Unrequited Love - Joseph Joestar x Reader x The Pillar Men
[Warnings: Minor Character Death]
[Word Count: 1746 words]
You sat on the sidelines, watching Joseph and Caesar train for their upcoming battle with the pillar men. Joseph rapidly improved in just under a month, and you had no doubt that he would somehow win. You and Suzi Q cheered Joseph on. He saluted and winked at the both of you and a blush came up on your cheeks. You curled up on the ledge you sat on and pressed your cheek to your knees as you watched Joseph toy with Caesar’s fighting skills.
He was just… so funny and cool…
You couldn’t ignore how your heart pounded harder in his presence. And every little flirty gesture of his set your cheeks ablaze. His jokes made you a giggly mess.
You had been by his side since he came upon the island. You were there when he trained, supplying him with water and convincing Messina and Loggins to let him rest. You snuck in his favorite treats during his meals. But it wasn’t as if he’d really ever notice you. All of that joking and flirting, he pulled with everyone.
And being so close to him, you could see in his eyes who he truly cared about. He’d stop and watch Caesar train from any window he could spot the blonde from. Their whole rivalry was just a front for how close they truly were. He’d run up to Caesar and try to prank him any chance he could. They were near constantly in close proximity to each other, closer than you would ever be to joseph.
You followed Joseph out for his final testament of his training. You hyped up his excitement, reminding him of how much he’d improved in such a short time. Only to be stopped by the sight of Esidisi. You held your breath and slowly backed away at the sight of the Pillar man, near petrified by his intimidating glare and strength in the dark.
Esidisi didn’t seem to notice you as he looked beyond toward Lisa Lisa’ tower. He kicked Loggins’ body to the ground, jumping out to head straight for the woman. You ran for his body, kneeling down to see the damage done. He died within one kick, lungs removed from his body. “Loggins… My god, Loggins..”
Even in a simple whimper, you caught the attention of the god-like man himself. Esidisi turned toward you, watching how you cried over your colleague’s corpse. His head tilted to the side, and changed his aim to walk towards you. Only for him to be intercepted by Joseph, and their battle began.
You watched them fight, wide-eyed as Joseph tried everything he could to outsmart a man far more powerful in pure strength than he ever would be. You attempted to drag Loggins’ body away from the moat of spikes but your own lacking strength couldn’t get him very far. You dropped his body in a flinch as Esidisi landed before you, and your eyes immediately flicked to his missing left arm.
“Apologies. It’s not worthy of me to make you look at such injuries.” Esidisi stated before chopping Loggins’ arm and reattaching the limb to himself. Your eyes widened as you stumbled away from him, knowing he could kill you with no effort. “There’s no need to be afraid, human. You are merely a bystander to my mission, I have no reason to kill you.”
You looked up at him, trying to calm your frightened heart, and noticed the tear stains on his face. “You were crying..” You spoke softly, with the tiniest point towards his cheek.
Your soft utterance surprised him. Not because you had just then noticed his outburst, but the tone you used. For all he’d heard since he’d woken up, he could only describe it as kind, comforting even. The tone brought up memories of before he’d met Kars and killed his entire population.
“I was. I am unworthy to be seen by your kind eyes. I will end this quickly to regain my worth.”
“No! Please!” You called as he turned away. He turned his head back towards you. “Don’t hurt him, please.”
He didn’t respond as Joseph taunted him back into a fight.
And then there was Suzi Q when you all left. Joseph saved her from being killed by Esidisi’s brain, and treated her with more care than you saw him treat her before. His eyes lit up with a passion you hadn’t seen when he looked at Caesar or Lisa Lisa. He was enamored by her beauty and personality. You didn’t blame him for that.
But you followed him, even if it meant your own death. You followed him to the Alps, intercepting German soldiers he’d known before. You nursed his wounds and waited by his side for any disaster that would come.
Kars came around for the Stone of Aja himself. Attacked by Stroheim, he had little time to notice you in the beginning. But the moment he had it in his hands to the moment the stone was blasted from his palm, you ran after Joseph as he raced head to head with Kars.
Your eyes widened as Joseph was dragged down the ravine’s cliffside, and nearly jumped down with him, only held back by Caesar who’d finally caught up to you. “Joseph!” You cried out, distracting Kars from their inevitable plummet.
Your sight blurred with tears at the very thought of losing him now. Kars stared up at you, quickly analyzing your features as Joseph caught himself and your bitter smile came back to haunt Kars’ eyes. You blurred away with his depths and he found the sting of ricocheting off the ravine’s walls a decent enough distraction to at least guide his way back to the abandoned chapel where Wamuu awaited.
You followed Joseph all the way up to the chapel. You thought back over everything you’d witnessed and took Joseph’s hand. He looked down at you in confusion as you slowly backed away. You tried to tug his hand, shaking your head. “I don’t think you should do this…” You said softly.
Joseph laughed, as if trying to calm you down. “And what do you mean by that?”
“Joseph, please! Think about this!” Your hold on his hand tightened and you started pulling on his arm more roughly. “You could still have your whole life! You have friends and family waiting for you! You don’t have to do this!”
Joseph slowly stopped laughing as you continued to urge him away from the chapel. He glared at you and pulled his arm away. “Of course I have to do this! If I don't, the world will be taken over by the blood hungry undead!”
“But what about all of the people you know?! What about Suzi Q?!” The tears built in your eyes as you swiped for his hand again, only for him to back away. “What about me?! Caesar might not act like you jumping into a ravine doesn’t mean anything, but it means something to me!”
“And why do you care so much anyways?! You didn’t have to come on this journey and yet you did!” He yelled back.
“Because I love you!” Joseph froze at that. You sobbed, gripping onto your scarf to wipe away the tears that were quickly freezing your eyes shut. “I love you so much and I want to support you! But I almost watched you die, Joseph!” You reached for him again and watched as he backed away from you. Your shoulders slumped as you settled that he wouldn’t listen to you. “I would have taken your place back then, Joseph… I would die for you even if I never told you how I felt..”
You shivered as your outburst took your heat with it. But you hardened your expression and turned away. “But, since you won’t back down on this, neither will I…” You entered the chapel first with Joseph calling your name. You made your way past the rubble and squinted as you tried to see in the dark. Your breath could still be seen in front of your face and cold shivers still shook your spine. What you’d yet to see was Wamuu who only started to make his way further upwards before noticing your presence.
“You’re not a fighter.” He noted, making you jump out of your skin with a squeak. You looked around quickly as Wamuu chuckled. “You are, however, familiar… I think..” A breeze blew past you and you fell back as Wamuu now stood in front of you. “Yes, you’re exactly as Master Kars described… You shall be spared..”
He reached down and scooped you up into his arms despite you trying to get away. Wamuu held onto you so gently as he carried you through the chapel. You writhed in his hold, causing him to shoosh you and hold you tighter. “We’re almost there. We won’t hurt you.”
He let you down gently, but blocked your only way out of the new room. “It’s you.” The new voice sent a different shiver down your spine. You turned around slowly and dipped your chin further in your scarf as Kars looked down upon you from his throne. He urged you closer and you followed with the fear of being killed at any wrong step. You stepped up his throne and he took your chin, looking at your face left and right.
“You were crying.” He stated. A soft noise left you as you reached up to wipe away your tears. He pulled you into his lap, just as gentle as Wamuu was. “What was the reason for your tears?” He asked, causing you to turn away from him. He cradled your cheek in his palm and you couldn’t help but lean into the gesture Joseph wouldn’t have ever thought to give you. You still couldn’t meet his gaze but answered him anyway.
“I.. confessed my feelings to Joseph… I didn’t want him to die fighting you…” You pulled your cheek from his hand and curled up. Your tears came back again. “It’s not like he’ll ever return my feelings, but I’d die for him if it meant he could live.”
With this explanation, Kars’ vision narrowed in red, and he held your body close to his. “You do not deserve to die simply for a man who does not care about you. You are just as precious as that Red Stone of Aja. Stay with us. We will protect you from harm.”
