"You like being run ragged," Derek shoots back, swallowing hard as Thomas' long fingers curl around his shoulder. For someone who is so desperately in need of praise, Derek sure has a hard time knowing what to do with it. His cheeks go pink and he gives Thomas a small, genuine smile. He leans forward a bit, feeling the urge to press their foreheads together like in that other Darrow, when Thomas had helped him feel so safe and calm, but he manages to resist.

"I'm glad. You mean lot to me too," Derek says, voice low. He's truly appreciative because he knows that words aren't easy for Thomas, just like they aren't for him. Thomas wouldn't sugarcoat things, or offer meaningless platitudes, and his heart remains steady.

"It's funny," Derek continues, huffing out a breath. "I can hear that you aren't lying. Why is it so hard to believe things when they're good?"