Work Text:
Outside of the campus library, having just clocked out for lunch, Caesar Anthonio Zeppeli stood on the curb of the parking lot, idly typing away at his phone to pass the time meaninglessly. At least, that was where Suzie Q had found him when she too stepped out of the library to go on her lunch break. She was quite surprised to find the man standing so idly outside their shared workplace, but even moreso when she considered how usually he'd rush out of the library as quickly as he could the moment he went on lunch. Usually too fast for her to even realize he'd left.
"Caesar?" She called out, catching the mans attention, to which she lit up as she approached him. "Buon pomeriggio! Do you have plans for lunch?"
Caesar's usually stoic persona softened in the presence of the woman, pocketing his phone to give her a sweet smile. He greeted his coworker with the subtle charm of a movie star as she approached close enough for them to exchange the traditional two-cheek kiss. The two were closer than the rest of the staff, finding solace in each other as members of their shared culture and happily chatting away between tasks in the break room - speaking their language which the others did not understand. Suzie seemed to pull away with the faintest of pink on her pale face as she returned the smile wholeheartedly, as was her nature.
Caesar seemed almost disheartened by the question as he tried to maintain his bravado despite the answer he was about to give, "Ciao, Suzie. Unfortunately, I don't get to decide that."
The response made Suzie blink incredulously, as though she felt as if she misheard him. Or perhaps maybe he had misheard her?
Regardless, she tilted her heard curiously as she pursued the response, "You... don't... decide what you do for your lunch break?"
A coy smile plucked at her lips and she tried hard to suppress a giggle that wanted to escape her mouth. But this became even more difficult as she watched Caesar's smile drop into his typical frown, running a hand through his hair annoyed. And her amusement was only increased as, from afar, she watched a familiar car pull into the library's parking lot. One that was exceptionally fancy for this part of town, and had the memorable license plate proudly declaring J03STAR as it approached.
"No. That responsibility falls to-"
Caesar didn't even get a chance to respond as he was interrupted mid-sentence by the sound of a car honking at him merely fifteen feet away. The two blond's shifted their attention to the driver, who rolled down his window to reveal none other than Joseph Joestar. Loud and proud as he waved out the window at them from his stunning ride.
"GET MOVING, CAESAR-INO! YOU ONLY GET AN HOUR!" Joseph shouted, making Suzie giggle as Caesar's blood pressure seemed to rocket at the sight of the man.
"I'M GOING, JOJO!" Caesar shouted in return, seemingy furious but completely calm when he turned to say goodbye to his coworker. "I'll see you when I return, Suzie."
Suzie snorted softly as she waved him goodbye, watching him saunter to Joseph's car, "Aha. So, you let Jojo choose."
Caesar was bitter as he got close enough to the driver's side of the car to open it, "Let isn't the word I use."
With the flip of a coin, Caesar's approachable aura turned hostile as he chastised the man driving the car, "You're not driving, Jojo! Go to the passenger seat!"
"Ugh! I'm late by a few seconds and you already start bossing me around!" Came the remark from within the car, to which Suzie brushed off the interaction with a knowing smile.
The two managed to properly gather themselves enough to finally put the car in drive, and Suzie waved goodbye to them as they left the parking lot. Shaking her head as she watched Joseph - now at the passenger side window - pull his entire body out the window to wave goodbye to her... and immediately get pulled back into the car. Suzie walked to her own car, watching theirs pull out of the parking lot and go off towards their destination. She thought for a moment, and seemed to settle on the idea that the reason Caesar seemed so adamant about leaving the library the moment he went on lunch was likely because Joseph did this daily.
She thought back to all the times she'd seen Caesar leave for the day or go on break, and found Joseph's car to be consistent in Caesar's escape almost every time.
"Hm, I didn't know they were dating," She thought settling into the drivers seat. "How cute! Caesar has a little boyfriend!"
---
The Joestar family home was unusually busy today, as the several family members decided to drop in and check on their grandparents. Jonathan and Erina were ecstatic about having the family over for dinner, happily doting on their son, daughter-in-law, and grandson... As well as their dear brother Dio and the poor son he dragged along with him for the visit, of course. The living room was full of polite conversation as the family entertained each other.
Jonathan turned his attention to his grandson while Erina and Elizabeth spoke about George's most recent deployment. Idly, Jonathan cradled baby Haruno in his arms, who slept soundly on the man's broad chest. Curtesy of Jonathan's dear brother who was promptly nowhere to be found at the moment, likely for the best.
"Joseph, do you have plans this weekend?" Jonathan asked politely, wanting to include the boy in conversation.
Joseph, who had contented himself to stare off into space while his mother spoke, was surprised to be asked a question. As though he were lost deep in thought. The young man turned to his grandfather immediately, trying to collect his thoughts.
"What? Oh. Uh, I'm visiting Caesar's family Saturday," Joseph supplemented, being completely honest about his weekend plans.
Jonathan took the information with a touch of disbelief. Only brought from his surprise by the sound of baby Haruno gurgling in his sleep. Jonathan idly rocked the baby to keep him from waking, trying to word a reasonable response.
"You're... visiting his family? ...Alone?" Jonathan asked, a smile working its way to his lips.
Joseph ruffled at the question, quickly clarifying, "Oh, God no. He's gonna be there too. I'm going with him."
The response did little to properly clear up Jonathan's confusion. And instead, managed to completely capture Grandmother Erina and Lisa Lisa's attention too.
The idea of Joseph meeting with the Zeppeli's family was not in and of itself out of the ordinary. Rather, it was very commonplace. After all, the Joestars and the Zeppeli's had been family friends for generations. And it was through their consistent get together's that a young Joseph and a young Caesar had first met. No, the strangeness of the revelation came from the fact that Joseph would be meeting with the Zeppeli's entirely through his own volition. The fact that he would be accompanied by Caesar ony served to make Jonathan and Erina exchange a look.
They had long since discovered Joseph and Caesar to be rather... involved with one another. So, this news was nothing if not confirmation for them that the two young men were getting more than along with one another.
"I see. Why's that exactly?" Jonathan continued, sporting a supportive smile.
"His sister's a great cook." Joseph offered, ignoring his mother's knowing eye on him as he crossed his legs casually. "And I haven't seen Grandpa Zeppeli in awhile."
It was Erina's turn to catch the other's attention, as she spoke warmly, "You talk about Caesar's family like they're your own."
Joseph flustered at the statement, and responded without a second thought, "I wish. That'd be a dream."
Before the others could properly assess the man's statement, they were caught offguard by Haruno lifting his head, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Joseph's statement was quickly forgotten as the three older adults cooed at the baby, apologizing for awakening him unintentionally.
...And if that weren't enough to distract all three of them, their attention was more than drawn away as Haruno's father proceeded to waltz in after an hour of having disappeared. Allowing for Joseph to easily sneak away as his grand-uncle very loudly drew attention to himself. Idly, Joseph pulled out his phone to text the man he was thinking about as the sound of Jonathan and Dio's bickering tuned out all other noise.
---
Morning in Joseph's apartment was rather average as Smokey exited his bedroom, yawning into his hand as he made his way to the kitchen. Still donning his sleeping clothes. The apartment was quiet and cozy, save for the sound emanating from the television as some action packed show played. Filling the morning scene rather than interrupting the quiet.
"Good morning, Jojo," Smokey greeted his roommate as he passed the living room.
"Morning!" Joseph responded from the couch, still engrossed in the television program he watched.
Smokey walked into the kitchen as he greeted the other person in the living room, "Good morning, Caesar."
"Buongiorno, Smokey," Caesar spoke from beside Joseph on the couch, the two sitting so close their thighs were touching.
"You slept over?" Smokey asked as he prepared a bowl of cereal for himself.
He glanced towards the two, and knew he didn't need an answer. As the evidence was so completely obvious to him as he never heard the blond leave last night. Plus, Caesar's messy hair and the pajama bottoms wear enough proof too. Smokey mused to himself that Caesar wouldn't have visited this early without at least styling himself properly first.
"Late study session. I didn't feel like driving," Caesar filled in, his gaze half entertained by the show they watched.
"Totally," Smokey spoke, eating a spoonful of cereal.
Minutes passed with the only conversation being comprised of varying statements of amazement or disbelief on behalf of Joseph as he gave his professional opinion on the intensity of the action scenes. Smokey carried his bowl of cereal with him into the living room, standing off to the side as he watched along with the show. Not entirely invested in the stakes, but entertained enough to not be bothered to leave.
It was only when he was halfway through the bowl that he decided to ask the question itching his mind.
"Do you still pay rent at your place, Caesar?" Smokey asked, taking in another bite of cereal.
The question drew Caesar away from the show momentarily, as his brows scrunched in thought. He didn't take his eyes off the screen as answered.
"Of course I do...?" He answered, wondering what Smokey was getting at.
Smokey swallowed his cereal, still watching the show, "Just asking."
Caesar was contented by the response, investing himself in the television again. But Smokey himself wasn't convinced at the slightest. The young man glanced at the two others once more, and noted that he'd never seen Caesar wearing a green tank top before. And that he'd only catch Joseph dead wearing a pink crop top. And yet, quite curiously, both men were wearing just that. In sizes that visibly were not quite the fit for them.
Smokey took extra time to swallow his spoonful of cereal, and after a short pause, spoke as he left to wash his plate, "It might be easier if you just move in here, though. You won't have to worry about going home to change before coming back."
The statement hung in the air for a moment, and Smokey entered the kitchen as it did. He considered that the other two men did not hear him over their interest in the scene playing before them, and contented himself to washing his dish half-heartedly. However, that couldn't be further from the truth, as in the living room, Joseph had stopped thinking about the show in its entirety, instead completely absorbed by the weight of the statement.
He consciously tried to behave like normal, but unfortunately actively thinking about being normal was the most difficult thing in the world for him to do while sitting next to Caesar. Almost immediately he started bouncing his knee to distract himself from the nerves eating at his mind.
Smokey walked past them as he intended to return to his room to get properly dressed. However, on his way out, his remark received a response.
"I'll think about it," Caesar spoke, leaning against his palm as he continued to watch the show, a hint of amusement in his otherwise bored voice.
The statement made Smokey chuckle and shake his head as he entered his room.
And Joseph himself was only further pushed into his mental angst as the speed with which he bounced his foot only got faster. In the midst of action scores and heroic calls, Caesar reached out silently, and without even needing to look, firmly planted the heel of his palm on to Joseph's knee, effectively freezing the man in place. But rather than retract his hand, Caesar instead opted to set it down lazily on Joseph's knee, not bothering to move back a respectable distance.
The morning passed by in comfortable silence.