Her response comes in the form of a question Derek wouldn't have expected to be asked. Which is funny, really, when he thinks about it, because it's the exact question he'd be asking if the tables were turned and she was using the same verbiage that he is right now. But Derek's used to being let down. Derek's used to being used and abandoned and forgotten until it's convenient. It's been a long time since Derek's felt anything other than that, if he's honest with himself, so it makes sense that he would ask those kinds of questions.

It doesn't make sense to him why Katniss is. It's just a reminder that he doesn't know her at all. Maybe that's his own fault, maybe it's hers, or maybe it just is what it is.

So when he answers, he looks as confused as he feels, head turning just slightly and eyebrows lifted. "...because I'm not a shitbag?" he asks more than answers. "Because I'd like to respect your wishes, because that's the kind of thing normal people do when they're in their right minds to do it, so...if you want me to fuck off, then I'll fuck off. If you want to be friends, then we'll be friends. Or we'll get there, anyway. I'm not trying to make this workplace more awkward an environment than it already is, so just...tell me what you want and we'll do that."

Because telling her what he wants will only make things worse because he shouldn't want it and he knows that.