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"Y-you can..see him?"
The hoarse voice of the man lying next to you cut the silence open in the room like a sickle; slick and keen. Because your faces were almost touching, you found it hard to read Jotaro’s expression. He wasn’t a very expressionistic person in the first place but the stunt and falter of his words prompted that maybe he did display an array of contortions on that lovely face of his.
“Yeah? Well, that's if it is actually 'him'..” You craned your neck slightly to glimpse at your boyfriend, eyes searching his features. “He’s purple. Lilac maybe? And has long, dark hair. He’s big..”
You could feel yourself getting drowsy but you forced to keep yourself awake. Post-sex conversations between the two of you always seemed to have a carefree trajectory until one of you failed to answer due to the succmbal of sleep. Things normally went like that and to be honest, you liked it that way. However, tonight, you wanted to have this conversation; This was something you had been waiting to--needed to bring up for awhile.
It was maybe about a month back, your annual visit back to Japan and the (un)optional dinner date with Holly and Sadao -- Jotaro’s parents. They had treated the both of you to a traditional Shabu-shabu restaurant, a celebration between the intimate knit of the family. From the start, you found you were quite comfortable amongst them; the family of three allowing you to become an addition to the trio easily and from that alone, welcoming you.
It all started when the waitress brought the hot pot selection to your table. It was clear from the set up of the four of you that you and Jotaro were clearly in a relationship. Regardless of his parents being there, you two were quite cosy throughout the night, just how you normally were. It wasn’t like you guys were crazy about PDA but you definitely didn’t shy away from the occasional intwinning of hands and heads on shoulders. You thought it was obvious.
The waitress clearly hadn’t.
She was ogling Jotaro all night. Of course, Jotaro paid no mind to it but it was still distressing that she didn’t want to back off. Even in front of his parents- that was just cheap and because of her constant distracted state, she almost ended up spilling most of your dinner on the floor and table. Almost.
The pot had gone tumbling between both you and Jotaro. Holly had gasped, Sadao had lurched softly in his seat but Jotaro kept a cool calm. His head was already in the direction of the falling pot so his face didn’t move but just as the pot was about to hit the table and spill most of its contents, a rather faint yet visibly physical arm stretched out to angle it better so that it landed on it’s conventional bottom and not on its side. You didn’t once think the arm was Jotaro’s. It couldn’t have been. Jotaro hadn’t moved and his arm was by his side with his black suit jacket over. The hand that reached out was purple, much broader and somewhat transparent.
The waitress had apologised profusely, banging on about how it was an ‘absolute miracle it didn’t spill’ and ‘not knowing what she would do with herself if it had spilt’. Holly only continued to dismiss her, being the kindest and most efficient person out of the four of you to make sure the faulty waitress didn’t overstay her visit.
You however tried to dismiss the concept of this phantom hand-- on one later occasion; foot-- as no one else seemed to acknowledge it. Now that you think back on it, its quite funny that you complicitly accepted the fact that your boyfriend could possibly be possessed by some sort of helpful ghost.
It wasn’t until last saturday in which Jotaro, the later riser between the two of you, had reversed the roles, was up first and in the kitchen preparing something light for breakfast. This was also the first time in which you saw the phantom in it’s full form. You were quiet walking out into the open plan, not much of a speaker first thing in the morning, so you padded towards the cooking area, expecting to find just Jotaro. But you didn’t. You meet both Jotaro and his plus one, Phantomy’s back as they worked their way smoothy around the Kitchen.
No, it was just your illusion. Fatigue, you momentarily excused but as you stood there for longer, realising that this wasn’t a haunting ghost, became more and more clear. Occasionally Jotaro signaled for the ghost to get him a few bits and pieces. Star it’s name seemed to be (Phantomy seems much more suiting though). He beckoned for him to ‘pass him 4 eggs’ or to ‘watch the toaster’. If this was a ghost, the frying pan would look like it was hovering as it transferred from the stove to the cooling mat on the humble wooden table. But it didn’t. The phantom held it, concentration clear on its face as it laid the pan down.
That was the last thing it did before you made your presence known, ghost seeming to meld back into Jotaro swiftly as soon as you entered the room. Jotaro himself turned round to pay you attention, smile fond as he welcomed you with a nonchalant peck on the cheek and an arm snagged around your waist. You didn’t dare mention what you saw in case Jotaro started to think you were crazier than you already were but he seemed to know the ghost so who exactly was the crazier one out of the two of you?
So, you waited a week until you and Jotaro attended a private annual reunion with the group of friends you both hung out with in university. You had a fantastic time, catching up with everyone. Old jokes, memories and confessions filling the evening over. Jotaro decided he wanted to leave early however. He always got like that. His social meter wasn’t very high and he tended to want to revert back to the safe haven of his home and so you two always seemed to excuse yourself from the rowdy bunch quite earlier than intended.
Leaving early from gatherings seemed to always lead to heated sex once returned back home, ignited by the usual handsy car ride back.
And that’s where you ended up, right here, at this point, amidst your post sex cuddles, bringing up that you were aware your boyfriend had a friendly spirit at hand that he absolutely had not mentioned before.
Jotaro began to nod slowly at your description of Phantomy.
“Yeah. Yeah, that’s Star alright. Star Platinum to be precise." He pondered over your words from earlier that started the conversation in the first place.
"Jotaro, I've kind of come to notice that you may or may not have a helpful, non-haunting ghost companion sorta thing."
"A ghost.. Not exactly- wait, it’s long to explain.”
Your boyfriend's arm adjusted against the plain of your back, fingers exploring wanderously along your spine and tailbone.
"I can do long. This is what our sex talks are for."
Jotaro rolled his eyes but nevertheless, he explained the brief concept and Origins of these so-called 'Stands'. He mentioned the related 50 day trip around the world-- something he's mentioned before but never really put context to. To explain it 'properly was for a later time' he said and it looks that that time seemed to be now.
He talked about his first experience with the stand and how he wound up in jail because of it (and kept himself there). He talked about his mother falling ill because of her own self-deprecating stand and how that lead to an inevitable battle against ancestry and heritage.
After he had about explained all he knew, you allowed yourself to soak in all the knowledge, sift through what you had heard and whether it was plausible or not. Well, it was gonna have to be. There obviously had to be an explanation for this bizarre manifestation of Star "Phantomy" Platinum's existence and so you guessed this was where you were getting that information. However, your sifting lead you to a few grey zones you weren't clear about, areas where you were sure contradicted each other.
"So.. You say that only stand users are able to see these spirits or manifestations, right?"
"Right." You felt the male's head move in motion of agreeal.
"If that's so then why am I able to-"
"-Are able to see my stand, I know. I'm curious about that myself too."
Jotaro finishing off your sentence signified that he was thinking the same thing as you were. Going by what he just told you, this meant...No, you couldn't remember the specifics but you being able to see Star meant something special, right?
"Technically, it can mean that you too are a stand wielder but ..I don't know how you would have awakened it though" He frowned. "I've always used Star so for you to only ..notice it then may mean that there was an awakening..oooof some sort...Some intense emotion that catalysed it, or..maybe an ancient arrow, I dunno."
Jotaro's words were getting slower and more slurred. You could tell he was good to sleep at any given second.
You briefly thought back to when you first saw the hand at the restaurant. Were you really about to think your stand abilities were awakened through passive jealousy? Yeah, next idea.
"Mm. Maybe."
You snuggled your face back into the crook of his neck, a warm whine as you inhaled his scent, not particularly interested by the topic now that it was explained to some plausible extent.
Jotaro seemed to feel infatuated by the comfort of your hold because he too beckoned to your touch, face buried just on top of the pillow above your head as he occasionally kissed affectionately at your forehead. Silence had once again washed over the two of you, silence being something you both commonly shared interest in. It wasn't an awkward silence; it was safe and it was them. You. Him. Us.
And Phantomy.
Jotaro wasn't much of a talker but it was him who spoke up again, voice suggestive as he chose his words wisely.
"Do you maybe wanna...see Star Platinum?"
His voice was muted by the pillow.
"I've already seen him before though."
"No, like, study him. You know, see how he looks. Properly." Jotaro's words were fragmented, uncertain and hesitant but it was okay because you agreed to the proposal. You didn't know why but you wanted him to be assured either way. After all, this was a secret not many people knew about Jotaro. He himself even said, while he was explaining, that Stand users are usually drawn to one another. It was very common for stand users to be unable to connect properly or find sustainable partners in those who didn't possess the ability to wield or see stands. It was like trying to prove the legitimacy of an imaginary friend and relationships are just prone to crumbling due to that lack of information and understanding. Through the miraculous events of you being able to see and share this secret with Jotaro, you decided you shouldn't take it for granted. You too could have easily been that high percentage that didn't work out.
"Okay..sure then. Go ahead, baby."
He seemed to freeze briefly at you agreeing to look at his stand. Jotaro wasn’t a very showy person so this could count as character development you supposed. Your boyfriend signalled you to sit up first, lightly shifting your back so that you could get the hint. As soon as you shuffled up, bleary eyed and slightly dazed, the soft glow of Star Platinum’s shape came into view. This caused you to sit up properly, Jotaro’s arm lying lazily just behind your back as he laid his cheek just on top of your thigh. He didn’t need to get up and see Star like you did.
Star Platinum sat crossed legged just in front of you. Technically you should feel him on top of your legs but not even a phantom of a shadow was there to weigh anything onto you.
He was big. You could tell that from afar, it was no doubt about it, but close up he looked even bigger. Jotaro himself was a rather big guy but in comparison to Star Platinum he was average. Star's features were refined, chiseled. He definitely had looks on him and he definitely could pass as handsome but the supernatural and Uncanny resemblance of him to Jotaro was hard to shake. His hair flowed, regardless of there being no breeze or wind and it made him look even more majestic than he naturally did. He seemed to have this glow about him. You weren't sure though. Glistening? It was an ethereal sort of glow. He really did seem to live up to his name of Star Platinum. So much, you thought he could be his own light source.
Light.
Ideally, the light shining into the room should have been the fluorescent beam of the full moon that perched high in the sky. Instead, it was just the orange artificial glare of the street lamp but that was good enough. Regardless of the light or not, Star Platinum was very much seeable. If you didn’t know any better, you’d really think he was shining.
Raising a tentative hand, you wanted to see whether you could touch Star or not. As Jotaro did explain earlier to you, human’s can’t really interact with stands, bar a few exceptions. You knew stands however could interact with other things as you saw that day in the kitchen and the saucepan. You didn’t think you possesed a stand, not yet at least, and so you wanted to see just how far your exceptions went. It was also a bit of a confirmation on whether you should still call Star a ghost or not.
Your hand reached up for his cheek, eyes wide in anticipation as he too waited to see what you would do. There wasn’t a hint of fear or curiosity on Star’s face. Neutral it stayed as your hand neared closer and closer. Once it got to his cheek, your hand hesitated. You both watched each other, the mild haze of light streaking a top the sheets and walls but not his face. If it wasn’t for Jotaro’s soft nuzzle of his cheek on your thighs, you wouldn’t have done it.
You lightly placed your hand on top of his pale, lilac skin. It was weird. There wasn’t a temperature to it but there was something. It was solid. It was tangible. But it wasn’t live. It didn’t have texture in its skin or lips but of course you could tell the differences in shape between his nose and mouth if eyes closed.
"I can touch him.." It was more of an observation than a question.
"I'm allowing you to."
You looked down at Jotaro for elaboration.
"The stand wielder can choose when and what solid things it interacts with."
"Ahhh..I see."
You nodded, your attention back to the hand that was still on Star's cheek. You kept it there momentarily, not sure if you were allowed to do much more but regardless, you slightly moved your thumb to caress just the top of his cheek bone. As you did that, a soft elicit moan left Jotaro's throat. You thought that was maybe him just wanting attention but as you continued the same gestures, you noticed he near purred in parallel to your touches on Star. You looked down on him still perched on your thigh.
"You can feel that?"
"Mhm."
You nodded actually, a pretty impressed look on your face. "Neat."
Proceeding to move and lie back down again, you decided you'd had enough of the whole stand stuff. Both Star and Jotaro changed position in accordance to you, Star now standing up, hovering protectively above the bed while Jotaro moved his head from your thigh but kept his arm skewered across both of your pillows.
Sleep was inevitable. Soon as your head met with Jotaro's warm body again, fatigue and lethargy dripped over your eyes, suddenly remembering just how tired you actually were.
"M'finishe'sd with...Star.." Barely coming out as actual fathomable words, slumber took over you but Jotaro still got the message.
He nodded, taking his free hand to bring the duvet up and over your shoulders, allowing warmth to ease you into your sleep, even though that was unprecedented.
"Okay. Okay, Star's going back now." Obediently, The manifestation of his soul simmered back into seemingly nothingness, the space where he had just been empty and now just a straight view of the room.
Jotaro watched your sleeping figure, face lax as you already found sleep soundly. With a soft, adorned smile on his face, Jotaro stroked your cheek with just the inside of his index finger, his heart full of warmth.
It had been a concern for Jotaro. The issue with whether you could see stands or not. It was always something he's wanted to share with you but it just didn't seem legit to try and explain or it ever be the right enough time to bring it up. For the longest, Jotaro's been trying to think of a way to 'warn' you of the burden he's been carrying. All by himself he's had to bare this secret and was worried it would materialise an emotional wall between the two of you and that was the last thing he wanted. But you bringing the conversation up first- you admitting you could see Star. That literally lifted so much off of Jotaro's shoulders, so much he felt like he had the heart of a newborn; carefree and full of love.
"Hey, babe." He whispered softly in your ear, aware you were asleep but still gave it a shot.
You mumbled softly in reply, incoherent rambles, but conscious nonetheless. Jotaro had a snide yet affectionate smile on his lips, his joy audible.
"You think you ready for another round? Or you'd prefer to sleep?"
A small snicker left him as he saw your once unaffected face, crinkle at the inquiry. Normally, this would be a straight no and it's generally what he expected. Anyone who disturbed your sleep -- even for the sweet entertainment of sex-- was in for trouble and Jotaro has been on the receiving end of that wrath many times.
But unsurprisingly, Jotaro felt a new connection between the two of you now that you both had mutual sharing and knowledge of Star. He reckoned this was some sort of Nirvana in your relationship because you would have never been able to reach this point through ordinary binding. Surprisingly though, you answered his question, even though it took you a good 30 seconds to do so. (It took you so long, Jotaro had presumed you fell back to sleep).
"Gimme .. 20 minutes rest first. Then we can ...fuck... all you want." A low yet audible grumble.
Jotaro laughed quietly, a soft 'okay' in acknowledgment as he allowed you to rest for the time being, affection still wallowing in his eyes as he attempted to time 20 minutes in his head.
He failed.