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Helping Holly bring over a few things from the kitchen to where the table was set out you couldn't help but slip into a small argument with the tall ebony haired man, accusing him of being lazy and not helping.
To which, of course, he'd snapped back- but surprisingly enough also began helping, in his own grouchy-constantly complaining way.
It was really only when you grabbed one of the hot pans thinking it was cold did you have to excuse yourself to find where the bathroom was, hand faintly stinging from the heat.
Turning one of the corners quickly a noise left you from having bumped into someone, "Ah sorry." Apologizing right away you peered up towards the man seeing that it was Holly's father, a neutral expression was stretched out across his face and it seemed as though there was something he wanted to say.
"Don't apologize." Beginning with that he added in the next bit hesitantly. " He's the bad guy."
The smile that'd been set out across your face began to fall after he spoke, your eyes once again dragged themselves over his form trying to piece together exactly why the statement sounded familiar.
It was annoying that as the years progressed your memory gradually became worse and worse.
Adjusting the way his gloves sat he drew his gaze briefly to the side before focusing it back on you, "And I will assume your next words will be 'guess we meet again'."
Right away recognition flashed across your features, eyes once again trailing across the man's hopeful expression. The anticipation was eating him up and it wasn't till you spoke that he was able to relax.
"Joseph?" The name was uttered hesitantly but in that moment you watched his expression light up, the man right away threw his arms out and around you in a tight hug.
"Honestly I didn't believe anything about that reincarnation bull, but when you showed up at the door- I was beyond surprised." Pulling back he kept his hands along your shoulders, eyes once again trailing across your features. "You still look the same."
"You got old and had a kid, who had a kid. Who's my classmate." Beginning with that your lips curled into a faint smile. "I should've guessed you two were related when everyone started calling him JoJo."
Reaching up towards where his hands rested you went to raise them off pausing as your hand wrapped around something hard hidden beneath his glove. Furrowing your brows together and moving to take his wrist in both hands you spared the man a questioning look.
"I lost my hand, remember?" Right away pointing that out he gently nudged your hands away tugging the glove off to show a silver prosthetic hand, the fingers of which were moved as if to show the array of motion it had.
Nodding your head along to what he was saying you let out a hum, "I take it you won then? I mean unless Kars is hiding somewhere."
"No No it's over now. Kars will forever be floating in space." Waving his hands around while saying that Joseph slipped his glove back on, "But now we have another issue on hand. You knew my grandfather Jonathan, correct?"
Seeing you nod your head he continued, "Dio has come back and I'm trying to find out where he is." Thinking back on what else he could fill you in on, Joseph curled his hands into tight fists. "As you might've seen at one point or another we Joestars all have star-shaped birthmarks by the base of our necks," Pausing he reached into one of his pockets pulling out a polaroid which was then handed your way.
Taking it into your hands and looking over it you could faintly see the form of a man, Dio from what you're assuming although there was something that stuck out; the exact star that Joseph was talking about.
"He stole Jonathan's body..." Trailing off you looked up seeing Joseph nod.
"That bastard. He's hiding somewhere and plotting- for what? Who knows!" Growing louder with each word Joseph's jaw visibly clenched, he wasn't sure exactly what you remembered from your time spent with Dio and Jonathan, but from the way your eyes hardened did he assume you were just as mad as he was.
"I'll help in whatever way I can," Beginning with that you extended the photo back towards him. "But also maybe you shouldn't carry this photo around with you constantly. It might be cursed." Hoping that your lighter tone of voice could lift some of the dense atmosphere a soft laugh left him.
"You're probably right there, haven't slept properly since I landed- that or japanese beds are the worst!" Declaring that he let out a groan moving to rub his lower back in response to what he'd complained about.
"You mean futons?" "Yeah whatever the hell they are, man I can't imagine how you must feel showing up in what- a new decade every time?"
Pursing your lips together a soft hum left them, "You'll get used to it. I mean at least you don't have to constantly go through school over and over again." Pointing that out you held back a laugh.
"You poor poor soul!" There was a bit of sarcasm in his tone and you couldn't help but reach out to smack his arm walking past as if remembering why you weren't still helping Holly.
"Anyways though. How's everyone else doing? I mean I hope everyone survived." Musing that out you laced your fingers behind your back peering over your shoulder to see Joseph's tall frame move to catch up.
"Everyone did. Although they thought I died and held a whole god damn funeral service, around that time as well I married Suzi."
Nodding your head along to what he was saying, you didn't bother asking about Speedwagon or Erina. The two were old enough when you met or heard about them being alive so they're most certainly long gone by now.
"That's cute that you and Suzi got together. I'm glad she's doing well." Musing that out you heard him let out a long breath, something akin to a sigh but not quite it.
Unable to hold back what he was thinking Joseph spoke, blurting out what he originally had planned. "It honestly would've been you but you died back on that volcano."
Processing what the man had said you once again peered towards where he stood scrunching up your face, "You know that's weird coming from an old man, Mr.Joestar." At the mention of his last name and addition of 'Mr' you watched Josephs face twist in displeasure.
"I'm not that old- you'd be older than me technically!" Firing back with that his expression softened upon hearing you let out an array of laughs, the sound something he couldn't help but miss.
"Yeah, but who's going to believe you? You didn't even believe Caesar when he mentioned it." At the mention of your blond haired friend, you stopped walking, mind trailing back to what you last remembered of him. "How's he doing by the way?"
Slowing down as well, Joseph took in a breath before releasing it into an airy laugh, "He's almost exactly the same as when you left, still a pompous asshole but what's new." Beginning with that he released a hum seeing that your expression asked to hear more about the blond.
"He's been using Hamon to remain youthful. Looks the same as when you left though without the injuries of course." Beginning with that he then added on once more. "He's been working with the Speedwagon Foundation to find your whereabouts and has been helping me from behind the scenes to locate Dio."
"Guess I beat him to the first one."
Seeing that you had yet to respond he trailed closer patting your shoulder in a comforting manner, "I'll give him a call and will let him know you're doing just fine." He could see you visibly relax after hearing him say that and could only let out a hum.
"Thank you," A thankful smile stretched out across your lips before you added on, a playful glint within your eye. "Mr.Joestar."
Right away turning to continue walking down the hall soft laughter left you, the man's complaints that were uttered from behind were brushed off by you knowing that it was simply playful banter.
Though it was good to see Joseph again.
Even if he was old and married, you were happy he was still alive and kicking.
Resuming what you were originally planning on, you eventually trailed back into where everything was set up seeing that Holly had still been making last-minute alterations to certain dishes, the woman wanting everything to look and taste perfect.
"Ah perfect timing. (Y/N), come here for a second." Calling out towards where you stood the woman peered over her shoulder at you, hand wrapped around a wooden spoon that she'd scooped some soup out with.
Watching you approach she held it out to you signaling with her hand to open your mouth, after which she waited for a second or two. "I think it might be missing something. But I'm not sure what."
Trying to think over what the tasty broth might be missing you raised a hand holding onto your chin in thought. "Maybe some more basil?" Suggesting that you watched the woman ponder over it, both of your eyes trailing towards the pot.
Bouncing off different ideas on what to add both yourself and Holly stared into the bubbling liquid as though it would whisper the missing ingredient.
"You both are idiots." Seeing a glass shaker being held above the soup, small white pieces rained down into it, the culprit of which was your classmate who still held an annoyed expression. "Salt."
An 'Oh' left you both, after which the soup was tried once again and deemed completed.
Leading and finishing off with what you'd label a very interesting mealtime.
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The long-awaited reunion! I know you've all been waiting!
I should warn you all right now as well that....my editor is a very big Old Joseph/Joseph fan, so there is *Ahem* some fanservice later just to give you all a heads up HAHA (Personally I though it was funny writing it all but I figured I'd give you all a pre-warning :) )