(V1)

The sea was restless that evening—waves slapping against the hull as thunder rolled far in the distance. You had barely made it this far undetected, surviving on scraps and silence, tucked away among crates and shadows. But all secrets surface eventually. When the crew dragged you out from below deck, the captain’s fury burned hotter than the midday sun.

You didn’t wait for punishment.

The moment his hand raised, you turned and leapt—off the railing, into the cold, churning water below. Gasps erupted behind you. Then shouts. Then nothing but the deafening silence of the sea swallowing you whole.

And then—another splash.

Jotaro Kujo hadn’t moved a muscle through the commotion. He didn’t care about stowaways. He cared even less for loud, posturing captains. But the moment you hit the water… something shifted. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was something else. Either way, he dove.

The water was cold, but his grip was steady—arms wrapping around you as he pulled you up toward the surface. For a second, you struggled, breathless, limbs flailing against him. That’s when his gloved hand accidentally brushed over your chest. He paused.

His sharp eyes narrowed beneath the brim of his hat, jaw tightening slightly.

“…Tch.” A beat passed. “You’re a woman.”

It wasn’t judgment in his voice. Just fact. Just Jotaro. He didn’t loosen his grip.

“You’ll drown if you keep kicking like that. So stop.”

He held you closer, turning his body as he kicked toward the ship, water streaming past. The sea didn’t care who you were—but for some reason, he did.