Chapter Text
Noriaki was happy, despite himself. Terror from what had happened at the Atum still coursed through him, but he was away from there. He had Jotaro. They were going home. That was what mattered at the moment.
The Joestars had only brought three horses on the rescue mission, so Noriaki was sharing a horse with Jotaro, the bodyguard almost curled around the prince as they returned to the palace city. He leaned back comfortably into Jotaro. He finally felt safe again, even if they weren’t close to safety just yet.
“Jotaro?” he said softly, looking up at the taller man. Jotaro grunted to acknowledge that he’d heard Noriaki, who continued. “I’m sorry… It’s my fault we got into this mess. I, I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Green eyes gave him a slightly confused look. “What are you talking about? It’s my job to keep you safe; I messed up, not you.”
“You were only going along with my stupid ideas. I was naïve and dumb and you got hurt because I—” Noriaki was cut off when Jotaro grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently. The gesture was unexpected and the prince felt his cheeks heat.
“It’s not your fault,” Jotaro insisted, voice quiet but stern enough that Noriaki knew he would not get any further with the argument.
They rode the rest of the way in silence, Noriaki simply basking in Jotaro’s presence. And in almost no time, they were back within the walls of the palace city, making their way to the palace itself. Noriaki felt his stomach drop like lead. They would have to face his parents, and Jotaro could be in trouble. They wouldn't punish him, would they? Noriaki would fight any attempts to punish Jotaro. It was the prince's fault. Jotaro had done his job.
The group dismounted the horses just inside the courtyard walls and handed them off to servants. Usually, they would take care of their steeds themselves, but it was not wise to keep the king and queen waiting.
Noriaki clung to Jotaro as they headed to the library. Noriaki's father preferred to do business like this in there where there would not be an audience. No one in court needed to know that the Kakyoins had any issues, especially with their bodyguards.
The library was filled with the scent of old wood and old books. It was familiar. Noriaki had spent many days there, reading whatever he could get his hands on, Jotaro always by his side. And now, the peaceful space was going to be tainted.
The door opened and Noriaki's parents entered. The prince tensed, his grip on Jotaro's arm tightening. The expressions on his parents' faces were not ones that gave him much hope for a good outcome. They were cold, almost angry with him for daring to get himself captured.
"Noriaki," his mother said. "You're safe." Her voice was almost dismissive of that fact, like she hadn't cared either way if her only son lived or died. Noriaki bristled, thinking of how Seiko had hugged him and cried when he and Jotaro had exited the Atum together. Some days—days like today—Noriaki wished he could belong to the Joestars instead of his own family.
"Yes, Mother, Father, thanks to Jotaro and his family, I am safe." Noriaki hated how small his voice sounded. He wasn't sure if it was because of what had happened or if it was just an inherent weakness within himself, but he was so terrified of just about everything lately.
"Because of Jotaro, you were taken in the first place," his father snapped. Noriaki felt Jotaro flinch at the words.
"That was my fault! I was the one who insisted on going out to the market. I went on my own and he followed to keep me safe. Jotaro is the only reason I'm not dead." Noriaki grabbed Jotaro's hand and squeezed so tightly he feared it would hurt the larger man. Yet Jotaro did not seem to mind. "You can't, you can't punish the Joestars."
Noriaki's head whipped to the side, his cheek stinging. He bit back tears and resisted the urge to put his hand to the angry red mark forming. It had been years since his father had struck him; Noriaki was always careful with his manners around his parents. But he also was used to being in court, where manners were more important.
"My King," Jotaro's voice was quiet. Noriaki could hear the edge in it; he was straining against his instincts to deal a blow back to Noriaki's father. Instead, Jotaro stiffly lowered himself to his knees, his green eyes trained on the ground in what would look like humility, but Noriaki recognized as shame. "I apologize for my carelessness. I will accept any punishment you see fit."
Shame of his own filled Noriaki. He was so powerless here. There was no way for him to help Jotaro and he was so terrified that Jotaro would be taken away. He wanted to scream. He wanted to throw things. But all he could do was just stand there without breathing as he waited for his father to say anything.
Noriaki's father looked between the two of them, his expression hard even if his eyes betrayed him. Noriaki could see that he knew there wasn't much he could do so far as punishment. Noriaki needed a bodyguard and Josuke was not a suitable replacement for Jotaro, even if he had received the same training all of the Joestars did. Thus, hurting Jotaro would not work, nor would removing Jotaro from protecting Noriaki for any amount of time.
"Your shame is punishment enough," the King said harshly. Noriaki didn't miss how Jotaro flinched again. But he was grateful there wouldn’t be further action taken for the moment. The prince fell to his knees beside Jotaro, wrapping his arms around the larger man as the King and Queen left, taking Joseph and Seiko with them.
The young men were alone and Jotaro moved so that he was sitting on his heels. His fists shook but as soon as Noriaki put his hand on Jotaro's face, the bodyguard calmed.
"He shouldn't have done that," Jotaro said with a quiet intensity, fingers lightly brushing the prince's stinging cheek. Noriaki couldn't help but lean into it.
"He's my father and the king. I should know better than to question his judgement..." was all Noriaki could say.
“If he ever tries that again, I’ll break his hand.” Jotaro’s voice was low enough that only Noriaki heard him, but the prince still gasped.
“Jotaro, don’t say that! It could be considered treason,” Noriaki’s voice was likewise hushed, but carrying an edge of urgency in it.
“I don’t care. I wasn’t raised to be loyal to your father. I was raised loyal to you. If your father hurts you, I will commit treason to keep you safe.” There was no wavering in Jotaro’s voice as he said this. He was completely sure of his course of action.
“Please try not to; I don’t think I could bear to lose you,” Noriaki said slowly, wrapping his arms around Jotaro’s waist, his cheek pressed to his bodyguard’s chest. Jotaro’s heart thrummed a low, steady rhythm in Noriaki’s ear, calming the prince greatly. Noriaki was certain that all he needed to be happy at this point was Jotaro with him. As long as he had that, he would be okay.