You sighed as you leaned on the wall and crossed your arms, looking at the crowded streets you raised the bandana around your neck to your lips while tilting your tattered hat down, you tapped one of your fingers against your arm as your long sash-like scarf kept your whip hidden. Many of the walking folk ignored you as they went about their business, their ignorance you would use to your advantage as you observed the crowd. You waited patiently against the wall lightly taping your foot, your long coat slightly bounced against the ground, once you saw people get into certain positions that would grant you free reign of pickpocketing without getting caught you put your plan into action.
Dusting off your tunic shirt you pushed off against the wall and carefully maneuvered your way and the crowd, hunkering down and making yourself smaller than usual to make yourself appear unassuming as you pickpocket men and women left and right with swift quiet movements. Once you made your way across the street and into an alleyway you began to hear the many oncoming complaints and shouts, all of them left wondering how their valuables up and disappeared. With a chuckle you continue to walk while you removed the money from their pouches and began to count how much you made, a small smile made its way to your lips once you finish counting realizing it was enough to last you a week and a half of food.
"Hey rugrat, where do ya think you're going", a throaty garbled voice crooned as you felt a large boney hand roughly turn you around, there were three men dirty with soot and ash, and they all smelled of alcohol and cigarette smoke. A scowl made its way to your face as you narrowed your eyes at them, a rather large man width wide snickered as he pointed at your face.
"That's not a rat alley, that's a mouse, a little girl", the lanky one in the center scowled and hit the large man.
"I know that ya fat bum!", he growled the last one was a scrawny nearly balding man laughing at the other two. As they argued amongst themselves you took this as a chance to run from them, you heard them yell at you from behind as you ran dodging people in your way, and from your peripheral vision you spotted a boy and his father looking up to see you turn into an alleyway. And for the briefest of moments, your eyes connected with theirs before you immediately went back to looking ahead of you, desperate to not get caught by the thugs that would likely snatch your money if they got their dirty hands on you.
"Get that girl! We're going to show that brat a lesson!", the lanky man shouted George furrowed his brows when he heard what the man shouted as his son, Jonathan, looked up at him in concern.
"Father, Did that man just say that was a girl they were chasing?", he asked with panic and slight worry filling his voice. George gave a curt nod as his eyes stared at the alleyway that you ran off into, the girl dressed in male clothing, George's eyes widened once he realized the alleyway you entered was a dead end.
"Jonathan, stay by the carriage, I'm going to help that girl", George declared, Jonathan's eyes widened as he debated whether to follow his father's orders or disobey them, all while you were busy dealing with the three men. When you reached the dead end you waited patiently for the three men to arrive as one of your hands reached for your dagger, and the other rested on your hip where the whip rested.
Waiting patiently you didn't move until you heard one of them shout, "Got nowhere to run brat! Try escaping this time!".
A small smirk makes its way to your lips as you quietly mutter, "Try me", and with a quick spin around, you flicked your dagger into the large man's eye making him shriek and fall back.
Wielding your whip you dashed towards the lanky and scrawny man, with a harsh flick of your wrist your whip made a harsh crack across the scrawny man's face while you slid between the lanky man's legs while doing so you elbowed the inside of his knee. You rolled to the side as the lanky man fell with a yelp, running over to the large man you yanked your dagger out of his eye making him cry out in pain, tying your dagger onto the whip you dogged the lanky man that was running at you and impaled the dagger into the back of his thigh, immediately he fell with a scream as you yanked your whip to pull back the dagger. Noticing the slight yellow glow surrounding your whip and dagger you quickly pat down the items for a moment before looking up at the entrance of the alleyway only to see the same man that was with his boy you spotted while you were running from the trio of men, you quickly stood defensively as a man raised his hands.
"Wait, hold on a moment young lady, I was here to help you", he explained, you hesitantly put your dagger away but kept your whip out as you stared him down, the groans behind your made you look back momentarily but when the man spoke you immediately faced him, "But considering that these men are on the ground, it seems like you didn't need it", he gestures towards the men laying on the ground.
Carefully you wrapped up your whip and set it on your hip beneath your sash, when you look up again you noticed the boy running towards his father and briefly made eye contact with him as he slowed down to stop at his father's side, "Father!!", he cries out.
"Jojo, I told you to stay by the carriage", the father scolds, all while you watch from the sidelines awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other.
The boy looks at the scene in awe and concern as his gaze lands on you, his father spoke again, "Young lady, don't you live with family?", he asked,
"No, I live by myself on these streets sir", you answer, you did really see any reason for you to lie as you usually do.
"Well then, young lady, I believe I can still help you...", he states looking down at you stepping aside, and gesturing for you to follow him, looking back at the men still lying on the ground you cautiously approached the boy and his father, who then continued to speak,"... I'd like to take you in under my wing, your equipment makes you interesting to have around my manor, and maybe you can keep my son safe in more serious situations if you don't wish to come I understand", George explained.
You looked at the ground in thought as George then states, "You may think about it as I call the police to help clean up the -ahem- skirmish you got into", he leaves Jonathan with you as you thought about the situation, either go to the man's manor and act as a bodyguard for his son or roam the streets stealing money and scavenging for food. Looking at the boy you almost noticed his puppy-like eyes eagerly waiting for an answer, when he was caught looking at you his face tinted pink as his cheeks slightly puffed once he looked away.
Finally, you made a decision, when the older man came back you voiced your answer, "I'll go with you, but first I must know your name, sir, before I give you mine", you state, the man smiled as he stuck his hand out towards you in greeting -surprising you considering he was obviously a nobleman-.
"I am George Joestar", lightly grasping his hand you shook it firmly, and looked at his son who eagerly stuck his hand out to shake yours, "I am Jonathan, Jonathan Joestar", he chirps brightly, making you smile a bit.
"I'm (y/n) (l/n)".
You fiddled with your tattered hat as the carriage door soon opens, George gestures for you and Jonathan to enter before him. You sat next to Jonathan, facing his father's direction as Jonathan begins to converse with you, "So (y/n) how old are you exactly?", he asked.
"Twelve sir", you answer, fiddling with the whip in your hands.
"Same age as my son then", Mr. Jostar chuckles heartily as Jonathan smiled at you, "So (y/n), were you always on these streets, from your accent I can't tell if you're from Spain or another Hispanic area", Mr. Jostar questions, genuinely curious.
You slightly smile and look out of the carriage watching the scenery, "I was from Spain, but my mother was from Mexico, my father a Spanish tradesman, and I had three brothers and a sister -all of them older than me...", you look back at Mr. Joestar, "I was kidnapped at seven, only to be placed in an orphanage, but then there was a fire, few people didn't make it out alive... I believe this would be my fourth year on the streets now that I think of it", you explain thoughtfully.
Jonathan frowned as his father sighed softly at your story, feeling sympathetic, looking at the whip and dagger you carried Jonathan soon asked, "Did you acquire the whip and dagger from your time on the streets?".
You were hesitant about answering for a moment but responded anyways, "Yes actually, the dagger was given to me by a man who cared for me until he passed from an illness, and the whip... well it was used on me before I acquired it", you explain, slightly wincing at the end.
Mr. Joestar frowned at the end of your explanation, "Why do you still keep it young (Y/n)? Surely that awful thing must cause you some form of grief by holding onto it", he couldn't help but ask, you faintly smiled as you remembered your "mentor",
"While it is a painful reminder, it is something that I have gotten over, and it has given me a new "strength" so to say, I like to think of it as a fear or challenge that I conquered", you explain, George looked at you curiously but sighed as he nodded in acceptance of your words. It was not his place to take such a thing from you if you didn't wish to depart with it.
All while Jonathan listened to your story he saw you in a new light of admiration, Jonathan was about to say something until he saw his home in view, "Oh (y/n)! We're here now!", he chirped excitedly.
You humed lightly at the sight of his excitement, unused to his rather openly friendly nature, and looked outside to see Mr.Joestar's estate, to say you weren't impressed would've been a huge lie. You couldn't help it when your eyes widened at the sight of the manor and its impressive scenery when the carriage stopped in front of the manor's steps, Jonathan hopped out of the carriage excitedly making you wonder if there was something he was eagerly waiting for. And it wasn't until a dog- that looked to be a Harlequin Great Dane breed- appeared and ran towards Jonathan. Stepping out of the carriage you watched as Jonathan continued to give his dog affection, with a small smile you approached them walking until Jonathan noticed you coming over.
"(Y/n) this is Danny, one of my best friends!", he claims proudly, looking at the Great Dane you hummed softly in response as he knelt down slowly, and stretch your hand out for Danny to sniff.
Danny slowly approached you and nudged your hand a couple of times before sniffing you, his tail slowly began to wag faster until he licked your fingers making you chuckle as you slowly started to scratch behind his ears. You giggled as he leaned into your touch while you stroked and pet his fur, Jonathan also laughed lightly at the sight of you and Danny slowly forming a bond.
"Looks like you're good with animals (y/n)", Jonathan complimented.
"Well, when you have been on the streets for a long time, animals become your family, there are very few people you can trust around the streets", you explain.
Jonathan stared at you for a while as you continue to pet Danny taking comfort in his dog-like ways, "I'll be your friend (y/n)!", Jonathan declared.
Your head snaps towards his direction in surprise, and your eyes slightly widened as you stared at his own determined ones.
Soon a small grin came onto your lips as stood up, Jonathan grins as you huffed but gave the boy a curt nod as you placed a hand on your hip beginning to admire the boy's tenacity, "Okay Jonathan, let's be friends".
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Notes;
•The reader has a set nationality because of the setup in the second story that has to do with linage but I'm allowing free choice in hair color/length/texture/type, eye color, skin color, etc.
•This was going to be an OC story insert but I decided to change it
•I did draw the attire that the reader wares but I won't reveal it until I'm finished coloring it
+Hope you enjoy the story