Bloody Golden Butterfly [JJBA Fanfiction] (Giorno x Jolyne)

62. Crucified

Certain places retained a sense of sanctity even long after they had been abandoned. Pucci gazed at the skeletal remains of the ruined church for a brief moment.

It didn't matter that it was no longer an active church. It still carried the presence of something greater than the building itself. He could feel it; that's what happened with DIO. Even though he might no longer exist in this world, his presence lingered everywhere for those who knew where to look. DIO had his disciples, and he, Enrico Pucci, was the closest. He was like his Peter, and just as Peter had raised his church, he would do the same.

Pucci knew his moment was approaching, though not quite yet. First, he had to eliminate the obstacles.

"I was beginning to think priests only had one outfit. It's an honor, Father, for you to be part of my wedding!" Donatello said, his voice sounding out of place in the church's solemn atmosphere.

Pucci had to concede that Donatello looked quite striking in his white suit, though the color was an imprudent choice, traditionally worn by the bride. He had abandoned the godforsaken platinum chain in favor of a bow tie as his neckwear.

All of this didn't change the fact that the wedding was blasphemous. The bride, already married, couldn't have another husband. If Pucci hadn't known that the whole ceremony was a mere ruse, he would have vehemently objected to it. Not that that Donatello would have listened to him, that disobedient brat. It was somewhat reassuring to remember that, according to the sacred texts, not all killing was considered sinful.

"Are you certain you want to proceed now?" Pucci asked, ignoring his remark. "Family is sacred, and Ungalo is all you have."

Donatello dismissed his concern with a wave of his hand. "I don't need that druggie ruining the atmosphere."

Impatience was Donatello's trademark, and Pucci knew he was too eager for both the marriage and Giorno's impending demise. However, Ungalo's absence worked in Pucci's favor. While the brothers weren't particularly close, the rule of thumb was that fewer Stand users meant fewer unpredictable variables. Currently, the church only had a few ghouls, Donatello's followers who were stationed for combat.

"The monster has already arrived on the island," Donatello boasted. "And not just that, Ungalo also has a... special gift for them."

He gave Pucci a knowing look, a look that had become all too familiar over the years as the boy uncovered more secrets with his Stand. It made Pucci uneasy, worried about what bad thing he had done this time. Donatello's presence had always been like a ticking time bomb by his side.

'Patience. 2, 3, 5... One more night. 7, 11, 13...'

Pucci struggled to suppress a laugh as he observed the ungodly groom continuing to fidget with his bow tie as he waited for the arrival of the bride, unaware of what awaited him.

Speaking of the bride, she appeared to be a different person altogether, and Pucci had to acknowledge her talent for deception. Lying and betrayal seemed to run in the Joestar family, as did resilience. Pucci knew he was taking a great gamble in using her, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

He had caught sight of the girl as she was being herded into one of the cars. She wore a white calf-length tulle dress with plenty of flounce, but she had added a black leather jacket, citing the chill in the air. He couldn't fathom where she had acquired the jacket; perhaps one of Donatello's henchmen had given it to her. It didn't resemble a typical women's jacket, though her stature wasn't delicate enough for a man's jacket to be overly large on her.

Jolyne Kujo represented the temptation that could sway those who fancied themselves as prophets. She was the Devil in disguise, arriving to undermine them while they remained oblivious, and her weapon was the ultimate trick—lust. Two of DIO's sons had already fallen for her, including Giorno Giovanna. Pucci had become disillusioned by him, the anti-DIO, an anti-Christ tainted by the Joestars' blood. A criminal, a murderer, and a hypocrite who had succumbed to the Joestars' temptations in the basest way.

Tonight, he would make use of that temptation, to do what even a gun couldn't against a vampire. If Hamon had once stopped DIO, then it could certainly stop Donatello. At least Italy would have served to put some common sense in the airhead he met in Florida, or at least trainability. Even if it was a far cry from past glories, Pucci could admit he had been wrong about her. Push a Joestar and you'll have a hound dog attacking you.

At the sight of Jolyne, Donatello shouted to his men, "What the hell is she doing here, you freaks?! It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony!"

The poor ghouls stammered for an answer, having done nothing wrong but being assigned guard duty. Pucci decided to have mercy on them.

"These are pagan traditions without any real basis," he explained to Donatello, gesturing for the minions to take Jolyne away to finish preparing. He doubted they could get her any more prepared than she already was; he didn't think she would change her hairdo or take off her jacket. Without a word, Jolyne allowed herself to be taken to one of the cars to placate Donatello. Her inaction was the best cooperation they could hope for.

The abandoned church needed to be cleared enough to get through, so there was work ahead. Pucci directed the work while Donatello was in charge of getting in the way. The buffoon wanted everything to be perfect and finished faster than it could be. Fine; let him be a nuisance one more time. It would be the last thing he would do.

The only thing that bothered Pucci was the variable called Giorno Giovanna. Unlike Donatello, Pucci didn't overestimate his own intelligence or take his enemies for idiots. He knew Giorno had a small army of followers, many with their own Stands, and this wasn't the time to relax, especially with the Speedwagon Foundation backing Passione. He needed the green baby and a way to escape after defeating Donatello, so everything should be as complete as possible. Jolyne Kujo alone might not be able to kill Donatello—not just because of her soft spot for the Joestars, but because DIO's children were tougher than they seemed. Still, he hoped she could at least weaken Donatello's Stand by the time the Joestars arrived.

He began to feel nervous, realizing he should have gathered more information about the terrain before they started. He didn't think anything special had happened in the abandoned mining site, but the lack of tactical advantages made him uneasy.

"Father," one of Donatello's assistants said, approaching him. "The bride has refused to put on her bridal veil and take off her jacket, claiming she's cold."

'Ah, the little heretic.'

Pucci sent the assistant away so he could speak with Kujo privately.

"You should stop complaining if you don't want Donatello to get suspicious," he told her in his best priestly tone.

"I put on the fucking dress and didn't punch him when he tried to touch me," she hissed. "I'd say I'm cooperating more than I thought possible."

Pucci felt somewhat regretful for having already relinquished the unfortunate woman who had conceived the little heretic. She would have been useful in keeping Kujo in line, but he prided himself on keeping his word.

"We could have finished things without coming all this way," Jolyne continued.

"Too dangerous; there were too many battles along the coast of Venice, which is why I brought us to this isolated place," he replied, lowering his voice. "Hold on a little longer. I don't like officiating a false marriage ceremony with someone already married either—polygamy is a sin, but it's a necessary evil."

"Ugh, fine, but only until I have him in front of me at the altar. I don't plan to put on his ring or kiss him. He makes me want to puke."

"Okay, only until he starts reading the Gospels. I want him to be relaxed. Can you hold off until then?"

Jolyne sighed and nodded. The moment he started reading the Gospels, that prick was going to find out just how good she was at controlling Hamon with her Stand.

---

Dio: Regardless of how this plays out, a son of mine will be married to Jotaro's daughter. I don't like it.

Jotaro: For once, I agree.

Dio: Actually... Can I be the best man?

Pucci: But my Lord Dio!

Dio: Anything that harms a Joestar is music to my ears. Let the wedding begin.