Standstill Bonds

Chapter 43 ~ Finding Family

The moon hung high that night, casting a soft silver glow over Jotaro's garden. The air was cool, crisp, and carried the subtle fragrance of night-blooming flowers. Josephine's body moved fluidly through her exercises, the serenity of the night helping her focus. Her Stand, Shadow of the Eclipse, mirrored her movements, claws cutting through the air with silent precision. For a while, she lost herself in the rhythm of her training, feeling her strength slowly return to her muscles. The gentle creak of the sliding door opening behind her went unnoticed, until a familiar voice called out to her.

"Ma chère, what are you doing out here? Is it not cold?" Polnareff's voice carried warmth and concern, immediately pulling Josephine from her concentration.

Turning, she saw him at the door, his wheelchair just inside, she smiled at him, "Training," she replied. "I need to regain my strength, Polnareff. After everything that happened... well, I can't afford to be at anything less than my best."

Polnareff rolled himself closer, "That's a good mindset. A Stand user should always be prepared, physical fitness is important, especially with a combat Stand like yours."

Josephine nodded. "Exactly. Considering what we're up against, I need to be ready."

As they talked, the conversation took a more personal turn. Polnareff's expression softened as a memory tugged at him. "You know, Josephine, this isn't the first time Jotaro and I have faced something like this. Pucci, his Stand, all of it... it reminds me of the time we fought Dio."

"Dio... Pucci's mentor right? What was it like, facing him?"

Polnareff sighed, his gaze growing distant as he recalled those fateful days. "He was... terrifying. Manipulative. But more than anything, he was powerful, more than anyone we'd ever faced. We chased him across Asia to get to Egypt, battling Stand users at every turn, all to save Jotaro's mother from his curse."

Josephine listened intently as Polnareff recounted the journey, the battles all the way up to the final confrontation. His voice carried the weight of those memories; the hardships, the dangers, and the strong connection that had grown between their small group along the way. Despite the horrors they'd faced, there had been moments of levity, of fun, moments that had forged bonds stronger than blood.

When Polnareff's story came to a close, Josephine hesitated before asking, "What about your friends? Kakyoin, Avdol, and Iggy... what happened to them?"

Polnareff's smile faded and his eyes fell low to the ground, "Ils n'ont pas pris le dernier train à la maison," he said softly, his voice heavy with sorrow. "They never made the last train home."

Josephine's heart clenched for Polnareff, she could feel the pain that laid behind his casual tone, the grief still lingering after all those years. "I'm so sorry, I can't imagine how hard that must have been... to lose them after everything you'd been through together."

Polnareff didn't respond immediately, turning his eyes from the ground up to the stars overhead, his one good eye reflecting the pale moonlight. "We all knew and accepted the risks," he murmured. "But that didn't make it any easier."

Josephine moved to sit beside him on the stone bench next to his wheelchair and followed his gaze to the sky, where the stars twinkled like fireflies. For a moment, they sat in companiable silence. With a soft sigh, Josephine broke the quiet. "You know, Polnareff, this world of Stand users... it's messy, like, really messy. But I don't regret asking Mr. Jotaro to be my mentor back when I first learned about it. Not for a second."

Polnareff turned to her, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. "Vraiment, ma chère? After all the dangers, all the madness? You've faced more than most will ever see in a lifetime, but you don't regret it?"

She chuckled lightly, tracing patterns on the stone beside her. "Yeah, it's true. The universe hasn't exactly been kind to me... but in a weird way, I got the best prize out of it. A friend in Mr. Jotaro. And friends like you. Giorno, Hiroshi, all of you... you feel like family to me."

Polnareff's large hand rested on the armrest of his wheelchair, and Josephine patted it gently, her smile bittersweet. "My parents... they're only there if they need me for something shady. I always wished for things to be different, but I never imagined this would be how."

"Ma chère, je suis ravi pour toi," he said, his voice tender. "We've all been through our share of bizarre adventures, but finding a sense of family in the middle of it... that's something special. Not everyone gets that." Polnareff paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "And for Jotaro, especially... after all he's lost, I think hearing you say that would mean more to him than you know."

The Frenchman's gaze turned distant for a moment once again, as if reminiscing about the bonds he had forged on his own journeys, "So, sweet child, as cheesy as it may sound, never underestimate the power of friendship. In our messy and bizarre world, finding a family is a treasure worth its weight in gold."

Polnareff's eye brightened suddenly, a spark of mischief gleaming in them. "Well, ma douce," he began, a cheeky smile forming, "what do you say to a little sparring session? My stand Silver Chariot could show your Shadow of the Eclipse a few tricks. Non?"

Josephine's own eyes lit up with excitement. "You don't have to ask me twice! Let's do it!"

Polnareff wheeled himself to an open space in the garden, his face alight with enthusiasm. He struck a dramatic stance, and Silver Chariot materialized beside him, its stunning silver armor gleaming in the moonlight. Josephine grinned, summoning her own Stand, its shadowy form poised and ready.

"En garde, JoJo!" Polnareff called out, a playful challenge in his voice. "Hope you're quick on your feet!"

Josephine laughed, "Don't forget who taught me!" she shot back, feeling a warmth spread through her at the nickname, it felt like a term of endearment; one she was starting to appreciate more and more.

Their Stands clashed under the moonlight, a dance of skill, speed, and playfulness. Polnareff imparted his wisdom between their exchanges and Josephine eagerly absorbed each lesson. Unbeknownst to them, Jotaro stood silently in the shadows of the sliding doors, watching the scene unfold. His eyes followed Josephine's movements, a mixture of pride and nostalgia swelling in his chest. Memories of her early struggles came flooding back; the frightened girl who had once barely controlled her Stand was now confident, poised and powerful.

She had grown, not just as a Stand user but as a person. Under his guidance, she had found her own strength, and Jotaro couldn't help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction. Yet beneath that pride was something else, something he had come to accept deep inside; Josephine had become something more than just a student to him. He understood the truth that Josephine and Polnareff had spoken earlier, the connections they had formed were more valuable than anything else. Despite everything he had lost, he had since gained something precious, a feeling he never thought he'd have again. And gods be damned, he wasn't going to let her suffer Pucci's wrath again.