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.

"I know it's there," Dio breathed. "You don't... I don't want you treating me differently."

Mr. L furrowed his eyebrows, immediately feeling guilty that he did. His eyes then flickered to Dio's arms, which were mostly hidden within his cloak. He could see the blood staining through the purple fabric.

"Dio... I'm so-" Mr. L started.

"We're taking him with us," Dimentio interrupted, sensing how uncomfortable Dio was. Dio had said so himself earlier, he hated when people worried about him and he hated when people apologized to him for something they didn't know about or could control, so Dimentio was quick to change the subject for Dio's sake. "We're taking him home."

Dio's eyes flickered to Dimentio, briefly looking grateful for the subject change.

"Home?" Mr. L asked. "Uh, Dim? We don't really live anywhere-"

"We'll find one. And he's coming with us," Dimentio stated.

Dio then frowned, wanting to tell them that they didn't have to do that. But he couldn't find the words, and he knew that if he did they would insist. He hated that. He hated how they now both felt obligated to help him. But... it also almost made him feel safe.

It felt nice to have someone want him alive.

"Okay," Mr. L said, smiling softly. "Then... let's find home."

Mr. L walked on Dio's left side, and Dimentio on his right, as if they were both protecting and shielding him from anything else that could harm his fragile mind.

And just like that, he was no longer alone.

______

It should have been a happy moment. A moment of growth. Of overcoming something horrible and dangerous. It should have been safe. This was how someone healed. Love healed emotional wounds the way bandages healed physical ones over time.

But... if you rip the bandaid off too soon, then the wound gets reexposed, and you have to start all over. And in what should have been the first steps to a healing moment, turned all too quickly when Mr. L could hear the sound of a metal sword being drawn from behind them all.

Not a second later, the man in green had turned around and caught the handle of the blade which was inches from striking Dimentio down, peering up into what looked to be two deep, green eyes. But they weren't peaceful in the way that the color green was often associated with. They looked filled with rage, like a jungle filled with fierce predators, venomous snakes, and carnivorous plants.

The man with the green eyes had looked different than before, but Dimentio could recognize those eyes as soon as he turned around to see what had happened. His red cloak was gone, but he still looked the same. Just less sane and more monster-like. There was a crazy glint in his eyes that wasn't there before.

"You," Dimentio breathed, sounding less like he thought he would have when he pictured the moment their eyes met again and more afraid. Why now? He asked himself. Why now?!

He didn't have time to deal with this monster! He had to be there for Dio! Couldn't this guy just come back to kill him in a few months?

"Found you," The man whispered, kicking L back and raising his sword above his head, preparing to attack. Only before he could bring down his blade, Dio had quickly summoned a projectile and sent it right into the man's stomach, quickly grabbing Dimentio's arm and rushing over to Mr. L, helping the man in green up.

"W-Who is that?" Dio squeaked, looking at the green-eyed man as he helped Mr. L to his feet.

"The monster who killed my family," Dimentio spat, clenching his fists. "I don't know his name."

"Uhhhh... How about GEM? An acronym for Green-Eyed Man. B-because his eyes are green." Dio asked, lightly shrugging. His arms still stung and his eyes still held a thousand sorrows, but he was doing his best to focus on the sudden issue at hand.

"Sure. Let's call him that," Mr. L said, grabbing at his stomach where he was kicked back. "Let's just teleport away and escape-"

"No." Dimentio interrupted, clenching and unclenching his fists as he stared at the man. "I'm not going to run away this time."

He probably should have. It would probably be the safest and best option. But... something about seeing those eyes... he couldn't let this man continue searching for him. He couldn't let this man continue to hunt him down. He couldn't leave this end loose. It was time to tie it off.

GEM thought the same thing. Time to finally get rid of the last loose end and return the world to its former glory. He didn't even know what had come of the world. All he knew was that he had a mission. A mission to kill the last impure. To kill the one that slipped from his grasp.

"What? N-No! Let's just go!" Dio begged, his voice still soft as if there was something blocking it out from coming out at its full volume.

Meanwhile, GEM regained his balance, placing his hand where Dio had hit him with the projectile. He then looked up and shifted his gaze from Dimentio to Dio.

The boy he saw get away all those years ago had a yellow eye... but this other one too showcased the characteristics of the very being he was out to destroy. "Ah... another one," He smiled to himself.

Dimentio followed GEM's gaze to Dio, then clenched his fists harder, muttering a small, 'oh I don't think so,' under his breath.

"L. Take Dio and get out of here. I'll come back for you." Dimentio breathed in a low tone.

"NO!" Dio cried, his voice finally louder once again. "DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT! THE LAST TIME SOMEONE SAID THAT TO ME THEY NEVER CAME BACK!"

"L. Take Dio and get out of here. I'll come back for you," Dimentio repeated, making two projectiles appear in his hands. Afraid of what Dimentio was about to do, Mr. L grabbed Dio's shoulder, feeling that perhaps it would be best to just trust him and listen.

Dio didn't seem to see it the same way.

"NO!" Dio shouted yet again, shoving Mr. L off and rushing up to Dimentio, grabbing the jester's shoulder. "I'm not going to let you go down this path of revenge-"

"I'm not going to kill him," Dimentio promised, pushing Dio away. "I'm just going to end this."

"Just come back with us-" Dio begged, sounding afraid. He was already feeling broken, but he was not about to let the one person he had go back down that path of revenge. That's when GEM suddenly swung for the two of them. Luckily, Dimentio was able to see the attack coming and pull himself and Dio aside.

But that was far too close for comfort.

"DIO!" He shouted with a slightly harsher tone. A harsher tone because he was afraid. Not because he was angry, though that wasn't what it sounded like. He grabbed the cloaked boy's shoulders and turned so his own back was to GEM, looking Dio in the eyes.

"Just let me help!" Dio begged, shaking now. "Just let me-"

"PLEASE, JUST GO AWAY!" Dimentio shouted, narrowing his eyes. He was utterly afraid of something happening. Horrified by the idea of GEM hurting another person he cared about. "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, OITNEMID!"

Dio softly gasped as Dimentio's expression suddenly softened to horror.

How could he say that?

He froze in place, horrified by his words when he heard the sword-swinging behind him.

But he couldn't move. His words kept him in place.

Dio's eyes shifted from Dimentio to the sword coming for him from behind the jester.

The next moment seemed to all happen in slow motion. Dimentio could recall Dio yelling something, but he couldn't hear. It was as if his ears muffled out all the sound around him.

He braced for impact.

...

But impact didn't come. Instead, there was a quick chime, and Dio was on the other side of him, hugging him tightly and shielding him from the sword.

Then there was blood.

Lots of it.