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The water was at their ankles. Jay splashed through the room, running to where Kai lay against the wall. They have to leave – now. He threw his shoulder against the piece of debris laying over Kai's legs, shoving with all his might. Kai pressed his hands against the slab of stone from below, pushing upwards.
It didn't move. At all. Jay could barely see, damp hair stuck to his face, water and dust all around them. It rushed into the collapsed room, pouring from the pipes that had burst in the explosion. He shifted angles, grabbed the debris, and tried to lift it instead of pushing, praying that he could make enough room for Kai to squeeze out. The water was reaching their knees.
"Jay—" Kai was interrupted by a sudden coughing fit. Even if Jay could get the debris off him, he didn't know how they would get out of the room. Kai heaved in a dust filled breath. "Jay—go. Leave me."
"No!" Jay scrabbled uselessly at the rocks, searching the room for anything to help him move them. He couldn't blast them without hitting Kai, or the water and accidentally electrocuting them both.
"You can't get me out."
"Watch me."
He grabbed a piece of metal rebar, shoving it under the rock and leaning his full weight on it. Something shifted. It was too slow. The water was up to his waist, reaching Kai's neck as he remained pinned down.
Kai grabbed his wrist, meeting Jay's wild eyes, "If you stay here, you die too! We can't do that to them, they can't lose both of us, especially Nya."
That was a low blow. He knew Kai was trying to guilt him in to leaving, and he wasn't having it. Jay forced the bar further under the rock, hands shaking, "And I could never forgive myself for leaving you to die! Think of what that would do to the team."
He felt the bar shift down ever so slightly. "Either we're both making it out—or neither of us are."
Jay jumped, water past his waist, and slammed down on the bar. It gave, shifting the rock enough for Kai to slide out underneath. Jay grabbed him, unconcerned about any injuries – if they survived, then there would be time for that. He pushed Kai towards the remains of the doorway, "Now, swim!"
