JOJO's Big Adventure

Chapter 3: you're grounded

Upon entering his dimly lit quarters, McCoy sighed heavily and wearily lowered himself onto the edge of his bed. The exhaustion weighed on him like the gravity of an unfamiliar planet, but he couldn't rest just yet. The wiggling in his chest pocket was a constant reminder of the tiny girl in his pocket.

"Dammit, you're such a Strange little thing," he muttered, still thinking she was some sort of alien. he fumbled to extract her from her confining prison. As he held the three-inch terrified figure up to his face, he squinted at her, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The alcohol still clouding his mind made it difficult to focus, but there was no denying that the miniature girl clinging to his fingers was impossibly cute.

"Alright, little one," he slurred, gently poking at her diminutive limbs with his free hand. "What am I supposed to do with you?" He couldn't help but be fascinated by her delicate structure, moving her limbs like a puppeteer as he scrutinized her in every detail. Joanna trembled and whimpered, tears welling in her eyes, but her cries went unheard by her father.

"Shh, don't struggle," he admonished, though his tone was tinged with affection. "I won't hurt you."

She was adorable, with those wide, frightened eyes staring back at him. He couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility for her. "How did you survive this long? You have no defenses, and I caught you so easily." He pondered over the idea of keeping her in his care, certain that she wouldn't last long on her own in this vast world of giants.

"Alright, little one," he muttered gruffly, though his grip was tender. "Let's get a good look at you." He gently manipulated her limbs, noting their delicate structure and human-like appearance. Joanna tried not to tremble under his touch, frightened that he might accidentally break her. As he continued to examine her, she couldn't help but wonder if he would ever accept her as his daughter or if she was destined to become nothing more than a curious pet. As McCoy studied her tiny form, he felt strangely drawn to her. He couldn't shake the feeling that he knew her somehow.

Gently stroking her back with his thumb, he marveled at her tiny hands and feet. His movements were tender, filled with a strong sense of protectiveness. This simple action triggered a memory of holding his baby girl Joanna, though he couldn't quite understand why this tiny creature reminded him of her.

Joanna looked up at her father's face, searching for any sign of recognition. But all she saw was a mixture of concern, curiosity, and drunken stupor. She tried to speak, to tell him who she was, but her words came out as barely audible squeaks, lost in the noise of the room.

As McCoy gently stroked her back with his thumb, Joanna lay limply in his hand, feeling a strange sense of safety despite her precarious situation. She wondered if he would ever recognize her or if she would remain nothing more than an oddity to him. At least, for the time being, she was safe in his care.

Feeling a strong protective instinct towards the tiny girl, McCoy marveled at her miniature hands and feet. The sight of them stirred a distant memory, but his alcohol-clouded mind couldn't quite grasp it. He continued to stroke her gently, smiling warmly as she squirmed in annoyance under his touch.

Joanna, growing annoyed by her father's gentle probing, kicked his giant finger away with all the strength her tiny legs could muster. This feisty display amused McCoy, who smiled warmly at the tiny girl nestled in his hand. He laughed softly, his gruff voice rumbling like thunder in the quiet room.

"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" he chuckled, continuing to caress her with tender affection. "Well, I promise I'll take good care of you."

As Joanna lay on her father's hand, she couldn't help but feel torn between frustration and relief. She wanted desperately for him to recognize her, yet at the same time, she was grateful for his care and protection.