Liquid Eternity

Chapter Twenty Two

You spent a majority of the next day in a hotel room.

Alone.

You explicitly stated that you wanted a room to yourself, and everyone was too tired to object. Jotaro tried to ask you what was wrong, but you refused to talk to him. You were angry, you were tired, and most of all, you wanted some time to yourself.

So, the next morning when Polnareff, Jotaro, and Joseph went out to get breakfast, you stayed in your room.

Around 11:30 you heard a knock on your door. You didn't answer.

The person outside waited a few minutes before knocking again.

"(Y/N)? It's Avdol. Let me in."

You groaned and got up from the bed. Shuffling over to the door, you unlocked it and opened it.

Avdol stood outside. You half expected Jotaro to be using him as bait to get you to talk to him, but he wasn't there. You weren't sure if you were happy or disappointed.

"Can I come in?" Avdol asked.

You said nothing and turned around to go lay in bed again, but you left the door open as a silent invitation to allow Avdol in.

"Oh come on, (Y/N). Are you going to sulk around all day or are you going to tell me what's wrong so we can try and fix it?"

"It's not your problem to fix." You mumbled.

"Well, it becomes my problem when I have to worry about your emotional well-being. Seriously, the whole group is worried. Ever since the submarine attack you've been quiet. On edge."

You sighed. "It's just..." It was impossible to hold back anymore. Angry tears pricked your eyes. "Jotaro seems to think I always need some man to protect me!! I can take care of myself!! I live on my own, I pay my own taxes, I pay my own rent, and what does he do?? Smoke and be edgy. He thinks I need some knight in shining armor?? I could probably kick his ass if I wanted to!"

Now you were switching between your native language and English. Your voice shook the walls as you paced back and forth around the room.

"I mean, he put everyone in danger back on that submarine!! If I hadn't been able to hold back the water, he would have died! I would have been fine, but he would have died!!"

Avdol put an arm around you while you sobbed into his shoulder.

You didn't cry because you were sad, you were mostly angry.

"Listen, I think you're just upset because you want to protect Jotaro, but he's too stubborn to let you. His father is always away because of his job, and he probably fears that he's going to lose you too. I wouldn't be surprised if he has some separation issues."

"Still." You wiped at your eyes as your tears slowed.

"I know. You should definitely talk to him, but you both need to realize that if you keep up this little who-takes-care-of-who game, you're going to put each other in danger. But if you learn to work together, there's nothing that will be able to stop you."

"I guess you're right."

"I'm supposed to meet them at the hospital. Come with me. You can talk to Jotaro there."

"But.. who's going to translate if I'm away talking to Jotaro?"

"Don't worry. We'll figure it out."

You wrapped your arms around him. "Thanks."

He returned the gesture, patting you on the back. "Now go get cleaned up. You look like shit."

You threw your pillow at him. "Asshole."

—

A short taxi ride later, and you stood outside Kakyoin's hospital room. You leaned against the wall and tried to think of what you would say to him. I mean, who doesn't rehearse conversations in their head? That's normal right?

"Hey, (Y/N)!" Polnareff ran up to you. "How's he doing?"

"He's stable. The doctors said he would be well enough to be transferred to the Speedwagon Foundation's facilities soon."

"Good!! Is he awake?"

"Go on in. I just talked to him."

"Thanks." Polnareff punched you in the shoulder and you socked him back. It was a form of endearment between the two of you. Joseph trailed Polnareff inside the room, and Jotaro brought up the rear.

"Hey." His hat was pulled down over his face.

"Look, I-"

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?" You were shocked by his sudden interruption.

"I should have listened to you. I'm always treating you like you're some damsel in distress and that's not fair of me. I've let my own interests get in the way of the rest of the group. I just..." He trailed off.

"You just... what?"

He sighed and shrugged back into his coat as if it would protect him. "I cant stand the thought of having something happen to you. Especially if I could have stopped it."

"Look, I don't want anything to happen to you either. That's why I don't want you risking your life in petty situations, especially when I can take care of myself."

He said nothing, but pulled his hat further down to cover his face. At this point, he had pulled it so far down that he was basically wearing the entire thing on his face.

"Can you.. take that thing off?"

"No."

"Take it off. I asked nicely once, I won't do it again."

"Please don't make me."

You used your ability to take control of the blood in his arm and bend it away from his face, hat coming with it.

Your heart sank when you noticed his red, puffy eyes. He had been, and was still, crying. He used his free arm to vigorously wipe the invading tears away.

"Oh, Jotaro.." You released your hold on his arm and took his cheeks between your hands, drawing him down to your face. You pressed your forehead to his. "Listen, you can't protect me forever. I'm going to get hurt, and you're going to get hurt. It's just life, and there's nothing that either of us can do about it. All we can do is be there for each other while we recover."

"I'm just so stressed out, I don't want to see you laying in bed all frail and helpless.."

"..Like Miss Holly."

He was silent for a moment. "Yeah. Like my mom."

"Trust me, even if I was trapped in my own mind, there's nothing I wouldn't fight to be with you."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

He wrapped his arms around you and held you as if he would never hold you again.

"Thank you."