"You sure like pancakes, huh?"

Dave looks up from the plate, half a pancake still crammed in his cheek. He chews quickly and swallows. "It doesn't really make a difference. Food is food."

"Yeah…I guess so." John turns back to his own pancake, still working at it, chewing thoroughly.

"I mean, it's good," Dave finds himself saying.

"You don't have to compliment me, Dave."

So he doesn't. He just shrugs and goes back to carefully cramming himself to capacity. When he's done, he leans back, patting his stomach contentedly. "Thanks."

"No problem."

When John finally gets up to clear the dishes, Dave goes into the living room. He's fascinated by all of John's things, the little indicators of his life and his family. He spots the odd harlequin once and a while, something he had missed last night. Maybe his father hadn't gotten rid of them outright and opted to make them a little more inconspicuous instead.

John follows Dave into the room and, without turning to look at him, Dave asks, "Where is your dad, anyway?"

"Business trip."

Dave glances at the boy. "Does he do it a lot?"

"Sometimes."

"Dick," Dave says, going back to studying the old family photos.

"Dave!" John exclaims, suddenly angry. "He's not! He's been really good about…about this whole thing."

"He's not here, is he?"

"He can't always be here!"

Dave knows he's getting into dangerous territory here. He doesn't particularly care, but as John's been pretty good to him so far, he's willing to make a bit of an effort. "Yeah. Sorry."

John slumps down on the couch. "Whatever," he says at length.

"Does it get lonely?"

"What?"

"When he leaves."

"Of course it does." John still sounds annoyed and Dave wonders why he still can't bring himself to care.

"I can relate."

At this, John softens again. "Yeah…"

"Is there anyone who takes care of you while he's gone?"

"I can take care of myself."

"Can you?"

John falters, then says quietly, "…no."

"I thought so."

"Rose comes over sometimes…and Dave… Jade doesn't as much, but when she does, we usually all get together."

Dave's stomach tightens at the mention of the doppelganger and his girlfriend. "Good."

"I…I'm seeing a doctor now, too."

"Yeah?" Dave looks at him and it's John's turn to wince uncomfortably.

"Yeah."

"Good."

"I…I'm trying to get better, Dave. I don't want to be like this."

"No one does."

"When's your dad coming home?"

"Soon."

"He'll take care of you."

"I know that, Dave!"

Dave straightens up. "What do you want me to say? I'm not exactly involved in this little circle of yours. Generics are all I've got for you."

"Let's just talk about something else. Okay?"

"Sure."

"Do you want to watch a movie?"

"Fine."

So John gets up and grabs a movie and puts it on. It's a senseless and poorly planned film, but it's got lots of action and strange characters, so at least John enjoys it. On the other hand, the tall boy is much too close for Dave's comfort. John hugs Dave's arm to his chest, watching the movie intently, assumedly trying to put their previous conversation to the back of his mind. Dave doesn't work like that, though, and all he wants to do is pull away. He suddenly feels trapped here and John isn't helping. This isn't right. He feels like he's made a mistake.

"I should get going," Dave says suddenly.

"What? But the movie isn't even over." John breaks his eye contact with the screen to look at Dave.

"Yeah."

"Dave, are you okay?"
"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" John's blue eyes are boring into his face. To break the gaze, Dave pulls off his shades and cleans them on his shirt, focussing his attention there instead. It's hard to move with John's arms still wrapped around his elbow, but he manages. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Not any more than I did." Dave glances back at John and the boy raises his eyebrows slightly. If he's surprised at the colour of his eyes, he doesn't say anything. Dave doesn't care.

"Tell me."

"Look. I know I fucked up last night, but you're not my John."

"I know."

"And I'm not your Dave."

"I told you, you—"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm your Dave, just a 'different' Dave. John, that means the same fucking thing and you know it. Don't try to bullshit me, we both know that your Dave is the one off partying his ass off in college."

"…Alright."

"I know we're similar," says Dave. "But I'm not going to be his replacement."

"What?"

"He's not here, right? So you're using me to fill in for him."

"Dave, I'm not!"

"It's fine. I don't care." Dave pauses. "Well, it's not like I like it, but I get it. I'm sure you miss your little buddy."

"Dave, it's not like that."

"It's okay. I get it."

"Dave, listen to me! It's not like that! I'm not using you like some kind of replacement!"

"Well, I am." The words slip out of his mouth before he can stop them.

"You…you are?"

"I have to go." Dave stands up quickly but John pulls him back onto the couch.

"No, explain. You're…you're using me?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Oh…" John trails off, as though he's thinking. "Well, that's okay."

"No, it isn't," Dave growls angrily. "It's not okay because you're not him and he's not you and neither of you fucking deserve that."

"It's okay, Dave."

"It's not."

"I'm telling you, it is."

"Yeah, it is for you!" Dave snaps. "Because even if you pretend that I'm your precious little Dave, you don't have to worry. You have another one! You're not going to forget him because he's still alive! I don't have that luxury!" Dave's voice breaks mid-sentence and his body is suddenly wracked with sobs. He hates himself for it, but it's harder to draw breath and he's panicking.

John pulls his arms away and puts a hand on Dave's shoulder. "Hey. It's alright, Dave. You won't forget him. I don't think you can."

"I don't care what you think!"

John doesn't leave. He just sits there, rubbing Dave's shoulder and telling him that it's okay. It's not okay. It's really not.

"Stop," Dave says at last, shrugging John's hand away.

"Okay," says John. "Are you still going to leave?"

"…yeah."

"Oh."

"I'll…I'll come back."
"Yeah?" John's voice raises a little, but he doesn't want to sound too helpful. He doesn't want to push it.

"Yeah. Not for a while. But I'll see you again."

John throws his arms around the ginger boy and squeezes him tightly. "Thanks, Dave. Be careful, alright?" To Dave's relief, he lets go quickly.

"Don't worry. Nothing's gonna happen to me."

"I'm going to worry, Dave. We're friends."

This makes Dave uncomfortable, but he brushes it off. "Yeah. But don't worry too much. I'll be fine. I've gotten pretty used to this whole thing."

"Okay, but if you get arrested, call me, okay?"

Dave snorts. "Yeah, sure. If they can catch me."

John gives him a sheepish little grin. "Yeah. Bye, Dave."

"Bye."