always, he is surrounded by horrible things. each case brings more danger, more terror - kidnapping, murder. blood and guts. he’s seen it all and it never gets any easier. and this - this is dark. kate is young (she can’t be more than twenty, probably still a teenager) and she’s killed a man. she took a life to save her own. she lost her best friend, she was imprisoned and violated and mutilated - things no one should ever have to experience, let alone someone so young.
comforting and consoling are not things he has a lot of experience in. but he can try. when she pauses, he interjects, to ask questions or make comments, but she ignores him - either in an attempt to get through her recounting without stopping, or because she is so lost in her memories that perhaps she doesn’t even hear him.
so finally, he grabs her hand. physical touch can work wonders - for sad people, for hurting people, for those lonely or depressed. maybe it could pull her back. remind her that she is here, in this hotel room. remind her that she is with a person who wishes to help. she is safe. but dirk is someone who understands that just because one is safe from harm, they can never escape their memories.
‘ it was self defense. ’ what is he supposed to say? he doesn’t know what to do. how can he make her feel better? is it even possible with it still so fresh? ‘ you didn’t ask for this, did you? the only person i can find at fault here is an evil man who kidnapped two innocent people and forewent any semblance of human decency in order to achieve... whatever it was he was attempting to accomplish. ’
