#jonadadweek

Giorno sat silently in the passenger seat of the family’s sedan, holding an ice pack on his bruised knuckles. He glanced over at his father who was driving while talking on the speakerphone with someone. Giorno wasn’t listening to what was being said. It was all being drowned out by the voices in his head.

‘What’s wrong with you? You embarrassed him. How could you do that?’

How did this happen?

-

Giorno lowered his book, raising an eyebrow at his father. Did he really just hear what he thought? “A…a ball?”

His father smiled brightly, nodding. “Yes, the Silver Light Ball takes place every twenty years in the mansion down the way. The Joestars have been attending for centuries.” His father’s eyes were sparkling as he continued to speak. “Erina is out with George and the others so they can’t join us but I think it could still be something fun we can do together.”

Giorno felt a part of himself wither once he realized that his father was 100% serious. He really wanted Giorno to participate in some high-society ball. Giorno knew how to act the part of a gentleman, being raised a Joestar made it second nature. Unfortunately, that was where it ended. He didn’t like attending teas and he certainly didn’t want to attend some ball with a bunch of people who were nothing like his family.

But Giorno saw the shine in his father’s eyes and he knew that his father really wanted him to go. But why? Why did this have to be their fun activity? Why couldn’t they stay in, make popcorn and watch Disney?

“Father…” The shine was still there. “…I don’t believe I…” Giorno wasn’t certain how to finish that. He didn’t want to just straight up say no. Looking at his father, Giorno felt his heart sink when he saw the excitement was replaced with a look of acceptance.

“Giorno.”  ‘No.’ “If you don’t want to…” ‘Don’t say it.’ “…you don’t have to.” ‘Please stop.’ “We can do something else.”

Giorno contained the groan that wanted to erupt out of him. There it was. He knew it was true, that this wasn’t an intentional guilt trip and if he said he wasn’t interested, there would be no consequence. So, why? Why did that always get him?

Accepting his fate, Giorno put on his best smile. “…I don’t believe I have something nice enough to wear.”

Any lingering doubt he had in this idea was erased the moment he saw his father’s face light up. He began to ramble on about getting him to the tailor, the delicious food, the beautiful atmosphere. Giorno just smiled as he listened, deciding that it couldn’t be that bad.

-

And that was how Giorno found himself wearing a brand new suit in a brightly lit ballroom surrounded by people who he didn’t know and hoped to never meet again. He saw several teens around his own age and it made him wish that his cousins or friends were here. Then he wouldn’t feel so awkward or he’d at least be distracted by the chaos they would cause. Giorno was a bit embarrassed that he stuck to his father’s side but was grateful that his father didn’t seem to find any problem in it.

“Please meet my son, Giorno.”

Putting on his most charming smile, Giorno kissed the elderly lady’s hand. “A pleasure, ma’am.”

“Oh, such manners. My grandchildren could learn from him,” the woman laughed, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. “As expected of you Joestars.”

Giorno couldn’t deny the swell of pride he felt at that; it only grew when his father gave him an approving pat on the head. Once his father and the woman finished speaking, she left the two to their own devices.

“Giorno.” He looked up at his father who smiled down at him. “Are you having fun?”

Giorno wouldn’t call it fun but it wasn’t nearly as bad as he imagined. “It’s interesting, father. I’ll admit that.”

His father laughed and he opened his mouth to say something else but he stopped. Giorno watched as his father’s expression fell and quickly shifted to one that Giorno had never seen on him before: rage. He took a small step back before looking at whatever his father was looking at.

Walking through a crowd of people was some blond man wearing a bright yellow suit. Everyone who was talking to him seemed enamored and he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.

Glancing back at his father who didn’t stop glaring, Giorno tapped him on the shoulder. “Father?” When his father looked down at him, the rage faded quickly and was replaced by a strained smile.

“I’m sorry, Giorno. I just…I saw someone who…” He let out an irritated sigh, composing himself. “…who I honestly hoped I would never see again.”

Giorno couldn’t believe it. There was someone in this world who upset his father this much. Giorno felt his own anger rise while he glowered at the man. Whoever this man was, he needed to disappear.

Whether the man felt his glare or heard his thoughts, it seemed that something brought his attention to the Joestars. Recognition lit up his face before he gave a disturbing grin.

“Jojo!”

His father closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Giorno’s glare didn’t falter as the man strolled over to them. Once he was in front of them, Giorno saw that he was almost as tall as his father.

The man crossed his arms and gave an annoying laugh. “It’s been too long.”

His father simply sighed. “Hello, Dio. You look…” He paused. “…well.”

The man, Dio apparently, gave an amused chuckle. “Of course I do.” He gave his father a onceover before shaking his head. “It would seem as though the years were kinder to me than you.”

Giorno could feel himself tremble in barely concealed fury. Who was this man? How dare he speak down on his father? Dio looked down at him and Giorno could see the confusion underneath the patronizing gaze.

“And this is…?”

His father placed a hand on Giorno’s shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. Giorno began to take in deep breaths, forcing himself to relax.

“This is my younger son, Giorno.”

Giorno didn’t offer a smile as he gave a brief “Good evening.”

Dio continued to stare at him, analyzing him. Giorno wasn’t sure what he was searching for. After a moment, Dio gave another chuckle before walking off without a word.

Giorno had never been so infuriated in his life. He looked at his father, hoping he’d be able to explain what just happened. All his father could do was look at him with an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry you had to see that, Giorno.”

“There’s no reason for you to apologize, father.” Giorno glared at the retreating man’s back. “He was the one who was rude to you.”

His father gave a solemn nod. “That’s Dio.” He bent down on one knee so he was at Giorno’s level. “I understand if you want to leave.”

Earlier that evening, Giorno would have jumped at that opportunity but now? Now, when leaving meant that arrogant uncouth poor excuse for a human basically chased him and his father out? No, leaving was not an option.

Giorno smirked. “Father, I haven’t had a single hors d’oeuvre since we’ve arrived. We are going nowhere.” His father’s response to that was to ruffle his hair while Giorno batted his arms away.

For the next hour, Giorno set out and about to mingle with almost everyone he could see. He turned the Joestar charisma up to eleven and watched as the crowd ate it up. With each person he talked to, he made sure to keep an eye on Dio, making sure he wasn’t trying anything. But no matter whom he and his father spoke to, Dio just stood in the background lurking and watching. It was quite unsettling.

Once Giorno had finished talking with almost everyone at the party, he took a well-deserved seat by the window. He was certain that was enough, that they could leave now.

“Giorno.”

Giorno’s blood ran cold and he didn’t try to hide his contempt as Dio stood beside him, twirling a glass of red wine. Giorno looked around for his father and remembered that he had stepped into the restroom so he was alone with this…person.

“…Yes?”

Dio smirked at him and Giorno hated it. “I just wanted to congratulate you.” Giorno raised an eyebrow, not certain where this was going. “I know it’s not easy being a part of the Joestars. They are quite a…” He paused, seemingly to find the right word. “…an uncivilized sort, aren’t they?”

Giorno didn’t know when he stood up; he just knew that he was on his feet and practically seething at the taller man. Dio looked down on him like an ant and Giorno wanted nothing more than to punch that smug look off his face.

“Excuse you?”

“Oh, come now. I’m certain you’ve seen it,” Dio laughed; Giorno felt his hands ball into fists, shaking uncontrollably. “Honestly, it’s amazing how the Joestars manage to convince so many people they’re a functional family.” Giorno didn’t understand what was happening. His vision was going white, almost as if his senses were failing him but they weren’t because he still heard it, clear as day:

“Especially that pathetic Jojo.”

Giorno didn’t know what happened. All he knew was there were screams and gasps, a pain in his hand, and his vision slowly coming back. Once Giorno was able to see straight again, he looked around and saw that everyone in the hall was now staring at him. Looking down at his right hand, he saw no visible injury but felt the stinging pain beneath his skin. Finally, he looked forward and instead of Dio being in his personal space and insulting his family, he was on the floor, surrounded by concerned onlookers and holding a bloody nose.

Giorno opened his mouth, an apology on his tongue but it died the moment Dio glanced at him and Giorno saw it. A look of satisfaction. Scanning the room again, Giorno saw that everyone was pointing at him, whispering things.

“Oh my god, he punched Mister Dio.”

“What a heathen.”

“So, is this what the Joestars are like?”

And that was when Giorno realized that he had been set up. Dio had seen his growing anger towards his disrespect and he knew it would only take the right insult towards his family to finally let it out. And now everyone had seen it, had seen Giorno Joestar punch a man, seemingly without provocation.

Giorno fell for his scheme without fail.

“Giorno!” Giorno flinched when he heard his name called. He turned to his father, ready to apologize and was quickly silenced by a bear hug. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“N-no, father, I’m fine. I’m…I’m…” Giorno looked around again at the judging stares and held his father tightly. “…I’m ready to leave.”

-

The longer Giorno reflected on the night, the more he realized there had been so many opportunities to have stopped it.

“I’m sorry.”

Giorno laughed softly, giving his father an amused look. “How do you always say that when I’m about to?”

“Force of habit, I suppose.” They came to a red light and his father looked away from the road and looked at him. There was no anger or disappointment, just pure regret. “I really am sorry, Giorno. I…I honestly thought it was going to be fun.” The light turned green so his father’s attention went back to the road but he continued speaking. “I wanted everyone to meet you, see what an amazing son you are, but I should have noticed you weren’t enjoying yourself.”

Giorno wanted to tell his father that the ball wasn’t so bad, that he had some fun, but there was a lingering question.

“You’re…not mad at me?” His father gave him a bewildered glance. “…For…punching Dio?”

Giorno gripped his seatbelt when his father’s head reeled back in uproarious laughter. The car was pulled over as his father rested his head on the steering wheel, still laughing. Giorno shook his head, wondering what he had missed. Once the laughter subsided, his father just gave him a gentle pat on the head.

“Giorno, you are not the first person in this family who has punched Dio and you most likely will not be the last.” Giorno’s jaw dropped at the new information and his father scratched his cheek, a bit embarrassed. “I’m pretty certain I’ve punched Dio at least four times in our lives.”

“Are…are you serious?” If this was a joke, it was a very good one.

His father nodded. “Dio has that effect on this family.” With that, he ruffled Giorno’s hair again. “So, you fit right in.”

Giorno couldn’t help but laugh as they continued driving, the anxiety finally subsiding. So, it was okay that all of those fools thought the Joestars were insane because apparently, they were.

“Father…” There was a small ‘hmm’ in response. “…may I choose the next activity for the night?”

-

Giorno was more open with his tears but if anyone asked him if he was currently crying over Kenai telling Koda about his mother, he would lie without hesitation.

He heard his father’s patronizing tone as he gave him a one-armed hug. “There, there, Giorno.”

“Be quiet,” Giorno said, tossing a handful of popcorn at the other man which was quickly tossed back at him. Before a popcorn war could begin, the front door opened and his mother called out to them. “We’re in the TV room!”

His mother rushed into the room before running up to her son and grabbing him by the face. “Jonathan told me everything.” Giorno waited, not certain what to expect. “As your mother, I don’t condone violence in anyway.” Giorno nodded, about to apologize before his mother laughed. “But as someone who has smacked Dio, I’m very proud of you.” His mother took the open seat beside Giorno, grabbing a handful of popcorn. “Tell me the story.”

Giorno knew there were many differences between the Joestar and Giovanna households. One of many that threw him for a loop was the subject of crying.

In the Giovanna house, crying was not met with warm hugs and concerned questions. It was met with screaming, hitting and constantly being told there was nothing to cry over. The minute Giorno learned that crying made an already bad situation worse, he stopped. It didn’t matter if the reason to cry was outside, inside, completely logical, he wouldn’t let it happen. That got him labeled ‘creepy’ but it seemed better than the alternative.

However, in the Joestar home, crying seemed to happen naturally. Whether it was his mother when she was chopping onions or his brother when he was getting married, the Joestar family seemed to be an emotional sort.

His father crying was the strangest, he’d admit. Jonathan Joestar was a giant of a man who he’d seen lift heavy items with one hand and crush things in the other. That didn’t stop him from crying when he saw a newborn litter of puppies or when the rest of the family came over for Christmas.

Earlier that evening, he and his parents had been watching The Lion King. (It was the fifth movie in their “Make little Giorno watch every Disney movie available” marathon.) His mother was curled up on his father’s right side, snacking away on the popcorn in his lap. Giorno was leaning against his father’s right side, feeling sleep try to take him but not wanting to miss the movie.

Giorno watched as Scar callously threw Mufasa into the wildebeest herd while Simba could do nothing but watch. As Simba started crying over his father’s lifeless body, Giorno felt his father’s grip on him tighten. Looking up, Giorno saw the steady stream of tears falling from his father’s eyes. It wasn’t the first time he saw his father cry but something about it unnerved him, as though there was something he didn’t understand.

It seemed Giorno was right because here he was, middle of the night and standing in the doorway of his family’s study, while his father sobbed in his arm chair. Giorno didn’t move, didn’t speak, because he wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t know why his father was crying and even if he did, what was he supposed to do? He didn’t know how normal people comforted each other. He didn’t want to make his father feel worse.

Everything in Giorno was telling him to walk away, pretend he didn’t see anything. Instead, he took small steps forward and let out a small “…Father.”

His father’s head shot up and he looked at Giorno, eyes wide, red, and still full of tears. He quickly wiped at them and put on a big smile; even Giorno knew it wasn’t real.

“Oh, Giorno, what are you doing up?” he asked, opening his arms for Giorno. Giorno took the invitation, shuffling over to his father and sitting in his lap. His father wrapped his giant arms around him in a huge hug, gently brushing Giorno’s hair down. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

Giorno shook his head. “You didn’t. I was thirsty.”

“Ah, I see. Did you already get something to drink?” Giorno nodded. “Then I should make sure you get back to bed.”

Before his father could stand up, Giorno opened his mouth. “Why were you crying?” His father paused and Giorno felt foolish for asking that question. If his father wanted to say why he was crying, he wouldn’t be doing it all alone. Giorno was going to apologize but his father spoke first.

“I…I was thinking about the movie we watched earlier.” Giorno wasn’t going to comment on the fact that they had watched several. “Recently, my father died and I suppose…” His father let out a large sigh, a few tears falling. “…I suppose seeing that movie reminded me of how much I miss him.”

Giorno listened with quiet consideration. He wasn’t able to meet the man who would have been his grandfather but he had heard about him. He was the namesake of his brother, George. He was kind but stern. He died peacefully in his sleep. It wasn’t much but it was something, he supposed.

“I’m sorry,” was all Giorno could say.

His father gave him another pat on the head, a genuine smile on his face. “No need to apologize, Giorno. I know it’s the way of the world. Unfortunately, no one lives forever and I’m grateful his final moments were peaceful.” He looked over on the desk and Giorno’s eyes followed his line of sight. There were many pictures but he knew his father was focused on the one of him and his grandfather outside the mansion.

Giorno looked back at his father and contemplated his choices. He thought on what his parents did when he was upset, even if he didn’t show it. Twisting in his father’s lap so he faced him, Giorno held open his small arms and attempted to give his father a hug. It ended up with him just laying his face on his father’s stomach as his arms were held up uselessly. But that seemed to be enough because his father wrapped him up in another bear hug.

“Thank you, Giorno. I’m sorry you had to see me like this.”

“No need to apologize,” Giorno replied and felt a bit better when his father laughed.

“I suppose so.” Soon, his father was out of his chair and Giorno was being carried back to his room. “We should both get back to bed before your mother finds out.”

Giorno wanted to argue that he wasn’t sleepy, that he could stay up and keep talking, but a traitorous yawn made that argument pointless. His father laid him back in bed, handing him Goldilocks, and kissing him softly on the head.

“Sweet dreams, Giorno. Thank you.”

Giorno wasn’t sure why his father was thanking him but he didn’t question it. He simply muttered “sweet dreams” in response. Once his father was gone, Giorno allowed his mind to wander.

Crying over a parent’s death? Before, that idea would have been laughable. But before, he wasn’t a Joestar. He didn’t have parents who made him delicious food and hugged him and told him thank you for things.

Giorno was five years old when he was taken in by the Joestars.

Sitting in the back of the social worker’s car, he stared out the window as they drive to his new house. The woman (he doesn’t remember her name) continued to drone on about his new family: they’re rich, they’re kind, they’ll love him.

They’re liars.

Giorno hadn’t met them but he was certain of it. People who sound like they come from fairy tales are just that, fake as can be. Putting on a bright face for the people but once the doors were closed, that’s when the true story begins. His mother, she could pretend to be nice too but he knew what she was really like. He couldn’t believe that she finally managed to get herself arrested but in the end, it didn’t matter. Everyone in this world was the same, after all.

Cruel, selfish, only interested in what they could give themselves.

And Giorno would make sure he survived them, just like always.

He had been so deep in his thoughts that he didn’t notice when they pulled up to a large mansion. Giorno felt his eyes go wide. He had seen houses like this but had never been this close to one. This was really where he was going to live? Well, probably in the basement or something. Still, at least it would be roomy.

The social worker parked the car and told Giorno he can hop out while she grabs his bag. Giorno hesitated, taking another look at the mansion. He was starting to miss the old apartment. At least he knew what was in there. Taking in a deep breath, Giorno hopped out of the car and walked up the front steps.

He saw a large star on the door and he’s not certain why but it made him feel safer than he’d felt in a while. The woman came up to the door, ringing the doorbell. Giorno could hear noise behind the door and he took a step backwards, not sure what to expect.

The door opens and a blonde woman with light blue eyes looks down at him. She looks older than his other mother but she smiles at him and it lights up her whole face and Giorno’s kind of scared because no one’s ever done that to him before.

The woman at the door bent down and laughed. “Hello. You must be Giorno. I’m Erina, your new mother. It’s nice to meet you.”

Giorno nodded silently at Erina and watched as her face drooped when he didn’t return her enthusiasm. He’s ready for her to backpedal, call him creepy but the smile came back and she stood up.

“Well, no time like the present. Your father is looking forward to meeting you and your brother will be here soon.”

Without another word, Erina held out her hand and waited patiently for Giorno to take it. Giorno hesitated, not certain if it would be better for him to ignore it or not. Deciding that it would probably be best to not upset her, he placed his hand in hers. As she led him down the hall, Giorno took note of how she guided him on where to go, not once dragging him anywhere.

At the end of the hall, they reach the large foyer and Giorno quickly hid behind Erina.

Because in the foyer was a giant. A giant staring in the mirror and messing with his black hair. Giorno trembles behind Erina as she laughed and called out.

“Jonathan.”

The giant seems to flinch before he turns around, an embarrassed smile on his face. It gave way to shock when he looked down to Giorno with bright blue eyes.

“Ah.” He bent down on his knees and gave Giorno a smile that took up his entire face. “Hello, Giorno. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jonathan.”

Giorno didn’t move from behind Erina; in fact, he moved further behind her. Jonathan’s face dropped but it quickly became a smile again as he stood up and rushed off somewhere. Giorno flinched when he felt a hand on his head but settled when he realized that Erina was just smoothing down a stray cowlick.

“I understand, Giorno. Your father is quite large, isn’t he?” Giorno didn’t say anything, just stared down at his feet. Erina laughed. “Don’t worry. He’s very kind. Why, we met when he saved me from some ruffians, like something out of a fairy tale.”

A fairy tale. What was it about this family constantly sounding like one? Giorno finally released his grip on Erina’s dress before looking around the foyer. It was large and spacious, full of a bunch of knickknacks and old pictures. Did they really need such a big house when there was so little inside it?

When he heard footsteps, Giorno looked around and saw Jonathan running toward him, hands behind his back. Giorno could feel his heart rate pick up as his thoughts ran rampant. What was it? A club? A bat? A…

Jonathan held out the item and Giorno blinked. A…bear. It was a yellow bear wearing a bow-tie.

Bending down again, Jonathan held the bear closer to Giorno. “Here you are. I hope you like it. We weren’t certain what kind of toys that you liked but I saw this and thought you might like it.”

Giorno stared at the bear which looked so small in Jonathan’s hands before looking up at Jonathan’s face. He was still smiling but it wasn’t happy…it was hopeful. He…hoped that Giorno would like his present. Hesitantly, Giorno held out his hands for the bear and watched as Jonathan’s smile grew from the simple action. Jonathan gently handed Giorno the bear and Giorno couldn’t believe how large his hands were. He could crush Giorno like a grape but he decided to ignore that as he held the bear close to his chest. It was really soft.

Looking back up at Jonathan, Giorno saw that the smile was still as big as his face and Giorno didn’t know why that was scaring him more than if the man just smacked him. Giorno turned around to, hoping Erina would lead him somewhere else and was shocked to see her gone.

It must have been obvious because Jonathan said, “Oh, Erina went to talk to Ms. Freir. Did you want to go see her?”

Giorno thought on it. If he did, would he hear something he didn’t want to hear? Hear how Erina wanted to give him to another family? Hear how the social worker thought he was a lost cause? And if he did go there, would that upset Jonathan? Would he feel insulted?

Giorno’s thoughts continued to swirl in his brain until there was a hand on his shoulder. Giorno scampered away from it and saw Jonathan’s dismayed expression. He gulped and opened his mouth to…

“I’m sorry.” Giorno closed his mouth when he realized that apology hadn’t been his. Jonathan looked down at the floor, head bowed low. “I’m sorry, Giorno. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. If I do anything that upsets you, please let me know.”

What…what was happening? Why was he apologizing? Giorno gripped the teddy bear tighter, using it as a sort of shield before he finally spoke.

“…Do…” Jonathan’s head rose at his voice. “…do I have a room?”

The smile was back and Jonathan laughed as he shot to his feet. “Of course. We have it all ready for you. We hope you like it. Erina chose most of the things in it; she always better than me about those things.”

Jonathan looked like he was about to start walking but stopped and looked back at Giorno. With a moment of hesitation, he held out his hand like Erina had. But it was different. Erina’s hand was small, not nearly as terrifying as Jonathan’s. But…

Looking up at Jonathan’s face, Giorno took a risk and placed his hand in his. Jonathan laughed and led him down up the stairs, guided but didn’t pull. Giorno gripped the bear in his one arm tighter, taking a bit of comfort in the soft plush. It was a bit sad that Giorno could admit this was the nicest thing anyone had ever given him.

They stopped at a door and when Jonathan opened it, the bear fell out of Giorno’s grip. The room was as big as his old apartment. It had an enormous bed surrounded by a multitude of stuffed animals, puzzles, and other toys. There were bookshelves full of books he didn’t know, dressers, a desk, so many things. The walls were blank and the closet was empty but it still felt more alive than…anywhere else he’d been.

Looking at the large window, he ran over and tried to see through it. But even stepping on his tiptoes, all he was able to see was the trees. In the window’s reflection, he was able to see Jonathan walk up behind him. Giorno held his breath and waited. When Jonathan didn’t do anything, he looked back at the man and Jonathan smiled.

“Would you like me to lift you up?”

Giorno was silent as he gave a small nod. Jonathan placed his hands under Giorno’s arms and Giorno knew he should be terrified but all he felt was a gentle warmth as he was lifted up into Jonathan’s arms. Giorno stared out the window and was amazed at the garden down below. Dozens of flowers and bushes, a beautiful fountain in the center, plenty of places to walk and hide.

“Amazing,” Giorno whispered.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Jonathan! Giorno!” The two turned in the direction of the door as Erina called. “George is here!”

“Ah!” Jonathan rushed towards the door. “Giorno, your brother’s here.”

Before Giorno could think on what kind of person this George was, he noticed his fallen bear from the corner of his eye.

“Wait!”

Giorno’s mouth shut at his shout but Jonathan did stop, looking down at him with concern. Giorno didn’t open his mouth, just silently pointed at his bear. Jonathan followed his finger and when he saw the fallen bear, he picked it up and gave it to Giorno before he continued his walk to the foyer.

When they arrived, Giorno saw a man in a uniform talking with Erina. He looked a lot like Jonathan, only younger. When the man saw Giorno, he smiled, just like the others before running up to him.

“Hello, Giorno. I’m George, your big brother.” George grinned as he held his hand up, measuring himself. “Emphasis on the big, I suppose.”

Giorno looked him up and down before muttering a soft “Hello.” He saw Erina’s face light up as she and Jonathan exchanged some kind of look.

George didn’t seem to notice as he reached into his pocket. “I got you something from my last flight to Italy.” He pulled out a pin with a golden rose on it. “The salesman said it was for a prince. Would you like to put it on?”

Giorno thought about it and decided to hold out his bear for George to put it on. George just smiled at him before pinning it on the bear’s bow-tie.

“There. Now you’re a true gentleman...uh...” George scratched the back of his neck, giving an awkward chuckle. “Um...what’s its name?”

What a strange question. It was a bear. Did it need one? Looking back down at the bear and its curly yellow fur, Giorno said the first name that came to him.

“Goldilocks.”

All three seemed interested in the name but didn’t press Giorno for why. That was good because Giorno didn’t want to say that it was due to a fairy tale…and he was starting to believe those could be real.

Giorno couldn’t stop himself from smiling at the memory. Gingerly, he picked up Goldilocks and shook its tiny paw. He was surprised that after ten years, the only real damage it had was a torn seam on its arm. He did try to be gentle with it but sometimes, things happen.

“We had some good times, huh, Goldi?”

“Giorno?” Giorno raised his head, watching as his father walked into his room with several boxes in his arm and a big smile on his face. “Have you finished deciding what to...” He trailed off when he saw Goldilocks, his smile fading. “...You’re...donating Goldilocks?”

Giorno could feel the pang of guilt in his chest. He knew it wasn’t on purpose but it made Giorno feel ill knowing that he made his father look like that. Still, he knew what the truth was.

“I don’t play with Goldi anymore.” Giorno turned to Goldilocks, his smile melancholy. “I don’t want it to just sit on a shelf when it can go out there and be with another lonely child who will love it...” Giorno’s smile grew as Giorno turned back to his father. “...almost as much as I do.”

He watched as his father’s smile quickly returned. He placed the boxes he was holding down before wrapping Giorno up in one of his enormous bear hugs. Giorno returned the hug as best he could, despite the difference in size. When his father let go, Giorno looked down at Goldilocks before giving it a small kiss on the nose and gently placing it in the box.

“Goodbye, Goldi.”

As Giorno closed up the box with a sigh, his father gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. “You’re a good boy, Giorno,” he said. “Is there anything you want on the way back?”

Giorno, never one to let an opportunity slip through his fingers, gave his best rendition of his mother’s infamous pout. “Go to the salon to dye my hair blond?” 

His father gave him a disapproving glare, saying, “Erina will kill us.” Giorno’s pout only deepened and Giorno watched his father’s resolve weaken before the older man let out a resigned sigh. “...We’ll talk about it on the way back.”

That was good enough for Giorno as he grinned in response. His father grabbed the boxes he brought in, telling Giorno that he’d be waiting in the care before he left. Once Giorno was certain his father was gone, he opened his donation box and took Goldilocks out. Giving it another kiss on the nose, he placed it under his pillow and chuckled.