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Hunger rages through his being, growing more ravenous and unbearable with each step he takes down the corridor. He's played nice and humored Jonathan's outrageous requests for too long. Curse Jonathan and the worthless promises he coerces him into. He can't fucking take this for a second longer and if he doesn't get what he wants, what he craves, he's going to lose his mind — Jonathan can go straight to hell because Dio cannot be held accountable for his actions. He isn't obligated to answer to anyone or anything — least of all Jonathan.
But fortunately for Jonathan (and the first poor soul he would have eventually come across in such a frenzied state), Dio reaches his destination before he loses what little control he still has. A strange sense of relief washes over him as his fingers curl around the doorknob to Jonathan's room. The respite is fleeting and immediately replaced with a desire that pales in comparison to the hunger he felt a moment ago, but it's just enough to get him past the threshold and into Jonathan's room. Only then is Dio in the clear. He can let loose now, and with Jonathan's tantalizing scent thick in the air, the last bit of willpower Dio has crumbles into dust.
He finds Jonathan standing at the window, a glass of wine in hand and his gaze trained on the gardens outside. There is no way Jonathan could not have heard him barging in, yet he remains in place. If Dio did not know better, he’d think Jonathan is intentionally ignoring him. That isn’t the case, however, it doesn’t make the situation tolerable.
"Get over here, Jonathan," Dio demands after shutting the door with all the ruthless authority of a noble commanding his servant, leaving no room for Jonathan to even think of denying him.
Finally, Jonathan turns towards his direction, his deep blue eyes zeroing in on him. "Must you be so impatient?" Jonathan asks with a heavy sigh as if Dio's little more than an inconvenience to him. Nevertheless, he does exactly as Dio tells him, carefully setting his glass on his desk before walking over to him with long, graceful strides.
His lips curl into a triumphant grin as Jonathan approaches him. Oh, how he enjoys draining Jonathan of what little joy he might have had for the day and reminding him of his place in this world. As an additional way of asserting dominance over Jonathan, Dio refuses to dignify Jonathan’s inquiry with a response. He is lucky Dio’s waited this long for him, and now he will not be delayed a second longer.
Dio gives Jonathan his answer when his cold fingers curl around the expensive fabric of Jonathan's tie and gracelessly pulls him forward, forcing Jonathan to slam against his chest in the process. He doesn't allow Jonathan a moment to gain his bearings as he uses the hold he has on Jonathan's tie to pull the knot free, perfectly exposing his pale neck.
A coy lick of his upper lip is the only warning Dio gives before he steals away what little space is left between them and sinks his teeth into Jonathan's flesh. When Dio's fangs pierce Jonathan's vein, a burst of warm blood floods into his mouth. The strong, delicious taste of iron accompanies something sweet — undoubtedly a remnant of the nauseating amount of sugar Jonathan likes to consume, but for him, that excessive sweetness is what makes Jonathan's blood the finest of delicacies. It’s not just the taste, however, that makes Jonathan his favorite meal.
In these moments, Dio acquires something truly unique, something only he can do; it defiles Jonathan in the best of ways and ruins him for anyone else. In feasting on his blood, Dio drains Jonathan of his freedom and reminds him to whom he belongs. Jonathan can try and escape all he likes, but he will find that any attempt is futile and a waste of time.
Slowly, he’s sucking out the essence of Jonathan's being and making it his own — one more thing he can steal from Jonathan and claim as his own. It’s only a matter of time before Jonathan completely submits to him, but Dio supposes he can find a bit of amusement in what little struggle Jonathan puts up while it lasts.
As Dio continues to drink his fill, a soft, yet unmistakable whimper slips past Jonathan’s lips. His body trembles ever so slightly, and Dio can feel Jonathan’s immense strength slowly fading away. As much as he relishes the sight of Jonathan in such a weakened state, he can’t very well taunt Jonathan if he passes out on him. With notable reluctance, Dio stops drinking before Jonathan loses too much blood, but he doesn’t pull away just yet.
"Christ, you're a mess.” A mocking smile tugs at his blood-stained lips as he continues to lap up the crimson drops that fall freely from the wounds he’s made on Jonathan’s neck. "What would everyone think if they saw you like this, JoJo?” He purrs against Jonathan’s tender flesh. “Fallen so low that you’ve become prey to a far superior being.”
He’s won this round. Poor, sweet Jonathan — he never stood a chance.
Or so he believes.
Dio's sense of triumph falls flat when Jonathan shakes his head — a clear rejection of his victory. "That does not concern me.”
The resolve in Jonathan’s voice turns the cold blood in Dio’s veins to ice with a level of frigidity that rivals that of the freezing temperatures in the arctic.
He should have known better.
"And why not?" Dio inquires as he looks up at Jonathan. He means to ask in a manner that suggests Jonathan had no right in deciding what should be problematic for him, but his tone makes him sound petulant and insulted. Jonathan has no authority over him. He doesn't get to decide how Dio's words and actions affect him, and to hear him act like he has any modicum of control is nothing short of appalling.
"I am the only one you use like this," Jonathan answers with all the confidence in the world as if the notion that Dio would ever betray him had never crossed his mind.
The answer leaves a sour taste in Dio’s mouth. Of course. Jonathan couldn't care less about how this makes him look or how much Dio tries to tear him down. It infuriates him to no end that no matter how hard he tries, no matter what new form of torment he unleashes, Jonathan always prevails.
Jonathan never says or does anything to suggest he thinks he’s superior to Dio, but Dio knows the truth that lurks underneath Jonathan’s soft demeanor. He’s taunting him, wordlessly proving that Dio was inferior to him since the beginning, and he always will be.
Dio, however, cannot prove Jonathan’s true intentions, and accusing Jonathan of something he does not know as an absolute fact would only expose his vulnerability — something he won’t afford Jonathan if he can help it.
"And how, pray tell dearest Jonathan, can you be certain I've kept my word?” A devious smirk plays upon his lips.
"I trust you, Dio."
And again, Jonathan answers him with such genuine faith that it knocks the smile right off Dio’s face.
One could call Jonathan’s reply manipulative regardless of intention. Dio had planned to use this as an opportunity to sow a seed of doubt in Jonathan’s mind. He would have nurtured that little seedling and watched it blossom into a carnivorous monster that would have undoubtedly eaten away at Jonathan’s trust until he was left with the cold reality that he isn’t Dio’s only source of nourishment. He isn’t saving anyone from Dio’s bloodlust — he’s just another convenient toy.
But it isn’t true. Not only is Dio disgusted with himself for keeping a promise to Jonathan, but he can’t even lie about it. It might seem calculating on Jonathan’s part in the way his unwavering certainty prevents Dio from taking advantage of him, but Dio knows it’s anything but. He feels like Jonathan’s exploited what little humanity he has left but he can’t bring himself to say that about Jonathan — not with those blue eyes shining with such sincerity.
"Have you any idea how infuriating you are?"
It’s an honest question. After Dio’s countless attempts to destroy Jonathan, he’s always brought back to the same realization:
The more you beat him, the tougher he gets.
"So you keep telling me." A soft, tender smile that Dio wants to recoil from graces Jonathan’s lips, but it’s already too late. By the time Dio has come to terms with his loss, Jonathan’s already advanced on him. A warm hand cups his cheek and carefully guides him into a kiss.
The sweetness of Jonathan’s tongue pairs well with the metallic taste of blood lingering on his tongue — it makes him sick. Jonathan may be a gentle soul, but his kisses are hard and passionate. He devours Dio’s mouth as if he’s the inhuman creature of the night and leaves him feeling like his wretched soul has been sucked out of his body, but Dio refuses to submit so easily. He returns Jonathan’s kiss with equal intensity; Dio tells himself it’s his way of resisting, but it’s a flimsy lie at best. In reality, it’s the only bit of real affection Dio allows Jonathan.
"Enough,” Dio demands after a moment, gracelessly breaking their kiss and pushing Jonathan away. Or rather, he tries to create distance between Jonathan himself, but Jonathan slips a strong arm around his waist, effectively trapping Dio where he stands.
"I'll tell you when I've had enough,” Jonathan replies. His voice comes laced with the beginnings of a growl that sends a shiver down Dio’s spine and leaves him defenseless as Jonathan captures his lips in another kiss.
He wants to fight back. How dare Jonathan defy him like this? Nothing about this evening has gone according to plan. He’d meant to leave Jonathan feeling trapped, used and worthless — all because of a decision he made of his own volition. But, not only did Jonathan turn the tables on him, he accomplished this feat effortlessly.
But just like with everything else Dio's done in an attempt to make Jonathan's life a living hell, Jonathan unravels his plan and leaves him more frustrated than ever before.
He always finds the tiniest shred of good inside him, and Dio hates that more than anything else.
Dio tells himself that he loathes Jonathan Joestar with every fiber of his being. He repeats that sentiment over and over again, however, it's exceedingly difficult to despise the man who, despite everything he's ever done, continues to make him feel like he is his entire world.
It's moments like this when Jonathan overwhelms and renders him powerless and unable to oppose his affections that ideas of what could have been start to weave themselves into Dio's mind. How different their relationship would have played out if he'd not declared Jonathan his enemy the moment he first laid eyes on him, or accepted Jonathan's kindness as the genuine offer of friendship it was meant to be, rather than the weakness he saw it as.
If only he'd dared to give Jonathan a chance; they could have been so happy together.
No. As tempting as living a life of 'domestic bliss' sounds at times, it always disappears. The rush of superiority and power he feels when he gets the upper hand over Jonathan is too good to part with. Tonight he’d been dealt a loss, but with Jonathan, Dio’s come to terms with the fact that losing isn’t always a bad thing. Next time he won’t be so indulgent with Jonathan and he’ll get what he wants, but for right now Dio allows himself a rare glimpse of optimism. Regardless of the self-sacrificing, martyr-wannabe reasons Jonathan gives him, the result is the same. The small victories Jonathan claims are meaningless.
In the end, Jonathan belongs to him, that's all that matters.