"All you'd get is a bar and a cat," Derek jokes back, smiling and flashing his red eyes playfully when Thomas shoves at him. But then Thomas keeps speaking and Derek's expression sobers, cheeks flushing a light pink at the praise. It means a lot for Derek to know that he's appreciated, and those words, you're doing a good job, make him feel sort of warm all over.

"Good," Derek says after a moment, swaying in a bit closer. He laughs softly, mostly at himself, and gives Thomas a little shrug. "I probably won't stop, but I'm glad you're doing okay."