Chapter Text
Its been nearly a year since the mysterious accelerated day cycles of 2012. The exact timeframe is unsure due to obvious event related reasons, but scientists who had been teetering on the 'mad' prefix before their name and unsurprisingly ready for this exact scenario managed to calculate a date to satisfy everyone and help in returning order back to the city. So for a good while it remained the strangest supernatural event to have occurred in Florida of all places, covered all across the globe, until the crowd moved on like it was just another Tuesday (which for floridians, it was).
But only a few supernatural groups of people know the truth, and one of them had barely made it alive, having prevented what would essentially be Armageddon caused by a deluded evil gay priest.
Two of the said people, Jolyne Cujoh and Ermes Costello are now living in Florida, above a small restaurant in a renovated apartment. Immediately after saving the world, they got patched up superbly by the Speedwagon foundation doctors, with Ermes being fitted with shiny new prosthetic hands among the numerous (and frankly experimental) medical procedures undertaken by the entire crew. Jolyne, after recovering fully, was approached by her father with an offer to continue her education. Her immediate (and according to her, obvious) response was a refusal, but after a long time of mother and girlfriend convincing and maturing on her part, acceptance finally took over her and a state college was her next new problem.
The offer of higher education was extended to Ermes as well, along with a sizable fund to support their endeavors. However, Ermes, ever the proud stubborn woman that she was, refused all the riches that Jolyne would be offering (the girl herself included as one) to go back to the dust collected diner to honor her sister's memory by reviving it under her name, back to its former glory, even if she was the one who had changed everything for a chance to go to college. For reasons understandable, Ermes wanted to get to rebuilding a stable life to call her own, and Jolyne, despite the obvious hardship it would provide, followed her girlfriend with determination on the road to their domestic bliss. The girl was now helping out with all sorts of restaurant related oddities, or as much as she could while juggling a fresh year of a business degree. It was a damn stressful life, but compared to everything she had gone through, it was almost peaceful.
So fuckin peaceful.
Every day Jolyne woke up in the gentle warmth of the morning sun, all the time in the world to wipe off drool and clean her face to start the day. Still in her pajamas, she crosses the apartment to Ermes making breakfast and over the kitchen island her lips taste like coffee and her skin is flushed hot from the steam against hers.
But then comes the crashing reminder that its a weekday and she's got classes in less than half an hour with the pissy teacher and the last bus rode away about 10 minutes ago and her head’s splitting in a hangover and-
Ermes laughs at the face she's making and pushes a coffee and breakfast into her hands. She brushes away her bangs and leaves a kiss, softly wishing her good morning.
Oh fuck it .
"I'm taking the day off." Jolyne says from her spot at the island. Today was too nice of a day to sleep in her lecture halls, and Ermes looked so beautiful sitting in just a bra and shorts in front of her. She could seriously die in those brea-
"Didn't you take one last week?" Ermes' voice snaps her back, raised eyebrows to which Jolyne rolls her eyes.
"New week, new decisions. This toast is damn good by the way"
The toast had layers of avocado, cream cheese and a sunny side up drizzled with hot sauce. The sweet and spicy was a great combination that Jolyne approved of, but the spice could do better. She grabbed the hot sauce bottle and drizzled on more, ignoring Ermes scrunching her nose.
"Thanks... trying out something to open breakfast with tomorrow. Gonna go down in a bit, you wanna help out?"
"Of course-"
They were interrupted by Jolyne's phone ringing next to her. She was content on letting it ring but Ermes shot her a look, so she picked it up on speaker. She regretted doing so, Avril lavigne was a pretty nice way to start the day.
"Jolyne." A familiar gruff voice spoke.
"Oh it's just you. What do you want?" Jolyne went back to her toast, ignoring Ermes' pointed stare again.
Her relationship with her father hasn't really changed much despite they talking it out after his discharge, which neither of whom really expected to. In the end Jolyne found herself unable to completely forgive him after everything, the decade of being absent from her life ended up doing her nothing despite his intentions about doing it to protect her. But still, the events of Cape Canaveral made her long for his acceptance and presence in her life, so she decided to be a little kinder to him about it. He wasn't too bad at all, just a little... Awkward.
"Your grandmother... Holly. She wants to host Thanksgiving and invite the entire family."
"Thought it was something urgent for you to call at 11 am."
"It's nearly twelve."
"As long as it's AM I don't want to hear it."
She hears a sigh over the receiver. Jolyne recognized it as one of acceptance and agreement.
"The flight is tomorrow. It's already booked."
"What?! Dad I've got college-" She ignored Ermes’ snort. "-And who'll manage the restaurant?!"
"Jolyne-" Ermes began, but she was quickly shushed.
"We aren't gonna let him drag us around-"
"Is Ermes there-?"
There was a jumble of voices over the island, until Ermes finally spoke up loudly.
"Dr Kujo, I'll manage. I'll send her over tomorrow-"
"Good grief. Ermes, you're invited too. You're her partner." The voice on the phone cut her off.
Ermes' eyes widened and her face broke out in a furious blush at those words. Jolyne, momentarily distracted, just rolled her eyes and made a little pucker face at her. Jolyne thought it was extremely cute that Ermes was so polite in front of her dad, despite her multiple reassurances that he actually likes her quite a lot, well over her other pursuer.
"Shit-. If thats okay." Ermes managed to get a reply out.
"Then I can assume I'll be seeing you both the day after?"
"Yes," Ermes replied, quickly slamming her hand on Jolyne's mouth.
"Good. And-"
"Okay okay whatever goodbye dad we're seeing you anyway. Love you" Jolyne pulled Ermes' hand off her mouth and hung up after the last two words. To soften the blow a little, even if he didn't mind it.
"You've really got to stop cutting him off."
"Are we seriously gonna go? What about the diner?"
"I can hand it over to Weather or something. My part timers are all smart, they know what to do."
Proceeding the events everyone's sentence had been pardoned in a stunning trial courtesy of SPW attorneys. When did a research and relief fund get a full law sector nobody knew but the Kujos had certainly taken advantage of it. Anasui now worked as a bartender, part time enough to help out Jolyne in her job as well. She doubted his workplace was as flexible as much as the time he was taking off to help her out, but he didn't ask for money from Ermes and knew how to behave in customer service at least. Weather Report and FF had fucked off somewhere after the initial getting their shit together, and only occasionally dropped by to hang out or grab Anasui to travel with them. But their place to fuck off was never unreachable and they always came whenever Jolyne or Ermes called.
"I'm meeting the in-laws and nothing can stop me. Get the bags out sweetheart, I gotta prep everything and call him up" She shot her a grin and downed the last of her coffee. She grabbed Jolyne's sweater that was tossed carelessly on a chair, pulled it on, and left with a wink.
"Ermeesssss" Jolyne groaned and slid onto the table.
Guess she'd better start packing.
"I think it's that one"
"We tied a blue ribbon to our bags, not anal beads."
"Ohh so that's what they were. Sex toys have certainly evolved."
"Didja know anal beads were invented by Julius Caesar? So they're actually pretty old"
"Wow"
Baggage claim can be a sector in hell itself.
It has been nearly two hours of seeing the same bags make the rounds more than a suicidal salary man being dragged around by his boss and Jolyne and Ermes are slowly losing their minds.
"How many of them are left?"
"Two."
"Fuck me."
"Nice offer, but we don't have spare panties, they're in the bags."
"UGHHHHHHHHH"
The baggage reclaim could only end one way however, and that is by the two of them getting their bags without much fanfare. Although it is nothing short of a mystery how their bags suddenly popped up after Jolyne memorized the entire sequence of suitcases to travel the belt.
Aside from that, they were now extremely tired. America to Japan in a day's notice is no joke and all they wanted to do was take a shower and pass out in a bed. It was about 2 AM and Jolyne’s dad would be picking them up, If only they could find him once they got out of customs.
Lucky for them, Jotaro Kujo is very easy to locate, at a whopping 195 centimeters when not curled up under his trauma. He had taken advantage of it and stretched to his full height in the crowd, cracking each of his vertebrae, and raised a single hand up. Ermes and Jolyne spotted him and quickly ran over, Ermes taking Jolyne's suitcase leaving her free to run off to hug her dad.
"Nice to see you again, Dr. Kujo. Thanks for inviting me" Ermes says once she catches up.
Jolyne’s father looked the same as ever, save for the large scar going down half his face, accompanied by an eyepatch covering his right eye. Worse, he still dressed the same, coming to the airport in bright purple leather pants matching an almost pure gold coat and his signature hat. Of course, matching the colour scheme. She tried to ignore his outfit but it was the most atrocious thing to ever grace the fashion world and needed to be burnt as fuel. But that would add to global warming, so Ermes would probably need to think of a better disposal method.
"I've told you, just Jotaro is enough." He sighs, ruffling Jolyne's hair. She swatted his hand away, and would've complained if it hadn't already been a mess.
"I'm so tired, can we leave already?"
"Get off me. The cars there."
The car was close enough for him to open remotely and Ermes went and shoved their suitcases in the boot. They all clambered in and set to Jotaro's childhood home. Jolyne idly talked with her dad, but Ermes wasn't following the conversation, instead drowsily watching the streetlights go by in a blur. They were rapidly driving away from the city and into the countryside, the details of which she did not know.
They had to be woken up upon reaching, Jolyne asleep on Ermes' shoulder and the latter herself having nodded off.
Shivering as she stepped out of the car, Ermes couldn't help but gape at the house in front of her. She knew his family was rich but the house was too fucking massive. It was practically 5 normal houses combined into one, complete with a garden and a pond with a bridge. She let out a low whistle as she walked slowly, taking in the view. The traditional style mansion in the night reminded her of samurai TV show episodes where there would suddenly be a jumping to disturb the peace. But right now the place was looking serene and dreamlike in the light of the lanterns, nobody to dare step foot in here.
Jotaro unceremoniously escorted them to the main door, but before he could ring the bell the door was thrown open in front of him, and a tall someone nearly tackled him with a squeal.
"Welcome back baby!" An older woman had engulfed Jotaro into a hug, which he surprisingly did not reject. He sighed but he couldn't hide his smile under his hat.
"Tadaima."
"Okaeri! And you brought Jolyne! Oh you've grown so big and strong!" She quickly turned to Jolyne to hug her as well, and Ermes could get a good look at her. Greying blond hair in a ponytail and a kind face, with shining blue eyes and the sweetest of smiles. She pulled apart from the hug and Jolyne had the biggest goofiest grin on her face. The travel probably left her brain a little slower, so she was just standing there in her arms before the woman gently let go and turned to Ermes.
"And you! You must be Jolynes friend!"
Ermes nearly jumped when she addressed her. Well, it was kinda expected-
"Oi, I've told you it's her girlfriend." It was Jotaro who corrected her. He repeated a word in Japanese that Ermes didn't quite catch.
Jolyne, evidently also surprised, blushed behind him and gave him a half hearted punch. Holly’s eyes flickered between the two and immediately lit up.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! Thank you for being my Jolyne's girlfriend! I hope she doesn't give you a hard time" She casually held Ermes' metal hands in her own and gave her a cheeky wink.
Both of them were now stupidly blushing. This was the first time an adult from outside their little gang had acknowledged them kind of seriously, and it admittedly felt a little strange. Back where they lived, they didn't exactly went out announcing their relationship- fuck knows it would've only invited more trouble.
"Now you both must be tired, I've got a room set up for you two. Come on get in! Jotaro get their bags!" The woman ushered them into the warm house, chattering away.
"I'm Holly, Jolyne's grandmomma, and this little big boy's mommy. You must be tired, but don't worry, there's no plans for the next few days so just relax! And feel free to help yourselves to anything in the house, you're family after all! Oh and Jotaro, when are the rest of them arriving?"
"Josuke's coming a day before thanksgiving, I'm not sure if Giorno's coming at all, I'll pick up Jiji and the rest tomorrow." Jotaro hulked behind them, carrying their bags. They could’ve rolled the suitcases in, but proposing it would be futile against the mother-son duo.
"Remind me, how big's your family?" Ermes whispered to Jolyne, watching Holly ask Jolyne's dad something in Japanese.
"No idea. I don't know who's invited either. Lets just sleep now, I'm damn tired. Grandma! Where's our room!" Jolyne immediately got comfortable in the familiar old house, and walked around like she had lived there her entire life.
Holly rushed ahead and slid open a door to yet another large room. It was, however, empty. Except for two mattresses and a large cabinet it had nothing to indicate it was a part of a house with residents. Ermes searched around for any cracks in the walls which might indicate pull-down furniture or something, but it seemed pretty unlikely. It was definitely, probably a cultural thing-
"Ahhh I forgot. Ermes, we sleep on futons here. No beds." The Japanese word sounded strange in Jolyne's mouth.
" 'S fine. I don't mind at all. Thanks for arranging this Mrs Kujo," Ermes said absently, wondering how how many more cultural things she'd experience over the next few days.
"You certainly took this better than my papa! When he arrived here he was so stubborn he tried to stay up for the entire night, saying he's not gonna sleep unless it's a bed" Holly giggled.
"Ahah is that so? It's no big deal really" Ermes laughed a little awkwardly. Prison figuratively and literally beats the pickiness out of everyone, but she doesn't need to say all of that to convey it was really nothing too much for her.
"Okay! I'll leave you two youngsters, make sure to not stay up too long!" She threw another wink at Jolyne's indignant face and left, sliding the door closed behind them. The two were left alone in the room now, and Ermes could swear she could hear actual crickets chirping. She cleared her throat to cut the silence.
"She seems nice."
"She's the best. Wait till you try her cooking." Jolyne nodded.
They just stared at each other, still standing up, until Ermes finally broke out in a yawn.
"Let's take a shower." Jolyne giggled, grabbing Ermes' hand and dragging her to the bathroom.
The bathroom was no less grander than the house, despite the empty room it backed. It had a large bathtub and a glass wall to separate the sink and mirror already filled with toiletries. Ermes let out a low whistle.
She turned to say something to Jolyne but blanked when she saw her standing already stripped to her bra and panties.
"Holy fuck you're quick"
"Babe we were in prison, of course I'm fucking quick. Get in here already." Jolyne teased, climbing backwards into the bathtub.
Ermes was more than happy to oblige.