Standstill Bonds

Chapter 17 ~ An Old Mother's Wisdom

A couple of hours had passed, it was now nearing midday and Josephine remained sat on the futon, her head replaying the events of that morning like a broken record. The silence in the air was almost suffocating, broken only by her occasional sighs as she reflected on what she did. Then came a knock on the door.

"Kid, can I come in? We need to talk." Jotaro's voice was calmer now, lacking the sharpness from earlier.

Josephine took a moment, gathering herself before replying softly, "Yeah, come in."

Jotaro entered the room, the tension noticeably lighter, though still present. He crossed the room and kneeled down beside her, offering a slight nod as their eyes met.

"I needed some time to cool off," he admitted, "Look kid, I didn't enjoy coming down on you like that, but I hope you understand why I had to."

Josephine looked at him, feeling the sting of his earlier words but recognizing the care beneath them. Jotaro leaned forward slightly, resting his hand on her shoulder once again. His thumb moved gently in a reassuring motion, a rare, almost affectionate gesture that seemed to ground her somewhat.

"Just promise me you'll think before you act next time," he said, his voice soft but firm. "Life as a stand user is no game, and you're not invincible." Jotaro gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before standing up.

"I'll go make us some tea," he said, leaving her with a sense of quiet relief.

Josephine remained huddled on the futon as Jotaro left the room. A few minutes later, he returned, carrying two small cups of tea. He handed one to her, and she accepted it with a quiet "thank you," her hands trembling slightly.

As Josephine held the cup, staring down at the rippling surface, guilt gnawed at her. She repeatedly struggled to make eye contact with him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jotaro," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jotaro sipped his tea before speaking. "Apologize to yourself now, kid. You're the one who needs to learn from this."

His words were practical, gentle in their guidance but Josephine's eyes welled with tears as she struggled with the sense that she'd let him down. "I didn't mean to, I just..." she said, her voice shaky. "I never wanted to disappoint you. You're the only one who's been there for me since I got here."

She now took a sip of her tea, trying to compose herself, but her emotions bubbled just beneath the surface. Jotaro watched her in silence, his stoic expression hiding how much he recognized the depth of her feelings.

"You're not a disappointment," he said gently. "But you need to be smarter. You can't afford to be irresponsible."

Josephine nodded, taking a deep breath. The warmth of the tea steadied her hands, but the weight of everything still pressed down on her. "It's not just about disappointing you," she admitted. "I worry about you, too. I see how much you carry, and I know you don't want me involved in all of it, but... I'm scared. I don't want anything to happen to you either."

Jotaro studied her face, seeing the fear reflected in her eyes. "Josephine," he began, his voice measured and steady. "I've been dealing with this for a long time. You don't need to worry about me."

-

Jotaro entered his room, closing the door behind him. He sat at his desk, practically slumping into his chair with a thud as he leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk while his head rested in his hands. Holly, sensing her son's internal struggle, decided to gently breach the topic. She knocked lightly on Jotaro's door before opening it a crack, "Mind if I come in?"

Jotaro glanced up, giving a brief nod before straightening in his seat. Holly entered, closing the door behind her, and took a seat on the edge of his bed behind him. She studied her son's fatigued posture for a moment before speaking up.

"How are you holding up, Jotaro?" she inquired, her tone soft yet probing.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine mom, just fine."

Holly's gaze remained steady. "Don't play tough with me, Jotaro. I've seen the way you look at her. You care about that girl, more than you're willing to admit."

Jotaro averted his eyes, a subtle shift in his demeanour betraying the conflict within. "It's complicated, Mom. I can't let myself get too close and you know why."

Holly reached forward, placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring. "Jotaro, you can't keep shutting people out. You've been through so much, and I hate seeing you carry it all alone. Losing her was painful, I know, it was for me too, but shutting yourself off won't bring her back."

He tensed, a mixture of grief and frustration welling up from the depths of his soul. "I can't let myself get attached, Mom. It only leads to more pain."

Holly sighed, understanding the depth of his wounds better than anyone. "But it can also lead to healing. Don't let fear dictate your choices my boy. Maybe, spending time with her outside of this rigorous training regime of yours will do you both some good?"

Jotaro's gaze lingered on a distant point, lost in his thoughts. The past held scars that ran deep, but his mother's words planted a seed of contemplation. Jotaro felt his mother's hand on his shoulder, a gesture of comfort that tugged at the edges of his defences. If there was one person left in his life able to do that, it was his mother. He sighed before reaching up to cover her hand with his own.

"I appreciate your concern," he began, though he was still guarded. "But it's not that simple... I just, can't afford to get distracted by sentiment. I have to focus souly on preparing her for what she might come across. That's it."

Holly nodded, "I understand, Jotaro. But you can't deny that you care about her, would it be so bad to let her in a little?"

Jotaro's grip tightened on his mother's hand as he thought about what she said, "I... I don't know... I just know that I've trained her hard, pushed her limits. She's made progress, but today, seeing her in danger... the danger she put herself in, maybe I'm not capable of keeping her safe if I couldn't convince her enough not to run into trouble..."

Holly leaned in, her voice gentle. "It's natural to be scared, Jotaro. But maybe together, you can face whatever comes your way. She's a child, a teenager at that, they're all a bit rash no matter how much you warn them. She made a mistake and I'm sure she's learned from it."

Jotaro hesitated, his gaze as distant as ever, he could never stop thinking about the past, he could only get through each day, his job allowing him just enough respite to mentally survive the pain.

"I can't let history repeat itself. I've lost too much already."

"But you haven't lost everything, Jotaro. There's still a chance for you to find connection, to heal. Don't let the past rob you of the potential in the future."