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Growing up on the countryside, Polnareff was always used to his power suddenly going out in the dead of the night. The farm he lived on was too far away from any town to ask for help – especially not at that time of day – and his family was content with waiting until morning to fix their electricity.
On the cold winter nights, when his sister would shiver under her blanket, he would carry her to the main room and lay her down right before the hearth. Afterwards, he would gather as many blankets as he could find, make two cups of hot cocoa, and sit beside her while they watched the flames dance in the fireplace. Funnily, he was often the first one to fall asleep on those nights – but Sherry was always warm with him around.
There were some nights, when he was much younger and taking on as many hobbies as he could at a time, when he would sing for his family. It was their favourite form of entertainment, and while he certainly wasn’t a fantastic singer, he wasn’t half-bad either.
But those are days long gone. His sister rests upon a hill, a sessile oak tree her constant companion, and his parents lie somewhere amongst the hundreds of graves in the cemetery. It was only him in that empty house of memories.
At least, that was the case – until, just a few months ago, he made the decision to travel to Egypt.
It was a spur of the moment decision at the time, but Polnareff had come to realise that there was something more bounding him to the city of Cairo and that world beyond. He often heard the word ‘fate’ being tossed around during that fifty day journey – and while he was never one to think upon destiny and fate, he did feel quite connected to the friends he travelled with. Though they may have had their struggles (he winced, thinking back to a bloody puddle in the streets of India), they ultimately came out of their strife bound together.
Polnareff was certainly glad that Avdol survived their encounter with Dio’s final test. He couldn’t bare to think what would have happened if either of them had died that night.
And so, when Avdol woke up by the hospital bed, the first thing Polnareff asked him was if Avdol would like to move in with him. After all, the man did owe him a date.
Avdol said yes.
Their first thought was to move into Avdol’s old house. It was nearby, after all, and Polnareff had already learnt enough Egyptian to get by. But the city brought back too many painful memories for both of them – while they all survived, they had escaped death by the scrap of their nails. They still bore the scares of the battle in Egypt.
So, Polnareff offered his old family home. Legally, he still owned it, and the more he thought about it the better it seemed.
It was in a quiet and serene location, so they could recover easily. Avdol and him could raise animals in the farm, and they could even work down at the town if they needed to. He was excited at the prospect of teaching Avdol French too – he quickly found out that Avdol’s French was very minimal. Most of all, the thought of making new memories with Avdol fuelled his heart more than anything.
Avdol was ecstatic, of course. They spent another few weeks recovering in Egypt with the rest of the Crusaders before parting ways with the Joestars and Kakyoin in the airport. After some discussion, they agreed Iggy should go with Polnareff and Avdol for now.
So they travelled on the long journey together to the French countryside, and on the first night in the cottage the power went out.
The faint glow of the fireplace illuminated the main room, as well as Magician Red’s impromptu candles. Luckily it wasn’t a winter’s night, but Polnareff felt cold anyway.
“S-sorry, Av,” he shivered, teeth chattering. “Should’ve warned ya the electricity would be wonky. Shit, did they seriously not fix it?”
Magician’s Red materialised behind Polnareff and wrapped its feathers arms around the Frenchman’s chest. The stand felt warm. “Don’t apologise, Polnareff,” Avdol said. He flashed a kind smile that made Polnareff’s heart jump. “Besides, a night without electricity is something I thought you’d be used to by now!”
“You’re right,” Polnareff admitted. The desert was much colder at night than the countryside. “Still, it sucks.”
He gazed down at Iggy, who was chewing gum lazily by the fire.
“Good dessert, Iggy?” he asked.
Iggy barked happily in return.
“I mean, I don’t even have any board games!” Polnareff snapped back to the conversation at hand. “I sold them all so I could go to Egypt. We could be playing cards right now!”
He fell back on the only chair left in the house, sighing dramatically.
“It’s so boring, Avdol!” he whinged. “I forgot how boring it is!”
Avdol chuckled softly, moving towards Polnareff. “It’s fine, Polnareff,” he said. His hands clasped Polnareff’s tenderly, basking in their warmth.
“Merde!” Polnareff jumped, twitching his hand back from Avdol’s hold. “Av, your hands are freezing!” He pressed his palm against Avdol’s forehead. “You’re cold! Crap, dude – stay right here!”
He pushed Avdol by the shoulders down to the floor, right in front of Iggy. The other man blinked in surprise. “I’m fine, really – ”
“Not hearing it!” Polnareff said, rushing out to his old room and sprinting out with a bundle of blankets in his arms. He quickly lay them over Avdol before heading towards the kitchen, grabbing a bag from the groceries they bought on the way there.
He returned to Avdol, a bag of marshmallows in one hand. Grinning, he lifted the blanket and sat himself right next to Avdol, both snuggled underneath the mountain of blankets. “Marshmallow time.”
Avdol snatched a marshmallow out of his bag, setting it on fire with his fingertips. “Good thinking,” he said through a mouthful. “These are good.”
“Told you so,” Polnareff said, sticking a bunch on the end of Silver Chariot’s blade and roasting them above the fireplace. Chariot offered them to Avdol first, who picked the first few off, before Polnareff tore the rest away with his mouth.
As the two ate their marshmallows, lit by the fires, Polnareff felt this house begin anew.