Work Text:
“Cheers!”
The merry hollers of everyone with their drinks, gathered in the residence of the Kujo family as they celebrated their first Christmas together. Their first reunion after defeating DIO, and how nearly a year ago, they were camping in the Cairo deserts, fire warming them as the cool winds would blow, and the starry sky that accompanied their nights. A moment of peace in this hectic journey of numerous uncertainties they knew not of.
And for Kakyoin Noriaki, his first Christmas with his first friends.
For the redhead, his first everything was with the Crusaders, his first true friends, the first stand users to not belittle him and to see him truly for what he had to offer, regardless of weird quirks and habits. And his first love, Kujo Jotaro, abrasive, rough, but gentle, soft, caring for others around him, who had taken and given so many of his firsts to Noriaki as well, would be there to spend that special holiday with him.
He could remember the shocked, tearful faces of his parents when he woke up in the hospital, how Jotaro would come and visit him every single day, his stoic face replaced with a kinder expression when he set his eyes on his own violet ones. Noriaki could clearly remember his parents intimidated by this delinquent who had mixed his business into their perfect little son, who started to act out more, and yet, was happier than he ever was before. Eventually, they came around to Jotaro, who still gave a small nod every time he came to visit him in the hospital, and they would sometimes offer to drive him home on those days Jotaro would stay later than he should.
As for Jotaro himself, who dedicated his every day to visit Noriaki in the hospital, to give him homework or talk about what happened in class. It didn’t stop there, when he would help to get him things when he was too weak to pick it up on his own, or helped hold him during his physiotherapy sessions. Jotaro never left his boyfriend’s side, spending every moment to ensure his fast recovery.
Those casual touches became more intimate in the confines of the shitty white walls that Noriaki woke up to every day, the soft, unsure caresses of their hands brushing together on those quieter days where there wasn’t much to do, or the way Jotaro leaned in to brush his hair out of his face. It was merely a matter of time before they confessed to one another, or well.. Noriaki blurted out how Jotaro felt like his other half the day before his release from the hospital. And Jotaro, flustered, tried to hide the obvious emotions he wore on his sleeves with a grumble, before giving a quiet admission of his own feelings.
The days continued to pass, living out their relatively normal high school lives, no longer alone, and with the accompaniment of his new lover. months skipped by and with enough begging, and the promise to come back on Christmas day itself, Noriaki was allowed to sleep over at Jotaro’s house under the guise of a friendly sleepover.
Of course, Noriaki knew the general customs of generosity during Christmas, gift giving and a nicer than usual table dinner, or if his father didn’t feel like it, the occasional fried chicken snow special. What he hadn’t expected was the overly loud and joyous greetings from the Kujo household, save Jotaro, as Noriaki was hugged tight into the bosom of Ms Holly, welcoming him in as Joseph greeted the redhead in the dumbest get up of a red suit stuffed with a pillow, along with a homegrown beard that he was way too proud of. Besides that, there was the Christmas tree that stood so proudly in the main living room’s corner, almost reaching the ceiling.Jotaro had to bark at his grandfather to stop harassing Noriaki, who seemed overwhelmed, but relatively pleased with what was going on, following the flow.
It honestly was a lot to take in, the two Joestar men bickering at one another about the older one being embarrassing to all hell, to the lingering smell of roasted chicken from the connected kitchen, the painstakingly decorated room with tinsel and wreaths, the garden even had fairy lights thrown on the bushes. It was much livelier than any Christmas he had enjoyed, and he couldn’t help but feel himself smile as he heard familiar voices from the front door, Polnareff and Avdol soon coming around with their own set of presents.
It was a jubilant dinner for sure, the adults laughing boisterously and carefree over alcohol. Crisp roasted potatoes cooked in fat smelling amazing, and the excellent substitution of chicken instead of turkey that had its lovely golden roast to it, lining the table in its delicious glory. Polnareff was fighting over the Yorkshire puddings with Jotaro, with Joseph complaining about no one appreciating the fried chicken he had brought to the table that seemed so prevalent during Japanese Christmas dinners. Avdol and Holly were appreciating their spirits and chaos, and Noriaki just drank in the atmosphere.
As the dinner started to pipe down into a drinking session between the adults, who wanted to get drunk off mulled wine and whatever sweet concoction Holly had kindly made for them, Jotaro and Noriaki took the opportunity to slip away from the chaos, already stuffed to the gills with food.
“Jiji’s fucking embarrassing, sorry ‘bout that.”
Jotaro was first to grumble, Noriaki following with a laugh, holding both warm mugs filled with way too rich hot chocolate. Theyslowly sat at the edge of the walkway connecting the big residence his lover lived in and gave him an assuring nudge, his stand’s tentacles wrapping around the handle and passing it to Jotaro.
“It’s fine, Mr Joestar has always been exuberant, and Polnareff… is just being himself.”
Jotaro snorted in reply, a smirk tugging at his lips as he graciously accepted the warm mug, both holding theirs as they enjoyed the cold winter weather of Sendai, wind brushing against their cheeks as snow was already starting to fall gently back to earth.
“I never thought I’d spend a Christmas with my friends..”
“You are now.”
The shared silence between them was comforting, hands that rested on the wooden planks slowly shifting closer together until their fingers touched. Jotaro shifts himself closer and pulls the redhead’s hand into a gentle grasp, watching his garden be covered with flakes of white that would turn into a small wonderland surprise that he could share with his boyfriend.
“I.. honestly didn’t know what to get you as a gift. I’m not exactly minted.. But, here.”
Noriaki felt his breath hitch, trying to get the words out, Hierophant dragging the gift from under the tree outside, and his hand set down his mug as he messily grasped at the neatly wrapped box. He was fumbling, his hands were sweating, he felt like an absolute fool. It was just a gift, but it was a gift for his boyfriend, for everything he had done.
“Merry Christmas Jojo.”
He managed to spit out, feeling his face heat up. Noriaki swore that his embarrassment made his face hot enough to melt ice, and pushed the box into Jotaro’s hand. Jotaro raised a brow but pressed a gentle kiss onto his forehead, eliciting a soft noise of surprise as Jotaro opened the box with the help of Star Platinum.
Neatly wrapped in this little parcel were small chocolate truffles, two topped with a drizzle of white chocolate, the other two with cocoa powder. Jotaro couldn’t help but give a smile.
“Bought something nice for me didn’t you..?”
“I made them myself.”
Noriaki stuttered, embarrassed that he made chocolates like a high school teen wistfully thinking about what their crush would like on Valentine’s day. His face was burning, but after taking a deep breath, he nudged Jotaro and huffed.
“W-Well? Eat it.”
Jotaro just chuckled at the other’s flustered reaction, yet he was just as embarrassed, his face red, picking up a piece as cocoa powder smudged his fingers, and popped it into his mouth.
By no means were they like the expensive Godiva chocolates his grandfather would send, or the weird exotic creamy confectionary his grandmother would recommend, but it tasted delicious. The rich chocolate melted a little in his mouth as he let it sit on his tongue, savouring the flavours with his eyes closed, just for a moment, before chewing and swallowing it. His lover had made this batch of chocolate just for him.Jotaro suddenly not as confident of his own as he sheepishly pressed his hand at the back of his neck, shifting awkwardly on his spot.
“So.. You don’t like it.”
Noriaki murmured, feeling a little dejected when his boyfriend didn’t reply Jotaro hushed him with a gentle kiss, his lips tasting a bit of chocolate. Jotaro knew he wasn’t good at words, perhaps this could show how much he loved his gift. The gentle lap of his tongue against Noriaki’s lips, who opened his mouth just a little and let their tongues tangle together, the sweet bitter taste of chocolate lingering in Jotaro’s mouth. The redhead just quietly groaned into the kiss, pressing into it a little more before he pulled away with a sigh.
“You could taste how good it was, how could I not love it? I’m more nervous about my gift, it’s lame as hell compared to homemade chocolates.”
Jotaro tried to console him as Star Platinum floated back with his gift as well. It was shoddily wrapped with tape to piece the ends together, all tied with a ribbon that was probably done by his stand or his mother. The taller man received the gift and pressed it to Noriaki’s hands for him to unwrap.
“.. Merry Christmas Nori.”
The poor redhead had to hold back a laugh at how adorable his boyfriend was, the tip of his ears reddening from his little gesture of kindness, along with how shittily wrapped his gift was. Well.. It showed he was earnest at least. Slowly peeling off the tape to ensure the wrapping paper stayed in one piece he unfolded it to reveal a box. Before Noriaki could say anything about proper gift wrapping while he opened his gift he saw a small hair clip, a cherry decoration on the end, the fruit brilliant rubies, and its leaves a shimmering emerald.
“I.. Jojo.. This.. This is so sweet of you.. I don’t even know how to repay you..”
Noriaki could almost feel tears pricking at his eyes, a swirl of emotions going through his head, but when Jotaro pulled him into a hug, it settled with overwhelming joy. It was a small gift, but so aptly Jojo. He pressed his head back onto his lover’s chest, warming himself in his embrace as he gave a soft sigh and his hands wrapped around Jotaro’s waist.
“I love you Nori. Want you to be happy every Christmas, and from here on out.”
Jotaro muttered softly to his boyfriend, pulling away as he pried the hair clip gently from Noriaki’s hands, fumbling to open it, and carefully clipped his boyfriend’s hair, revealing eyes that sparkled the beautiful violet he loved to gaze into.
And compared to whatever his lover had given, Noriaki surely was the best gift he had gotten all year.