Chapter Text
“Here on special Speedwagon Foundation business, aye?” Rohan hummed. “Are you able to share more?”
Jotaro pulled the bill of his hat down over his eyes. “It’s a former enemy stand user. We thought he retired over ten years ago, but I guess he caught when of new stand users and has turned back to his old ways.”
“What’s his name? What does his stand do?” Rohan smiled.
“Not right now.” The Kujo huffed while him and the Kishibe stood waiting for the Higashikata, Nijimura, and Hirose. “The others should be here in a little while. Old man, take a seat, apparently your son is running late.”
“You say that like you weren’t late all the time when we were in Egypt.” Joseph chuckled. “It’s only 15 minutes after the time we agreed on.”
Rohan crossed his arms over his chest, with a smirk. He turned and saw the Higashikata running toward the group with Okuyasu and Koichi behind him. “Here he comes. We gonna grab a table?” The group headed into the café, but someone tapped on the mangaka’s shoulder. “Yes?”
“You are Kishibe Rohan, yeah?” The man asked with a smile.
“Who would like to know?” The Kishibe kept his guard up. Josuke stepped over to Rohan. The Higashikata wrapped his arms around the older man. “Hello Josuke.”
“Who is this? A fan?” Josuke smiled and placed a kiss to Rohan’s cheek. “Want me to leave you alone?”
“Atta boy, Josuke. Leave the business to the grown ups.” The man smiled. Jotaro straightened up.
The Kujo shot up. “Rohan! Josuke! Run!”
“Atta boy, Jotaro!” The revealed stand user summoned his stand.
“Star Platinum! The World!”
“Hermit Purple!”
Josuke was shoved out of the way in the nick of time, but Rohan wasn’t so lucky. Jotaro went flying toward the man. “Alessi! I should have killed you when I had the chance.”
“Oh look, Jotaro.” Alessi laughed pointing at the shirking form.
“Dora!” Crazy Diamond sent a fist into Alessi’s skull.
Alessi fell to the ground. “Stupid, I have improved my skills with my stand.” He was absorbed into his shadow and vanished.
Josuke scrambled over to a very young green haired Kishibe, and fell to his knees. “Rohan?”
“Why am I small?” It sounded so pathetic. The Kishibe slammed his mouth closed. He looked over at the Kujo, his eyes asking so many questions.
“Jotaro.” Joseph called out to his grandson. “Alessi’s stand has gotten more powerful.”
“What do you mean old man?” Jotaro turned around to see the Joestar back to the shape he was back in Egypt, maybe even younger.
“My Hermit Purple was only wrapped around Rohan, but I was deaged as well. I can’t be older than 50.” Joseph spoke examining his body. His real teeth were back, he didn’t need a cane, his mind was clear again, he was much more fit, muscular.”
Josuke looked at his father. He realized how his mother was attracted to the senior. He went back to focusing his attention on Rohan. “Are you ok?” Rohan nodded. “How old are you, Roh?”
Two fingers raised from the shrunken man’s hand. Tears were welding up in the boy’s eyes. Rohan’s stoic nature had devolved to child emotions. He raised his hands to the Higashikata. Josuke was more than happy to scoop up the now toddler and stand up. He placed Rohan on his hip. Jotaro stepped over to his nephew. “Take him back to yours and his house. Watch over him. Gramps and I will hunt down Alessi. He may forget who you are, because his mind is reverting back to childhood. He doesn’t have a stand. I am going to ring that bastards neck until he changes Rohan back.”
“Ok.” Josuke nodded. “The faster the better.”
(*&^%$#@$%^&(**&^%^78
“Where going?” Rohan asked as they walked down the street toward the Kishibe house.
“We are going home.” Josuke looked at the toddler on his hip. Rohan slipped his thumb into his mouth. The Higashikata shook his head and tugged his shrunk boyfriend’s hand out of his mouth. “No, No, Babe. Your hands are dirty.”
Rohan whined. “No…”
Josuke smirked. “Yes, Baby.”
The bottom lip of the toddler’s started to tremble. He sniffed. “I wanna—”
“Shh, shhh, Baby. Don’t cry.” Josuke felt panic start to bubble. “Rohan, Baby. You don’t want eeky finger in your mouth.”
The toddler hiccupped. Josuke felt Rohan’s hand tighten on his jacket on his back. He buried his face into Josuke’s jacket. “Why I crying?”
“It’s because you’re a baby. You can cry, Babe.” Josuke rubbed Rohan’s back. “We are almost home.”
(*&^%$#$%^&(**&^%$^&*(
“Not tired!” Rohan screamed.
Josuke knelt down and held the toddler’s waist. “Baby, you keep yawning. It’s bedtime.”
“No wanna!” Rohan stomped in place.
“Come on, we are gonna lay down in bed.”
“No wanna!”
“Just lay down with me.” The Higashikata sat down on their bed. He set Rohan in his lap. “Cuddle with me.”
Rohan pouted as Josuke laid down and the Kishibe curled up beside him. “No..”
“Close your eyes. You don’t haveta sleep, just close your eyes.”
The toddler sat up and got on his knees. He patted Josuke’s stomach. “Gotta potty!”
“Ok, that’s where we are going.” Josuke sat up. He set Rohan on the ground and he toddled off toward the bathroom. The Higashikata crouched down and helped his former boyfriend get his pants down and set him on the toilet. “Right on, we made it this time.”
“I said sorry, Jojo.” Rohan sniffed. “Im tiny, barely potty twained.”
Josuke shook his head. “Don’t cry, babe. I told you it wasn’t your fault. The fucking stand user is at fault. We are still learning. We made it this time and that’s all that matters.”
Rohan hiccupped as he finished. “Done.”
“Come on, lets go lay down again.”
“Sleepy now.”
“Me too, Babe.”
(*&^%$%^&(**&^%^&*(
Josuke knew why he wasn’t ready for having kids. Rohan was in the middle of a temper tantrum. The toddler screamed as he sobbed at 8 in the morning. “Babe, don’t cry. We can’t watch TV right now.”
Rohan stomped his feet and cried. “TV!”
“We have to see Jotaro and Joseph. We need to get ready for the day.”
“NO!” Rohan sobbed and flopped down onto his butt.
“Do you not wanna see Jotaro and Joseph, Ro?”
“Tv.” Rohan hiccupped. Josuke stood up from his place on the couch. He picked up the toddler and started walking up the stairs. “NO! NO!”
The Higashikata stepped into the bedroom. “We aren’t gonna watch TV. We have work to do. I don’t want you a toddler forever.”
Josuke somehow got the toddler dressed and out of the house heading toward the café. “I thirsty.”
“When we get to the café, I’ll get you something. The house didn’t have any kids cups.” The Higashikata hoisted the deaged man higher on his hip. “What do you want?”
“You will laugh at me.” Rohan hid his face.
Josuke stopped and tilted Rohan’s head up to face him. “We talked about this. It’s natural to want something childish, because you are a child. Tell me, what do you want?”
They entered the café and ordered before walking over to the table where Jotaro and Joseph were waiting. “Want milk.”
“Milk it is.” The Higashikata smiled, they ordered and walked to the Joestar bloodline. “Hey, Jotaro and Dad.”
“Good morning.” Joseph smiled. “I hope you got some sleep.”
Rohan nodded and slowly slid his thumb into his mouth. Josuke pulled it back out and held onto the hand. The Kishibe frowned and his bottom lip started to wobble. He whined and kicked his legs as a Josuke sat down. The pompadour man placed the toddler into his lap so they were chest to chest. Tears started to bubble in Rohan’s eyes and he gripped the fabric of Josuke jacket. “I got like four hours, but it’s fine until we find that asshole.” He rubbed Rohan’s back and the man cried softly, into the cop in training’s shirt. “What did you find about that stand user?”
“What we already knew was that this guy’s name is Alessi.” Joseph explained. “Jotaro and a comrade, Polnareff were attacked by him. Polnareff was turned into a toddler and Jotaro a 7 year old. I, personally, never saw the man. His stand is named Sethan, which represents the Egyptian’s God, Set.”
“Did you find out anything new?”
Jotaro nodded. “We have Alessi at one of The Speedwagon Foundation prisons where he is being interrogated. It seems like he isn’t giving up his secrets that easily.”
“So, Rohan is going to stay like this for longer?” Josuke whispered.
“Seems like it. As much as I have missed my past self, I have lived my life and would like to go back to my crusty self soon enough too.” Joseph barked. “Right now, I am younger than I was when Jotaro and I went to Egypt, also younger than I was when I realized my stand.”
“I have a kiddie milk for the cutie and a cappuccino for Daddy.” The waitress smiled. She crouched down and frowned. “Awh, poor thing. Don’t cry, Honey. Would you like a cookie? Daddy would you let him have a cookie?”
Josuke grew a pink tint on his cheeks. “Yeah, I think he will love a cookie.”
“A cookie is coming up!”
“Ro, baby, wanna turn around so you can have your milk?”
“No.” The toddler whimpered. He wiped his nose on Josuke shirt. The Higashikata rolled his eyes and spun the Kishibe around. The mangaka placed his tiny hands on the table.
Joseph smiled. “I have to say that Rohan as a toddler is pretty adorable.”
“You say that now, but at 4 in the morning when he wakes up and jumps on your chest, isn’t so adorable.”
“I think you forgot Josuke, I am father. I might not have raised you, but your half sister, Holly, Jotaro’s mom…I raised and have had that happen.”
Rohan reached out for his drink, that was just out of his grasp. He whined and hit his hands on the table. Josuke scoot back from the table and grabbed the drink, but kept it out of Rohan’s reach. The Kishibe tried to reach again. “Babe, don’t hit the table. Use your words.”
“Can I has—have my milk.” Rohan corrected himself from using the toddler language that came naturally right now.
“Sure, Don’t grab. I will hold the cup.” Josuke said sternly.
“Ok.” The toddler agreed. “Thank you.”
Joseph watched his son help the now young Kishibe. “You seem to be handling all of this very well, Josuke.”
Josuke chuckled slightly. “I’m not cut out for kids. I’m doing this because this is my boyfriend and it’s temporary. I can do temporary.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, my boy. You’re a natural. You’ve been able to keep Rohan calm, who I would think is barely holding it together for his situation.” Joseph shook his head. “I know that still in your mind you see me as a deadbeat dad, but I like to think I did a good job of raising Holly.”
The Kujo huffed tilting his hat forward. “Good grief. I would have to agree with the old man. You’ve got natural instincts. Mom practically raised me on her own while Dad was touring all the time and when he is home he is locked away writing music. However, how Granny Suzie and Gramps raised her rubbed off onto her.”
“I didn’t know your father wasn’t around often, Jotaro.” Josuke set the kids cup on the table when Rohan pushed it away from him. He quickly turned his head when Joseph growled deeply and clenched his robotic hand shattered the mug. “Huh?”
“Don’t worry about Gramps. He’s not to fond of my father.”
“He whisked away my precious little girl across the global and she never came back.” Joseph huffed. “Your father is an inconsiderate ass.”
“Yeah, yeah, we get it.” Jotaro rolled his eyes. “Good grief.”
Josuke nodded as Rohan tugged on his sleeve. “Mom raised me on her own. Yeah, I know how to cook and clean, but taking care of another living person to terrifying.”
“They say you are never ready to dive into parenthood.” Jotaro nodded. “I sure as Hell was ready for Jolyne.”
“That’s why you are divorced and don’t see her very often.” Joseph crossed his arms over his chest. “But you are right Jotaro, you will never be truly ready. You just have to be prepared for anything.”
Rohan started to whine and tug harder on Josuke sleeve. The Higashikata looked down. “What’s up, Babe?” All he could see were tears welding up in his eyes and the Kishibe sniffed. “What’s with the tears? What’s wrong?”
The wail began. Josuke went wide eyed and instantly spun his boyfriend around. Rohan grabbed Josuke’s jacket immediately and sobbed. Jotaro and Joseph searched for anything that would be the cause of the sudden outcry. Joseph rose to his feet. “Josuke, you said that Rohan was teetering between being potty trained, right?”
Josuke nodded and pulled the mangaka away from his chest, which the toddler did not agree with. There is was. A small wet spot at the crotch of Rohan’s pants, that the Higashikata bought the days prior on the way home from the attack. “Shhh, Ro, it’s ok. I’m sorry. Everything’s ok.”
The toddler continued to wail. Joseph placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. Take Rohan home. Jotaro and I will be back with some supplies for you and then we can wait at your house for word from the Speedwagon Foundation on Alessi.”
(*&^%$^&(*&^%^&*()
Rohan cried the whole walk home and through the whole bath. The Higashikata paced around the house with Rohan only wrapped in a towel. The Kishibe hiccupped and cried out apologies. Josuke just kept telling him that everything was ok. The front of his shirt was now wet with tears, drool and snot. He had discarded his jacket when he was bathing the toddler.
“I’m sorry.” Rohan coughed. “Sorry!”
Josuke rocked the Kishibe, softly. “Don’t be sorry. You’re ok.” He looked out the window by the front door and saw the Joestar and Kujo walking up the walkway. “Look, Babe, Joseph and Jotaro are here.”
“Jojo…Jo…” Rohan sobbed again. He squirmed in Rohan’s arms and screamed in panic. “Jojo!”
“Shh, shh, did you potty again?” The Kishibe screamed and wailed, while Josuke took that as an answer. “It’s ok. It’s ok.”
The Higashikata opened the front door and let the two Joestars inside. “Sorry!”
Joseph had a bag of supplies. “Alright, Buddy, we got some things for you.”
Josuke followed his father into the living room. “What all did you get?”
“The basic toddler essentials.” Jotaro began pulling things out of the bag. “The main things that we got for Rohan. Go and set him on the couch.”
Rohan cried harder and clung onto Josuke. “That’s probably not gonna happen. He’s got a vice grip on me.”
The Kujo nodded. “Rohan, you don’t want another accident, do you?” He bent over to look at Rohan. “We’re trying to help you, Rohan. Can you trust me?”
“Yeah.” The mangaka whimpered, but gripped Josuke tighter. Joseph handed Jotaro something and the second the toddler saw what they wanted to give him. “No!”
Josuke rocked his boyfriend. “Baby, listen to me. It’s ok. We are trying to help you.”
“Nonono.” Rohan sobbed. “Not-no baby.”
The eldest Joestar stepped over to Rohan and slipped something quickly into his mouth. The Kishibe froze in confusion. That gave Jotaro the chance to summon Star Platinum and The World. He had enough time to grab the item and put it on the toddler. When time unfroze, the Kishibe was even more confused. “That wasn’t so bad, was it. Now there won’t be anymore accidents.”
Rohan hiccupped as he realized that Joseph put a pacifier in his mouth and was willingly suckling on it for comfort. He squeezed Josuke’s shirt over and over again. Josuke bounced Rohan gently, while rubbing his back. “Is it time for a nap, Babe?”
“Yeah.”
(*&^%$%^&*(*&^%^&*()
Josuke walked extremely slow as Rohan tried his hardest to toddle fast down the street to lead the way to the café. The mangaka had grown to like the pacifier. He was forced to have it clipped to his shirt, so it wouldn’t hit the ground, because everyone knew that he would pick it back up and not worry about it. “Babe, we’re gonna be late. Let me carry you to the café.”
“No.” He mumbled behind the paci.
“Come on, Baby. We’ll get there faster with my feet than yours.” Josuke scooped him up and placed the toddler on his hip. “Jotaro said he had good news.”
They reached the café, and Josuke ordered Rohan’s milk. They sat down. Joseph had a smirked on his face. “Well, Alessi is still the dipshit that Jotaro said he was.”
“A dipshit, immature dumpweed.” Jotaro snorted. “The asshole forgot that Joseph may not have had his stand at this age, but he had something that Alessi didn’t.”
Josuke raised an eyebrow. “And that was?”
The Joestar puffed out his chest. “I am trained in the art form of Hamon.”
“What is Hamon?”
“It’s an energy that everyone has, but only certain people can tap into that energy and use it to fight.”
Rohan squirmed in Josuke’s arms. He whined. “Down.”
The Higashikata set the boy on the ground. Rohan stayed by Josuke’s side but just looked around, observing everything. He suckled hard on his pacifier. “What did you find out?”
“This is not permanent. The effects will only last for a week.” Jotaro grumbled as he watched Rohan look around, holding onto either Josuke’s jacket hem or the chair. “Joseph and Rohan will be back to their original age.”
Their waitress came over and set the group their drinks. Rohan softly waved at the woman. She noticed. “Hey Darling. You are a cutie.” Rohan grew shy and buried his face in Josuke’s leg. “Awh, don’t be shy. Is he yours?”
“He’s my boyfriend’s nephew.”
“He is adorable.” She cooed.
Rohan lifted his arms over his head and whined. “Up.”
Josuke scooped him back up. “I think he’s getting close to his naptime.”
“Well, I’m going to let you enjoy your day.” She walked off.
“Do you want your milk, Baby?” Josuke ran his fingers through Rohan’s hair. The Kishibe looked up at his boyfriend and turned his torso. He nodded. “Well, can I have your pacifier?”
“No.”
Joseph laughed outwardly. “The terrible twos are called that for a reason.”
“You got that right.” Jotaro smiled as he watched Josuke haggle with the temporary toddler. “Just pull out the pacifier, Josuke. He’ll whine for a second, but then offer him the milk.”
The Higashikata did just that. Rohan accepted the drink. “Joseph, if this is temporary that means you’re gonna turn back into a crusty old man.”
“Don’t say it like that. I have lived my life. Nothing can stop Joseph Joestar.” He smiled. “How has Rohan been since he had to transition to—”
Josuke shook his head and quickly placed his index finger up to his lips. “Not a word.”
Jotaro smirked. “Let’s try to avoid as many temper tantrums as we can.”
“So this time next week Rohan will be back to his ago, right?”
“Yes.”
(*&^%$%^&^%$%^&(*)
It was early and Josuke just wanted to sleep, but Rohan hadn’t let him. So at 7 and there was someone knocking on the door. The groggy Higashikata opened the door to reveal one Hirose Koichi. “Morning, Josuke!”
“Hey Koichi, what are you doing here?” Josuke yawned. He realized he opened the door in nothing but his boxers and yellow tank. “Sorry for being under dressed. Haven’t got much sleep in the past three or four days.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I hadn’t seen Rohan in a while. I’ve been crazy busy with school and planning the wedding with Yukako.” Koichi smiled. “Is it too early?”
Josuke yawned again. “Rohan isn’t feeling himself right now. Sorry to be the one to deliver the bad news.”
Koichi frowned. “I guess I’ll come back later then. Do you think later today he’ll be alright?”
“No, I don’t think he’ll be well until like next week.” Josuke rubbed his eye. “Sorry, Ko.”
“That’s alright. Send him my regards.” Koichi started walking off.
“Will do.” Josuke shut the door and sat down on the steps of the staircase. He quickly stood up and darted up the steps. Rohan was still peacefully sleeping on the bed. The Higashikata sighed and climbed up the bed. He curled up around the toddler and fell back asleep.
The next time he opened his eyes Rohan was crawling on him and trying to wake him. He looked at the clock. The Kishibe let him sleep for another 45 minutes. “Hungry.”
“Lay with me for a little longer, Ro. Jojo’s still sleepy.” Josuke tried to negotiate with the mangaka.
“Hungry now.” Rohan pouted.
Josuke huffed and reached out to the landline phone. He dialed the one number he could think of in his sleep deprived state. He waited for him to pick up. “Hey, Okuyasu.”
“Oi Josuke, bro!” Oku beamed. “What’s up, man? Haven’t seen you in like a week. What’s going on?”
“Hey, man. I’m exhausted. Haven’t gotten much sleep in a few days. Rohan isn’t himself. Can you bring some food from Tonio’s before your shift?”
“Yeah, man. I’ll be over in like twenty minutes.”
“Thanks, man.” Josuke hung up and looked at Rohan. “Food is coming, Babe. Lay with me.”
Rohan whined. The Higashikata reached over and grabbed the pacifier that fell onto the mattress. He slipped it into his boyfriend mouth. He accepted it and looked at the cop in training. The toddler whined again and nudged Josuke.
“Cuddle with me, Babe.” He must have fallen asleep before hearing an answer. Next thing he knew an adult voice was trying to wake him up. He hummed and cracked open an eye. “Huh?”
Okuyasu stood at the side of the bed holding Rohan in his arms. The boy had his head resting on Oku’s shoulder as he suckled hard on the pacifier, clutching hard on the Nijimura’s uniform. “Bro, you waking up?”
Josuke lifted his head, trying to orient himself. “Wha--?”
“I called Jotaro and spoke with him and he explained everything. You should have called me sooner, bro.”
“Didn’t wan ta bother you.” Josuke weakly sat up. Okuyasu frowned as Rohan frowned and closed his eyes.
“That’s stupid, bro. I have been taking care of my dad longer than he took care of me. Rohan has been a toddler for three, four days?”
“Four…” Josuke ran a hand down his face. “Jotaro and Joseph said he’ll be back to normal in seven more days.”
“Well, you should have called me when this all happened. I could have helped. You really scared little bro.” Okuyasu frowned.
Josuke hummed. “Can you watch him for a couple more hours?”
“Sure, bro.”
(*&^%$#$%^&(**&^%^&(*)
He woke up late in the afternoon. He felt refreshed. He could hear Rohan and Okuyasu nearby. They must have been in Rohan’s studio. He pulled himself out of bed and padded down the hallway. “Are you drawing a kitty cat?”
“Yeah.” Rohan beamed.
Josuke peaked his head into the studio. The mangaka’s hyperawareness was still as strong as always and noticed his boyfriend. “Jojo.”
Oku straightened up and smiled as his eyes followed the toddlers to find his best friend. “Oi, Josuke.”
“Hey, Oku. Thanks for letting me sleep.” Josuke smiled and stepped into the room. “What are you doing in here?”
“Entertaining a mangaka by letting him draw.”
Rohan smiled and beamed with pride of his work, even if he was a toddler. Josuke smiled and sat down beside his boyfriend. “Even as a toddler, you sure are one Hell of an artist, Babe.”
“Here.” The mangaka grabbed the drawing and handed it to Josuke. “Take.”
“For me?”
“Yeah.” Rohan grabbed a crayon that Okuyasu must have gone out and bought or found them in the studio somewhere.
Josuke smiled and set the paper down beside him and went back to watching the Kishibe draw. Okuyasu rose to his feet. He started cleaning things up and putting them away. “I spoke with Joseph on the phone about an hour ago and we are going to go to the Grand Morioh Hotel. We should start heading out.”
“Why are we meeting them?”
“Apparently, about some new info about the stand user that did this to Sensei and Joestar-san.” The Nijimura gently took the paper and crayons from the toddler who whined. “It’s ok. We can draw some more after we meet with Joseph and Jotaro, and have dinner.”
Rohan frowned. “No.”
“I promise that you can draw some more before night night.”
Josuke scooped up his boyfriend. “Do you have to potty or do you need a change?” The Kishibe blushed and hid his face in Josuke’s neck. “It’s ok. Let’s go to the bedroom.”
Okuyasu stepped out of the studio with his best friend, but walked down the stairs. Rohan clutched Josuke’s shirt tightly. The mangaka whined and kicked his legs. “Jojo.”
“What’s up, Babe?” Josuke pulled Rohan away from his chest. The big green eyes glistened up at him as his bottom lip quivered. “What’s wrong?”
Rohan rubbed his fists into his eyes. “Sorry.”
“Why are you sorry, Bab?” Josuke ran his fingers through Rohan’s hair. He bounced the boy lightly then it dawned on him. “Was it more than just a pee-pee?”
“Yeah.” He whimpered.
“That’s ok.” Josuke wiped away the tears. “Let’s get you all cleaned up so you can look pretty for Jotaro and Joseph.”
(*&^%$%^&(*&^%$^&(*_)
“So, Alessi broke even more the more that Gramps railed him with Hamon.” Jotaro was now the one with Rohan in his lap as Josuke ate. “The man spilt all of details of why he did this, what was the purpose and who paid him to do so.”
Joseph smirked. “He was aiming for Jotaro and you, Josuke. He actually got starstruck with Rohan and that threw him off.”
Josuke nodded. “Makes sense. Rohan is a celebrity is certain circles.”
“It also makes sense why Alessi would be a fan of manga…he preys on adults and turns them into kids, he is immature like a child.” The Joestar got up from his seat and walked over to the window and sat down and got into lotus position. Josuke raised an eyebrow and looked at his nephew. “Ignore him. He’s trying something out, but I don’t think it’s gonna work.”
“Shut up, Jotaro. You don’t understand Hamon. I know what it can do. I stopped using it to be normal with Suzie Q, but when Dio gave us a stand I used it a select few times. I had no need for my Hamon training.” Joseph spoke sternly with his eyes closed. “You have met your great grandmother Lisa Lisa.”
“Yes, when I was very young.”
“If this works, you will understand.” Joseph inhaled deeply.
Jotaro shook his head. “Good grief.” He looked down at the Kishibe who was just watching while he suckled on the pacifier. He played with Jotaro’s fingers. “Whatever, Alessi heard about something going on in Italy about something Dio related and thought we were involved to end it, so he took it upon himself to try to eliminate us.”
“Well, what is going on in Italy?”
“Don’t worry about it. I have settled things there. Nothing Dio related going on.”
Rohan threw the Kujo’s hand away from him. Jotaro flinched. The three generations of Joestar’s looked over to the Kishibe. He stretched his arms over to the Higashikata. He whined and leaned forward. Jotaro gripped Rohan’s waist so he didn’t fall off his lap. “No!”
Josuke got up and lifted his boyfriend into his arms. “I gotcha, Babe. Is it night night?”
“Yeah.” Rohan nuzzled into Josuke’s chest and gripped the Higashikata’s shirt.
“I thought he wanted to draw before he went to sleep.” Okuyasu spoke from his place beside his best friend.
“If he wants to sleep, I’m gonna let him sleep.”
“That’s a horrible sleep schedule for a toddler, Josuke.” Joseph huffed. “What time does he go to sleep every night?”
Josuke looked at his watch. “Around this time. It’s later than I thought.”
“No wonder he’s cranky, if you don’t have a strict sleep schedule…”
“I’m not ready to be a dad. Rohan and I were just getting used to living together after a year. We weren’t thinking about marriage or kids anytime soon.” Josuke tried to not raise his voice for Rohan. “This is only temporary. I don’t have to be strict. I just have to make sure that he eats, sleeps and get through the day.”
Jotaro nodded. “Gramps is just saying that Rohan might be in a better mood during this time if he is put on a regular sleep schedule.”
“Well this is only gonna be for a few more days.” Josuke shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Well, when you can’t sleep at night and Okuyasu found you asleep with Rohan crying beside you, that’s not safe. What would have happened if he had fallen off the bed, Josuke?” The Kujo scolded him. “Think about that, Josuke.”
“I have thought about it, Jotaro.” The Higashikata hissed. “What do you know about raising a child? You have been traveling around the world with the Speedwagon Foundation, being away from Jolyne and you wife.”
The Kujo jumped to his feet, sending the chair flying backward. He summoned his stand. The Kishibe flinched and let out a yelp. The Higashikata stood up quickly with Rohan in his arms. Okuyasu jumped up and scooped the mangaka out of Josuke’s hands, the moment Crazy Diamond appeared. “You need to mind your own business, Prince wannabe.”
“You wanna relive your good ol’ days when you went to Egypt with Joseph, but nothing excites you like that anymore.” Josuke growled. “You think working with the Speedwagon Foundation will give you the same purpose you had when you were 17 or even when Kira was here in Morioh.”
“Shut your damn mouth, Higashikata.”
“You’re not my mother, Jotaro. You can’t tell me what to do.” Josuke growled. “You can’t try to control me. I didn’t even know you until you found out about the stupid fucking affair Joseph had with my mother.”
Star Platinum lurched forward and Crazy Diamond followed suit. They were about to battle when Okuyasu interrupted. “Guys!” The two men looked over at the Nijimura. Rohan was sobbing in Oku’s arms. “Shut up! Stop yelling. Seriously, it’s like neither of you have babysat a child before. You should both be ashamed. First, Jotaro, you startle him awake, two you both yelling at each other, scaring the boy.”
Josuke frowned and walked over to his best friend and went to take his boyfriend. Rohan screamed and clung tighter to Okuyasu. “Ro, babe, I’m sorry.”
Jotaro huffed and lower his head. “Good grief.”
Okuyasu walked over to the couch by the window and sat down, while Joseph got up. He bounced Rohan on his knee. Josuke groaned and walked out of the hotel room. He collapsed down to the ground and propped against the wall in the hallway. He heard the hotel room door open and then close. He didn’t attempt to look up. “Hey.”
The Higashikata looked up to find Joseph looking down at him. “What do you want?”
“For you to pull your head out of your own ass for one moment.” The older man huffed and slid down the wall to sit down beside his son. “You gotta stop pushing away and insulting the people that are trying to help you. You could have definitely had Okuyasu helped you if you were struggling, but you didn’t ask him. He had to find out on his own. Jotaro and I have raised children, yes, Jotaro has had his family problems, but he’s had more experience raising a child than you. Technically, he didn’t have to help you do shit once Alessi was captured, but he did.”
“I know you don’t have to lecture me.” Josuke brought his knees to his chest. “I just want my boyfriend to be back to his normal age.”
Joseph nodded. “I understand, but while he is in this vulnerable state, you need to take care of him.”
“I just need to hold Rohan.” Josuke sprung to his feet and ran into Jotaro hotel room once again. Jotaro was looking out the window stoically, while Okuyasu walked around the room with a now sniffling toddler in his arms. The Higashikata quickly walked over to his best friend with open arms. The Nijimura carefully handed off Rohan. The Kishibe nuzzled into Josuke grasp. He began walking toward his nephew. Jotaro lifted a hand to Josuke. “No, let me…”
“I get it. You’re stressed. What you said was true, but you had no right to say it aloud. Let’s never speak of that ever again.” Jotaro tilted his hat over his eyes. “Go to my bed and laid down with Rohan. He needs sleep and so do you.”
“No, I’ll go home. Rohan doesn’t like to sleep in strange places. He likes his own bed.” Josuke glanced down at his boyfriend.
“Believe me. You and him both need sleep and I can definitely tell that he can’t sleep until you are asleep. As much as he is teetering between two year old Rohan and 24 year old Rohan he still needs to make sure you are ok as well. So, just take my bed and I’ll crash on the couch.”
“Are you sure?” Josuke asked again.
“Just go, Josuke. Good night.”
(*&^%$^&(**&^%$^&(*)_
Josuke woke up to an empty bed. He sat up and looked around. It was a little after noon. He heard talking in the other room. He wiped a hand down his face and got up. He padded into the living room. Jotaro was at the dining table with Rohan on his knee. The Kishibe was eating happily with his hands on what Josuke could only think was room service breakfast cut into pieces small enough for a two year old. Jotaro was just sipping on his coffee making sure that Rohan didn’t make too much of a mess. “Morning.”
The Kujo looked up and nodded. The Higashikata pulled out a chair beside his nephew and sat down. Rohan looked up and smiled at his boyfriend. “Sleep well?”
“Yeah, better than I have in days.” Josuke smirked. “When did he wake up? I normally wake when he started waking up.”
“It was about 6-ish. I was already awake and heard him. You were awake, but I don’t think anything was registering. I picked him up and you went back to sleep.”
“What have you been doing for the past few hours?”
Jotaro smirked. “I had a few errands to run, so I took him with me. We had just got back about half an hour ago and he insisted on his leftover breakfast for lunch.”
Josuke looked at the clock. “So, he’ll be going down for a nap soon.”
“You have him on more of a schedule than I originally thought.” Jotaro raised an eyebrow.
“You tried having to wrangle an already stubborn person into a schedule. If he doesn’t want something…it’s not gonna happen.” Josuke huffed.
The Kujo nodded again. “This will all be over in just a few days, so you wont have to deal with a child.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Jotaro. I don’t mind kids. I’m just not good with them.” Rohan pushed the plate away from him and made grabby hands to his boyfriend. Josuke walked over and plucked the mangaka from his seat in Jotaro’s lap. “Hold on, Babe. We gotta clean you hands and face. This is the messiest you’ve ever been while eating.”
Jotaro shook his head. “Good grief. Josuke. I need to get some work done. Take Rohan home and entertain him there.”
*&^%$#$%^&(*&^%$^&(*)
“Shh, shh, shhh, Baby. It’s ok. You’re ok. I’m sorry.” Josuke was close to tears. He knew that crying would only make the situation worse, but everything he tried to do made Rohan more upset. He blindly made a phone call and when there was a knock on the door Josuke was barely holding it together.
“Oi, Josuke. Everything ok, bro?” Josuke could just shook his head as he swayed trying to calm the wailing toddler. The Nijimura let himself in and closed the front door. “I couldn’t understand you when you called, what’s going on?”
“We—We were pla-playing and he-he-he fell. He cut his knee and h-hit his head on the couch. I-I summoned…I su-“ Josuke choked out rocking Rohan. “I sum- Crazy Diamond to heal him, b-but…Ro-Rohan freaked out and fell off the couch… He won’t let me heal him—He won’t stop crying more matter if-if I try to clean the cut or put a cool rag on his head…I-I didn—didn’t know—”
Okuyasu placed his hand on his best friend’s shoulder. “Breathe, bro. You’re freaking out which might be why Rohan is upset.”
“I can’t—” Josuke tried to breathe. “I keep trying to-to comfort him, b-but nothing is working. He h-has made himself sick twice from crying…”
The Nijimura did noticed the drying mess on the front of Rohan’s shirt and on Josuke’s torso. Oku ran his finger’s through Rohan’s hair and rested in on crook of Rohan’s shoulder. “Hey, Rohan. Hey, buddy. Jojo told me you have a boo-boo.”
Rohan hiccupped and whimpered at the man. He nodded and pointed to his knee. “Dere…”
“Jojo has a superhero buddy that can fix your boo-boo. Will you let him fix you?” Okuyasu examined the cut. “His name is Crazy Diamond. He looks a little scary, but he’s really friendly.”
“No…” Rohan whimpered pulling himself closer to Josuke.
“You wanna stop hurtin’ right?”
“Yeah.”
Oku looked over to Josuke, as the Higashikata summoned his stand. “Crazy Diamond is going to fix you up, ok?” Rohan nodded pushing his thumb into his mouth. At this point Josuke could cry less as long as he stopped crying. Diamond went to work and was done within seconds. “See, all done. That wasn’t too bad, aye?”
“no.” Rohan muttered behind his thumb.
Josuke let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding. “Come on, Babe. You and I need to clean up. We are both eeky.”
“Eeky.” Rohan nodded.
“Thanks, man. I owe you.” Josuke smiled softly at his best friend. “Seriously, thank you for coming so fast.”
“Anytime, bro.” Okuyasu smiled. “You gonna be ok? I need to be sure before I head back to work.”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I think we are done rough housing for one day.” Josuke joked.
)(*&^%$%^&*(&^%$^&(*_)
He woke up feeling different. Something was different. He was able to sleep in. He sat up and looked over to Rohan’s side of the bed to find the man, back to his original age, sound asleep, completely naked and a pacifier hanging out of his mouth. He was relieved that it was finally over and he had his boyfriend back, but a small part of him missed the toddler. Before the Kishibe could wake up Josuke stole the mangaka’s camera a took blackmail shots of Rohan with the pacifier in his mouth.