"You say one fucking word, and you're both dead," The man growled in deep tone. Joseph's heart dropped. Of fucking course this had to happen. He was wearing sunglasses and a hat that covered his face from Joseph's view. "Now, you listen to me. I will leave in 5 minutes. Once I leave, count to 35. After, you tell that bitch behind the counter that the Pillar Men won't let him rest, won't let him live the rest of his life quietly, and that his time is up."
Joseph stared at him. He felt like he was about to throw up. No way that somebody like Caesar could have people who wanted him dead. "Who- who are you?" Joseph choked on his words.
"None of your fucking business," The man grumbled, "Now, I'll let you go. Act normal. In 3 more minutes, I'll leave. Then you do what I told you. Understand?"
Joseph nodded. He couldn't believe what was happening. Up until now, he had the world's saddest and boring life. All the times that he had said, I wish my life was a little more interesting…, he didn't mean anything more dangerous.
The man let his wrist go. Joseph turned around and went back to the counter. He was trembling. As much as he tried to control himself, he was scared shitless. Terrified, actually. Caesar had managed to notice that.
"Joseph," He said to him, whilst making an espresso, "Are you okay? You were talking with that customer for a while. Do you know each other?"
"Uh, yeah," Joseph said, his voice slightly trembling, "We knew each other back in high school." He avoided making eye contact with Caesar. It would've actually killed him if he looked at Caesar.
"Oh, that's nice," Caesar mumbled. "Take this to table 7, it's by the plant over there." Joseph took the espresso. As he was handing it to the customer, the door opened. He looked immediately and saw the man leaving. The man turned to look at him as he left. Thirty five, he mouthed at Joseph.
JoJo began to sweat, One…two…three…, he counted in his head as he walked back to the counter. Caesar looked at him concerningly. He furrowed his brows and was about to walk up to Joseph. 28…fucking shit…30…
"Joseph, what's wrong with you?" Caesar asked him, "You're acting odd. Did something happen?" Joseph stared at him. He looked like he was about to explode. 34…35.
"Caesar, I need to tell you something," Joseph blurted out the second he got to 35. He looked around to see if there were any customers waiting. "Like, a serious thing. Come." Joseph went into the kitchen, leading Caesar by his hand.
Caesar looked quite flabbergasted. "What- what happened?"
Joseph took a deep breath. "Uhm, you know the customer that I was talking with?" Caesar nodded, "Well, he's not my friend. He told me to tell you something about Pillar Men and…and that your time is… up?"
Caesar was usually pale, but he became white. Pure white once Joseph had said the word "Pillar Men". He frowned and looked sick. He began to mumble stuff to himself. "...No…fuck…"
Caesar looked at Joseph with a desperate look on his face. "God, I need to…I have to go back to Italy," Caesar choked out the words, "I'm sorry, I didn't…I didn't think that would follow me all the way over here…"
"I'll go with you." Joseph said. It killed him to see Caesar look so pained and worried. Caesar gasped and stared at him like a crazy person. As if he hadn't described Italy as "not so nice" earlier.
"Joseph, no." Caesar told him, "You've known me for 2 days. You don't know anything about me. Not about my life, my past, my home, nothing. It's too risky."
"Well I'm your friend now," Joseph grabbed Caesar's hands in his. Caesar blushed and looked at him with worry in his eyes. "And I'm not gonna let you go through this alone. I'm here and I want to be here with you."
"Joseph…okay," Caesar said softly, slightly tightening his hold on Joseph's hands, "Alright. I'll close the cafe while you go pack. Just take some clothes and other necessities. Come back here by 5 and we'll leave."
"Alright."
-
Joseph left immediately and speed walked all the way back to his apartment. He was so overwhelmed, he dropped his keys three times and could not get the right key for a whole minute.
How was he supposed to explain all this to Granny Erina? Or to Smokey? Or to anybody!? "Hey, I'm going to Italy with my crush because people are after him and want him dead xoxo" Joseph finally opened the door and stepped inside.
Erina was cooking breakfast in the kitchen. She was quite shocked that her grandson was already back so soon. "Oh! Joseph!" She exclaimed as she went to greet him. She stood in front of him, taking in for a moment just how fast he was growing, "Why, you're back so soon. Did something happen?"
Joseph's heart broke. He didn't know how long he was going to be in Italy for- or even if he would come back. Now, he had to leave his sweet granny who raised him. "Uhm, Granny, I need to tell you something," Joseph said, quietly to her. She furrowed her brows and nodded.
She turned off the stove and offered JoJo a seat at the table. "What is it, dear?" She asked him, wondering what could've ruined his mood this morning.
Joseph sighed and rested his face in his hand. "I'm going to Italy with a friend," He told her, watching the shock come over her, "You know how I've been looking for work? He owns a cafe and he's deciding to move the business back to Italy. And since most of his workers aren't willing to make the move, he asked me since I'm looking for work."
Erina looked at him, with a million questions ready to ask him. "Oh…well, I mean…" She murmured, "You have to go all the way to Italy? Do you seriously need to do this? I'm certain that there is somebody else out there who he can take with him…"
JoJo's heart was being ripped apart. He didn't want to leave his grandmother, but he didn't want to leave Caesar either. Although they have just met, it feels as though they have met in another lifetime. Like they were absolutely meant for each other. Maybe Joseph was being dramatic, but he loved Caesar with all his heart.
As much as he loved his dear Granny Erina, he had to do this to be a good…friend? Whatever.
"Yeah…but I swear to you, I will phone you every day- no, every morning and night," Joseph pleaded to her, "But I have to do this. He's my friend and the pay isn't bad. I promise, I'll be okay." He held her hands.
She frowned for a moment, looked into her sweet grandson's eyes, remembering when he was just a little boy with big dreams. Erina took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay," She said, softly, "You can go."
-
Joseph packed his things; clothing, his toothbrush, a camera (photos for when he comes back), shoes, and his scarf. He could not live without his scarf. It was his father's but he passed when Joseph was a baby or something.
He has no memories of either his mother or father. They both died in a horrible plane accident. His father was a plane pilot and decided that he was going to take his mother on a trip to Greece. But something went wrong and the plane went down.
So he's a little bit nervous about flying since the last time he had to fly was about 5 years ago. He got his bags and checked the time. 3:09. He had two hours to spend.
Thoughts trickled into his mind about what to do. Does he wait? Does he go early? Then he thought, what if I buy Caesar something?
Joseph, he could be in danger and you want to buy him a gift? Can you be any more delusional??
JoJo sighed. But he felt like he should get something that Caesar could always have on him. Just to make sure that he always has a piece of Joseph on him.
So, he hauled his delusional self out of his home and to the shops. "What the flip does he even like?" He mumbled to himself. All he really knew about Caesar was that he enjoyed baking and making food.
He thought real deep and hard about what Caesar would like. Caesar had his ears pierced but never wore earrings. Maybe he should buy him earrings. Or he could buy him rings. Caesar always wore something on his hands when he wasn't baking.
That's it. A ring is perfect. Something small and able to always have on you. Joseph grabbed his wallet and went on his way to the jewelers.
-
He made it to the shop. Joseph looked around, wondering which one Caesar would like. All of Caesar's rings were silver, so he figured that he should give him one made of silver. JoJo wanted something that would complement his natural features. Like his light freckles, or his blonde head of hair, or his eyes. His eyes were a beautiful green.
A green jewel on a silver ring. Joseph was a genius. He asked the sweet old lady who ran the place to help him find the perfect ring. She brought him over to a display. She carefully picked up a gorgeous ring. And wow, was it perfect. It was as if Caesar's beauty had been forged into a piece of jewelry.
In other words, it was beyond perfection.
-
By the time that Joseph finished drooling over the ring and made it home, it was about 1 hour before they were supposed to rendezvous.
He should start making his way over there. Joseph grabbed his luggage and said his last goodbyes to his granny. "Have a nice time dear," Erina told him, "If things don't work out, I'll pay for a ticket so you can come back as soon as possible."
"Of course."
"Joseph," Erina said, "Please, stay safe. I love you."
"I love you too."
-
Joseph made it to the cafe. Caesar was sitting quietly in the kitchen, having closed early. His face was blank. Probably thinking about what he has to do, whatever that is. When Joseph walked in, he tried to smile.
"Joseph…hi." His smile waivered, "Do you want something to eat?"
Joseph hated seeing him like this. "Uh, no it's okay." He sat down next to him. "Are you alright?"
Caesar sighed and looked at him. He shook his head.
Joseph didn't know what to do. Whenever Smokey was upset, all he would say was "Darn it.". But he felt like that did not fit the current situation.
So he wrapped his arms around Caesar and hugged him. Caesar hugged him back, as though he was aching for a little bit of comfort this whole time. They kept their position for a while, maybe less than a minute, and finally let go.
Joseph was blushing but tried not to make it obvious. Caesar still had a blank face but seemed less bothered. "Caesar, I got you something," Joseph said, reaching into his pocket for the ring, "Just so you can have something for the memories. Not that you would probably want to remember this, but you get it."
Caesar giggled a little bit and saw the ring. He looked at it in awe. "Joseph, you really didn't have to do this," Caesar said as he furrowed his brow, "If I would've known that you were doing this, then I would've bought you something too!" He gave him a soft shove on the shoulder.
"No, you deserve it," Joseph shoved him back, "You're the one who's going through all of this, so you deserve something nice."
"Well, I have you."
Silence. Joseph blinked at Caesar. Caesar covered his mouth.
"I mean, like," Caesar explained, quickly, "You're a great friend to have! You know? Being friends with you is already a gift in itself. The best gift anybody could have."
"Oh." Joseph rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He just got called a great friend by his crush. But he can't be mad at Caesar for wanting to be friends.
And Caesar seemed to be able to read his mind at that moment because he began speaking again.
"I mean, not that we can only ever be friends," Caesar began to blush, "You never know what can happen to us and our relationship. Ugh, I mean-"
Caesar was cut off by a man entering the room. He looked at both of them and nodded. "Mr. Zeppeli, we're ready."
Caesar looked at Joseph who handed him the ring. He put it on and gave Joseph a sweet look. "Alright then, let's get going." He said.