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[parodeity]

DAVE STRIDER

consider this your warning about stairs. itll just keep happening bro. im telling you man

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[parodeity]

Sure. [ he pries john's hands off his face and lets them go. ] ...but for the record, support or protection or help or whatever it is you beat yourself up over isn't anything I ever expected from you. When I told you what a best friend was, it was never...it was what it meant for what I'd do. Not what I ever asked of you.

[ he says it because he means it to help, somehow. ]

Bein' around you usually calmed my nerves down. That's all I ever wanted from you. [ all he'd ever expect and not even something he'd ever ask for. ]

[windeity]

[His hands are dropped and they rest in his lap as he stares at the steering wheel before looking at Dave again.]

I know. That's probably the part that bugs me the most. [There's a closed lip smile before he releases the brakes and starts driving again.] But...I can do that. If you'll stick around, I will, too.

[parodeity]

...Why does it bug you? [ he makes zero promises on sticking around or not, but focuses on that part instead. ]

[windeity]

Let's say something was really bothering me. I don't know, something really, really bad that I could not process on my own. What would you do?

[parodeity]

Anything you asked of me.

[windeity]

Cool. What about if I didn't ask and you thought it was something I needed anyway? What would you do?

[parodeity]

...It'd depend on what it was, and how you reacted. [ to be honest. ] I'd do anything for you, but you don't always want that from me.

[windeity]

[There's a nod.]

So how come you would do anything for me, but you don't think I could or should do anything for you? I am just wondering.

[parodeity]

I don't see how you can magically make things better here, breezy.

[windeity]

I didn't say it'd be right away, douche. But I can try, can't I?

[parodeity]

No deal if you mean you want to stick around through the aftermath.

[ dave leans against the door. ]

...But if you want to try to find some mythical third option that keeps everyone sorted, sure. You can try.

[windeity]

I'm going to. That's the best way. [He's still unhappy but this is the best compromise he can come up with and he shakes his head again.]

You don't think I can?

[parodeity]

Not really, if we're talking about somethin' where I don't man up and deal. But you're you. Maybe you'll be able to shit a rainbow out of all this somehow.

[windeity]

[Silence. He thinks about some things and he stays quiet even as they approach the training grounds.]

...you know I love you, don't you?

[parodeity]

[ his breath catches, and there's a laugh. ]

I love you, too. [ that part is almost easy. ] John, it's okay if there isn't a solution. Or if the solution is just me learning to adapt. This isn't on you. Okay?

[windeity]

[No, not okay. But he's well aware that's the answer Dave wants so he nods even as he parks in front of their destination finally.]

Yeah, okay. [He's going to figure something out though. He has to. But instead he glances out the window, blue eyes bright again as he gives a slow smile.] Does this make us early?

[parodeity]

Not really. You forgot about lunch.

[ dryly, and in a moment he'll reach for his door since he's fallen out of the habit of waiting for john to do it for him, but right now he stares again instead, wavering. ]

[windeity]

[...he'll reach over and lightly punch the door to open it instead.]

Yeah. Oops. [There's a small laugh.] Cool with lunch after? We can probably take a break during training, too.

[parodeity]

[ cool dave does the thing where he just pauses and stares wordlessly at john? ]

[windeity]

[Why are we back to staring holy shit. He just. Keeps grinning? Because he's unsure?? But he's opening the door for Dave at least so there's that.]

[parodeity]

[ is he still leaning over dave while the staring occurs. awkward. ]

Is this one of those things?

[windeity]

[Probably.]

What things?

[parodeity]

[ okay, cool, guess dave is just super close as he turns slightly to face john and ask: ]

The ones that make you happy.

[windeity]

[Haha. Fuck. He doesn't quite answer, but there's a tentative nod.]

Yeah. I guess you could say that.

[parodeity]

[ he rolls his eyes, the mockingly (mockingly?) copies john and reaches out with his left hand to grip john's chin. ]

Not "I guess". Yes or no?