ᴏʙᴇʏ ᴍᴇ || ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴅ

ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

♕♕♕♕♕♕♕♕♕

Diavolo looks deep into your eyes for an answer, only to have his own reflection stare back at him as your face holds an empty expression. An expression that he hasn't seen before. He didn't notice how miserable you looked earlier, but now it's more apparent than ever that something's hurting you inside.

"(MC), tell me what happened," he turns away from the kingdom and towards you instead. For the first time in a long time, you finally feel noticed by someone. "You're not yourself, something's wrong."

As much as you want to tell him about everything that had happened at the House of Lamentations, you can't bear the thought of having to repeat tonight's events. Knowing that you could risk having someone you hold dear ignore everything you say and defend (O/N) again is too much for you to endure all in one day.

"(MC)?" he repeats when you stay silent for too long. "You know you can tell me anything." Diavolo extends his arm out to hold your face.

You swat it away and force yourself to laugh, "I don't know why you'd think there's something wrong. Maybe you're just a little tired after being so busy, not to mention it's late as well. I'm fine, really. Do I need a reason to go back to my own realm?"

Taken aback by your question, he shifts his gaze from your eyes to his own feet. "No, I guess not. I apologise for trying to pry. You're right, maybe I am a little tired," he buries his face into his hands and sighs. "Very well. If you really wish to go back then let's not waste anymore time. I'd hate to keep you here against your will for any longer."

Those words sting sharper than an arrow, but you keep yourself from saying anything in return. You're too afraid to.

He holds the door open for you and waits for you to step inside before closing it behind him. Candles along the hallway dimly light up the tragic path you walk, and the prince's footsteps echo close behind to match the rhythm in which you trudge.

A tear almost sheds from your eye as you near the castle's labyrinth, and you bite your lower lip to stop yourself from weeping. Behind you, you can hear - sense, even - Diavolo attempting to lend a helping hand. His mouth opens to share some sort of encouragement but no words come out, so he leaves it at that and makes no more effort to try console.

Once far into the labyrinth enough, Diavolo halts to a stop and you do the same. A melancholic silence stands between you two for a second as no one can bring themselves to talk. Even the soft whispers of the wind that normally creep through these corridors stop for you tonight.

"I take it that you don't want anyone knowing of your leave just yet, is that right?" Diavolo interrupts the tension and tries to make the moment feel less painful with a light chuckle.

You shake your head, gazing at the floor to hide your red tinted nose all the while attempting to cover up your breaking voice. "No, not yet. Actually, maybe it's best you don't tell anyone at all."

You hate to force the burden of keeping this heavy secret alone onto the demon prince, but there was no point in him announcing it to the brothers. You doubt they'll even realise that you're no longer there anyway despite being told, which would just make it another blow to your gut.

Diavolo sighs heavily, understanding but disappointed with the decision. "(MC), I don't know if you'll ever want to tell us what happened tonight, or come back to the Devildom after. But I want you to know that you're always welcome here," he musters up a smile. An agonising and difficult one.

For a fleeting moment, the demon prince almost breaks from his usual sure self to pull you into an embrace in hopes of stopping you from leaving, but he holds himself still. From the quivering of his lips to the trembling of his hands, you can tell he's getting closer and closer to shattering into pieces as he watches you go through with this.

"I'll m- Nevermind," he shakes his head as he can't find the right words. "I hope you'll be happy back home."

Saying nothing more, his hand motions around in a swift circle and a glowing orbit forms around you to follow the movements of his palm. Neither of you get to sneak in your last goodbyes - Diavolo made sure of that - as a bright light blinds you with a quick and sudden flash.

You blink a couple times to readjust your eyes after the spark. "D-Diavolo?" you glance around and instinctively reach out for him, but retract your arm once you realise there's no one with you anymore. All is quiet and the walls of the room around you no longer remind you of the labyrinth of the castle that you stood in merely seconds ago.

You turn your head left and right, inspecting all that surrounds you. Your old home, your old room... it's like you never left the Human World as you're back where you were years ago. Right before you were swept to the Devildom to start the exchange program. The stupid exchange program...

If someone had come to tell you that all the memories you made during the days that the program was still running would all amount to nothing thanks to the presence of (O/N) alone, you wouldn't have believed them then. Now, it's the only thing you can believe.

Your lungs begin collapsing in on themselves as your breathing becomes unstable and shallow, all the while your heart continues to beg for the aching to stop. Every recollection of tonight will remain forever singed into your mind, and you'll never be able to forget the cruel feeling of betrayal that the brothers have left you drowning in.

Dropping to your knees, you finally let go of all that you've been holding in. Tears won't stop pouring down your face as you want nothing more than to just punish yourself for being a fool and letting it all happen without even putting up a fight.

"I-I- Dammit," you curse at yourself. "Why- Speak up... Why couldn't I just speak up and tell him... I could've told all of them..."

If you're being honest with yourself, you didn't want to leave the Devildom, even after all you've been through there. But you didn't have a choice at the time, it was all you could think of given the circumstances. Now that you're actually in the realm you belong in, it no longer feels right to be somewhere without the people that you once held close to heart.

You want nothing more than to be back with everybody. But not everybody wants to be back with you, especially with (O/N) around. You figure it's about time you learn to accept that as it is.

Your hyperventilating slowly deescalates to small sniffles as you wipe away all evidence of your sobbing and collect yourself. You lift your head and face the ceiling with sad and tired eyes. It's dark, and late. Way too late for anyone else to be awake. You shift your attention from the roof of your bedroom to the bed itself. It's much smaller than you remember, and it seems less comfortable too.

Standing up shakily, you almost fall to the floor again as your legs become quivering jelly and lack any sense of balance. You can hardly think straight after the amount of tears you had just shed, let alone walk steadily to bed.

Your parents will be keen to see you, you hope. After all, you haven't been home in a while. Tomorrow, you'll make up whatever excuse you can think of as to explain why you're finally back after so long. For now, you just really need to rest. Today hasn't been kind to you and you want to be ready for what tomorrow has in store.

You set yourself down on the mattress then curl up underneath the covers, your grip tightening on your quilt. You'd do anything to have someone by your side right now, just anyone who can hold and comfort you as you cry into their arms. You did have that, but you threw it all way because you were too scared to try and do anything.

I lost everything... and I only have myself to blame...

The ongoing feeling of regret and self-blame keep coming back to you as you try to fall asleep during the night. The scenes of dinner, (O/N)'s grinning face and the brother's accusations, they replay over and over like a broken record refusing to stop. Before you know it, you feel the wet stream of tears running down the side of your cheek again.