[Those rough fingertips press across his hand, trailing and tickling the lines on his own calloused palm, like he's pressing salve into an unseen wound.
Caesar can't remember a time in his life when he remained this still.
If it were a normal conversation with the man trying this new ploy to screw with him, Caesar would push him off in a heartbeat and make him regret this attempt to toy with him. He would end it before it got any farther. Is tempted to, when that thumb brushes against the back of his hand in a gesture that's far too soothing to belong to JoJo and-
He keeps his gaze steady-only a single blink betrays that he's even conscious of what's happening between them. The steady spark of hamon, the drum of synchrony under his skin, the-
Squeeze of JoJo's hand against his. The face pressing into his chest-an action that feels far too natural, too comforting, too normal, when he can't recall this situation occurring at any other point during their training together.
The erratic beat, beat, beat of his heart is unfortunate-it screws with his breathing, makes that hamon surge and then pull back like he's a novice. He's angry at JoJo, at himself, at everything about this and as he's about to lay on him with another No because he can't slack. The knowledge he wins doesn't change the importance of the battle before him. He needs to get stronger. To not waste-
Their time together. A realization that makes him swallow hard and he steels his expression.
But then the bastard-he mentions making Manna and Caesar can't tell if he understands the implication. Everything about this interaction has been tender-those fingertips still feel like they're pressing into his birthmarks, his cheeks-he can feel it and-
He's so mad and he knows that's covering up something else. Knows it's an easy blanket to pull over the difficult to comprehend sensation churning in his chest.]
I told you I would help you find a Manna partner. You shunned my offer only a few days ago, but I'm kind enough to give you a second chance.
[That's a teasing edge to his voice and-]
Synchrony happens like this too, you know. [A beat. He steadies his voice. It's a simple fact. It's only a fact. In the same way hamon is created through the air they breathe, the connection is happening through touch.
It's fact.
That's all.]
You can't be so dense as to not feel it. It can be replenished this way.
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Caesar can't remember a time in his life when he remained this still.
If it were a normal conversation with the man trying this new ploy to screw with him, Caesar would push him off in a heartbeat and make him regret this attempt to toy with him. He would end it before it got any farther. Is tempted to, when that thumb brushes against the back of his hand in a gesture that's far too soothing to belong to JoJo and-
He keeps his gaze steady-only a single blink betrays that he's even conscious of what's happening between them. The steady spark of hamon, the drum of synchrony under his skin, the-
Squeeze of JoJo's hand against his. The face pressing into his chest-an action that feels far too natural, too comforting, too normal, when he can't recall this situation occurring at any other point during their training together.
The erratic beat, beat, beat of his heart is unfortunate-it screws with his breathing, makes that hamon surge and then pull back like he's a novice. He's angry at JoJo, at himself, at everything about this and as he's about to lay on him with another No because he can't slack. The knowledge he wins doesn't change the importance of the battle before him. He needs to get stronger. To not waste-
Their time together. A realization that makes him swallow hard and he steels his expression.
But then the bastard-he mentions making Manna and Caesar can't tell if he understands the implication. Everything about this interaction has been tender-those fingertips still feel like they're pressing into his birthmarks, his cheeks-he can feel it and-
He's so mad and he knows that's covering up something else. Knows it's an easy blanket to pull over the difficult to comprehend sensation churning in his chest.]
I told you I would help you find a Manna partner. You shunned my offer only a few days ago, but I'm kind enough to give you a second chance.
[That's a teasing edge to his voice and-]
Synchrony happens like this too, you know. [A beat. He steadies his voice. It's a simple fact. It's only a fact. In the same way hamon is created through the air they breathe, the connection is happening through touch.
It's fact.
That's all.]
You can't be so dense as to not feel it. It can be replenished this way.