[center][h1][color=39b54a]Robert Moore[/color] and [color=red]Jae Park[/color][/h1][h3]Day 1: Early Afternoon - Catch up Post (Part 1)[/h3][i]Collaboration with [@Kyrisse][/i][/center]

Robert stared at the Asian man's face. There was genuine concern and alarm there as well as something like sympathy or pity. Somehow that was almost worse. Make no mistake, Robert was relieved that he wasn't being laughed at, but having worried someone seriously made him feel awful in a different way on top of already feeling humiliated. 

Despite the cold, his face was burning.

He stifled the urge to groan and accepted the Asian man's good will. 

[color=39b54a]"Thanks" [/color] he mumbled.

As soon as he was pulled to his feet, he felt his legs start to buckle under his weight. They were still numb. 

JJ's eyes widened and he automatically leaned forward to catch the younger boy. His weight, the boy's weight and the slippery shower floor almost made him fall too. Luckily he caught himself and steadied both of them. [color=red]"You okay?"[/color] he finally asked.

Robert flushed harder, if that was even possible. 

[color=39b54a]"Legs are numb."[/color]  He muttered with a pained expression. 

Of course his damned body would have to do this [i]now[/i] of all times. In front of someone he knew and respected no less.

[color=red]"Hmmm? How long have you been in here anyway?"[/color] JJ thought back to earlier when he was helping him out. He had fallen asleep right after. How long was he out? 30 minutes? An hour?

[color=39b54a]"Dunno."[/color] 

Robert was doing a lot of muttering today. He paused and thought it over a bit. His clothes were damp, but not soaked anymore. His expression grew darker and his voice was even quieter than before.

[color=39b54a]"A while."[/color]

JJ chuckled. [color=red]"Don't sweat it. You deserve a rest. After all that's been happening today..."[/color] his voice trailed off, unable to find the right words to describe the events that had transpired. [color=red]"Even I can't find a reason to laugh or find the strength to try and cheer people up."[/color]

They both lapsed into uncomfortable silence.

Robert stared at his toes, and realized he'd need to clean up the mess he'd made. Also, he needed to find a new shower curtain. Oh god, this would be embarrassing. Maybe he'd be able to sneak into a storage room though and find a replacement. He certainly didn't want people to find out about this embarrassing event. 

He also realized that he was still leaning against the man while soaked and standing in a shower room. He could feel the heat of the man's body through his wet shirt and then... somehow things got awkward for him. Really awkward.

[i][color=52cc62]This moment is perfect for dropping the soap jokes... wait! Shit! Stop it! Stop it![/color][/i]

He was straight, he'd swear it. It was just... awkward... and his stupid brain wasn't helping! 

[i][color=52cc62]If only he was a girl! Then it wouldn't be so awkward.[/color][/i] 

He suddenly realized that, if anyone could hear his thoughts, they'd misunderstand. 

[i][color=52cc62]Stupid brain! I didn't mean it that way! I meant I'd rather lean on a girl than a guy! No wait! I'm not that kind of useless guy! I meant-! Gah! Why am I even explaining this to myself!? This is ridiculous! Someone help![/color][/i]

It didn't seem like JJ minded having Robert lean on him but as soon as he noticed the awkward look on the boy's face, he immediately felt awkward himself. He had no idea what was running through Robert's mind but his mind brought up several reasons why their current situation would give people the wrong idea. [color=red]"Uh... right. Maybe you should just take a bit of a rest, get the blood circulating in your legs again."[/color] he led him over to a wooden bench just a few feet away and sat him down on it.

Robert snuck a glance at the Asian man and noticed that he didn't seem to feel the same awkwardness. So he was off thinking embarrassing thoughts all on his own. A little part of his brain wanted him to cry, or laugh hysterically, maybe both. He was being so weird right now. He was absentminded as the Asian man helped him over to the bench.

 [color=red]"Thanks for earlier, by the way. I still feel like shit but it's a bit more tolerable."[/color] JJ lapsed back to his relaxed attitude, unaware that the younger boy hadn't gotten over his awkwardness yet. [color=red]"Anyway, what do you think will happen to us? I mean, those people... they might have been older than us but we can't be that different from them. Do you think we'll die the same way they did?"[/color] he asked, sitting down beside him.

Robert made an absentminded listening sound even though he wasn't paying attention at all to what the man said. Then the asian man sat down next to him. His disordered mind suddenly became even more disordered as he tried to recollect his scrambled thoughts. He fidgeted with a red face, very consciously aware of the man next to him, while his wicked brain was leering at him over his embarassment and adding fuel by the gallons to the roaring inferno. Metaphorically, it seems his brain had hijacked a fleet of fuel trucks. 

When Robert didn't respond to what he was asking, JJ blinked and looked at him. Was he okay? He leaned closer, his nose an inch away from Robert's. His face was red. But it didn't seem like he was overheating the way he had earlier. Or at least he didn't look like he was. Figuring he should at least check, he raised his hand and felt Robert's forehead. No, not even close to how hot his skin was earlier. He dropped his hand and raised an eyebrow. [color=red]"You okay?"[/color] he asked for the second time. 

Robert's eyes widened as suddenly, the Asian man's face was inches away from his. It was like his brain exploded, his face was filled with heat, while his body froze. His body and mind were being massive traitors today. He thought he heard his soul screaming from somewhere distant. Was the world swimming? Nope, it was his eyes. He couldn't look straight at the man's face.

An irreverant part of his brain cheerfully remarked. [color=52cc62][i]He's got a pretty good face doesn't he?[/i][/color]

If it was at all possible, he was certain he was flushing even harder than he was before. Whatever part of him that thought came from was, it was an asshole, and it was intentionally making things worse. No, they weren't actually voices in his head. Just thoughts from different sides of him. One side was very much aware of the humor of the situation. The other side... was desperately praying for lightning to suddenly smite him in the showers.

[color=39b54a]"Uh... yeah... I'm fine!"[/color] Robert managed to choke out.

[color=red]"It doesn't feel like you're running a fever but it doesn't look like you're okay. Can you walk? Where's your room? Mine's just a couple of steps outside the showers. If yours is farther, you're free to crash in mine for the time being."[/color] JJ offered Robert his room. Offering his room would mean he would have to stay somewhere else... well, the floor beside his bed wasn't all that bad. He didn't really mind. It was the least he can do as payback for Robert's help earlier.

Robert felt his eyes swimming all over the room. They never stayed in one spot for more than a moment. He thought they might be rolling around like marbles in his skull actually. He might actually become dizzy from this.


[color=39b54a]"Nope! Nope! Mine's not far! I'll just get going!"[/color] he yelped and lurched to his feet. 

His legs still felt like jelly, but he sure wasn't sticking around any longer. He sort of darted for his shoes, snatched them up with the shower curtains and made for the door. Somehow he managed to stumble out of the shower room and sort of stagger away down the hall at a surprisingly quick pace. 

There were a few wide eyes from passerbys as they watched a teen in damp clothing staggering through the hallways as fast as he could in his socks with a torn off shower curtain and a pair of hiking boots in hand.

JJ stood up, staring after the younger boy as he hurried away. He reached up and scratched his head, wondering what was it he did that seemed to have scared him away. After a few seconds, he shrugged and then stepped out of the communal showers himself. As soon as he did, he felt sick. He shivered this time. Maybe soaking himself wasn't such a good idea after all.