#jojop7

ao3 repost, word count: 1.3k

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There you were, back again. Disheveled and feeling guilty for showing up at his doorstep again. Johnny knew how it was with you and Diego. The fights crescendoed at yelling and screaming threats at you, and the only way to stop them was to leave for the night. Or the week. Or however long it took Diego to cool down and get back to loving you normally. Johnny knew this wasn’t loving, though. He knew this was manipulative and toxic. But he also knew that you were too scared to leave; too anxious about what Diego might actually do if you up and left for good. And God, he didn’t even want to think about what would happen if Diego found out about the two of you. Johnny didn’t want you to feel guilty for trying to escape.

He opened the door and looked up at you, half-expecting you to come anyways, even though you never gave a warning before carrying out your escape plan. Johnny felt it: somehow, he knew that tonight would be one of those nights. One of the nights when you came to him in silence, already having exhausted sentences like, “I want to leave, I just can’t,” and, “I’m too scared of what he might do.” He didn’t expect you to explain yourself. IN fact, he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to know if tonight had been worse than previous. He just wanted to know that you were safe now. And opening the front door and finding you meant that you were safe now.

“Hey.” You cracked a smile. But you knew it wouldn’t resolve that look on his face. That look of disappointment. Not in you for running, but in Diego for treating you like this. If you ever got away for good, Johnny knew he would never treat you like he does.

“Hi.” He mumbled and moved aside for you to come in.

You headed straight for the couch and collapsed, leaving room for Johnny to sit next to you. You threw your head back and closed your eyes, breathing a sigh of freedom.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” You heard the door close. Most of the lights in the house were off, just the floor lamp in the living room and light from the kitchen down the hall. Gyro must be at work, you thought.

“I’ll have what you’re having.” You lifted your head up to meet his eyes. He smiled and mumbled an “Alright” and headed down the hall. You wanted to ask to help, but you knew he didn’t much appreciate it, especially when he was trying to do something nice for you. It made him feel like he wasn’t capable.

Hearing the kettle set on the stove and the click of the burner you decided to follow him. You knew he would stay in there until the tea was done, and you didn’t much feel like being alone. You stood up and padded down the hallway, leaning against the doorway into the kitchen.

He noticed you and looked up. You didn’t like that look of pity he had, but you knew it was warranted. Johnny opened his mouth to speak, but you beat him to it.

“He said he would leave me.”

Johnny looked surprised, looking down for a moment and then back up at you, not really sure if this was good or bad.

“Well that would solve it, wouldn’t it? Did he say for sure? He’s definitely leaving?”

You shook your head, mouthing a “no.”

“Well…why don’t you ask him, you know, if he’s gonna stay?”

“Because,” you scoffed, already having thought about this on the way over. “He’ll take it like I’m asking him if he’s going away, and to him, that means I want him.”

“And you don’t right?” He turned to face you directly as you took a seat on one of the chairs off of the kitchen. “Please, tell me you don’t.”

“Of course I don’t. You know how it is.” You started to cry. Johnny felt a little guilty for pleading. “But you know how he is. He heard us on the phone and flipped. Imagine if he knew I was here. Imagine if he knew that we were together.”

You didn’t hear the door open or shut as he came home. Your back was to the door. You were on the phone with Johnny, laughing and talking about your day. Diego didn’t like your tone. He didn’t like how happy you sounded. Why didn’t you sound like that when you talked to him? It didn’t help when he realized that he recognized the laugh and banter of the person on the other end. You? Talking to Johnny Joestar? He dropped his things onto the floor to startle you. You jumped and turned.

“Oh, I didn’t hear you-“

“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?” He walked over to you. You hid the screen of the phone and looked up at him. He heard Johnny on the other end, confused as to why you cut yourself off.

“Why don’t you tell me who’s on the phone?” When you just stared back, he snatched the phone from your hand. He glanced at the caller screen and abruptly hung up, tossing your phone to the side.

“Would leaving him mean that he had to know? He doesn’t have to know we’re together; you can leave. You don’t have to explain anything. You don’t owe him a damn thing.” His voice was stern.

Johnny was getting frustrated. It had been months since you two talked about what you were. Weeks and weeks since you explained why you couldn’t bring yourself to leave Diego despite how much he knew you despised him. Johnny knew you loved him. He knew the love for Diego was close to nonexistent now. He could barely comprehend why you hadn’t left him.

You met his eyes and his brows were furrowed. You noticed he wasn’t wearing his lipstick. Maybe he hadn’t worn it all day. Maybe he had just taken it off. You would know, you thought, if you lived here instead of with Diego. You were about to respond, but the kettle cut you off. The few tears that you shed quickly dried on your cheeks and you sniffed.

Johnny poured the tea and you followed him to the living room. He placed the mugs on the coffee table and got himself onto the couch, letting you retake your previous position. He sighed and looked at you again, and this time you met his gaze right away, blue eyes immediately calming you down.

“Stay here.” His hand moved to your hair, running his hand through it before bringing it down to hold your face. You turned your head to kiss his hand, but didn’t meet his eyes again, instead placing your hand on his. “Please. Stay here.”

“You know how badly I want to. You know how much I-“

“Don’t say that you love me.” He placed his forehead on yours. If he hadn’t, you weren’t sure you’d be able to hear him. “Don’t say that when I can’t see you every second of the day. Please, I can’t hear you say it when I know he still gets to hear the same, even if I know it’s all lies. Just tell me that you want me. Just tell me that you don’t want him. Promise me you’ll leave him.”

His eyes are cast down now and his breathing is just barely shaking. Your breath hitches as you wrap your arms around his neck and fall on top of him. He breathes in your hair and wraps his arms around you, and you adjust yourself so you’re in-between his legs and your head rests in the crook of his neck.