To Stab the Sky – 9

Dave wasn't sure how Bro had managed to get him back on the couch and watching the shitty anime. It felt pointless. TV Bro wasn't alive anymore. They'd lost.

"Who the fuck is that chick. Did she just replace TV Bro in the opening?"

Bro paused. "Wow. Okay, I actually didn't expect you to catch that. Anyway, you'll see."

But Dave wasn't listening anymore. He was watching TV Dave pull at his armband. His throat seemed to have stopped working. He was choking as silently as he could, hoping Bro wouldn't notice.

"What the hell is a Helix King."

"Just keep watching." Bro didn't have the drive to scold Dave today. He had to tread carefully. He waited for Dave to comment on the rain pouring down the face of the Gurren. It was too clichéd for Dave not to say something snarky. But it never came.

Bro watched Dave's face carefully. He had a strained expression, and it was difficult to decipher his feelings.

"Did the animation change."

"What?" Bro twitched, surprised at the sudden comment.

"It looks different."

"Yeah, it changes once and a while."

"I see." Dave went back to being silent.

Bro stretched an arm around him. "Look, man…"

Dave shook him off. "I'm…I'm not comfortable with that."

Bro was at a loss for words. "Sorry." Dave never said things like that. It was so…strange.

"Stop staring at me, too." Dave glanced up at Bro's face, eyes narrowed to crimson slits.

"Sorry, man. I'm just—"

"Worried. Well, don't be." Dave crossed his arms and slumped against the back of the couch.

I can't help it, dumpass, Bro thought. But he said nothing. That was just the Strider way.

"Is this why you said I'm that kid." Dave stiffened. "I wasn't like that, you know."

"Oh?"

"I didn't act like this asshole."

"You're telling me you weren't reckless?"

"Of course I wasn…" That was a lie. Dave had nearly thrown himself into a suicide mission with the Green Sun. Twice.

Bro ruffled his hair. Dave was too deep in thought to slap him away. "You look like shit, man."

"Thanks, fucker. That makes me feel all warm and fucking fuzzy on the inside."

"No, shut up. Seriously. Are you okay? You're really pale. Any more and you'll be a goddamn sparkly asshole vampire."

"I'm fine."

"If you say so."

"That kid is going fucking crazy."

"Yeah."

"He's just flipping the fuck out."

"Yeah."

"Is that mecha throwing up. What the hell." He paused. "Who the fuck is that."

"Keep watching."

"She…she kind of reminds me of Jade." Dave watched the colourful girl move around on the screen with muted interest. Silly, naïve, optimistic… His stomach clenched.

"Who?"

"You know who Jade is, you asshole."

"Was she the derpy little girl Egbert?"

"Fuck you. But yes."

"If anyone else is going to die, it's going to be me. Is that what you thought?"

"I'm not that fucking kid."

"You didn't answer the question."

Dave didn't reply. Instead, he asked, "She's…the enemy."

Bro just smiled. "That's a good question, isn't it?"