stupid as shit hc, but like. during the walk. letting someone sleep on you, using your energy to keep them next to you when you could easily let them go and better your own odds. trusting someone enough to check out in their hold and not being afraid of being left behind. that's gotta be like. the Walk equivalent of hooking up. that's getting intimate with another person physically and emotionally. something shared between partners, long term or otherwise.
so, follow me. with all the time those two were standing next to each other. even when they could barely get along. Collie and Barkovitch would partner up to sleep, just here and there, and be very shameful about it (internalized homophobia with extra steps for Barkovitch. whatever we want to call being ashamed to be with Barkovitch specifically for Collie).
Collie is a man of honor, when he sees Barkovitch stumbling, he grabs him arm and pulls him just close enough to stay standing and tells him to sleep. makes an excuse about not wanting to trip over him if he falls. even he's been an ass lately, might even make a barb about not wanting to end up like Rank. just for that first time, to make it clear they're totally not friends. not at all. (he could let him fall behind. he could get rid of him. he could let that be that. no one would blame him. he could claim he didn't even notice. that he didn't have the energy. but he's not).
and Barkovitch, who wants to be good. who wants to show the guys he's really not that bad. is gonna attempt to reciprocate. awkwardly. even if it's just lingering close by for Collie to slump into when he finally needs a break.
and maybe they talk in between, to clear the boredom. maybe, when both are tired and not sure who's gonna check out first, but they want to make sure they stay together, their fingers tangle.
