Chapter Text
50 days. 50 long, short, wild, absolutely bat-shit insane days is all it took to finally land Jotaro in the hospital for wounds he’d received. Not only him, but his friends and family as well. Jotaro had been transferred to hospital alongside his grandfather, but fainted shortly before arriving in the ambulance. At least, he didn’t remember falling asleep— he couldn’t have in a situation like that, with nerves that high.
Nerves heightened momentarily as the constant beeping of the device next to him started to irritate him. Out of frustration, he pulled the cap off his finger, the beep to drag out longer and a nurse to rush in not longer after. After seeing the situation, she let out a sigh of relief, though was hesitant to enter the room further due to Jotaro’s blank stare. He stared at the lower portion of the wall directly in front of him, his mind feeling full and empty almost simultaneously. So many thoughts bouncing around that they overwhelmed the censors.
She gingerly set foot inside the room, pausing as she felt the static-like aura form around Jotaro. Still, she dared to put the cap back on his finger, only this time she turned down the volume setting on the monitor. Jotaro tensed at first, only relaxing slightly at the lower-volume beeping. It didn’t seem to bother him as much.
Many days passed where Jotaro was alone in his room, only occasionally checked on by nurses as he slowly recuperated, including mealtimes.
“Um.” The nurse’s soft voice didn’t catch his attention at first, only because she was speaking on his right side. “What types of books do you like?” Jotaro blinked, then glared at her for a moment, a slightly surprised that she dared to interact with him further.
“...” He actually had to think about book choice for the first time in a while, and the pause clearly made the nurse nervous. “Non fiction. Marine Life.” He muttered, only loud enough for the two of them to hear.
That was it, huh? He let out a sigh as she left the room.
He hadn’t heard much from anyone for at least another day. To be fair, he hadn’t said anything beyond occasionally acknowledging a nurse’s presence until that nurse bothered to ask him about his book preference. Though, when family and less injured friends finally came to visit, he continued this trend.
“Jotaro? Earth to Jotaro?” The Frenchman waved a hand in front of his face, only to be met by a glare at first. Of course, Jotaro was immensely grateful to see that one of his now closest friends had made it out alive and without many major injuries— but there was still something lingering in his mind.
“Polnareff.” The Frenchman ins question almost jumped upon actually being acknowledged.
“Jotaro!” A smile, but Jotaro simply stared him down.
“Good to see you.” He muttered, eyes drifting off for a moment. Only fixing back on him as he refocused. “Where’s Kakyoin?”
The room’s mood dampened upon the utterance of the other teen’s name. The smile on the other man’s face seemed to weaken slightly. He stayed silent for a moment.
It was only when a nurse who had overheard them— the previously timid nurse— stepped in that he finally learned the news.
“He’s stable, but only just barely. We’re not sure when he’ll be ready for visitors, but it could take weeks. It’s to ensure his safety.” She explained. The boy had damaged and even lost some organs, and nearly half of his blood volume. “It’s a miracle that we managed to save him.”
Jotaro’s grip on the bedsheets where he lay his hand tightened as she spoke. Of course, all parties in the room noticed this. But it was only Polnareff, even with a broken arm, who was allowed to console him. First with a hand on his shoulder, then with a gentle hug that pulled him towards the standing Frenchman’s chest.
Of course, both of their injuries would pale in comparison to the redhead’s. Jotaro had many more than the frenchman, but none as severe as the blow that had left the redhead dead for over the minute before the SPW managed to resuscitate him.
Days and weeks passed further before eventually, there was finally different news to hear. News besides flowers not being allowed in the recovering student’s room. He was still in the ICU, but Jotaro was finally being given the chance to see him.
He was led down the hall slowly as the doctor warned him about the other’s condition, but he couldn’t care less. He knew the boy would probably looked as fucked up as his injured sounded, he had prepared himself for that.
At least, he thought he had.
The door crept open, and immediately Jotaro froze, staring forward at the figure he called his friend. The doctor encouraged him to step into the room, but he stayed near the door even as the doctor closed it. It was just the two of them, now.
Slowly but surely, Jotaro begrudgingly made his way over to the lone chair by his friend’s bedside. Cherry red hair cascaded across his face in his trademark bangs, hiding his eyes partially behind it. He couldn’t bare to look near them yet. The teen in front of him looked... empty. As if he was gutted like a fish then reassembled with missing parts. Of course, the actual injury was hidden under layers of clothing and hospital sheets. But the sheet had been pulled down in such a way that the hospital gown was the only obstacle between him and the bandaged wound.
Jotaro was swift to ignore this as his eyes darted to sudden movement- Kakyoin’s fingers twitching. That was when he remembered what the doctor had told him.
“He's awake, but his condition will have an effect on how he responds to outside stimuli.”
He didn’t stop himself from clasping his hands softly around Kakyoin’s for a moment. He felt it tense up slightly, only to relax again afterwards. Jotaro’s eyes swiftly darted up toward’s Kakyoin face again, only to cross paths with amber. Far, distant amber eyes. Something in Jotaro shattered at the look in the other’s eyes. This poor kid was drugged up out of his mind with painkillers. Jotaro knew that. Still, Kakyoin’s stare haunted him.
“Kakyoin.” He started softly. The hazy look in the teen’s eyes didn’t falter, even as his gaze floated onto Jotaro. The brunet swallowed and clenched his jaw before continuing. “I’m.” Exhale. Breathe, Jotaro. “...”
“ You’re alive. ” Jotaro breathed out, breaking the stare between them and slumping forward slightly. He let go of the redhead’s hand to press his own knuckles to his forehead. This would be harder than he had ever imagined.
Even harder still, as he flinched slightly upon the faint feeling of pressure on the top of his head. He was soon to realize that this pressure was actually his friend’s hand, which caused him to flash a glance at the teen’s face again. The lights were off in his gaze but he was conscious. Not fully. Jotaro could tell. Something about Kakyoin. He wasn’t all there. Nonetheless, Jotaro could pick up the weakness attempt of a smile on the redhead’s face, which gave him some relief.