Pierced by a Golden SoulJojo's Bizarre Adventure x Reader

Brioche

The walk home began rather pleasant. It was still early morning, so the summer heat hadn't quite hit yet. A light mist remained in the air from the night before. It was tranquil, a perfect morning.

You were appreciating the woods bordering Vita's neighborhood when someone made their way out of the tree line. This unfortunately was a someone you recognized. His face and clothes were smudged with dirt, in his hands he was holding a pair of gardening gloves.

"Blake?" You greeted after unexpectedly coming face to face with the boy.

"Jojo?" Blake murmured, mirroring your confusion.

"Should've guessed I'd run into you." It had been awhile since you'd last seen the boy, and based on what Learco had told you, Blake was probably up to no good. You took in Blake's uncharacteristically messy state curiously before glancing at the woods he had just emerged from. "What were you...doing in the forest?"

"Exploring." Blake shrugged.

"Be careful then. I heard there are monsters in there." All things considered; you wouldn't actually mind if Vita's stand paid the guy a visit. Without much left to say to Blake, you started continuing on your path homeward.

"Y/n wait!" Blake called before you could get far.

"Yes?" You asked, turning around with a raised brow.

"Nothing." Blake seemed to have second guessed what he was going to say. His eyes slowly trailed up your figure before focusing in the chain around your neck. "Nice pendant."

"Thanks?" You replied, quickly bringing your hand to the beetle pendant. Typically, you kept it tucked into your shirt, but while leaving Vita's house you must have forgotten to do so.

"Not your typical style..." Blake, almost mesmerized, walked up close to you and tried running his hand over the gold-plated beetle. You gripped pendant a little tighter and smacked his hand away.

"Don't even think about it." You seethed. Blake merely smirked in response. You sighed, taking a step away from the boy. "Look, at this point... what do you want?"

"Hm?" Blake tore his eyes from the beetle pendant to look at you curiously.

"This all started because of some test answers! You didn't have to get involved with Keicho or any of this, but you still decided to! I just- I don't understand you."

"Well I-"

"Blake! What are you doing over there?" Both you and Blake turned to the house across the street. You recognized the man standing in the house's garage next to a police cruiser. Last time you were in the neighborhood you ran into him. Blake rolled his eyes as a woman came into view next to the man.

"Who's your friend?" She asked.

"Just someone from school." Blake waved his parents off dismissively. "Jojo was just leaving." The boy's attention shifted back to you. "You know how parents can be..." He paused a moment. "Oh wait. You don't."

For once, Blake wasn't making a jab at Senora Jones. He knew good and well what happened to your biological mother. Everyone in town did given it was the only countrywide news to hit the sleepy town in Rosewater.

"Later Greenmin." You sighed, finally tired of trying to figure out the boy's games.

"Jones." Blake replied as you walked away.

Blake reluctantly crossed the street to meet his parents in the garage of his home. As he mindlessly accepted a hug from his mother, Blake's gaze followed your retreating form. Even as his father ruffled his hair, Blake's mind was focused on the pendant you had been wearing.

Working with Lennia hadn't been a waste after all.

...............

You entered the bakery a bit deflated. Interactions with Blake had a tendency to do that to you. Senora Jones seemed to notice this given she put down the dough she was working with to greet you.

"Are you okay?" She asked cautiously.

"Long night." You sighed. "I ran into... a friend... from school." Senora Jones simply nodded and went back to her baking.

"I've been cleaning the attic, there were a few of your old boxes up there, I left them in your room."

"I'll check it out later." You groaned, setting aside the bag you brough to Vita's before heading over to the sink. After thoroughly washing your hands, you noticed the bewildered look on your mother's face. "What's on the docket for baking?" You asked with a smile.

Due to your escapades recently, it had been a long while since you focused solely on helping your mom. It was something you felt guilty about. You never meant to make her feel neglected, or that you were growing apart by any means. Your mother smiled as you joined her at her baking station.

It was calming being able to spend time with your mother, you knew the recipes for all of the cakes and cookies by heart. The two of you were an efficient duo in the kitchen. You smiled upon feeling the familiar sensation of dough between your palms and the smell of freshly made icing filled your senses. The day was spent with you reminiscing on the sweet memories of your childhood.

Your memory of the first time you baked with Senora Jones came to mind. It was during the time before she converted the second level of the bakery into a home, back in Pueri Point. Senora Jones was making brioche in the kitchen. Meanwhile, you were sneakily watching from the doorway. It didn't take long for her to notice your presence and beckon you over. She showed you the ropes, and while your small unpracticed fingers fumbled with the dough, Senora Jones remained patient. The brioche tasted amazing, even if it looked a bit misshapen due to your inexperience.

Ever since then, baking was the prominent way you spent time with the woman. Baking was her job after all.

As the day continued, your mother asked you to go grab more flour from the pantry for her.

This reminded you of another old memory. It was just before you began school for the day when you found your mother struggling to carry some ingredients. She had insisted she didn't need your assistance, but you insisted you could help. With little effort, you grabbed the flour and sugar from the woman's hands and set them on a nearby countertop. Even with being merely middle school aged, you were towering over the woman, so it made sense you had a fair bit more muscle than her.

From that point forward, whenever your mother needed heavy ingredients, or something from a high shelf, she would sweetly call for your help. Whenever you teased her about it she would huff, put her hands on her hips and simply say 'why bother with a step ladder when I have you?'. You would playfully feign frustration, but in reality, you enjoyed helping Senora Jones with anything that came up.

Time passed faster than expected. Weeks turned into months, months into years, and now you were here. The day was fading, and before long you were helping Senora Jones close the bakery.

"Headed up to bed." You said with a yawn after turning the 'open' sign to 'closed'. Before you could do so however, you were suddenly pulled into a hug. "Mom?" You asked curiously, but returned the hug nonetheless.

"Ti amo bambino mio." Senora Jones replied softly. The residual tenseness that had been hiding within your body dissipated as you held your mother tighter.

"I love you too mom." You confessed with a content smile. "Ti amo anch'io mamma."