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Joseph's really not the smartest man in the world.
In all of Italy and all of Europe. In all of the world, of course, Caesar just had to cross paths with one Joseph Joestar. It's not that he hates him - alright, well, maybe he does, just a little bit. All things considered, though, Caesar has better things to do than spend time disliking Joseph. Caesar wants to personally kick his ass, something he can't do if Joseph dies because of the poison rings in his body. Something he can't do if he doesn't train.
And Joseph's not the smartest, but he certainly is clever.
And… fairly attractive, annoyingly.
He hates admitting it, but Joseph is very pretty. Really. With sharp features, prominent cheekbones and a dazzling smile. Every time Joseph flashes him one of those ridiculous, bright smiles (in the rare occurrence that he has his mask off) it flusters him to no end. Joseph has a smile that could light up Italy in the dark. It drives him mad. There's always a look in those gorgeous teal eyes of his; confidence, pure and unwavering. And while Caesar wants to hate Joseph, he knows he doesn't. He simply hopes that if he can tell himself he hates Joseph enough times, it'll become true.
He thinks that the unbounded confidence and unbothered attitude that seemed to radiate from Joseph are what nag at Caesar the most. He's seemingly so composed at the worst times, and he resents it. He's always been a nervous person. To see someone like Joseph, so sure of themselves, bluff their way through difficult situations and still live irks him.
Why can't he be as composed and suave as Joseph?
Caesar likes to think he's suave, ladies love him, but it's not the same thing. It's… different. He's not sure how Joseph does it, but Caesar envies it. He hates acknowledging it, but he's jealous.
It keeps him up at night. Disappointing isn't it? That something so minor as Joseph being too sure of himself can keep Caesar from proper sleep. But it's not only that. Joseph seems to be on his mind any time it's not occupied with making it through training. When he's catching his breath after any training session, and his eyes drift to Joseph who's sweaty and exhausted and catching his breath, he can't help but stare. It's when Joseph looks both gorgeous and awful. When his chest is heaving and his face is flushed bright, sweat rolling down his neck and arms, his eyes unfocused and distant. Those gorgeous teal eyes somewhere else. Then they focus on Caesar and Joseph grins, that annoying, confident facade coming back up.
Caesar's always had issues with sleep, thinking about Joseph doesn't help.
The day where Joseph needs to fight Wamuu to survive is steadily growing closer, and if Caesar had trouble sleeping before, it's worse now.
The island mansion is big, almost too big, but it offers a lot of space to wander when you've got much on your mind.
It's past midnight now, and Caesar's been up since nine. He's wandering the halls, lost in thought, lost in his mind. He's tired, he's running on fumes but every time his head hits a pillow, he just can't fall asleep. He isn't completely sure what it is that's keeping him up tonight, it's likely Joseph again. It's mostly been Joseph lately. Tonight's training session had been different. Joseph had been different, he'd been tense, snappy and most of the jabs Caesar made when unanswered.
It's not like him.
It's not like him to worry about Joseph like he is. Joseph in this predicament because he hadn't known when to stop when he needed to. But here he is. It's clear the approaching fight and stress is starting to weigh down on Joseph, even if he does a good job of not showing. Caesar wants to help, but Joseph shoves him away and shuts him down every time. He can't have his battle partner lacking. That's what he tells himself, it's not because he genuinely cares about Joseph. It… I couldn't be.
But it is, and he knows it.
He really should quit staying up this late. He bites his lip as he shoves his hands in his pockets, promptly deciding he should head back to his room when a sound echoes in the air. It stops Caesar in his tracks.
Caesar knows what it is immediately; someone's crying.
Tensing, Caesar looks around for the source of the sob. But it's dead quiet, almost eerily so. There are a few moments of silence, where it seems to hang over him like a blanket before he hears a sniffle and then, very softly, he hears someone murmur "shit." Clearly, whoever was crying hadn't meant for that sob to be that loud, but that's not what's on Caesar's mind. He knows that voice. He knows who's crying. The shock at the realization shuts him up for a moment. He bites the inside of his cheek, looking around when he notes one of the hallway doors is ajar.
Caesar approaches slowly, quietly as not to startle Joseph — it's Joseph who's crying, he knows it — and he peeks inside. Joseph Joestar is sitting cross-legged on his bed, pawing at his eyes, head hanging low. The sight makes his heart ache and Caesar swallows. He should turn around, he should head off to bed, leave Joseph alone and pretend he never saw this and never mention it. It's a complete, but accidentally, violation of the man's privacy. He shouldn't be seeing this. Caesar steps back, he should leave him alone.
And yet, "Joseph?" The word is out of his mouth before he can't stop himself. He clamps one hand over his mouth, but it's too late. Joseph shuts up, and an uncomfortable, uncomfortable silence settles on them. Caesar bites back a sigh. There's no going back now; he supposes.
"Joseph, is everything alright?" He asks, gently knocking on the door twice with his knuckles. He gently places one hand on the doorknob, but he doesn't move, waiting for Joseph's possible answer.
"Go away, Caesar." He says softly after a moment. His voice is so gentle it almost doesn't seem to fit Joseph. Caesar frowns.
"You know I can't do that, JoJo," he says apologetically, he tilts his head and smiles gently, even if Joseph can't see it. "I won't force you to talk about it. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to. Just please don't push me away." He whispers. He's being sentimental, but maybe it's just because it's late. When Joseph doesn't answer, Caesar gently opens the door, stepping inside and closing it behind him.
Tentatively, he takes a few steps into the room. All around the room, clothes are strewn here and there, on the armchair, on the mirror and the ground. Caesar wants to scold him about his messiness but now is hardly the time. He makes his way towards the bed, the mattress dipping under the added weight and sits next to Joseph. He reaches out and very hesitantly takes Joseph's hand, lacing their fingers together. Joseph flinches and turns to look at him, eyes wide and puffy and red. He furtively wipes at his eyes with his free hand and 'hmphs' as he looks away. Caesar laughs softly.
He doesn't know what to say, so he says nothing. Joseph seems to appreciate that. He squeezes Caesar's hand and Caesar squeezes right back.
"You should be asleep," Joseph says finally. Caesar snorts, shaking his head.
"So should you."
"Bugger off." He says, cracking a smile.
Caesar doesn't reply, but he smiles gently. Joseph pulls his hand away, rubbing at both his eyes and brushing his hair out of his eyes. He takes a deep shuddering breath and grinds the heels of his hands against his eyes. A moment later, Joseph turns to Caesar and gives him a pleading look. Caesar takes a wild guess and opens his arms. With a relieved smile, Joseph crawls into his arms, wrapping his arms around his waist and pressing his face against Caesar's chest.
Caesar can only hope Joseph doesn't hear the way his heart is racing in his chest.
He smooths down Joseph's hair, tucks some loose strands behind his ear and brushes some hair from his forehead. Joseph melts into each touch, his body relaxing in Caesar's arms. He doesn't want to push Joseph to say anything, as curious as he is, so he just keeps running his fingers through Joseph's hair. Sometimes pausing to scratch his scalp. Caesar pointedly ignores each groan and sigh that comes from Joseph.
Eventually, very hesitantly, carefully Caesar asks, "Would you like to talk about it, JoJo?" His voice is gentler than it's ever been. It's almost out of character for him.
Joseph shrugs. "It's nothing."
Caesar frowns, he tucks one hand under Joseph's chin, pushing it up so he's looking at Joseph's eyes. Gorgeous teal eyes cloudy with tears. He raises an eyebrow at Joseph. "Surely it's not "nothing" if you're crying over it. I'm not a fool Joseph," he says, using Joseph's name instead of his nickname for emphasis. "Don't undermine your pain."
"I thought you weren't going to force me to speak?"
"Am I coming off too strong?" He blinks, and his heart hurts at the soft way fear shines in Joseph's eyes. Joseph shrugs, looking away.
"I'm sorry, Jojo." He says gently.
"No- no it's okay. I should talk about it, or I'm going to combust." He says, trying to smirk, it's half-successful, more of a grimace than a smile. Caesar tucks another loose strand of hair behind his ear, and Joseph leans into the touch. Joseph's hands on his waist, steadying himself and the touch makes Caesar blush.
"Just take your time, JoJo." He murmurs gently. Their faces are barely a few inches apart. If he tilts his head just a little, he could kiss Joseph, but he'd feel like that would be taking advantage of him.
"I just… I feel like I'm in way too deep. Like I bit off more than I could chew. And I... I don't feel like I'm where I want to be. I don't feel like I need to be, I don't think I'm strong enough to beat Wamuu and I'm so scared that I won't be strong enough. And I don't-" Joseph's voice cracks. "I don't want to die." He gasps, and that seemed to push Joseph over the edge of… something because suddenly his breath is erratic and his eyes are unfocused and wild. Caesar let's go of Joseph, giving him space to breathe properly, but staying close enough so he knows he's still there.
"Joseph," he says after a moment. Joseph's eyes snap up to him. "Can I touch you? Is that okay?" He asks gently, holding his hands out to show he has no intention of even touching him if he doesn't want it. After a beat of deafening silence, Joseph nods.
Carefully, slowly he cups the sides of Joseph's face, making him look down a little bit because even sitting Joseph is a little taller. He shifts so their eyes are at the same level, and he smiles, tucking some hair behind Joseph's ear once more. He takes a deep breath and waits until Joseph seems to have relaxed a little bit more. Then, he drops one hand to place it on the bend between Joseph's neck and shoulder.
"You're not going to die, okay? You're plenty strong, and you're not going to lose your fight. Want to know why?" he asks. Joseph nods, licking his dry lips. Caesar gives him a smile that could rival Joseph's.
"Because," he starts. "You're quick-witted, you're clever, you're quick on your feet. You act well under pressure, and you can always find a way out of a sudden situation. Because you know to carefully analyze any opponent, because you know how to use the terrain to your advantage. You're smart, you're capable, you're strong." He lists, by the time he's done, he's trying to contain his laughter because Joseph is hiding his face with one hand and shoving at Caesar's shoulder with the other. His face is a bright red, and though he clearly wants to dislike it, Joseph is smiling like a fool.
"Need I go on, JoJo? Because I could name a hundred different reasons as to why-"
"I get it! I get it!" Joseph laughs.
"See? You're going to be fine, Joseph. You've got so much going for you, even if it doesn't seem like it, and Lisa Lisa and I are going to be there for you. You're not going to die, okay?" He says, smiling gently.
Joseph smiles, it's not one of his blinding smiles, it's more reserved. It's something more… private, like it's for Caesar's eyes only. Caesar really wants to kiss him in that moment, maybe later. That smile makes Caesar's heart skip a few beats and he laughs gently, a little awkwardly as he scratches the back of his neck. He's naturally expecting that to be the end of it. Soon he's expecting Joseph's arrogant facade to come back up and make him leave, but instead, Joseph stays quiet, picking at his cuticles.
"Hey, Caesar?" He asks, when Caesar shifts, making a move to get up and leave him be. Caesar pauses and Joseph takes his hand. He pulls him down so their faces are once more only a few centimetres away and then before Caesar can ask Joseph what's up, he kisses him. Caesar's eyes go wide, face heating up. Joseph's lips are soft, gentle, a little hesitant and he draws back before Caesar can think to kiss back. Joseph doesn't pull his hand away, instead tightens his grip, giving Caesar a soft, pleading look. Caesar can't deny him that so he climbs back into bed and settles next to Joseph. Joseph crawls back into his arms.
"Stay," Joseph whispers, basically pleading.
"I'm not going anywhere, Jojo. Especially not with you holding onto me." He teases and then Joseph grunts and brings his hand up to shove at Caesar's shoulder.
"Thank you," Joseph adds gently a moment later; Caesar's features soften, and he rests his head against Joseph as they shuffle to lie down. He hums as they make themselves comfortable.
He smiles gently. "Anything for you."