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It all started with a reluctant acceptance. Johnny was chasing after Gyro until they rode together on this endless trail fraught with danger laid out in front of them. Sidelong glances full of something he couldn’t place grew more frequent along with Gyro cracking more ridiculous jokes. Was it with the intent to make him crack a smile? Johnny was lost in an tumultuous ocean, adrift in a sea of his own undoings. How could this man ever reach him?
On a particularly snowy quiet night only disturbed by the sound of wildlife and the crackling fire, Johnny laid on his stomach and rested his face on his forearms. Other people might revel in this serenity but he detested it, his thoughts wouldn’t quit when he wasn’t riding Slow Dancer. Balling up his hands into fists, he shut his eyes trying to force himself to sleep. After all of the shit they had been through recently with giving up the corpse parts after that run in with Sugar Mountain and facing the harsh reality he could lose Gyro any day…
It was too much.
“Johnny?”
“...Hmm?”
“The other night I dreamt of something ridiculous,” Gyro’s voice was light as he recalled the memory, “We were in Naples and I was showing you around. It was a blur of food and places that I was familiar with. You looked…”
There was a pause that caused Johnny to glimpse at Gyro who appeared pensive, “What did I look like?”
“Happy. You looked happy,” a soft smile formed on his face as he then joked, “I doubt you’d want to come to Naples with me though. A genius jockey like yourself has roots here in the good ol’ USA.”
“Uh.. yeah,” Johnny was taken aback but tried to hide it as he buried his face in his crossed arms.
Embers danced up to the starry sky, the fleeting fire mixing with the shining dots that were long gone. The Southerner didn’t know how to handle comments like this from his partner, they made his heart do weird things. There was a silence between them but he couldn’t identify the mood behind it and he was too apprehensive about even meeting Gyro’s eyes again. He wasn’t chickenshit or weak like a damsel in distress but there was something terrifying about deepening anything between them. That didn’t stop the urge to get near Gyro, to stroke the strands of his facial hair like skimming his fingers over a wild river. To see those eyes green as wild grass take in every bit of him, flaws and all.
If he were to let him in, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
Drawing his face back from his arms, he managed to glance at Gyro who was staring off into the dark depths of the forest beyond the fire. His gaze must have burned into him because his partner faced him with a curious expression, a small smirk ghosting his face.
“You doing alright?” Gyro asked, his voice low and deep like a standup bass being plucked.
“...Yeah,” Johnny lied.
“Get some shuteye, cowboy. Unless.. you’re waiting for me to sing a lullaby?”
Gyro’s joke made him scoff, “A lullaby from the Gyro Zeppeli? What an honor. I don’t know if you can top the cheese song though.”
The challenge didn’t daunt Gyro, if anything it spurred him on as he scooted closer to Johnny, “You won’t be able to understand a damn word of it since it’s in Italian but I swear it’s good. It might even knock you out in a second with how soothing my angelic voice is.”
“Hah… angelic is certainly a choice,” he snarked back as he watched just how near Gyro was now.
“Settle down,” it was a command but gentle all the same.
“Alright fine,” Johnny relented as he then positioned himself until he was laying on his side, unable to tear his eyes away from Gyro.
Sitting with his legs crossed, Gyro then began to sing while shutting his eyes. It shouldn’t have worked on Johnny but it was too damn calming, his eyes drooping as he listened to the dulcet tone of his voice. His breathing slowed down while Gyro’s accent was even more pronounced with every syllable, he almost didn’t register his partner’s hand resting on his beanie.
All he knew was that the ironclad walls around his emotions were being chipped away at with every note of the song. The last thing he saw before he succumbed to sleep was Gyro and that in itself felt…
Perfect.
The sun rudely woke him up from his blissful slumber, his eyes trying to adjust to it rising on the horizon. Looking beside him, he immediately spotted that Gyro wasn’t resting. Whipping his head around, he searched for him in the camp and found him sitting by the fire making them coffee.
His partner looked surprised for a moment before he quipped, “Didn’t leave you behind, don’t look so frightened.”
“I wasn’t scared…” Johnny weakly protested as he rose into a seated position.
Letting it go, Gyro then handed him a mug, “Careful, it’s hot.”
Accepting the piping hot drink, Johnny blew gentle little puffs on it to help it cool down. Gyro poured himself some as well before plopping close next to Johnny. Their shoulders bumped as they settled down, it felt like the stillness spoke the things he couldn’t bring himself to say.
“... the coffee is nice, Gyro,” Johnny muttered after taking a long sip.
“Like always. I’m a master at that,” Gyro stated like it was the most obvious thing.
“A big ego doesn’t suit you.”
“And a pretty face like yours shouldn’t have such a smart mouth.”
“Ass.”
“Idiot.”
Gyro barked out a laugh before chuckling, “I don’t know what I’d do without your bullshit.”
“So you like putting up with me?” Johnny sarcastically asked.
“Like is one word for it,” Gyro smiled at him before drinking his coffee, not bothering to elaborate.
There was something about that golden grin that had his heart thumping, what was he saying? Was he just imagining things or was there something more to it? They were just… partners, right? His assumptions seemed to be crumbling while those words tumbled in his head over and over.
Would he risk everything they had to kiss Gyro even just once?
“Are you done with your coffee, JoJo?” Gyro murmured as he faced him again, “We’ve gotta head out soon.”
Shaken out of his endless constant thoughts as Gyro spoke in a soft tone, he quickly nodded at his question. At first he had protested Gyro calling him that nickname but over time he became the exception, not minding it especially when it was laced with his gruff but soft accent.
Finishing off the last bit of it, he handed Gyro his mug who then stuffed it in their belongings. They then did their usual ritual of getting on their horses and setting off, knowing full well the peace they had would be left behind until nightfall.
Days passed in a wild blur, unable to focus on anything but that next damn checkpoint. At night they grew closer than ever. It seemed that since Sugar Mountain Gyro was letting his walls down and Johnny desperately wanted to do the same. He took baby steps like leaning against Gyro while they bundled up next to the fire, offering to brush out his hair when it had nasty tangles. Their lives were becoming more entwined just like the roots that had threatened to take Gyro away.
On one particularly windy evening where they had to set up their tiny tent, they laid next to each other while just talking to the point of exhaustion. Sometimes a laugh would bubble up, passing Johnny’s lips in a breathless way. It was like he had forgotten how to.
“Are you cold? You’re shivering,” Gyro broke the flow of their banter and ran a hand over Johnny’s trembling shoulder appearing concerned.
“Yeah it’s pretty damn chilly ain’t it,” Johnny affirmed as he sniffled, unable to stop the tremors.
“Poor thing,” Gyro teased before pulling up his blanket, “Don’t be stubborn and just come here.”
“But-”
“Johnny. I don’t mind.”
Despite the way their touches became more tender, he knew this was different. It was a major next step. To what though, he didn’t quite know.
“I’ll stop putting up a fight,” Johnny mumbled before using his hands to scoot over to Gyro who pulled him in like it was natural.
“There you go,” Gyro tugged the blankets over them and wrapped him in a secure embrace, sounding satisfied, “Comfortable?”
“Yeah, it’s uh…”
“Don’t get shy on me, Joestar.”
“Shut up,” Johnny hesitantly encircled his arm around Gyro’s waist while muttering, “You’re plenty warm, might even break a sweat.”
“Hah.. I’ve been told I’m like a furnace.”
“Damn right you are.”
It was still uncomfortable for him trying to voice any semblance of care. Far easier to hide behind wisecracks concealing his look of adoration with a sardonic smirk. But as Gyro rubbed his back he could feel himself tremble for a completely different reason. Like stroking a horse’s mane, Gyro was running his fingers down his spine in a repetitive calming motion. It was weird how he managed to make his heart pound while also giving him such a sense of calm. The memories that constantly plagued him were brushed away by those calloused hands even if it was just for this snowy twilight.
“Where were you…” Gyro grew hesitant, the question hanging in the air.
“Shot?” Johnny finished his sentence for him.
Without another word, Johnny lifted his layers and guided Gyro’s hand to it, the indent prominent on his lower back.
“Does it ever itch or burn? I can order ointment for it,” with a barely perceptible touch, Gyro ghosted his fingers around the scarred ring.
Johnny was aware of Gyro’s medical background from the little he had told him along with the expertise he displayed when stitching him up. Maybe he had been holding back on asking such a thing ever since he had revealed the reason behind his paralysis.
“It does sometimes, is that normal?” Johnny questioned quietly.
“Yeah it can happen to scar tissue, I’ll take care of it,” Gyro then chuckled as he added, “If your ass will allow me that is.”
“... I’m fine with it,” Johnny relented as he tried to make sense of why Gyro would go to such lengths for him.
Gyro then pushed down Johnny’s thick coat while murmuring, “Good.”
Realizing yet again that he truly was in safe hands, he clutched Gyro tighter and nuzzled his face into his chest disregarding those hard balls on his top. Hanging onto this man like a lifeline, he could feel the low rumble of a soft laugh before his partner brought him in more.
There was something between them but Johnny was too scared to even ask about it.
Could you love me?
What if the answer wasn’t what he wanted? Hell, did he even feel that way for Gyro? He had never exactly fallen in love since all he knew was just falling into women’s beds and forgetting the lingering pain. How does one identify something they’ve never felt?
As Gyro sighed next to the shell of his ear, a light shiver coursed through him. He thanked God for the blistering cold that gave him the excuse to cling onto him.
Riding at a leisurely pace to give their horses a break in between long sprints, Gyro looked over at Johnny and asked casually, “Do you ever think about marriage?”
“Who would want me like that?” Johnny responded, not feeling in high spirits today.
“You’re not only dense, you’re blind,” Gyro scolded him with no malice behind it.
“Fine, I’ll entertain you. I have never been in a long term relationship. Sometimes lately.. I wish for it. It’s dumb as hell,” he finished speaking, sounding meek despite his initial bristly attitude.
“Would you give it a try? Being with someone.”
“You’re being cryptic again.”
“... I won’t spell it out for you.”
Johnny fully stopped Slow Dancer and Gyro went a few paces before doing the same with Valkyrie. They looked at each other with such an intensity like they were about to cross the line that was drawn firmly between them. The freezing gusts of wind blew through Gyro’s long hair, his usual sharp eyebrows lowered as his green lips weren’t tilted up in his usual contagious smile. Despite the rough conditions they went through, his partner was always picturesque like a Greek statue brought to life. Green eyes that seemed to want to hide his emotions but failing, Gyro huffed out a foggy breath and brought Valkyrie closer. There wasn’t any chance of running away from this for Johnny anymore, Gyro was laying it out on the table plain and simple.
“How long?” Johnny breathed out, his hands that gripped the reins were shaking.
Gyro paused before he lowered his voice into a more gentle tone, “How long for what?”
“For how you feel about.. me, I guess.”
“The beginning.”
“What?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself, Johnny.” It was a fact that he obviously didn’t feel needed explanation.
Not breaking eye contact, Gyro sighed out a mix of fondness and exasperation. Leaning in over the gap between their horses, he kept his movements slow as if to not scare Johnny off. There was something about the way Gyro’s eyes flicked to his lips that was full of hunger, full of want. Wrapping an arm around Johnny’s shoulders to bring him in, he brushed his lips against his before fully connecting.
This was all the convincing the hardheaded Southerner needed.
He let go of the reins and cupped Gyro’s face, his eyes shutting so tight as he savored the faint taste of that perfect morning coffee. The race could wait for just a moment. Mouths moving in a synchronized rhythm like they had done this countless times, the soft little pecks mixed with deeper more urgent kisses mixed together. They didn’t pull away even when they grew more breathless, inhaling through their noses desperate to not let go. Every day and every night that he had kept these emotions close to his heart were exploding in a flurry of their mouths pressing leaving behind their colors. Marking the other as truly theirs.
A warmth blossomed in his chest, heart thumping like it was trying to escape his ribcage. He raked his fingers through Gyro’s silken blonde hair eliciting a quiet groan from his partner, who would have thought the tough Zeppeli liked to be petted?
When they parted, a bit hesitant as they did so, they were panting leaving trails of hot breath cascading up to the sky.
“Johnny…” Gyro murmured as he then stroked his cheek, his fingers skimming over the blonde stubble.
“... you’re fine with me?” Johnny asked as he caressed Gyro’s long locks.
“Still asking things like that after everything, huh?” he lightly teased before he spoke with the utmost seriousness, “Yeah, of course I am.”
Looking behind them at the vast expanse of their travels, Johnny said, “We’ve gotta keep going, huh?”
“Yeah.. But I’ll make you a promise,” Gyro settled on Valkyrie again and adjusted his hat.
“What’s that?”
“I’ll take you out somewhere, Joestar. Make this shit into a proper thing,” he laughed while his cheeks reddened, Johnny wasn’t sure if it was because of the cold or something else.
“Alright, I’ll hold you to it,” Johnny smiled, his grin mirroring Gyro’s wide one.
From that moment forward, there was no doubt in his heart that it wasn’t just love.
It was magic.