Chapter Text
“What?! You’re running away?!”
Hol knew he stood no chance the moment he was told that J Geil had died. He didn’t care if they were bluffing or not, either way it would’ve been suicide if he stood there a second longer. He didn’t even think the Hanged Man had any weaknesses! He’d be done for if he tried going in alone. He needed to save his own skin or possibly get a different partner, maybe one who was better than J Geil. A partner who wouldn’t mind taking charge. Maybe-
Rounding a corner, Hol is stopped in his tracks by a fist flying out of nowhere, striking his jaw making him fall flat on his back. In just a few seconds, Hol was surrounded by the remaining four of the Joestars group. Jotaro, as he recalled, was staring him down with an expression Hol couldn’t quite read.
“We already know about Avdol, what a tragedy,” Joseph started. “We didn’t have the time to do much for him, but we buried him and put his soul to rest.”
At that moment, all eyes were on Hol and all he could do was cower.
“The man with two right hands may have been the one to stab Mr. Avdol in the back, but it was Hol Horse’s bullet that was the final blow,” Kakyoin sneered.
“What should we do with him?” That question from Joseph made Hol’s heart sink all the way down into his stomach as he already knows what they’re going to do.
“I’ll give him his sentence!” Polnareff exclaims as he walks over to the cowering cowboy, bringing out Silver Chariot as he stands above Hol, “Death!”
Jotaro suddenly steps closer to both Hol and Polnareff, bringing out star platinum. “Wait Polnareff-”
His objections, however, were cut short from Nena, the girl that had been tailing Hol Horse. She had jumped onto Polnareff in what looks to be an attempted tackle, although it was more of dragging him down with her weight.
“Run sir Hol Horse! I’ll hold him off for you!” She exclaims. “I don’t exactly know what’s going on, but I do know I will always protect you!”
Hol thought this would be a perfect opportunity to run. Everyone is paying attention to that girl and not him, at least that’s what he thought. The moment he tries to get off the floor, however, star platinum suddenly grabs his foot and drags him back into the ground.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Jotaro asks, now standing tall over the cowboy, “I wasn’t done with you just yet.”
In that moment, Jotaro removes Hol’s hat, revealing a nasty fleshbud hidden underneath the rim. Attempting to grab it, however, proved more difficult than necessary with Hol trying desperately to wrestle out of the teens grip.
“Relax, will you? I suggest you keep still unless you want the sentence Polnareff decided for you,” Jotaro warns, causing Hol to suddenly go as stiff as a board.
‘The hell was that supposed to mean?’ Hol thought to himself. Was he gonna get pummeled by star platinum if he kept moving? Still, he wasn’t going to take any chances with these people and complied.
Within just a mere seconds, tentacles started coming out from his forehead and digging straight into the teens arm. Every pull felt like someone was tugging something in his brain, but it made way for a new feeling. He felt right almost, a wave of clarity washing over him with every tug. It made him almost confused even after that parasite was gone, coming out of his head with a sickening noise and turning to dust by the Indian sun.
Everything felt…different. It’s a feeling he’s very familiar with, the sharp awareness he gained from his years drifting. He didn’t even realize he ever stopped feeling this awareness. It wasn’t the negative feeling of having to watch his back like before though, but he couldn’t figure out if this was a good thing or not. He lays there in silence processing what just happened before pushing Jotaro off his lap to stand up and take in the scene in front of him.
He was still surrounded by the remains of the Joestars group, Jotaro now standing next to him, but everyone’s eyes were still on Polnareff.
“Get off of me! Stupid bitch!” Polnareff yelled at Nena who was still dragging him down. “Jotaro! Kakyoin! Mr. Joestar! What are you waiting for?! Don’t let Hol Horse get away!”
Polnareff attempts to wrestle out of her grasp and move but that only causes him to drag the poor girl across the floor, scraping her elbow in the process.
‘Jesus, does this guy pay any attention to anything at all?’ Hol thought to himself. It wasn’t like he was going to say that out loud, especially if he doesn’t want to end up like a shish kebab. He needed to get on these people’s good side and maybe, just maybe, he could pick them off in the middle of the night and be paid handsomely by lord DIO. It’ll all be worth it in the end.
“It’s alright Polnareff,” Joseph started, “now that he’s got that nasty fleshbud out he can come with us!”
Almost everyone looks at Joseph like he’s gone mad. This wasn’t even a suggestion that Hol could come along, this was a full on statement that he will.
“Mr. Joestar, you can’t be serious?!” Kakyoin exclaimed. “That man killed Mr. Avdol and you’re just letting him join us?!”
“Yeah Mr. Joestar! Are you really going to disrespect Avdol’s soul by letting his murderer come along?!” Polnareff looked furious at the idea that Hol would come along, hairless brows furrowed. It almost looked like he was about to cry over the thought of disrespecting Avdol in death.
Jotaro says nothing in response and his expression is unreadable. Hol can’t tell if he is okay with this or not but decides it’s best to stay silent with him.
“Relax you two, Hol is welcome to come along,” Joseph starts. “He was, after all, fleshbudded just like you both were. He was manipulated by DIO and just as much of a victim of DIO as you two were. I don’t know if you two really remember, but fleshbuds can change someone’s personality drastically. We need any help we can get in defeating DIO, but if it makes you two feel better we’ll keep an eye on him.”
“Besides, he’s not much of a threat right now and if he was, he’d be up again 4 by himself.” Jotaro chimed in.
Kakyoin glares at Hol before nodding, dropping it for now rather than letting it fester. It’s no time for anything petty now. Polnareff nods as well but it’s very clear he wasn’t going to drop this any time soon.
Polnareff now focuses on Nena who is still clinging to him. He manages to push her off of him as her body hits the ground with a thud. Hol immediately takes action as he helps Nena get back on her feet.
“Are you alright little lady?” He asks her before she tackles him in an embrace
“My love! You’re okay!” She exclaimed, practically crushing Hol with how hard she’s squeezing. Hol, however, looked rather distant, uncomfortable even. His arms shot up into the air, not reciprocating her affection at all.
“Let’s not go too far now,” he states, chuckling uncomfortably, “I’m flattered you think that way, but we barely know each other. Let me take you back to your family.”
“You want to meet my family!”
“That’s not-“
“Oh I’m so excited! They’d adore you!”
Hol looks around at the others as if they’d even want to help him out a bit. Joseph steps up and approaches them both but rather than helping pry Nena off of Hol, he gets out a rag and helps wrap up the scrape on Nena’s arm. Blood sprays from the wound and a drop hits Joseph’s arm as he wraps her wound.
“It’s already been 15 days, we don’t have any time to waste sitting here,” Joseph states to everyone.
Polnareff sighs before opening his mouth to speak. “Alright everyone listen up! We have to work as a team if we want to defeat DIO! That means no splitting up and going on our own or else we’ll play right into the enemies hands! Got it? I’m especially talking about you, cowboy!” At those last words, Polnareff gives Hol a sharp glare, sharp enough it could rival Silver Chariots rapier. Hol grumbles a bit but nods in agreement along with everyone else.
“Alright then what are we waiting for? Let’s get a move on people!”
*******
The bus wasn’t anything special. It was regular public transportation that Hol only allowed himself to go on once in a while as if it was some luxury. Money like that could’ve been used for food and shelter. Why waste it on something that will only make him get to places faster when going on foot was fine enough. Luckily for him it’s not his money being spent.
The bus smelt weird. Almost like bloodshed and something else sinister, but that could just be him. He was seated right in the front alongside Nena, albeit not by choice on his end. Everyone wanted to keep an eye on him, and that meant being in front of everyone else. Kakyoin and Jotaro were seated behind them all, talking about something Hol couldn’t quite make out. Nena took it upon herself to sit right next to Hol, much to his dismay. Polnareff and Joseph were in the seat right behind him, Polnareff specifically chatting up a storm in Nena’s ear.
“I’m not one to be getting up on a soapbox like this, but you need to understand that men like Hol Horse aren’t good for you in the long run!” He lectured. “These kinds of people are only out there to take advantage of young women such as yourself.”
“Wait hold on now I-“
“Oh shut it you! I’m trying to make sure she learns!” Polnareff pauses for a moment as he slowly realizes something. “Umm…I don’t think I ever got your name miss.”
“Oh that doesn’t matter right now! As long as my love is okay!”
Hol sits there awkwardly for a moment before clearing his throat. “Her name is Nena. She’s a part of a wealthy family in Varanasi, but I never got her last name so I don’t know her residence.”
“You’re dating this girl and yet you don’t even know her last name?”
“L-look Polnareff I ain’t dating nobody!” Hol exclaims, looking over at Nena before leaning in towards Polnareff to whisper. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been trying to turn her down this entire time, but she doesn’t seem to understand the word no.” As Hol says that, Nena starts snuggling up to Hol causing him to gently push her away. “For the last time, little miss, I appreciate the sentiment but I’m not interested. I just want to make sure you’re home and safe.”
“You could hammer in the same point a million times but some people just won’t listen,” Polnareff sighs.
“Well we’re just gonna have to deal with it until she’s home safe. We’re heading up to Varanasi right now so I’ll be dropping her off to her folks.” Nena perks up again hearing that come out of Hol’s mouth.
“Are you sure you don’t want to meet my parents? I’m sure they’d give you a handsome reward if you stayed for a bit.”
“…I appreciate the offer ma’am, but I have other things to worry about than meeting a girl’s parents,” Hol states, chuckling uncomfortably as he does. “Besides, even if I did like you, you’re moving too fast for even my pace.” That makes Nena huff in disappointment as she’s forced to sit there listening to Polnareff’s lectures.
He was completely stuck. He couldn’t figure out a good plan on how to even get away from this. Sure, there was his initial plan of taking out everyone in their sleep, but the Emperor isn’t exactly the most quiet stand and hotels aren’t known for being the most spacious. Not to mention if at least one of them even hears a shot ring out and one of them is dead, Hol will be dead soon after. He could just run away while everyone’s asleep, but where will he go? He can’t just go back to lord DIO if being with the Joestars a second more labels him as a traitor.
With that thought, he realizes he too is on a timer. If one of his fellow coworkers, whoever they are, ends up dying at all while he’s with the Joestars, he’d officially be a traitor and be stuck having to deal with the Joestars until he croaks. He knows he doesn’t stand a chance against any of the users, at least the ones he remembers. He’s practically carrying out the sentence Polnareff gave him earlier by staying any longer.
His thoughts are suddenly interrupted by Polnareff loudly whispering to the Joestars.
“Honestly guys, why did you even bring him along?” He asked. “How are you even okay with this in the first place?!”
“We’re not,” Joseph answered. “We understand what he’s done and we may never forgive him, but he could be a useful ally. The only long range user among us is Kakyoin so having another one with us would be of great help if we needed to keep our distance from an enemy stand user.” As he says this, he starts itching his arm absentmindedly.
Hol didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but he needed to be on guard around these people. Who knows what they were planning on doing with him. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Joseph itching his arm and sees a little bump. He can’t help but feel something about it was wrong, sinister almost, but he ignored it for now trying to think nothing of it.
He’s suddenly pushed forward slightly from the bus coming to a stop. He was too lost in thought he didn’t realize they made it to their destination already. He holds out his arm so Nena doesn’t go flying, even if it may have the opposite effect of what he wanted.
“You do love me don’t you?” Nena exclaimed.
“Well hold on for a moment young lady! I was just making sure you didn’t go flying into the chair in front of us! You know, protecting you and all. Doesn’t mean I love you…” Hol is getting a bit more irritated with her delusions.
“Enough you two, we’re here.” Joseph states, waiting a moment for Polnareff to get up before getting out himself. He joins everyone around Joseph, who had been closely examining his arm.
“Everything alright old man?” Jotaro asked, “You look like there’s something going on.”
Joseph shakes his head, “my bug bite seems to have gotten infected, it’s somehow gotten worse on the bus.”
“Looks pretty swollen,” Kakyoin added, “it would be best to have a doctor check it out before it progresses further.”
Polnareff leans in, looking at the infection curiously. “Hmm…doesn’t it sort of remind you guys of a person's face?”
“Don’t say stuff like that! It’s creepy Polnareff!” Joseph yelled.
Hol, however, looked at it as if it sent him deep in thought. He felt like he’s seen it before but where? There was a twang of familiarity that he couldn’t quite shake seeing the bug bite. Polnareff mentioned it looked like a person's face, maybe it resembled someone he knew? But that didn’t make sense either, the bug bite doesn’t look like anyone specific.
Nena, noticing Hol lost in thought, decided this was a perfect time to cling to his waist. In that moment, Hol completely loses his train of thought, focusing more on the girl clinging to him.
“Everything alright Hol?” He heard Joseph ask.
“Umm…yeah yeah everything’s alright Mr. Joestar. Your bite just reminded me of something. I won’t let it keep you from a doctor, you need to get that check out pronto.”
Joseph didn’t seem too convinced but nodded. “In that case I’ll be at the doctors. In the meantime, you guys should look around for a hotel.” And with that Joseph leaves.
Hol sighs as he starts digging in his pockets trying to find something before pulling out a map. “I’m going to go and help the little miss find her way home and return her to her family. In the meantime," he opens the map and points to a building, “you three start heading here. This is the hotel I resided in during one of my travels here. It's a very nice place, I remember it being one of the more enjoyable hotels I’ve been to, and the lady that runs it was very nice.”
In the endtail of his rambles, Hol hands the old crumpled up map to Jotaro. “You guys need this more than me. I know this place like the back of my hand. Don’t be afraid to look around either, Varanasi is a very beautiful place. I remember not wanting to leave the first time I’ve been here, although it could just be because this is a very spiritual city.”
“Hey hey!” Polnareff starts. “Who made you in charge?!”
“I don’t like being in charge, Polnareff! I was just suggesting what you guys could do while I split off! I doubt any of you have actually been here! This place can be a labyrinth of alleyways you could get lost in!”
“Uh uh! No! I’m not letting anyone be alone with you! In case you haven’t noticed, we can't exactly trust you since you killed our friend!”
“Hey quiet down will you? You’ll bring attention to us!”
“Hey!” Jotaro starts, “fighting now won’t do anyone any good. Polnareff, you go with Hol Horse in returning the girl to her parents. Me and Kakyoin will go find that hotel Hol mentioned.” He looks at the map briefly before pointing to a building near the hotel. “There’s a cafe next to the hotel, when you guys are done you can meet us there.”
Kakyoin and Hol both nod, accepting that plan. Hol steps up pulling out a wallet and the equivalent of 25 US dollars. “Here, that should be plenty for you both to get some grub. Don’t be afraid of eating before me and Polnareff.” Kakyoin and Jotaro both nod, but Polnareff had other thoughts.
“You guys can’t be serious! How are you guys just okay with him being with us!” Before anyone could answer, Hol grabs Polnareff’s arm and drags him off with Nena following.
“Come on Polnareff, we don’t have much time to mess around. Nena, why don’t you lead. We’ll follow right behind you, just try taking any route to your home.” Nena smiles and nods before going in front of the two men, leading them to what Hol assumed would be to her family. In that moment, Polnareff wrestles out of his grasp and points accusingly at him.
“What’s your problem!”
“No no, what's your problem?! You wanted to come along with me! We have no time to waste, you know!”
“I know that! I came along cause I wanted to make sure you weren’t going to try anything!”
“Why would I try anything?! I would never lay my hands on a woman, especially not a young woman such as her! I hope you know she’s only 16!”
“I’m worried about her too but that wasn’t what I was referring to! What if you snuck away and found and killed Mr. Joestar?!”
“My priority right now is getting her home! I’m not going to abandon her like that!”
Their fighting is abruptly stopped by Nena taking a sharp left, muttering out, “I think my parents live somewhere over here.” Hol was glaring daggers at Polnareff but turned to follow Nena without another word.
“Are you seriously ignoring me now!” Polnareff tries, but a glare from Hol whose speed could rival that of a quick draw shuts him up.
“We don’t have any time for that, now come on before we lose her.” Hol’s voice was eerily calm compared to the yelling match he just had with him. Polnareff grumbles, looking ready to kick up some dirt, before following Hol and Nena.
The area Nena walked into didn’t seem like a neighborhood that a wealthy family would live in. Colorful fabric signs hang from the rooftops as the air fills with the sound of people talking in every direction. A couple stands are out in the streets selling all kinds of goods. Hol can only assume this must be a bazaar they walked into.
“Taking a short cut, little miss?” He asked Nena.
“Oh uhh…yeah! It should be just past the market.” Hol thought that was weird. Wherever this family lived wouldn’t have been anywhere near this street. He trusted her word but couldn’t shake off the feeling something’s up.
“Honestly Nena I know I keep going on about this,” Polnareff started, “but you need to understand when men are taking advantage of you! Especially since you’re so young!” Hol grumbles a bit overhearing this. He already told the man he wasn’t doing anything with Nena. So much for someone who doesn’t like getting on a soapbox. His lecture, however, is stopped by Nena herself.
“Oh look over there,” she said, pointing to someplace behind them. “That place is a hotel run by a nice Japanese lady named Kumika.” Hol knew the woman somewhat, having run into her one of the first times he was here and that being the hotel Jotaro and Kakyoin were supposed to head over to. They could be taking a detour of the city, but Hol decides to look around just in case.
Neither teen was anywhere in sight, however he did end up spotting Joseph of all people. He was running down the street with a cloth over where his bug bite was. ‘That’s odd. Why would he need to cover up his infection?’ Hol thought to himself. “Was it really that bad that he had to hide it from people? It should’ve been cut off if it was.”
As he’s thinking to himself, the rag lifts a bit in the wind, revealing the tumor-like mass under. It was wrong, though, and Hol swore he saw arms on that thing. That’s when he realized why he’s been feeling like this the entire time. It’s a stand! Not just any stand, but the Empress! If he didn’t get the thing off Mr. Joestar then he’s a goner for sure!
He quickly summoned the Emperor. Mr. Joestar didn’t see him so this was his only chance. He took a deep breath and took aim, ready to shoot that thing right off Mr. Joestar’s arm!
He pulls the hammer back and tightens his finger on the trigger.
Bang!
“What do you think you’re doing!” He yells out as his arm is lifted by Polnareff, a bullet flying out into the sky.
“What are you doing?! Did you really try shooting him in the middle of all these people! In front of me!”
“No you dumbass!” He yells out before looking around. The user had to be around here somewhere, but now Joseph is nowhere in sight. He quiets down his voice so only he and Polnareff can hear each other. “You just killed Mr. Joestar!”
“Me?!” Polnareff exclaims, matching the volume of Hol’s voice. “You just tried shooting at him!”
“He had a stand on him Polnareff! An enemy stand user! I was trying to get it off him!”
“What?! What stand?”
“He has the Empress on him. A tumor-like stand that feeds on things around it to grow and eventually overpower and kill its host.”
“And you didn’t say anything before?!”
“I was getting there! I just kept losing focus and as I already stated I was just trying to get Nena home!”
“How did an enemy user even get their stand on him!”
“Well…the host usually had to come in contact with the user's blood. Maybe someone on the bus?”
“But didn’t he have it before?”
“Yeah he did, but I was just trying to throw out possibilities of how this happened in the first place.” Hol then grabs Nena’s arm and looks at her. “Sorry for the hold up, young lady. Do you know which direction we should go now?”
“Umm yeah we need to go…left.” She states, walking ahead of them. At this point, Hol just feels like they’re being led in circles. They walk a few more paces down the street before stopping at a row of food stands. “A-actually I’m quite hungry,” she started, “you two wouldn’t mind if we stopped to eat right?”
“Not at all madame!” Polnareff exclaimed. “I’m quite famished myself. You didn’t give Jotaro and Kakyoin everything you got right, Hol?”
“Oh! Uhh…I mean I guess I can pay-“
“That's great! I would say you’re a life saver but I wouldn’t want to lie.” Polnareff states, Hol’s face crumpled in guilt almost. Polnareff honestly didn’t even know Hol knew how to feel guilt.
“Right right yeah…just get what you want okay?” Hol pulled his wallet out, ready to take out whatever pocket money he had left as Nena and Polnareff pick out what they want.
“Oh! We can eat over here!” Nena exclaimed, pointing to an alley away from the stalls.
“Are you sure little lady? It isn’t exactly the safest option for a woman such as yourself to be going down sketchy alleys.”
“Umm no no it’s fine. Besides, it’s more likely someone’s going to pickpocket us in the open. It’s much better to eat in the alley, then we can go to my family.” Polnareff and Hol look at each other but shrug and follow her.
As they make it into the alley, Nena suddenly slips and falls looking wearily behind them. “Oh no!” She exclaims. Hol immediately goes to her rescue.
“Hey miss, are you hurt at all?” He asked, bending down to her level to examine her body.
“Oh yes sir Hol Horse I’m fine! I just lost my footing.”
“Hmm…well you don’t have any new cuts, so that’s good at least.” Upon saying that, he hears a little tch come from Nena. Why would she be upset about not being hurt?
“Thank you! my heart will forever be yours, sir Hol Horse!” She exclaimed, making Hol sigh over doing this song and dance all over again. He honestly thought this all was weird, and a voice in his head only makes it worse.
“Psst Hol…” The voice started. “I didn’t get to ask you earlier, but did you have any other ideas for who the user could be?” Hol turned around to see Polnareff staring intently at him, and that’s when he realized what he was doing.
“Yeah actually I do…I think the user might be Nena.”
“What? What makes you think that?”
“Well, think about it. She has been driving us around in circles this entire time and I think she’s been trying to distract me from figuring it out. Besides, did you not hear her little tch over hearing she wasn’t bleeding? Not to mention I’ve been smelling something sinister ever since the bus and it’s not me. It gets stronger and weaker as I’m closer or further to her.”
“Hmm…that is all rather odd. What should we do about this? If an enemy is so close shouldn’t we just end her now and save Mr. Joestar?”
“It’s not as simple as that. What if she’s innocent? We’d be killing an innocent young lady over a hunch.”
“Not like you’ve ever had a problem with killing the innocent…”
“Goddamnit Polnareff now isn’t the time for that! Besides if we harm her and it’s not fatal we just get the parasite on us as well! And it probably won’t start as a little bug bite at first!”
“Why don’t we just wave our stands in front of her! We could figure her out that way! Nobody likes a gun or sword pulled on them, and from what you’re saying the Empress isn’t a threat if she doesn’t get her blood on us.”
“I’m not doing that Polnareff! Like I said, what if she’s just an innocent girl trying to go home? My stomach churns just at the thought of pulling the Emperor out on an innocent woman! And I won’t let you do the same with Silver Chariot”
“Then what do you want us to do Hol?!”
“We just need to go along with what she says for now! If we have actual concrete evidence, we kill her. The problem is we don’t have that evidence!”
“Fine! We go along with that! But if we find Mr. Joestar dead, I’ll assume you’re still with DIO and I’ll take your head clean off.”
“Fine! Deal!”
It doesn’t take long for that evidence to appear as Nena stops all of the sudden and starts convulsing.
“Little miss? You alright?” Hol asks, and the moment he does, Nena starts puking out a river. Hol backs up in disgust, instinctively taking out the Emperor and putting an arm between the puking Nena and Polnareff.
“What the hell?! That’s absolutely disgusting!” Polnareff exclaimed, staring at the puking girl in shock.
Things take a turn for the worst for Nena as her body starts expanding, and in a sea of blood and flesh emerges her true form. Her screams turn from a young woman’s pain to that of an old hag as she falls to the ground, dead, in a pool of her own blood.
“So, she was the Empress’s stand user all along,” Joseph stated, now standing right by them on the other side of the alley as Polnareff backs up closer to him. “She was an ugly troll. She attached her stand to me as a tumor with a human face and disguised herself as a helpless young woman.”
“No offense Mr. Joestar,” Hol Horse started, “but we already knew that.”
“You did?! And she still managed to play you both like a damn fiddle!”
“Wait, hold on now, we were just making up a plan for what to do!” Polnareff explained. “The only reason she didn’t die was because the cowboy over here didn’t want to hurt her!”
“It was more complicated than that Polnareff! We didn’t have concrete evidence that she was the user and to do that to a potentially innocent woman I just could never put a woman in danger!"
“Oh but you’re fine killing our innocent friend huh! And let me remind you she was the danger!”
“Quiet you two!” Joseph yelled. “Jeez, is this what you two have been doing this entire time? I’ll have you both know I’m currently wanted and I don’t want attention brought to us. Now, do either of you know where Jotaro and Kakyoin went?”
Hol nods and gestures for them to follow him, walking in silence all the way back to the hotel where across the street was that cafe Jotaro had pointed to. There the teens were, sitting together at a table eating what 25 dollars could get them. They looked almost like they were on a date and Hol couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of innocent young love like that. Still, he ruins whatever moment they were having by knocking on the window.
The two teens walk out of the cafe to rejoin the group and Kakyoin starts talking. “So, I take it the doctor's appointment went well? And I see Nena went home, that’s nice.”
“Well…”
*******
It was night by now. By some miracle, Joseph had managed to find a car despite being freshly wanted. So much for Varanasi, as beautiful as Hol thought it was.
“And here I thought we’d finally be able to sleep in a bed for once,” Kakyoin lamented.
“That hotel Hol recommended really did look nice too,” Jotaro started. “If the old man hadn’t screwed up so badly maybe we wouldn’t be out here hiding from the cops.”
“Can’t exactly change what happened, no point in lamenting on what could’ve been.” Hol stated. “Being out here as long as I have you learn to just let things go. You can’t change it, so you have to keep moving forward if you want to survive. If not, someone else would just take what could’ve been yours and you’d be stuck starving.”
“Hol’s right in a way,” Joseph exclaimed. “We can’t be dwelling on what could’ve been when we have to focus on getting to Egypt. Besides, I already took care of everything and we’ll be taking this car. Polnareff, you’re driving.” Joseph throws the keys at Polnareff only to get stuck in his hair. He is just sitting there pouting about god knows what.
“Are you upset about what happened with Nena?” Joseph asked.
“No! It’s…never mind. I’ve had enough bickering with him today anyways.” Polnareff rips the keys out of his hair and gives Hol a glare.
Hol for one was trying to look at his options now, but there was only one. Stay with the Joestars and help them on his journey. It won’t do him any good if he left, and it will just make things worse if he tried attacking them. He was officially a traitor in DIOs eyes and there was nothing he could do about it. He already tried saving one of them for gods sake and he couldn’t even understand why. It was a spur of the moment thing. It didn't mean anything but it was still confusing.
The thought of him being a traitor terrified him. He knows he’s an easy target, he knows he will die on this trip most likely alone and nobody will give a shit, and yet, he'll still go along. He has to if he wants a sliver of hope to survive, even if that chance was less likely than winning 10 lottery’s in a row.
“Hol are you even listening to me right now?” Joseph asked.
“What? Sorry Mr. Joestar I think I might have some dirt in my ears,” Hol lied, earning him a sigh from Joseph.
“I said you can be up front with Polnareff in the passenger seat. The Emperor is a great asset to have if we ever get attacked on the road so we need you by one of the windows and enough room for you to maneuver without disturbing anyone else.” Joseph explained. That all made sense in Hol’s head at least, and he’s grateful Polnareff isn’t willing to be bickering at the moment.
Hol quietly gets in the passenger seat but everyone else lags behind a bit. He can hear some whispering between them, but shrugs it off. If it’s about him, whatever. If it’s about something else, whatever. He didn’t exactly care right now considering he’s trying to imagine the bullshit he’s about to be put through for the next 35 days.
His train of thought is halted by the sound of the car doors opening and everyone getting in. Polnareff looks at Hol for a long second before starting the car.
“Is everyone ready?” He asked, earning him multiple tired noises of affirmation. “Great, then let’s get the hell out of here.” With that, Polnareff drives off into the night and heads for the Indo-Pakistani border.