Mr. L was digging behind the counter, cleaning up the last of his things. While cleaning, he couldn't help but look around. The place feels empty, filled with boxes and suitcases. What was once a small store was now an empty building.

It's almost sad, but the anticipation of what was coming next gave him an exciting feeling. Even with only 1,000, he could at least get started. He'd be getting out of here, and that was all that mattered. He'd be seeing the world. But still, he'd miss working with the kid. He'd miss when Blumiere and Timpani came in every morning. He'd miss occasionally seeing Dimentio. He really hopes Dimentio is happy now. Now that he got that house, he hopes that the jester feels accomplished. Feels valuable. Feels successful. He knew how hard Dimentio had been working for that.

Most of all, he just hopes everyone will be okay.

Everyone WILL be okay. It's not like he was much. He didn't touch many lives. Who'd even remember when he was gone? He sighs and turns around to get the lights when there was the chime of the store door opening.

He furrows his eyebrows and calls out, "Um, We're closed!"

"My apologies," came Dimentio's voice from behind him, causing the man in green to quickly turn around.

"D-Dimentio?!" He asks, before smiling. "Why, it's been so long! What are you doing here...?"

"I..." Dimentio starts, before looking down.

The jester softly smiles, looking around the store before meeting L's eyes.

"So I got you a present...

I went downtown to get it.

Doing anything tonight?"

"Cleaning," Mr. L replies.

"You're done for the day,"

"No way," Mr. L chuckles.

"Because we've got a date," Dimentio casually adds,

"Okay..."

"Before you board that plane..." Dimentio sighs, before smiling and pulling out a small bottle.

"I owe you a bottle of cold Champagne."

"No!" Mr. L gasps, taking it with a new smile on his face.

"Yeah! Cold champagne!" Dimentio beams.

"Dang, the bottle's all sweaty and everything! You went and got this?"

"Pop the champagne!"

"I don't know if we have coffee cups or plastic cups, I already packed the cups..." L admits.

"Tonight," Dimentio smiles. "We're drinking straight from the bottle."

L feels his heart flutter before he starts trying to open the bottle.

"Mr. L,"

"Yeah?" Mr. L replies, distracted by trying to open the bottle.

"Blumiere told me what you did for me,

and it's honestly the sweetest thing anyone ever did for me!

Now, what can I say or do to possibly repay you for your kindness?"

"... How do you get this gold stuff off?" Mr.L asks, holding up the bottle, causing Dimentio to just roll his eyes.

"Mr. L,"

"Yeah?"

"Before you go leave town....

Before the night fades and the sun's no longer down...

Let's walk around the neighborhood and say our goodbyes...." Dimentio sighs, before looking at Mr. L.

"Mr. L, are you alright?"

"I'm fine! I'm trying to open this champagne!" Mr. L nervously laughs, fidgeting with the bottle.

"You see, the twisty thing is broken,

But I'm gonna open this dang champagne!"

"Let me see it," Dimentio asks, trying to grab the bottle.

"Nah! I got it!"

"Mr. L, drop the champagne!" Dimentio pleads.

"I mean, you went through all this trouble to get us a little bubbly-"

"And it's gonna be okay," Dimentio whispers, taking the bottle and grabbing his arm,

"I'm sorry," Mr. L sighs. "It's been a long day...."

Dimentio just looks at him a moment, before looking down.

"You oughta stay..." He whispers.

"What?"

"You can stay uptown! Maybe save this place!" Dimentio says, turning around and gesturing to the store.

"Ha ha, very funny," L sarcastically adds, causing Dimentio to clench his fists.

"And it's not like Oliver's got role models-"

"Role Models?!" L asks.

"Stepping up to the plate..."

"Yo, what are you talking about?!"

"I'm just saying!" Dimentio adds, turning to face him.

"I think your vacation can wait!"

"Vacation?! Dimentio, you left us too!" L points out.

"And I moved down the street, it's not that far away!"

"What are you trying to say?!" L asks.

"You're leaving the city! And we're never gonna see you again!"

"So what are you trying to say?!?!"

"You get everyone addicted to your coffee, then off you go!!!" Dimentio cries.

"Dimentio, I don't know why you're mad at me!" L begs, causing the jester to clench his fists and turn to him.

"I WISH I was mad..." He admits, before taking the bottle, slamming it down on the counter, then quickly approaching Mr. L. He walks up to him, then stands up on his tip-toes and grabs the man in green's collar,

And pulls him into a kiss.

L is initially shocked, before he closes his eyes and melts into it slightly, before Dimentio pulls away and looks down, a tear falling from his face.

He lets out a shaky breath and sighs a defeated sigh.

"....I'm just too late," He breathes, his voice breaking.

Then, the jester turns and leaves, the door chiming as he opens and closes it.

______

The jester defeatedly walks to his home, only it no longer feels like home. He gets inside and shuts the door, looking at the mirror he had placed next to it. There are tear lines streaking down his face.

He didn't know why he cared so much all of a sudden. But he felt like an idiot. An idiot because he thought that getting this house would be the key to his happiness all these years. He thought that the house was his goal.

But it wasn't. His goal was just to be happy. And... now that was difficult to even do because he was too blind to even notice that Mr. L cared for him. And he was too blind to even consider the fact that he might care for him too. If he had just taken the chance to listen to him. To swallow his pride and spend time with him.

And now, Mr. L was leaving.

Never had he ever felt so alone. Even though technically nothing had changed, he felt about 100 times more lonely than he did when he first woke up.

He just stood alone in his big, empty house, before dropping down to his knees and covering his face, softly crying.

He spent about thirty minutes like that, before deciding to get up. He lets out a long breath and walks up to the roof of his home. It was late in the night, and the sun would likely be rising in a few hours, taking Mr. L away forever.

He sighs and leans back, looking at all the stars. And this is when he decides to take out the small phone and call Blumiere.

Blumiere was kind enough to give him his number quite a few years back when phones became popular and everyone was getting them, so Dimentio had his number, but he had never once used it. He was half-convinced that Blumiere was already asleep, so it's a pleasant surprise when Blumiere picks up.

"Hello?" Come's Blumiere's voice from the other end, exhausted.

Dimentio hesitates, before speaking.

"Greetings, Blumiere," Dimentio breathes.

"Dimentio?! You're calling me?!" Blumiere's voice replies. Dimentio can hear the sound of Timpani's voice on the other end, but can't quite make out what she's saying.

"Yes," Dimentio admits. "I just... want to know why Mr. L is leaving."

"Dear, turn it on speakerphone," Dimentio hears Timpani say before he can hear her more clearly. "Hi, Dimentio!" She chimes. "We didn't catch that! Can you repeat yourself?"

Getting more and more uncomfortable by the minute, he hugs his knees to his chest and sighs. "I was just... wondering if you knew why L was going away."

"Oh! Oliver told us it was something about him wanting to travel. He wanted to see the world!"

"The world?" Dimentio asks, looking up at the sky. "Well... what does he want to see?"

"Uhh, I don't know. Want me to wake up Oliver and ask him?" Blumiere's voice asks.

"No, no. You don't have to wake your son up. I was just wondering-"

"Too late. Timpani already left to get him," Blumiere laughs. "One moment."

Dimentio lets out a sigh and nervously fidgets with his hands, holding the phone close to his ear as he looks up at the sky. "Alright..."

His eyes are still glassy and he still feels small and powerless, but a part of him does feel less alone.

"Hiya Dimentio! Turns out Oliver here was already awake!" Timpani's voice chimes with a hint of annoyance. "Even though it's WAY past his bedtime.

"Okay, how do you expect me to sleep when Mr. L's leaving tomorrow!?" Oliver argues back.

"Honey, not now. Dimentio has a question for you. Go ahead, Dimentio!" Timpani replies.

Dimentio waits a moment, before sighing and speaking. "Do... do you know why Mr. L is leaving? What he wants to see? What he wants to do?"

"Me? Oh, yeah! He told me at work. He just doesn't wanna feel trapped. He wants to see the world. He mentioned that he liked the stars. He said he'd like to stand on the sky, whatever that means."

"He wants to see the stars..." Dimentio whispers, looking up at the sky. From the top of his house, the view is quite beautiful. The sky is a beautiful glowing dark blue color, with stars glittering across it, the occasional shooting star flying through. You can see distant planets and galaxies, and it's clear. Much more clear than the view from the poorer part of town.

"...How fast can you guys get here?"

"Get where?" Oliver asks.

"H-here. As in my house. How fast?"

"I can get us all there in a second," Blumiere says.

"Yeah, about that, Dad. How come you always walk places when flipping is so much easier?!" Oliver questions.

"Because I'm trying to blend in, Oliver. And besides, walking is good for you."

"Sure, sure. Can you guys please come here then?" Dimentio asks, clearing his throat.

"Um, I guess," Timpani starts. "Why though?"

"Just do it. It'll be worth your time, I promise you."