[ He doesn't say I told you so. It would be easy but it feels like the kind of potshot you take when you have less moral fortitude, particularly when the person who sought you out after everything you did is doing so hat in hand, contrite. Nate is surprised at worst, baffled at best, when Ian shifts in his direction and thanks him, like what he did was a favor. He just didn't want to see the guy fall into the same patterns Nate has fallen into God knows how many times already.

Nate searches his face for some evidence that this isn't as serious as it feels, for any indication of insincerity or a clever workaround built in to avoid confrontation. But this is confrontation. The very act of Ian being here and talking to him without prompting is leagues better than being ignored for being a huge pain in the ass. What sticks in the craw is that no one else has done that for him before.

They should have. ]

Any time.

[ It's a relief to learn he hasn't completely scuttled the boat, something made more obvious by the way he smiles, expression small and crooked. ]

I was in a- a really shitty place, when I thought my brother died. Not like suicidal, just...suicidally reckless, maybe. I needed someone to be the most annoying person at five in the morning. [ Nate looks down at his hands, palms opening, fingers still laced. ] I get it.