Cowboys in a storm - GYJO

𝕭𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖍𝖔𝖒𝖊

Gyro looked by the window, lost in his thoughts as he leaned his head against his forearm. He saw the trees pass quickly from his sight as the only sound was the buzzing of the car's engine and the raindrops hitting the windshield. He was far from the moment he shared with Johnny a few minutes ago; they had to wipe off the remaining of semen as fast as they could and cover the evidence before the driver came back. He didn't bat an eye though, not even discerning the new smell out of the already existing one.

Johnny was now asleep on his seat, his head hanging down against the door and lips slightly parted. Just putting his eyes on Johnny's face made he want to grab him, to capture his lips into his, to hold his face, to touch him and squeeze him in his arms. But he resisted his urges like a decent man would. He was told to be deprived of all passion, to be simply acting out of duty and orders. Despite being a grown adult now he still felt prisonner of his guilt and fear of sin.

When they weren't in the internship of their shared university, Johnny lived at his parent's home, in a recluse but modest house in Kentucky. Although Johnny avoided to go at his family's home as much as possible. He didn't like to talk about it, he only mentionned the death of his older brother Nicholas, who tragically died when Johnny was 9. This accident still seemed to be a huge weight for the Joestar family to carry.

But now was not the time to negociate with Johnny, as his house was the closest place he could get back in. The idea of going home felt almost unfamiliar now. Going home ? After all that happened in the past days ? It was as if they came back completely changed, so much that they felt like a whole different person. Now that he thought about it, Gyro barely knew Johnny's story. He never dared to ask.

Finally, Gyro recognized the place he spent a few times in when he drove Johnny home in the past. The property was large and contained a ranch and a race track. Johnny used to love horse riding until he lost the use of both legs. Since his brother was gone and Johnny lost the will to ride, the ranch was empty. What once was the price of a rich horse owner was not desolated and sorrowful. The driver parked a hundred of feet away from the front door. Him and Gyro haven't shared a word all that time, perhap they didn't wish to talk, or just didn't have anything to converse about.

It was still raining heavily when the car stopped. Johnny groaned as he got woken up by Gyro's elbow poking him. Frank turned his head to the passenger seats, looking pretty tired and bothered. "I'm letting you down there, guys. And don't forget to pay." Gyro grumbled as he rummaged through his backpack, catching Johnny's attention. He wasn't aware about having to pay this guy, he thought he was just a nice guy who happened to pass by hitchhikers. After the payement, he looked at Johnny again, this time as he was awake. "C'mon, let's get you home."

Carrying Johnny on his back once more, Gyro ran under the rain, shoes leaving deep marks in the mud. Johnny clang to Gyro's shoulders. He felt embarassed as he left his wheelchair home when he most needed it. And also his meds. Reaching the front door, Gyro attempted to open it to realize it was locked.

"Just knock, idiot." Johnny mumbled, close enough to Gyro's ear so he could hear him. Gyro felt like he was indirectly being called rude and grunted, but still did as he was told and knocked firmly three times. Shivering from the cold water, they both waited a good minute before hearing the turning of keys and perceive Johnny's father out of the door opening. He somehow looked worse than what Gyro remembered, more tired, and messier. He took him a few seconds to remember who Gyro was, as he stared at him with mistrust before he realized that his son was on his back.

"Oh, you're that italian." He muttered through gritted teeth. "What are you doing here, Johnny ? I thought you went out for a week." Gyro didn't respond as he didnt want to get in troubles for problems only Johnny could try to fix. But the joy on his back seemed tense. He let out a frustrated sigh and called out. "Just let us in please, you see damn well we're freezing !" And with that, his father relucantly let the boys in, but making them take off their shoes on the doormat as quick as possible. Johnny's mother was also there, but only appeared a minute after with two towels for the boys to dey with. She may be caring for her son, she was mostly absent in Gyro's memories and rarely stood for him against his father's authority.

"So, explain yourself, Johnny. Why are you bothering me again ?" His dad's voice was hoarse and rough, signaling hiw tired he might be. Gyro noticed his skin was a little red -perhaps he drank earlier- but also a old scar on his neck. It was probably there for a long time but Gyro never noticed it. Johnny didnt even answer and complained. "Dad, just leave us alone. It's my home and I come here when I want to." "No, this is MY house. You're a adult, I have the right to just kick you out if I want to."

Johnny refused to argue back, only frowning and muttering inaudible words. Gyro wanted to intervene, this time in the nicest way possible despite his bad temper. "Listen, sir...Johnny forgot his antidepressants at home and this was the closest we could get. I swear we're only here for one night."
"We ?! So you're planning on staying too ?" The father's eyes opened in anger and disbelief as his tone was significantly louder. "And where do you plan to sleep ? You think we're a hotel or something ?"

Gyro gulped, as he tried to think of a comeback that wasn't TOO aggressive. But he was cut short as Johnny spoke. "He can sleep in Nicholas's old room, I'm pretty sure it's still in place-"
"I won't allow ANYONE to get CLOSE to Nicholas's room, do you understand ?" His father interupted, a swift move of his hand making Johnny flinch in fear. He was close to crying. Gyro wanted to yell at his friend's father, to tell him that his son is fucking dead and that he should cope with that. But saying that next to Johnny wasnt such a good idea.

He exhaled and lowered his gaze. "I...It's okay if I dont have a bed. I can sleep in Johnny's room on a mattress or on the floor really. I just can't go anywhere else right now, but I'll be quiet. Promise."
The father wanted to punch something but held back. He turned his back to them relucantly, and exhaled. "Fine. Just for tonight, and then I dont want to see any of your faces by the morning." He walked away to sit on the couch, putting his head to his hand in a gesture of sadness or disappointement.

Gyro felt guilty to be powerless in that situation. He helped Johnny up to his room and noticed how the room that once belonged to his brother was securely locked. Once in private, Johnny talked, his voice small and hesitant. "You can come in my bed, you know. You dont have to sleep in the floor." He hid the tears that were forming in his eyes, he didnt want to look weak, he wanted to look like a man.

Gyro felt surprised by the proposition and pictured him and Johnny together in this small space of sleep. He blushed, but  nodded anyway. "Yeah, that's probably better. Just didnt want to alarm your dad." Once Johnny was sat on the bed, he immeduately rummaged through his nightsand's drawer to retrieve what he was here for in the first place: the packet of fluoxetine. He swallowed a pill with the help of a bottle of water in his bag.

"Here you go, at least we didnt get here for nothing." Gyro forced a smile on his face as he sat besides Johnny. It was already pitch black outside and Johnny's depression didnt help in his fatigue. "I gotta take a bath." Johnny said, climbing on his wheelchair and rolling it to the bathroom, leaving Gyro process his thoughts alone for a moment in this unfamiliar place.