#polnareff fic

TOUCH THIS MAN!

PLEASE

He needs it

He needs touch like he needs the air to breathe

He’ll turn into literal puddy in your hand if you do

Brush your fingers over his when handing him food

Pat his cheek, arm, shoulder, back

Brush your shoulder against his as you walk side by side

HOLD HIS HAND

PLEASE HOLD HIS HAND

I’m not asking I’m telling you to hold his hand or else this man will become the saddest puddle you’ve ever seen

And all of this is just your average day being friends with Polnareff

Once you two become an item he becomes like a baby koala he’s so clingy

He always needs a hand on you

Some sort of skin-on-skin 

He still doesn’t fully believe you want to be his partner let alone let him touch you

So whether it be his hand holding your own or his thigh pressed against yours as you two eat he needs to touch you

Would 100% be the type of partner to hug you from behind while waiting in any sort of line 

Would 100% want to follow you into the bathroom just so that he could keep holding your hand (and has definitely done so in the past)

Is honestly so terrified when you two have to go your separate ways for such things as going to the bathroom

Not only because he’s had less than pleasant experiences with those spaces thanks to enemy Stand Users

But because he is so utterly terrified that if he lets you go, you’ll disappear 

He’s dealt with enough heartbreak to last him two lifetimes so the thought of losing you is utter hell

He just needs to feel you to reassure himself you are still with him

Still with him and still breathing

Will press his ear over your heart sometimes to listen to your heartbeat

You struggled to unlock the hotel room door thanks to the multitude of food bags cradled in your arms. Somehow you had managed to pull the room key from your back pocket but now your grapple with unlocking the door and turning the handle without dropping the food was threatening your will.  The key slid into the lock,  pulling a bright laughing cheer from your lips at finally starting to win the battle set before. You grabbed for the handle of the door just as it turned, the door yanking open in a rush of air.  “Oh--” You said, taking a small step as you took back at the tall body that now stood in the entrance. Polnareff’s familiar face had your body easing and smile tugging bright once more at your lips. “Good morn--” You never got to finish your sentences before Polnareff’s strong arms were wrapping around your body, crushing you and the food against his chest.  “I woke up and you weren’t there and the others were gone as well and--and I--” Polnareff panicked into your neck, nuzzling his face against your skin as a shuddering breath shook his body. His hold tightened further as if to keep you glued to him. The sound of a plastic container crunching filled your ears, letting you know the food you had fought to keep from falling was getting crushed within his embrace.  You’re heart twisted in your chest at his utterly panicked state, the food’s destruction far from your mind as you all but dropped the bags. Your hands and arms were instantly wrapped around his neck, fingers brushing soothing circles into his skin.   “Mon amour, I-I didn’t know where you were.” He said in a voice smaller than that of a whisper.  “I thought I would be back before you woke up. I told the others to be here if you did but--forgive me. I should have taken you with me.” You whispered back, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. “I--Love, what do you need?” You asked, wanting the panic to leave him and for that goofy smile to return to his lips.  “Just…touch me…please.” It was a request you were more than happy to fulfill, pulling him ever closer into your hold.

If you ever need space, Polnareff is more than happy to give it to you

But that sad puddle he became when you went a whole minute without touching him while just being friends becomes an oh-so-sad ocean

The rest of the Crusaders are going to be teasing the hell out of the guy for being such a gloomy, near-sobbing mess

And speaking of the other Crusaders

They cannot stand how touchy you two are

The phrase “get a room”, among other things, is almost always spilling from their lips 

Oh boy and talking about lips

KISS THIS MAN

KISS HIM, PLEASE, I BEG THIS OF YOU

Give him soft kisses

Kiss him on his blushing cheeks, forehead, nose, ears, shoulders

Pepper this man in kisses 

And he is kissing you right back

Taking your hands in his and pressing kisses to your knuckles

He’s kissing the inside of your wrist as you sit on the train or at dinner

Kissing the top of your head as you walk

Just kisses everywhere, all the time

He likes to talk to you while his lips are touching your skin

Likes it even more if he can whisper sweet nothings in French against your own lips

You happily hummed as you ate, the soft, classical music floating through the bustling restaurant not the tune you had chosen to muse as spectacular spices and flavors brust over your tongue. A warm thumb brushed at the side of your mouth, clearing a bit of sauce from your skin. Your face began to feel warm at the touch, knowing exactly whose thumb had swiped over your skin.  You turned, finding Polnareff’s gray eyes already watching you. Eyes so full of loving adoration it took your breath away every time you looked into them.  “Did you get it all?” Your voice sounding near breathless as you took in his handsome, which a bright smile adorned. Polnareff hummed in mock thought, taking your chin between his fingers. He turned your face this way and that, searching for a mess that you knew was nowhere to be found. “Ah! There is some just there.” He said, guiding your face ever closer.  “Are you going to get it for me?” You asked, lips parting as your face was drawn closer to his.   “Of course, mon coeur.” He all but purred, turning that warmth into a burning fire. Your heart raced as he leaned into you, pressing a soft kiss to your cheek. He hardly pulled away before you were grabbing hold of his shirt, keeping him close. “I--I think I feel some more. Just here.” You said, voice wobbling as you tapped your other cheek. Polnareff widely grinned, more than eager to place a chaste kiss to your other cheek. “And here.” You breathed, tapping your lips. A chuckle left Polnareff’s chest that grew muffled against your lips.   He kissed you sweetly. So sweet it had your heart melting and your stomach fluttering around like it had grown wings like some butterfly.  “Good grief.” The gruff voice of Jotaro grumbled from across the table where he sat.   “Mr. Joestar,” Kakyoin huffed, his typically smooth voice laced in utter disgust at you and Polnareff’s actions. “Please make them stop.”   “Me? Stop them?” The oldest Joestar all but shouted from where he sat at your side. Kakyoin must have nodded because Joseph gave a huffing grumble of his own. “Alright, you two. Knock it off. This place is nice--and in public.” He tried, to no avail.  You both ignored the group, lips pulling away only so you could pepper Polnareff’s face in kisses he was more than happy to return. Whispered Mon amours, mon coeurs, among other loving titles pressed into your skin making it tingle in delight. “Eh--see. They won’t listen to me.” Joseph huffed.  “I do not believe there is a power on this earth or in the heavens above that is strong enough to keep them apart.” The calm voice was Advol spoke from Polnareff’s side, a light chuckle in his voice.  A giggle escaped your lips at his words, nuzzling your nose against Polnareff’s. They were words you couldn’t help but full-heartedly believe as Polnareff cupped your jaw in his strong hand, kissing your lips like it was the last time he would ever taste them again.

If he’s driving the group, you better believe you're sitting shotgun so he can place a hand on your thigh, giving it gentle squeezes to remind you he’s always thinking about you

If Joseph is insistent about sitting in the front, Polnareff either refuses to drive outright or is reaching into the back to hold your hand much to Jotaro and Kakyoin’s displeasure

Will reach over one of the others to touch you

Has and will lead to a shouting match between Polnareff and the others

But he refuses to be so close to you yet so so far

He’ll even go as far as to send Silver Chariot to sit with you and hold your hand if he can’t be there with you

Though this has led to one too many Star Platinum beatdowns 

CUDDLE THE MAN

Oh my goodness PLEASE cuddle him

He’s so warm and his arms are so safe

Only one bed? 

No trouble whatsoever! 

Polnareff wasn’t going to sleep without you anyway

Only a few rooms left?

Polnareff and you have been deemed your own room because the others will not deal with your touchiness while trying to sleep mere inches away

Polnareff’s cuddle could save a life

It’s a fact

His fingers are rubbing circles into your back or arm

His face buried in the crook of your neck so he could take in your scent and dream of you while he sleeps

Whether it be a hug from the front or back, he has his arms around you while you sleep

His legs intertwining between yours, molding himself against you

He literally worships the ground you walk on so why wouldn’t he just want to become another extension of your being?

The only thing he won’t always want touched is his hair

He spent nearly an hour that morning in the dimly lit hotel bathroom getting it just right

And he loves you

GOD he loves you

He loves you so much it hurts

But his hair is off-limits until you both are settling in for the night

Then he is more than happy to let you run your fingers through his hair

He also won’t be completely opposed to you helping him style his hair in the morning, but you’ll need to go through several days of “training” before you can even touch one of his combs

Next ->

“My feet are killing me.” You whined in the most annoying and pathetic sound you could muster. One that had Kakyoin grimacing and Jotaro giving a low muttered good grief--the exact reactions you had been trying to pull from them. “Can we please find somewhere to sit?” 

“Just sit down on the curb,” Kakyoin suggested in that calm voice of his that you only huffed at. 

“In the dirt! No way.” You continued, giving another pathetic whine at the end of your words. You rose your left foot, hooking it around your ankle to try and give it a rest. This only made the near-biting pain radiating in your right foot increase, but the relief you felt in your left made it worth it for the time being. “Why can’t we find somewhere to sit? It’s so hot out here and humid and it’s making me sweat and--”

“Because we need to wait for the others to get back and this is where we all agreed to meet up.” Jotaro snapped, making you narrow your eyes at him. “We’ll find a damn chair later, so either sit down on the damn curb or shut the hell up.” He finished, pulling his hat further down his face. 

“Always so mean.” You huffed, placing your foot back to the floor and hooking your right foot around your left ankle. Your body wobbled a bit, but with a small extension of Kakyoin’s arm, you were able to use him to keep balance. “Where is Polnareff? He wouldn’t be this mean to me about finding a chair.” 

“I’m sure he’ll be back soon,” Kakyoin said in way of comfort. He offered you a thin smile as well that did nothing to lift your mood. “Unless he’s lost his way again.” You gave him a wildly panicked look. 

“You’re trying to jinx him!” 

“Jinx--no. Just stating the obvious.” Kakyoin playfully teased. You huffed, pushing him away from you as you stood on your own, a chuckle spilling from his lips. 

“Maybe he fell into the shitter.” Jotaro’s grumbling voice spoke again, only making Kakyoin’s stifled chuckle grow. 

“You two are assholes.” You gruffed, clenching your fists at your side.

What if he had fallen into a toilet? 

You felt your heart clench as you made to march off in search of your best friend when he popped around the corner, a bright smile on his lips and arms spread out to the side. 

“Ta-da! Miss me?” Polnareff’s gray eyes found you in seconds, the corners of them crinkling as his smile continued to grow.

“Obviously.” Your own smile came to your lips as he moved into your orbit. His eyes shined at your confirmation of his question. “You left me here with these grumpy guses.” You hooked a thumb in the direction of your other friends.

“...I don’t think I’m a grumpy gus.” Kakyoin murmured from somewhere behind you, almost sounding offended.

“Forgive me, mon ange. I should have taken you with me.” You crossed your arms over your chest, giving him a mocking, displeased huff. 

“Damn straight you should have taken me with you. Better than standing here in the blazing heat with no chair in sight.” At the reminder of your aching feet, you gave a dramatic pout that only pissed Jotaro off further. 

“Did you get them?” Jotaro grumbled, changing the topic quickly. Polnareff nodded to the most grumpiest of the guses way, pulling out a box of cigarettes from his pocket. They were tossed Jotaro’s way, the teen catching it without any trouble as usual before those soft, gray eyes were back onto you. 

“Come. We’ll sit together. I got you a little something too.” Polnareff spoke as he lowered himself down onto the dusty ground, criss-crossing his legs together. He gave his thick thigh a pat before reaching up to take your hand. You were quick to accept it, allowing him to guide you down into his lap. 

You gave a sigh of relief that you used your diaphragm to make spill out louder then it needed to be from your mouth just to further grate on Jotaro’s nerves. He stared daggers your way as he placed a cigarette between his lips.  

“There is no way your feet hurt that much.” Kakyoin voiced, that bit of amusement at your antics clear in his voice.

“Oh, it felt like I was standing on a street full of needles. Ouch.” You gave a played-up wince.

Polnareff’s chuckle shook through your back as he rested his chin on your shoulder. One of his strong arms snaked around your waist to hold you securely against him, while the other came to sit before your eyes in a closed fist. 

“To make you feel better.” And he opened his fingers to reveal a tiny wooden black cat. “In France, if you treat them with the utmost care, it is believed they will bring you good luck.” You gently ran a finger over the head of the wooden critter. “Of course, this isn’t a true cat but I believe it will do the same for you.” You turned your gaze slightly to look at Polnareff’s face from out of the corner of your eye.

“Thank you. I will treat him oh so well.” Craning your head back a bit, you placed a sweet but fleeting kiss to his warm cheek. As you looked away, you saw his face flush a deep red, full lips parting at such affection from you. 

God you absolutely loved making that blush form over his skin.

“I will name him…” You started, taking the cat from Polnareff’s hand, turning it this way and that. “Charm. Because he is a good luck charm.”

“Very original,” Jotaro commented in that deadpanned, yet all too sassy, way of his. 

“I think it’s…charming.” Polnareff joked on a badly stifled laugh that came out in pffting spurts. You couldn’t help but laugh alongside him at his joke or at the way Jotaro closed his eyes on a deep exhale of smoke and annoyance.  

“See? This is why you are my best friend. You get it.” You had just finished your sentence when you felt Polnareff nuzzling his cheek against the side of your head. 

It was your turn to feel like your skin was on fire then. Your turn to feel those butterflies you were hardly concealing flutter violently within your stomach.

Polnareff is a very very proud man

He’s proud of his hair, his personality, his actions, and most of all his body

He has spent years training and exercising to get it in the peek condition it is in

But now, after Daviolo’s attack, his pride was torn so much worse than his body

So don’t be hurt when he turns away your touches and just wants to be alone during much of his recovery

In his mind, he is less than what he once was and you wouldn’t want a man who was defeated as such

But sit beside him as much as he allows, talk softly to him, tell him how much you love him, bring him his meals

He’ll even try to refuse your help to use the restroom or get in/out of bed. He finds he needs to do these things by himself to prove he isn’t as broken as he is

He’ll only ask for your help on occasion, but mainly to tuck him in at night

But after a while (...probably just a week or so cause this man just needs touch in his life) he’ll softly take your hand in his at breakfast

And he won’t let go until you physically have to for one reason or another

He still won’t let you touch his right hand or his legs or even the scar over his eye

But please caress his cheeks and neck and shoulders and back

Give him all the kisses you want

You’ll slowly start to see his goofy and charming personality peek out from the seriousness he had fallen into because your touch is slowly beginning to heal him

And after a few weeks of these touches, he’ll slowly start to feel his resolve melt and he’ll reach out to feel over your cheek with his prosthetic hand

He’ll allow you to cup it within your own 

Allow you to turn your face to place a soft kiss to the inside of his palm, the robotic hand the Speedwagon Foundation had somehow been able to sneak into the country surprisingly warm against your lips

After that any and all touch is back on the table

He’ll let you rest your hand on his thigh, fingers trailing over it and touching prosthetic here and there

He’ll allow you to help him take on and off his prosthetic legs before getting in and out of bed

Pleaseeeee cuddle the man at night

Pleaseeeee

Kiss his face, rub circles into his back, and hold him close as he falls asleep

While cuddling, don’t be surprised if you feel his hand run over your leg to pull it over his thighs or waist

Because while he used to be able to all but cage you in with his body, he can only truly do that with his arms now so he will be doing everything in his power to keep you close

If he struggles with phantom pains, you are sure to read up and look into how you can help 

One way is to message the limb which makes Polnareff a little panicky, seeing as he still struggles with allowing you to touch his legs and arm

But the pain gets so blinding sometimes he doesn’t have the fight in him to deny you any longer

Your fingers are like heaven, relieving him of his pains with precious and accuracy

When you pull your hands away after some time, he’s grabbing them up and showering them in thousands upon thousands of kisses

Kisses that always end up trailing up your arms to find your lips

He will pull you into his lap and wheel you both around the village’s small hospital

He will not let you up until you need to be standing

Doesn’t really like it when you push him around, preferring the sitting in his lap method, but because he loves you and if he really needs help, he’ll allow it

Always be sure to kiss the back of his neck or cheek before, during, and after though

Lots and lots and LOTS of lap-sitting 

Like you are glued in his lap 24/7

You’ll hold his computer while he does research into the arrow and into those that could help you both defeat Diavolo

Polnareff will rest his chin on your shoulder as he does his research, placing kisses here and there on your cheek and neck that make your skin spark

“I’ll go bring the car around to the front, okay?” You said, after packing what little belongings the both of you held. After months and months of recovery, Polnareff was finally ready to leave the small hospital he had been admitted to and you both were very much ready to leave. “I’ll be right--” A hand grabbing yours had you pausing to look back and find Polnareff sitting there, eyes full of determination.

“We’ll go together to get the car.” He said, lightly tugging on his hand in a way he had done hundreds of times while here at the hospital. You knew exactly what the silent command meant.

“It’ll be faster if I go alone to get the car.” You said, but your feet were carrying you closer to the man you loved. 

“Since when do we do things alone, mon amour?” He responded, a small smile on his lips. You smiled right back, leaning down so you could look more deeply into his gray eyes. 

“Never.” You placed a soft kiss to his lips that had him bringing his other hand up to cup your cheeks, fingers feeling over the skin there in a way that had your heart fluttering like crazy. 

“Let’s get out of here,” Polnareff said once you pulled away from the kiss. He tugged at your hand again and you followed his guidance to sit in his lap. You wrapped your arms around his neck as he began to push you both towards the door. “And please, mon coeur, let us find a place with a decent bathroom. This one was just frightful.” You chuckled planting a smacking kiss on his cheek that had a slight blush dusting over his fair skin.

“Anything for you.” 

!!SPOILERS FOR POLNAREFF'S ENDING!!

So….he’s a turtle now

That’s okay because you don’t care

And you still kiss the top of his little head and pet his shell

Carry him around in your arms

Hug him

Put him in a purse like a chihuahua and pet his little head as you walk around Italy

He can manifest his…body? Spirit? Inside the little room so you can hop in there any time you wish to hang out with him. He can do this because I say he can

You can still physically touch him inside of the little room….because I said so….

He can also change his appearance throughout the years he has been alive BECAUSE I SAID SO AND ANYTHING ELSE IS TOO SAD 

So he’s able to walk up to you, pick you up, and spin you around as he litters kisses to your face

Expect to not really leave the room for a while because his death still haunts him

He’s gonna be so scared his soul might pass on without you, so he’s holding onto you extra tight

The inside of the room is your home now btw 

Will sometimes reach a ghostly hand outside of the turtle to try to hold your hand

I don’t think he would be able to touch you outside of the turtle cause….he’s a ghost…so you can 100% reach your hand inside of the key to hold his hand during a business meeting or out and about

“Oh, what a cute little pet turtle you have there.” A person passing you in the street cooed, stopping you and Polnareff on your way to meet with Giorno. “I used to have a turtle just like this.” They said, reaching a hand out to pet Polnareff’s head from where it peeked out of the purse you carried. 

“Hey!” You snapped, slapping the person’s hand away in the blink of an eye. “Don’t you dare touch my husband.” You hissed, placing a hand over his head to further protect him.

“W-what the hell? What--” But you are storming away before they can finish. 

“You know, I think half of Italy thinks you’re crazy.” Polnareff chuckles, reaching a ghostly hand out to pass it through the one still covering the turtle's head. The feeling was always strange, but it was warm and familiar. He did this in way of letting you know he wanted to hold your hand. To silently beg you to touch me, please. You were more than glad to reach a hand into the key’s red portal to hold it. 

“They think you believe that you have married a turtle.” He chuckled like he believed the situation was completely humorous. 

“I have married a turtle. You are a turtle.” You grumbled, still annoyed that person had tried to touch him. The gall of them.

Polnareff tugged at your hand, dragging your arm further into the hidden room on the turtle's back. You felt his lips kiss the inside of your wrist, traveling further and further upward. Lips that ever so slowly eased the sharp annoyance in your chest.

“Do not remind me, mon amour.” He grumbled, pulling gently at your hand again. You paused in your travels as you took your hand back from him. You heard Polnareff huff at the absence of your hand, but it was quieted as soon as you shoved your head into your bag, it appearing inside the little room hidden away in the key on the turtle’s back. 

Polnareff stood on a chair, his frown turned into the brightest, goofiest smile you couldn’t help but match upon seeing your face. He stood on his tippy toes, cupping your cheeks in his hands before placing a quick kiss to your lips. 

….all anyone on that street saw was you with your head in a bag, voice muffled by the material as you talked to….was that a turtle?

<- Previous

The streets of Naples, Italy were packed with people waiting to watch the fireworks bloom across the sky as soon as the sun fell away. It was a festival you had grown up as a kid loving and one you had wished to come back home for to show your partner, Polnareff. 

He had been more than excited to come, wishing to know more of you and your home. Though, he had not been all that excited when you had posed the idea of him going to grab you two some more drinks and snacks before the sun disappeared. 

“And leave you here on your own? No. We can go together.” He had insisted, taking your hand in his with a gentle squeeze. 

“But we will lose our spot and I’m telling you this is the only spot you want.” You said, gesturing towards the spot you had elbowed and argued with to get. A spot that overlooked the blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and was high enough that one could all but touch the fireworks as they shot off from the boats below. “You’ll be gone for only two minutes. I’ll be okay.” 

Polnareff had hesitated for a moment longer. A hesitation you eased with a gentle grab of the back of his neck to pull him down so that you could place a sweet kiss to his lips. So that you could murmur loving words against them that had him folding to your whims with a grumbling fine before heading off. 

You watched him go with a pleased smile before a man knocking into your shoulder, turning your attention back to your very important job of keeping your spot. 

Polnareff grumbled when he was met with long line after long line, the sun setting lower and lower the longer he stood. At this rate, it would be dark before he made it back to you…but you had wanted this so he was going to make sure you had all the snacks and drinks you could need. His main goal was to make you happy, and he would be damned if he wouldn’t make you the happiest person alive. 

Seeing you happy made him hap--

Polnareff froze when he finally spotted you after what felt like hours of being away. Spotted you placing a soft kiss to the cheek of another man. 

It wasn’t an uncommon practice. As a Frenchman, Polnareff was sure to greet those he knew and loved with la bise. A simple kiss to either cheek starting from the left and going to the right. And he knew you were accustomed to doing them as well, seeing as you were born and raised in Italy where such kisses were very common. 

But something about how you looked up at this man. How you held his upper arm oh so gently. 

No…no he was just being jealous. Looking too much into the situation and--

You moved to place yet another kiss to this man's cheeks.

Polnareff knew thanks to you that the number of kisses meant something. That one was reserved for quick hellos and goodbyes. For friends and acquaintances you might not be the closest to. For strangers and yet here you were--placing a second kiss.

So you knew him well. A friend you might have known from childhood or--

A third kiss. 

You were gifting this man a third kiss. 

Very close.

You were very close to this man. 

Maybe--maybe a past lover? 

It had to be. Who else would you grace your glorious affections to? 

Yet, just as Polnareff went to storm over there and demand answers, a large group of travelers walked before him. Travelers he pegged as Americans by the bit of conversation he overheard in their passing. He huffed and hurried to push through them despite their barks of protest but, upon making it to the other side, found the man gone. 

You looked his way and smiled happily as if you hadn’t just been with another man. As if you hadn’t just met up with a past lover. 

Polnareff almost let his rising jealousy and slight hurt fall away upon gazing upon your smile again, but they were too big to drop. 

“Amore, come quickly!” You waved quickly over. “The fireworks will be set off in a few--” Polnareff was crossing the way and standing in front of you before you could even finish your sentence.

“Who was he?” You blinked up at him, slight confusion furrowing your brow. 

“Who--what?” You said. “Why do you look so upset?” You continued, raising a hand to feel over the warm skin of his cheek but Polnareff, despite himself, moved from your touch. Your own hurt shot through your chest like a dagger. “Amore--” You started, that hurt pouring into your voice.

“Who was that man you were just with? You--You kissed him. Three times. Three times means you know him well. Very well. You--you must love him, yes? Who is he?” Polnareff rambled out, making your hurt soften and concussion turn to amusement. Amsuemnet you couldn’t help but show with a small chuckle. “You find this funny?” Polanreff huffed.  

“Yes.” You snatched one of the drinks from his hand and took a sip that you dragged on just to see Polnareff stress about who you had just been with for a short while longer. 

“Amour--” Polnareff all but whined at your all but disinterest in the seriousness of the situation. 

“You think I would show that much love for just any man?” You turned your gaze away from Polnareff to look over the darkening sea. Polnareff huffed, moving so that he could keep his gaze trained on your face. The man beside him hissed his annoyance but Polnareff hardly cared.

“No--no of course not. That is why he must be very dear to you. A--a past lover? A first love.” Oh god--the thoughts just kept tearing at his heart. A first love--how could he compete with that? With a love that had been so new and innocent and un--you were laughing again. 

“Darling--sweetheart, that was my brother.” Polnareff blinked as he slowly registered the words coming out of your mouth. Brother. That had been--that was your brother. You pointed over the railing at another person in the crowd below. 

“And that is his partner, just there see?” Your brother's partner looked around as if searching for someone. Their search had their eyes turning upward, finding you there. A happy smile pulled to their lips as they waved furiously to you and you were very quick to return the greeting. “He saw me and wanted to get a heads start in welcoming me back home before we went to go meet them all. No secret lovers or past lovers….though that would have been something huh?” You joked, turning back to him fully, that bright smile back on your face. 

“I-I-amour, I am sorry. I just--” You shrugged, reaching back up to place your hand on his cheek. He let you gratefully, leaning into the touch that was always so gentle and comforting. 

“It is alright, amore. I am glad to know you love me so much you would fall apart at such a scene. It makes me feel very special.” Polnareff nodded, leaning down closer so that he could breathe in the scented mist you had put on before leaving the hotel. A scent that he just could never get enough. 

You can’t help the content sigh that puffed from your nose as you leaned forward and pressed a delicately soft kiss to his lips. This kiss was one you had not thought of sharing with any other since the moment Polnareff had swept you off your feet. 

The sudden pop and whistling wizz that sounded through the dark air had you whipping around to watch the first fireworks bloom in the sky. It cast a pink glow over the dark sea and gathered crowds--crowds who Oooed and Aaahed at the beauty before them. 

Just as the second round of fireworks were shot off, Polnareff grabbed hold of your chin and guided your attention back onto him. His lips were set in an easy smile and his eyes, which were now illuminated by the green of the firework overhead, bore such unyielding love and affection in them that it stole the very air from your lungs. Such a look that had you forgetting about the fireworks because they could never beat the beauty of the man before you. 

“You are very special to me.” Your lips parted on a shaking intake of breath, your heart fluttering at his words. It was a slight movement Polnareff’s loving eyes shifted quickly to watch. “And you are mine and for that, I am truly blessed. Forgive me but…I will do anything to protect such a blessing.” 

You were going to let him go to France.

Of course, you were going to let him go to France. It was his home and you wanted him to be home. You wanted him to be happy…even when his leaving had thrown your emotions in the opposite way. 

You had helped him buy the damn ticket, yet you were fighting back the tightness in your throat as you watched Polnareff say his goodbyes to Jotaro and Mr. Joestar. 

And when his gray eyes turned onto you, a sadness that cut through your soul welling in them, you almost begged him to stay. Almost grabbed hold of his face, pulled him close, and pleaded with every last bit of strength you possessed for him to stay with you. 

Had it all meant nothing? 

Had the flirting and stolen glances and touches meant nothing? Had the bed-sharing and--and their kiss meant nothing? 

It must have. 

Death had been about to claim you both. Death who had already claimed the lives of too many of your friends. No words had been spoken as you two had gazed into each other's eyes, tears falling from you both. No words had been spoken because everything you could have possibly needed to say was being shouted through your eyes. 

At least you had thought you had seen those things said back in his beautiful eyes. 

At least you had believed the emotions you thought he was pouring into your lips. Emotions that you had poured right back into his lips, kissing him with everything you had.

You wanted to scream all this up at him. 

You wanted to know the truth. Wanted to know if he truly meant it but you bit your tongue as he approached you, that sadness softening the slightest as he gazed at you. 

He came to a stop before you, your eyes burning as you wrestled your tears back. Polnareff spoke your name lowly--softly like the knuckles he brushed against your cheek as he leaned down closer. You felt your breath strangle in your throat. Felt your heart twist so tight it began to rip within the confines of your rips. And you--you snapped your face away, looking away from the man before you.

You couldn’t bear the sight of him. Couldn’t bear the feel of his skin on yours when you knew you couldn’t have him. 

When you knew he was leaving you. 

“You better get going or your plane is going to leave without you.” Your voice came out colder than you had first willed it. A cold tone you had never bit at him before and it was a tone you instantly regretted. Instantly regretted but couldn’t physically turn back to look at him to smooth over the hurt you no doubt cut into him. 

“I--yes. You’re right.” Polnareff’s normally confident voice had filled with hurt. It was so utterly hurt and it was killing you. Hot tears broke against your hold on them, burning down your cheeks in fat rolls. Mr. Joestar called your name in question at your sudden icy tone. 

You wanted to stay--wanted to see Polnareff off but you couldn’t. You couldn’t bear to see him go because it would tear your heart in two. 

Mr. Joestar shouted your name again as you snatched your bag from the ground, rushing through the busy airport toward the direction of your gate.

You wiped your eyes roughly over and over again, not wishing to show the world your sadness. But your tears showed no sign of stopping as you continued to think of the man you had just rushed away from without even saying a simple goodbye. 

You should turn back. Should give him an apology. Give him a goodbye. Give him a hug. Let him run his knuckles over your skin and say your name in such a soft, affectionate way. 

Your feet continued to carry you through the airport until you came to your gate, trying your hardest to push all thoughts of Polnareff from your mind. You found a seat near the back, far away from all the other gathered individuals, only to feel something poke at the flesh of your rear.

You dug your hand into your back pocket and felt a fresh wave of tears roll down your cheeks. 

Laying in your palm was the other half of Polnareff’s signature heart-shaped earrings. The half he had lost during your fight against a freshly made vampire, who you had nearly lost your arm to when you had grabbed for the lost earring. 

You had planned on giving it back to him during your goodbye but--but your heart was hurting too much you hadn’t even thought about it.

You didn’t want him to leave. 

God you didn’t want him to leave you. 

But you knew that was a selfish want and you couldn’t--wouldn’t be selfish when he deserved to go find his happiness. 

“What the hell was that?” The cool and collected voice of Jotaro sounded beside you. You jumped at his sudden appearance, not having heard or sensed his approach. 

“Shit--Jotaro you scared the hell out--”

“I’m not good at this feelings shit.” He gruffed out, eyes shaded by the visor of his hat. “That was Kakyoin’s thing.” Your heart only began to hurt further at the mention of one of your lost friends. “But I know he said you’ve got a close….friendship….or whatever the hell you got going on with Polnareff.” 

“There is nothing but friendship and as his friend--” Your voice cracked. “I have to let him go.” 

“Bullshit.” You blinked at his bluntness. A bluntness you had yet to truly get used to even after the month you had spent traveling the world with him.

“W-What?”

“I said that’s bullshit.” He said on a shrug, leaning back in his seat. “Where are you going?”

“Uh--I--” You had bought a cheap ticket. One you had hardly even cared to learn the end destination of. You glanced at the ticket in your other hand, spying Gori, Georgia printed there. “I’m going to Gori.” Jotaro spared you a hard stare from under his hat.

“Gori?” You nodded, holding to ticket out for him to look at, waving it slightly in his face as if rubbing it in his face. 

“Yep. See. I hear they have good…food.” You said. You were utterly lying through your teeth. You had zero clue what was in Gori or what the food was like, but you sure as hell weren’t going to mention that to him. 

“Good grief,” Jotaro grumbled. With lightning-fast reflexes, the ticket was snatched from your fingers and torn into a million pieces. A million pieces Star Platinum tore even further. 

“Hey!” You shouted, fingers grasping for the pieces like you might be able to fix the damage done. “I spent money I don’t have on that fucking ticket.” You snarled angrily at him. “I’ve already bought you a new one.” He said. A new ticket was extended your way. Two new tickets to be precise. One heading for Japan and one heading for France. 

“I think you should get over whatever shit you need to get over and head out with Polnareff, but if not the old man doesn’t want you going off on your own anymore. You’ll come with us to Japan and then you can head to New York with him.” The tickets were shoved your way once more. 

“You’re an asshole.” You hissed, snatching the tickets from his hand. 

“Our plane leaves in forty. Polnareff’s in twenty. Whatever you decide, you should do it quickly.” He finished. You watched Jotaro pull himself swiftly to his feet and begin to walk off toward his gate, leaving you sitting there fuming. 

That fucking guy--always mister “too cool for school” and shit. 

You stared daggers down at the two tickets in your hand. Daggers you felt fall away as soon as your eyes landed on the half-heart earring in your other hand. A jagged bit of heart that deserved to be reunited with its other half.

You ran your thumb over the smooth bit of red jewelry.

Did that jagged bit of heart deserve to be reunited with the other? That jagged bit of heart had never found its other half. Had always fit too awkwardly against another. Had always hurt the other half. 

But this heart…this other half heart…it didn’t seem to mind so much about its jagged edges…

Your feet were moving before you had even thought of a plan--before you even knew where you were going. 

You rushed past Jotaro, still making his way to his gate in an unhurried manner, and deeper into the crowded airport until you were pausing at the gate your body had rushed you to. 

Your eyes scanned over people in the long, winding boarding line, all waiting to be ushered onto the plane. You scanned and scanned, your mind racing with the possibility that maybe you had missed--

A flash of silver caught your eye and you found him standing there nearing the front of the line. You rushed up to him, making a few people in line behind him hiss their announce at you but you ignored them. 

Sad eyes found you. Sad eyes that softened almost instantaneously. 

“Y/N…you--what are you doing? You’ll miss your plane.” You nodded. A nod that turned into a shake. 

“Uh--I--here.” You held out your hand, the other bit of heart laying there. “I repaired it for you while you were in the hospital.” You said, extending it to him in invitation to take. “I couldn’t let you leave without it…you’d be incomplete.” You tried to force a smile to your face, but it fell short as your heart gave another painful twist at the memory of his lips on yours. Lips so close to you now yet oh so far. 

Ask him. Your brain screamed. As him if he meant it. 

“Hey--move up.” The man who had hissed his annoyance at you gruffed. Polnareff hardly shot him a glance, keeping his shining gray eyes trained on you. Eyes you couldn’t help but fall deeper and deeper into you the longer you stared. 

“Incomplete…yes,” Polnareff spoke on a near whisper. “Why--you’ve come all this way to give me this?” He asked, bringing his fingertips up to brush over your own. You swallowed sharply as his skin sent your own tingling. 

“I--yes.” You weakly said. You took his hand in your other, moving it around so that you could drop the earring into his palm. A slight dusting of pink covered his cheeks at the sudden touch. It was a blush you could never get enough of. One you thought of day and night ever since you first laid eyes on it. “And…and to say goodbye.” That sadness flooded through Polnareff’s eyes and features like a tsunami. 

“Ah…yes.” Polnareff agreed, having yet to pull his hand away from where it sat under your own. A hand you yourself had yet to pull away, wanting to feel the warmth of his skin just that much longer--to commit the feel of it to memory. “I guess this is goodbye,” Polnareff said, eyes scanning over your face a mile a minute as if taking it in for the last time. 

Was this the last time you would ever see him again? 

It was a thought that tore at your heart--that made you feel like you might go mad at its reality.  

“Did you--” You started, Polnareff perking up instantly at your voice. 

“Did I?” He urged you, his full lips parting on a small intake of air as if he needed to catch his breath. You watched his movements, committing it all to the memories you needed to keep.

“Did you--did you make sure you have everything?” You stumbled, cursing yourself internally for your cowardness. 

Polnareff blinked. And blinked again as his shoulders seemed to deflate. The angry man behind him grumbled some more before storming around Polnareff to continue his journey.

“I did. You helped me pack…remember?” You nodded as you remembered the day after you all had left the hospital. It had been a whirlwind of pills bottles, clothes, and toiletries. “I trust you left nothing behind.” 

“Except this.” You said, fingers trailing over the palm of his outstretched hand cradling the earring within it. 

“Yes…except this.” He repeated on a small nod of his own. More passengers moved around you two, huffs of annoyance falling from their lips. “So…this is goodbye?” You felt your eyes begin to burn once more at the thought of leaving him. 

“I...I think it is.” You saw a sliver of tears begin to line Polnareff’s own eyes. Your fingers continued to trail over the delicate skin of his hand, nearing the end of his fingers. Before your hand could leave his completely, Polnareff was grabbing hold of it tight and moving to be closer to you. You pressed your lips together thinly, trying to hold back the sound of your sadness that wished to shake out of you. 

“What--you came all this way to say goodbye?” He spoke, voice showing his own sadness to you. You blinked and those damn tears you tried to keep away fell. 

“What else would I come here to do?” Polnareff huffed, leaning down so that he was that much closer to you. Close enough you didn’t have to crane your neck to keep looking up at him. 

“I--I don’t know…I just…” Polnareff struggled, gritting his teeth as he fought against his words. “We--I don’t think I can just say goodbye to you.” You nodded, pulling closer. 

“I don’t think I can either.” The smallest of smiles pulled to Polnareff’s lips. 

“Then let's not. Lets--I…I don’t think I can just leave you behind.” You nodded faster. 

“I don’t want you to be alone…it kills me to think of you all alone.” The tears that had The tears that lined Polnareff’s eyes spilled then, streaking down flushing cheeks like some shimmering stream. You were quick to brush them away with your other hand. Polnareff leaned into the touch, which you continued to give despite having accomplished its goal. 

“I don’t want to be alone.” He whispered as if fearing to admit it to even himself, his eyes wide in that fear.

“Jotaro…he gave me a ticket to Japan.” Polnareff’s eyes squeezed shut on a shuttering breath. He nodded at your words like he was trying to make peace with them. “Said Mr. Joestar didn’t want me to be by myself anymore.” 

“And…and you will go with them?” 

“He gave me two tickets.” Polnareff’s eyes opened then to find yours once more, hope shining in those watery, gray pools. “I just…I don’t know if you meant it.” It was your turn to whisper--to be afraid. 

“Ment what?” You couldn’t help your eyes from gazing all but longing at his heart-shaped lips. Couldn’t help but think of that kiss, even if death knocking at the door had been the thing to spur it. 

“When you…you kissed me.” Polnareff’s breath hitched in his throat, eyes falling to take in every last detail your lips had to offer. “Did you mean it?” 

“Did I mean it?” He breathed, eyes looking back into your own. “Mon ange, not a second has gone by that I have not craved your lips against mine. That I have not wanted--no needed you near. You haunt my dreams--have ensured my heart and mind.” He confessed, every last word backed up by the raging emotions flashing through his eyes. 

You could hardly breathe listening to his words. Could hardly think. 

“You are the other half of my heart.” He continued, pulling you so close he could press his forehead against yours. You were more than happy to allow him into your orbit. To allow him to touch you. You needed him to touch you. “I am incomplete without you.”

“You are--” You started, his eyes watching every movement lips and face made. “Tu es mon amour.” You spoke in the little bit of French you had learned while traveling with Polnareff. Surprise rose to his face. Surprise that turned into that big, goofy grin you oh so loved. 

“You are my love.” He repeated what you had said on a breath, nuzzling his nose against yours. That grin never once fading from his lips. “How did you learn that?” You nuzzled his nose right back, your heart beating faster and faster in your rips. 

“I had a good teacher.” That beautiful laugh shook through his shoulders and into your own body. A laugh that was always so contagious and had you giggling right alongside him. 

“I am pretty good, aren’t I?” He playfully boosted, making you shake your head in amusement. You moved your hand still resting on his cheek to cup his jaw, pulling him ever closer. 

“Kiss me?” You asked, eyes fluttering down to gaze upon his smiling lips. 

“With pleasure, mon amour.” And his lips fit against yours like those half-heart earrings of his. Lips yours melted and molded against. Lips that made your body sing and your heart flutter around in your utter happiness. A happiness that only grew when you heard Polnareff drop his bag only so his now free hand could find your waist, pulling you flush against his strong body. 

“We should--we should go.” You murmured in between kiss after kiss Polnareff gifted you. He pulled away all too suddenly, though his forehead found rest right back onto yours. Polnareff looked deep into your eyes, that bit of fear creeping back into them. 

“Are…are you sure?” Polnareff asked in that small, fear-filled voice that only made your decision further solidify. Your fingers rubbed soothing circles into his jaw, making his weary eyes flutter on dare of closing.

“Yes. I belong with you. Whether that be in Japan or Egypt or France. You are where I want to be.” That smile was back on his lips in seconds and he was quick to place a chasted kiss to your lips that made you all giddy again. Making sure to keep a hand in your own, he grabbed for his luggage and your own.

You both turned and--no one stood there. No one was around besides the few rushing by or sitting in the now very empty waiting area, doors shut tight before you. 

Polnareff gave a soft curse in French at the sight of your flight leaving without you two. 

“...how would you feel about going to visit Mrs. Kujo? See how she’s doing?” You asked, gazing up at Polnareff to find him already looking down to you. 

“I’m sure Jotaro wouldn’t mind.” He continued, a smirk pulling to his lips. 

“Oh no. I think he’ll be so happy to bring us along.” 

“Definitely. Though…I fear I spent the last of my money on this ticket.” You shrugged at Polnareff’s words, guiding him towards the gate heading for Japan. 

“One of them will get you a new one. Come. We gotta rush before they leave without us.” 

Strangled, roaring screams tore through your throat as you unleashed your rage and Stand upon Diavolo, who stood before you with an utter look of triumph. 

Polnareff--he had just been there with you. You had made it to the Colosseum--had just gotten him back and--

Blood poured from Polnareff’s mouth as Diavolo delivered a fatal wound to his chest. You hadn’t been close enough to stop it--to get in the way and protect him. Especially now as the all-but-melting Silver Chariot shoved you backward. 

Polnareff--he didn’t move. Didn’t blink or laugh or berate you for being reckless. 

Just--gone. 

Risotto’s death had hurt you deeply. It had nearly killed you but Polnareff--you two had gone through hell and back together and yet there he was--staring at you with nothing behind his gray eyes and you just felt--you felt dead inside. Completely and utterly devoid of anything besides this utter heartbreak and anger. 

You were charging at the man who had hurt Polnareff over and over because you no longer had the will to stay alive. Not without him there by your side. Not without knowing he was somewhere safe and sound. 

Diavolo hardly even blinked an eye as he dodged your attacks, time seeming to skip forward. Hardly seemed to notice you as he punched you off the floor and down toward the main level of the Colosseum. 

Wind whipped around you and an otherworldly exhaustion turned your world black until you were waking up in a body that felt too strange to you. A body that was feathery and all to hawk-shaped for your own liking. 

But even with this new body, you couldn’t think of anything besides Diavolo’s Stand’s arm running through Polnareff’s chest. Couldn’t help but think of it over and over and over again until it started to drive you mad in rage.

You flapped and crawled your new bird body over to the gathered group, all freaking out over this strange swap of bodies. And through their panic, you noticed the turtle you all had been hiding in hours ago crawling around. 

A turtle began to speak to the group in a voice that was too familiar. 

“Tesoro mio?” You questioned when you found your voice, it sounding squawking and feeling all too off on this bird's tongue. “You’re--you’re okay?” The turtle--no Polnareff, looked to you with eyes all too sad for a turtle. Eyes all too human--all too him. 

“I’m--a turtle.” He said, voice sounding all too worried--pinched. 

“But you are alive.” You insisted, a laugh falling from your mouth--or, beak? As you turned to look at the group standing above you. “Giorno.” You said, not sure which was the true Giorno yet. “Fix his body so when we work this out he won’t have a gaping hole in his chest, yes?” 

“I--I don’t know if that’s how this works.” You narrowed your eyes, if you could even narrow them in this body, at Giorno who was in now in Narancia’s body. You felt your anger take rise once more in your chest at his refusal to do as you asked.

“What do you--yes it is. He’s alive and--”

“Mon coeur,” Polnareff stressed, cutting you off. “We do not have time to argue.” 

“It's--it’s not an argument.” You said with a huff of unbelieving air. He wasn’t--he wouldn’t take this child's side on this? “It’s--you get in that body in the state it is now and you’ll di--” Polnareff cut you off with a quick snap of your name. A snap he rarely ever bit at you, but one you found halting your tongue’s movements. 

“We do not have time to go fix my body. We need to get that arrow.” And as he continued to talk and explain the situation, you couldn’t help but feel a deep, gnawing feeling in your chest. An all too bad and foreboding feeling.

You tried to push that feeling down as you focused on the fight and tasks at hand. But as soon as poor Silver Chariot was defeated and you were rocketed back into your body lying in the Colosseum, that feeling only came back to the forefront of your mind strong and unyielding. 

The Colosseum was quiet. Only the faint buzz of the people outside to be heard. 

Bucciarati's beaten and broken and utterly destroyed body lay all too still where he lay on cold stone. 

He had been in Diavolo’s body…he should be back too. He should be waking up just as you had woken up.

But the longer you stared his way, the more he seemed to grow colder, your heart began to tear because--because he had been alive. Had been talking and fighting and--he should be back in his body by now. 

You dragged yourself to your feet, slowly making for the stairs. Towards the floor Polnareff would be waking up on. 

He would be waking up any second now. 

No noise sounded. Nothing. It was just--silent. Silent as the tomb. Silent as death.

“P-Polnareff?” You called, feet beginning to climb the stairs. “Tesoro mio? Baby?” You called again, voice sounding all too weak in your ears.

Nothing answered you just as you knew nothing would. But you pressed on. Pressed on despite the painful ache growing in your chest. 

You found him just as he had been when you were tossed over the edge. Found his gray eyes unblinking and glazed over, looking ahead at nothing. His skin, which had always been so warm to the touch, looked cold and blue. His wound had stopped bleeding but it was a wound no one could ever hope to heal or survive. 

You knelt before him, looking over the face you had loved more then you had loved anything. 

Looked over the face that had made you laugh and smile and cry and believe in love again.

Your fingers moved to smooth over his shirt, which had ridden up in his crumple to the ground. Wiped a bit of blood off his unscarred eyebrow and did your best to fix his hair, which he had taken so much pride in and would have begun crying over if he could see the state it was in now. 

“All better, yes?” You whispered. A whisper that was given no response.

As gently and as best your weakened strength could, you pulled his body into your arms. A body so stiff and all too cold as you cradled his face against your chest. You placed a soft kiss to his forehead and brushed your fingertip in soothing circles over his forearm. 

You didn’t know how long you held him. How long you sat and how long you buried your thoughts and feelings down. Long enough you forgot how to feel and hear and see. 

That is, until a voice called for you. A voice that kick-started your crumbling heart once more. 

Polnareff was still lying all too stiff in your arms. Still too cold and unseeing and yet--

“Mon coeur?” You turned to find that turtle sitting at the top of the stairs. A turtle who a blue-outlined Polnareff sat out of. So small and so transparent but it was him. 

“Mio Caro?” You responded, tears stinging at your eyes as he crawled closer. This was--was this your image playing some wicked game against you? You wanted with all your heart to believe it untrue but…but you still held his body in your arms. A body which was devoid of any and all things that made Polnareff Polnareff.

“I--I need to ask you something.” His voice wavered and as he grew closer, you could see the matching tears brimming in his eyes. 

Real. This was real. 

“You can ask me.” You said on a near sob as he came to a stop before you. 

“Would you…would you still love me as a turtle?” He asked, something like pure fear in his voice. “You said you wouldn’t.” He whispered, a tear streaking down his red, flushed cheeks. Before he could even blink you were grabbing up that scaly turtle and holding him close. Taking in its warmth and its breath and its being alive.

“I lied. I would still love you as a worm or as a frog or as a turtle. I don’t care as long as you are with me.” You felt a warm brush of air caress your cheek and found a small, ghostly hand belonging to the man you loved there. “Let’s leave Italy, yes? Let’s go anywhere but here. Please, amore.” Polnareff nodded, a small pulling to his lips. 

“As long as I’m with you.” He agreed. You gave a shaking breath as you gave a nod of your own. 

“As long as I’m with you.”

The day had been horrible. 

The morning had started off with an attack from an enemy Stand User, who beat the ever-living crap out of your all. You all went to lunch to try and remedy the horrible start, but you had spilled yours over the ground. And then, as you were finding a hotel for the night, you managed to trip so bad you almost knocked Kakyoin into a foul-smelling canal.

And then--oh then there was the matter of you feeling just so horribly insecure the whole day. Not only had your legs decided to stop working properly, but also because your shirt felt too tight around your body. A shirt you picked and pulled and tugged at to keep it from showing off too much of your body to the world. A world you couldn’t help but think was looking at you and judging. 

It didn’t help when a stunningly beautiful person came up to the group to flirt with Polnareff. Polnareff who was your partner. But the Frenchman was too nice and hadn’t said a word to shoo them off until Jotaro snapped at them to get hell out of there because they’re voice was grating on his last nerves. 

They were a person you couldn’t help but feel--envious of because, not only were they beautiful, but they were slim--near stick thin. It was a green emotion you hated to feel towards another person but when they were flirting with Polnareff like that you couldn’t help it and it made you feel just so much worse. 

And the cherry on top of your terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day was when you caught the last bit of a conversion the group was having about you. 

“They are a liability.” Is what Jotaro had gruffed to the other Crusaders before Polnareff found you making your way back over. His frown had turned into a bright smile and he greeted you happily, as if trying to distract you from the fact they had been talking about you. He placed sweet kisses on either of your cheeks before snagging the key to your shared room from Mr. Joestar’s hand and guiding you away.

And now you couldn’t find anything to wear for dinner. Nothing seemed to be looking the way it usually did. Everything seemed to point out your curves in a way that just had your anxieties and insecurities increase. 

You stood in front of the full-length mirror in your hotel room, yanking at the fabric of the newest outfit you had thrown. Tears burned at your eyes as you tried your hardest to calm down and to just go with it but after all of the day's hardships, you couldn’t help it. 

“Andddd perfection!” You heard Polnareff cheer from within the bathroom. He had been working on his hair for just as long as you had been struggling to find an outfit, a wait you were used to when it came to him and his hair. “What do you think?” He asked, coming out of the bathroom to stand behind you. He struck a pose in the mirror that only made his muscles look all the more powerful--though that cheesy, goofy grin of his only made him look like the lovable doofus he was. 

“Uh--yeah.” You managed to get out past the tightening of your throat. You tugged again at your clothes, trying to hide yourself from him. 

A liability. 

What if he thinks so too?

What if he thinks you're too big? What if he doesn’t like you anymore? What if he takes one look at you and decides he doesn’t like what he sees?

What if, what if, what if?

A warm hand gently grabbed your shoulder, pulling you from your endless stream of negative thoughts. Your eyes were blurred as you tried to refocus them, but as you blinked you couldn’t help their escape down your cheeks. 

“What's wrong, mon ange?” Polnareff asked as he guided you to turn to face him. He bent down, those gray eyes looking directly into your own. Eyes just full of so much worry and concern for you. Eyes that told you he was more than ready to defend you against whatever was upsetting you and it only made your heart twist more painfully in your chest. 

He was too good for you. Too handsome and too kind and too--too him and you were just you. 

“Am--am I a liability?” You managed to get out wobbly. Polnareff’s eyes hardened the slightest bit at the question.

“You--heard that?” More tears fell from your eyes then, your hands grabbing for your outfit again, trying to keep it off your skin. 

Too tight, too tight. 

“Is--Is it because I’m like this? I’m not--I’m not as fit as you all--and--I just drag you all down and you could have anyone--be with someone thinner and nothing fits me. Everything’s going to shit a-and--” Polnareff brought a hand up to cover your mouth and stopped your constant negativity against yourself. 

“Stop that. Stop that right now.” He all but commanded, his voice stern. A sob bubbled up out of your throat you couldn’t find the will to stop. “Be with someone else?” His voice shifted then. Shifted softer--almost like he was hurt by your words. “I could never do better than you, mon ange. Never. I do not care what you look like. That doesn’t matter to me at all.” 

Pity. He was just pitting--

“Hey--hey stop that,” Polnareff said, caughting you before you could spiral downward again. “You are perfect. Your beauty is more perfect than words can describe--it's a beauty only art could ever hope to capture.” And he looked so sincere. A sincerity that was only confirmed by the look in his eyes that only true feeling could replicate. You shakily moved his hand from your mouth.

“But--what about that person? Wouldn’t you rather be with them?” Polnareff shook his head, his hand moved so that he could rub soothing circles into your wet cheek. A touch you instantly lean into. 

“Never. I want you. I only want to be with you. You get me like no other could.” Polnareff said, leaning closer. That smile you loved beyond anything you’ve ever loved pulled to his lips then. “Who else would go searching every shop in the city without rest until they found my brand of hair gel?” You huffed in amusement, the ache in your chest slowly beginning to ease.

“Your hair just doesn’t like other brands.” Polnareff chuckled as he cupped your face in his hands. He pulled closer and placed the softest and sweetest kiss on your forehead. A kiss that made your belly flutter and your heart begin to stutter in your chest. 

“See. You get me.” That smile of his never once faltered and his eyes never once left your own. 

“And about what you overhead,” Your heart dropped at its remention. “It wasn’t what you think. It has nothing to do with your looks and everything to do with the fact that you nearly knocked poor Kakyoin into the canal today…” You cringed a little bit at the memory, feeling all to bad for the boy. He had been so sweet about it, but had Star Platinum not caught him he would have nose-dived into the grimy water. 

“....and how you nearly knocked Jotaro into a busy street the other day…and how you dragged Mr. Joestar with you into a pitch…and knocked Avdol into a street lamp…oh and when you stepped on Iggy, though, he deserved that, the demon.” Polnareff hissed at the mention of the dog. It only made you huff in amusement at his rivalry with the animal, who hadn’t caused you too much trouble. 

“If they didn’t know better, they would think you are trying to kill them.” He said, with a chuckle, gray eyes scanning over your features. “You aren’t some enemy Stand User I have to defeat, right?” You rolled your eyes, playfully hitting his shoulder. It only made the Frenchman laugh again, his hands grabbing for your wrists to pull you right back in. 

“If they keep getting in my way I might just switch sides.” You teased. Polnareff’s laugh only grew harder. A laugh that shook through your very soul. One so cheery and bright and never failed to brighten your own mood.

“Joatro is just blunt in his words, you know this.” You nodded, thinking about all the times he had cursed at you or told you to shut up. “No one truly thinks you're a liability and it absolutely has nothing to do with your weight. I need you to know that.” He said, beginning to caress the inside of your wrists in a way that made you feel so cared for. Loved and accepted. “And mon ange--you look so breathtaking tonight. A perfect choice in outfit.” You felt your body begin to heat in your growing flusteredness. 

“O-oh--thank--”

“The only better option would be if you were to go in your birthday suit.” He said with a wiggle of his eyebrows and a mischievous gleam in his eyes. 

His hands began moving from up your arms and over your shoulder, making their way down your back in a way that made a shiver rush down your spine. His hands continued their journey down your back until they grabbed hold of your waist, giving your hips a tight squeeze as he yanked you forward swiftly. A yelp fell from your lips as you braced your hands on his broad chest to keep yourself from crashing into its near brick wall-like solidness. 

“Pol--” You started but him leaning down to brush his nose against you had your words dying in your throat. 

“Maybe we should skip dinner altogether, hum? Please, mon coeur? Let’s just stay in and you could model that suit--” You cut him off with a sharp swat of his hands and a push to keep him away because the longer you stayed in his grasp the more your heart felt like it would beat right out of your body. The more you thought you were going to burn alive and fall into a pile of ash at his feet. 

“Get out of here. Of course, we are going to dinner.” You all but breathed in your flusteredness, smoothing a hand over your clothes. 

“But, mon ange, please--” He started, his eyes growing into those big puppy dog eyes you had never once been able to say no to. You were quick to look away from their power, grabbing for your shoes to keep yourself on track.

“No. You were just complaining about how hungry you were.” You huffed, yanking on one of your shoes.

“But, but--I would rather starve then--” 

“Come on.” You insisted, pulling on your last shoes before you glanced back to him. He was pouting dramatically like that might change your mind. “If you behave…maybe when we get back.” Polnareff was quick to perk up at this, all but jumping to grab hold of your hand and pull you out of your hotel room. 

“I am always on my best behavior.” Polnareff declared proudly. You only chuckled, linking your arm around his and holding him close.

You ran your thumb over the golden ball engraved with a capital R. It was one of seven matching balls still lying with the man you had just found dead back on Sardinia. 

He had just been a boy when you had first met him twelve years--one you’d found at the age of sixteen, living on the streets like some feral cat. He had been filled with so much anger and bloodshed--anger and bloodshed that called to the same kind thumping through your own veins.

You took him in, helped him get his revenge on the man who had run over his cousin and eventually, you gave in and gave him your permission to join Passione with you. He had passed the test and had joined La Squadra Esecuzioni alongside you. 

You helped him grow strong--grow unchallengeable so that you could step down as leader and give the title to him, becoming his shadowy second ready to support him at any cost. 

He had been like your son and you had just--let him die. Let him go on ahead of you and die.

Your knee began to bounce quicker, your eyes fixated on the hollowed-out shell of the turtle Bucciarati and two of his pups had disappeared into, leaving you sitting out in the sun with his other two. 

They had killed the boys in your Squad--your boys who you had grown to love and mother hen. They had been the axe that ended Risotto’s life but the executioner still remained lurking in the shadows. An executioner who had killed one of their very own members.

You would never be their friend, but you had made this shaky, little alliance with Bucciarati because in the end, all you cared about was killing that goddamned bastard who started all this. 

You heard the faint voices of Bucciarati and his newest pup, Giorno, speaking faintly through the red glass of the key on the turtle’s back. Giorno was a boy who, whenever you looked upon his face, couldn’t shake the gut-clenching feeling of familiarity and slight fear. 

His face, his hair, that hard stare, his determination. He reminded you all too much of the villain you had fought against twelve years ago in Egypt but there was no way to know for sure. Not without disturbing the already thin peace made between Bucciarati’s little pack and you. 

You clenched your fist tight around the golden ball in your hand, trying desperately to keep your mind off of the sight of your own pups getting slaughtered like pigs. 

You were alone. 

Again. 

Alone with the very ones who had slaughtered them. 

Why were you making peace with them? Why were you trying to help them? 

Because--because none of this would have happened if the boss had stopped breathing a long, long time ago.

The voices from within the turtle went quiet, as did the two guarding the scaly thing. They were listening to something, but what--

You heard a voice then. Muffled and hardly audible but--it was a voice that didn’t belong to any of Bucciarati’s pack. 

Pocketing the golden ball, you marched over to the two sitting just a little ways away from you. Mista narrowed his eyes at you as you approached, but said nothing as you knelt beside him, peering into the red-crystal of the key. 

“Move it.” You hissed, trying to elbow your way closer. “I can’t he--” Your breath caught in your throat as the voice rose. 

Come to Rome. Was the small fractured bit of what you were able to hear, but that’s not what had your heart freezing. 

You knew that voice. 

It was a voice you hadn’t heard in twelve years but--but it was his voice, there was no mistaking it. 

Mista and Narancia were quick to get to their feet, ready to run off upon hearing these words and whatever else you hadn’t been able to pick up. They were bolting down the mountainside towards the boat and you were quick to follow, the air heavy in your lungs from more than just the running. 

“Let me in there.” You hissed, grabbing for the turtle still in Mista’s hold. He grimaced at you before passing the turtle to Narancia, who held onto the thing protectively. 

“We still don’t trust you so why the hell would we let you in there?” Mista spoke, flipping the speedboat on and starting to race out away from Sardinia. 

You grabbed hold of the railing as the boat jolted forward, eyes never once leaving the sight of the turtle. Of the voice that kept talking within as the sun began to set. 

It was him. He was speaking but--how? Why?

Narancia looked towards Mista, going to say something that you didn’t have the time or patience to hear before you were racing forward. He had a single, wide-eyed moment of panic as you tossed yourself forward, the name of his Stand on the tip of his tongue before you touched the red crystal and were zapped inside of its secret room. 

You yelp as you fell down, back hitting the red couch before landing with a groan on the ground. 

“What the hell!” Bucciarati hissed, eyes pulling away from the computer screen at your sudden arrival. 

You hear the last few words of the voice cut off at the commotion and you crawled closer, grimacing at the pain flashing through your muscles. 

“Is something--” But you were grabbing the computer and flipping it around to face you before Bucciarati could finish. You leaned in close to the computer screen, heart beating faster than you thought it would.

“Baby….is that you?” You whispered, adding a bit of a playful purr to your words. A long silence followed. A silence that made your palms sweat and your heart beat painfully against your rips. 

Had he--had he hung up? Already? No--however he was communicating was still showing it was activated. He was still there but still no answer. 

You heard him suck in a shaky breath and your own breath caught in your throat once more. 

“Mon coeur?” Polnareff questioned in that smooth voice of his you had oh so missed.

“Tesoro mio.” You responded with a nod like he could see it.

“What--are you doing?” A bright smile pulled at your lips as you pulled the computer ever closer.

“The real question is who taught you to hack a computer?” You said, continuing that teasing playfulness despite your nerves. Despite everything that had gone down between you two after the battle with DIO. 

You tried not to think about it but--you couldn’t help but remember the devastated look on his face as you told him you were going home to Italy. That you were not following him to France and that he was not allowed to follow you to Italy either. 

Your harsh words had only been to spare him the pain of what truly being with you would be like. It would be draining. You would have drained him if you had stayed with him. And with your involvement with Passione, you couldn’t run the risk of anyone finding out about him and hurting him because of you. 

Every day you missed him and every day you regretted not leaving Passione to follow him, but you knew that would have only ended in bloodshed as well. 

“You--know this man we are going to meet?” Bucciarati asked before Polnareff could think about responding again. 

“Yes. I know him very well.” You said, running a finger over the screen to brush some dust off that had collected. “Baby, where have you been?” You heard that shuttering breath again and all you could think about was how much you had missed his lips. Lips so soft they had made you melt every time you felt them against your own. 

“I--I can’t say. It’s--I don’t want you anywhere near Diavolo.” You narrowed your eyes at the screen before glancing up to Bucciarati.

“Is that the boss?” Bucciarati gave a single nod before you looked back down at the screen. 

“I’m serious, mon ange. If he hurt you like how he hurt--” His words cut off like he had said too much. You narrowed your eyes at the screen, your blood running cold in bloodlust. 

“Did he hurt you?” You asked, voice shifting to match the coldness of your blood. 

“Do not come to Rome. You stay far away from this place.” You felt the golden ball in your pocket begin to burn in a reminder of why you were still going. And the sound of Polnareff’s voice--of the idea that the boss you had been serving had hurt him--

There was no force on the face of this earth that could calm the wrath boiling inside of you.

“I’ll see you soon, amore.” 

“Don’t--”

“I don’t know how to hang this thing up.” You huffed, looking over the keys. There was no more time to argue. You were heading to Rome whether he liked it or--

Polnareff whispered your name. 

It was a name you hadn’t used in years--one you kept to yourself and never let anyone hear. One you had only told him because of how much you loved him. 

You froze at its sudden mention. A mention that didn’t pass by Bucciarati and his two newest pups, who shared questioning looks between themselves.

“Mio Caro?” You whispered back. 

“I--I need to ask you something.” You brought the computer ever closer, trying to keep his words just to yourself. To not let the fools standing before you hear anything else he had to say to you.  

“You can ask me.” There was another pause. One you couldn’t help but grow anxious in the longer and longer it was drawn out. 

“Would you…would you still love me if I was half the man I once was?” It was a question that had your heart twisting painfully in your chest. 

Something had happened to him. Something had made him this--insecure and you knew that something was this Diavolo. 

“Amore--I would love you even if you were a worm.” A small chuckle sounded through the computer as you both remembered back to that night in the desert, snuggled together under the stars. 

“Be safe, mon amour.” Your heart fluttered at his words. Fluttered in the overwhelming love you still held for him within it. 

“I will see you soon.” And with that, you handed the computer to Giorno, who gently ended the call. 

The room inside the turtle was deathly quiet. A quiet that ate away at your heart and soul. 

“Did you just call that computer baby?” The voice of Narancia sounded from above. You looked up to find one of his purple eyes gazing down at you all. 

“That’s--” You sighed, rubbing your face. “Yes, I called the computer baby.”