That's a very good question, and X is sure that if he had the time to answer, he'd have a very good response. But they're cut off by a shout, and then the shout is the only thing occupying X's thoughts.

The door's barred. It looks deliberate, which is an observation X really wishes he didn't have the awareness to make. It also looks heavy, so he takes one end of it and indicates for the other man to take the other; they can push it out of the way, and -- "Argh!" -- damn it, it's hot. X pulls his hands away with a sharp intake of breath. "Can you hear us?" he calls through the door. "Are you in there?"

Thump, thump.

"At least you're not deaf," X murmurs. He grits his teeth and pulls his sleeves over his hands, ready to try pulling the furniture out of the way again. "Ready?"