Omake 17: Padre e Figlio

Staring at the figure currently sitting in front of me, I really wasn’t sure if I should be baffled or endeared by the many possibilities, questions, and opportunities this predicament left us.

Hannah had found this individual standing outside the main headquarters, looking particularly confused and being unable to speak much English as he tried to get directions out of the passing crowd. Taking him inside so that his issue could be solved, I really hadn’t expected for this visit to be much of a problem… until I had the chance of seeing the man in question and learning of his name.

He finished drinking from his cup of tea, moving the now-empty contained back to the table as he addressed me with perplexed blue eyes. A shade that I had seen only on George and Jonathan, with nobody coming close to it. His accent when using English words was evident, and it confirmed that the man was fluent only in Italian and Japanese.

“Dimensional… travel, signore?”

I found myself nodding at these rusty wordings, having some trouble for the first time in a long while to commute in words the emotions my mind was drowning in. The itching coming from within the chest was a mix of confusion, sadness, and a speck of familiar interest over the surprised fellow.

“It’s fine if we continue this conversation in Italian. I’m capable of holding myself with it, signor Giovanna,” I replied with a polite tone, trying to hide away any feeling I had about this unexpected encounter.

Giorno Giovanna gave a relieved nod, taking a brief moment to fix his dark jacket, the very one that dignified his stats as ‘Boss of Passione’ as he waited for a proper explanation from me.

“You see, signor Giovanna. The tale you’ve mentioned, the one that sees you fight this… priest- this has yet to happen. Or it would’ve happened if this timeline followed the same events as yours,” I paused a moment to sigh, realizing how confusing this explanation already was. “Let’s just say that… I know that it’s not a mere case of time-travel.”

“And how are you so sure of this, signore?” The fellow blond inquired. “You seem quite convinced of this and… if I may, I can’t help but feel like I’ve seen you before.”

I gritted my teeth at that, knowing that the young man surely noticed the resemblance between me and the photo he had about his father. I had expected this to happen, which is why I had thought up a good response to that.

“My father had Italian ancestors. I believe they were prominent in either Lombardy or Piedmont,” I admitted calmly. “But I’ve never left the Isles. In fact, I was planning to make my first trip out of home in a couple of months from now.”

“That’s… interesting. I’m sorry if I sound so suspicious all so suddenly. It’s just I… feel like I know you, from somewhere,” Giorno answered tensely. “And it’s not just by appearance. Something about your presence here reminds me of something I’ve been only mentioned about.”

“Quite the confusion response, signor Giovanna,” I pointed out quietly. “I can’t help but feel like you’re doing this on purpose.”

…

“Maybe I am, signor Dio.”

The atmosphere changed almost instantly, and I felt pressure build up as a familiar golden figure manifested behind Giorno, rushing at me with aggressive intentions. Before ｢Gold Experience｣ could actually go through with this attempt, my own Stand appeared and delivered a punch through his flawed defense, putting an end to his assault.

The Boss almost tumbled down at the blow, a surprised look manifesting as he realized something shocking.

“Y-You have a Stand?”

I sighed, waiting for ｢ACT 2｣ to move in a proper defensive posture to cover for any follow up attack.

“There are two ways to manifest one. First is the Arrow, and then there is the pure fighting spirit of a soul displayed through sheer willpower,” I calmly explained. “And before you use GER, I wish to remind you that his power is to nullify or revert the effects, it can’t fend off against a full blown assault.”

…

“You know about-”

“I know a lot about you Giorno Giovanna. I know enough to be surprised, confused, and even wary of why you ended up in this specific time period,” I interjected flatly. “And before you ask… no, I’m not your father and I’m not the one behind your current predicament.”

…

“You’re Dio Brando-”

“I’m Dio Joestar, Giorno. And before you ask the difference, then let me explain in a simple way,” I said before turning around unfastening my shirt. He looked confused, but soon enough he seemed to realize that something was missing from my shoulder and neck. “I’m not a vampire stealing someone’s body, and I don’t have your very mark. In fact, the man whose body my counterpart is well alive and my adoptive young brother.”

His jaws hung low at the revelation, and his mind lost a moment to ponder over the absurdity in full display.

“Maybe… I came to a time before-”

“DIO didn’t have a Stand until Diavolo gave him the Arrows,” I interjected again. “I will say this just this once and I will not repeat myself. I’m not the man known as Dio Brando, I’m Dio Joestar.”

…

“This is so confusing.”

“Once in a while, this is what I think about myself. Try to live a life where any dimensional visitors that know of my other version try to aim at my life for this,” I pointed out dryly. “I understand your need to suspect me- I bet Polnareff told you a lot about what DIO did during what happened in Egypt.”

“Just a couple of things,” The young man admitted. “But I suspect there is more than it, isn’t it?”

I sighed and nodded. “From my understanding, the only one that could’ve put you in this predicament is Enrico Pucci. You said you decided to check on Jolyne Joestar’s situation after being contacted by Joseph, but that after fighting ｢Made in Heaven｣ you wound up in this particular place by using GER. Right?”

He nodded, still recoiling from the sheer amount of unplanned developments all unfolding at once.

“Then I guess the only way to bring you back is to have Pucci return you to your dimension. And worry not, he is not an ally of mine, but he isn’t an enemy- just an observer.”

“You know him and-”

“I don’t know him personally. I know he is lurking around and, now that you’re here, he will have to make an appearance. He will be more than happy to bring you out of here and right back to your timeline.”

“You seem sure of this,” Giorno pointed out, making me sigh.

“I’ve studied his pattern in how he acts in this universe. He is not the Pucci you’ve fought, I would say he is a despairing version of him since he had to be disappointed with certain results if I’m here to make the difference.”

…

“What?”

“As I’ve said, I’m not your father. That should be more than enough to put an end to that topic.”

“I’m quite sure it doesn’t.”

“I will not offer anything more about it-”

“I believe you should.”

…

“Are you talking back at me?”

“I believe that’s a conversation, padre.”

My mouth opened but no sound left from there.

…

“I’m not your father-”

“Indeed, you’re padre.”

…

“Giorno, I will not-”

“I, Giorno Giovanna, believe you are still to be called ‘padre’. I don’t know the reason why I shouldn’t since you keep yourself cryptic with your motivations.”

…

“You know what? Fine, I will accept this little annoyance- but I will not call you figlio for nothing in this world-”

“What is that term? I don’t think I heard it well enough.”

…

“What?”

“That word you’re not supposed to label me as.”

“What, you mean Figlio-”

“Yes father?”

My jaws dropped at that trickery. I couldn’t believe it that I had been hit with a reverse Dad Joke.

Groaning I stood up from my chair and paced towards the room’s only door.

“Lunch is in two hours from now, and I don’t want to hear anything about you trying to boss around my workers,” I proclaimed with some irritation. “Lest you prefer to be put in time out- and I can assure you not even GER will pull you out of that detention, Giorno.”

The door closed as I left the office, leaving behind a particularly smug-looking blond as I decided to vent off the frustration through some training.

Let’s hope for Pucci to come by soon, or else I might lose my marbles trying to handle my so- Giorno.