Work Text:
It was warm.
That was the first thought that entered his mind. The second was that it was dark and moist and-
What was going on?
He didn’t know how he knew what things like warm, dark, and moist were, just that he did, and that was what he was currently experiencing as he floundered around in the endless, inky depths all around him. The longer he thrashed about, becoming aware of a tingling sensation that he identified as touch, more and more memories that were not his own trickled into his awareness, so much and so quickly it was almost overwhelming.
I’m in a place, he thought, trying to grasp onto the torrential downpour of images and feelings flashing through his mind. But not a place that makes sense. There were no trees, or ground, or anything else that he could reach out and touch. When he tried, a phantom sense tickled at his perception, as though he were touching something through a wall. He tried again, gripping harder, and felt something smooth and cold beneath his hand.
My hand…he thought and glanced down, a murky vision of fingers curled around a lip of white porcelain seeping into eyes that belonged to someone else. But, no. That couldn’t be right. How could it be someone else if he was seeing it?
Nothing was computing right. Everything swirled around him in a maelstrom of stimulation and confusion, this strange phantom shell keeping him smothered and contained. With each passing second, his frustration built, the need to lash out and break free of this dark prison becoming more and more urgent. He needed to get out, to see, to-
Vision suddenly filled his senses, those eyes that were both his and not returning to him once more. He became aware of laboured breathing filling his lungs, shaky puffs of air rattling his lips as he continued to stare down at his hands curled around a sink. He lifted his head and stared into the mirror in front of him, the shiny glass reflecting a flushed face back at him.
His internal world immediately stilled, the tornado of confusion swirling around him coming to an abrupt halt as he took in that face. A strong jaw connected to a powerful body, tanned skin dotted with sweat trickling over throbbing pulse points, and dark hair tumbling over serious eyes the colour of sea glass. It was the first time he’d ever seen that face and yet it seemed familiar to him, like he’d gazed upon it thousands of times.
Jotaro, his mind supplied, and everything suddenly fell into place. His spawning, his whole existence—all of it. It was all for him. His master.
He moved, spurred forward by Jotaro’s distress, something in his core telling him to fix this, to protect, to make Jotaro stop feeling this way. The moment he moved, the shadows fell away and he was no longer looking into the mirror but phasing through it, staring at Jotaro with his own eyes instead of sharing his master’s. Inches away, he could see his own reflection in Jotaro’s eyes, the projection of his body something large and hulking. He didn’t care either way for his appearance, but his body felt strong and swift, which mattered far more to him. It meant he could protect his master from whatever threatened him.
“What the fuck?” Jotaro gasped, staggering away from him, his eyes blown wide.
He hovered in the air before him, slipping out of the mirror until his entire body had materialised, the two of them taking up most of the space in the cramped bathroom.
As he gazed down at Jotaro, pure, unadulterated ardour pored out of him. Yes, it all made sense now. Why he was here, what his purpose was. It was all for him. Jotaro’s soul had called him into being to keep him safe, giving life to him so the two of them could be together, existing as one and apart at the same time. All those flashes of knowledge and memory were Jotaro’s, his consciousness kept separate by a mental barrier, but parts of him leaking through, helping to build an understanding of who he was.
And who he was was someone wonderful. He couldn’t say exactly why yet but he felt Jotaro’s strength, resilience, and care as though they were his own born traits.
He drifted closer to Jotaro, who had plastered himself against the wall, watching his every move without blinking. All he wanted was to reach out and touch Jotaro, feel their hands that were one and not connect. He wanted to let him know that he was here now, and ready to lay everything on the line for Jotaro. Everything but his life, because his life was Jotaro’s life and that was something he would never risk.
Master, he wanted to say but words refused to come to him. Instead, he held his arms out to Jotaro. I’m here now. I’m-
With a wordless yell, Jotaro lobbed a shampoo bottle at him. It struck him on the temple and he blinked at the off-white tiles as Jotaro clutched at his own head and cursed.
Star Platinum—yes, he had a name now—floated in the corner of Jotaro’s room, staring down at him as he tossed and turned in his futon. He’d been blinking in and out of existence since his first manifestation a few days ago, each time called back into being by Jotaro’s own distress. The problem was-
“Get away,” Jotaro hissed, flailing an arm in Star Platinum’s direction. He aimed a tense glance at him over his shoulder then pulled the blankets over his head, muffling his words, though Star Platinum’s keen ears caught them anyway. “Leave me alone.”
I can’t, Star Platinum thought, his own frustration bubbling in his chest. You keep calling me back out!
They were trapped in this vicious cycle seemingly without an end in sight. Jotaro would feel uneasy at Star Platinum’s presence inside him, which would cause Star Platinum to manifest, as it was his duty to protect Jotaro, only for Jotaro to become afraid at his sudden appearance, wishing him away while his fear anchored him in place. It was exhausting, and there wasn’t even an enemy for Star Platinum to punch. Instead, he was stuck hovering over Jotaro, having to withstand a litany of insults hurled his way as the two of them were locked in a stalemate. All he could do was hover there, arms and legs crossed as he watched Jotaro fret and shiver in bed.
Star Platinum wanted to comfort him but knew that would only result in Jotaro spurning him further. He ached at his master’s rejection, but it wasn’t about what he wanted, he reminded himself. This was about Jotaro’s wants and needs, and if he wanted Star Platinum to stay away, he would.
Star Platinum stayed watching over Jotaro until his master finally fell asleep. Only then did he slip back into the inky shadows of his internal world.
Jotaro was walking down the street, shooting furtive glances over his shoulder every two seconds.
“Stop following me,” he muttered under his breath.
Star Platinum, who couldn’t be more than a few metres away from Jotaro lest the invisible tether tying them together become taught and start dragging him around, only glared back in response as he continued to float after him. This wasn’t exactly Star Platinum’s idea of a great time either. He’d only been alive for a handful of days and all he’d experienced thus far was a stressed-out master and household items being thrown at him. Something told him this wasn’t what he was here for.
Jotaro was looking worse every day. His anxiety was constant, causing Star Platinum to remain manifested at all times. He was sleeping less and less, the shadows under his eyes becoming more pronounced, his already surly attitude down-right nasty, and the names he threw Star Platinum’s way growing more insulting by the hour. He seemed particularly fond of evil spirit at the moment, spitting it out whenever he looked at Star Platinum.
Star Platinum, who had to bite his tongue and endure. The one plus was that at least Jotaro was going outside today, heading to school at the gentle pestering of his mother, who Star Platinum was more inclined to like in that moment than his master. He got to admire the trees, watch the leaves fall from the branches and gently float to the ground. He could feel the sun on his skin and the breeze in his hair. Every graze of the outside world against him was so thrilling and electrifying, he wondered how Jotaro could be so grumpy when he’d been experiencing such things his whole life.
He seemed intent to hate everything, especially Star Platinum. The further they walked, the more agitated Jotaro grew, constantly scowling at Star Platinum, gritting his teeth and looking ready to throw a punch. He kept bumping into other pedestrians, who shot him dirty looks, but Jotaro didn’t seem to notice, his ire directed entirely at Star Platinum.
“I mean it,” he snarled. “Leave me alone before I get you exorcised or-“
It happened in the blink of an eye. Jotaro, who wasn’t looking where he was going, too busy glaring at Star Platinum, shouldered his way through the throng of people collected on the sidewalk and stepped onto the road just as the adjacent light turned green. A car, clearly driven by someone in a hurry to arrive at their destination, took off like a rocket, headed straight towards the unaware Jotaro.
Star Platinum perceived all of this in an instant, his body jumping into action on instinct. He moved fast enough to create a torrential gust of wind, pelting the nearby people and causing them to cry out and hold down their skirts and coats. Someone screamed as the approaching car laid down on its horn, finally getting Jotaro’s attention, but Star Platinum was already there, crouched down over Jotaro, shielding him with his body. There was a split second where they made eye contact, Jotaro staring up at him in shock as he fell on his backside, before Star Platinum braced himself and the force of the car hit him head-on.
He closed his eyes against the screeching of tearing metal and the squeal of tyres, gritting his teeth and clenching his muscles. He refused to move, digging his feet into the asphalt until it cracked, locking him in place. If he moved then Jotaro would get hurt, so he would not move. It was as simple as that.
All at once, Star Platinum absorbed the force and the car collapsed to the ground, nothing more than a hunk of steaming metal. He straightened up, brushing the soot and shrapnel from his shoulders before turning back to Jotaro. A quick scan of his body informed him he hadn’t been hurt and some of the tension drained from his astral form.
Jotaro simply stared up at him mutely, his mouth hanging open and breathing uneven.
See? Star Platinum tried to say with his gaze alone. This is what I’m for. I’m only trying to protect you!
The crowd of on-lookers spilled onto the road, gasping and surrounding Jotaro, some asking if he was alright and others at a loss of what they’d just witnessed.
“What happened? That car was heading straight for you but it just stopped. Almost like it hit something!”
Jotaro managed to pull himself to his feet, eyes still locked on Star Platinum. “I-“
“What the hell?”
Both Jotaro and Star Platinum spun around as the driver of the wrecked car stumbled out of the heap that had once been his vehicle. He had a gash on his forehead, but seemed more preoccupied with glaring daggers at Jotaro than attending to his own needs. Star Platinum’s back was up as the man stormed over to Jotaro, jabbing a finger at his chest.
“What’d you do to my car, you dumb punk?” he demanded, spittle flying from his lips and landing on Jotaro’s shirt.
“Nothing,” Jotaro snapped in return, not looking the least bit intimidated. It was rather easy when he was nearly a whole head taller than the other man. “And you almost hit me, bastard.”
The man’s nostrils flared and he balled his hand into a fist. “Why you little-!”
He lifted his arm but Star Platinum was between them in a second, his gaze furiously zeroed in on the fist intending to hurt his master. Quick as a flash, he seized the man’s wrist in his grip and twisted his hand back, snapping the bone beneath like a twig. The man let out a mighty bellow of pain, but Star Platinum kept his hold, tossing the man across the street as though he weighed no more than a baseball. His body smacked into the brickwork of a nearby building, the man sliding down to curl up on the ground, moaning pitifully.
“Oh, my god!” a woman screamed.
“What the fuck?” a man yelled, the entire crowd staring in horror at Jotaro, who blinked back, looking lost for words.
He stared at Star Platinum with similar terror, and Star Platinum deflated slightly, his triumph quickly bleeding out into sheepishness.
Maybe he’d overdone it.
Star Platinum decided he liked the jail cell significantly less than outside. It was even worse than Jotaro’s tiny bathroom. At least that had a window. Now, he was stuck babysitting his paranoid master inside a concrete box with two bewildered guards trying to push Jotaro out the door but he stubbornly refused to leave. After a week of this, he began to grow desperate. Surely, Jotaro didn’t mean to keep the two of them trapped there forever?
Something deep in his essence told him he was there for a grander purpose. That there was some larger danger lurking out there somewhere that he had been summoned to defeat. The longer Jotaro kept them locked up, the more that dangerous something grew in strength and it was making him decidedly antsy.
He settled for trying to earn Jotaro’s trust by making him comfortable. If Jotaro could just see that he wasn’t some evil spirit but a part of his very soul, maybe he’d come around.
So, Star Platinum brought Jotaro things. Food and drink beyond the gruel the guards provided him with a couple times a day, but also whatever he thought would strike his fancy. A stereo, CDs, books, matchsticks, marbles, an entire television and videogame consol. He even got Jotaro a magazine from one of the police station rooms. It had a human woman on the cover, her body covered in the most absurd loincloth Star Platinum had ever seen. Why was it triangle shaped?
Jotaro had given him a particularly strange look when he’d deposited that on the thin cell bedsheets.
Nothing seemed to do the trick.
Star Platinum was beginning to resign himself to a life in the slammer when the familiar, tinkling voice of Jotaro’s mother rang down the hall. Hope surged in his chest that maybe she could talk some sense into her offspring where Star Platinum had failed, but he quickly realised she wasn’t alone. She’d not only brought the guards with her but a stranger.
Star Platinum withdrew as they approached, watching through Jotaro’s eyes as he spoke with the strange man in the trenchcoat and hat. Immediately, Star Platinum knew this man was different, and not just because he picked up the two guards and tossed them aside like they weighed nothing. He didn’t back down when Jotaro glared at him, facing him head-on. It was clear enough they knew each other in some way from how they spoke to one another, but he could still sense Jotaro’s apprehension. It was that unease that made Star Platinum lash out and pull the tip of the man’s pinky finger off. Jotaro didn’t chastise him or even glance at his arm, just took the metal finger from Star Platinum’s grip and held it up for the older man to see.
Instead of assuaging Jotaro’s nerves though, his agitation only grew. He raised his voice, yelling and gesticulating at the gathered spectators. When he reached towards one of the guards, Star Platinum felt Jotaro’s will move him, spurring him to grab the guard’s gun before anyone could react. It wasn’t the first time Jotaro had manipulated his movements. He had done so a few times in random bursts of fear when he willed Star Platinum away, but it was the first time he’d done it with clear intention. Star Platinum was surprised at how natural it felt to bend to Jotaro’s desires, his astral body acting as a marionette to his master’s control.
Star Platinum deposited the gun in Jotaro’s waiting hand but startled when Jotaro lifted the weapon to his own head. His mother screamed but Star Platinum leaped into action, catching the bullet in the same second Jotaro pulled the trigger. The metal was hot between the pads of his fingers and Star Platinum tossed it aside as Jotaro lowered the gun, letting it clatter to the ground. He sat down heavily on the bed and Star Platinum stared.
Why? he silently demanded as he gazed down at Jotaro’s quivering shoulders. Why do you test me like this? Why won’t you just accept me?
The old man had watched the whole display with some surprise but not the out-and-out shock that Star Platinum had come to expect from humans when they witnessed his abilities. After a moment, he snapped his fingers and stepped back.
“Avdol. You’re up.”
Another man stepped into the light then. Star Platinum had sensed his presence earlier but Jotaro’s attention had been mostly focused on the old man, so he hadn’t bothered much with taking him in. Now though, he was talking about dragging Jotaro out of his cell, regardless of any pain he may incur as a result, and Star Platinum’s attention was very much captured. He looked through Jotaro’s eyes as the man, Avdol, moved his hands into a peculiar formation. A blast of heat erupted from his skin and a moment later, a being manifested in front of him.
Star Platinum felt Jotaro’s shock but it was secondary to his own gaping wonder. Just by looking at him, Star Platinum knew this being was like him. He had feathers in some places where Star Platinum had skin, and a beak where he had lips, but he was still the same. The way that he and Jotaro were connected, this bird man and Avdol were connected. The sudden knowledge that he wasn’t the only one of his kind hit him like a brick, but he didn’t have time to contemplate whether this was good news or not as the fellow spirit was suddenly phasing through the bars of Jotaro’s cell and pinning him to the wall with cords of fire.
Pain coursed through his connection with Jotaro, the skin of his arms burning as though they were Star Platinum’s own. The spirit dragged Jotaro forward, clearly intent on pulling him out of the cell, when Star Platinum felt Jotaro’s will tugging at him again.
Come, it seemed to say. I need you.
And despite any frustrations Star Platinum may have had with his master, he still knew his duty. He would sooner forsake his own existence than leave Jotaro to fend for himself. Plus, he would’ve been lying to himself if it didn’t please him that Jotaro was intentionally calling on him. So, he sprang into being between Jotaro and the other spirit, forcing them apart with a push and a hearty yell. Jotaro landed on his feet and Star Platinum loomed behind him, staring his opponent down and mirroring his master’s stance.
It felt good to be entirely corporeal again, not just an arm here or there, but an entire body, fists clenched and muscles tense as he inhabited space. The heat of Avdol’s spirit radiated off of him in waves, seeping into Star Platinum’s cool skin. Jotaro’s anger burned in his veins and when he lifted his hand in the spirit’s direction, Star Platinum sprang into action, sweeping forward, through the bars and seizing the creature by the throat.
Touch my master, will you? Star Platinum thought, squeezing the thick chords of muscle beneath his fingers. I’ll teach you.
The bird man’s eyes widened, his beak opening as he stared down at Star Platinum’s hand.
You’re strong.
Star Platinum almost froze. The words rang inside his head as though they’d been spoken aloud. It took him a moment to realise they’d come from the other spirit, who strangely didn’t look scared, even as Star Platinum was bearing down on him.
He surged back, out of Star Platinum’s grip and behind his master, who was busy staring at Jotaro and conversing with the old man.
Star Platinum shook himself out of the momentary lapse in focus. This was no time to be worrying about such trivial things as chatting. He tried latching onto Jotaro’s instincts and thoughts, wishing his master’s will would wash over him again. It was much easier to move and fight when they were in synch together.
“Red bind!”
Star Platinum jolted at Jotaro’s surprise as more tendrils of fire shot out from the other spirit and wrapped around Jotaro, pinning his arms to his sides and smothering him. The more Jotaro struggled against the bindings, the heavier Star Platinum’s body felt. The shadows of his inner world with Jotaro called to him, his eyelids growing suddenly heavy. He began to seep away even as his core urged him to stay. Jotaro was in danger! He had to keep fighting!
Even as he was pulled under, Star Platinum heard the old man’s voice echo through the rocky chamber.
“I’ll tell you the truth! Despite appearances, it is not an evil spirit. Jotaro, what you believed was an evil spirit is actually a being created from your life energy: a kind of powerful vision! Because it stands beside you, we have a special name for this vision. A Stand!”
Stand.
The word rattled around in Star Platinum’s mind, striking a deep chord of truth within him. Many human words didn’t make sense to him, spoken language seeming largely unnecessary, but this word sounded right.
“A Stand?” Jotaro repeated, and something in his tone had Star Platinum lifting his head.
Avdol was speaking, spouting some nonsense about a story, but Star Platinum was much more interested in cluing into Jotaro’s thoughts. He slipped out of existence just as Jotaro threatened to kill Avdol, his leg striking the small coffee table Star Platinum had fetched him the previous day with such force it shattered the toilet. The spray of water rained down on the chords of fire keeping Jotaro prisoner, extinguishing them to cinders.
Pride flared in Star Platinum’s core. Only his master could be so resourceful and strong even on his own. He wondered if Jotaro could feel his admiration seeping through the bond between them.
That time for wondering was cut short as Jotaro’s will suddenly latched onto him, urging him out.
“I warned you,” Jotaro growled, and Star Platinum leaned into the mental pull of Jotaro’s hand, springing back into being at his master’s back with a roar. “Bastard!” Jotaro yelled, his rage flooding through Star Platinum, a wind at his back forcing him on. He grabbed the bars of the cell and wrenched them apart as Jotaro kept shouting. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
Star Platinum seized up the two pieces of broken metal snapped off from one of the bars and pounced after his enemy, the Stand of Avdol. He aimed the wickedly sharp tip at the spirit’s back, intending to drive the spike straight through his heart.
The spirit stared back at Star Platinum, mirroring his master’s calm expression. Impressive, it said in Star Platinum’s mind, before closing its eyes and turning along with Avdol, seeping into his red robes and vanishing with a hiss of smoke.
Star Platinum pulled up short, Jotaro’s attacking intent cut off at the sight of the man’s unguarded back pointed his way. Confusion rippled through their link, but Star Platinum pulled back, knowing Jotaro would not want to attack an unsuspecting opponent.
“Hey!” Jotaro snapped. “Why’d you suddenly turn your back on me? Turn around and face me!”
Star Platinum hovered between them, watching Avdol for any sudden movements, for his Stand, as he’d called it, to reappear. But something told him that wouldn’t happen. This had been Star Platinum’s first fight against an opponent that could land a blow on him but he felt sure of his assumption, something in his make-up reading the fight draining out of this man.
“Mr. Joestar,” Avdol said, settling down on the ground with his back to the wall. “As you can see, I’ve gotten him out of his cell.”
Star Platinum glanced down at the same moment Jotaro did, seeing his feet across the threshold he’d steadfastly refused to cross for over a week. The only thing that elated him more than that was the gradual decrease of Jotaro’s heartbeat. For the first time since Star Platinum had manifested, he no longer felt the tight fist of Jotaro’s fear squeezing the tunnel of their connection. It was as Jotaro loosed a long, cool breath that Star Platinum gladly sank into the inky shadows, content to wait until his master needed him again.
Until that time came, Star Platinum could watch Jotaro’s world through his eyes, curling around the swirling nebula of their shared bond like a dragon circling its treasure.