Chapter Text
January 15th, 1989
"Hey, Jotaro." Kakyoin's usually cheerful voice was instead replaced by a quiet and almost... somber tone, which caught Jotaro off guard. Something was off, he could feel it.
The two teens stood out on the balcony of some hotel in Egypt, of which Jotaro didn't bother to remember the name. How many days had it been? Jotaro wondered, How many days had it been since he left home; Since he last saw his mother?
"Jotaro?" He blinked, lifting his head. The shorter teen's lavender gaze was softly fixed on him. He met the other's eyes just long enough to admire how the city lights glinted off of them. He let out a quiet grunt in response, acknowledging his question with little effort. Tapping the ashes off the end of his cigarette and over the edge of the railing. Watching them float down into the flickering abyss of clashing storefront signs and headlights driving past below.
"Have you ever... feared death?" The brooding teen's eyes widened at the question. Feared death? His eyes darted over to focus on Kakyoin, who was leaning partway over the edge of the balcony and pressing his weight against his arms, which were draped over the banister.
Jotaro didn't know what to say. He might've actually pondered over why he'd ask such a thing, if it weren't for the fact that they were on what was practically a suicide mission. All just to save just mother, who was left to suffer through her illness at back home. They had already faced enemy after enemy, any of which could've easily cut the journey short if they weren't careful.
"...Yeah." Jotaro eventually began, "A few times."
"I guess everyone fears death at some point, but..." Though inaudible to Jotaro, Kakyoin took in a sharp breath before continuing. "How would you react if you knew you were going to die?"
...What the fuck? Jotaro's brow furrowed slightly. What was he talking about? Pursing his lips, he was almost ready to give a smart-ass response only for Kakyoin to add on.
"Everyone's going to die eventually, I know that. But how would you react if you woke up one day and somehow knew that 'no matter what I do today, one of my actions will cause my certain demise.' What would you do? Would you stay in place, letting your thoughts ruminate as you try to outlast it, or would you go out there and actively fight against what feels so deeply ingrained in fate?"
Jotaro found himself staring, watching as Kakyoin wrapped his slender fingers around the railing, tight enough to whiten his knuckles. Then, it hit him. Up until now, Jotaro had only been thinking about himself. About how homesick he felt, how much he missed his mom. How much stress having to fight someone new every time they turned a corner put on him. Jotaro mentally kicked himself as soon as he realized his mistake. Scolded himself for being so idiotically selfish. Kakyoin must've had it much worse than him, surely. From what Jotaro knew, the teen hadn't even told his parents about this trip.
And, from the tone of Kakyoin's voice, he could tell this wasn't just some weird icebreaker, or some fucked up joke. It was a very serious question, and Jotaro knew he had to be careful with how he answered.
But before he could, the sound of the other sighing caught his ears, his breath visible in the cool January air.
"Sorry- that was..." Jotaro tossed the remains of his cigarette off the balcony as Kakyoin spoke, then stepped closer. He hesitated. Now that he was closer, he picked up on something he somehow hadn't noticed earlier. Something that pressed the slight weight of guilt into his chest.
Kakyoin was trembling.
Jotaro drew a slow breath in through his nose. What was happening to him? During the entire trip before this point he was perfectly fine. Jotaro knew better than to fear death. But now... Something about what the other teen said had put him on edge.
"Kakyoin." His voice came out husky, barely above a whisper. The other kept his head turned, his eyes staring out blankly at the flickering lights of the cityscape. Only broken when he felt the brunet's large hand gently placed on his shoulder. He turned to glance at the Jotaro, only to be met by his ocean gaze, his own lavender boring into them as the seconds passed.
"Fight." Jotaro's voice came back, only stronger this time as it broke the silence. "I would fight. Fight for the chance to prove fate wrong."
The redhead froze. His body stopped shaking for as long as he stared Jotaro down, which wasn't long. How?, Kakyoin wondered, How could anyone answer a question like that with such confidence?
Slowly, his body gave way to the tremor once more. With his own brow furrowing, Kakyoin turned his whole body towards the other teen and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a hug.
Jotaro instinctively tensed up at the sudden embrace, taking a few short seconds to adjust before reciprocating.
Jotaro wasn't the type to welcome unexpected physical contact. Or any physical contact at all, really. But this was different.
It was different from the school girls who harassed him every morning. It was different from his mother's hugs and goodbye kiss before he left for school. It was even different from the friendly shoulder touches and pats of the back he'd occasionally receive from his fellow crusaders. It was distinct. He couldn't quite place it.
There was something about it that made Jotaro wish this embrace could last forever.
He could feel Kakyoin's chest heave as he pressed his face against the thin fabric of Jotaro's T-shirt. He could feel the fabric dampen slightly, but he didn't mind. He softly set his chin on the other's shoulder as one hand moved to tenderly run across the length of Kakyoin's back, while the other carefully weaved it's fingers into the redhead's hair.
If only this could last forever. They wouldn't have to worry about DIO, or anything else. Nothing else would matter, and they would only have to think about each other. Jotaro knew that, in truth, something like that would be impossible. They would have to move on eventually. Time couldn't stop for just the two of them.
But a boy could dream.