[ Ah - shit, Reggie, that's heartbreaking. Derek's eyebrows meet in the middle, looking more and more sad for this poor kid the longer this goes on. Every casual shrug, every bro, every joke, it's all - way too thin. Watery. Derek doesn't know what he can say to make any of this better. ]

He's good for you.

[ Nick is good for Reggie, not was. Derek's not going to push him here, but it's hard not to know what he means. Hard not to want to hug this poor piece of shit. Derek looks at him long and hard, and when he finally talks again, things all just... tumble out of him. Carelessly. ]

I've loved four people in my life. I murdered the first, back when I was fifteen. Another burned almost a dozen members of my family to death. The third - well. I haven't even met her yet, but apparently, she's real, real big on human sacrifices. So.

[ So. Derek drops his ear to his shoulder, looking idly at Reggie. He's doing that thing. That thing that awkwardly closed off and super-reticent people do where they just-- overshare, suddenly, and it kind of puts all their previous silence into perspective. Like, jesus, no wonder he doesn't talk. He gets all awkward and weird when he does.

But, uh - he has a point to this. Derek sits up and nudges his shoulder into Reggie's, like that makes this less real, or whatever. More casual. Bro. ]

Just - I mean. I'm just saying. Probably worse people to love than a guy who makes you happy, right? It's not dumb to love somebody good for you.

[ Derek scrubs his hand down his chin. ]

Did he... I mean - what did he say to that?