Dave knows something's up when he walks in to see his college-age bro hugging a throw pillow and watching Nascar.
Nascar comes on after the karate show that Dirk watches when he gets sad. The karate show airs at noon, which puts Nascar racing at about one. Dirk won't get up for any reason when he's emotional; not even to retrieve the remote.
"Go to my room, guys," Dave commands and John and Jade obey. "Bro, what's up?"
"Nothing, Dave," Dirk mumbles into the pillow and sniffles.
"Where's Jake?" Dave crosses his arms and looks over his sunglasses at Dirk, knowing fully well what is going to happen.
Dirk bursts into another violent fit of sobs, "Jake left me, Dave, he left and I don't know why and he's gone and I can't breathe and I don't want to live any more please make it stop."
"Damn it, Dirk," Dave sits down next to him on the couch. "Calm down, you're speaking too fast. Let's just start out simple. What did Jake say?"
"He- he said- he wanted- to take- a breeeeaaaak," Dirk hics.
"How long?"
"He went away on an expedition."
"How. Long."
"A year, Dave! At least a year."
"Dirk, get a hold of yourself. Come here," Dave picks up Dirk's shades from the ground and puts them on his brother. "Remember what you told me last time I got in a big break up?"
Dirk chuckles half-heartedly, "We're Striders, not cryers. Do something great and you'll feel better.
Dave nods and slaps Dirk on the arm, "Something great, Bro. Do something great."
With that, Dave leaves his brother to his own business. Dirk directs his attention to the screen of the tv, where some racecar driver is turning a corner. He watches two more laps before somethingfinally comes to him. Something... Great.
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Going the Distance (Homestuck Fanfic)
FanfictionReluctantly crouched at the starting line (Tavros can daydream all he wants, but surely his best friend will never share his feelings. Gamzee can either give in to the voices or drug up, and the voices whisper nothing but hatred at his true feeling...
