The following night, they meet again in the ruined city center, tracking traces of demonic energy that Heinz claims might lead them closer to understanding the dimensional phenomenon. But Dave, increasingly exasperated, feels his patience wearing thin. Heinz's constant presence, the way he smiles like he always knows something Dave doesn't, begins to gnaw at his nerves in a way he'd rather not acknowledge.
"Is this just an excuse to spend more time with me, or do you actually know what you're doing?" he snaps, his voice laced with sarcasm, an attempt to shake off the intrusive thoughts that cling to his mind like vines.
Heinz merely smiles—that same smile that both infuriates and disorients him.
"Don't worry so much, Dave. After all, impatience is just another human flaw."
Dave opens his mouth to throw back a quip, but then a chill runs down his spine. He doesn't need to turn around to know who's there. The deadly aura, the tangible hatred that saturates the air… he recognizes it instantly.
Axel.
He's standing across the street, staring straight at him. There's no mistaking it: Axel wants him dead.
"Dave," he growls, voice dripping with contempt. "I don't know what you're scheming this time, but I swear—it won't be long before I erase you from this world for good."
Dave forces a grin, though tension coils in his gut like a tightening noose.
"Same tired lines, Axel? You ever consider trying a new catchphrase? Maybe add a little creativity?"
Axel doesn't answer. Instead, he draws his blade. Its edge gleams in the darkness like a promise of death. Dave feels his stomach knot. He's not ready for this. His mind is scattered, his body on edge. But retreat isn't an option. Not now.
"Leave," Axel snarls.
Before Dave can react, Heinz steps between them, unnervingly calm.
"I won't let you touch him."
Axel laughs, a sound more venom than mirth.
"So, you've found yourself a new toy, Dave?" he spits. "Doesn't matter. I'll get rid of you both."
Dave blinks, stunned. Heinz's intervention rattles him more than he wants to admit. But the most disturbing realization isn't Heinz's defense—it's that Axel hates him in this dimension. Hates him so much that his very existence seems offensive. And Heinz… Heinz seems willing to stand in front of that hatred, to confront an Axel who looks ready to destroy anything in his path.
. . .
After the confrontation, Heinz leads him to an abandoned shelter on the city's outskirts. Silence stretches between them, thick and heavy with things Dave doesn't want to say out loud. But questions burn at the back of his throat.
"Tell me, Heinz. Why did you risk your life for me?" he asks, his usual sarcasm absent.
Heinz looks at him, as though weighing each word before speaking.
"Because you're… different. Something not even Axel's hatred can destroy. And because… in this dimension, there are very few things worth holding on to." His voice drops lower, and his gaze locks onto Dave's. "You are one of them."
Dave's breath catches. The confession hits him like a slow-burning flame in his chest, leaving him momentarily unmoored. It's not just what Heinz says—it's the way he looks at him. As if he means it. As if he truly...
No. He can't go there. Not now. Not here.
"So you want to keep me close?" Dave asks, trying to recover his usual teasing spark.
Heinz smiles—that same unreadable smile that always seems to hide too much.
"Let's just say you're a mystery worth preserving. And also..." He pauses. His voice softens. "Dave, what would you do if you had the chance to choose—between staying, or going back?"
The question catches him off guard. For the first time since arriving in this dimension, Dave allows himself a flicker of real thought. His instinct is to scream that he wants to go home, that he doesn't belong in a place where Axel wants him dead and everything feels twisted. But then there's Heinz—watching him with a gaze that burns past curiosity. And somehow, he's starting to care.
"I don't know," he replies, more honestly than he intended. "But if I ever do have to choose… I don't want to be manipulated. Not by you. Not by anyone."