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After Sinclair and Yi Sang's turn Dante realized that despite how they act the Sinners do have troubles, even if they don't show it.
Dante decided to try and keep company to the two Sinners even a bit. They didn't really talk much with either of them but when most of the Sinners were gone in their rooms during free time Dante sat with the two, just enjoying their presence.
Neither of the Sinners mentioned anything, maybe because they didn't want to be rude to their manager or maybe they did enjoy Dante's presence.
“Dante.”
They looked up at Yi Sang who had a notebook with his poetry open, a pen in his hand.
<Yes?> They tilted their head, drummed their fingers on their PDA. Yi Sang smiles faintly, a tiniest bit of light in his eyes. “Thank you.”
Dante nods. <No problem.> They would've smiled if they could. They notice a weight on their shoulder. They look and see Sinclair resting his head, probably asleep. The fact that he was the youngest Sinner and had to face everything so soon made Dante's heart break.
If Dante had to make a list of the Sinners they liked most to least it probably would be: Sinclair, Yi Sang, Gregor, Rodion, Ishmael, Hong Lu, Meursault, Don Quixote, Heathcliff, Faust, Ryōshū and Outis.
They didn't really have anything against any of the Sinners but…
“Oi! Clockhead what you're standing for? Do the rewind!” Heathcliff yelled, his bat slung over his shoulder. Dante looked up from their PDA then back at it, they needed to record that battle so…
Maybe Heathcliff should be lower on that list?
They heard footsteps and when they looked up they saw Heathcliff standing in front of them. “Are you bloody deaf?” He had a scowl on his face. He was the only alive Sinner for some reason.
<Just give me a moment and please don't distract me.> Dante said as they corrected a piece of record. They heard Heathcliff snort. “What's more important than rewinding, huh? You're just a clock that brings us from the dead.” He smirked at them. They would've preferred even Ryōshū being the last one alive because she wouldn't bother them.
Dante turned off their PDA, rewinded and through the pain they walked back onto Mephistopheles. Arguing with Heathcliff wouldn't be good in any way, shape or form.
“Oi, Clockhead! I was talkin’ to ya!” They heard Heathcliff yell but they ignored him just like the Sinners did.
Back in their seat they turned back on the PDA and with shaky hands they continued the record. They could feel Vergilius' gaze on them but they ignored it, there was no reason to fear getting beat up by him. They heard his footsteps and they glanced up, he was gone from his seat
They heard footsteps and then they were grabbed by the collar of their shirt, dangling in the air. The PDA on the ground. “Think you can ignore me huh? How about I bash your head in?” Heathcliff grinned at Dante. They thought for a moment. <I don't care.> They said after a moment. They were afraid of death, yes but there was no chance Heathcliff would be successful in “bashing their head in”, he'd be stopped by at least a few of the Sinners and if not there was always Vergilius.
“Sir Heathcliff, prithee let go of Manager Esquire!” Don Quixote tugged on Heathcliff's arm. She could've just tugged hard enough so he did let go but she didn't. Maybe she thought it would be resolved peacefully?
<Heath-Heathcliff.>
Heathcliff tilted his head, grin still on his face. “Oh? Are you afraid, Clockhead?” Dante shook their head and in that moment he grabbed them by the neck and threw them to the ground.
Pain blossomed in their body, mixing in with the one from the rewind and intensifying. <Argh!> Immediately they tried grabbing at his hands as they felt Heathcliff fix his grip and choke them.
Just as they were about to loose consciousness they heard Don Quixote pick up her lance.
“Hah!” Blood splashed on Dante's clock and Heathcliff's body fell next to them. They breathed a sigh of relief and hid their clockhead in their hands, their chest moving up and down despite them not needing to breathe.
“What is going on?”
Dante peeked through their fingers and saw Vergilius, his eyes glowing. “Ah! Sir Vergilius! Sir Heathcliff hath been hurting Manager Esquire but I Don Quixote disarmed him.” Don Quixote said as she attempted to hide her lance behind herself. Vergilius sighed. “Next time make sure to come get me.” Don Quixote nodded a few times as Vergilius walked away. “Another rewind if you please Manager.”
Dante sighed deeply, got up and sat back in their seat, picking up their PDA then they rewinded. They ignored the other Sinners’ stares. They looked to the door and… of course nobody else would've helped, everyone else was just getting in.
Dante tried turning the PDA back on but the now cracked screen didn't turn on. <Broken. Of course.> They shook their head and looked out the window.
“Manager Esquire?”
Dante looked up at Don Quixote who was holding a notebook and a pen. “I hath noticed that thine device has ceased to work.” She smiled a bit at Dante. “I do hope that thee can make use of these.” She held the notebook and pen closer to Dante. They took those items and nodded. <Thank you, Don Quixote.>
She nodded back and went back to her seat. Dante opened the notebook and picked up where they left off in their record.
Dante stood in the rain absolutely drenched . The Sinners attempted to make quick work of the enemies but by the end of the battle half of the Sinners where dead.
They rewound the Sinners, waited for them to put the bodies in Mephistopheles' maw then they boarded the bus.
Immediately they went to the corridor then to their room, changed into clean clothes and came back onto the front. Only then they sat in their seat.
By the time night came Dante was the only one remaining in their seat, still working.
“Hey Manager Bud?”
Dante looked at Gregor who was in pajamas, his hair loose. <Yeah?>
He seemed to be hesitant about something. He looked back to the corridor door then back at Dante. “You know how sometimes me or Rodya mentioned that you talk in your sleep?” He asked. Dante nodded, they were very much aware, a little embarrassed even but at least it wasn't other Sinners. <Yes, what about it?>
Gregor stepped closer to Dante and whispered. “Do you really like Vergilius?” His brows furrowed in worry. The fire on top of their head crackled louder. <What?> They shook their head. < When did you hear that?> Gregor shook his head. “Not me. Rodya.”
Dante was so ready to keep that to themselves and take that to the grave with them but now all of the Sinners knew Dante liked Vergilius. They were glad that he wasn't on the bus when Don Quixote's tongue slipped.
They hid their head in their hands. <I want to die…>
They heard Vergilius' footsteps and they looked up. Just as he was about to sit, Don Quixote spoke up. “Sir Vergilius doth know of-!” Dante didn't know how they did it but they were fast enough to run to Don Quixote and cover her mouth. < Don't. >
She grabbed their hand and took it off her mouth. “Verily Manager Esquire but there is no shame about liking someone. I Don Quixote hath liked many people.” She nodded to herself.
Dante turned their head to look at Vergilius who held his gaze on Don Quixote. Apparently this managed to make Don Quixote open her mouth again .
“Doth thou know of Manager Esquire’s crush on thee?” Don Quixote held eye contact with Vergilius surprisingly fearlessly.
Vergilius sighed then turned to look at Dante. “We'll talk later, Manager.” Dante nodded.
Only Dante and Vergilius remained at the front of Mephistopheles. As usual Dante was going to keep night watch so it didn't matter anyway.
“Dante.” Vergilius called them. They looked up from their PDA. There was a trace of a certain emotion on Vergilius' face that Dante couldn't quite catch.
“I cannot return your feelings.” Vergilius says. Dante nods, they look down at their PDA and type. [I know.] They think for a moment. [That's fine.] They add on then they show it to Vergilius who once reads their message sighs. “You're too selfless.” Then he leaves. Dante stays alone on the front of Mephistopheles, working through the night.