Unexplored Sea - Jotaro x Reader / Stardust Crusaders insert

Chapter 4

Waking up at Jotaro's house is something I didn't realize I missed until now. It's been so long since we used to crash at each other's places without people assuming something. The second we hit high school, the slumber parties and sleepovers suddenly became weird to everyone else. Not us, though. 

Still, I can't help but think sometimes how different we are. I wish he was into the stuff I like—fashion, music, magazines, and god forbid, boys. When I talk about those things, he mostly just sits there, that blank stare on his face. Sometimes he tells me to keep going, which I guess is his way of saying he's listening. Im thankful for that. But I'm never really sure.

Mr. Joestar told me it'd be better if I just stayed at the Kujō house for now. Something about "things that need to be discussed" and "figured out." Classic vague Joseph. Honestly, I wasn't going to say no. If staying here means hanging out with Jotaro like we're kids again—even if just a little—I'll take it. Maybe it's selfish, but I don't care right now.

We're getting ready for school when Holly hugs Jotaro, almost too tightly, and starts asking for a kiss. I walk ahead so I don't hear too much of it, but I can still make out him grumbling and calling her a bitch under his breath. Something about the way he says it—like he's tired of pretending he's still a little kid—sticks in my chest. I don't know why, but I suddenly wish I could rewind time. Back before the jail. Back before the stand stuff. Back when we were normal and life wasn't so confusing. Go to school, go my homework (while Jotaro does neither), hang out, drink, smoke, talk. Easy. 

But part of me loves this. Its drama. Its exciting. It's not even stress that's making me not able to sleep, but excitement of what might happen next, good or bad. God, I really did drag him into all this, didn't I?

I turn back to look at him. He notices and groans.

"Good grief, what a pain in my neck."

I roll my eyes. "Drama queen."

We keep walking to school, the sidewalk under us baking a little in the morning sun. My thoughts wander back to what Joseph and Avdol were talking about last night. Stands. My stand. I still don't know what to make of it. Like, did I really see that pink-and-white creature when I was three? Did I really fight off two grown boys last week without even thinking?

"Hey—it's JoJo!"

My inner monologue dies. That voice always ruins my morning.

"Oh my god," I mutter under my breath.

More voices follow. "JoJo!" "Hey, JoJo!" "Good morning, JoJo!"

Here we go.

A whole swarm of girls surrounds us like they rehearsed this or something. They're all obsessed with Jotaro—and not in a cute way. Like, they act like he's an idol and I'm the demon that clings to his arm. They don't even acknowledge I'm here half the time. Jealousy is a disease. Which is stupid, because Jotaro and I are a package deal. Always have been.

They crowd him, grab at his arms, squeal in his ears. I know he hates this. I can practically hear the fuse sizzling.

"Shut the hell up! You're pissing me off!"

There it is.

The girls go silent for maybe half a second before they all blush and giggle like he just proposed to them. Unbelievable.

But even as I roll my eyes, I find myself smiling. Not at them—at him. Because as much as this sucks, as much as I want to scream at them to back off, I know someday I'll miss walking beside him like this. Even four days after busting him out of jail for a fight I technically started.

We head down the stairs toward the school courtyard when suddenly, I freeze.

My thumb cramps.

It's not pain exactly—more like a jolt. I get this weird sensation like we're being watched. My body goes stiff, and I stop in my tracks.

Jotaro turns to me. "Why'd you stop? Let's go."

I blink at him, trying to brush it off. "Uh... yeah. Sorry." I glance around, but I don't see anything.

Then it happens.

Jotaro gasps—more like shouts. "What the hell?!"

Blood is already pouring from his knee, and I don't even see what hit him. One second he's upright, and the next he's tumbling down the stairs.

"JOJO!" I sprint after him, frantically running and trying not to trip along the stairs. 

Before he can hit the bottom, that shiny purple thing from the jail—his stand—materializes in an instant. It grabs a branch overhead and swings him into a rough landing. Not painless, but a lot better than face-planting into the pavement.

 Through all my fear this adrenaline kicks in, and I jump down the remaining steps, about 10 or so total. My first thought being 'My ankles are about to be fucked' and my second...

"Woah!" I think aloud. Landing right next to Jotaro, falling the same way he did, hooking this third arm of mine onto the tree branch and safely swinging down. I gracefully land on my feet and Im giddy thinking about what I've done. 'I summoned my stand!'

Quickly I crouch beside him as he groans and props himself up on one elbow. There's a long cut on his leg, and his uniform is already getting stained. His eyes dart around, furious but focused. He didn't see what hit him either.

We both get to our feet. A group of girls comes rushing down the steps behind us. Of course. Just in time to see their precious JoJo wounded.

But something still doesn't sit right. My skin crawls. I feel it again—like a presence nearby. Like something else is watching.

"How did you get cut first and then fall down the stairs?" I ask.

Jotaro wipes his bloody hand on his pants. "I was wondering the same thing."

We glance at each other, then at the tree where the our stands grabbed the branch. Neither of us say it out loud, but we're thinking the same thing: something's targeting us.

And what iIm also thinking, and what Jotaro is probably not is 'damn that must've looked cool'. 

We step off to the side, letting the girls freak out over him while we regroup.

"Do you feel it too?" I ask quietly.

His jaw tightens. "Yeah. Something's off."

I shift closer to him, lowering my voice even more. "Do you... think it's another stand?"

He doesn't answer right away, but then nods once. "Has to be. Nothing else makes sense."

I pull my sleeve up to look at a faint mark on my arm. I don't know why I do it. It's not like it tells me anything—but maybe I'm hoping it will.

"I still don't know what mine does. Or what it is," I admit.

He glances down at my arm. "You'll figure it out." His tone is calm, but his voice is low. Quiet. Almost like reassurance.

I smile faintly, but it fades when I look back at his leg. "You're bleeding a lot, JoJo."

"I noticed."

I let out a soft breath. "Thanks for catching yourself with... you know."

He shrugs, but I catch the smallest flicker of something behind his eyes. "Didn't do it on purpose."

"Still... I'm glad it's looking out for you."

He doesn't say anything to that, just keeps looking straight ahead.

I wonder if mine would do the same for me. I hope so. If it even works like that, of course.

Something about the way he's standing close to me, even while bleeding, even while annoyed and confused and trying to hide it—I don't know. I just feel safer like this. Like no matter what bizarre thing we're about to face next, we'll face it together.

And I don't say anything else.