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[potentite]

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[splinten]

Yeah. Yeah, we do.

[Jake really is one of the best people Dirk knows. He focuses on the wall again, slamming it with his hand.]

Hey. Hey! Anyone hear me?

[potentite]

[When there isn't a response, Jake bites his lip, breathes in and then puts his ear to the wall, trying to listen. After a moment his eyes widen.]

H—Hey, um, fuck—

[He pulls back.] Barely there but I heard someone asking for help. Um, oh cranberries, uh.

[He hops from foot to foot, looking at the wall for weaknesses.]

[splinten]

Shit.

[He's concerned about it being something dangerous, but there's no way Jake's stopping, and Dirk isn't letting him to this alone. He seeks a weakness in the wall, and when he finds and edge, he starts pulling at it.

But when he does, he finds himself growing strangely tired. His movements slow down when the adrenaline should have them doing anything but.]

[potentite]

[Still, Jake notices, because he has spent quite a lot of time in Dirk's presence at this point and it worries him.]

Dirk? Are you all right? [He's probably tired. It makes sense. They just had a long day.] Do you want me to help?

[splinten]

Maybe, I... do not understand why I'm this tired. And that's kind of worrying me.

[Jake feels there's a reason but Dirk isn't so sure. He keeps trying to get at the panelling, but he's tired.]

[potentite]

[That only worries him more.] Just... can you peek in? If you don't see anything, you can stop. Or I can do it instead?

[splinten]

It's cool, I'm— [He pulls the panel free. And it's just metal and wire. Nothing but metal and wire.

Maybe it's the lack of anything there. Or maybe it's something else. Dirk finds himself practically slumping against that emptiness, trying to grip metal to keep upright.]

[potentite]

Dirk!

[Jake moves forward and hesitates only a moment before jerking forward and trying to steady him, one hand on the small of his back, the other on his arm.]

Dirk, what's wrong?

[splinten]

[At least it keeps him upright.] Fuck... Tired as all fuck here.

[And there's nothing even there. He stares at the wall, resisting the exhaustion as best as he can. But it's overwhelming him.]

[potentite]

[Jake glances into the empty space but he doesn't care about that right now. Maybe it was a trap. But this doesn't seem like a coincidence.]

Dirk, lean on me, okay? [Though, maybe he needs to say something else first.] It's okay if you hate me and are disgusted by my presence but um, at least let me help you somewhere?

[splinten]

[It sends a sinking feeling through him that has nothing to do with the lethargy.]

Jake, I'm not... I'm not, man. [He can't think of any better way to show it than to let his weight rest on Jake.

He can't think of much right now.]

[potentite]

[It's fine enough for now. Truthfully, Jake just assumes it's the exhaustion talking. With Dirk resting his weight on him, he wraps an arm around his waist to help him stay up and walking.]

Um... maybe water will help. Is taking you to the bar okay?

[splinten]

No alcohol.

[priorities]

[potentite]

No no, of course. I know. I wouldn't— It will be okay, I just... thought there might be water there. But we can check the canteen instead.

[It seems better to do that. Dirk doesn't need to be riled. And if there's no water there, well, he'll just go find some and let Dirk rest a bit.

Holding him and being close to him feels familiar, safe and natural. It hasn't been that long. Only several days. But he breathes and just tries not to let himself get too comfortable. Dirk is here and he's all right and he doesn't need to be burdened by Jake. Just walk him to the mess hall.]

[splinten]

[Dirk is still wiped out from that. His mind is trying to race, to figure out what happened and understand what's happening now and figure out a plan and response and succeed. The rest of him is just tired. It's tired and still and sluggish, and it follows Jake along, with the only point of strength being in the tightness of his grip on Jake.]

[potentite]

[Reaching the mess hall, he eases Dirk down to sit at one of the small tables.]

You can put your head down while I grab some water, okay?

[splinten]

Where?

[He means where Jake is going. This is indicated by his not letting go of Jake.]

'm okay, man...

[potentite]

[Warmth rises to his face but he tries to press it back down.]

Just to the wall. Um, those doohickeys on the walls here.

[Without thinking, his hand reaches out, ready to stroke Dirk's hair. But he stops himself at the last minute and just awkwardly puts that hand on his shoulder.]

[splinten]

I'll go with.

[He will not.]

[potentite]

You will not. Just rest right here. I'm not even going more than ten steps.

[splinten]

Fuck.

[His head flops into his arm as he lets go. He hates being this tired.]

[potentite]

[While he's worried about him, it gets a smile. Dirk's so stubborn.

He heads to the wall and messes with the odd devices, frowning as he haphazardly mashes the buttons until one gives him water. Then he brings it back to Dirk and sits across from him.]

Here. Um, I don't know if it will help but it can't hurt probably!

[splinten]

Thanks.

[He takes it in his hand. The lethargy is starting to wear off, he thinks. He feels less like passing out.

He is determined to drink this On His Own Strength.]

[potentite]

[Knowing how stubborn Dirk is, he doesn't directly offer.]

I could try to find a straw...?

[splinten]

I can nail this.

[Give him like. A few minutes of staring at it.]