lets toast to something… ah! To new beginnings…” he suggested with a sardonic smile.
“New beginnings? Okay… to new beginnings, salute!” with a confused smile and a delicate clink of your glasses you both took a sip of your wine. As the night went on, you were having a wonderful time, however, it seemed like your alcohol was getting to you faster than usual.
“Are you alright, cara, you look a bit out of sorts, come, I’ll take you home,”
“Thanks Don, I… I’m sorry I don’t know-” before completing the rest of your sentence, your consciousness faded and you fell into a strong pair of arms. Giorno sat you back down and made a quick call to his driver before picking you up again and placing you in the awaiting car to take you to your new home. As he gazed lovingly upon your face, he knew that the road is going to be a tedious one, but you would love him one day.
Your head pounded incessantly as you tried to open your eyes. The sensations on your skin were unfamiliar- soft, silken, so inviting, lulling you back into the deep slumber you were trying to break. Was this a dream? Your eyes finally opened to an unfamiliar room, you gathered the courage to sit up in bed, still unsure if you were in a dream or not and tried to rub the sleep out of your eyes. Looking around the room, feeling a sense of panic enveloping your very existence, you ran towards the large, ornately carved door to try and leave the room, but it was locked. The windows, it seemed, were crafted from reinforced glass as they would not break regardless of what was thrown at them. Left with only one option, you began to cry out for help, surely someone would be there, it was too well kept to be an abandoned building.
Listening to the commotion from outside the room were the guards and servants tasked with making sure your requests were fulfilled, but more importantly, they needed to ensure you were safe and didn’t escape. Giorno had a way with people, a charisma that both scared and enchanted those around him. Disobedience was not even a fleeting option for those who served him, partly out of fear, but mostly out of devotion to the young don. Giving each other a knowing glance, your guard decided to call his boss to come and subdue you before you had hurt yourself.
Your throat felt raw from the shouting and hyperventilating, your skin shimmered, veiled in a thin layer of sweat and your eyes shifted this way and that, trying to spot something you could exploit to leave the room while your captor was away. It dawned on you that as terrifying as it was to be in that place, it would be even worse if you had to face whoever was holding you there, choosing rather to contend with the fear of the unknown, than putting a face to your jailor. As if even thinking of something willed it into existence, your worst nightmare materialized as you heard the door being unlocked.
“Tesoro… please stop, you’re hurting yourself,” your eyes widened when you heard the velvety voice addressing you with such tenderness.
“Don… Giovanna? Where am I? What are you doing here? Please, I need to go home, I don’t know who brought me here…” you could barely articulate yourself with your shaky voice.
“I know that you’re extremely scared and confused… there’s so much I need to explain to you… but please, first, let me look at your hands, you are hurt, I can take care of that,” it was only after he spoke that you saw the bruises blooming on the delicate skin of your hands and arms. You still stayed rooted to where you were, but Giorno inched closer, materializing GE to heal your injuries. His heart stung when you silently grimaced at the pain of his ability rejoining the blood vessels that had broken, but he hated seeing your beautiful skin being marred like that.
“Don…”
“Please, call me Giorno…”
“Okay… Giorno… can we go now? I need to go home, if we stay any longer the people who put me here might come back or send others, I…”
“Tesoro… this is your home now… the person who brought you here was me… what is the last thing you remember from yesterday?” The young don circled around you and sat you down next to him at the foot of the bed.
“Why? Why did you bring me here? Are you insane? I can’t stay here, I… don’t understand what the hell is going on! I need to call my father,” seeing you start to get agitated again, Giorno pulled out his phone and motioned for you to take it.
“Here, call him, he has already agreed to this arrangement. You’re not safe my love, I’m sure you know about the recent transgressions courtesy of your cretin of a brother. People are angry and want revenge, and unfortunately you’re in the direct line of fire. So it was decided that you would come and live with me, you’ll find all your belongings here already, mixed with things that I believe you would like. I will give you anything your heart desires, lavish you with all the love and attention I can. All you need to do is stay here… near me… nobody can challenge me…”
You heard the words, but nothing was making sense to you. You decided to take up your captor’s offer to speak to your father, who confirmed his entire story. Feeling dejected, empty and completely alone, you sank to the floor as violent sobs wracked your body. Seeing you in this state filled Giorno with dread as he lifted you off the lushly carpeted floor, but he knew he would be able to get you to love him eventually. This was this the initial shock; he was willing to wait for you to acclimate to your surroundings.
Thus began your life of isolation… your routine, if you could even call it that, consisted of waking up in your palatial room, begrudgingly having breakfast with your green-eyed abductor and sulking around for the rest of the day. Giorno put a lot of effort into making sure that you were comfortable and tried to interact with you as much as his schedule would allow him to. Initially, all of his attempts to speak to you were ignored, you wondered if the awkward silence even bothered him at all, but he always had a peaceful expression on his face. If nothing else, he was very patient with you, and at times you tested his patience on purpose, goading him to anger, in those times though, he simply left you alone in your room, not allowing you to leave for a few days, instructing your handlers to confiscate your electronics, not even offering you a sliver of human contact… you needed to think about why you were in that position after all, so there could be no distractions whatsoever. Those isolation periods would thankfully not last long enough to tip you over the edge though, and like a ray of sunshine after a storm, he’d come to unlock your doors and add color back into your world. You always were more affectionate towards him after a few days on your own, which, you reasoned, was due to the lack of any interaction at all as opposed to having any genuine feelings towards him. Giorno wasn’t picky though, he accepted your gentle touches and embraces all the same, one day… soon… you would undertake those gestures solely on your desire to do so.
Surely enough, as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, you had warmed up to him, settling into an oddly satisfying domestic life with the don. The more of yourself you gave to him, the wider your world had gotten, until you eventually had free reign over the entire estate. You soon had come to realize that if you had just played your part, and listened to him, complied with his simple requests, his kindness towards you was limitless. Giorno had remained as attentive as ever, picking up on every little change on you from the subtle change in the color of your blush to the miniscule changes in the length of your hair after its trimmed, nothing escaped his well trained eye. He beamed when you started to wear the clothes and jewels he bought for you, seeing it as a sign that you were slowly starting to accept him. The truth of the situation was that you had, against your better judgement, fallen in love with this living deity.
“Giorno… the weather’s warming up quite beautifully, why don’t we train outdoors from now on instead of working out inside?” you suggested while you kneeled on the bed behind a seated Giorno as you undid his elaborate hairstyle and brushed out the product from his hair before he took a shower.
“Hmmm… alright bella, I suppose we could do that, I’m sure the fresh air would do us both some good,” as he got up, he bent down to place a chaste kiss on your forehead before heading into the shower. For a fleeting moment, you thought about your old life, you had earned back the liberty to speak to your family, well, your father, and some friends, but the fractured relationships weren’t the same. Pushing those negative feelings to the back of your mind, you waited for Giorno so that you could both go to sleep, but your heavy eyelids fell shut. His patience with you was never more evident than in these moments, never once overstepping your boundaries or initiating intimacy that would make you feel uncomfortable. Emerging to see your sleeping form, he pulled up the covers around you and climbed into the other side of the bed, facing you, he clutched your hands in his, allowing himself to close his eyes as well.
“We’ve managed to locate her… you aren’t going to like this though,”
“Just tell me where my daughter is, I’ll decide the rest,” your mother spoke bluntly to her partner.
“She’s living with some mafia boss; I think he’s her boyfriend or something. You never see her out on her own, she’s always with him. I’ve got people watching your husband’s house, she’s only been there once, with the cocky bastard in tow. The security at his place is insane, worst of all, we think he’s a stand user,”
“Stand user? Don’t make me laugh, that means nothing, we’re stand users too, every ability has a weakness that can be exploited,” your mother lit a cigarette and took a long drag, musing on what her first move should be. After a moment of contemplation, she had her sights set on her old marital home, deciding that your father would be able to provide the most complete description of what is going on. She portrayed a nonchalant exterior, but your mother was very worried for your safety. She had a powerful stand of her own, in fact all the members of your family were powerful stand users- except you. Your mother worked closely with a foreign organization dedicated to studying supernatural phenomena as such, most of her time was divided between her travels on behalf of the organization and work that she would need to do onsite at their headquarters in Washington. Over her lifetime, she’s found herself in many precarious positions, so she decided it would be safer if she stayed away from the family in an attempt to keep everyone safe… upon hindsight, that was a fatal miscalculation. To describe her mood after speaking to your father as livid, would be an understatement.
Not wasting a moment, your mother called her associate and made her way to the don’s villa, hell-bent on taking you back from his dark clutches.
“Bella, are you ready to go?” Giorno called to you as he pulled on his coat while you put on your last accessory. You never turned down an opportunity to go out, even though your outings became slightly more frequent, you were completely captivated by discovering the different facets to Giorno’s personality. As much as he was fervently observing you and curating an ideal world tailored to you, you were learning a lot about him and the circumstances that fashioned him in this manner.
“Yes tesoro, sorry for keeping you waiting… what is it?” you were met by a wide-eyed Giorno, and it hit you… Tesoro… the name trickled so effortlessly off your lips, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t really thinking…”
“Don’t apologize amore, as long as it’s you, I don’t mind…” he softly replied, as he stroked your cheek with the back of his forefinger. You heard a faint clatter accompanied by the ring of Giorno’s phone, informing him that there had been a security breach. The soft expression on his face was gone, as he gripped you with a protective arm.
Before you had time to ask him what was going on, you heard your name being called out by a voice you barely remembered, one you didn’t think you’d hear again.
“Mother?” your voice was a whisper. Your mother looked at you, disdain skewing her features before turning her attention to Giorno, whose grip continued to tighten around you.
“(y/n), I’ve come to take you away from here, it’s obvious leaving you in the care of your father was a mistake. And you, step away from her this instant, you will regret it if you don’t,”
You hadn’t noticed the swarm of black suits that had surrounded you all, ready to pounce at Giorno’s command. His intense gaze had not left your face while your mother spoke, searching for the slightest tell indicating you might have known about this, but you were just as perplexed as he was… the guilt of him doubting you twisting his features even further.
“It’s alright, stand down men… while you really have a nerve of breaking into my property, I feel that this can be solved amicably, I’d hate for (y/n) to have to contend with any discord between us,” he spoke with a calm, even voice but that didn’t match the fury brewing in his eyes.
“Amicable? You take my daughter away from her home and you still feel like this is something that can be talked out of? You really are a piece of work!”
“Better to be the overbearing lover than the neglectful mother…” Giorno’s tone was dripping with cynicism as he handed you to one of your awaiting guards.
“You sick bastard!” your mother cried out. As if being pushed back by a glowing force that you couldn’t quite discern, the young don was thrown backwards. You hated feeling so powerless. Giorno sat up and smiled mockingly, before launching into an attack of his own you assumed, as you saw a similar golden glow envelop his body, and the bodies of the security personnel backing him up.
“Please, stop it! All of you!” you wanted to run out between them but you were restrained by your guard. It didn’t take long for Giorno and his men to restrain your mother and her associate, taking care to leave them largely unharmed while you were still present. Giorno had made one fatal error though… blame it on overconfidence or his need to constantly check on you, he had turned away and left himself wide open for a last ditch attack from your mother as she broke free. At that very moment, your body moved itself before you could even think, and faster than you ever thought possible, pushing him out of the way with only a second to spare, as the attack hit the very spot he had stood on just a moment before, shattering the marble flooring on contact. The room was enveloped in silence, Giorno motioned for his guards to leave the room, as did your mother to her partner.
“(y/n) … tesoro mio… are you okay? You… you saved me…” he said as he kneeled next to your shaking, winged form, combing his hands through your hair as he tried to get a look at your face. You looked up to see Giorno with a wide eyed golden figure hovering over him, approaching you was your mother, with a luminescent humanoid woman matching her footsteps.
“Tesoro, it seems you’re a stand user after all,” mentioned Giorno, still gazing at you, this time with an expression you hadn’t seen from him before. Completely overwhelmed by the recent events, you sat for a moment, trying to regulate your breathing with the exercises Giorno practiced with you when your anxiety overwhelmed you.
“So these are what stands are… they look terrifying…” you say, finally managing to normalize your breathing and take command of your senses once again. “where is my stand then? I presume these two figures belong to you and mother.”
“Yours is different amore… are you able to walk? Come with me…” Giorno lead you to one of the mirrors so you could see how your stand manifested; you had large wings that had sprouted from your back, your eyes glowed colorlessly, and you had luminescent geometric patterns running down your face and body, akin to the patterns you would find on a circuit board. “You have what is known as a phenomenon stand, this means that it changes your body rather than manifesting a separate entity,”
“I see…”
“We can figure out the extent of your abilities another time, for now I need to see those injuries,”
“Excuse me? You’re not doing anything further with her, I’m still serious about taking back (y/n),” interjected your mother sarcastically.
“Are you trying to anger me on purpose? I loathe having to repeat myself. Do not mistake my unwillingness to kill you this very instant on anything other than respect for (y/n),”
“Likewise…”
“You’re both so selfish!” surprised to hear you raise your voice that much, both parties were stunned to silence.
“I’m a person with my own will, I have feelings, thoughts, desires, dreams… but neither of you bother to consider any of that… Giorno, you essentially abducted me, under the ruse of protecting me, I’m sure you would have found a way to keep me safe while I lived my own life, if it was that important to you, but you weren’t interested in that… if you had just approached me like a normal person, I’d still have fallen for you… well I guess now we’ll never know … And you… mother- I use that term liberally- abandoned me… abandoned us, I don’t care what the reasons were, you left me to grow up without a mother, and now you come here and ridicule me with this dramatic display of affection,” your voice began to crack but you wouldn’t let them see you cry, not so soon after finally finding your voice, so you left them there and went off to your special spot in the far corner of the estate. You knew that Giorno created that little piece of heaven for you strategically, as it was visible from his study, but it served as your safe place, and it was what you needed right now.
Giorno’s mind was clouded and he felt an uncomfortable suffocating sensation in his chest. Glancing at your mother it was apparent that your emotional outpouring had affected her as well.
“I think its best if you leave,”
“Wait, Giorno… perhaps this approach wasn’t the best way to do this, I underestimated you…”
“For the sake of curiosity, what do you propose?”
“That’s going to depend on how you answer my next question…”
“For someone with as few options as you have, you’re incredibly brazen,” shot back Giorno, clearly becoming tired of the conversation.
“I spoke to her father before coming here… he told me about my son… is… is he dead?” speaking earnestly this time, your mother steeling herself for what the young don would say to her. He observed her intently, debating whether it would be safe to divulge any information to her.
“That’s classified information,” he said, knowing full well that the idiot was alive somewhere, unable to be a threat to anyone again, unfortunately he couldn’t divulge this information to anyone. If she was smart enough she would be able to figure it out for herself, any more than that he could not offer.
“I understand… Fine, I’ll back off, (y/n) can stay here… but I need to speak to her, to explain everything, when she’s ready though…”
Giorno contemplated for a moment, feeling oddly moved by the change in your mother’s demeanor, he found himself agreeing with her, “Fine… I’ll allow it, but I can’t have you here, never again, if you need to see her, we’ll come to you… if that’s all, I need to check on (y/n)” Your mother took her leave, thoughts of the bizarre events of the day dominating her thoughts.
You listlessly played with the water in the fountain you sat beside, eyeing the way the sunshine made the droplets that fell from your fingertips look like gems. Hearing the scrunching sound of grass being stepped on, you knew that Giorno was approaching you. Unwilling to turn around to face him, you continued to look at the water.
“May I sit with you?” his voice was tender and didn’t match his imposing figure. Looking up his striking face, framed by golden waves, you nodded wordlessly.
“Talk to me cara…”
“What do you want me to say?”
“What’s on your mind…”
You paused, thinking carefully before starting to speak. “There’s so much on my mind… I… I just can’t understand you. You bring me here under the most dubious circumstances, but treat me like I’m the center of your world. I want to hate you for taking me away from my world, but I’ve never felt as loved by anyone in that world as much as I do here with you. How can you look at me with eyes so gentle now, when those same eyes were ready to kill not even two hours ago? How am I supposed to make up my mind about you when your every action contradicts the next?”
“It’s simple bella… I love you… you’re above the rules I set for everyone else… my one weakness is you, I’m sorry, I just don’t know how else to be, it’s either everything or nothing. Perhaps, forget about what you think and focus on how you feel… You know, we aren’t that different, the two of us… so many parents between us and barely enough traits among them to make up one good guardian, having to basically raise ourselves, so much pressure from such a young age, being scared of what lurks in the dark, experiencing so much physical pain, you just become immune to it. I have to admit, I was jealous of that brave assault by your mother, I don’t know if anyone would do the same for me… except you of course… you almost died to get me out of harm’s way… and just when I thought I couldn’t love you any more than I do…”
The gentle way he cupped your chin, as if you were made of crystal, and the swirl of emotion in his eyes, compelled you to act on your impulses, kissing him passionately, releasing some of the pent up emotions and frustrations that have been building up for the longest time. His free hand curled itself around your waist, while your hands tangled themselves in his hair. Resting your forehead on his, you hear him murmuring affirmations of his love for you.
“I love you too, Gio,” the words just rolled off your tongue as if you were always meant to say them. Giorno, seemingly moved by your placid declaration, buried his face in your hair, inhaling the floral scent of your shampoo that he loved so much. What you didn’t see was the sardonic smile blooming on his handsome face. He always was a master at deception… although, it couldn’t be classified as deception if most of what he said was true… could it? He didn’t want to play the sympathy card today, but it was the only way he could firmly cement your place with him for good. Pulling away for a moment, looking at the love-struck expression on your face as you softly move your hand from his hair to his chest, he could see that you were finally complete- entirely devoted to him… there was no room for guilt this time.
