Giorno followed Jolyne to a pile of fallen metal scrap. Jolyne pulled a car door to the side and fell to her knees. "Hermes. You can hear me, right? Say something."
"Ah, shit," Hermes replied from her prone position on the floor. She weakly pushed off coiled cables and other metal that had fallen onto her stomach; her palms and abdomen were wet with blood. "You got the user?"
"Shish-kebabed or tenderized, I'm not sure," she answered, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder to point out the mess of wooden beams and debris. "Either way, they're not getting back up any time soon." She glanced at Giorno. "Healing?"
He kneeled at her side and peered down at a large gash in her gut with concern. "One of the walls slashed you?"
"Yeah, the phone call got me good," she replied, but she broke down into a hacking cough. "Rib. Ugh. Also."
"You gotta stop losing your organs in Stand attacks," Jolyne said as she tossed a hunk of metal off of some fallen entrails.
"Oh hey, that's my liver," Hermes replied. "Get that back in here." She was smiling but her face had gone pallid.
"You can donate a liver, right? So you should be fine without it," Jolyne quipped, but her tone was growing frantic. "This one's pretty, uh, squished."
Giorno looked back over his shoulder at Dio, who was a few long paces away and watching the scene with a blank expression. "Should I be worried about you around blood?"
He narrowed his eyes. "No."
"Then come here and help. You told me you could heal."
Dio tensed. "I was just-I can reach in and move things around. I can't heal something like this."
"Can you stop her bleeding while I make a new liver and some skin? Pinch off some arteries or something?"
Dio approached and crouched at her side. "I can try. She mentioned a rib?"
"If it broke, it might have pierced her lungs. Can you check that?"
"Yes." Dio looked down at Hermes's chest and frowned.
"Hol, can you find me a hubcap or something about the size of a human liver?" Giorno asked.
"Uh, Jesus, I can try," he replied, and he began rooting through a nearby pile of debris. Jolyne ran off towards the bar portion of the restaurant.
Hermes blinked and tried to keep her vision focused as she squinted at Dio. "Are you fixing my rib by staring at it or what?"
"Now is not the time to worry about decency," Giorno added.
Dio rolled his eyes and pulled at Hermes's vest, bunching the fabric up towards her neck. "Can't say I've ever cared about that." Hermes let out a garbled and confused noise as he slid his hand directly into her ribcage. He could feel the sweet pull of blood but he ignored it; his fingertips slipped past streaks of muscle and ligament until they pressed against solid bone. The first few ribs were normal; then, one was fractured. Hermes let out a choked sound when he pulled it back into place. He pressed further upwards, towards the top of the lungs, and his wrist brushed against something odd. Figuring debris from the wall had pierced her chest, he pulled it into his palm and drew back his hand.
He peered down in confusion at a tightly folded wad of bills. He had seen women store items in their cleavage, but he sure as hell had never found cash inside a woman's chest.
She laughed but it sounded more like a wheeze. "Ha. If I survive this you guys can have it."
"Liver delivery," Hol said, and he handed a hunk of metal to Giorno.
Once in his hands, the metal began to slowly transform. He dropped it onto a pile of gradually transforming skin and muscle and he pressed his hands against it. Giorno shot Hermes a serious look. "I apologize. This is going to hurt."
She huffed. "It hurts now. I'll be fine." A smile tugged at her lips. "I hope you're using some of the same metal that cut me open. It'd be funny."
Jolyne slid into a crouch beside her head. "Hey, hey. I got vodka. We can use some for disinfectant and the rest should be for you to get blitzed."
"Dunno if I should drink without a liver," Hermes replied with a strained grin.
"Manage her bleeding," Giorno said to Dio.
"I am." He swept his hand across the gash in her abdomen and felt a slight jolt of energy as he took in some of the blood. That drew the arteries towards his hand; he stopped the pull as soon as they were pressed against his skin. He felt the weakened but insistent pulsing of her heartbeat but the bleeding stopped at his hand.
"It's almost done," Giorno said. "Ready?"
"Give me some," Hermes said to Jolyne. She took a gulp of vodka straight from the bottle, inhaled through grit teeth, and nodded. "Let's go."
Giorno lifted the replacement liver, connective tissue, and skin. It landed on her abdomen and squished into the wound. He held his hand against it and the flesh began to meld and heal. Hermes swore so loudly that some debris shook loose from the nearest pile and tumbled to the ground. "Holy fuck, you weren't kidding," she spat.
"More painkiller shots?" Jolyne asked as she held up the vodka.
"You'd be better off just hitting me in the head with the damn bottle," Hermes retorted.
She lightly bopped her on the forehead with it and the vodka sloshed. "Yeah, keep bitchin'. I think it's making you feel better."
Dio pulled his hand away and felt the major arteries and veins snapping together with the new ones as the healing continued. Some vibrancy returned to her skin. The wound sealed, leaving a wavy line of abrupt scarring.
Hermes lolled her head back against the wooden floor and shimmied her vest back into place. "Well, I hated that. But thank you," she said, her tone growing more sincere. "Who are you guys? Speedwagon Foundation?"
"Uh," Hol replied. "Well, we're just-"
Jolyne put a steadying hand on Hermes's shoulder. "I'm pretty sure I know who you are," she said, her voice low but not threatening. "My dad didn't get the chance to tell me much but Pucci certainly wouldn't shut up about you. Plus, there's that feeling. Fate, gravity, spidey sense, whatever you want to call it." She locked eyes with Dio, her expression deadly serious. "Hermes is more important to me than whatever nonsense blood feud thing you have going on with my family. Thank you for helping us," she said, glancing towards Giorno and Hol, "but I want an explanation. Why and how are you here?"
Giorno began to speak but Dio held up a hand. "I will be honest," he began. "I know that if you find that I have lied to you, you will probably find a way to kill me."
"One hundred percent correct," Jolyne replied.
"I understand that you are hunting Pucci because of what he did to your father."
"Two for two," she said with a nod.
"If you fight Pucci, you will die," he continued. "He has a tight hold on fate. It would side with him, not you."
She scowled and tilted her head. "Doubt it. But go on."
"There is also a bigger threat to you than Pucci," he added.
Giorno's posture shifted slightly and he looked away. Jolyne noticed and she frowned at him. "And that is?"
"A version of myself that did not lose to your father," Dio answered.
She leaned back and peered at him through narrowed eyes. "Okay. Parallel universe stuff. Got it. If that's the case, then what's up with you? Are you like, chill Dio from a world where Cairo didn't happen?"
"No. As far as I know, I am the same self as the one this world has known," he replied. "I did die in Cairo. The other version of myself brought me back and intended to have me defeat you all as entertainment, and then he would kill me. But I now believe that your family is no longer antithetical to my existence." Conviction strengthened his voice. "That other version of myself cannot be allowed to exist. I want your help in killing him." He paused. "The catch is that Pucci must be allowed to continue unhindered. He must access Heaven in order for us to reach the other version of me."
She watched him carefully. "Cowboy over there said you were going to take me to see my father," she stated. "How true was that?"
"Partially," Dio answered. "I need more time to prepare. You and your friend obviously need time to recover. Thankfully, we have all the time in the world."
She squinted. "Stopped time?"
"Not quite. Time travel. I've been using Morioh in 1999 as a safe gathering place."
"That's when dad was writing his thesis," she said with a frown. "You were going to take me to see him, just in the past."
"Correct."
Jolyne stared at him for a few more long moments, her eyebrows furrowed in thought, but then she nodded. "I'm in."
He restrained his surprise. Hermes did not. She pursed her lips and gave Jolyne a doubtful look. "Are you sure about this? I mean, I'm very glad you guys healed me, don't get me wrong. But this is a lot to take in."
"We could keep pressing forward, but we're exhausted," Jolyne admitted. "It's been a nonstop battle ever since we left Green Dolphin. Hell, really more like ever since we got into Green Dolphin. If we can just hop right back into the future later, then we can pick up right where we left off." She glared at Dio. "I'll still need some convincing on this allowing Pucci to do whatever he wants part of the plan. But I am very good at listening to my instincts. They've kept me alive this far. You know, your reputation is pretty hyped up," she said, and her expression grew more sly. "I mean, the Speedwagon Foundation might as well be renamed to the Dealing with Dio's Fallout Foundation. But right now, even when ignoring the fact that you helped me, I feel as if going with you is the right thing to do."
She held out her hand. Dio stared at it blankly for a moment, then reached out with his own.
Her hand collapsed into a pile of string before he could shake it. She laughed. "Sike. I'm still gonna go with you, but I'll be keeping an eye out for even the slightest hint of an ulterior motive. You can get a real handshake when I actually trust you. You, though," she said, and her hand reformed as she held it out to Giorno. "Thanks for taking charge during this mess of a scrapyard surgery. Who are you?"
"His son," he answered flatly. "Giorno Giovanna. It is nice to finally meet you."
"Hoo boy." She shook his hand vigorously. As soon as she let go, Hermes reached up and did the same. "What does that make us?" Jolyne asked. "Half cousins slash uncle niece twice over?"
Giorno gave a curt nod. "Let's just go with cousins."
Hermes swung her arm and pointed at Hol. "And that one?"
"Hol Horse, ma'am," he said as he tipped his hat. "At your service."
Hermes choked back a pfft that turned into a full-throated laugh which then turned into coughing.
Hol shrugged and grinned. "They do say laughter is the best medicine. Want me to carry you outta here? It'd be an honor."
"Nah, I'm on it," Jolyne said. She turned her back to Hermes and parts of her unraveled to form a makeshift carrying sling.
Hermes groaned as she sat up and threw her arms over Jolyne's shoulders. Her legs hooked up over the cords and she jokingly jabbed at Jolyne's sides with her heels. "Yeehaw."
"If I never have to see or hear that word again I will be content," Jolyne replied. She swayed as she turned, adjusting to the weight, and she grinned at Giorno. "Where to? Got the time machine parked out there somewhere?"
"We could leave right now, actually," Dio answered. "But we will regroup first and double-check that everyone is prepared."
Jolyne nodded. "Got it. Lead the way."
Once back at the van, Jolyne pulled open the back door and waved her hands at Ungalo at Rikiel. "Hi. Scoot. Injured person coming through." She turned and leaned back, allowing Hermes to fall onto the seat. "What have you been eating, rocks? You're heavy," Jolyne teased as she stretched out her back.
"We've had the same meals as each other every day for months, dummy," Hermes sniped back. "And technically, I do have a gut full of metal right now."
"Maybe he gave you two livers on accident," Jolyne replied.
"Um." Rikiel cleared his throat. "Jolyne, right?"
"Yup," she answered. "Who are you?" She squinted. "Oh, wait. You kinda look like-"
"Yeah, we're Dio's kids," Ungalo answered. He pointed at the turtle. "My other brother is in there but he's not really talking to anyone right now."
Hermes blinked at the turtle in confusion. Jolyne frowned. "How many Diolets are we talking here?"
"Consensus seems to be at least four," Rikiel mumbled.
Ungalo stared at her in confusion and then tapped at his own shoulder. "Hey, I have the same thing."
"Huh?" She looked at her own shoulder and then her eyes went wide. "Oh. Right. That makes sense."
"You have the same birthmark as us?" Rikiel asked. "We're related?"
"Cousins," Giorno said helpfully as he opened the passenger side door.
"Turbocousins," Jolyne added with a decisive nod.
Rikiel squinted at her. "What does that even mean?"
Jolyne scrunched her nose. "I don't wanna be the one to explain it," she said to Giorno.
"I've been considering developing an informative pamphlet," he replied dryly.
Dio manifested the World and pulled out the stickers before approaching the car. "Who doesn't have a sticker yet?"
Hermes propped herself up on her elbows. "Sticker?"
"It will allow you to follow me both through time and into the stopped time," he explained. He handed Jolyne the sheet. "Choose one and put it on your hand."
Jolyne immediately peeled off a smiling butterfly and slapped it onto her hand. Hermes considered the sheet deeply before pulling off a soccer ball emblazoned with Sports! and a few scattered stars.
"Did Donatello get one?" Dio asked.
Rikiel shook his head. "I don't think so."
He sighed. "Will one of you go in and give him one? Apply one to the turtle, as well."
"I'm not doin' it," Ungalo said as Hermes tried to hand him the sheet. Rikiel took it, put Awesome! onto the turtle, and then tapped at the metal cover. "Donatello needs a sticker," he said loudly. "Let me in." The lid slid off and he disappeared.
"Wait, are we going to leave soon?" Jolyne asked. "We got separated from our other friends during the fight before this one. If we can bring them along-"
"Are they Joestars?" Dio asked.
Jolyne squinted at him. "No. They're my friends."
"Then no," Dio replied. "It will be safer for them to stay here. The more people we take back, the more complicated things will become. Just imagine that once we leave, time is essentially paused at this moment. When we return, we will be able to help them."
Rikiel hopped back out of the turtle. "Okay. Donatello is stickered."
Jolyne glared at Dio. "I don't want to have to leave my friends behind."
"Be grateful I'm allowing you to bring this one," he said as he gestured at Hermes. When Hermes furrowed her eyebrows and began to speak he held up a finger. "Don't. You're on thin ice." He grabbed the sticker sheet back from Rikiel. "Is everyone ready?"
"Ah! I didn't get one," Mista exclaimed.
Dio sighed and pulled off a sticker at random. "Here."
Mista grimaced at a chalkboard that read 2 + 2 = ?. "I would like a different sticker, please."
"You're not on thin ice, you're treading water," Dio snapped. "Just take it and we will leave before anything else can go wrong."
"Wrong side of the bed this morning?" Hermes muttered.
"Wrong side of the coffin," Jolyne corrected.
Dio ignored them as he retrieved the travel atlas. He circled Morioh on the map and then flipped through the calendar. There was a gap in the dates from when he had used a day to bring Erina there; he selected the next page. He grabbed his umbrella from the car door, tucked it under his arm, and then pulled the pen from the calendar's binding and circled the date.
The world shifted around them. The van disappeared. Jolyne caught Hermes before she fell but Rikiel and Ungalo landed in a heap. Ungalo managed to grab the turtle before it hit the floor. Mista landed in a crouch beside Giorno.
"This is the safest time and place available to us," Dio stated. "Your father is here, as are several of your other relatives. I also know exactly where you can stay while you're here. Consider it a well-earned vacation in a nice city. Well, nice aside from the whole serial killer situation," Dio admitted.
"The what," Hermes stammered.
Dio shrugged. "The last time I was here, the Joestars were hunting down a prolific serial killer. I'm sure they'll catch him eventually. I'll probably even end up helping them. I wouldn't worry too much about it."
"You consider a town currently under attack by a serial killer to be the safest time and place to bring us?" Giorno asked.
Dio waved a hand dismissively. "There are five or so Joestars here now. This is the safest place on the planet." He glanced around; they had been transported into what looked like a home office. The decor was simple and muted. He turned to look behind them and saw a startled man sitting at his desk and holding a pen. He had been writing something over and over on a sheet of paper but it was interrupted by a long streak of ink when they surprised him. He stared at them; the rest of the group stared back.
"We're in Japan, right?" Jolyne asked. "Just do what I do." She made eye contact with the man, clapped her hands together, and gave a slight bow. "Sumimasen!"
Mista, Hermes, Ungalo, and Rikiel mirrored the gesture and repeated after her. So did Giorno, but his pronunciation was much clearer. Hol doffed his hat.
Dio tilted his head and watched as the man gripped at the pen so hard the metal casing began to creak.
(as always, thanks for reading and I hope you are doing well!)
