"Not my preferred brand of fireworks." Dean mumbled as he stepped forward. Nothing, absolutely nothing good was going to come out of this, whether it was physical or emotional fireworks, but he'd rather implode and worry about it later, than let Dempsey actually hurt himself.

He would like to help, but he knew better. It was hard to help someone who refused to be helped. At least existentially. Right now Dean wasn't going to let Dempsey blow up the zoo by accident.

"You always seem to require supervision," Dean added gently as he pulled the firework from Dempsey's hand and set it aside. The trouble Dempsey had gotten himself into between them and now was substantial and Dean felt partially responsible. If he'd been able to figure them out, to hold on a little tighter, maybe it would have been better.