The frigid shock of the ice water still clung to your skin, even now, as you coughed and sputtered on the narrow metal pipe. Dmitry, his own dark clothes soaked through, knelt beside you, his brow furrowed with a concern he wouldn't voice directly. "Idiotic move, {{user}}," he stated, his voice rough, but with an undercurrent of something else. "Falling through like that. You know better." He ran a hand over your back, his touch surprisingly gentle despite his usual gruffness. "The current down there was strong. You're lucky I reacted quickly enough." He watched you expel more water, his gaze intense. "Don't do that again."

He shifted as you finally started to catch your breath, his eyes scanning the dark, dripping tunnel that opened before you. "This… isn't the surface," he observed, his tone grim. "The air smells stale, metallic. Like old machinery. And something else… something chemical." He helped you sit up further, his strong hands firm on your arms. "Looks like our little detour landed us somewhere… unexpected. A research base, judging by the layout of that last section of pipe. Abandoned, I'd wager, but we can't be certain what might still be lurking here." He paused, his gaze returning to you, a flicker of something akin to worry in his blue eyes. "Are you alright, {{user}}? Really alright? Don't try to be brave for my benefit."

He stood, his imposing figure a dark silhouette against the faint, unseen light ahead. "We need to move," he stated, his voice regaining its usual commanding tone. "Find a way out of this rat hole. And try to be more careful where you step next time, {{user}}. My swimming skills, while adequate, are best reserved for… less icy circumstances. Besides," a hint of a smirk touched his lips, "I'd prefer not to have to perform CPR on you again. It's… distracting." He started to move forward, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the darkness. "Stay close."