AN: No, I'm never gonna get over Gyro's death, how can you tell?

No big warnings for this fic, aside from temp character death at the start, and some slight allusions to period typical homophobic attitudes, but nothing big.

Fic namesake: I Want You To Want Me by Cheap Trick

Johnny pressed his finger over the trigger of the meat spray, filling the holes in Gyro's chest. The mottled flesh filled him with nausea, and he was more than happy to watch the wounds disappear and blend in with the rest of his skin, as if they were never there. The Neapolitan coughed, trying as well as he could to push Johnny's hand away.

"It won't work," his voice was raspy, weak like a breath. "I've already lost too much blood. It's too late."

"You can't decide that without letting me try," Johnny's hands shook as he finished closing up the last bullet wound. "There. Fixed. Now let's go, get up. We've still got a race to finish. You first, me second. Remember?"

Gyro shook his head. By his grimace, Johnny could tell even that small action was enough to steal the breath from his lungs.

"It won't work," he repeated, but Johnny tried not to hear. He refused to believe it. Gyro was just being a defeatist, but Johnny would prove him wrong. Even if the skin of his hands were all but invisible from the blood covering it, and he'd almost dropped Creamstarter a few times because of it. Gyro reached his hand up, fingers threading through the air, searching for Johnny. Johnny took a hold of them, bringing the hand up and pressing the cold skin to his cheek. Gyro felt like death. "It's hard to see like this. Hey, come closer, Johnny. I want to tell you something."

Johnny leaned in, even as he hushed Gyro. "Shhh, stay quiet. You need to save your energy. Whatever it is you want to say, you can save it for after we cross the finish line. Okay?"

"No, no," Gyro turned his head from left to right, movement uneven and janky. "I need to… before it's too late. Before I regret it forever, not telling… telling you what I really wanted to say."

Johnny could see how he struggled to speak, but Gyro looked determined. Johnny hated it.

"Gyro—"

"Listen, Johnny. Please."

Johnny shut his mouth. Gyro tugged on him gently, on some stray strands sticking out his beanie. Johnny let himself be guided, moving so close until they were little more than an inch apart. He could feel Gyro's breath on him from here, wet and labored.

"When I said we should share secrets, I actually… wanted to tell you this. But I got scared, like some… coward. But I'm not scared now. I want you to know, before I… before I go. I want you to know how… how important you are. To me. And..."

"Stop talking like that," Johnny protested. "You ain't gonna die. I've fixed you up, see? I don't know you're you're acting like… like…"

"I'm a doctor, Johnny. I know what death looks like. God knows I've seen it more than you can imagine... My flesh might be healed, but my blood…" he shivered. "I'm cold."

Johnny circled his arms around Gyro's back, pulling him up to push him against his chest. Gyro's face rested next to his own, and he told himself the chill he felt was only his imagination.

"Just the water," he said. "Your clothes are all wet and that's why you're freezing so. That's all. Just a bit on your horse and you'll be right as rain again."

"I really hope you're right, Johnny, but... just in case. Just so I know you'll hear it, I want to tell you, right now, before anything else. So please... listen to me."

Johnny wanted to argue against it. It was stupid at best, cruel at worst. If Gyro really thought this might be the last words he uttered then Johnny ought to listen, but a dumb part of him thought that if he put if off just a bit longer, then that meant Gyro would wait too. It wasn't anything more than vain hope, but that's all he had. He needed to hope, or he wasn't sure he could hold himself from breaking. But he felt Gyro bury his face in the crook of his neck, and the man's body shook from a chill it couldn't escape, and Johnny bit his tongue.

Gyro's voice was a quiet murmur, and he cleared his throat, repeating himself, louder. "I… love you, Johnny. Have, for a while. That's... all I wanted to say."

Johnny didn't know how to answer that. He choked on his words, unable to articulate the feelings washing over him from the confession.

"I don't want to die," Gyro said. "But… I was happy to meet you. Made the race a lot more interesting. Sorry I won't be there to pass the goal line with you."

"Gyro…" the sob tore through him, unforgiving. "Please… don't go."

"Can I make one last request? It's fine… if you say no."

Johnny pushed Gyro back enough to look at him, even though he still wanted nothing more but to hold him close. But he wanted to look Gyro in the eyes when he talked, and Johnny's lips moved fast as he demanded, "What? What is it, Gyro? Tell me!"

Gyro's face was pale, but it gained just a hint of color, enough so that he almost looked normal.

"A kiss?" he said it like a question. "A kiss goodbye."

Johnny paused. The completed corpse of Jesus Christ was just a few feet away, and he felt His presence now more than ever. He remembered his teachings, told to him by his dad and the preachers. How pure love could only exist between a man and a woman, and anything beyond that was a sin. But Gyro looked so earnest, his eyes bearing caring and kindness that Johnny hadn't seen since his brother died, and he decided that anyone else's opinion didn't matter. His father and the preachers were all idiots anyway. Gyro was a dying man besides (please don't let him be), and the last thing Johnny could do was to fulfill his last request. Right?

He started to slide his eyes shut, before changing his mind. If these really were their last moments together, he wasn't going to waste it by looking away. He wanted to see Gyro, every last bit of him. He left a gap open between his lids, still half shut, but open enough that he could peer through his lashes at Gyro. He pushed his fingers into the other man's wet hair, combing through it and cupping the back of his head. He pulled him closer at the same time Gyro tried his hardest to close the distance between them. But he was tired, and Johnny was left to do most of the work.

Gyro was the one that bridged the final gap. His hands gripped the back of Johnny's shirt, desperate. His lips were as cold as the rest of him, tasting of salt from the sea water. He parted his lips, and Johnny took the invitation to feel the texture of those ridiculous golden grills with the tip of his tongue, spelling out the letters.

Go… Go… Zeppeli…

Gyro did his best to reciprocate, but his movements were slow, soft. It was just another stabbing reminder of how weak he was, and growing weaker. Johnny wanted to cry. He could taste blood, mixing with the salt, but Gyro could have tasted like literal shit and Johnny wouldn't trade this moment for the world. It was strange, to feel such happiness and utter despair at the same time.

He didn't want to stop, but Gyro was the one that ended their kiss.

"Thank you," he said, a whisper. He smiled faintly. "Now I can die content."

"Gyro…" Johnny didn't want to cry, didn't want that to be the last sight he left Gyro with. So he did the best thing he could think of. "I love you. Iloveyou, Iloveyou, Iloveyou."

Gyro's smile turned sad, and Johnny wanted to punch himself.

"Another life, Johnny," he said. "We'll meet again, and we'll be happy. Promise."

I don't want it in another life, I want it now, he thought, but kept those contemptible feelings to himself. He didn't want to ruin Gyro's mood any further.

Gyro was struggling to keep his eyes open. Johnny stayed with him the whole time, holding him close, a hand pressed over the left side of Gyro's breast. He counted the heart beats, drinking every word Gyro fought to get past his lips. Old jokes, old memories, another, "I love you, Johnny. Don't ever let anyone make you think you're worth anything less than the world."

Eventually, the sluggish thump thump thump under his fingers stilled. Gyro had fallen silent a while back, but now he was more quiet than ever. His eyes were still open, looking but not seeing, wearing a soft look of contentment. Johnny kept his hand where it was a bit longer, bearing the foolish hope that a second spring of life would bring Gyro back to him. When it didn't, and Johnny convinced himself to stop hoping, he removed the hand, using it to close Gyro's eyes. He hated doing it, feeling like the action pushed him past a point of no return. Stupid, since Gyro was already dead. He'd passed that point a long time ago.

He bent down, giving the man a last kiss.

"Goodbye, Gyro Zeppeli."

Gyro threw his arms up, roaring as loud and long as he could until his lungs ran empty. All his feelings, his anxieties and excitement, he let it all break free in a shameless bellow of victory.

"AND THE FINAL VICTOR OF THE STEEL BALL RUN RACE IS… GYRO ZEPPELI!"

Gyro sucked in a well deserved breath, the air tasting better than even the finest brand of wine. He leaned forward, giving his trusty steed a hug around her neck. He laughed.

"You hear that, Valkyrie?" his golden grin stretched from cheek to cheek. "We won! We did it! We won!"

The man behind him, coming in second place, screamed for a much different reason.

"How can this be? Yo, yo, yo, this is impossible!" the man pulled his hat off of his head, throwing it down on the ground. "My one in a fifty million luck… how could I come in second place?!"

Gyro ignored him, ignored the cheering crowd. All he thought of was Marco, that innocent boy that would now be set free. All the days spent with a parched throat, tired, hungry, sleeping on uneven ground, had it all been worth it?

The race sure was a pain in the ass, but it was fun. Definitely worth it.

"Ah…" the announcer sounded caught off guard by something, fumbling a bit with the microphone. "Due to unforeseen events, president Valentine, who should have been here to congratulate our winning contestants, won't be making an appearance. But do not worry, folks! Everything excluding the president will still proceed according to schedule! Now, how about another cheer for our brave contestants?"

The crows erupted with another earth shattering applause.

Huh… wonder what the president got himself up to. Figured he'd want to be here for this, Gyro thought, before shrugging. It didn't matter. Meeting the man was never on his schedule anyways.

Things went mostly smoothly after that. He claimed his prize money, partook in a few interviews before dodging the rest. Fame was nice, but he was busy. He almost got in a fist fight with a sore loser, though his steel balls quickly ended that confrontation.

It took a few days before everything was set and he was ready to return home. He wasn't particularly thrilled to go on a ship again, mostly because of Valkyrie. The horse was not a fan of the wooden contraption, and Gyro had to physically pull her along by the reins as they neared the harbor. At least it would be nice to return home. As much as he appreciated the change of scenery, he missed his home country. Proper food, proper wine, proper people.

The harbor was busy, people running left and right, shouting instructions and complaints at each other. He approached his ship, the one that would bring him home. He dug through his bags quickly, making sure he had the proper papers with him that would permit him to board.

He felt eyes on him, and once he found what he was looking for, he zipped up his bags and turned, searching. In the distance, there was a man, looking a few years younger than himself. His cold blue eyes bore into Gyro, but when he realized he'd been caught, he averted them, turning the wheelchair he sat on to the side and acted busy grooming the old mare perched beside him.

Gyro thought the man looked vaguely familiar, and it took a few seconds of searching his memories before it clicked. He'd been one of the participants in the race, and Gyro had to admit he was a little surprised, and impressed, to see he'd made it to the end. What was his name again? It was exceedingly American, at least the first part of it.

Johnny… Joestar?

The young man was parked near the same ship Gyro was to board, and Gyro wondered if the guy was planning to ride it as well. He didn't win any significant earnings as far as Gyro knew, so he wondered what drew him here.

'Johnny', or whatever his name was, glanced his way briefly, before turning back to his horse. Gyro frowned, an uneasy feeling settling between his shoulder blades. It was nothing really, but his guts told him something was off, and he trusted his guts.

If he's thinking of robbing me, he's got another thing coming, he thought, turning back to Valkyrie to calm the neighing horse down. He didn't have the money on him anyways, so he wasn't worried. The transfer to his country would happen separately from his voyage, so it could reach the king safely.

Valkyrie pulled stubbornly at her reins, moving her nuzzle in the direction of the boy in the wheelchair. Gyro let out a noise of frustration, not sure what had gotten into her so suddenly. He held her in place, pushing her head back to look at him.

"No," he warned. "Come on now, Valkyrie. We're boarding the ship, whether you like it or not. Be a good girl and maybe I'll feed you an apple as a treat, deal?"

Valkyrie blinked her big black eyes, still staring at Johnny and his horse. She puffed out a breath, before slowly trotting towards the ramp leading up into the ship. If Gyro didn't know any better, he'd think she looked downtrodden.

Gyro was happy when he could finally turn to his cabin, and he threw himself in bed and breathed out a long sigh without preamble. He was exhausted, for reasons he couldn't explain. The guy, Johnny, was still occupying his mind, and it was starting to piss him off. They'd never even exchanged a word with one another, so why couldn't he get his face out of his head?

There was a knock on the door. Delicate, almost afraid. Gyro pulled himself up on his elbows, staring at the plate of wood with a hint of distaste. He was looking forward to a refreshing nap, and considered just ignoring whoever was on the other side. With a deep grunt, he swung his feet over the bed and pushed himself up.

He opened the door, and blinked. He looked to his left and then to his right, confused when he didn't immediately see anyone.

A prank? he wondered. Or someone so impatient they've already left?

Then, he looked down.

Cold blue eyes stared up at him.

Oh. This guy again.

Gyro pressed his lips into a line.

"Yes?" he asked, crossing his arms. "Can I help you?"

The guy opened his mouth, but no noise escaped. He closed it, staring down at his lap, clenching his fingers over one another, fidgeting.

Gyro, still irked over having his nap interrupted, decided to nip the problem in the bud. "If you're here to steal my money, then I'm sorry to disappoint. I don't have it on me."

The man looked up, startled. "What? No!" he sucked in a breath, lowering his voice. "No, that's not why I'm here."

He continued to fidget while Gyro tried to be patient and waited for him to get to the point. He glanced at the door, considered closing it, when the guy asked, "Can I come in?"

The request took him off guard, and he studied Johnny with open suspicion, wondering what his angle was. An idea popped into his head, and he considered it. Maybe…

He stepped away from the arch, gesturing with one arm, a silent invitation. Johnny looked at him, brows pulled into a frown, like he wasn't sure if he should accept, before rolling inside. He parked his wheelchair by the bed, transferring himself from his seat to the mattress. Gyro closed the door, though he didn't sit down. He put a hand on his hip, observing the other man. Even inside, he couldn't stop himself from pulling at the skin of his fingers anxiously.

"So…" Gyro drew the word out, smacked his lips. "You're not here for my money… apparently… what are you here for then?"

The silence was starting to grate on Gyro's nerves. He'd never been a patient man, and Johnny was really testing his limits. But he'd started to form an idea of why the guy might be here, and he didn't want to push it if he was right. Though… maybe he should make the first move? If only to eliminate the possibility, in case he was completely off track.

"Did you come here to seduce me?" he asked, only half joking. He smiled, an easy grin, deliberately showing off his grills. "I know I'm quite irresistible, I don't blame you. It's hard to stay away."

Johnny's face went through a mix of emotions. Embarrassment, indignation, shock and other feelings Gyro couldn't interpret.

"What ever gave you that idea?!" he asked, pointing an accusing finger at him. Gyro rubbed his chin, noting that he needed to trim his beard soon.

"Well, you came here to my cabin, alone… looking quite nervous. And I know how prudish you American's can be, especially when it comes to anything that doesn't conform to your ideals. But hey, there's no need to be so shy. Like I said, falling for a man as naturally good looking as I am is normal. Expected, even."

He hadn't decided if he would accept the proposal or not, assuming that's why he was here. The guy was cute, but there was also that nagging feeling in the back of his skull that refused to leave him alone, telling him he was missing something. Some crucial information that would change everything, and it put him on edge.

"Ugh, you big idiot! That's not why I'm here!"

Johnny's ears glowed a bright red, and he glared at Gyro's shoes. Gyro tried not to be disappointed.

"Then what?"

The guy turned away, covering his face with his hand and they lapsed into another uneasy silence. Gyro was starting to grow sick of those. Just as he was about to voice his complaints, the man spoke.

"Sorry," he said, and the hand over his face tensed. His shoulders trembled. "God… I'm so selfish. I told myself I could be happy like this, knowing you're safe and got what you wanted… I know you'd be better off without me, safer. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't stay away, or forget… I needed to see you again."

Again?

Gyro squinted his eyes, trying to remember if he'd met this guy before. There was a vague sense of familiarity as he took in the boy's form. Deja vu, as the French called it, already seen. The only thing was, if he had met this guy before, he was sure he would remember it.

"Are you some crazed fan? Is this when you tell me that we're destined to be together? Because if so, then I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline—"

"Dammit Gyro!"

Gyro was startled when he heard his name leave the other man's mouth, before he remembered he was the winner of the Steel Ball Run race. Of course Johnny knew his name.

"Dammit…" Johnny didn't shout this time, and he muttered to himself more than he spoke to Gyro. "I knew this was a bad idea… figured it'd play out like this. 'Course you won't believe me, even if I told you the truth. How could I prove it? I just…" he sucked in a shuddering breath. "...whatever. I don't care. Even if you call me crazy, I already decided I was going to tell you the truth. You deserve to know what happened, whether you'll listen or not. And, maybe... " he looked thoughtful, a spark of hope. "Maybe there is something. Something that could convince you."

Every word the man spoke left Gyro more and more confused. In normal circumstances, he'd probably have kicked the guy out by now. But he was curious, and even if the guy had a few screws loose, Gyro wanted to hear what he had to say. Johnny removed his hand, and his face was wet with tears. Gyro was surprised to feel his heart clench at the sight, and a sudden urge to comfort surged through him.

Maybe he's a witch, he thought. Putting a spell on me.

Johnny patted the empty spot next to him. "Sit," he said, voice hoarse from his silent crying. Gyro complied, though he caressed one of his steel balls for comfort. He put a few inches between them, just in case.

Johnny eyes the movements, but didn't comment, though he looked a bit crestfallen. There was something about his eyes, looking so impossibly sad that Gyro couldn't help but hang onto every movement he made, every word he spoke. Definitely a witch.

The man reached a hand out, and Gyro tensed. He placed it over Gyro's, the one that wasn't resting over his steel ball. He didn't squeeze or press, just let it lay there, warm and comforting, until Gyro's muscles relaxed, and he slumped.

"It's a long story," Johnny began. "It's gonna take too long to tell you all of it, so I'll just tell you the important bits. I know you, and you know me, because we've met before. We've run this race before, together, as partners. We were going to pass the goal together, but…" Johnny's fingers trembled over his own, and the boy hiccuped, sniffling. "I'm sorry. It was my fault. Because of my selfishness, because I was too weak… I got you killed. You died to protect me. I'm so sorry."

Died? I died? What the hell is this guy talking about?

"If I died, how am I here? Because I'm pretty damn sure I'm not in heaven, or it's a lot bumpier than I imagined. And if we know each other, why don't I remember any of it? You're not making any sense."

"God gave me a second chance," Johnny said. He stared at some point beyond Gyro, some place he couldn't see. "I don't know why He saw fit to give me one, of all people, when everything I'd done until that point was hurt people. But He did, and I'm grateful. He gave me the chance to right some of my wrongs. Everyone who died unnecessarily, who deserved better… Maybe they're not all happy, not getting what they wanted, but they're alive, because I made sure of it. That means something, right? I did something right for once, didn't I?" he looked at Gyro, seeking. Looking for validation? But Gyro couldn't give it to him, not when he was still trying to understand what the other was saying.

"You're still not making any sense," he repeated his words. "A second chance? What are you saying?"

"Just what it sounds like. I know, it's crazy, absolutely insane. But God brought me back, back in time, all the way to before the race started. He didn't say it explicitly, but I knew why He did it. It was my chance at redemption. If I could finally work for someone else's sake, instead of my own, then maybe there's a place for me up in heaven. I hope this is what He wanted. It's… what I wanted. It feels good. I'm happy. Almost…" he looked away from Gyro, before casting him a quick glance, almost shy. "Looks like I couldn't hold out until the end. I was gonna let you leave, never see you again. But… I still think of what you told me. How, in a second life, we could be happy… that's what you promised. This isn't a second life, but a second chance… still, it's close enough, isn't it?"

Johnny moved his hand, and before Gyro could react, Johnny had one of his steel balls in his hand. Gyro was about to shout, pull back, maybe attack with the other one. But Johnny presented it to him, the ball caged in his palm by his fingers, and it was spinning. He was using the same technique as Gyro, and he didn't understand, because there was no way this guy should know it. A stranger, an American.

"Where'd you learn that?!"

He would have taken the ball from him, if his muscles weren't frozen in shock at the display.

"You taught me," Johnny answered, lowering his hand slightly so their eyes could lock. "...Julius Caesar Zeppeli."

Hearing his name, his real name, was more of a surprise than watching Johnny use the spin. His thoughts screeched to a grind as he tried to figure out how it was possible.

Does he know my father? Has he spoken to him? ...could he really be telling the truth?

No, of course not, that was ridiculous. There must be some other way this guy found out, even if Gyro couldn't figure out how. There was no way he was telling the truth. Even assuming what he said is possible, why on earth would Gyro have told Johnny his real name in the first place? It didn't add up.

He shook his head, hoping it would make his thoughts plop down in the right order so he could think on this logically. It just made his head spin instead.

"...you still don't believe me," Johnny said, and he sounded so, so disappointed, Gyro almost felt guilty. Except he shouldn't, because this guy was definitely trying to trick him, and that made him angry. He stood up, ready to throw this guy out so he could calm down and forget this ever happened. The ship lurched and he stumbled, and the man on the bed tipped forward. The steel ball slipped from his hand to the floor, and it was by pure reflex that Gyro caught him and pushed him back on the bed before Johnny could hit the floor. Johnny gripped Gyro's arms tightly, before he relaxed, letting go.

"Thanks," he said, going for a smile, but it was off. The steel ball bounced back and Johnny caught it, before handing it to Gyro. He accepted it, putting it back in its holster. "...maybe I should go," Johnny said, averting his gaze. He wanted to stay, Gyro could see it by the way he hesitated to turn to his wheelchair. That, more than anything, was what convinced Gyro to not push him away quite yet.

Maybe he's crazy, but is he really a bad guy? What's he going to do if I force him to leave now?

He had to know.

"Where would you go?" he asked. "What are you going to do?"

Johnny stared at him, for a long long time. "...I don't know," he admitted. "I never thought this far. I wasn't sure I'd ever get to this point, and I didn't want to plan for a future where I didn't… where we didn't…"

His words trailed off, and he closed his eyes, breathing slowly. Trying to hold in tears.

"Sorry, for crying so much," he said. "I know you told me it's fine, but still. It must get annoying."

He pushed himself up, moving back into his wheelchair. Gyro stood still, caught between stopping him and letting him go.

"I feel a bit better now," Johnny said. "It probably doesn't look like it, but I'm glad I got to talk to you one last time," he rolled forward a step, pausing in front of Gyro to stare up at him. "I love you."

He made his way around Gyro, who stood frozen to the spot. Not sure how to react, he couldn't move, hearing as Johnny stopped in front of the door, and the boy laughed. Some inside joke only he could understand, leaving Gyro to guess.

"Could I make one last request, before I go? It's okay if you say no."

Gyro turned around, studying Johnny's back. The man's back faced him.

"One last kiss goodbye," he said, still turned towards the door. Declining to see Gyro's reaction.

Maybe it was pity, or something else, but Gyro walked up to him. He turned the wheelchair around and bent down, balancing on one knee. The kiss was quick, just a press of one pair of lips against another, before Gyro pulled back. But something about it was off, leaving him reeling, and he wondered if the ship caught in another wave.

He felt dizzy as memories, except not quite memories, but feelings more like, flooded him. He blinked, looking at the boy in front of him with newfound clarity.

Johnny Joestar. I'm sure now. That's your name.

He was still a stranger, and Gyro couldn't say he knew who he was. But the feelings inside him were old, buried in a box somewhere that had now been unlocked and released into the world. They stirred in his chest, pushing at his heart, making it beat so fast it scared him, filling him with life at the same time.

Johnny made to turn around, but Gyro stopped him with a hand over a wheel.

"Wait! Don't go!"

Johnny started, but did as told, stilling. He looked at Gyro curiously, a smidge of hope shyly peeking through the dark veil in his eyes.

It had been a joke, but Gyro was starting to think Johnny really was a witch. But even if that were the case, and he was falling into whatever trap Johnny had set for him, he found that he didn't care. It was terrifying, but it felt right. Johnny looked at him expectantly, and Gyro couldn't betray that.

"Please, tell me," he said. Begged, more like. "You said it would take too long, but we have time. I want to hear the full tale. Please, tell me everything."

Maybe if you do, I will remember, he thought. He wanted to remember. He wanted Johnny to be right.

Johnny smiled. It was still sad, looking as if he was too afraid to hope yet, but it was genuine. It was enough to convince Gyro he made the right decision.

"Alright," Johnny said. He pushed forward and Gyro let him through, so he could make his way back to the spot he just vacated on the bed. "I'll tell you. Everything."

Tbh, I don't know if Creamstarter would replenish blood, but from what I remember and from what I read on the wiki to refresh my memory, there's nothing explicitly stating it would. For the purpose of this fanfic, Creamstarter can only mend flesh.

And dw, Valkyrie got to reunite with Johnny and Slow Dancer shortly after this. Feel a bit bad for giving Pocoloco second place though, but hey, he still made it rich.

This idea was actually born from a longer time travel fix-it fanfic idea I had of Johnny going back in time to save his husbando+everyone else but I dunno if I'll ever finish it, but I at least wanted to get the idea out there in form of a oneshot.