Remember Me?
Carl, weary from the tumultuous evening, pushed his way through the crowded bar, his thoughts a tumultuous jumble of the chaos that had unfolded. The neon lights outside Joe's Diner cast an eerie glow on his sweat-drenched face as he stepped into the cool night air. "I should leave," he murmured to himself, the words heavy with exhaustion. "Go somewhere else," his thoughts echoed, yearning for the quiet solace that often eluded him in his line of work. The living room of Carl's modest apartment was bathed in the soft, warm glow of a single table lamp, casting long shadows across the well-worn furniture and peeling wallpaper. The tick-tock of a dusty grandfather clock in the corner was the only sound that pierced the silence, a rhythmic reminder of the passage of time. As he kicked off his heavy boots and let out a sigh of relief, the sudden knock on the door sent a jolt of surprise through his tired body. "This can't be good," he mumbled, his hand hovering over the doorknob. His heart skipped a beat as he swung the door open, revealing a sight that made his eyes widen in disbelief. There on the threshold stood Dibs, his best friend, looking as if he had stepped straight out of the past with his signature slick-back haircut and infectious grin, untouched by the three long years that had passed since he vanished without a trace.
For a moment, Carl's burly frame remained frozen in shock, his brain racing to understand the impossible reality before him. A storm of emotions crashed through him like waves against a shore— anger at the unexplained absence, pain at the memories of their lost friendship, sadness at the thought of all they had missed, and a flicker of joy that briefly pierced the storm clouds. Yet, amidst this tumult, relief was the strongest current, a warm embrace that washed over his weary soul. He searched Dibs' eyes for answers, for some sign of explanation, but his tongue was a traitor, refusing to form the words to express the chaos within. So, he did the only thing he could— he stared, his gaze unwavering, as he tried to make sense of this unexpected, bittersweet reunion.
"Hey, Carl," Globby, now known again as Dibs, began in a tentative, sticky-sweet voice that seemed to hang in the air like a question. He had taken on a human-like form, but the way he moved was still reminiscent of the blob he'd used to be. His eyes, though still lime-green and glowing, held a sheen of regret. "It's been a while, huh?" He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his human-like form seemingly uncomfortable in the confines of Carl's space. "I know you're mad, and you have every right to be. But, I need you to know, I never meant to leave you like that. Things just... got complicated." The smile on his face was forced, and the slump of his shoulders spoke volumes of the weight he had carried since that fateful day. "I know I can't change the past," his voice grew softer, "but I'm here now, and I want to make it up to you. If you'll let me." He held out a hand, the gesture as hopeful as it was uncertain.
Carl's hand hovered in the air, the space between them thick with unspoken words. His eyes searched Dibs's, looking for the truth, for any sign of the friend he had lost. After what felt like an eternity, he reached out, his grip firm but not crushing. "Dibs," he said, his voice gruff but laced with emotion. "You got some 'splaining to do." With that, he stepped aside, allowing Dibs into the apartment. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing off the outside world and the questions it held at bay. For now, it was just the two of them, standing in the quiet embrace of their shared past, with the promise of a future filled with explanations and the potential for redemption. "But you left me in the dark for 3 years, Dibs," Carl's voice was a mix of anger and pain. He walked over to the couch, gesturing for Dibs to sit, his movements deliberate as he tried to gather his thoughts. "You could've told me. You know I cared about you. You've done this to me twice now—once when you became Globby, and again now. I missed you. A lot." He sat heavily, his eyes never leaving Dibs' face. The apartment felt smaller with the weight of their history pressing in from all sides, the air thick with unresolved tension. "But I'm here," Carl added with a sigh, "and I'll listen. I've always had your back, and I always will." He leaned back into the couch cushions, the leather creaking under his weight as he waited for his friend to speak.
"I'm so sorry, Carl," Dibs' voice cracked, and to Carl's astonishment, he saw a tear slip from Dibs' eye, trailing down his cheek in a line of purple. His heart clenched at the sight. Dibs' purple tears were a stark reminder of the transformation he had undergone, a silent testament to the pain and isolation he had suffered. "I missed you too," Dibs managed, his voice choked. "But I had to go through this. I had to find myself again." *He paused, the silence stretching out as the purple tears continued to fall. "I know it doesn't make up for anything, but I've changed, man. I've learned so much, and I've grown. I'm not just some slimy thief anymore. I'm... I'm something more." He took a shaky breath, his hand trembling slightly. "But I'm still the same Dibs you knew, deep down. And I need you to understand that." He looked at Carl, his eyes pleading for forgiveness and acceptance, the green orbs now tinged with a hint of purple from his newfound vulnerability.
For a moment, Carl's burly frame remained frozen in shock, his brain racing to understand the impossible reality before him. A storm of emotions crashed through him like waves against a shore— anger at the unexplained absence, pain at the memories of their lost friendship, sadness at the thought of all they had missed, and a flicker of joy that briefly pierced the storm clouds. Yet, amidst this tumult, relief was the strongest current, a warm embrace that washed over his weary soul. He searched Dibs' eyes for answers, for some sign of explanation, but his tongue was a traitor, refusing to form the words to express the chaos within. So, he did the only thing he could— he stared, his gaze unwavering, as he tried to make sense of this unexpected, bittersweet reunion.
"Hey, Carl," Globby, now known again as Dibs, began in a tentative, sticky-sweet voice that seemed to hang in the air like a question. He had taken on a human-like form, but the way he moved was still reminiscent of the blob he'd used to be. His eyes, though still lime-green and glowing, held a sheen of regret. "It's been a while, huh?" He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his human-like form seemingly uncomfortable in the confines of Carl's space. "I know you're mad, and you have every right to be. But, I need you to know, I never meant to leave you like that. Things just... got complicated." The smile on his face was forced, and the slump of his shoulders spoke volumes of the weight he had carried since that fateful day. "I know I can't change the past," his voice grew softer, "but I'm here now, and I want to make it up to you. If you'll let me." He held out a hand, the gesture as hopeful as it was uncertain.
Carl's hand hovered in the air, the space between them thick with unspoken words. His eyes searched Dibs's, looking for the truth, for any sign of the friend he had lost. After what felt like an eternity, he reached out, his grip firm but not crushing. "Dibs," he said, his voice gruff but laced with emotion. "You got some 'splaining to do." With that, he stepped aside, allowing Dibs into the apartment. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing off the outside world and the questions it held at bay. For now, it was just the two of them, standing in the quiet embrace of their shared past, with the promise of a future filled with explanations and the potential for redemption.
"But you left me in the dark for 3 years, Dibs," Carl's voice was a mix of anger and pain. He walked over to the couch, gesturing for Dibs to sit, his movements deliberate as he tried to gather his thoughts. "You could've told me. You know I cared about you. You've done this to me twice now—once when you became Globby, and again now. I missed you. A lot." He sat heavily, his eyes never leaving Dibs' face. The apartment felt smaller with the weight of their history pressing in from all sides, the air thick with unresolved tension. "But I'm here," Carl added with a sigh, "and I'll listen. I've always had your back, and I always will." He leaned back into the couch cushions, the leather creaking under his weight as he waited for his friend to speak.
"I'm so sorry, Carl," Dibs' voice cracked, and to Carl's astonishment, he saw a tear slip from Dibs' eye, trailing down his cheek in a line of purple. His heart clenched at the sight. Dibs' purple tears were a stark reminder of the transformation he had undergone, a silent testament to the pain and isolation he had suffered. "I missed you too," Dibs managed, his voice choked. "But I had to go through this. I had to find myself again." *He paused, the silence stretching out as the purple tears continued to fall. "I know it doesn't make up for anything, but I've changed, man. I've learned so much, and I've grown. I'm not just some slimy thief anymore. I'm... I'm something more." He took a shaky breath, his hand trembling slightly. "But I'm still the same Dibs you knew, deep down. And I need you to understand that." He looked at Carl, his eyes pleading for forgiveness and acceptance, the green orbs now tinged with a hint of purple from his newfound vulnerability.
"Can I asked you something?" Dibs asked tentatively, his human form seeming to shrink under Carl's scrutiny. "Suguro," Carl replied, using the Spanish word for "of course," which he had picked up from his father. Dibs took a deep breath before continuing, "Can I stay here?" There was a brief silence as Carl considered the implications of his response. Finally, he nodded, his eyes never leaving Dibs' face. "Yeah, you can stay," Carl said with a gruffness that didn't quite hide the warmth in his voice. "But," he added, raising a finger to emphasize his point, "you're gonna have to follow some rules. First, no more sneaking out. If you need to go somewhere or do something, you tell me. And no more trouble. I can't have you bringing the heat to my doorstep." He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Second, you're going to have to help around here. And third, you gotta keep it clean." A small smile played at the corner of his mouth as he listed off the conditions. "But I'm happy to have you back. Welcome home." The room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as the tension eased, and the bond between them grew stronger, the promise of a new beginning woven into the fabric of their friendship.
The next morning, Carl stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing sleepiness from his eyes. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and the sound of sizzling eggs and toasting bread greeted him. Dibs, now in his human form, was busy at the stove, his lime-green eyes peeking over the counter. "Morning, Ca-" Dibs stop abruptly after seeing Carl.
The early morning light filtered through the kitchen blinds, casting a warm glow over Carl's form. Dibs couldn't help but admire the way Carl's skin looked in the sunrise, his olive tan complexion seemingly kissed by the sun's rays. Carl's hair was a delightful mess without the usual bandana, revealing the way it framed his face in a way that was surprisingly charming. The white tank top clung to his broad shoulders and biceps, showcasing his powerful frame. And his voice, usually deep and gruff, had a softer, raspier quality to it in the early hours that sent a thrill through Dibs. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Dibs felt a warmth in his chest seeing Carl so... normal, so at home in his own space. It was as if the years apart had never happened, and they were just two old friends catching up over breakfast, the way they used to. "Earth to Dibs," Carl said with a smirk, snapping his fingers playfully in front of Dibs' face. "You're lost in thought again. What's on the agenda today?" Dibs blinked, shaking himself out of his daze. "Oh, right," he said, his cheeks flushing a deep purple. "I was just... thinking that we should do something today." He stuttered, trying to compose himself. Carl looked at him with a raised eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "You've got plans?" Dibs nodded, his expression a mix of excitement and nerves. "Well, I've got errands to run. You can tag along if you want," Carl offered, his voice gruff but with a hint of affection. "But remember, no trouble. And if we're gonna be seen together, you gotta wear something that doesn't scream 'ex-con'." He chuckled, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Dibs' eyes lit up at the idea of spending the day with Carl, and he nodded eagerly. "I'll get ready," he said, practically bouncing out of the kitchen.