Jonadad Week: Day 4
Alright, here’s Day 4 of @jonadadweek: Father-and-Son Bonding! This one was way longer than I meant it to be but whatever. Enjoy!
Giorno sat silently in the passenger seat of the family’s sedan, holding an ice pack on his bruised knuckles. He glanced over at his father who was driving while talking on the speakerphone with someone. Giorno wasn’t listening to what was being said. It was all being drowned out by the voices in his head.
‘What’s wrong with you? You embarrassed him. How could you do that?’
How did this happen?
-
Giorno lowered his book, raising an eyebrow at his father. Did he really just hear what he thought? “A…a ball?”
His father smiled brightly, nodding. “Yes, the Silver Light Ball takes place every twenty years in the mansion down the way. The Joestars have been attending for centuries.” His father’s eyes were sparkling as he continued to speak. “Erina is out with George and the others so they can’t join us but I think it could still be something fun we can do together.”
Giorno felt a part of himself wither once he realized that his father was 100% serious. He really wanted Giorno to participate in some high-society ball. Giorno knew how to act the part of a gentleman, being raised a Joestar made it second nature. Unfortunately, that was where it ended. He didn’t like attending teas and he certainly didn’t want to attend some ball with a bunch of people who were nothing like his family.
But Giorno saw the shine in his father’s eyes and he knew that his father really wanted him to go. But why? Why did this have to be their fun activity? Why couldn’t they stay in, make popcorn and watch Disney?
“Father…” The shine was still there. “…I don’t believe I…” Giorno wasn’t certain how to finish that. He didn’t want to just straight up say no. Looking at his father, Giorno felt his heart sink when he saw the excitement was replaced with a look of acceptance.
“Giorno.” ‘No.’ “If you don’t want to…” ‘Don’t say it.’ “…you don’t have to.” ‘Please stop.’ “We can do something else.”
Giorno contained the groan that wanted to erupt out of him. There it was. He knew it was true, that this wasn’t an intentional guilt trip and if he said he wasn’t interested, there would be no consequence. So, why? Why did that always get him?
Accepting his fate, Giorno put on his best smile. “…I don’t believe I have something nice enough to wear.”
Any lingering doubt he had in this idea was erased the moment he saw his father’s face light up. He began to ramble on about getting him to the tailor, the delicious food, the beautiful atmosphere. Giorno just smiled as he listened, deciding that it couldn’t be that bad.
-
And that was how Giorno found himself wearing a brand new suit in a brightly lit ballroom surrounded by people who he didn’t know and hoped to never meet again. He saw several teens around his own age and it made him wish that his cousins or friends were here. Then he wouldn’t feel so awkward or he’d at least be distracted by the chaos they would cause. Giorno was a bit embarrassed that he stuck to his father’s side but was grateful that his father didn’t seem to find any problem in it.
“Please meet my son, Giorno.”
Putting on his most charming smile, Giorno kissed the elderly lady’s hand. “A pleasure, ma’am.”
“Oh, such manners. My grandchildren could learn from him,” the woman laughed, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. “As expected of you Joestars.”
Giorno couldn’t deny the swell of pride he felt at that; it only grew when his father gave him an approving pat on the head. Once his father and the woman finished speaking, she left the two to their own devices.
“Giorno.” He looked up at his father who smiled down at him. “Are you having fun?”
Giorno wouldn’t call it fun but it wasn’t nearly as bad as he imagined. “It’s interesting, father. I’ll admit that.”
His father laughed and he opened his mouth to say something else but he stopped. Giorno watched as his father’s expression fell and quickly shifted to one that Giorno had never seen on him before: rage. He took a small step back before looking at whatever his father was looking at.
Walking through a crowd of people was some blond man wearing a bright yellow suit. Everyone who was talking to him seemed enamored and he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Glancing back at his father who didn’t stop glaring, Giorno tapped him on the shoulder. “Father?” When his father looked down at him, the rage faded quickly and was replaced by a strained smile.
“I’m sorry, Giorno. I just…I saw someone who…” He let out an irritated sigh, composing himself. “…who I honestly hoped I would never see again.”
Giorno couldn’t believe it. There was someone in this world who upset his father this much. Giorno felt his own anger rise while he glowered at the man. Whoever this man was, he needed to disappear.
Whether the man felt his glare or heard his thoughts, it seemed that something brought his attention to the Joestars. Recognition lit up his face before he gave a disturbing grin.
“Jojo!”
His father closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Giorno’s glare didn’t falter as the man strolled over to them. Once he was in front of them, Giorno saw that he was almost as tall as his father.
The man crossed his arms and gave an annoying laugh. “It’s been too long.”
His father simply sighed. “Hello, Dio. You look…” He paused. “…well.”
The man, Dio apparently, gave an amused chuckle. “Of course I do.” He gave his father a onceover before shaking his head. “It would seem as though the years were kinder to me than you.”
Giorno could feel himself tremble in barely concealed fury. Who was this man? How dare he speak down on his father? Dio looked down at him and Giorno could see the confusion underneath the patronizing gaze.
“And this is…?”
His father placed a hand on Giorno’s shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. Giorno began to take in deep breaths, forcing himself to relax.
“This is my younger son, Giorno.”
Giorno didn’t offer a smile as he gave a brief “Good evening.”
Dio continued to stare at him, analyzing him. Giorno wasn’t sure what he was searching for. After a moment, Dio gave another chuckle before walking off without a word.
Giorno had never been so infuriated in his life. He looked at his father, hoping he’d be able to explain what just happened. All his father could do was look at him with an apologetic smile.
“I’m sorry you had to see that, Giorno.”
“There’s no reason for you to apologize, father.” Giorno glared at the retreating man’s back. “He was the one who was rude to you.”
His father gave a solemn nod. “That’s Dio.” He bent down on one knee so he was at Giorno’s level. “I understand if you want to leave.”
Earlier that evening, Giorno would have jumped at that opportunity but now? Now, when leaving meant that arrogant uncouth poor excuse for a human basically chased him and his father out? No, leaving was not an option.
Giorno smirked. “Father, I haven’t had a single hors d’oeuvre since we’ve arrived. We are going nowhere.” His father’s response to that was to ruffle his hair while Giorno batted his arms away.
For the next hour, Giorno set out and about to mingle with almost everyone he could see. He turned the Joestar charisma up to eleven and watched as the crowd ate it up. With each person he talked to, he made sure to keep an eye on Dio, making sure he wasn’t trying anything. But no matter whom he and his father spoke to, Dio just stood in the background lurking and watching. It was quite unsettling.
Once Giorno had finished talking with almost everyone at the party, he took a well-deserved seat by the window. He was certain that was enough, that they could leave now.
“Giorno.”
Giorno’s blood ran cold and he didn’t try to hide his contempt as Dio stood beside him, twirling a glass of red wine. Giorno looked around for his father and remembered that he had stepped into the restroom so he was alone with this…person.
“…Yes?”
Dio smirked at him and Giorno hated it. “I just wanted to congratulate you.” Giorno raised an eyebrow, not certain where this was going. “I know it’s not easy being a part of the Joestars. They are quite a…” He paused, seemingly to find the right word. “…an uncivilized sort, aren’t they?”
Giorno didn’t know when he stood up; he just knew that he was on his feet and practically seething at the taller man. Dio looked down on him like an ant and Giorno wanted nothing more than to punch that smug look off his face.
“Excuse you?”
“Oh, come now. I’m certain you’ve seen it,” Dio laughed; Giorno felt his hands ball into fists, shaking uncontrollably. “Honestly, it’s amazing how the Joestars manage to convince so many people they’re a functional family.” Giorno didn’t understand what was happening. His vision was going white, almost as if his senses were failing him but they weren’t because he still heard it, clear as day:
“Especially that pathetic Jojo.”
Giorno didn’t know what happened. All he knew was there were screams and gasps, a pain in his hand, and his vision slowly coming back. Once Giorno was able to see straight again, he looked around and saw that everyone in the hall was now staring at him. Looking down at his right hand, he saw no visible injury but felt the stinging pain beneath his skin. Finally, he looked forward and instead of Dio being in his personal space and insulting his family, he was on the floor, surrounded by concerned onlookers and holding a bloody nose.
Giorno opened his mouth, an apology on his tongue but it died the moment Dio glanced at him and Giorno saw it. A look of satisfaction. Scanning the room again, Giorno saw that everyone was pointing at him, whispering things.
“Oh my god, he punched Mister Dio.”
“What a heathen.”
“So, is this what the Joestars are like?”
And that was when Giorno realized that he had been set up. Dio had seen his growing anger towards his disrespect and he knew it would only take the right insult towards his family to finally let it out. And now everyone had seen it, had seen Giorno Joestar punch a man, seemingly without provocation.
Giorno fell for his scheme without fail.
“Giorno!” Giorno flinched when he heard his name called. He turned to his father, ready to apologize and was quickly silenced by a bear hug. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“N-no, father, I’m fine. I’m…I’m…” Giorno looked around again at the judging stares and held his father tightly. “…I’m ready to leave.”
-
The longer Giorno reflected on the night, the more he realized there had been so many opportunities to have stopped it.
“I’m sorry.”
Giorno laughed softly, giving his father an amused look. “How do you always say that when I’m about to?”
“Force of habit, I suppose.” They came to a red light and his father looked away from the road and looked at him. There was no anger or disappointment, just pure regret. “I really am sorry, Giorno. I…I honestly thought it was going to be fun.” The light turned green so his father’s attention went back to the road but he continued speaking. “I wanted everyone to meet you, see what an amazing son you are, but I should have noticed you weren’t enjoying yourself.”
Giorno wanted to tell his father that the ball wasn’t so bad, that he had some fun, but there was a lingering question.
“You’re…not mad at me?” His father gave him a bewildered glance. “…For…punching Dio?”
Giorno gripped his seatbelt when his father’s head reeled back in uproarious laughter. The car was pulled over as his father rested his head on the steering wheel, still laughing. Giorno shook his head, wondering what he had missed. Once the laughter subsided, his father just gave him a gentle pat on the head.
“Giorno, you are not the first person in this family who has punched Dio and you most likely will not be the last.” Giorno’s jaw dropped at the new information and his father scratched his cheek, a bit embarrassed. “I’m pretty certain I’ve punched Dio at least four times in our lives.”
“Are…are you serious?” If this was a joke, it was a very good one.
His father nodded. “Dio has that effect on this family.” With that, he ruffled Giorno’s hair again. “So, you fit right in.”
Giorno couldn’t help but laugh as they continued driving, the anxiety finally subsiding. So, it was okay that all of those fools thought the Joestars were insane because apparently, they were.
“Father…” There was a small ‘hmm’ in response. “…may I choose the next activity for the night?”
-
Giorno was more open with his tears but if anyone asked him if he was currently crying over Kenai telling Koda about his mother, he would lie without hesitation.
He heard his father’s patronizing tone as he gave him a one-armed hug. “There, there, Giorno.”
“Be quiet,” Giorno said, tossing a handful of popcorn at the other man which was quickly tossed back at him. Before a popcorn war could begin, the front door opened and his mother called out to them. “We’re in the TV room!”
His mother rushed into the room before running up to her son and grabbing him by the face. “Jonathan told me everything.” Giorno waited, not certain what to expect. “As your mother, I don’t condone violence in anyway.” Giorno nodded, about to apologize before his mother laughed. “But as someone who has smacked Dio, I’m very proud of you.” His mother took the open seat beside Giorno, grabbing a handful of popcorn. “Tell me the story.”
As Giorno began the short but riveting tale of the Silver Night Ball, he couldn’t help but think: ‘I really am one of them, aren’t I?’