Work Text:
Okuyasu hasn’t known Josuke for long, but he wishes he had known him earlier. Turns out, even going to the same school, they managed to never even know of the other’s existence until, well… Okuyasu and his brother tried killing him and Koichi.
Still. Even then, Josuke had half a mind to compliment him, of all things! And not two seconds later, when Chilli Pepper took his brother… They didn’t know it then, but Josuke would always be at his side.
He also didn’t understand much about Stands until he met Josuke. Sure, he knew he had one, and he knew his brother had one. They had the bow and arrow that gave people Stands. But all they knew was that they needed more Stand Users, not how to interact with them. You were either friend or foe.
Okuyasu frowns at the memories now. All the innocent people that he lured in, only for his brother to shoot them. Tears burn behind his eyes from all the guilt he still carries.
But then he met Josuke and Crazy Diamond. How was it possible for someone to have such an awesome amazing Stand and use it only for good? Granted he tries to punch his way out of the situation more than half of the time, but it works! He breaks things just to fix them! And if not, his gentle hands are always there to heal.
Okuyasu could probably say he’s jealous. Crazy Diamond is a ridiculously powerful Stand on top of having his healing abilities. He even seems to have his own personality, which is yet another thing Okuyasu didn’t know about until he became friends with Josuke. Crazy Diamond is so cool, strong, kind, warm, and cute-
The heat in his face becomes a steady blush across his cheeks now. All the amazing things about Josuke and his Stand - well, a Stand with such great capacity can only come from such a big heart, right? Josuke Higashikata has the largest and purest heart out of anyone Okuyasu could ever think of. It’s like he’s the godsend protagonist of a manga and walked straight out of his world to help this one. And for that, Okuyasu feels blessed to even know Josuke, let alone be his friend, his bro, and his lover.
…
Rohan’s first encounter with Josuke Higashikata was rocky to say the least. A boy so blind with rage that not even his Stand could affect him? It’s beyond a force of nature. Rohan would almost respect the sheer determination he can have and such power he can use.
If it weren’t for the fact that he went into a blind rage over his fucking hair.
Once someone explained it to him, he could somewhat understand where Josuke’s rage comes from.
Like a scene he would sketch in a manga, a hero in just the right place at just the right time swoops in to save the struggling mother and her feverish child. Heroes have characteristic defining features: strong facial structure, powerful build, color-coordinated clothing, and something to make them a touch unique: a cape or a mask or a symbol. Josuke’s hero unfortunately chose to drag a delinquent pompadour back from the dead and into Josuke’s life.
The hair isn’t even the beginning of Rohan’s complaints. He’s known the gang of teenagers long enough now to have seen a few battles they’ve been through. In all fairness, for all their bickering and slandering, Rohan is thankful he isn’t Josuke’s enemy. Once he falls into that same focused state, Crazy Diamond truly shines as one of the most powerful Stands he has seen - dare he say it rivals that of Jotaro-san’s Star Platinum.
Crazy Diamond’s abilities are unique, as are most Stands in Morioh, but paired with such an accidentally intelligent fighter, becomes a thousand times more dangerous. With Josuke’s quick thinking, he can smash a brick wall into pieces, scaring an enemy into running if not getting hurt from the debris, only to be trapped by a new brick wall right in front of him. They say the Angelo rock was Josuke’s work, and only now is Rohan starting to believe it to be the truth.
No one will admit it, but Josuke Higashikata can get dark. The darkness in his eyes from the shadows of his hair bely no mercy. Josuke may have a generous Stand with a cureall ability, but that’s if he decides to spare mercy.
Rohan even heard of his encounter with Highway Go-Go; at the hospital where the user lay with uncountable injuries, Josuke healed him. Without a second thought, Josuke used his ability to make sure the user could use every single one of his fractured bones and torn muscles. He could stand and walk again.
Only for Josuke to beat him to a pulp and toss him out the window like yesterday’s paper.
Rohan knows what Josuke is truly capable of. If he can go so far as to swindle even Rohan out of money by cheating in a dice game and making the costs even higher with his house burning down, then Josuke can truly be a fiend.
And how his friends don’t see it is absolutely beyond him.
…
Wiping his brow, the back of his hand comes back with blood and sweat, sticking dirt to his forehead and now the back of his hand. He frowns. He straightens up, his knees protesting being pressed into the sharp rocks beneath him. A casual brush sweeps the dirt from his dark uniform. Sighing, Josuke trudges back home. Another day fighting another Stand user. Has Morioh ever been normal?
Apparently he spoke too soon. Finally back in the main downtown streets, Josuke thought he was safe. Sure enough, a blur passes right in front of him before launching something sharp at him. Josuke leans back to avoid the knife.
Shit! Bastard!
Josuke growls around him.
He whips around, trying to find the Stand or the user. Shadows coil around the corner of a building like a long winding snake. Josuke shivers. He hates snakes.
The darkness slithers forward again, knowing now that Josuke is watching and taking its sweet time moseying over to him. Without a thought, Crazy Diamond is in the air floating next to him, staring down the moving shadows.
They both move in a flash. The shadows coalesce into the form of a solid black cobra, jaw dropped wide to point it's four fangs right at his heart. Lights gleams off the fangs, reflecting like silver and probably blinding an unwitting passerby. It launches straight at Josuke, who hasn't moved.
His hair casts a shadow over his eyes, his expression partially concealed from the user, wherever they are. The user must be pretty confident if they haven't recalled their snake nor changed its path.
Right as the snake hisses to precede its lethal bite, a crystal fist snatches the snake right behind its head. It hisses and writhes disgustingly, whipping its body around to land a blow on Josuke or Crazy Diamond. Josuke finally looks enough to smirk at the snake in it's beady silver eyes.
Josuke immediately regrets it, however. He let Crazy Diamond catch it at the last possible second, mostly to make sure it's aim was true with such a short ranged Stand, but partially in hopes that it would force the user closer. That, and it probably looked badass. Instead, the snake now writhes right in front of his face.
BLEGH! Ewwwww!
Josuke shrieks, stepping back only to trip over his own heel. Landing hard on his rear, Crazy Diamond thankfully keeps the snake trapped in its grip.
A noise jolts Josuke back into alertness.
Somewhere in the alley behind him, someone coughs and gasps as if being choked. The shadow in his Stand's hand grows weak, becoming more and more transparent before his eyes. Josuke lets the shadows drop, thankfully falling like crumpled dust back into the shade, before turning around and finding the user.
Please, please, I- Please I beg of you! Beg of you! Please I- I didn't want-
the desperate user begs, -I didn't want to! But the old guy-
Yeah yeah, the guy in the flying photo right?
Josuke crouches down, balancing on the balls of his feet and resting his elbows on his knees. Shot you with an arrow? Now you can control shadows when you couldn't before?
The man looks up to Josuke with his eyes blown wide in revelation. The teen sighs. How many more can the old ghost want? Standing, Josuke scratches the back of his head.
Ya know, I have an ability like you,
Josuke explains, watching the man but noticing how the shadows flex around him, as if Josuke wouldn't notice him preparing a new attack.
My ability is to fix things. I can also heal wounds as long as they're not lethal.
The shadows hesitate, but start curling up and coiling once more. Josuke slightly prays that the guy can turn shadows into more than just snakes.
So you're a good guy?
the man spits. Somehow, he has no awe over meeting someone with an ability like him, he's still too disillusioned by the old ghost.
Depends.
The Stand user blinks up to the young man, totally shocked. What does he mean by-
Depends on whether or not my punches heal you or hurt you.
The man's eyes go wide one more time, noticing one final coy smirk before crystal fists are beating him up.
Dora-ra-ra-ra-RA-RA-RA-RA-RA-RA-RA!
Panting, Josuke steps out of the alley, letting the man groan as the bike lock magically pierces his ear to keep his mushy head in place. He'll live and reach full recovery if treated properly. Josuke never wants to kill if he can avoid it, unless it's Yoshikage Kira or someone who hurts his friends.
Brushing off yet another Stand encounter, Josuke heads off to find Okuyasu. As soon as he takes a step, however, he realizes he's limping. Damn it! Through all the battling, he never realized he sprained his knee that bad. No wonder he had a hard time getting up.
Thankfully it doesn't take long to find Okuyasu and Koichi. Unfortunately, it's because they're in the middle of Rohan's street, in the middle of a heated argument with Rohan himself. Limping over, Josuke tries to tune into the argument. Whatever it is, Rohan is bound to be saying something stupid.
How can someone say Josuke is evil?!
Okuyasu shouts, shoulders tense and fists pulled back, ready to fight.
Josuke smirks, proud of Okuyasu defending him until he notices the stream of tears down his face. Ohhhh Rohan is gonna get it.
His friends both spot him storming over, his eyes dark again and blood still splattered all over his face and uniform - it's going to be a pain to do the laundry again.
Okuyasu just means how can anyone not like Josuke?
Koichi tries to soothe Rohan’s nerves. His nerves seem far from backing down, however. And of course Okuyasu takes it as a personal challenge.
He's the most precious soft little soul!
Okuyasu whines, desperate to get his point across to Rohan.
The managaka's eyes snap over to Josuke as he approaches. He looks Josuke up and down, seeing every splash of blood and every clump of dirt. Josuke smirks as he tosses his arm over Okuyasu's shoulder. He has the decency to at least try wiping some of the blood off of his face.
Yeah, I'm adorable!
As if to make his point, Okuyasu grabs Josuke and pulls him close to his chest defensively, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend. Rohan gawks in disbelief. Okuyasu turns to examine his friend, insisting they go get him patched up, and Rohan takes the opportunity to sneak back into his house and hide away for the rest of the day. Or week. Or forever.