the gods torment me (and they do with you, too) - diego & hot pants
where diego and hot pants deserve more than their traumas have given them, and how they search for things they’ve lost within one another. (1391 words)
(i finished steel ball run and i really wasn’t expecting any of these emotions to rise!! love part 7!!! big stan!!)
It was a quiet night. A night where it felt like time had stopped in its tracks to appreciate the silence the world held in its magnificent scope - no stars twinkled in the vast sky, and Hot Pants noted that no clouds float absentmindedly like it usually would, feeling herself shiver slightly as she pulled the blanket closer to herself. The small shift in her body caused Diego to turn his face up from where he was - on her lap, looking unimpressed what she just did. A blanket was also tightly curled up on his body, with him feeling the effects of the cold far more than Hot Pants could; he shared reptilian traits such as cold-bloodedness despite being human, relying on the dying campfire next to him and the warmth of Hot Pants’ body.
“You’re cold?” He asked incredulously, a scoff escaping his throat. “Go get some more wood. Get the fire burning again,” Diego remarked sharply in his cold, condescending tone (he was always vocal about anything he was discontent about, Hot Pants knew for she only had these types of interactions with him, after all - and she sighed a long sigh inwardly, knowing that camping with him would only lead to curt conversations like this), starting to look away from Hot Pants as he shifted away from her body so she could stand up. She immediately puts her cold hand on Diego’s shoulder to prevent him from moving any further, causing the man to pause for a moment and stare up at her with those calculating eyes again.
(she wondered if there was a moment in diego’s life where his eyes were ever gentle, his words delicate and soft.)
“It’s okay. I’m not cold,” she almost whispered (Hot Pants did not understand why her voice was so hushed in the first place), “Stay. I know you’re colder than me right now.”
As Diego’s eyes widened and his face flushed, her own expression became one of bewilderment.
(she was reminded of her own brother, whose face was always so easy to fluster and catch off-guard. it suddenly became so painfully easy to draw parallels between a man like diego and her brother - would her brother grow up to be a kind man if he was to live? or would he had lived in hatred as diego did, his judgemental, critical eyes equating to the weight of hot pants’ many sins that burdened her ever since she threw him out so willingly? would anything have been the same if he was alive? the monologue in her head buzzed, as if a dam had broke and flooded in the repressed thoughts of her mind that haunted her so, a train about to hit her like a deer in the headlights, the moment of fear she felt when she returned to the village alone, by herself, without her brother, his blood trickling down her leg and all over her hands despite it being her own blood-)
“Perceptive too, huh?” the jockey commented - his tone sounding mocking (even if he was praising her), moving his frame closer to Hot Pants’ own again.
The girl said nothing at first, her face blank as she looked into Diego’s eyes - the both of them held each other’s tense gaze for a moment, until Hot Pants uttered out: “Why are we doing this?”
Upon hearing her question, even Diego did not know how to answer. Although it wasn’t her intention to, Hot Pants’ stare seemed to antagonize him - even a man like Diego broke away from the fierce eye contact she was able to uphold, the words caught in his throat despite how sharp he could be. Hot Pants felt him relax in her slight hold, his stray, blonde locks incidentally stroked her skin as he got comfier there. She noted that the fistful of the fabric of his blanket had loosened slightly, no longer tense as he was before.
Diego was never subtle, and Hot Pants doubted that he would ever be so. That was just the feeling that resonated with her when their paths crossed.
“It was best to team up for now, remember?” the man replied simply, “It’s cold, we’re in a pretty shitty place for the Race, you almost suffocated me with Cream Starter if I didn’t cooperate with you to get the corpse parts together today-”
The pink-haired woman exhaled out of her nose in exasperation. “I did.”
(hot pants knew that her main question wasn’t answered, but she had felt like that was a sufficient answer enough to keep her satisfied.)
Falling into another comfortable silence, Hot Pants looked down at Diego - it was more of an inspection than admiration. The blonde hair that splayed across her thighs seemed coarse and rough, as expected from jockeys like him. None of them had been able to enjoy a shower for weeks now - there wasn’t enough time to mull on those things. And yet, the smell of fresh earth and blood that Diego had on him created a strange sense of solace within Hot Pants, as if his presence had grounded her whole into the situation she placed herself in. Without thinking about it, her hand had subconsciously come up to immerse in Diego’s hair, gently pulling out all the knots and dirt that was on his hair. He only continued to stay silent in response, both of them as if in a moment of a freeze frame.
(diego felt his mother’s fingers thread through his hair again, relishing at the moment for a little, even if it was temporary.)
“Diego… what is your true objective?” Hot Pants started after a moment of her just running her fingers through Diego’s hair. “Why are you collecting the corpse parts?” Her eyes continued to stare into the distance, the space seemingly endless as no light reflected back into her eyes other than the faint campfire that glowed in defiance of the night.
The question had set a trigger in Diego, Hot Pants suddenly feeling his body constricting into himself and the snarl in his throat (Hot Pants had Cream Starter in her pocket already, now alarmed at the set of teeth that was bared for violence in front of her) “Do I have to humor you?” His sharp tongue lashed out, a barrage of insults seemingly building up within himself (but he knew that he was vulnerable, he was being too soft). “This contract is a one-time thing. I don’t need to disclose any details with you.”
“I want him to forgive me.”
The vague answer that dropped out of Hot Pants’ mouth piqued Diego’s interest, her voice so filled with grief.
(there were too many emotions going on at one within hot pants’ mind, and she didn’t understand why she was opening up to a mere stranger either. she bore so much, and the burden never got any lighter.)
“I just simply want God to forgive me,” there was an emptiness in her violet eyes when Diego turned around to look at her expression, her hand no longer stroking Diego’s coarse hair. “That’s why I’m here. That’s why I need to get the corpse parts so desperately.”
“Pitiful.”
That was the word that Diego had uttered out upon hearing her convictions, for he thought that was the most fitting description that could be formed. Hot Pants had expected this answer as well - for she simply just chuckled shallowly and stroked Diego’s hair again, finding the feeling of running her fingers through his hair repetitive and soothing.
(and when diego peered closer at her, he knew hot pants was a person who had only known how to live with regrets pulling her down.)
As he pushed his body closer to Hot Pants and his head nuzzling her stomach, all Diego said was: “For as long as I live, the gods will never know the sound of my forgiveness.”
(diego felt his childhood rushing back as the warmth of hot pants’ body seeped into his, for it was the closest thing he had as a mother at this moment.)
The silence now settled for good, Diego falling into a dreamless slumber as Hot Pants continued to stay on guard and caressed his hair gently. As time moved forward, the quiet night had consumed them - both waiting for dawn to approach to make them feel whole again.
baby’s first time writing for jojo... really adore this series, so i had to write something for it sooner or later!! here’s to you stone ocean, you really broke my heart - spoilers below for part 6!
---
The first time Jotaro Kujo held his daughter in his arms, he wept.
Jolyne Kujo (that was his last name on her name, that was his daughter) had been crying in her nurse’s arms, unable to tide the baby over from crying so loudly. With a slightly alarmed look in Jotaro’s eyes, he quickly approached her to take Jolyne away from her. Through a series of awkward swaying and shushing from his side, the tiny baby (she was so small, so fragile compared to him) started to quiet down, her eyes still closed shut as the small tears from the corner of her eyes dried away.
As Jotaro continued to stare at her, he did not know how to feel as Jolyne drifted away into slumber – her face contented at last in her father’s arms as the man tried hard to decipher her expression. Her undisturbed face was a reminder of all the peace the world still had, how the world was still salvageable and everything was alright. She represented almost everything that he had not known for so long – at the very age of 17, he was already on a quest to kill one of the most notorious, cruel men known to mankind. At the age of 17, he looked Death in its eyes various times, barely taking a breather at any moment in his life.
At the age of 17, he lost so many dear people to his heart, his sense of innocence shattered as he was exposed to the horrors of the world he inhabited.
Yet here he was, holding possibly one of the purest beings in his arm right now. Everything she was, Jotaro was not.
And he wept - for the first time in such a long while.
His legs were growing tired from standing, and Jotaro cradled Jolyne further into his arms as he felt her face rubbing against his coat. He hoped it was out of comfort, for Jotaro Kujo was never known to be a tender man to anyone in his life. Settling himself onto the hospital chair nearby, his tears finally dropped onto Jolyne’s chubby cheeks. The white blanket she was swaddled in soon turned blurry, and his vision unfocused (Star Platinum always assured him that he can see everything with exact precision – yet, why was a simple child creating such an effect on him?).
Could he be a good father- hell, could he even be a father at all? Jotaro did not know, and he cursed himself for this. His own father was not even present for most of his life – he could’ve even said he never had a father at all. He was never present in Jotaro’s life – what did a touch of a father even feel like, he asked himself? Jotaro did not hate his dad, far from it – in fact, he couldn’t care less about him. He never blamed him for not being present in his life – his mother was a blessing from the Gods themselves, Jotaro reminisced – but right now, somewhere in his heart, he felt like he did as the tears started to trickle down.
Jolyne deserved the world – no, the universe – everything. She was his everything, and he pondered if he could ever be hers. He wanted to do anything for her – he would go through hell again just for Jolyne – but even so, could he? The Speedwagon Foundation depended on him heavily, the weight of the world burdened on his shoulders due to the powers he had in the past. Everything was down to him to resolve, his duties continued to pile up on one another as time passed. There were pressing issues he still had to handle in Morioh and an alarming emergence of a blonde young boy in Italy possibly being related to DIO… he couldn’t just leave everything behind for her. He knew that the moment Jolyne was born.
But he wanted to so desperately.
Jolyne was so young. She just arrived in this world – yet he knows that she would face many troubles and conflicts in this world. That is the fate of a Joestar – and he was in pain knowing that it would be inevitable for Jolyne to fight against the same things he has, and perhaps even worse. Jotaro wishes nothing but a thriving childhood for her, a peaceful teenage life, and adulthood where she does not have to face with the burdens he had to bear. He wishes that she wouldn’t have to face the losses that he had, the troubles he bore, the fate he was destined to take. Her hands were not stained with blood like he was, her white blanket not stained like his own coat.
It was too risky to be involved in her life. It was best to stay out of his daughter’s life – she should never be involved with the legacy and burdens DIO had left behind during his time reborn. All of this was to keep her safe. Jotaro was a good father, right?
“I’ll protect you from all harm,” he promised her, looking at her so softly as if Jotaro thought she understood what he had said.
(He knew that he could never be a good father to Jolyne.)
But in that very moment, Jotaro Kujo would hold his daughter tightly as he gently wept onto her face, the tears silently trickling down his face like a strained stream.
---
A rain of knives fell down upon Jolyne, the unsuspecting girl taking the brunt of the impact as Jotaro screamed in realization.
“Two steps. You were late by two steps...”
He did not know whether to feel fear, panic, or despair.
(Perhaps it was all at once.)
“The Joestar bloodline drew strength from their pride and courage to conquer their fate…”
Wading through the ocean in a desperate attempt to protect Jolyne from further attacks, anger clouded his judgment as he summoned Star Platinum in spite of his original plans - there was a flurry of punches through towards Pucci.
“But!”
Every punch Jotaro threw Pucci seemed to dodge flawlessly, Jotaro growing wearier as his previous injuries weighed him down heavily, his sight less focused as anger fueled his body.
“The weakness is also in their blood...”
(Jotaro hesitated for a moment.)
“Jotaro Kujo… your daughter is your weakness.”
The chilling words of Pucci rang in his head as the priest emerged behind him in the ocean, the thoughts starting to run uncontrollably in his head as Jotaro’s eyes widened for a split moment-
The impact was instantaneous, his eyes still wide open while Emporio wailed wildly in despair. In just a second, Jotaro’s head split in two as he collapsed into the ocean, his thoughts that were in complete haywire suddenly ceased to exist any longer.
But in the split second when he was alive, Jotaro was reminded of the moment he cradled baby Jolyne in his hands so tenderly in that time, whispering a promise he failed to fulfill.
And even if he had been able to shed a single tear, it would have been lost to the vast ocean that swallowed him whole - uncaring of the blood that has been shed for it treated everyone the same.
71) we were hanging out at a board game cafe and when we came out, the first snow of the season was falling and you look so cute with snowflakes in your hair
for @ma-r-th, who’s been a really cool friend with a sense of humor i really dig. it’s only been a while but i wish nothing but happiness for you in the following years, and success as well! appreciate ya!!
As the months passed alongside your best friend, you realized something.
You found yourself happiest while around Yosuke Hanamura.
The two of you were practically inseparable.
To be able to spend time with him during the winter break had brought you more joy than you thought it would – through a progression of time, you felt yourself growing closer and closer to this orange-haired dork. You two would end up texting the entire night, the faint glow of the phone illuminating against the soft expression you always held while talking to Yosuke. These conversations would last hours upon hours – and at one point during midnight, you two had excitedly shared plans to come meet each other at the board game café that had recently opened – the soft buzzing of your phone a representation of how eager you were already to meet him again.
And when tomorrow came, bundled in your coat and scarf, it came to no surprise to you when you saw the lovable idiot rushing up to you upon being late. Unable to contain your laughter, you chuckled when you saw how out of breath he was when running up to you with such energy despite how cold it was here. But nonetheless, Yosuke had let out his signature, sheepish grin upon seeing your mirthful expression – and pulled you right into a hug.
Your laughter had ceased almost immediately, your eyes widening at the sudden action he made – it took you a while to respond, but you wrapped your arms around him eventually (the red on your face had made it hard to think). But even so, you managed a cheeky response:
“Missed me that much already?”
A soft chuckle. Arms were pulled away from you gently, with him looking shyly away to the ground. Hands came up to scratch the back of his head.
“I couldn’t wait to see you, y’know?”
Through the cold, you didn’t know it was possible to feel hot in such weather like this.
“Y-You big sap. C’mon,” you hooked hands with Yosuke to drag him into the café. “Let’s go! It’s so cold out here!”
Sharing more smiles and laughter inside the café, you both thoroughly enjoyed the selection of board games available in the room – profanities were dished out when you two had pulled out the UNO cards, and even more so when you took out the Monopoly Deal cards. It was hilarious seeing Yosuke trying to make sense of other board games that he had never seen in his life ever, with him reading the instructions while you messed around with the cards and figures. And during those quieter moments, you realized what you felt for the boy in front of you.
You were in love.
“Urgh, these board games are too hard – how about one last round of UNO and we finish up our drinks?” Yosuke sighed as he placed the manual on his face, then blowing the piece of paper off from his face through his mouth. You giggled at his response, agreeing to it as you took out the cards and started to shuffle again.
“I’m gonna win against ya, Yosuke.”
“Hah, as if! Loser pays for the drinks!”
After placing down a lethal +4 before claiming your victory against the orange-haired boy, you cheered out in joy as his posture sunk down, but a smile still on his face when he saw how happy you looked. As you called out for the bill, you didn’t notice the gentle expression Yosuke had as he appreciated your cheerful energy.
Now putting on your coat and covering your neck with your scarf again, you waited inside besides the entrance until Yosuke caught up with you again, putting his wallet back inside his inner jacket pocket before smiling at you.
“C’mon, let’s go,” he opened the door, going out first before holding the door open for you. Smiling back at him, you stepped out to realize-
Snow.
A rush of cold air blew against your body, causing you to shiver involuntarily – as the door shut close, the initial wind stopped and you were left with the chilly air outside. But as you turned around, you saw little snowflakes already gently falling on Yosuke’s bright, orange hair.
And with his clueless, adorable face looking right back at you, you couldn’t help but melt at the cute sight in front of you.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on me?” Yosuke started to pat himself down, feeling self-conscious under your curious, adoring look – and you let out a laugh (Yosuke stopped dead in his tracks when he heard it – you sounded so warm, so lovable), bringing your hands out to stop his arms from moving.
And silently, you took one of his hands and laced your fingers together.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go on a walk together, okay?”
And despite himself, Yosuke squeezed your hand back despite his nervousness, feeling shy at your sudden boldness.
