It isn't a very good joke, in fact Ken isn't even totally sure it's a joke at all, but he laughs weakly all the same. It's a weird kind of relief to have something to laugh about here of all places, even if the giggles catch in his throat and leave his chest aching, even if the laughter tails off into another fit of coughing, and even as he doubles over and struggles to suck in the filthy, too-hot air, it leaves him feeling weirdly better.
Youji's right, though, and he covers his nose and mouth with one cupped hand for a lack of anything better to do it with.
He says, "Okay." And follows.
The flames roar all about them as they pick their way across the baking, cracking floor: behind them something vast and heavy falls with a loud whumph, sending sparks flying through the air and Ken winces, hurrying to catch up with his friend. Youji doesn't know where he's going, but then Ken can't say he's any surer on that himself - all he knows is that they've got to climb, that whatever's waiting for them at the other end of the maze of shuddering catwalks and stairways strung above their heads like a great steel cobweb, it has to be better than this. Anything would be better than to burn...
Though Youji hesitates at the foot of the stairs, Ken doesn't wait. He pushes past him, clambering quickly up the first few steps, only stopping short and turning back when he realizes that Youji isn't following.
"No," Ken admits, letting his hand fall from his face. "I don't know. We've just got to go up. And..." He hesitates. Wonders, for a moment, if he wants to admit to this at all. "I said supposed to. Something happens and I don't. I'm supposed to die but I don't and I think they--" He gestures vaguely about him at nothing in particular, "--don't like that."
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Date: 2010-04-13 01:26 am (UTC)Youji's right, though, and he covers his nose and mouth with one cupped hand for a lack of anything better to do it with.
He says, "Okay." And follows.
The flames roar all about them as they pick their way across the baking, cracking floor: behind them something vast and heavy falls with a loud whumph, sending sparks flying through the air and Ken winces, hurrying to catch up with his friend. Youji doesn't know where he's going, but then Ken can't say he's any surer on that himself - all he knows is that they've got to climb, that whatever's waiting for them at the other end of the maze of shuddering catwalks and stairways strung above their heads like a great steel cobweb, it has to be better than this. Anything would be better than to burn...
Though Youji hesitates at the foot of the stairs, Ken doesn't wait. He pushes past him, clambering quickly up the first few steps, only stopping short and turning back when he realizes that Youji isn't following.
"No," Ken admits, letting his hand fall from his face. "I don't know. We've just got to go up. And..." He hesitates. Wonders, for a moment, if he wants to admit to this at all. "I said supposed to. Something happens and I don't. I'm supposed to die but I don't and I think they--" He gestures vaguely about him at nothing in particular, "--don't like that."