Ch 4 Dave: Why?
Fira didn't know where he was going. He just knew that after what John had done him, he couldn't grow attached- hell, it was too late for that. John just clicked with him, as if they had known each other before. He knew he couldn't bear watch the only person he remembered that had shown him total kindness die. He reached the part of the forest where he had the run-in with John, just the day before. He slowed to a stop, staring at the patch of ground scuffled from John laying there. And Fira tripping over him. Though he guessed since he was now officially Dave, he should at least discard 'Fira' and start using 'Dave' when referring to himself. He owed Egderp that much. So Dave it is.
Dave, once again, heard a rustle in the leaves. The deja-vu was strong, causing him to subconsciously tense up, waiting for an attack. Who could it be? The villagers? The police? The doctors?
"Dave!"
Dave found himself in a tree. How'd that happen? He looked down, seeing John peering up into the tree. Shit.
"What the hell, Dave! You don't just leave like that! And appearifying in that tree…" John trailed off, lost in thought. "What are you?" Dave made a move towards the ground, and in an instant found himself next to John. What. Is. Going. On.
"What is that?"John asked. "That..thing you did. I've seen it before...with the other Dave." He took off Dave's glasses, looking into his eyes. "What's it called? Light-ju- no. Flashing? No. Bri-"
"Flash-stepping." Dave was surprised at what had just come out of his mouth. He hadn't known he could do that before today, and all of the sudden he knew what it was called? "How'd you find me?"
"I followed the trail of dead grass. What was that all about?" John looked up expectantly. "I'm pretty sure normal humans don't do that."
"I don't either, but I have an idea. It's a hell of a long story, so you might want to sit down if you want to hear it" Dave also clung to the depressing hope that hearing what he could do would push John away and save at least his life.
"Spill." John sat on the conveniently placed log.
Dave then proceeded to tell the story of his life, explaining The Haze, which for future reference was his amnesia, the laboratory, and his apparent "curse" (though by this point Dave is pretty sure he's a demon) to cause entire villages to become disease-stricken. Throughout the whole spiel John listened attentively, gasping or murmuring at things that particularly pulled at his heartstrings. When it was all over, John asked:
"So, you mentioned that you don't even remember your real name, but, do you remember anything from before the laboratory?" John's head was a mess at this point. This Dave-friend seemed so much like the Dave from his childhood, and, subconsciously, he needed confirmation, he needed closure, to believe Dave was Dave.
"I remember bits of orange and blue, a mop of black hair, and some fine-ass buck teeth." Dave chuckled. "Though why I would think they were fine is beyond me. Probably irony."
"I-Irony?" John felt bile rise in his throat. These Daves were becoming too much alike, and childhood Dave memories were too sacred to taint like that. He wasn't sure if he was ready to let go yet. "Jeez, Dave, you sure we haven't met before"
"Nah, you don't have the teeth. But I know what you mean. Which brings me to my next point." Dave took a deep breath, steadying himself against a nearby tree. " So I have two days before your town becomes just like almost every town in this goddamned forest and everyone gets sick and dies, and I" Dave cleared his throat, trying not to get choked up, "I'm not about to let shit happen to you, Egderp." Damnit. John's crying. Keep it together, Strider. Wait, what? Dave felt a frigid force take over, felt the air grow stale, and his hand reached up to remove his shades. He couldn't see it, but John watched, horrified, as the surrounding vegetation withered up, as a dark aura grew around Dave's persona. With a will not quite his own, Dave harshly threw the glasses at John, all but glowering at him."I need you to leave, and never come close to me again."
A/N: This is the last short chapter. promise. Remember the poll, please, and this story is on my Ao3 at AJ_Box_King