Another 1,000 word whumpy one-shot for a little Tumblr challenge!
Also, I'm open to JoJo whump requests through Part 4 if anyone wants to see anything particular ^_^
Comrades
A JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Fanfic
Caesar had been convinced he had been unwillingly partnered with an idiot. But he had to admit that there was something to Joseph's tactics—even if they left him more beaten up than necessary.
Caesar watched as Jojo slammed into the ground after getting a full blast of Wamuu's Divine Sandstorm.
"Jojo!" Speedwagon stepped forward.
"Wait, you'll just be killed." Caesar grabbed him, holding him back.
Wamuu shook his head. "You humans are so weak and pitiful, even with your Hamon. I'm disappointed." He turned to Caesar and Speedwagon. "Normally I wouldn't concern myself with mere mortals, but you two witnessed my shame, and I cannot allow that. So you must die."
Caesar's eye caught movement, and he glanced past Wamuu to see Jojo crawling away. Fury washed over him and his lip curled unbidden. So that was how it was? Jojo was abandoning them? And after all the false bravado…Caesar shouldn't have expected differently. Still, to abandon Speedwagon, who was like family to the British upstart…Caesar couldn't condone that.
Jojo made it to a mine cart and Wamuu finally realized what was happening. He completely ignored Caesar and Speedwagon and went off toward Jojo with a roar.
Jojo laughed and sent the cart flying down the tracks.
"Jojo!" Speedwagon cried.
Caesar stood in shock. Could it be…?
"He…he was trying to get Wamuu away the whole time," he said, stunned.
"Of course he was! Jojo is brave and reckless to a fault; he's going to get himself killed!"
Caesar felt instant regret wash over him, as he angrily scrubbed the blood from his face. "I thought…That should be me! He's hurt too badly!" He started to run down the tunnel, no real plan in mind, just knowing that he wasn't about to leave his new comrade to face that monster alone.
"Caesar!"
"Stay here!" he called to Speedwagon.
Caesar ran through the tunnels until he heard a crash and hurried forward, unsure of what he might find.
He heard Jojo's cry of pain and the sound of flesh on flesh. He skidded to a halt out of sight as he hid around the corner, peeking out at the scene unfolding before him.
Wamuu had ahold of Jojo by his torn shirt, Jojo hanging limply in his grasp but still smirking.
"This is a bit sad, isn't it, Wamuu?" he asked, spitting blood. "You just wailing on me? Not very warriorlike. Not very noble."
Wamuu growled but dropped him. Caesar winced as Jojo sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath. Caesar cursed. If he couldn't get his breath he couldn't use Hamon, and his wrist was still bleeding badly. He looked about ready to drop.
"And yet, if you gave me some time…I might be able to train to become a worthy opponent for you," Jojo urged.
Wamuu seemed to consider it. Caesar watched as the Pillar Man stepped forward and pressed a foot into Jojo's torso, pressing hard enough that even Caesar could hear his ribs creak from where he stood.
"I will hold you to that—with a promise." Wamuu held something up that Caesar couldn't make out and then, to his horror, he watched as Wamuu shoved his hand through Jojo's chest.
"Jojo!" he cried.
Jojo screamed in pain as Wamuu withdrew. "That is the Wedding Ring of Death. If you do not face me before thirty-three days are up, a poison will release from it and will kill you."
Jojo stared wide-eyed as the other Pillar Man, Esidisi, strode up with a chuckle. "Good idea, Wamuu. I think I will join you. This human is amusing." He shoved another ring through Jojo's neck and the Brit curled up, writhing on the ground, clutching his throat.
Caesar watched them leave, Esidisi kicking Jojo once more in the back, before disappearing.
Jojo tried to push himself up, but cried out in pain and collapsed limply to the ground.
Caesar pushed himself away from his hiding spot and ran to the other young man, kneeling by his side.
"Jojo," he called, tapping his cheek. He swiftly tore the already ruined sleeve from Jojo's shirt and bound his still-bleeding wrist. Jojo was shivering and pale with blood loss.
"Jojo, you idiot," Caesar whispered as he gathered the other young man against his knee, supporting him. Jojo twitched and then his eyes suddenly flew open and he gasped for breath, choking, one shaking hand clawing at his throat, the other at his chest.
"Gah—!"
"Jojo, calm down!" Caesar tried, wrapping his arms more tightly around the Brit. "If you panic, it will make it worse! Try to breathe calmly!"
Jojo flailed for several seconds, before he finally managed to calm his breathing, and his head lolled against Caesar's arm. His eyes blinked open and he stared blearily up at him.
"C-Caesar? What're you doing here?"
"You're such a fool," Caesar chided, taking stock of all of Jojo's injuries, of which there were many. "That was incredibly stupid what you did, and look what happened!"
"It worked," Jojo's mouth twisted into a half smirk that Caesar both hated and admired. Then the Brit frowned and looked back up at him. "You mean to tell me you care?"
"Mama mia," Caesar groaned. "Let's just say I…have a new respect for you." He admitted grudgingly. "And I will train with you in Hamon. We will both get stronger in order to defeat the Pillar Men."
Jojo blinked. "You mean that?"
Caesar rolled his eyes. "Don't get me wrong, I still find you annoying, petulant, lazy—but you might have some merits."
"Sweet of you," Jojo murmured then coughed and started gasping again, clutching at his chest and throat. "Gah! I—I want them out!" His lip trembled, betraying his fear despite his bravado.
"Easy," Caesar said. "We need to get you to a hospital."
"I am an idiot," Jojo said. "I just didn't want to see anyone else hurt."
Caesar blinked as he realized he was added in that list and sighed, shifting. "Come on, I'll help you up. We need to find Speedwagon."
And as he wrapped Jojo's arm around his shoulders, Caesar realized he'd made a new ally that day and, possibly, a new friend.