Standstill Bonds

Chapter 14 ~ Nightly Disturbance

Josephine's awoke suddenly and with a cold sweat. She had dreamed about the day her parents whisked her away from England, it felt as real and jarring in her dream as it was that very same day. She blinked away her bleariness and sat up, stretching her arms out and feeling them click. She glanced at the clock; 3 a.m. 

Oh goody

Sleep felt impossible for now, so with a sigh, she pushed herself off the futon. Silently, she left her room and tip toed her way to the kitchen. A dim light flickered there and as she approached she saw Jotaro was also awake, standing near the counter. His face was a picture of fatigue; dark bags lined his eyes like shadows.

"You're awake," he said quietly, his voice deep but slightly grated from what little sleep he'd awoken from, if any.

Josephine nodded as she stepped closer, leaning against the counter opposite him. "Bad dream," she murmured, her voice soft, still caught in the grip of her nightmare.

Jotaro glanced at her briefly, raising an eyebrow. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just... it doesn't matter," she said, waving it off, though her hands still trembled slightly. "Thought water might help." She said as she turned on the faucet and poured herself a glass.

"Might," he agreed, his gaze turning back to some distant point, deciding against prying further.

"Neither of us are great with sleep tonight, huh?" she said lightly.

Jotaro grunted quietly, briefly glancing her way, "No. I suppose not."

Josephine studied him for a moment, her eyes searching his face like it might reveal his thoughts somehow, "You've got stuff on your mind too, I guess?" 

He glanced at her again, surprised by her perception, "You could say that."

-

The next morning, a Saturday, Josephine was roused by a soft knock on the door. Holly's cheerful voice called her for breakfast, pulling her from sleep. She quickly freshened up and made her way to the lounge, where Holly bustled around the low table, arranging breakfast like she had with dinner the previous night. Jotaro was already there, sipping from a cup of sencha which he paused for just a moment when he spotted Josephine enter. Holly, full of bright energy, greeted her with an equally bright smile.

"Did you sleep well, my dear?" she asked, her hands busy setting out bowls and plates.

"I woke up in the night, but apart from that, yes thank you," Josephine replied with a small smile, though the lingering fatigue was still evident in her eyes.

As they ate, Holly's rambling chatter filled the room, and though Jotaro remained mostly quiet, his occasional nods and brief responses showed he was indeed listening. The breakfast Holly prepared included steamed rice, miso soup, and grilled fish. Josephine had never had something so rich for breakfast before and she was eager to tuck into it.

-

After breakfast, Jotaro led Josephine to the garden at the back of the house. The sun filtered softly through the leaves, casting dappled shadows over the meticulously kept plants. The garden was serene and beautiful, filled with a variety of well maintained shrubbery and flora. The delicate rippling water trickled through the air from the bamboo water feature, combined with the sounds of common cuckoos from a nearby tree, created a soothing soothing soundtrack to the space around her.

"This will be our training ground for now," Jotaro announced. "We need to stay cautious after what happened in the park. Pucci isn't someone to underestimate."

Josephine frowned at the familiar name. "You keep mentioning him, but you never tell me much. Who is he, Mr. Jotaro? Why is he after you?"

Jotaro's expression hardened, his usual defensive wall cropping up once again. "Pucci's dangerous. That's all you need to know for now."