#cjq

Joseph bursts through the door of the shared apartment, followed close behind by Caesar and Suzi Q. He shakes droplets of rain out of his brunet hair as he tracks damp footprints into the foyer, nudging his shoes off to the side while the other two more politely hang their coats and fold the umbrella. “You two couldn’t have been any slower! At this rate, we’d both be drenched by now.” 

Caesar scoffs and rolls his eyes, the continual pitter-patter of the storm against the penthouse windows muffling any remarks, in Italian or otherwise, under his breath. “You could have walked with us from the restaurant with the umbrella, but it seems like you had more important plans.” He takes a handkerchief from his suit pocket and helps Suzi dab at her makeup before it runs completely.

“Well, yeah! Holly is at a sleepover with her school friends, which means we get the apartment all to ourselves for once.” Joseph flops back onto the couch, content. “Doesn’t mean we don’t love her, but we don’t have to worry about waking her up, or she has questions on her homework, or…”

“We get it, JoJo.” Suzi sits next to Joseph on the couch, smoothing the emerald-green silk of her dress. “I was just thinking about something, actually. I heard through some other ladies at the bridge club that some swing dance events are coming up soon!” She paused, apprehensive. “But I uh, don’t think they’d approve of,” Suzi gestures to Caesar and Joseph, “us.”

“Hm? If anyone tries to bring up the war to go against you two, I won’t hesitate to—”

“They’ll call us communist queers, coglione.” Caesar lights a cigarette, inhaling deeply. “I’m lucky enough to pass as Suzi’s brother most of the time, but it’s too dangerous in a dance hall where there’s mostly couples.”

Joseph crosses his arms. “Then what do you suggest, smart guy?”

Caesar walks over to the record console on the other side of the living room and flips through the selection of vinyls. “What I do know is that Suzi picked up some new records when she took Holly to the department store to get new clothes for the school year.” Suzi joins Caesar’s side to help him look, and he returns the gesture with a quick kiss on her cheek.

“Oh!” Suzi stops and holds up a record, bringing it over to Joseph. “A new Nat King Cole record. How about we turn our home into a dance hall, hm, tesoro?”

Joseph finally smiles, taking Suzi’s hand when he gets up. “Sounds like a plan! I certainly don’t want to disappoint you, Suzie Cutie.” The pet name makes Suzi giggle, and she hands the record off to Caesar to place on the turntable.

The speakers crackle to life as Almost Like Being in Love begins to play, horns blaring as Suzi first takes Caesar’s hands. He puts his arm around her waist as they stand next to each other, stepping and kicking in time. Due to his height, her hand struggles to reach his shoulder. Instead, she rests her hand on his upper back, brushing against the tweed fabric of his suit.

Suzi giggles as Caesar spins with her around the room, her skirt twirling like a blonde bombshell from a Hollywood film. Leading, he slows back down to a shuffle in place as Joseph approaches and taps him on the shoulder.

The older man lets Suzi go, and Joseph doesn’t hesitate as he pulls her toward him, then out, then back in again. Joseph’s smile is the widest it's been in a while as he swings his arm over and around her, stretching his arm out just to curl her back in.

As the bridge leads into the excitement of the final verse, Joseph looks at Suzi with mischief shimmering in his eyes. “Ready?”

“Ready for— ah!” As fast as lightning, Joseph tosses Suzi into the air, stepping back to catch her in a bridal carry.

“JoJo!” Caesar rushes next to Joseph in case the brunet misses, but Joseph succeeds in his feat.

Still, the sudden weight of Suzi in his arms causes him to stumble backward into the record console. The music suddenly stops with a ping echoing from within the player. “Oh, shit!” Joseph gently eases Suzi to stand, and her typical chignon sits loose around her shoulders after all the spinning. 

Joseph flips around to examine the machinery in question. Very little of it was visible to the normal eye, but on the surface, nothing seemed to be obviously broken. “Well, I’m sure it can’t be that bad.” Joseph aligns the needle on the vinyl where it left off, but the turntable doesn’t move an inch when he tries to start it. “Damn! And we had just gotten this, too.”

Caesar’s tone grows pointed. “If you hadn’t acted like a sbruffone, then we wouldn’t have this problem.”

“Excuse me?! If you hadn’t gotten in my way, I would have been just fine!” Joseph’s mechanical hand begins to click as he clenches and unclenches his fist, holding onto what restraint he had before an argument came to a head.

Caesar inhales, trying to calm the situation. “We’ll have to call a repairman in the morning, but it’s your responsibility.” He stares at Joseph for a moment before he takes his cigarette out of the ashtray again, smoke emitting from the lingering embers.

“Fine,” Joseph sighs as he sits back down on the couch. An idea pops into his mind. “You know, we can always try to finish the song ourselves.” Joseph snaps along to the song's tempo as the other two sit next to him.

Caesar smiles and chimes in with the final chorus, his earlier anger fading away. “I would swear I was fallin'.”

Suzi joins in, her higher voice harmonizing with Caesar's. “Swear I was fallin'!”

The three hold each other close, their voices melding into one. “Why, it's almost like bein' in love!”

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Joseph, or rather, Tequila, navigates the steps out of the subway station in her kitten heels, while Suzi and Caesar lag behind. “Hurry up! We can’t let the march pass us by!”

As soon as the two blondes make their way up, the three are greeted by a cacophony of music, glitter, and joy. The march, to their relief, hasn’t turned the corner yet, giving them time to get situated. They squeeze their way through the dancing and cheering crowds until finding the perfect spot just close enough to the barricades. “You know, we wouldn’t be rushing if you didn’t take up too much time in the bathroom,” Caesar sighs.

“And risk losing this perfection?” Tequila poses with one hand cocked on her hip, and the other glamorously framing her face. “I think not, Caesarino.” She adjusts the pink sparkly fabric of her ruched dress, not wanting to overheat, but not showing off too much underneath the short skirt.

Suzi pulls a fan out of her bag, opens it with a CRACK, and fanning it in their direction to help them cool off. “You both remembered your water?” They each raise their respective bottles in response, and Caesar takes a sip of his. “Alright, let’s do this!”

The songs of Chappell Roan and Diana Ross grow louder as the throuple dances, mingling with the attendees near them. At one point, a young woman with golden blonde hair bumps into Tequila by accident, a demisexual flag wrapped around her like a cape. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I was dancing too much with my friend, and I didn’t notice you there.” She has to look up at her, as her heels make her tower over the two friends.

“Hey, at least it was an accident. But be careful out there, ‘cause I think the parade is getting closer!” 

The conversation caught the attention of her friend, who turned to Caesar instead. The two locked eyes, noticing each other’s faces. Light peach fuzz on his upper lip, their sideburns shaved square. A look that says “I see you, and we’re alike,” without uttering a sound. They nod to each other and smile, then return to their respective groups.

“Suzi, can you hold my bag for a moment?” Caesar shakes off the straps of his drawstring backpack and hands it to Suzi. “I think I’m ready to take this off. It’s too damn hot, anyway.”

“Are you sure? I know you were feeling a little uncertain before we left—” Suzi rambles, but out of genuine care. Caesar was one of her lovers, and she wanted him, as well as JoJo, to feel as comfortable as they wanted.

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Caesar removes his tank top and quickly folds it before stuffing it into his bag. The hot summer sun shines on his skin, which matches perfectly with the tape binding his chest. He sighs with relief, both from the discomfort of the shirt on the cloth-like tape and the freedom to show who he truly is.

Loud cheering can be heard from down the street, catching everyone’s attention as the march finally makes its way to their section. The crowd cheers along, hands raised and waving miniature flags and bubbles flowing in the breeze from mechanical blowers. Marchers give high-fives from the other side of the barricade, greeting everyone they pass.

Dancing along to the DJ perched on top, a drag queen on one of the floats notices Tequila. She waves excitedly, pointing down at the float. “YOU GOTTA JOIN US NEXT YEAR!” she shouts, just barely audible over the booming bass music.

“NOT IF YOU’RE THERE!” The other queen playfully flips Tequila off, knowing it’d be taken in jest. Tequila leans down to Caesar and Suzi. “She’s a new girl at one of my home bars. Really sweet, actually! I should introduce her to both of you the next time you come for a show.” They wave at her, smiling wide.

• • • • • • •

As the parade winds down, the crowds dissipate into different parts of the Village, whether it be bars, the subway stations, or apartments shared with friends. Joseph, Caesar, and Suzi, however, wander until they find an empty bench in Christopher Park. The three let out a heavy exhale in unison when they sit, the exhaustion from the day finally hitting their bodies. Suzi takes the bisexual-themed scrunchie out of her hair, letting it fall to her shoulders. Caesar, having collected several bead necklaces, carefully removes them without tangling them.

And Tequila? With a groan, she removes her styled brunette wig, wig tape and all, before struggling to get it into her mini backpack. She raises an eyebrow at Suzi and Caesar’s amused faces when she turns to them, but it quickly turns into a smile. “What? You’d do the same if you were me!”

“Yeah, and that’s why we don’t,” Caesar jokes. “I’m not carrying you home because you don’t want to wear your heels, by the way.”

“Ugh, then you’re paying for the Uber home.” Caesar rolls his eyes at Joseph’s childishness, but doesn’t argue. 

Rather, his attention is drawn to the design of the park. White sculptures decorate the surrounding benches, reflecting the ancestors of their community. They seem relaxed, enjoying each other’s company. Not dissimilar to Caesar’s own feelings as he sits with the ones he loves, showing that, despite all the chaos in the world, all the efforts to delegitimize them, they’ll be there no matter what.

“Everything ok, Cae?” Suzi notices his distant stare, bringing his attention back to reality.

“Uh, yeah. I’m fine.” Caesar finishes the remaining water in his bottle before tossing the empty plastic into a nearby trash can. “Just thinking about us.”

“Well, ‘us’ is a rather nice thing to think about.” She kisses him on the cheek before giving one to Tequila as well. “I’d spend eternity with you if I could.”

“You two, Suzi. It’s about time we get going, I think.” Caesar pulls out his phone and requests a ride back to their apartment. “Speaking for the three of us, there’s no way in hell we’re going to a bar tonight.”

“Agreed,” Tequila nods. “There’s always tomorrow!”

“Yeah, always tomorrow.”

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The sun rises above the New York skyline, golden rays illuminating behind the endless sea of skyscrapers. Caesar Zeppeli, 70, softly hums to himself as he makes his way to the kitchen. Always an early riser, he fixes a pot of tea before his partners, Joseph and Suzi, wake up and get about their day.

He rolls up the sleeves of his striped robe as he fills a kettle with water, placing it onto the heated glass-ceramic burners to boil before getting out two teacups and setting them on the table. He brushes his light blonde hair, not quite greying, out of his eyes when he stretches, letting out a groan as he feels his back pop.

Returning to the expansive living room, he’s surprised to see Joseph and Suzi already reading the newspaper on the couch. “Oh! Buongiorno, my loves.” He strolls over to give them gentle kisses on the cheek. “I wasn’t expecting either of you to be up this early.”

Joseph lets out a huff of a laugh. “And I wasn’t expecting you to be so chipper this morning. I guess it’s the season for Christmas carols now, isn’t it?”

Caesar gently tousles Joseph’s hair from behind him playfully. “Oh, come on, JoJo. You know I’ll sing for you if you ask nicely.” The two are interrupted by the whistle of the kettle from the next room. “Water’s done. Won’t you two care to join me?”

The three make their way into the kitchen, with Caesar getting to the stove while Joseph and Suzi sit at the glass table. Suzi sifts through a container of tea bags, looking for one to enjoy. “Oh, dear. It seems we’re all out of black tea. I’ll add that to the list for the next grocery delivery.”

Caesar turns around and approaches with the teapot. “I’m sure we have at least something we can enjoy, or—”

The older man’s sentence is cut off as he hits the kitchen table, as the clear glass wasn’t immediately visible while he was focused on the conversation. He feels as if the world is moving in slow motion as boiling water shoots from the spout of the teapot, threatening to scald his lovers.

But in an instant, the urge to yell “WAIT!” makes the water itself still, pulling toward Caesar and back into the pot. It carefully makes its way back in, without even a drop on the floor. For a moment, he sees the flash of a royal blue hand, with a large white ruffle extending onto its pinky finger, but it’s gone as soon as he sees it.

The room is silent, and the feeling of something not quite right is palpable. Caesar is the one to break the silence. “You all saw that, correct?” He sets the kettle down, using his hand to mimic pulling the water. “The hand, the water, all of it!” He tries to calm the shock in his body and mind, making sure that he’s not hallucinating.

“The water, yes, but not the hand.” Suzi looks up at Caesar with a sense of concern. “Are you sure you’re doing ok?”

Joseph pats Suzi’s hand. “No, he’s plenty fine. But Caesar,” he turns to face him with a fierce stare. “This must be what they call a Stand!” He notices the confused stare on Caesar’s face and clears his throat before explaining. “It’s a representation of your fighting spirit. I thought that all you had was your Hamon, but it seems like yours developed at last. Think of it like a ghost of sorts that always stands next to you.” 

With a wave of his hand, Joseph summons his own Stand, represented by a tangle of purple, thorny vines around his arm. “I’ve decided to call mine Hermit Purple. It can see things through cameras, but, uh, only if I break it first.”

Suzi chuckles. “So that’s why I saw all of those Polaroid camera boxes in the closet.”

Joseph smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck once Hermit Purple fades away. “Sorry about that, Suzi.”

Caesar catches Joseph’s attention back. “So you’re saying that I have this… spirit that gives me magical powers of some sort. But it’s not possessing me, only just next to me.”

“Correct! It looks like yours has to do with water in some way or another. Let me just—” Joseph fills one of the teacups with tap water, then pours it onto the table. “See if you can move it again.”

Caesar stares at the water, but it doesn’t move an inch. This is stupid. I can’t just move water with my mind. Can I?

Before he gives up, the ruffled hand appears once more, pushing the water away from him as if repelled by a magnet. A little more of it is visible, the arm patterned in narrow white and blue stripes, and the ruffle extending all the way up. “I can’t believe I did it!”

Joseph smiles proudly, patting Caesar on the back. “Look at you! We’ll have to take some time to hone your skills, but knowing you, it’ll be a piece of cake.”

The phone rings on the wall, unusual for the time of day. “I’ll get it.” Joseph strides over while the two blondes sit at the table.

“Holly! It’s been so long since we heard from you!”

“Is something wrong?”

“Jotaro, you say?”

“In jail?!”

“Well, we’ll certainly do anything we can to help.”

“Alright. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

Joseph hangs up the phone, looking intensely at Caesar and Suzi. “Well, it seems like our grandson is dealing with a spirit of his own! Holly said we need to come to Japan immediately, so I’ll get a flight coordinated and have Roses pack our bags.” He kisses Suzi on the head. “I want you to be safe, so I’ll make sure he takes care of you.”

“You’ll be safe, won’t you?” Suzi looks back up at him.

“Of course, especially with Caesar to help us.” He sticks out his hand to the other man, raising his eyebrow. “What do you say, Caesarino? Up to the task?”

Caesar takes his hand, firmly shaking it. “As always, JoJo.”

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Suzi, Joseph, and Caesar emerge from the brick entryways of the bathhouse on the edge of Coney Island’s beach, the summer sun beating down overhead. Joseph’s towel, adorned with stripes near the hem, sits around his neck, complementing his bare chest and deep-blue swimming briefs. “Come on, what are we waiting for?” Joseph jogs ahead as the two blondes try to catch up. Zig-zagging from section to section, he finally finds a spot large enough to hold the trio, but close enough to both the water and the boardwalk. Despite it being morning, the crowd at the beach was nearly packed in like sardines, with little room to rearrange.

“I’m glad we came on a weekday,” Suzi sighs as she sets up her blanket and umbrella stand. “I can’t imagine what it’s like on a holiday!”

Caesar sets his towel as close to the umbrella as he can, trying to avoid the harsh rays. “JoJo, why did you insist on coming here on your day off? The sand, porca miseria!” Caesar retrieves an issue of LIFE from his bag, trying to ignore Joseph’s glee as he flips through the pages. “It's coarse. It’s irritating. And you know it’ll all come home with us.”

“Aww, where’s your sense of fun, Caesarino?” Joseph stretches, his tan skin looking radiant. “At least get in the water if you need to cool off.” He sticks his arm out to Caesar, who rolls his eyes before begrudgingly taking it.

“Fine. But only to cool down.” Caesar follows Joseph’s lead, wading into deeper water. Caesar shivers as the chilly ocean rises to his orange swim tank, the cutouts doing little to shield him. But when the sun warms his upper torso, he finds it’s a perfect balance.

“See? I told you so!” Joseph grins at Caesar’s pleased expression, prompting the blond to give him a light shove. 

“Che palle! Could you not act like a fool for once?”

“Seriously? I closed the office for the day, and you refuse to enjoy it!”

Caesar smirks. “I’ll enjoy it when you look like this.”

In retaliation, Caesar wrangles Joseph and dunks his head under the water for a brief moment before giving him time to come up for air. Caesar’s amusement is palpable as he teases Joseph, the brunet’s hair now soaked in his face. Joseph’s demeanor turns to playful shock as he pushes a wave into Caesar, drenching him equally.

Before they can roughhouse any further, Suzi calls out to them. “JoJo! Caesar! Come over here!” 

Joseph gets one last splash in, yelling “Gotcha!” before running up ahead. He flops onto the beach towel, with Caesar on Suzi’s other side. “What’s up?”

“I was worried you were going to drown each other for a moment,” Suzi says as she messes the boys’ hair. “But that’s not the reason I called for you! I overheard some people saying the concessions are opening up!” She kisses Joseph on the cheek, using her best puppy-dog eyes. “Tesoro, could you be a dear and get us something before it’s too busy?”

Joseph stands and gives a thumbs-up pose, almost like Superman. “Of course! Be right back.” Joseph slips his sandals back on and heads toward the boardwalk, leaving Suzi and Caesar resting in the sand.

The two look at each other and speak in hushed tones in their mother tongue. “This is the happiest I’ve seen JoJo in months,” Suzi remarks.

“I think so too. It’s been, what, a year since everything happened in Switzerland. I think he’s been pouring everything into the real estate business to do something.”

“At least he’s staying active. But you’re doing surprisingly well, Caesar!”

Caesar scoffs. “It’s not the worst I’ve been through, you know.”

Suzi giggles. “Says you! I never would have thought you’d come this far since Miss Lisa Lisa took you to the island for the first time.”

“Speaking of Mae— I mean, Lisa Lisa, how is JoJo dealing with knowing his mother—”

Before Caesar can finish his sentence, Joseph returns with his arms full of hot dogs and drinks. “Order up!” He hands the food and beverages off to his lovers, one frank each topped with ketchup, mustard, and relish. “Everyone was raving about this ‘Nathan’s’ place, so I thought it’d be great to try!” Joseph takes his first bite, eyes widening as he bites into the pan-fried meat. “You both have to try this! Can’t believe I never got one when I was in New York before, though things certainly took a turn then.”

Caesar and Suzi each dig in, giving similar reactions. “Only in America,” Suzi says as she wipes the dropped ketchup from her chest with her thumb before it can stain the blue ditsy pattern of her bathing suit. Caesar carefully scoops the ice cream out of his root beer float before it completely melts, giving Suzi and Joseph small tastes of the sweet treat.

The three spend the rest of their afternoon cycling through swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing under the umbrella, enjoying each other's company despite the chaos of Coney Island around them. They feel like they were in their own little world, a sanctuary of joy and affection.

As the sun begins its descent, the crowds taper, leaving a sense of stillness as the sky turns into hues of orange, pink, and purple. Joseph arranges himself to act as Caesar and Suzi’s lean-to, the blondes resting against his body. Thankfully, the umbrella is angled just enough to shield them from any unwanted stares.

A sigh interrupts their moment of stasis. “JoJo?” Suzi questions, peering up at the younger man.

“I was just thinking,” Joseph says as he stares out into the ocean, the water now a dark reflection of the sky above. “Meeting you two, and going through everything in Europe. It feels like we’ve really exhausted everything there is out of life.”

The other two join his gaze. “But then I stare out, and realize how infinite everything is. How, despite my success in saving the world,” a jab on Joseph’s rib, responded to with a wince, “Okay, our success, there’s still more out there.”

Joseph kisses the top of Suzi’s head. “And I think having another addition would be nice. All four of us, together.”

Caesar’s voice turns into a low whisper. “JoJo, you’re not really suggesting that we, you know,” he gestures towards Suzi’s abdomen, not wanting to call any attention that may put their safety at risk.

Joseph winks. “We’ll see, Caesar. I’ve got you and Suzi, and I’m never letting go.”

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Joseph sits in a chair beside Caesar’s cot, softly clenching and unclenching his right hand. It’s been three days. I thought we saved you, but…

The lump continues to rest in his throat, trying to hold back his tears. “Caesar…” Joseph reaches his hand toward the Italian’s, scared to touch him as if he would shatter into a million shards.

Only centimeters away, Caesar’s hand shifts, gently twitching to life. He groans, shifting his head to avoid the light streaming through the windows. “JoJo?”

“C-Caesar!” Joseph begins to tear up as he embraces his lover, holding onto him tightly. “Oh, God, I thought I lost you for good.”

Caesar squirms to get out of the hold, the pressure unintentionally focused on his healing wounds. “Agh! Get off of me, stronzo!” Joseph relents, but even he notices the tears streaming down Caesar’s face. “I appreciate the sentiment, but my god, you’re strong.”

Suzi’s voice echoes from down the hall, with her heels clicking against the hardwood floor as another sign of her approach. “JoJo? Is everything alright?” When she enters the doorway, she nearly drops her tray of medical supplies in shock. “Grazie a Dio!”

The young woman rushes to Caesar’s other side, much gentler, and plants a kiss on his cheek, brushing his hair from his eyes. “JoJo, how long has he been awake for?” She turns to Caesar. “È un miracolo che tu sia qui!”

“He did just now, I swear!” Caesar speaks to Suzi in Italian, something about her “adorableness” that Joseph barely deciphers.

Caesar draws his attention to Joseph’s left arm as it rubs gently against the former’s leg. “JoJo, what happened?”

Joseph scoffs. “It’s a long story, all having to do with Kars. But hey, at least Stroheim decked me out in some new technology, hm?” He flexes the knuckles on his mechanical hand, creating a loud clicking sound. “I still need to work out the kinks, though.”

Caesar lifts Joseph’s arm with the strength he has, examining him. The portion of skin where it meets metal is covered in a ring of scarred, light skin. It didn’t extend very far, but the damage was already done. “Oh, JoJo.”

“What? I think it looks badass! And there’s not much you can say about yourself.” Suzi elbows Joseph’s side from across Caesar’s lap. “Ouch! What was that for?”

Suzi sighs. “Give him some time, tesoro. I’m sure he’s still trying to get his bearings, so let’s not comment on his appearance right now.”

“What?” Caesar’s confused expression morphs into shock. “No, Suzi. I need to know,” he catches himself mid-sentence, “I need to see what I look like.”

“Pfft, you’re fine, trust me!”

Caesar glares at Joseph, then directs his attention back to Suzi. “Just hand me the mirror, please.”

Suzi relents, passing a hand mirror resting on the side table to Caesar. “JoJo is right, though. Sei bellissimo.”

Caesar peers into the glass, scrutinizing every feature of his face. Aside from his violet birthmarks, the bridge of his nose, along with his cheek, temple, and even his upper chest, revealed by his unbuttoned pajama top, were mottled with scars.

Caesar’s heart sank into his stomach. While he wasn’t the type to be obnoxiously vain, his appearance did serve him well in his flirting, including his romantic relationships with Suzi and Joseph. Without his good looks, he wasn’t sure where he held up in their eyes. No… They wouldn’t lie to me, would they? One cheek had a gauze pad on it, and he winced in pain when he reached to touch it. Buon Dio, if only I weren’t so reckless.

Both Joseph and Suzi could see the unease on the older man’s face, and neither was sure what to say next.

But Joseph, ever the trickster, knew how to make him smile, at least break him out of his thoughts enough to get a scolding. “Your next line is, ‘This will take some getting used to!’”

“This will take some getting used to— JoJo, figlio di puttana!” Caesar tries to shove Joseph off the chair in exasperation and playfulness, and a soft grin breaks through his anxiety.

“Hey! I got you to laugh, didn’t I?” The brunet regains his balance and leans over to peck Caesar’s cheek. “I know you still love me, Caesarino.”

Joseph looks tenderly into Caesar’s bright celadon eyes, cupping his face where an exposed scar lies. “Seriously, they give you that nice ‘macho’ factor.” Joseph moves his thumb, gently kissing the skin. He makes his way down the Italian’s body, softly appreciating each inch of skin with love.

A deep blush forms on Caesar’s face, his hair beginning to stand on end. He regains control of the situation, stilling Joseph’s mechanical arm as he moves, and leaning in to kiss the skin and cold metal. “And I think you’re just as handsome as the day I met you.”

Suzi giggles and pats Caesar on the shoulder, amused by his honeyed words.

“Always the casanova, aren’t you?” Joseph remarks.

“Do you want me to do something about it, JoJo?” Caesar instinctively moves closer to Joseph to close the distance, but “Cazzo!”

Joseph backs off as Caesar reaches back to his spine, from where pain quickly starts to shoot. “Whoa, take it easy.”

Suzi shoos Joseph away, retrieving an ice pack from the medical tray and adjusting it behind Caesar with some pillows. Caesar exhales as he leans back, the ice numbing the aching wounds. “There we go, all better.” She smiles sheepishly at the other two, and gently tousles Joseph’s hair. “You two are such a handful! And besides, we’ll always have time for that and more later,” Suzi says with a wink.

Both Caesar and Joseph blush at her risqué suggestion, lewd imagery coming to mind of what they’ve been missing since they started their recovery. “Anyway, now that you’re both awake, I should probably go have a telegraph made to let Lisa Lisa and the others know you’re ok!” Suzi gives the other two gentle forehead kisses, then hugs them gently. “I’m so glad you’re both alive.”

Liked this and want more? Check the full CJQ Week series on my AO3 here!