Out of Place

Miss Him

(AN: Slanted text are flashbacks)

Three minutes had been up long ago, but Dimentio didn't reappear. He was still there, but he didn't feel like becoming visible again. He didn't want to, for fear of the other two seeing the jealousy in his eyes. Not that they'd even notice. With the wave of his hand, Dimentio placed more sand in the hourglass without their noticing, giving himself more time to compose himself.

They didn't notice the extension of time from three minutes to an hour. They just continued talking. The sun had set within that time, and the stars had come out. Dio gushed about how he knew the constellations and how they used to be the same in his own home. 

"You like stars, right?" Dio asked, beaming up at the sky.

"Uh... yeah. How'd you know that?" Mr. L asked, curious. Had it been a lucky guess?

"Luigi mentioned it!" Dio beamed. "You know what's funny... when Luigi first spoke of you, he didn't quite describe you the way I see you now. I imagined an evil alter ego. But... you're not really that."

"Huh?" Mr. L asked, not sure if he was offended or not by the fact that Luigi described him as evil. Technically, could he blame Luigi? He took control over his body and worked for the Champion of Destruction himself. 

"I think Luigi has just been having a hard time seeing the good. Everyone here seems to be having that issue..." Dio pointed out. "But... I think that'll be fixed soon. I can already tell that Luigi was starting to find his smile once again. When I bring that Count back for that one girl, she'll start to see the good too, as will her friends. And with that, goodness will spread until everyone has healed."

"You sound like some sort of motivational speaker," Mr. L laughed. 

Dio lightly giggled in responce. They looked happy. They really looked happy.

"You know, I hate to admit it, but I think I'm gonna miss you when you're gone," Mr. L admitted, not even feeling embarrassed about it. "You're easy to talk to."

Dio slowly stopped laughing, but not in a bad way. He wasn't upset. He felt... honored by hearing that. By hearing that he made a good impact on someone. He felt happy that someone would miss him, even if missing someone was a bad feeling. 

When you miss someone, it at least shows that you cared for them. Being missed showed that he made an impact on another.

"... I'll miss you too," Dio softly smiled. "I... I really hope there's a Mr. L just like you in my world."

This was when Dimentio had heard enough. He needed to take a step back and stop listening because this was too much. 

Dimentio knew that Dio knew there wouldn't be a Mr. L exactly like this in his own world. Part of what made Mr. L the Mr. L he is now was his trauma and the way it shaped him, so in a world where Dimentio had never killed him, he'd still be that cocky, arrogant person he was before. Dio had to know that! What was he doing?! Trying to guilt Mr. L into coming with him?!

Wait... was he? Was that his goal? To take away Mr. L for good?!

Whatever. Dimentio was tired of hearing this. He needed a breath. He had to stop listening for his own sake. So, he floated off, giving himself the alone time he needed.

"Yeah.... But I don't think he'd turn out exactly like me," Mr. L pointed out. "I mean... you were never there, so if he exists he must have turned out different."

"True... but he'd be the closest thing to you I could get," Dio pointed out. "Either way, I hope I have one. Your Dimentio is really lucky to have you."