P H A N T O M   B L O O D

"There's love above love and it's ours cuz I love you too much."

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1884, sweet sixteens.

"Do you ever think about Erina?" (E/C) eyes drift over the Joestar with a thoughtful look as you both sit under the old meeting tree, the wind blowing daisies towards the sun.

"Sometimes, what do you reckon happened to her?" Jojo asks you as you lean against his shoulder. She'd just disappeared after the Dio incident.

"Maybe she was secretly some kind of fairy come to give us luck and had to go home afterwards!" You say enthusiastically before continuing in a softer voice, "I miss her sometimes."

"Me too (N/N)." Jonathan sighed slightly and you both go silent for a moment before you're grinning and deciding to ruin the peaceful moment.

"Jojo doesn't be sad, it's spring!" You tackle your companion and you both slide down the little hill and shriek into the stream you had once played in with the lovely blonde.

"(N/N) we're not wearing swimsuits, you dummy!" The Joestar splashed you and laughs as you splash him back. The both of you start to try and soak each other further before eventually the Jojo just picks you and throws you further down the stream.

"That's not very gentlemanly you strong jerk!"

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You were smirking slightly as you waved a copy of Hamlet in front of Dio. Disturbing his quiet session in the library, "I finished!"

"So go read something else." The blonde quips, not looking at you even slightly. Trying to pay attention to the book he was reading and hide any amusement you caused.

"But you said if I read it all you'd let me play with your hair!" You pout slightly and wave the small basket of flowers you were also holding, "Please?"

Dio grumbled slightly before moving forward on the sofa so you could sit behind him. You settle into the position and gently start braiding the pear blossoms from the basket into his hair. Both of you content in the warm room full of books.

"Happy birthday Dio," You lean forward slightly to peck his cheek before going back to his hair.

You end up reminding the blonde that his 'sweet sixteen' ball was going to take up his entire afternoon rather than spending time with his earthbound companion.

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An exceedingly brief look at 1885

"We look amazing! I told you this would be the year we all managed to coordinate!" You announce happily, clapping slightly at the sight of you, Dio and Jonathan in the large mirror. Your reflections all focused on your clothes.

You'd all managed to wear a group themed costume for the first Halloween since Dio's arrival at the manor. It was truly a worthwhile achievement. Though, no one at the Halloween ball Jojo and Dio were going to know about it.

This year you'd decided to all dress up as headless horse riders. You all looked great in the riding clothes and Cicely had helped give you all real looking neck scars since well, you couldn't really remove your heads.

The two nobles had argued over what colour to wear so they were both in black, whereas you had already brought a red riding habit and really didn't want to have to waste the spent wages.

The blonde smirks and rubs the fake scar on his neck slightly, "I'd say this suits me a lot more than it does you, Jojo."

"Well, I think I look the best," You laugh and Jojo sighs.

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You sigh as Dio runs a warm cloth against your neck. The water in it removing the false scar. You were sat on a bathroom counter with Dio leaning between your legs,  dutifully wiping away any halloween makeup.

"Oh, what's this?" The blonde asks and you feel his fingers running down the back of your neck. His face moves closer to your neck to get a look at what he'd found.

"Nothing exciting, just a birthmark. Been there since we met and longer," You say, thinking about the mark you'd seen in the mirror many times.

It was a funny looking thing, nowhere near as cool as Jojo's or Lord Joestars but it certainly stood out. Well, the colour of it stood out against your skin that is. The shape of it was almost ribbon-like, with two stands crossing over and twisting together, starting at your hairline and finishing at your shoulders.

"Just because it's nothing exciting doesn't mean you can keep rubbing it! It's sensitive skin I'll have you know!" You swat at the blonde's hand when he continues to trace the pattern.

Dio chuckles and you can feel the breath with how close he is, "Is that so?"

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A much longer look at 1886

You were on Dio's bed, laid out comfortably on your stomach, watching said blonde strut about in front of his mirror.

"You know that exams aren't exactly formal occasions, right?" You grin slightly as the blonde huffs and adjusts his fancy getup.

"This is my final exam, (Y/N), I need to look my best when I get the best grades, its principle," Dio says smugly, walking over to you and squishing your face, "I hardly think you're the one who should judge me for dressing up."

Alas, it was true, for someone on a low budget you always managed to dress like it was your last day alive. The brightest fabrics you could afford, all the ruffles a seamstress could bare and earrings that would take months to save up for.

And for what? Visiting the local florist? Sitting in a field? It was true, you dressed for the lavish and formal life that you didn't have. Though you rarely got beef for overdressing considering how good you always looked.

"Yeah, yeah," You grumble, taking Dio's hands off your face and holding them gently, "Aren't you nervous, oh fashionable one?"

"I, Dio, do not need to fear such prosaic things as tests," The blonde says cockily, very smug about his soon to be academic achievements.

"Of course not, you got this. I don't even know what prosaic means," You grin before looking at the clock behind the blonde, "I gotta go make Lord Joestar some tea now."

You hop off the bed and begin shoving on clothes as quickly as possible, amusing the blonde, "Oh? You aren't going to wish me good luck before you leave?"

"You were bragging earlier, I don't think you need the luck," Finally ready, you open the door but glance back at the blonde before you leave, "Good luck love."

You had only made it a few paces away from Dio's room when you see Jojo, walking quickly with his head in a textbook, muttering nervously.

You stop the bluenette by grabbing his arm, "Jojo, you're going to be late if you keep studying. We already went over the material anyway, you got this."

"I suppose you're right, thanks (N/N). Good morning, by the way." The Joestar composes himself quickly, tucking the book away and smiling at you.

"Pft, good morning to you too. Since when were you so charming?"

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You and Jojo were under the moon in a large, empty field of grass. The pair of you happily stargazing on the warm summer night.

"Say, Jojo, do you reckon the stars are dancing?" Your head was in the Joestar's lap, looking at the celestial shapes through glowing (E/C) eyes.

"What do you mean?" Jojo tilts his head slightly, now looking at you.

"Well the twinkling thing they're doing, I reckon it's dancing." You seem content with the theory, nodding to yourself you continue, "They must be dancing for you."

"Now you're being silly, why would they dance for me?" Jojo laughs slightly and you turn your gaze from the sky to his far prettier eyes.

"Well you have that birthmark, don't you? You must've been a star before you were born!"

It was true, he was born with a small star on his shoulder but that was just wacky genetics and none of this cute magical stuff you were babbling about. Jojo can't help but sigh in fondness.

"Just look at your eyes, they could never belong to a normal, non-star person." You insist as you looked up into the adonis blue butterfly eyes looking back at you, "I can see whole constellations in them now that I'm concentrating."

"Are you trying to honeyfuggle me?" The celestial looking lad grins, practically glowing in the moonlight. His beauty was just more evidence of him being a star.

"Is it working?" You grin cheekily, seeing the blush spreading across Jojo's face, "I hope it is."

"Hm, I suppose it is. What do you intend to do now?" The Joestar moves his hands to cup your face, grin softening into a sort of tender smile.

"May I kiss you?"

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"Do you ever get the feeling that (Y/N) is playing us both?" Jojo asks, walking out of school with his adopted brother. Though they'd soon separate and take different routes home.

"No one would ever manage to play with the feelings of the likes of I, Dio," The blonde huffs tucking his hands into his pockets.

"Um, right yeah. It's that isn't it a bit weird to you that (Y/N) is er, pursuing romantic afflictions with the both of us?" Jojo looks at the floor, ashamedly scratching at the back of his neck.

"Oh please, I doubt the gardener's pursuing anything. I suspect it's just an unfortunate side effect of their idiocy, they don't realise the consequences of their constantly drifting affections" Dio tuts before continuing, "Something similar to a puppy only being able to focus on the person in front of them."

"I thought you didn't like dogs?" Jojo turns fully to face Dio, trying to pick up on anything that would signal that he was the one who killed Danny. Or any sign that he was going to torch the gardener.

"I don't-" Dio begins before being interrupted by the tapping of welly boots from the alley next to them.

"Are y'all talking shit?"

Jojo and Dio both whirls around to look at you in surprise, Jojo taking the initiative and saying, "How did you-"

"Of course not!" We were actually just discussing your infidelity," Dio steals the moment, the marigold blonde smirking slightly, "We were actually just discussing your infidelity. Jojo's worried you're some sort of skirt chaser."

You groan, stepping out into the street and revealing the shopping basket you were carrying and the reason you were there, "That's yellow roses, infidelity. Yellow isn't the best sign in a flower. I'm not some kind of player... Really I just sort of well- I like making people happy. And for some people, a small amount, I like being in love with them."

"Oh, glad that's settled then." Jojo nods in good cheer, before blinking slightly, "Did you say love?"

"Glad to know you're ears are still working Jojo," Dio quips, but you don't really pay him any mind, "Please say this isn't some romantic gesture to the two of us at the same time. It'll ruin my afternoon."

"Don't take it as a confession, I'm not wearing the right earrings," You shrug and smile, "If I did want to boldly proclaim my love outside in the middle of town, I'd have at least a bouquet. Also, Dio, you'd be one lucky bastard if this was a big romantic gesture so you can shut your gob."

"Oh? My gob is it? Such inspiring langue for someone raised in a lord's household-" Dio elegantly snarls.

"How about we all just calm down and head back to said household? Haha..." Jojo raises his hands up in a peaceful gesture only to have the both of you turn on him.

"I don't recall you calming down that one time at the bakery when I ordered the muffin you wanted!"

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The Christmas ball had arrived once again and you were on duty serving plum pudding for the aristocratic guests.

The room smelled less of Christmas and more of old money, and the conversations were about politeness, business and Lord Joestars adopted son's last Christmas ball before going to university. Nothing you were particularly interested in.

The Joestars and blonde were all mingling, dressed in whatever rich fabric was fashionable as they joked with other rich and fashionable people.

The evening was slow and dragging. You had been looking forward to the Christmas holiday but you ended up just being very busy preparing the mansion for the holiday and the ball was just a testament to that.

The plum pudding was long gone by the time the guests started departing into the snowy night. You had left your post and headed over to a doorway, smiling at the blonde who had been waiting for you.

"Hello, love." You lean under the mistletoe before grinning, "Come here often?"

Dio smirks before taking the sides of your face in his hands and kissing you, "Do you know how many people have come over here to snog me? You need to be quicker next time darling."

"I'll make sure of it you poor thing." You peck his face, grinning, the tradition started when you were twelve once again being completed.

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"Dio, stop it," Jonathan whispered, moving your head back onto his shoulder.

"Why? They're obviously comfier here." The blonde smirked, moving your sleeping figure back to him.

They'd all been on a birthday picnic for you when you'd managed to fall asleep on Jojo. Dio, being his usual petty self, moved you so that you slept on him. This wound up repeating multiple times.

"You're going to wake them up." The blue-haired giant responded, moving you back to him

"No, I, Dio, am not. You on the other hand will if you keep interfering." The blonde moves you back to him.

"Interfering with what? You being weird?" Jonathan responded.

Back and forth you were moved until eventually you did in fact start waking up.

"Oh, now you've done it," Dio sighed, glaring at his adopted brother.

"It wasn't me- it was you!" Jonathan whisper yelled, glaring back.

"Shhhhhhh, you're both pretty." Your semi-awake self said before plunging face-first into the strawberry shortcake and falling back to sleep. Both boys hesitated at your odd compliment and fall before turning to glare at each other once again.

"There's no way this isn't your fault."

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"I'll miss you! Write to me about the progress on your essay alright? I wanna see what it's like finished!" You happily hugged your buff friend as you parted ways.

The blueberry-haired boy grinned, knowing you weren't overwhelmingly interested in the ancient civilisation he'd been studying for his new archaeology lessons, "It's just university (N/N), you won't have to miss me for too long."

"Like I'd ever miss your ugly mug!" You stood up on your tiptoes slightly and pecked his cheek, "Goodbye Jojo!"

The Joestars face flushed and stammered for a moment before picking up his suitcase and getting inside the carriage, "Goodbye (Y/N)!"

Then you turned to a somewhat sulking Dio, who was quickly hugged, "Goodbye to you too love."

"Where's my kisses?" The blonde frowned slightly after you kissed him on the cheek, reaching forward and cupping your face. After a proper kiss, the blonde smirked, "Goodbye darling."

You laughed slightly, making a joke about how forward he was for someone trying to become a lawyer before he got onto the carriage with Jonathan.

You waved at the departing carriage before heading back to the garden which looked even better over the years. All the plants and features within it flourishing, much to the annoyance of Simon.

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Hope you enjoyed!