Work Text:
The quiet has never felt as odd as it does now.
After all they’ve been through, it’s a wonder that they can have even a moment of peace in their lives. Even though he’s sure DIO is dead, Joseph still can’t help but feel like there are eyes on him everywhere he goes: figures lurking in the shadows, stand users waiting for the perfect moment to strike at them… anything could be a possible threat waiting to pounce on him and take his life. Well, not if he can help it! The Joestar family has always been prone to these kinds of curses, ever since the days of his grandfather, Jonathan. He’s gotten good about staying on his guard, but it’s definitely been a hard habit to break since they arrived back in Japan.
At least there’s some semblance of peace in Joseph’s mind knowing that his dear Holly is okay now. They completed their mission and he saved his daughter, but part of him still feels… unfulfilled. He remembers all that they gained along the way, but he also remembers what they lost. The sacrifices of his teammates were more than vital to ensure their victory, but all the same, they were his friends, and now… they’re gone. He doesn’t think he’ll ever stop thinking about them and what they gave up for him, and how he’ll forever be in their debt for their contributions.
Joseph can’t tell if it’s his own paranoia or his body’s restlessness that’s given him this nightly routine of wandering the halls before he can allow himself to go to sleep. His mind needed to be sure that there were no other stand users hiding in the house waiting to attack them. He’s got a few extra days left to spend in Japan with Holly and Jotaro, then he’ll be heading back to his home in New York with his wife, Suzie Q. It’s no secret that staying in Japan isn’t one of his favorite things; he misses his bed back home more than anything, and would gladly do whatever it took not to sleep on that damned floor again, but Holly seemed happier with him here, so he can afford to let it slide for a few more days. The feeling of relief that washed over him as Holly and Suzie welcomed them home when they arrived back in Japan was unlike anything he’d ever felt before, and he never wants to forget how good it felt to have his daughter back in his arms again, happy and smiling as she was fifty days earlier.
It feels so surreal to say that it’s all over now, but he has a life to get back to… maybe it’s time to hang up the old hat and finally retire so he can relax a little with his wife, or actually maybe have a home life… but he knows that reality is much more of a fantasy for him.
The halls are normally vacant as he walks them every night, mostly because everyone is usually asleep by the time he does his rounds, but tonight, he notices something different. There’s a door open, one that normally wasn’t at this time of night. He can feel the cool air from the outside seeping in through it, and the bright light of the moon through the door was enough to illuminate the small hallway a bit.
Huh… that’s strange… Joseph thinks to himself.
Joseph takes a few more quiet steps forwards and peeks into the room to see exactly what he thought he’d find- the door to the outside slid open, letting in the night breeze and the soft chirps of crickets. What he didn’t expect to see was a person sitting outside on the veranda, shoulders slumped with his head hung low and focused on the ground.
It was Jotaro.
It’s well past midnight… What could Jotaro be doing up at this hour? Joseph thinks. He’s normally pretty particular about his sleep- Is something troubling him? Should I ask?
Jotaro is his grandson, but he still feels wary about approaching him like this. He knows well that Jotaro is normally a bit hostile and resistant to help, even when he needs it. He doesn’t want to believe that something could be wrong, but the possibility of it is giving him a feeling of unease, and he wants to help. That’s enough justification in his mind for him to slowly stalk into Jotaro’s room, all the way up to the open sliding door to the veranda.
Nervously, he clears his throat and speaks softly. “Hey… Care if I join ya?”
Jotaro lifts his head and slowly turns to look up at him. Jotaro’s stare is icy and unfeeling. Though his gaze feels sharp and chilling, Joseph can sense there’s a little more softness to it than usual.
Jotaro looks up at his grandfather and blinks, then sighs, shaking his head. “Do whatever you want. I don’t give a damn.”
That’s… definitely a sign. Joseph thinks to himself. He didn’t turn him away outright, so that indication has to mean something… right? He nods and walks out to the veranda, taking a seat next to Jotaro. “Thanks.”
Jotaro doesn’t reply, not even a nod or a grunt. His gaze just trails back down to the ground where his legs hang off the edge of the veranda. He’s left his jacket and hat hanging on a hook inside the room, but he’s still wearing the pants and shirt of his school uniform, like he hasn’t even bothered to try and sleep. It normally wouldn’t be super surprising, but at this late at night, it just doesn’t feel right.
Joseph realizes at this point that he has no idea what to do from here. He was half expecting Jotaro to make it easy on him by telling him to go away or screw off and that would be the end of it, but he didn’t… so now what? He looks around at himself, before realizing he has something in his pocket that could be of use.
He digs his hand into his pocket and fishes out a pack of cigarettes, more than half empty, but there’s more than enough to get him through until he gets back home, and more to share. He flips the package open with his thumb and plucks one out for himself, then holds it out to Jotaro. “You want one?”
Jotaro lifts his head again and looks to Joseph’s hand, staring at the package for several seconds, then looking back up to his face. His expression and pinched eyebrows silently ask, Are you sure?
“Don’t worry, I promise I won’t tell.” Joseph reassures him. “And if your mom or Suzie complain about the smell, I’ll take the fall.”
Jotaro still looks nervous, but finally brings himself to lift his hand and pull out a cigarette from the pack. “You got a light?” He asks.
Joseph digs back into his pocket and pulls out his lighter, offering it to Jotaro. “Here.”
Jotaro grabs the lighter and lights it, then lifts it to the end of the cigarette he put between his lips. Once the tip of the cigarette glows a healthy red and begins to smolder, he hands the lighter back to Joseph. “Thanks.”
Joseph takes the lighter back and uses it to light his own cigarette, using his hand as a shield from the wind as he flicks the spark wheel with his thumb. “Don’t mention it.”
The two go back again to sitting in silence, listening to the wind blow through the trees and the sound of the night, the scene around them illuminated by the moonlight. It’s a beautiful night, but Joseph doesn’t want to talk about the weather. He knows something is off with Jotaro.
“You’re not usually up this late… is something on your mind?” He asks, plucking the cigarette out of his mouth and holding it in two fingers as he looks over at his grandson.
Jotaro doesn’t respond for a beat and takes a long drag of his cigarette. Joseph almost thinks he ignored the question, until he replies, “It’s nothing.”
It’s nothing. The common dismissal he’s heard and used countless times over the course of his life. It’s pretty hypocritical of him to say, because he’s definitely used it a fair share of times in his own life, but he’s sick of it being used by his loved ones as a way to downplay what’s really going on, especially not now, since he very well can’t help if Jotaro doesn’t tell him anything.
“Well… If there ever is anything wrong, you can talk to me about it.” Joseph confides. “I’m not the best at giving advice, but I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my day, if you can believe it. Sometimes talking about the things that are bugging you will make you feel better.”
A slight scowl grows on Jotaro’s face. “Don’t try it, old man. I told you- it’s nothing.”
The scowl shakes him a little, and Joseph nods solemnly, putting the cigarette back between his lips to go back to minding his own business. He starts to realize maybe this wasn’t a worthy endeavor after all. Jotaro’s been a tough nut to crack ever since he reached adolescence, and maybe there’s not much he can do anymore. He knows he’s a teenager now, and he doesn’t need to be constantly doted on, especially since Holly does that enough, but he can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. Jotaro’s not one to often show weakness or ask for help, though Joseph could definitely chalk that much up to being a Joestar family curse as well. He can’t help if Jotaro doesn’t ask for it, so now, he’s stuck…
A puff of smoke leaves Jotaro’s mouth as takes his cigarette out of his mouth and he lets out another sigh. “I’ve just… been thinking.”
Joseph starts listening in closer, nodding along. “Yeah… me too.” He feels a little relieved, since any progress is better than nothing when it comes to getting to the bottom of this without making Jotaro hate his guts. If nothing else, it’s a start. “What are you thinkin’ about?” He asks.
“Everything…” Jotaro replies, his tone flat and slow, but soft like a whisper. “About the mission, about what happened in Egypt, about DIO, about our family… everything. It’s just… so much. TOO much…”
Joseph nods again, letting out a short laugh. “Heh… You and me both, kid. I know it’s a lot for you to take in, and you might not ever understand it all… but it’s all behind us now. Whatever we do from here, who knows? But for now, we can accept that what happened is history now, and we can be proud of what we accomplished.”
Does he believe that himself? Not fully. But does he want Jotaro to believe it, for his own sanity? Yes, unquestionably.
Jotaro grimaces again, his expression reading as unsure. “But… it can’t be that simple… Can it? I know we won. I know DIO’s dead… I know I shouldn’t have any regrets, but…” He trails off, his jaw clenched tight.
Joseph cocks an eyebrow. “But…?”
Jotaro jerks away from him, averting his gaze. He doesn’t respond except for a small, exhausted grunt as he puts the cigarette back in his mouth and smokes it again..
Joseph can’t help but roll his eyes. “Come on, kid, it’s just you and me out here. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, so just spit it out already.”
Jotaro sighs again, turning back towards him slightly. “I just… I feel like… I don’t… I just…” The words won’t form and he’s getting more and more agitated that he can’t seem to articulate how he’s feeling. Jotaro lets out another frustrated grunt and turns away again. “Forget it. Nevermind. It’s stupid anyway.”
Joseph’s eyes narrow and he scoots closer to him. “Jotaro, it’s not stupid. I told you you can tell me anything. I’m here to help you, you can trust me-”
“No.” Jotaro snaps, whipping his head back around to look at Joseph, a stern look in his eyes. “It is stupid and it doesn’t matter, so why should I say it? You probably don’t care anyways. So… just forget… about it, alright?”
Jotaro is one to be stern and cold, but not one to commonly have sudden unprovoked outbursts like this. This is new for him- and it takes Joseph aback slightly. The tone in his voice is something he’s never heard either. Amidst the gruff, demanding tone, he can sense… unease. Nervousness. Embarrassment. He’s always heard Jotaro speak with nothing but conviction, and it’s enough to clue him in to the fact that something is definitely off.
“J- Jotaro…” Joseph stammers, trying to find more words of encouragement, but coming up sorely empty.
Jotaro grumbles and turns away again, clearly more than a little agitated now. Even the puffs of cigarette smoke that leave his mouth seem directed and seething.
Suddenly, Joseph feels stuck again. They were making a good amount of progress, and he just nearly got Jotaro to open up to him a little, but he knows better than to believe it would just be that simple. Jotaro’s not all that keen on all this affection, and in a sense, he isn’t either, but it would be worse if he forced it on him.
After a long and tense pause, Jotaro’s voice pipes up again, softer. “I don’t think they deserved to die.” He states. “There, I said it. Happy?”
Joseph watches Jotaro slowly turn back to face forwards, his posture more reserved and tense. He speaks slowly and softly, and Joseph realizes he’s never seen Jotaro look this awkward and uncomfortable, and there’s no doubt he feels it too. Joseph scoots closer to Jotaro, his body language wordlessly indicating Jotaro to continue and that he’s listening to every word he’s saying.
“It all just… happened so fast. One minute we were all together, planning to go after DIO in the mansion and finish all of this, and then… the next, I was the only one that was left standing. No one was still alive- not even you.” Jotaro admits. “I… I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”
Joseph nods back in acknowledgement, taking a moment to think before he responds. “I know how you feel. I’ve been thinking a lot about them too… but I hope you understand that you’re not at fault for their deaths, no one is. No one can be. What happened to Avdol, Iggy, and Kakyoin… it was way out of our control, and… I guess, in a sense we all should have expected that it wasn’t likely all of us were going to make it out alive, but it’s unreasonable to ask that. I know this kind of guilt can make you think those things, but believe me- it’s not your fault.”
Jotaro sighs and shakes his head. “I know. I know it’s not my fault… It’s not about that.”
Joseph tilts his head to the side, his attention fully focused on Jotaro. “Then… what is it?”
Jotaro sighs again. “I… I just don’t understand. They were good people. They had every right to live and be happy after this was all over, to go home like we did. Everything changed in the blink of an eye and I just… I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Joseph sits quietly, listening intently. Despite how tender the words sound, in Jotaro’s voice they hold the weight of a lot of pain and regret. He’s not wallowing in his own pity or sadness- it sounds more like he’s… in shock. He resists the urge to lay a hand on Jotaro’s shoulder, not wanting to push the envelope now that he’s already gotten this far.
“And I know Avdol and Iggy sacrificed themselves for Polnareff, but… what about Noriyaki?” Jotaro continues, his voice getting fainter as he speaks. “DIO killed him with no remorse- what did he have to die for? We just got him back from recovery, only to… to lose him again… I don’t understand… It… it’s just not fair…”
Joseph takes another puff of his cigarette. “No, it’s not. I wished things would have gone differently back there… but, on the other hand, Kakyoin helped us figure out DIO’s stand and that was crucial to our win, so his sacrifice wasn’t in vain, right?”
Jotaro’s brow pinches in disdain and he turns to look at his grandfather. His eyes look pained. “How could you say something like that? There’s no bright side to any of this, or any different ways to look at it. Even if his sign helped us, Noriyaki is still dead, and there’s nothing we could have done… He should be here with us right now, with his family, but now he can’t…” He grumbles again and turns away. “Forget it, you just don’t understand, old man…”
Joseph reels a little, realizing that might have been too soon an assumption to make- the wounds are still fresh and everyone is still healing, so maybe that kind of advice isn’t the right move right now. But, the end of Jotaro’s sentence hangs in his head: You just don’t understand. Just how the hell could he not understand? He was there! He was the one who saw Kakyoin die, there was no way he could misunderstand it! But, he knew that wasn’t what Jotaro was talking about. He couldn’t mistake the way Jotaro’s voice wavered when talking about Kakyoin, thinking about his family and what they have to deal with now that their son is gone. He knew Jotaro wasn’t completely emotionless, even though he didn’t show it on the surface; he just showed his affection and care in unorthodox ways.
Jotaro was grieving, whether he knew it or wanted to admit it. He was grieving the deaths of his dear friends, and a tragedy this severe is hard to navigate alone, especially as a teenager. Joseph only wished Jotaro trusted him more and could confide in him to console him in this time of need, but he can’t ask that of him- it would be too much.
Joseph’s head tilts up to look at the moon, that bright white beacon in the sky. To think that moon’s been following him all his life, through his whole journey through this wild life he’s had and the stories he has to tell about it. It’s as he’s reminiscing on this that a certain memory seeps back into his mind.
“Actually,” Joseph states, his gaze still focused on the sky. “You’d be surprised to learn I know exactly how you feel.”
Jotaro’s head turns a little bit back towards Joseph, a deep and untrusting scowl still on his face. “How?”
“Because I’ve lost a lot of people too… More than I can remember.” Joseph explains. “In fact, I lost one of my dearest friends too when I wasn’t much older than you are now.”
Joseph watches the scowl on Jotaro’s face soften a little, now looking more curious than angry. His body turns a little more, and before he knows it Jotaro is facing him, his attention piqued, though he says nothing.
Again, Joseph is caught off guard, because he had expected Jotaro to ignore him and not take any advice he has to give. And once again, he was proven wrong. “Well, it’s a long story, but… if you really want to know…” He strains, sitting up straighter. Though he knows it will rip his own soul apart to retell all of what happened to him, he knows deep down that recounting all of this could help Jotaro. “Alright, I’ll tell you.” He snuffs out the end of his cigarette and flicks the butt out into the grassy yard below them as he settles in place sitting on the veranda and begins to tell his tale.
“When I was first learning to better control my Hamon power, and well before my stand developed, I got introduced to a guy.” Joseph begins. “This guy, supposedly, was better at using the power than me and could train with me to help me get better. A family friend took me to Rome and introduced us and hoped that we’d be able to learn from each other about our powers.”
A quick glance over to Jotaro confirmed that he was still indeed listening, which surprised Joseph even further. “So, you went all the way to Rome to train with this guy?”
“Yeah, I did.” Joseph replies. “But I hated him.”
Jotaro’s intrigued expression quickly shifts to confusion. “Wait, what?”
“Yep. I hated his guts.” Joseph continues. “He was a stuck-up, snobby, Italian asshole who talked down to me any chance he got. The bastard was a cocky womanizer too, which pissed me off even more. It didn’t matter though anyway, since he hated me back! He thought I was some uncivilized monkey because I wasn’t some pompous jackass like he was. Not to mention he had a bone to pick with the whole Joestar family…”
Jotaro squints at his grandfather. “What are you getting at? You say this was the guy you described as your ‘dearest friend’? How the hell does that make any sense?”
“Hold your damn horses, kid, I’m getting there!” Joseph groans, waving his hand dismissively at Jotaro. “You see, after a while of being together, we eventually learned to tolerate each other, and I kinda grew on him a little bit, and he did the same for me… I guess that’s what happens when you train as hard and as long as we did. One thing led to another, and… before we knew it, we were getting to be as thick as thieves learning to master the powers of Hamon!”
Jotaro’s confused expression settles, his attention still focused on Joseph and the story. “So… what happened?”
It’s at this moment that Joseph realizes the corners of his mouth had turned upwards into a smile, and he doesn’t remember when it happened. He hadn’t realized he’d been smiling so much while talking about his past, or felt so happy while doing it. It was so long ago now, but reminiscing on his time in Rome and Venice was all in good fun, until he remembers the reason he was telling Jotaro all of this. His smile slowly drops as he lets his gaze trail down from the moon.
“He, uh…” Joseph stammers, his voice losing confidence. “He was killed in a battle. A battle I wasn’t even in. He was a damn good fighter, but everyone meets their match in one way or another, and that one was his. It doesn’t help that we had a pretty big fight before he went off to take on the enemy alone, and that’s how he ended up in that situation… And, by the time we came to his aid… it was too late.” Joseph looks back up at the sky, his tone much less lively now. “I… I didn’t get to say goodbye either.”
Jotaro blinks for a moment, then turns to look out in front of him. His voice sounds meek, almost remorseful. “Oh…”
“Yeah…” Joseph continues. “I felt the same way as you: angry, hopeless, guilty… a guy like that didn’t deserve to die in the way that he did, but it still happened and there was nothing I could do about it… I thought we’d fight side by side to the end of the line, like he said we would. I… I miss him. I miss him a lot. I still do.”
Jotaro tilts his head to look down at the ground, sitting in silence. He’s not wearing his hat, but even without its thick rim to cover his eyes, the shadows around them still manage to obscure his eyes from Joseph’s gaze. It’s foreboding, and he worries he might have missed the mark with explaining that much of his past to make a point.
“B- But, it wasn’t a total loss.” Joseph continues, his tone shifting to a slight twist of optimism. “His sacrifice saved my life, and because of him, we saved the world. What more, I finally learned who my real mother was, and even fell head over heels for your grandma, if you’d believe it! It was still a great success… I just only wish he were alive to see it, or even to see me now.”
Jotaro’s expression doesn’t change, his mind in deep contemplation and thought. He stamps out the end of his cigarette on the wooden surface of the veranda and drops it off into the grass, processing the words that his grandfather says to him.
“Bah- who am I kidding…” Joseph chuckles, trying to lift the mood a little more. “He can probably see me right now, and he’s probably a little peeved that I’m sitting here moping about him to my grandson, of all people. Hehehe… If he were here, he’d probably smack me upside the head and remind me that we still won that fight and I lived on to do all this, and his death doesn’t mean my efforts were worthless.”
His train of thought is interrupted by the feeling of an unexpected weight hitting his shoulder. Joseph startles for a moment, tearing his eyes away from the sky to look over to where Jotaro sits next to him.
He sees a head of black hair resting against him, just below his line of sight. Jotaro’s shoulders are slumped as he leans into Joseph’s side, almost relaxed, but he can still feel a hesitancy to him, as if he was still holding back. Jotaro has never been one for physical affection, so this bewildered him a bit, but he’d be damned if he didn’t let Jotaro stay there.
“Jotaro?” Joseph chirps, his voice taking on a softness even he didn’t think he had in him.
Jotaro doesn’t respond.
“Jotaro, are you okay?” Joseph repeats.
Jotaro takes a deep breath, his voice sounding almost defeated. It’s a tone he had never heard Jotaro speak in before, and it was almost frightening.
“Grandpa, does it ever get any easier?”
Joseph blinks, contemplating for a long moment. He doesn’t know how to answer that in a way that won’t break his already fragile heart. He wants to give Jotaro hope in his time of desperate need, but he also doesn’t want to lie and give him a false outlook- not that Jotaro wouldn’t be smart enough to see through his fibbing anyways.
“No… not really.” Joseph sighs. “You just… have to find ways to deal with it. It’s gonna hurt, and it’s gonna take time, but… it’s not forever. Someday, you may find your own peace with it, and then you pick up and move on with your life, because that’s the way the world works. But for now… For now, he deserves to be remembered for the person he was, and how important he was to you, right?”
Jotaro takes another deep breath. He doesn’t reply, but Joseph can feel Jotaro’s body start to tremble from where he rests against his shoulder. It isn’t until he hears a soft sniffle that he looks down and fully realizes why Jotaro had become so soft all of a sudden.
Jotaro’s cheeks glisten in the light of the moon as tears stream down his face and soft sobs wrack his chest. They come slowly at first, but the more that he allows, the stronger they come, his chest convulsing violently with every quiet, pained sob he lets out. It takes a long while before Jotaro truly lets himself cry, but when he does, it’s as if he was letting out all of the emotions he’s been bottling up since they left for Egypt. Joseph hasn’t seen Jotaro cry like this, not since he was a young child, but he wasn’t going to deny him a moment like this to truly express what he was feeling. It was the first time that Joseph had seen how much this mission had truly broken his grandson, and realized he’d found the answer to what Jotaro had been wanting from the start.
Joseph lifts his arm and wraps it around Jotaro’s shoulders, keeping him close and embracing him. “Shhhh, It’s okay, JoJo.” He consoles him. “It’s okay. Just let it all out. I’m right here, it’s all gonna be okay. I’ve got you.”
To Joseph’s surprise, Jotaro actually reciprocates the embrace, leaning further into his shoulder and letting himself be held as he cries, resting his head into his grandfather’s chest. Joseph’s other hand trails up to Jotaro’s head, his fingers running through his hair and rubbing into his scalp as a way to comfort him. This was truly a breakthrough that neither of them expected to make tonight, and one they hadn’t expected to make in their lives. Joseph realized that all Jotaro needed was someone to pick up the pieces of his soul and keep him together so he didn’t fall apart. It was a feeling that Joseph knew well, and after being told for years to “stop crying and suck it up”, it was high time he flipped that script and snuffed out those bad habits where they stood.
Before long, Jotaro’s sobs begin to slow and he starts to regain his composure. He picks his head up out from Joseph’s chest, sniffling back the tears he had left. His cheeks are flushed pink and puffy, but he seems much more relaxed.
“Do you feel better now?” Joseph asks, his voice soft and reassuring. His other arm stays around Jotaro’s shoulders, determined not to let him go until he wants to be let go.
Jotaro nods slowly, lifting his wrist to his face and rubbing away the last few tears from his face.
Joseph smiles warmly. “Good, good. I’m glad.”
Suddenly, Jotaro’s eyes slightly darken as he looks up at Joseph with a stern glare. “If you tell anyone you saw me like this, I’ll kill you.”
The sudden sternness takes Joseph aback, but he simply chuckles in reply. “Calm down, I won’t. Besides, who the hell would I even talk to about it?”
Jotaro’s glare softens and he straightens, the heaviness of his thoughts alleviated for the first time in a long time. He does feel better now, though admittedly, he’d rather have cried in front of anyone else instead of his grandfather.
Jotaro lifts his wrist to his face again and wipes his nose. “Old man, your friend… What was his name?” He sniffles.
His name… of course, his name. The name that hangs in Joseph’s head every day he lives, and he’ll never forget it until the day he draws his final breath. As much as he wants to leave it in the past, he knows better, and he knows that the impact he had on his life is eternal. He couldn’t forget that name as long as he exists, even if he wanted to. It’s been so long since he’s spoken that name, and he’d rather forget how it tore up the vocal cords in his throat the last time he did, screaming it out to a body that couldn’t hear him- completely crushed under the rubble of the building with no life left in him to reply. He still remembers that room, the broken walls, the bubble full of the last amount of Hamon energy that he had left in his body and that held the antidote that would save his own life, and his headband that would be his only memento of the man he cared so deeply for…
“Caesar.” Joseph mutters. “His name was Caesar.”
“Caesar…” Jotaro parrots, his voice just barely above a mutter. “Caesar…”
“He was a good man.” Joseph admits, trying not to let his voice waver. “As good of a man to me as Kakyoin was to you. He would want me to remember him for the man he was and for what he helped us gain, even if he’s not here to see it. I’d like to think Kakyoin would be the same way.”
Jotaro nods slowly, his voice breathy. “Yeah. Yeah, I think so too.” He sniffles again and tries to compose himself once more. “I’m… I’m sorry for dumping all of that on you, I just… I just couldn’t hold it in anymore, I guess…”
Joseph shakes his head, rubbing his hand where it sits on Jotaro’s shoulder. “You don’t have to apologize. I told you, it’s okay. It’s okay to cry, it’s okay to feel sad, it’s okay to… to miss them.” He feels his voice start to warble at the end of his sentence and quickly clears his throat to cover it up. “You don’t have to apologize for having feelings.”
The pair gaze up at the moon, still shining brightly above them amidst the dark of the night. The quiet night still feels odd, but the tension in the air is gone, replaced with reassurance that everything will be okay, eventually. Not right now, but eventually.
Jotaro leans back into Joseph’s shoulder, his body relaxing into him again. “It was a fun trip… wasn’t it?”
Joseph smiles down at Jotaro, then back up at the moon with a deep sigh. “It was, Jotaro. It really was.”