Sowing Seeds

[buon_giorno]

"Come here...isn't your paw hurt?"

Giorno had full intentions of stealing a mid-day nap, but Croccante was high on one of the broken pillars beside the door to his room. The white cat eyed him but didn't come down. Giorno sighed and rubbed his head. Just looking up for too long was hard when he had been on his feet for longer than an hour or two.

It had been just two days since he cured Joseph. He had slept almost the rest of the day through and that was all he was allowing himself after making himself so scarce for a whole week. At some point doubt would creep into the community gossip and that was the last thing he needed to manage.

Giorno leaned against the pillar and put some of his energy into the ivy vines that crept up it. The flowers burst open, surprising the small cat, and urging her to leap down--right onto his head. He quickly pried her out of his now-mussed curls and inspected her paw. A little splinter poked out of the pink pad, and he squinted to pluck it out--and missed. And tried again--and missed. His hands were shaking. Croccante's tail was swishing in irritation. He summoned all his focus and managed to fix his fingers around it to pull it out, and the fluffy cat bolted out of his arms not a moment later.

"Yes, yes...you're welcome." Giorno watched her take off down the hall.

Comments

[nohardwork]

"What? Us being here?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar bumped their foreheads together. "Us being here. Being apart from Coach Lisa Lisa. You being saved by your...grandson."

[nohardwork]

Joseph hummed at that. "It's strange, but not bad. Though I do wonder what Caesarino would do if I weren't here with him!"

[youre_the_sunflower]

"...Work to avenge your death?"

[nohardwork]

"You'd be lonely, wouldn't you, Caesarino?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

The reddening of his cheeks was obvious. "As if you wouldn't."

[nohardwork]

"It hasn't been very long, but I'm used to having you around now. I couldn't stand it if you went somewhere else without me."

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar's lips quirked. "Or stolen away. I've gotten a few propositions since arriving."

[nohardwork]

"What? Really??" Joseph visibly sulked.

[youre_the_sunflower]

"None I've taken, mind. I was waiting for you."

[nohardwork]

"That's better!"

[youre_the_sunflower]

"No matter what happens, Jojo, whatever that makes us...I never want to be apart."

[nohardwork]

"Yeah." There were no disagreements from Jojo.

"Now let's go cuddle in your bed!" Without ceremony, he snatched Caesar's hand and launched himself in the direction of their bed.

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar yelped, catching himself on his forearm as he rolled over Joseph. The bed creaked in warning but held up admirably.

"I've--" he grunted softly as he tried to find a comfortable position, "--I've been thinking...about how to contribute."

[nohardwork]

"Yeah?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

"Yes, I've decided. I'll be assisting with the expeditions to explore the abyss."

[nohardwork]

"Oh? Interested in what's out there?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

“I’m not sure that’s the word I’d use…” It sounded creepy, no matter how much Zelda’s eyes lit up when she spoke of it. “But it could hold answers. There are only so many here who are ready and willing to venture into danger. If I can use my abilities where they’re most needed…”

[nohardwork]

"You need another volunteer?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar’s lips quirked “If you’ve the stomach for it.”

[nohardwork]

"You think I don't?"

[youre_the_sunflower]

“I was prepared for you to insist you had to focus on your paternal duties or some such thing.”

[nohardwork]

"That kid can take care of himself," Joseph said, reaching out to rub one of Caesar's birthmarks with a single digit. "He might not be as strong or handsome, but he knows what he's doing."

[youre_the_sunflower]

Caesar closed an eye as Joseph’s thumb rubbed his cheek. It was something he would have given him an uppercut for not two weeks ago.

“Perhaps…but family…it’s a blessing.” Caesar’s mouth set into a line, the corners of his mouth firm against something unspoken.

[nohardwork]

"Yeah, yeah," Joseph said in flippant English. He hoped that Granny Erina was somewhere safe with Speedwagon. It wasn't something he liked to dwell on very much because he worried. And Joseph didn't like to worry.

"I'll take care of him."