Standstill Bonds

Chapter 10 ~ Familial Discord

The tension in the house was tangible as Josephine stepped inside, the hushed but unmistakable sound of her parents' voices carrying through the walls. She moved quietly, tip toeing up the stairs and trying to make it to her room without being noticed, but her mother's voice cut through the air like a knife.

"Josephine Adams! Where have you been?" Her mother demanded harshly.

Josephine froze, her body stiffening at the sound. She turned slowly, meeting her mother's eyes wearily. "I had extra studies after school," she replied, her voice calm and frustrated. She didn't care that she told a white lie, it was far more believable to her parents who did not have stands.

Her mother's lips thinned, eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms. "And what about the deliveries?" her mother shot back. "You know we're not always here to receive them. You know you need to be home straight after school!"

Deliveries. Always the damn deliveries. Their family's money secrets, the fraud hidden behind the guise of packages and shipments, had taken precedence over everything; including her. The resentment simmered just beneath the surface, and this time, she couldn't contain it.

"I can't be responsible for that all the time, Mum," she snapped, her voice rising, frustration flaring. "It's not my problem."

Her mother's expression darkened, her voice sharpening into a rebuke. "You live here, don't you? You are part of this family. You need to pull your weight!"

Josephine felt her patience snap, "I didn't choose this life!" she shot back, her voice trembling with anger and pain. "You did. Dad did. You're the reason we had to move to Japan in the first place! Why should I have to deal with all of this bullshit?" 

"Do NOT swear at me!" her mother barked, her voice rising with authority. "You'll do as you're told young lady. You will play your part!"

Josephine clenched her fists, biting back another angry retort that hovered on her tongue. But she knew arguing with her mother would be futile, it always was. It always ended like this; a clash of wills, with no resolution in sight. Her chest tightened as she turned on her heel, retreating to the only space where she could escape, even if just for a little while.

She closed the door to her room with a soft click, but it felt like slamming a barrier between her and the rest of the world. The argument still lingered in her mind, and she felt it hanging in the air like an oppressive cloud. She sat on her bed and let out a long, shaky breath.

She felt utterly alone as she sank into her creaky mattress. The burdens placed on her shoulders by her parents were neverending. Over and over and over again she was made to pick up the pieces of her family's mistakes. Now, they were halfway across the world, fugitives in hiding, because of those mistakes.

-

As Jotaro entered his own home, the welcoming scent of dinner greeted him and his mother Holly appeared in the hallway, her brow creased.

"You're later than usual," she remarked, folding her arms as she leaned against the wall. "I was starting to worry."

Jotaro glanced up from taking off his shoes, a faint sigh escaping his lips. He hadn't intended to stay so late with Josephine, but the training session had dragged on longer than expected. "I'm a grown man, Mom. I can look after myself," he replied, his voice calm and even. There was none of the sharp edge that once accompanied his words when he was younger, just a gentle, slightly gruff reassurance as he tried to brush off her concern.

"That doesn't stop me from worrying about you. Especially after all you've been through." Her voice softened when she thought about the past.

"Yeah," he acknowledged, his voice a little quieter. "I know."

With that, she turned and motioned for him to join her. "Come on, dinner's ready. You need to eat."

The two settled down on the floor at the low table, the room filled with the sound of clinking plates and utensils as Holly set the table before sitting down with him. She watched Jotaro quietly for a few moments, her eyes tracing the tired lines in his face.

"What kept you so late?" she asked, her tone casual but curious. "I know you've got papers to grade, but that never keeps you there this long. You usually bring the rest home with you."

Jotaro paused, his chopsticks hovering over his plate. He knew his mother was perceptive; she had always been able to sense when something was on his mind. But he wasn't ready to tell her everything. Not yet.

"Helping a student," he said simply, returning to his food as if the conversation could be dropped there.

"A student?" she repeated, her eyebrows raising with surprise. Jotaro wasn't the type to offer one-on-one support outside of class unless absolutely necessary. The idea of him staying late to help someone, especially for hours, wasn't like him at all. "That's... unlike you Jotaro. Must be something super important if you're putting in that much time. Are they okay?"

"She's struggling with some things," he finally said, his tone nonchalant. "I've just got to help her out for a bit, don't worry about it."

His mother, sensing his reluctance to elaborate, gave him a knowing look. "Alright alright, I'll stop bugging you." she said with a shake of her head.

She smiled and let the matter drop, turning her own attention back to her meal, though Jotaro could tell she was still thinking about it.

After they finished eating, Jotaro excused himself and retreated to his room.  As he sat at his desk, looking over the papers he still needed to grade, his mind drifted back to Josephine. Her stand, Shadow of the Eclipse, was a unique one, and he had to admit she was picking things up faster than he'd expected. But the danger that came with being a stand user still lingered in the back of his mind. Especially now, with Pucci back in the picture.