Gladdy's Stories

“Oh hush you! You won’t be young and fit forever! One day you’ll be my age and understand!” Joseph called at him, groaning when he stood. Jotaro turned away with a grin of his own, Kakyoin hooting so hard he nearly fell into the water. A few yards out, Polnareff was a shaking figure of laughter himself. Joseph’s voice carried.

“Oh, my god! They’re making fun of me!’ Joseph cried, holding his head. Still, he was grinning- clearly enjoying being the center of attention. Avdol smiled and pulled him back down, patting his back. “Avdol, can you believe that?”

“I do- and it’s endearing. Shows how much they love you if they make fun of you.” He mused, and the other man softened.

“Well…thank you. I love you all too.” A moment of vulnerability fell between them, and Joseph was the first to turn away, clearing his throat. His face was red- no doubt matching the heat in Avdols. “Right- so you think I’m out of prime.”

“I don’t-” Avdol began.

“I do!” Kakyoin hooted playfully, and Jotaro finally cracked, laughing with him.

“Are we talking about meat? I thought we were eating fish?” Polnareff called. Iggy rolled over at their antics, lifting a leg and letting one rip. “Oh you nasty mutt-”

Joseph’s lip twitched, betraying his scowl. Then he relaxed, folding his arms as he sat back. “Alright then.”

“Mr. Joestar?” Avdol raised a brow, waiting. Then..

“AH! Noohohoh fahahahair!” Kakyoin was the first to cry out, arching so hard the fish he caught fell back into the water. Around his leg and up to his waist was a purple vine, curling and squeezing. “Cohohohome ohohoh, dohohohon’t do thahahahhat!”

“Fuhuhuck! Shhihihit- yoohohu ahahahss!” Jotaro doubled over when his own vine creeped up his back, wrapping around his ribs while the tip scribbled at his birthmark. “Gehehhet ohohohff, ohohold mahhaan!”

“Truly devious.” Avdol tsked with a smile, watching the younger crusaders dissolve into giggles before them.

“Still out of my prime?” Joseph smirked, eyes twinkling. That's when Avdol noted Joseph was only using one hand to control his stand. The other…

“Ah! Eheahhahhaa, nohohohohoo! I nehehever sahhhahaid ahahhanything lihiihke thahahaht!” The fortune teller ducked with a giggle as that hand came to his neck, the deceptive clicky hand! They clucked out a metallic song against his skin as Joseph tickled on. “Mihiihihster Johohohoohestahahhahar!”

“Come, Avdol- we’ve known one another for years! You should know by now I’m not one to leave you out of my games!” He laughed, delighted by the other’s reaction. “A tickle tickle, tickle! Hehehee, I got you all now!”

Well- almost all of them. At that moment, Polnareff walked up. He took one look at the situation and made his best judgement call.

“I’m coming, boys-AH!” He squealed when purple vines grabbed him, wrapping around his torso and legs and leaving him squealing in French. “NOHOOHOOHO!” 

“HA! Now I got all of you!” Joseph grinned, relishing the laughs, swears, and various languages filling the air around him. “Let me show you a man my age can do! Muahahhaha!”

~~~

Eventually the tickles came to an end- but not Joseph’s tricks. These however were at least beneficial.

“Wow- color me impressed.” Kakyoin watched on as the eldest crusader pulled yet another fish from the river, his harmon in full display. “We might actually have enough for seconds tonight.”

“Hehehe, I’m good at this sort of thing! Watch and learn- Oh no!” He yelped when the fish suddenly broke free, slapping him in the face with its fin before flying back in the river. “Drat- damn fish.”

A chorus of giggles came from behind, and he turned to glare at the kids. Jotaro and Polnareff looked away, shoulders shaking with barely restrained laughter. Avdol was focused on cleaning said fish, but his smile gave him away.

“Oh shush, all of you!” He shook his head, grinning despite himself. God he loved them all. “So I got a little carried away. At least we have plenty of fish for dinner.”

“And things for dessert! Kakyoin’s gonna make something good!” Polnareff added, and the redhead blushed with pride. “Come eat, old man! Before your fish gets cold!”

“Make sure it’s easy to chew.” Jotaro added, scrunching some when Joseph grabbed the back of his neck, aiming for his birthmark. “Gaha! Okay, okay, now stahahap!”

“You’re lucky you’re my blood, you brat.” He teased, melting into the conversation around him with ease. Joseph might not be in his twenties anymore, but the personality he had since day one lived on through the years. Avdol hoped when he reached his age, he’d be just as full of life and vigor.

And preferably less crunchy. In the joints, mainly.