Out of Place

I Don't Have Time For You Right Now

~ TW ~

They stayed that way for a long time. Dimentio was almost afraid of what Dio would do if he let go, so he didn't. He kept holding on, for fear of what may happen.

"So..." Dio sniffed after a long time of silence. Dimentio wasn't exactly sure how much time had passed, but the sun still hadn't risen. "S-so what now?"

"What now..." Dimentio repeated quietly. He then pulled away, waving his wrist and making the execution box disappear. "Well... some say that when you hit rock bottom... there are only two things you can do." He then rose to his feet and held his hand down to Dio. 

"You can either give up... or move up."

Dio sniffled, then weakly took Dimentio's gloved hand, allowing the jester to hoist him to his feet. "Giving up is easier..." Dio pointed out.

"Yes. It is. But you're stronger than that." Dimentio told him. 

Stronger than that. Dio didn't see himself as strong. However, it was something he had always wished he could be. He wasn't sure at the moment if Dimentio actually thought he was strong or if he was just saying that to be kind. His mind felt too fragile to take any compliments literally. They all almost felt fake.

"Now come on. Let's find a home," Dimentio breathed.

Find home. Not their old homes, but a new one, because technically speaking, Dimentio didn't have a home either. Yes, he had a world, but no bed to fall onto. No community or neighborhood to be a part of. He didn't have any of that anymore. So maybe together they could find one. Just as Blumiere and Timpani did.

Dio stilled, then allowed Dimentio to gently take his hand and walk him away. He walked and didn't use magic, Ffr some things felt more meaningful when they were real and not assisted by magical gifts. Walking was one of the best ways to clear a mind.

He wished that he had walked more during his lifetime, but he simply never did because he saw no reason to. Perhaps he would have been stronger if he walked more.

They soon found Mr. L, who was nervously waiting by the edge of town, holding Dimentio's mask with both of his hands as his mind kept yelling at him. 

When he had heard Dio teleport there a few hours ago, his first thought was excitement because he knew seeing Dio could brighten Dimentio's mood. But that excitement faded almost immediately when he had heard the devastating sobs and realized the reason Dio was back.

He remembered that moment well. The moment he and Dimentio both felt their hearts stop. They both knew what was happening almost instantly. But it hadn't seemed real until they rushed to the scene and saw the cuts on his arms. Mr. L remembered the way all the color drained from his own face when he saw the red-tainted blade. He remembered the way Dimentio suddenly yanked his own mask off and rushed to the scene, tackling Dio and knocking the blade from his hand. He wasn't sure why Dimentio took his mask off at that moment specifically, but he was proud of him for it. 

The whole time after the man in green had been sent away, he had just been sitting there, hating himself for never even considering the fact that Dio had been having these thoughts. He assumed Dio was fine. Dio seemed fine!

"DIO!" Mr. L exclaimed as soon as he saw the pair walk back into his sight. The man in green quickly stood up, just so grateful that neither Dimentio was dead. Yes, Dio's spirits had clearly dropped and he looked devastated, but he wasn't dead.

In the end, that was all that mattered. He wasn't dead. He could work with that.

Dio just stayed silent, looking at his feet as Dimentio gently let him go and gave him some space. Mr. L quickly placed the knife out of sight, not sure if seeing it would have triggered any emotions or not.