This is not a continuation of the other one so much as it's just an alternative because I didn't really know which scenario I wanted to write. This one essentially just has more h/c XD Still 1,000 words though.
Caesar watched as the Pillar Men retreated, leaving behind Jojo's bloody figure lying limply on the ground. The Itailian was torn briefly between hurrying to the young man and running back to get Speedwagon, but remembered that Jojo was still bleeding from his wrist, so he hurried forward instead, still shaken by what he had just witnessed.
When he got to the other young man, he approached cautiously. "Jojo?" he called.
The Brit didn't even seem to be breathing. He was simply lying there, shirt half torn off, covered in wounds, his eyes closed. It was almost eerie. Caesar hadn't known the other young man for long, but he'd never seen Jojo still before. It just seemed wrong on him.
He knelt and pressed his fingers to Jojo's throat, feeling for a pulse. It was there, thankfully. He didn't think Wamuu's goal had been to kill Jojo anyway. Though he still wasn't entirely sure what the Pillar Man had done. The whole thing with the rings was just… Caesar shuddered.
He swiftly ripped some of Jojo's already ruined shirt apart and yanked the glove off of his bleeding arm, binding his wrist tightly before he gathered the other young man up to prop against him, tapping his face to try and wake him up as he took stock of Jojo's other injuries, hoping he hadn't suffered from too much blood loss. Caesar had experienced first-hand how strong Wamuu's powers were. Jojo still didn't look like he was breathing, which was worrying.
"You are such an idiot," he muttered to the unconscious figure resting against his knees. "But I have to admit that you're a brave idiot. I too was foolish enough to rush in without preparation, and didn't get as far as you. It seems I have underestimated you, taken you for a coward when you were really running to keep him away from Speedwagon and me."
He half expected Jojo to wake up, smirking, happy he had gotten Caesar to admit that he wasn't just an idiot, but he still stayed unconscious. The Italian glanced around, worried that the Pillar Men might come back. They needed to get out of here.
"Jojo!" Caesar finally shouted, shaking the other man a bit roughly, giving his cheek a good slap.
Jojo's eyes flew open and he gasped for breath before a choking sound emerged from his throat and he reached up, clawing at his own throat with one hand while the other went to his chest, right above his heart.
"Gah—ge-get them out!"
He writhed in Caesar's grip, fingernails digging into his skin before Caesar reached up to grab his wrists, trying to keep him from clawing himself to bleeding. "Jojo! Stop!"
But Jojo was still gasping, seeming unable to breathe. Caesar propped him upright and gripped his shoulders tightly, giving him a little shake. "Jojo! Listen to me, you have to calm down. Just breathe!"
He was shocked to see, for the first time, genuine fear in Jojo's eyes. Caesar almost didn't believe it. He thought the Brit was too reckless to know the meaning of the word, but Jojo was terrified. Tears brimming in his green eyes and threatening to spill over as he gagged.
"Breathe, Jojo, in and out," Caesar coaxed, squeezing his shoulders tighter.
Jojo shook his head, hand over his throat. "H-hurts…Caesar…" His jaw was clenched in pain and a tear escaped and slid down his cheek.
Caesar couldn't help the sudden protectiveness that came over him, born of having many younger siblings. Without really realizing it, he had cupped Jojo's face between his hands and forced him to meet his eyes. "Jojo, you need to breathe! Like you do for Hamon, come on."
Jojo's hands shook as he continued to touch his throat, but he also took a small breath, wincing, and then breathed in deeper.
"Good." Caesar nodded. "Keep going."
Jojo took another breath, deeper, and with this exhale, he seemed to steady a little, his face less red. He took another deep breath, his chest expanding and the exhale was stronger and less shaky.
"There you go," Caesar coaxed, moving his hands back to Jojo's shoulders to steady him.
Jojo took several more breaths before he seemed to collapse in exhaustion again and slumped forward, seeming to be too exhausted to mind that he landed against Caesar's shoulder. The Italian let him; Jojo had already been through a lot.
"Better?" Caesar asked him.
Jojo grunted and pushed himself back, sitting up on his own. "Did you see what happened?"
Caesar nodded, face pale.
Jojo pressed his face into his hands, fingers clutching at his hair. "I didn't think they'd do that! Now I'm dead in a month if I can't figure out how to defeat them! How the hell am I ever going to do that?"
Caesar made a decision then. "I will train with you. We will both get stronger in Hamon, and we will kill them together."
Jojo looked up, frowning. "You mean that? I thought…"
"I thought a lot about you too, most of it was wrong." Caesar shrugged. "Except you being an idiot."
Jojo snorted then winced, wrapping an arm around his chest. Caesar pushed himself to his feet and reached down a hand. "Come on, your wounds need to be tended and we should see what is going on with those rings. Perhaps we can remove them surgically."
Jojo grabbed his proffered hand but Caesar did all the work getting him to his feet and slinging Jojo's arm over his shoulders.
"Thanks," Jojo said after a few staggering steps. "You saved me back there."
"You saved me first, I repay my debts," Caesar told him. But secretly, he was seeing this British upstart in a new light now. And he genuinely hoped that they would become comrades and friends in the future.
Maybe he could even beat some of the stupid out of him. But then, Caesar thought that perhaps some miracles were just not to be.