[ It's probably strange, to see Derek as he is now and remember how he was when he and Reggie first met - he looks less like the guy who broke into houses and flashed spooky red eyes at people and more... just... normal. That dog he freaked out when he first trashed Reggie's room spent the last week sleeping on Derek's bed because he felt too guilty waking him up to ask him to move, for fuck's sake. He's grown a lot kinder, these last few months.
So his expression is soft and open when Reggie talks about Jason's dad, the news hitting him a little too close to home. He nods stiffly, because he's happy to hear about this, in some way - Reggie might not think his life has been too touched by the events of Riverdale, but losing someone you know can change a person, and Derek understands that better than anyone - but he doesn't comment. It sucks. Adults should care more about the kids who love them. Peter was an asshole, Jason's dad was an asshole. Derek's a bit of an asshole, too, but he tries really hard not to be.
Reggie tucks his glasses up and that makes Derek smile, his mood lifting by fucking leagues. It still impacts him, seeing the bruise on Reggie's eye, because he thinks of his own life, and he thinks of the lives of the people he cares about, and he knows this worry and this anxiety is going to stick to his ribs for a while yet, but. He's happy in this moment alone that Reggie trusts him enough to stop hiding. He hopes he's worthy of trust like that. ]
I like hearing more about you, too. Because I loooooove you. And we're frieeeeends and we loooooove each other.
[ He waggles his eyebrows, laughing. He totally gets that this is about as emotionally vulnerable as Reggie gets, which is part of why he's so touched, especially by the way he says dork. He wants to hug Reggie again, but he doesn't. He just stands a little closer and playfully shoulderchecks him, feeling tension ease away from his muscles. Really happy that Reggie's back. Even if it still freaks him out he was gone for a year.
Speaking of which... ]
Can't believe you're almost eighteen, Jesus. I don't know if I'm gonna be able to get you a present big enough. You got any requests? Anything you want.
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So his expression is soft and open when Reggie talks about Jason's dad, the news hitting him a little too close to home. He nods stiffly, because he's happy to hear about this, in some way - Reggie might not think his life has been too touched by the events of Riverdale, but losing someone you know can change a person, and Derek understands that better than anyone - but he doesn't comment. It sucks. Adults should care more about the kids who love them. Peter was an asshole, Jason's dad was an asshole. Derek's a bit of an asshole, too, but he tries really hard not to be.
Reggie tucks his glasses up and that makes Derek smile, his mood lifting by fucking leagues. It still impacts him, seeing the bruise on Reggie's eye, because he thinks of his own life, and he thinks of the lives of the people he cares about, and he knows this worry and this anxiety is going to stick to his ribs for a while yet, but. He's happy in this moment alone that Reggie trusts him enough to stop hiding. He hopes he's worthy of trust like that. ]
I like hearing more about you, too. Because I loooooove you. And we're frieeeeends and we loooooove each other.
[ He waggles his eyebrows, laughing. He totally gets that this is about as emotionally vulnerable as Reggie gets, which is part of why he's so touched, especially by the way he says dork. He wants to hug Reggie again, but he doesn't. He just stands a little closer and playfully shoulderchecks him, feeling tension ease away from his muscles. Really happy that Reggie's back. Even if it still freaks him out he was gone for a year.
Speaking of which... ]
Can't believe you're almost eighteen, Jesus. I don't know if I'm gonna be able to get you a present big enough. You got any requests? Anything you want.