Work Text:
-December 12th, 1988
Singapore-
“Damn,”
The sound of static filled the small space that was he and Jotaro’s hotel room as Kakyoin toyed with the radio. Jotaro watched him silently from where he lay, face down on his bed- Thank god they had their own beds - his hat thrown askew from where it normally sits on his head. Kakyoin visibly grew more frustrated and slammed on the side of it with one of Heirophant’s tendrils, huffing dramatically. Jotaro snorted out a laugh, turning his face and closing his eyes. He could sense Kakyoin’s lilac glare boring holes into the back of his head before he heard the static dissipate, being replaced with the low strumming of a guitar and a small “Yes!” of satisfaction leaving Kakyoin’s mouth.
Today had been- something- to say the least.
Their- Jotaro’s interaction with Rubber Soul was unlike anything he’d ever seen before, and he found himself thanking whatever deity was looking out for him enough to allow him to beat the everloving dogshit out of that asshole. They were all tired from traveling this far and decided to make Singapore their rest stop. Just his luck that he’d have to fight some stupid ass imposter stand.
Kakyoin let out a sigh of relief before slumping down onto his bed, holding his head in his hands. Jotaro turned his head back towards Kakyoin and opened an eye to peek over at him, trying to decipher what emotion the other had been feeling. He studied the back of Kakyoin’s rumpled night shirt, counting the lines that patterned it. Kakyoin turned around and met Jotaro’s eyes with his tired ones, scoffing in his direction, though it wasn’t directed at him at all. He knew that.
“Just-” Kakyoin started, his knuckles going white from the excessive clenching of his fists. “Impersonating me, doing things in my name-” He was visibly upset, his tone chalky and quiet in disbelief. “Did he kill anyone while- while he looked like me?”
Jotaro sat up and shook his head silently, not expecting to be asked anything. “Even if he did-”
“I don’t care if it wasn’t me, Jotaro,” Kakyoin cut him off, folding his hands in front of his mouth. Jotaro noticed the way his thin brows creased, his violent stare being directed at the wall, and for once, not towards Jotaro. “I.. That was my face- what if he had killed someone innocent?”
The rustling of bedding could be heard from behind Kakyoin before he felt a weight beside him, his bed creaking from the sudden mass. He looked up to find Jotaro staring down at him, no emotion evident in the other man’s eyes. Kakyoin sighed and shook his head, resuming his staring contest with the wall in front of them.
Jotaro had never been a man of many words, but there was something burning at the tip of his tongue, threatening to spew out endless words of affirmation. I know it wasn’t you; I know you’re better than that; I had suspicions from the start-
“It wasn’t.” Is what came out, and he cursed himself for being so vague as he stared at Kakyoin’s side profile. His chiseled jaw gritting, the way he peered at Jotaro with his lilac eyes- how had he never noticed that they were tinged with yellow specks? Had they always been there? It was silent for a few moments before Kakyoin spoke up.
“What?”
“It wasn’t you,” Jotaro clarified, clearing his throat and staring down at his hands, fingers cut open and scabbing over from today’s fight. “I knew the whole time that it wasn’t- I was just..” He trailed off, averting his gaze to the same wall Kakyoin had previously been staring at.
“Just what?” Kakyoin asked, his gaze hard against the side of Jotaro’s head. He stared at the way his black lashes curled upwards, his thick brows in contrast to his lighter, thinner ones. He waited patiently for a reply, taking in how Jotaro reached up for his hat that hadn’t been on his head, his cheeks tinging a light pink. Kakyoin wondered why he did that, nervous habit, maybe?
“I didn’t- If it was really you... I didn’t wanna hurt you.” Jotaro mumbled quietly. Kakyoin’s gaze softened as he blinked in surprise, the heat rising up to his own cheeks to match Jotaro’s.
“ Oh, ” He muttered, looking down at his hands with a shy smile. Jotaro noticed the way his bang bounced as he lowered his head, and he couldn’t help but give way to the smile that threatened at the corner of his lips. Kakyoin looked up at him, finally, and they just sat in silence as the sounds of the radio filled their room, buzzing around them at a comfortable volume.
“Wanna play truth or dare?” Kakyoin asked after they’d sat there for a while, and Jotaro scoffed.
“What is this, a grade school sleepover?”
“It’ll be fun, I swear!” Kakyoin pleaded with a small laugh at the end of his sentence. Jotaro ignored the way his heart skipped.
So, they played.
For the next hour and a half .
“Okay, okay,” Kakyoin laughed. They’d now been situated on Jotaro’s bed, Kakyoin sitting criss-cross and Jotaro lying on his side. “Truth or dare?”
Jotaro could pretend that he hated Kakyoin’s dares and stupid questions, but truth be told- He was actually having fun for the first time on this entire damned trip. Earlier in the game, he’d been dared by Kakyoin to sneak Star Platinum into Joseph’s room to wreak havoc, and when he did just that, Kakyoin laughed something ugly at the gruff hollering that came from down the hall. His laugh filtered through the room, high-pitched and scathing-
Jotaro found it endearing.
“Truth.” He said bluntly, nestling a pillow between his arm and his head.
“Why did you save me?” Kakyoin asked almost immediately, and Jotaro froze at the question. Too many reasons. He cleared his throat, returning from his thoughts, and looked up at Kakyoin with a serious expression. Kakyoin perked up, staring at him intently.
“Because you’re a doofus-” He was cut off by the slight ‘oomph-!’ that left his throat as Kakyoin slammed the pillow he’d been holding in his lap down onto his face, giggling uncontrollably.
“Smartass- HEY-!” Kakyoin yelled as Jotaro sat up and hit him across his front with the pillow that was previously supporting his head. They took turns hitting each other- full force- with their pillows, and it wasn’t long before Kakyoin heard a strained noise bubble from Jotaro’s throat after he’d been hit across the face again.
Kakyoin stared in amazement as the other busted out laughing, his whole body wracking with it. Kakyoin’s smile grew before he joined him, their laughter filling the room with light energy they hadn’t felt during any of this.
It was nice.
Their laughter died down after a few moments, heavy breathing and soft giggles coming from the two. Kakyoin wiped his eyes and smiled down at Jotaro, taking in his appearance. Come to think of it, this is the first time he’d seen Jotaro without his hat. He studied his hair and how it curled at the top, tracing his eyes down to his pierced ears. Gold studs, huh?
His thoughts came to a halt as he felt a warmth between the webs of his fingers, and he looked down to find a slightly larger, calloused hand intertwining with his own. His mouth warbled, and his cheeks felt the familiar warmth from earlier threatening them. He met Jotaro’s gaze; his stoic expression had returned- but the warmth within his eyes was different than what Kakyoin normally saw.
Kakyoin shyly squeezed Jotaro’s hand before he felt a yank, and suddenly he was lying beside Jotaro.
“Jo-”
“Shut up,” Jotaro said quickly, embarrassed by his own suddenness. He closed his eyes and threw his arm around Kakyoin’s frame, pulling him closer. Kakyoin’s warm breath was puffing against his chest, and he felt his body tremble slightly.
The shock came when Kakyoin returned his hug- if you could call it that- and nestled his head into Jotaro’s chest, all sense of insecurity leaving his body. He allowed himself to rest his chin on Kakyoin’s head as they basked in each other’s presence, taking in the scent of his lavender shampoo.
“Truth or dare?” Kakyoin asked suddenly, the vibrations of his voice traveling through the muscle on Jotaro’s chest. Why were they back on this?
“Truth.” He chose to take the safe route. Kakyoin never did things without reason, he supposed.
A few beats of silence ensued, and Jotaro could tell that Kakyoin had been hesitant about something. He pulled apart from him slightly and stared down at him, studying his features for the millionth time that night. The way his bottom lip puffed out, the way his brows creased in thought- did he ever not think?- The way he was just.. Kakyoin. There was no one like him, no one Jotaro had met, at least.
‘Tomorrow’s rain will wash the stains away,
But something in our minds will always stay.’
He watched as Kakyoin opened his mouth to say something but closed it again. Another song came on the radio, an English one that he’d heard his mom play some months ago- Fragile by Sting, wasn’t it? - Kakyoin’s eyes glinted with newfound confidence before he looked up to meet Jotaro’s, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed thickly.
“Can I kiss you?” He whispered sheepishly, his confidence diminishing slightly.
Without another word, Jotaro pressed his fingertips to the underneath of Kakyoin’s sharp chin and held his gaze. He smiled. A real, genuine smile, and Kakyoin felt his insides bursting at the seams before he felt Jotaro’s nose graze against his own. Slowly, their lips pressed together- and there it was- that well-expected burst of color coursing through Kakyoin’s veins. The music played on in the background while Jotaro deepened the kiss, pressing an open palm to the side of Kakyoin’s face.
‘For all those born beneath an angry star,
Lest we forget how fragile we are.’
He caressed the soft skin there, and all that could be heard was the tenderness of their inexperienced kisses, the sound of Kakyoin’s soft ‘mmph’s when Jotaro would pull apart just to press his lips back onto his, and the music dying out in the back.
The static from the radio filled the room again, and Kakyoin allowed another one of Heirphant’s tendrils to unravel, stretching across to the other side of the room to shut it off with annoyed haste. Jotaro huffed a small chuckle and pushed Kakyoin’s bang behind his ear, completely infatuated with him. He’d never felt this way about anyone, and he was sure of that. It scared him just as much as he loved it.
“Kak-”
“Noriaki.” Kakyoin corrected, rubbing his thumb across Jotaro’s bottom lip. “Call me Noriaki, please.”
“Okay,” Jotaro smiled. “Noriaki?”
“Yes?”
“Stay in my bed tonight?” Jotaro asked, his heart racing. He wasn’t one to be direct, and this was new for him.
Noriaki grinned before pulling away from Jotaro. Jotaro’s heart panged for a split second until he realized that Noriaki was situating himself beneath the sheets, and his smile slowly crept back onto his face. He scooted up to meet Kakyoin’s side and lifted the sheets to rest above him as well. He kept a safe distance between himself and Noriaki, not wanting to make him uncomfortable.
“Is the bed too sma-” He began, but it was Noriaki’s turn to tell him to shut up as he reached back and grabbed his wrist, guiding Jotaro’s arm to rest across his waist. Jotaro’s body lit up with pure excitement from the contact, and he can’t even remember the last time he gave such a toothy smile. Jotaro pressed himself closer, taking in his warmth as they both closed their eyes, the exhaustion kicking in. What was it that he said about having his own bed?
Oh well, never mind that.
“Goodnight, Jojo.”
“Goodnight, Nori.”
They didn’t need both beds, anyway,
and it remained that way for the rest of the trip.