Chapter Text
What was the harm, really? He couldn’t think what the worst thing that could happen could be, after all, what was he going to do? Kill him again? With Noriaki’s newfound confidence he could only feel a whole barrage of other emotions stirring to the front of his mind. He had his eyes locked on the man. He expected him to be screaming, howling at his defeat, but instead, he was just sat there looking smug. He’d hoped that he’d get some sort of joy knowing that Jotaro had defeated him, so his humiliation would soothe his anger. It made him want to spit.
Perhaps knowing that they would be stuck together in this ‘field of reeds’ for the foreseeable eternity made it worse. He hoped he wouldn’t have to see Jotaro, Polnareff and Mr Joestar here, but he also knew their presence might have helped hold himself together for longer. To stop himself from letting the ugliness he had inside from spilling forth and inflicting that potent spite on others. No, it wouldn’t be just anyone. It’d be this grinning fool.
As an honour student, he had been expected to hold himself to a higher esteem, a higher standard that others should aim to attain. But perhaps holding himself to this ideal of a passive Paladin, one who stood above such petty matters was what made him want to lash out even more. To show that this standard was an unrealistic joke. He was just as savage and capable of ugliness as everyone else.
And really, maybe that’s why Dio had terrified him.
Here was a man who made him want to give in to that spite. A man who believed himself this perfect being whilst also being despicable.
It should have made him want to be better than him. To prove that he was far from the perfect superior being. And yet, here he was, bile creeping up his constricting throat, the itching feeling to drag him down to where he was – nothing more than a creature that lived in the mud. No dignity, no shame, nothing to lose.
It was a dangerous path to entertain. Especially as he knew little about Dio, he didn’t know the path he trod to reach this point.
Yet there Noriaki was, approaching the disgusting creature. His fists were clenched tightly, his mouth pressed into a firm line.
Dio had felt Noriaki Kakyoin’s murderous aura before he had even approached. It was such a potent feeling that the man had known before this child had even been a small bundle of atoms. He couldn’t help but be amused. The indignant rage, yes it was a feeling he’d known all too well. But Noriaki was at heart a coward as far as he was concerned, only finding the courage to attack him with pure unadulterated rage now that they were both dead. And yet, if his plan he’d set in motion with Pucci was pulled off, well really this was nothing more than a temporary setback.
But that feeling, it was intoxicating. It’d been so easy to enthral him knowing full well of his loneliness, his pride as an honour student. It was a dance he knew like the back of his hand, having to maintain such a mask for others. To cast it aside with such fervour was the greatest rush he’d ever known.
Dio didn’t move, let alone budge upon the impact. He knew well enough how to take a punch, his powers available or not. He was sure the recoil had hurt Kakyoin almost as much as it had him. But with the way his face was scrunched with his teeth bared, Dio knew the youth wasn’t anywhere near done. He could only laugh, further making the redhead throw more of his weight behind the punch.
“My my, such a temper you have.” The man chortled, swatting away the motion. “Whatever would your little friends have done if they knew just how twisted you were deep down? We both know that you were the easiest to join me-”
“Shut up!” Another swing, despite it being for nought.
“What? Did you give into them just because that brat showed you the tiniest amount of kindness? You thought they wanted the best for you? They dragged you away from your home and parents just to leave you for dead.” Noriaki howled and threw another punch. Dio just laughed, haughty and sardonic. “The pitiful lonely child, feeling acceptance from a common thug and a selfish old man? Was what I gave you not enough?”
“I joined them because I wanted to, I wasn’t manipulated or controlled like you did.” Noriaki spat, “Your connection was cheap, it was fake.”
“And what’s to say they weren’t manipulative? They may not have intended it but no one is above swaying other people to their needs. Are you not guilty of it too? Hierophant could even control people.”
“I didn’t use it after that time!”
“Why? Because you were scared of what they’d think? Ostracise you for not fitting into their narrow morals? Poor lonely boy, you couldn’t bear to lose those ‘friends’ so you stuffed your real self into a box. Only giving them a sliver of yourself-”
This time the punch connected to his lower jaw. Another swiftly to his solar plexus. Despite being dead, it felt as though the air had been knocked from his lungs.
“You should know better than anyone that you don’t reveal yourself instantaneously.” Noriaki hissed between his clenched teeth. He loomed over the blond, eyes narrowed and his body trembling. “But if you’re so insistent about us being honest with each other, how about you set an example, instead of this bratty persona you have. You only hate them because you were defeated and you lack the decency to remain in the ground. Your petty pride was scratched because the Joestars outmatch and outclass you time after time.”
“So what does that make you? You were outmatched and outclassed by me.” Dio jeered. “You can clamour for their favour all you want, but you belong down here with me. After all, you were so willing to give yourself to me. You’ll take any companionship you can latch onto.”
“Are you jealous? That I chose them over you? That’s got to sting.” The redhead's lips split into a mocking tone. “Always grasping at their coattails, trying to ride their success, never keeping up.”
“You’re doing an awful lot of talking for someone who doesn’t know anything.”
“I know that you whore yourself out to anything that’ll let you feel like you’re powerful. You only used your powers to sway me, to control me, without that what are you? A stagnant mess who is unable to adapt and grow. You’ll be forgotten as nothing more than a bad dream.”
“And you won’t?”
“I don’t regret dying for him- them.”
“Ohoho, so you went soft on the boy who saved you? Did you think he was going to sweep you off your feet?”
Noriaki snorted, his hands placed on his hips. “I don’t need anyone to sweep me off my feet, I’m not some pillow princess.”
“You certainly didn’t mind it when I reduced you to one.” A wry smirk grew on Dio’s lips as he got to his feet.
“Who says you weren’t doing what I wanted?”
Pathetic as the boy may have been, there was another example of the spark of defiance he knew existed within him. How easy it would be to break it again.
“Because, Noriaki Kakyoin,” Dio approached the teen with that same ominous hunger he had the night they first met. “The look of fear in your eyes was delicious. I drank down every single noise you made and I indulged you.”
Noriaki wanted to recoil, to run as he had tried at their first encounter. But this time, he held his place. His mouth was pressed into a firm line his jaw tight as he clenched his teeth. He wanted to bite him. See how Dio liked to have teeth at his neck with the intent to kill.
The two stood facing each other, a small distance between them. But this time Dio didn’t seem as tall as he had done. Whilst still unreasonably strong, there was a litheness, his waist thinner. So this was his real body. Close enough that he could tear out his throat if he wanted to, just to make a point.
“You egotistical piece of-”
“Kakyoin.”
Avdol’s voice was clear, almost calming. It was the clarity Noriaki needed to return to his senses.
Dio watched as the tension in the boy’s face dissipated and practically glided to the Egyptian. No fear nor terror for the man he’d been staring down – just like he didn’t exist. Something about it stung deeply. How dare they.
“Mr Avdol, am I glad to see you.” The boy didn’t even cast a look back, just sauntered away with the fortune teller and the disgusting rat they called a dog.
This wouldn't be the end.