HOW YOU BURLESQUE
burlesque dancer!joseph joestar didn't expect to see his two best friends (who he has been crushing for over a year) at a random night in the place he worked at ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
cw: mdni, hurt/comfort, angst, vulnerability, joseph suffers a little here, suggestive, art by catneychu
Thursday nights are always boring in your apartment, Joseph’s out working and none of your other friends want to go out because “it’s a weekday” and “they have classes tomorrow”. So you and Caesar usually settle down for a calm night with a movie in the background while you kiss each other for hours.
You’ve been keeping your little relationship (you’re not even dating, by the way, Caesar just has the most kissable lips ever and knows how to use them) a secret to Joseph because you know he would freak out and make a whole deal out of his two best friends making out every other night.
Like right now, Caesar has you on his lap, hands kneading your ass while you devour his mouth just how he likes it. Tongues overlapping and swirling around each other. You love running your hand through his soft golden locks, making him giggle as you do it.
“Mm, why don’t we go out for some drinks?” you mumble against his lips, breathing out.
“You want to?” He kisses your lips once more before breaking contact, looking you in the eyes while you nod. “Then sure, let’s go for a drink.”
But one drink became two, then three, then you met a group of people that wanted to invite you for shots. Then you’re taking body shots of Caesar’s abs and suddenly someone suggests going to the Burlesque down the street, the only one in town. And your drunk self thought it was the best idea ever.
“Nghh, do we really have to go?” Caesar slurred, grabbing you by the waist as you walked in the street. “The only woman I wanna see naked is… you!”
He tries to boop your nose. “Ow! Caesar, that’s my eye!”
He’s giggling now, pressing a long kiss to the top of your head. “Sorry.”
You and Caesar stumble into the Burlesque club, the bass thumping through your bodies, Caesar’s arm is slung heavy around your waist, his breath warm against your ear as he laughs at something silly you said outside.
“See? This is fun,” you tease, pulling him closer to a spot near the front. “Way better than another movie night.”
He just grins and presses a quick kiss to your temple. “Only because you’re here, bella.”
You both find seats at a sticky table, ordering another round of drinks that you probably don’t need. The crowd cheers as the next performer is announced, and the lights shift to a sultry red glow. Then he steps out.
Joseph Joestar.
Your best friend Joseph, in a tight body suit and star-shaped nipple covers that show way too much of his muscular chest he’s always bragging about. He’s owning the stage, hips rolling, arms flexing in smooth motions that scream he’s done this a lot.
Your mouth drops open. Caesar freezes beside you, his hand still on your thigh.
For a second Joseph spinning and dipping like it’s nothing. But then his eyes scan the crowd and land right on you two. His face goes bright red, eyes wide in embarrassment. He misses a step, nearly trips over his own feet and the smooth dance turns into something awkward and rushed. The crowd still claps, but Joseph bolts off the stage early, muttering something under his breath as the lights follow him off.
You and Caesar just sit there, dumbfounded. The music keeps going, another dancer taking the spotlight, but neither of you can look away from the side door where Joseph disappeared.
“Did... did we imagine that?” you whisper, turning to Caesar. Your heart is hammering from the drinks and the shock.
Caesar’s mouth is still half-open, his pretty blue eyes blinking slowly. “That was Joseph, right?” He rubs a hand over his face, trying to hide a laugh but failing. “He looked good.”
You can’t help it, you start giggling too, the alcohol making everything funnier. “Yeah, he did.”
Joseph’s been “working late” for months and now it all makes sense. No wonder he’s been dodging questions about his job.
Before you can decide what to do, Joseph peeks back out from the side of the stage, now with a hoodie thrown over his dance clothes. He spots you and turns even redder when you make eye contact with him. He hides again.
He paces in the backstage, going a bit insane not only because of the embarrassment (gosh, he doesn’t even want to think about the jokes) but because it was you and Caesar of all people. You and Caesar. For you two, you are best friends. For him, you are the people he dreams about, kissing and giggling together. But now that you saw him like that? There’s no way you’re gonna find him attractive anymore.
You and Caesar take a moment to react
“We should go to him, right?” you say in a breath.
Caesar nods hard. “Fuck, yes. We can’t just leave him like this.”
You weave through the crowd together and manage to get inside the hallway of the dressing rooms, you knock twice in the door another dancer told you that Joseph was. He opens the door after a second and just starts talking with you two still at the door.
“Guys... I... uh...” He scratches the back of his neck, avoiding your eyes. “This isn’t what it looks like! Well, it is, but crap, I needed the cash, okay? Don’t tell anyone, please”
You bite your lip because he looks so damn cute right now. “Can we come in?”
Joseph furrows his eyebrows then nods, opening the door wider and letting you inside, closing it.
Caesar stares at him. “Joseph, you were actually good up there. Until you saw us.”
Joseph groans, burying his face in his hands. “Shut up, Caesar! This is so humiliating. Why are you even here?”
You swallow, heart racing for a whole new reason now. “We, um... just wanted a fun night out. We didn’t expect to find you here of all places.”
Joseph looks so small under that hoodie, shoulders hunched, cheeks flushed dark red. His usual loud confidence is gone, replaced by a sort of vulnerability that makes your chest ache. He keeps glancing at the floor, wishing it would open up and drop him straight to the center of the earth.
“Hey, JoJo,” you say softly, stepping closer. “Now that your secret’s out... we can tell you one of ours. Make it even, right? It’s kinda embarrassing too.”
Caesar raises an eyebrow at you but doesn’t stop you. Joseph lifts his head a little, curious despite everything. “What? You guys rob a bank or something?”
You laugh lightly, trying to keep it playful. “No, nothing like that. Me and Caesar... we’ve been making out. Like, a lot. We didn’t want to tell you because we figured you’d freak out about your two best friends fooling around.”
You expect him to yell, or tease, or make some big dramatic scene. Instead his face falls even more. The color drains from his cheeks and his beautiful bright eyes that usually sparkle with mischief look... sad. Really sad. He tries to smile but it wobbles and dies halfway.
“Oh,” he mumbles, voice quieter than you’ve ever heard it. “That’s... that’s cool. I’m happy for you guys.”
His hands fidget with the hem of his hoodie and he won’t meet either of your eyes anymore. Caesar notices too, his playful expression fading into concern. “Woah, hey. What’s wrong, amico?”
Joseph lets out a shaky breath, rubbing the back of his neck hard. “Nothing, uh… It’s late, I have a few dances left and I’d prefer for you guys to leave. Don’t tell anyone, please.”
You and Caesar exchange a worried glance, Joseph looks so defeated standing there, hoodie pulled low over his eyes, voice cracking just a little on that last please.
“Okay... if that’s what you want,” you say softly, reaching out to touch his arm for a second. He flinches but doesn’t pull away. “We’ll go. But text us when you’re done, yeah? Please?”
Caesar nods. “We’re sorry for crashing your night like this, Joseph. Take care of yourself up there.”
The two of you head out of the club, the cool night air hitting your faces and clearing some of the drunk fog. Neither of you says much at first. You walk close together, shoulders brushing, but the worry sits between you loudly.
“He looked so sad,” you whisper, biting your lip. “I thought telling him would even things out... but I messed up.”
Caesar sighs, slipping his arm around your waist anyway. “We should have waited, I don’t know. Let’s just get home and figure out what to do tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, inside the club, Joseph stands frozen for a long moment after you two leave. He takes off his hoodie and sits down on the tiny couch he has there. He feels like a complete idiot, his chest hurts, he keeps replaying the way you looked at Caesar. How could he not realize? You two were making out every other night while he was out here dancing for tips, dreaming about maybe confessing one day. Now you were together and he was just the embarrassing best friend who shakes his ass on stage.
Tears prick at the corners of his eyes but he wipes them away angrily. He feels stupid for crying for this shit. You probably feel sorry for him now, he can’t put himself together to see you two again.
He knows he has to go back out there in a few minutes, paste his performer smile and move like nothing’s wrong. But he’s alone with his thoughts, thinking how much of a fool he feels like and how lonely the night suddenly seems.
You and Caesar agree that the best thing you can do is give Joseph some space, but what are you meant to do when said space becomes too damn long for you to handle. You miss him. So. Fucking. Much. Being with Caesar is fine, but when it’s the three of you together, sharing food on the floor of your apartment because you only have one chair, fighting about what movie to watch or making fun of Caesar’s questionable food choices. That’s when you feel the best. And Caesar too. Something is missing when it’s just the two of you.
After four long days of radio silence, the quiet in your apartment starts to feel unbearable. Joseph has not answered a single text, you and Caesar keep catching each other staring at your phones, hoping. Finally you both decide enough is enough.
That night you head back to the club together, nerves buzzing under your skin. You check the stage schedule posted near the entrance and wait until Joseph’s set is over before slipping inside. The dressing room door is half open, and there he is.
Joseph stands in front of a cracked mirror in nothing but some tight stage pants, brushing his dark hair back with frustrated strokes. The muscles in his back tense when he catches your reflection.
He spins around fast, eyes wide at first then narrowing in anger. “What the hell are you two doing here?”
You step inside first, heart pounding hard. Caesar stays right behind you, quiet but solid.
“We gave you space, Joseph,” you say, voice already heating up. “We miss you. I miss my best friend. You can’t just shut us out forever because things got weird one night.”
Joseph’s grip tightens on the hairbrush until his knuckles turn white. “You think I’m shutting you out? You show up here, in my dressing room, right before I have to go dance again and act like I’m the one being dramatic? Why can’t you just leave me alone for a little longer?”
His words sting and you feel your face get hot. “Because we love having you around, you idiot! I gave you time to clear your head but now I want my Joseph back. Not this version who hides from us.”
Caesar tries to cut in gently but Joseph is already shaking, chest rising fast. The brush clatters onto the counter as he steps closer, voice getting louder and louder.
“You’re the idiot! How can you not realize that I’m in love with both of you?” he practically shouts, eyes shiny and desperate. “I have been for ages! Every time we hang out I feel like my heart is gonna explode and I-I push it down because I didn’t want to ruin what we have. Then I see you two together and it kills me. So yeah, I’m angry. I’m embarrassed. And I don’t know how to be around you anymore.”
The dressing room goes dead quiet except for Joseph’s heavy breathing. He looks raw, like he’s about to cry. No one moves or talks for a long second, before Caesar takes a step between both of you.
“Did you guys finish screaming at each other?” he asks, calm but tired. His golden hair catches the cheap dressing room light, making him look too pretty for a moment like this.
You and Joseph both freeze, breathing hard.
Caesar sighs softly and runs a hand through his own hair. “Look, this is messy. We all messed up a bit. But Joseph, you can’t drop something like that and then expect us to just walk away again.”
Joseph looks down at the floor, shoulders slumping. All that fire from a second ago drains out of him, leaving him looking small and scared in the middle of the tiny room.
“I didn’t mean to yell,” he mumbles. “It’s been eating me up inside. Seeing you act all secret and cute while I was over here wishing I could be part of it. I felt like an idiot. Still do.”
Your chest tightens, you step around Caesar and reach for Joseph’s hand without thinking. His fingers are warm and a little shaky when they curl around yours.
“You’re not an idiot, JoJo. We had no idea.”
Caesar moves closer too, placing a careful hand on Joseph’s shoulder. “You were good on that stage, you know. Even when you almost fell on your face seeing us.” A tiny smile tugs at his lips, trying to lighten the mood. “And we miss our trio. The apartment feels empty without you stealing all the blankets.”
Joseph lets out a watery laugh, but his eyes still look shiny. He squeezes your hand back, thumb brushing over your knuckles in that familiar nervous way. “So what now? I just confessed I’m in love with my two best friends. What the fuck does one in this situation?”
You and Caesar share a quick look, enough to know exactly what you were thinking. You talked first. “Why don’t we sit down?”
Joseph blinks at you like he is not sure he heard right, but he lets you pull him over to the small worn out couch in the corner of the dressing room. The three of you squeeze onto it together, your thigh pressed against his and Caesar on his other side. The space is tiny so you are all basically tangled already.
“You’re not an idiot, Joseph,” you say softly, reaching up to brush some hair out of his face. “You are actually really amazing. I love how loud you get when you are excited. So passionate and funny. I never wanted to hurt you by keeping things from you.”
Caesar nods, his hand resting on Joseph’s knee now, thumb rubbing slow circles there. “She’s right. You’re strong and stupidly handsome. You have no idea how much we both like having you around. How much we need you.”
Joseph’s cheeks turn bright red again, but this time it’s not just from embarrassment. He shifts a little between you two, looking confused as hell when your fingers trail down his arm and Caesar leans in closer, nuzzling against his shoulder.
“W-wait, what is this?” he stutters, eyes wide as he glances between you and Caesar. “Are you messing with me right now?”
You smile softly and cup his cheek, thumb brushing over his warm skin. “We are not messing with you. I think we have feelings for you too. It has always been the three of us, right? Maybe we didn’t see it before because we were scared, but now that it’s out, it feels right.”
Caesar presses a light kiss to Joseph’s temple, making the poor guy freeze up completely. “We want you here with us. If you’ll have us.”
Joseph is speechless, but he’s not rejecting any of your touches.
You lean forward first, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. “You’re so cute when you get flustered.”
“I’m-I’m not flustered,” he tries, pouting a little
Caesar chuckles low, his hand sliding up Joseph’s back, fingers tracing the muscles there. He kisses the other side of Joseph’s neck, making Joseph shiver hard between you.
“So strong,” Caesar murmurs. “All that dancing has done you good, bet you’re really flexible too.”
Joseph lets out a shaky breath, one hand coming up to grip your waist because he needs something to hold onto.
“You two.. mmm,” he mumbles. He turns his head toward you and you meet him halfway.
The kiss starts gentle, just lips brushing, but Joseph makes this little surprised sound that melts into neediness. His mouth is eager, a little clumsy from nerves, you smile into it while your fingers run through his hair. Caesar watches for a second before he leans in too, kissing along Joseph’s jaw and then catching his lips when you pull back for air.
You keep touching him, hands roaming over his bare chest, feeling the way his heart hammers under your palm. Caesar’s fingers knead at his shoulder, then slide down to his side, pulling him closer until Joseph is basically sandwiched between your bodies. Soft kisses turn a little longer, a little hungrier. Joseph’s hand squeezes your hip, thumb rubbing circles there, while his other hand finds Caesar’s thigh.
You’re in such a high you don’t even hear someone knocking and shouting that Joseph has to perform in about five minutes.
a/n: this is a mess but that fanart has been stucked in my brain for months. don't ask for part 2 cause i won't be writing it
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