What Do Katanas And Pistols Have In Common? [DirkJake / Homestuck Fanfic]

Chapter 3

> Try to form a plan

Dirk Strider

> Begin [Chapter 3 | Act 1]
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"So," I leaned back against the wall. "What are we going to do now?"

Jake didn't even look up from where he sat in the grass. He was picking at it idly; pulling it up and letting it fall back down. Jade sat next to him, her knees pulled up to her chest. They looked so broken. I felt so useless, because I knew I couldn't help them.

The dark cloud I constantly tried to shove away was now creeping up on me, casting it's dark shadow on myself and everything around me. The color of the grass, so vibrant and bright just moments before, was muted, becoming a dusty green that was slowly dulling and dulling to gray. The house that had seemed so bright and inviting when I first arrived now looked empty; abandoned and left to slowly decay on its own. Even the sunlight was now covered by the dark cloud, blocking out the light and warmth, leaving me to wrap my arms around myself in order to keep what warmth I had left before it was all surrendered to the air around me.

What was causing it this time? Was it the saddened, worn-out looks on their faces? Was it the dark smudges on the floors and walls inside? Was it my own helplessness?

A chill ran down my spine and I shivered, despite the fact that the shadows around me were imaginary and the sunlight was still covering everything in a blanket of light.

I blinked slowly, waiting a while before opening my eyes again. When I did, I found myself sitting next to Jake and Jade. My head was against Jake's shoulder, and his fingers were intertwined with mine. Wasn't I just standing next to Jane?

I looked at where she was standing moments before just to find the space empty. I turned my head. She was sitting next to Jade. Her eyes looked so tired; she looked finished.

"Jake..?" The name that left my mouth were barely more than a whisper yet he heard me. His eyes opened, and he replied "Yes, Dirk?"

"Can... Can we just... Stay here for a while?" The words sounded strange as I spoke. Jake smiled softly, kissing my cheek. "Yes. We can stay here as long as you'd like."

I found myself closing my eyes on a view of the sky, beautiful in pale blue with the wisps of puffy little clouds suspended in the air high, high above. The leaf-covered branches of trees were trying to reach up to the sun. Birds and cicadas chirped and hummed their songs, falling in tune with each other.

"Wouldn't flying be so cool?"

I was startled by a voice suddenly speaking.

My eyes opened to see Jake staring up at the sky where a bird was flying. A black mark moving across a backdrop of blue.

"I don't know. Wouldn't you be afraid?"

"Why should I be? It would just be a new adventure." His emerald eyes shone with so many things: desire, determination, imagination, fascination, and a million more.

"I wish I could be like you Jake."

He turned to look at me, his eyes now full of concern and confusion. I didn't want to take away the look they had just seconds before. I didn't mean to. "What do you mean Dirk?"

The words were slipping out before I could stop them. "You aren't afraid to do the impossible. And you'll achieve it too. I wish I could be like that. But I'm a coward who will always fail."

"No, you aren't. And you'll get it if you try. Just keep getting up, keep going." His hand was cupping my cheek, and I brought my hand up over his, feeling his warmth against my skin. "You'll get it. Because you're amazing Dirk."