Bro felt his stomach twist into a hundred kind of knots at Dirk's words, and he felt a bit like vomiting. Hearing it from Dirk of all people that yeah, David was dead, finally and completely solidified it for Bro. Until that point he'd been almost in denial, as if it were a thing that hadn't actually happened. But no, it was real. It was real, and he was actually standing in front of the only piece of his brother he had left.

He didn't know what to say or do, because the wound that he'd closed up before leaving to get Dirk was opening again. Crying on the astronomy tower had been therapeutic and he'd benefited from it more than he thought possible. But now the pain was back, the urge to cry himself coming back in full force. The lump in his throat grew larger, and he wasn't sure if he could speak, even though he knew he had to. But what to say?

"I'm not okay either," he said, the words tumbling out before he even fully realized what he was saying. "I... you don't have to be okay," he said, and his voice choked off a little towards the end. "Nobody expects you to be. Nobody said you have to try and be strong. It's okay to be fucking upset about it." He was trying as hard as he could to sound comforting. But the truth was he was trying to get himself to believe it too. But he didn't want to be so upset about it.

Bro still hadn't moved from his spot against the couch. He knew he should move closer to Dirk, maybe try and... what? Pat him? Hug him? This was all still so new to him. He didn't know what to fucking to. He shifted slightly, almost moving to go over to him but ultimately deciding not to. Not yet, anyway. "I'm sorry..." He didn't know what he was apologizing for, because obviously it wasn't his fault. But it felt like the only other thing he actually knew to say.