Chapter Text
Caesar had barely managed to realize what was happening as he was quickly awoken to the sound of aggressive knocking outside his door.
"Caesarino, You up?!" the familiar voice of a certain brunette rang in his ears as Joseph peered his head through a crack in the door. The blond slowly began to sit up, rubbing his eyes with his hands, when he looked back the American was standing no further than 2 inches from his face.
The tired Italian kicked the brunette in the abdomen, shocked by the sudden closeness to his friend. "Jesus Christ, Jojo!" He blurted as Joseph curled over, falling onto the bed in pain.
"I should be the one saying that! Why did you kick me?!"
"Because you scared me, Idiota!".
Joseph turned his gaze back to Caesar, his lips curled into a pout like some kind of sad puppy. Although Caesar was still mad, he couldn't help but feel somewhat bad when he looked at him like that. Caesar began to stand up, still quite tired. He looked at the clock sitting on his dresser to read the time. 6:30 AM. He turned back to the brunette, who still sat cowered over the bed, clutching his stomach.
"Why did you wake me up so early?" Caesar asked angrily, he hadn't woken up this early since his training days, and his body was no longer used to it. Joseph slowly made his way up to standing, clearly exaggerating his pain to gain sympathy from the other man, but Caesar didn't fall for it. Once Joseph realized that he returned to normal, with he exception of a witty smile forming on his face.
"I thought I could take you around the city, get you familiar with it. Plus I've also got some places I'd like to show you." Joseph smiled.
Caesar yawned loudly, still half-alseep. "Did you really to wake me up at sunrise for that, though?" Caesar responded sluggishly, a hand combing through his messy blond locks.
"Have you seen the size of New York City?" Joseph explained, which made Caesar remember just how big this City was. He looked back at the taller mans face, his grin still there, unmoving. It had been only 2 days since he arrived to New York. His first full day was spent catching up on the sleep he'd so dearly missed while on the train. It seemed however, that Joseph had been waiting for his chance to show Caesar all around The Big Apple.
Caesar threw his pillow at the brunette, who caught it easily, and began to stand up. "Fine, give me half an hour."
***
Joseph, Suzi, and Caesar walked down the busy sidewalks of the city. Despite it being early in the morning people were hustling and bustling, going and coming from every which way. Joseph and Suzi walked side-by-side, their hands tied together tightly so they wouldn't be separated. Caesar walked close behind, watching the two and wondering why Joseph would invite him if he was just planning on going on a date. He let out a large sigh, taking a sip of the Coffee Joseph bought him from a small coffee shop and admired the scenery. However, whenever he looked back at the lovely couple, all he could think about was the night he arrived, and Josephs reaction to Caesars simple question.
"Caesar, we're going to stop for breakfast, you hungry?" A voice called out from Infront of him, Joseph turned to face him, his hand still locked with Suzi's. Caesar remembered he had not eaten yet, the only thing in his stomach was coffee. And so the Italian nodded his head as to reply "Sure". and the three walked into a nearby cafe.
The shop was small and empty, only a handful of other customers inside. The group sat down at a table near the front. Joseph picked up the menu, scanning it with his eyes, meanwhile the Italians sat across from the other, Suzi looked over to Caesar, her expression of insistant and curious. "So what do you think of New York so far, Caesar?"
Caesar lifted his head from reading the menu, his eyes meeting the woman's. "I don't think I've seen enough to make an opinion on it yet." He replied honestly.
The blonde placed a hand on Joseph's, a soft smile forming on her lips. "Thats true, I guess. Jojo said he has lots of places to show you, so I'm sure you'll have an answer by then."
The three then ordered their food and left, Joseph being the one to pay. They walked back out onto the street, the crowd had gotten even larger than before, and Caesar had a hard time keeping track of the lovely couple.
Joseph dragged the Europeans all across the city, showing Caesar all of his favourite places and restaurants. After hours of walking to and from everywhere Caesar felt his legs about to give out. However the American wasn't done, he had one final place to show him.
Joseph lead the group to a large grassy area in the middle of the city. "This is Central Park" Joseph beamed, "We can rest here for a bit." The two Italians rested themselves on the bench, while the American stood not far Infront on them. The sky had begun to fade into purples and oranges as the sun started to set. The city began to slow down ever so slightly, people leaving their jobs and heading home, swerving through streets or getting in buses or taxi's. Caesar melted into the bench, trying to put as little effort on his legs as he could, and let out a deep sigh. Beside him sat Suzi, who let out a yawn. He wondered how a woman that slim was in better shape than he was after that.
Joseph stood in front, no room for him to join the two, but he seemed to be in the best shape of all of them, maybe because he was more used to the city than the other two. He looked antsy, tapping his foot and unable to stand still. He looked like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. When he went to say something, he was interrupted by his Fiancee.
"I can't believe you dragged poor Caesar through the entire city in one day, Jojo." Suzi turned to Caesar, "I'm sure your feet must hurt a lot."
Caesar smiled and laughed. "It's true, I can barely walk."
"See?! look what you've done to him! How will he get home if he can't walk?"
Joseph faced the two on the bench, clearly confused about the sudden complaining. Why are you getting upset at me? Is it bad I wanted to show him around? He'll be living here, so he should know what the place looks like."
Suzi furrowed her brows. "You should at least apologize."
Caesar had originally thought this was all a joke, that Suzi had been playing with Joseph. But seeing her getting genuinely upset made Caesar feel like he was witnessing something he shouldn't. Trying to calm the woman down before it escalated, Caesar tried responding before Joseph could. "I'll be fine, Suzi, I just need to rest my feet for a bit."
Joseph huffed and walked closer to Caesar. "See, he's fine! No need to get all pissy."
Suzi turned to Caesar once more. "Are you sure you're all right?" She asked, still irritated.
Caesar felt out of place, like a child stuck in the middle of his parents argument. He wasn't sure what would happen if he responded verbally, so he simply nodded. At this Suzi let out a sigh, refusing to respond for a good minute or two. "I'm sorry for losing my temper, I suppose It's me who's tired, not you." She finally replied. Getting up from her seat. "I think its best If I go home early. You boys need some alone time anyways."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Joseph perplexed.
Caesar met the woman's gaze, her face red from embarrassment. He felt confused, unsure of what had just happened. Why would Suzi suddenly want to leave? He watched her wave down a taxi and get in before they had the chance to say goodbyes. Joseph stood close by, also quite confused as to what transpired. The Italian watched as the brunette brought a hand to scratch his head, before sitting down beside him. They both just sat there, puzzled by the woman's actions.
Joseph broke the silence. "Sorry, I don't know what just came over her."
Caesar turned his head. "Its fine, I guess we all just have our moments, we can ask about it when we get home."
Joseph went quiet again. "Do you want to go home now?"
Caesar pondered the question. He'd been enjoying himself until a few moments ago. He didn't want to blame Suzi for what had happened, but it sure made the atmosphere awkward afterwards. "I don't know. I don't think so."
"Well, Is there anywhere else you want to go?" Joseph asked, his lips forming into a dumb grin.
Caesar let out a sigh, and spoke in Italian so the American couldn't understand. "Non lo so, mi andrebbe una birra."
Joseph chuckled before responding. "Ti capisco" Caesar turned his head so quickly he thought it would break.
"You know Italian?!" He asked, completely shocked.
"I learned a few words from Suzi, but I'm not fluent." Joseph grinned.
Hearing this made Caesar angry. Before whenever he was mad at Joseph he would spout curses about him in Italian, but how was he supposed to insult him secretly if he now understood what he was saying. The blond turned his head away from the other man, who proceeded to move his head closer to his. "What, mad you can't insult me to my face now?" Joseph joked.
Caesar pinched the brunettes arm, making him back off.
"OW!"
"Shut up."
Joseph chuckled, holding his arm and rubbing it gently. "You're just mad 'cause its true."
Caesar returned his gaze to the man. "I'll just learn another language to insult you in."
"Then I'll just learn that one too."
Caesar grit his teeth and glared at the brunette. "sei proprio un idiota." He let out a sharp exhale, then flicked the other mans forehead and stood up.
"Why do you keep wounding me?" Joseph pouted.
"You'll be fine." Caesar retorted. He'd begun to grow tired of entertaining this man-child. "Wheres the nearest bar?"
"Is that all you can think about, alcohol?'
"It is right now, show me the way."
***
Caesar sat down on a stool, Joseph following close behind, sitting to his right. The blond let out a sharp exhale, turning his head to the brunette. "I would've thought the bar would've been closer."
Joseph met his gaze, his lips curled into a smile. "There were lots closer, but I wanted to bring you to the nicest one." Caesar shot him a glare. Thanks to the younger man Caesar's feet hurt even more than before. But he didn't stay mad for long, as he knew Joseph was just trying to give him a good time. He ordered a drink from the bartender and gulped half the glass down in a second before slamming the drink back down on the counter. He didn't worry about getting drunk because he'd grown quite the tolerance to alcohol in the past three years. However Joseph was another story, He watched as the man chugged his glass, his face already beginning to flush. Caesar let out a laugh. "Have you even drank before?"
Joseph turned his head to look at the blond. "Of course I have! I just don't have as much experience with it as you do."
"I forgot you're such a baby." Caesar joked, which earned him a glare back from the American. Who proceeded to order two more drinks, chugging them down as quick as he received them. His face flushed so red he could be mistaken for a tomato.
"Slow down, Jojo. You shouldn't drink so much."
Joseph turned his tomato head slowly, he was completely drunk after three drinks, Caesar could help but laugh. "What do you know?" Joseph asked.
"A lot more than you do." The Italian replied, unable to control his laughter. He'd just received his third drink and still felt no more than a small buzz. Watching the younger man be blackout drunk so easily reminded him of his first time drinking. "Are you sure you've drank before?"
Joseph pouted. "I already told you I have!...Once, last year..." His voice trailed off, he was clearly embarrassed.
Caesar continued to laugh, he was sure the alcohol had begun to effect him, he didn't laugh this heavily unless he was drunk. The two men continued to fight, Caesar forbidding the bartender from serving the other man more than five drinks, while he continued to sip on his fifth, still barely phased. Eventually the two were kicked from causing too much of a ruckus, leaving the drunkards to defend for themselves on the street.
Joseph was so drunk Caesar was forced to support him, wrapping his arm around the mans waist and leaning him over his shoulder. He brought the brunette to a small, dimly lit alleyway, letting the man crouch over to puke, patting his back gently. He noticed a small 24/7 convenience store across the street and ran to buy a bottle of water for the man. When he returned the man sat curled against the back of the alley, his head resting on his knees.
"What are you doing?" Caesar asked. walking towards the younger man, crouching Infront of him. Joseph noticed the Italians presence and lifted his head. His droopy green eyes meeting Caesars.
"Waiting." He responded sluggishly.
Caesar raised an eyebrow. "Well why are you crouched in the corner? I'm sure you don't need to do that to wait for me."
Joseph sat quitely, taking his time to reply. "...I was cold."
Caesar let out a soft chuckle at this before handing him the water he'd bought. "Here, Jojo. Drink this." The American took a sip from the bottle, his face no longer droopy.
"Thanks, Caesarino."
Caesar stood up and held a hand out to the Joestar, who gladly accepted it. "We should get home. I'll call a taxi." Caesar stated.
Joseph refused to let go of the mans hand, his flushed face even redder as he looked at the Italian who dared to walk away. "Not yet." He stuttered. The blond turned his gaze back to the brunette, raising an eyebrow to his response.
"What do you mean, not yet? You're drunk Jo-" Just then the brunette wrapped his body around the blond's, his arms pulling their body's closer together as he dug his head into the other man neck.
"I said not yet." Joseph restated. Caesar felt that similar heavy feeling rise in his chest and his face begin to flush. He could hear the sound of a heartbeat but he couldn't tell if it was his or the man wrapped around him. He wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth nothing came out. He could only focus on the ways their body's touched, the warmth of the Americans body heat, the tickle of his hair touching his skin, his hot breath on his neck. It felt like an hour had passed like that, though it had only been a minute.
"Jojo, Can you let go?" He managed to stutter out. But Joseph didn't listen, he instead did the opposite, pulling him in even closer.
"No. Stay like this for a bit." He retorted. Caesar wasn't sure what to do, the mans grip on him was so strong there was no way he could wiggle his way out. He was forced to stay that way until the brunette decided he had enough, and who knew when that would be.
The silence was loud, Caesar could only hear the sound of their breath and the beating of his own heart. Suddenly he felt something wet soak though his jacket onto his shirt. The other man was crying, his tears staining Caesar's jacket. The older man halted his breathing, unsure of the reason for this sudden stream of tears. He suddenly wrapped his own arms over the other mans body, rubbing his back gently. His sudden return of the gesture shocked Joseph, causing him to let go ever so slightly, before tightening his grip again.
"I missed you." Joseph sniveled. This confession shocked the Italian, he froze, his breath stopping completely.
"What do you mean?-"
"After you died." Joseph cut in, his voice muffled by Caesar's jacket.
"After I thought you died, I couldn't sleep. I dreamt of that day, when I witnessed your lifeless corpse crushed by that cinder block. Every night I had the same dream watching you die over and over. I felt so guilty, like it was all my fault. I believed that you would have still been alive if I had managed to stop you from going to the hotel, that maybe you could've lived. Maybe you could have survived instead of me. I believed that you deserved to live more than me. You sacrificed yourself for me, and the guilt of that continues to haunt me. No matter what I try, I can't bring myself to stop believing that. I missed you so much, Caesar. Hearing about your survival was probably the best thing that has happened to me since I returned to America. But even so, the dreams keep coming, and I don't know why. Seeing them hurts, even knowing your okay the guilt doesn't simply vanish, I wish it did, but It doesn't."
They both sat there for what felt like an eternity. Joseph's tears continued to wet Caesars shoulder, and Caesar sat in his arms, frozen. 'how am I supposed to respond to that?'. Joseph had just poured out all his feelings to Caesar. Was he supposed to do the same? Caesar felt helpless and uncertain. He felt the same, but he wasn't sure if saying that was what Joseph wanted to hear.
However, Caesar was beginning to grow uncomfortable, it was hard to tell how long the both of them had been sitting like that, he worry began to pile up in this throat, worry of someone seeing the two of them like this and mistaking them for homosexuals.
"Joseph." Caesar called out his name, and the man lifted his head from Caesar neck, meeting his eyes. the taller man was covered in snot and tears. He had barely managed to stop himself from crying, but his face was still stuck in that pouty look that reminded Caesar of a puppy.
The blond placed his hands on the brunettes cheeks, keeping his face from moving. "Thank you for telling me this Jojo, And I'm so sorry you went through that, I wish I could've been there to help you. I missed you too, more than you can know. I really understand how you feel, I'll always be here for you, so I don't want you to feel alone with these feelings." He used his thumb to wipe the tears off the taller mans cheek, who leaned into the touch. His expression started to lighten up, his mouth forming into a small smile.
"But Jojo," Caesar continued, "Could you please let go of my waist?" The bigger man looked down, as if he forgot where his hands had been.
"Ah, sorry." He apologized, pulling his hands back to his sides, finally freeing Caesar from the embrace. The two fell into another silence, unsure of what to say after that. Caesar eventually decided on changing the topic.
"We really should call a taxi before it gets too late."
"You're probably right." Caesar noticed that Joseph was barely talking, which was unusual for him. It was like he'd let out all his words and had none left to say. He shot the younger man a warm smile and walked to street. Luckily for him it seemed because of the late hour no one was out on street. He waved down a taxi and managed to get the brute in the back seat before hopping in himself. Almost immediately after driving off the Joestar drifted off, resting his head on Caesar's shoulder who had been looking out the window, his heart still so loud he worried it would wake the brunette up.