Chapter Text
Jotaro had never felt like this before.
Maybe when he realized what was happening to his mother because of this man called DIO, but the feeling was slightly different. He had been angry both times but it was still different. When Kakyoin’s eyes were attacked by an enemy stand user, Jotaro had carried him, had Kakyoin rest on his lap. He had felt so helpless then and even hit back harder to find whoever did this to his friend.
It was wrong. Seeing Kakyoin like this because Kakyoin was so strong. He was one of the few people Jotaro would ever trust with his life. As did he with the other Crusaders, even if he would never say it out loud, but it was still just different with Kakyoin. Jotaro felt helpless but even after defeating the enemy, and there wasn’t much he could do now except for hope for Kakyoin’s fast recovery.
That’s where they were at now, Kakyoin in the hospital and Jotaro on his way to visit him.
"Hold on," Joseph called out to him.
"What?" Jotaro asked annoyed. He had been even more agitated than usual.
"You want to visit Kakyoin like this?"
"How else should I?"
"Your boyfriend is hurt. You should give him a present," Joseph explained.
"A present."
"That’s common courtesy. But he’s your first boyfriend, right? Let your old man help you out!" Joseph smiled and slapped Jotaro on his back. Jotaro wanted to be swallowed by the ground now. He wasn’t in the mood for this, he just wanted to see Kakyoin.
"Good grief," he muttered.
"Hey, we’re going to buy something for Kakyoin," Joseph told Abdul and Polnareff who were sitting at a café with Iggy at their feet eating his beloved coffee gum again. Jotaro had no choice but to go along, he didn’t want to argue right now.
"How about flowers? Everyone loves flowers. Your grandma Suzie always loves it when I bring her a bouquet, she especially likes roses." Joseph smiled at him.
Jotaro imagined his grandfather to be one of those men who’d fuck up and then just get their wives flowers and think everything is okay again. "I’m not going to give him flowers."
"Everyone likes flowers, not just women" Joseph insisted. "Wouldn’t you want flowers?"
Jotaro had never gotten flowers. He had gotten everything else, from love letters to chocolate during Valentine’s Day— way too much to ever be able to carry. But never a bouquet. He had no idea how he’d react to it. Probably throw it away if it was one of those annoying girls that always followed him. But if it was Kakyoin… Jotaro pushed the thought away.
"Fine," he said.
They walked to a shop that had some flowers displayed outside. "What do you think Kakyoin will like?"
"Just get something."
Joseph sighed. "What am I going to do with you. You’re hopeless. It’s a gift from you for him."
Jotaro glared at his grandfather. He was always a pain in the ass but now more than usual. "Green."
"Green?"
"Hierophant Green is green. He wears a green uniform. I think he likes the color," Jotaro explained.
"Green flowers," Joseph repeated once again which made Jotaro realize how stupid it sounded.
He pushed the brim of his cap down. "Purple," he decided then. It was the color of Kakyoin’s eyes. Somehow the thought made him flustered.
Joseph called out to the seller and talked with him as they put together a bouquet and paid for it. "I’m sure he’ll like it," Joseph said.
Jotaro pressed his lips together. He hoped so too even if they weren’t actually dating.
"You know, hold onto him," Joseph said. "Watching you two reminds me of my youth."
"With Grandma Suzie?"
"Ah, no…" Joseph gave Jotaro the flowers. "I guess I’ve never told you about my past, right?"
"You said you fought a god and sent him into outer space," Jotaro dead-panned. Which sounded ridiculous. Joseph laughed, throwing his head back.
"Yes, yes. But I had help. Not just from your great-grandmother, but from a friend. We fought together side by side." Joseph’s voice suddenly sounded sad.
Jotaro watched the old man, the look in his eyes that made him look like he was far away. He wanted to ask what happened but he didn’t. He could already guess. "Who was it?"
"His name was Caesar Zeppeli. Annoying blonde Italian playboy, I hated his guts when I first met him." A slight smile appeared on his lips. "He was so stubborn. Your grandma knew him too."
Jotaro stared at the bouquet. He had already been so upset when Kakyoin was hurt he had no idea what he would do if he’d lose him.
"Well, let’s go." Joseph put his hand on Jotaro’s shoulder. "Maybe you should go earlier. I want you two to have some alone time, we’ll tag along later."
Jotaro nodded. He didn’t mind being alone with Kakyoin.
Jotaro felt uneasy when he entered Kakyoin’s hospital room.
"Jotaro, is that you?" Kakyoin’s eyes were bandaged. He turned his head towards Jotaro, his curly bangs whipping with the motions.
"Yes."
"Figured. I know your footsteps by now," Kakyoin said.
Jotaro took the chair next to Kakyoin’s bed and sat down on it. "I got you flowers."
Kakyoin gasped. "Flowers? Why, Jotaro, you didn’t need to. That’s so sweet of you."
Jotaro felt heat rushing to his face. "Good grief, don’t mock me. The old man made me get them."
Kakyoin laughed. "I mean it though. Thank you, it’s very nice. Too bad I can’t see them." Right. Jotaro halted for a moment and Kakyoin noticed the hesitation. "Wait, did you two get me flowers and forgot that I can’t see them?"
No words came from Jotaro and Kakyoin laughed even harder, throwing his head back. Jotaro should be embarrassed for being caught for such a stupid mistake but he wasn’t. It was a good thing Kakyoin couldn’t see him, maybe he’d be embarrassed then. But he could stare at Kakyoin like this and not be caught staring.
Kakyoin was so beautiful when he laughed. Which probably not everyone thought. His laughter sounded actually weird once he let himself go, like some dead hyena or something. But Jotaro liked the sound of it, liked seeing Kakyoin laugh so hard he was clutching his stomach.
"You know, I wished I could see the look on your face right now," Kakyoin said.
Jotaro clicked his tongue. "It’s not that funny."
"It is. Describe them to me."
"Purple."
"That’s it?"
"There are different ones. Bigger… and one has like spots on them. White on the inside," Jotaro described as he stared at the flowers. He only then noticed how widely Kakyoin was grinning. "What?"
"Nothing. Why purple?"
"I like purple," Jotaro said. Saying that he liked the color of Kakyoin’s eyes was too much. There was no way Jotaro could say it.
"Makes sense," Kakyoin said with a nod. "Star Platinum is purple." Kakyoin sighed. "Hope they don’t wilt before I can get the bandages off. The doctors said if I’m lucky, my eyes will be healed and I can see again."
Jotaro clenched his fists. He didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry?
"Flower language is interesting to me, you know?"
"It is?"
"I got a book once about it. I also had a phase when I was thirteen when I was into Ikebana," Kakoyin said. Jotaro smiled.
"My mother had it too," he said.
"Really?"
"She’s tried out many traditional Japanese things," Jotaro said. His mother had always tried her best to learn about Japanese culture, she didn’t want Jotaro to lose anything because his father was always gone and she was a Foreigner. She’s done so much for him and he couldn’t express gratitude for her again if he failed…
"I had many phases as a child. I guess I just liked to entertain myself because, you know." Kakyoin hummed. "It was fun. Some flowers had meanings like I hate your guts."
Jotaro stared at the flowers. "I hope none of them mean that."
"What, you don’t hate me?"
Jotaro huffed. "You’re my boyfriend."
Kakyoin chuckled. "Right, how could I forget? Where are the others, by the way?"
"Who knows. They said we should be alone," Jotaro said.
Kakoyin’s lips formed an ‚O‘. "Uh, I’m actually kind of glad," he admitted. Jotaro’s heart skipped a beat at those words. "Nothing against the rest. I like talking to you one on one before the others join us. You’re more talkative like this."
Jotaro hadn’t noticed. It made sense though. Whenever they were in a group, the others would carry the entire conversation and he’d sometimes just make a few comments and sigh. When he was with Kakyoin, it was just the two of them and over the past weeks, it had become easier each time to talk to him. Talking to Kakyoin was so natural like it wasn’t with anyone else.
He liked his presence, his calm and comforting nature. But he also liked the other side of Kakyoin, when he was teasing, or acting as you’d expect a 17-year-old High Schooler to act, he also liked how Kakyoin’s eyes would light up when he talked about something he was passionate about (often video games).
He also just liked having Kakyoin for himself.
Wait.
Oh.
Jotaro liked Kakyoin.
The realization should hit him like a truck, make him waver, and send him into a small panic but it didn’t. Everything suddenly made sense and it felt like a puzzle being completed. Of course, he liked Kakyoin. How couldn’t he? The thing he would, however, panic about was the question about whether or not Kakyoin liked him back, which Jotaro doubted, they were just friends and two guys on top of it. Besides, Jotaro was Kakyoin’s first real friend and he didn’t want to fuck it up for Kakyoin, take this away from him.
"Anyway, how has it been with you?"
"Iggy always farts in Polnareff’s face," Jotaro said.
Kakyoin grinned. "I think Iggy is my new favorite."
"Who was it before?"
"You, but it’s a tough competition now. Maybe try farting in Polnareff’s face."
Jotaro rolled his eyes but he couldn’t help and smile widely. "I’m your boyfriend."
"What am I your number one?"
"Who else would it be?"
Kakyoin hesitated and his smile softened. "I’m glad I am," he said.
Jotaro held his breath. He wanted to kiss Kakyoin so badly at this moment. He got up from his chair. "I’m going to pick the rest up," he said. "Knowing them, they probably won’t find the room."
"Okay." Kakyoin nodded. "See you later."
Jotaro put the flowers on the table next to Kakyoin’s bed and left the room. He had not expected to come out with the revelation that he had a crush on his friend when he entered it, but it wasn’t so bad. Just dealing with the emotions now would be hard.