For a moment, Derek's not really sure whether Katniss is even still with him in the moment or whether he's lost her to her thoughts. He's been guilty of that sort of thing now and again, so it wouldn't surprise him. He's quiet, letting her think and consider. Interrupting that is probably not a great idea for a lot of reasons, because he doesn't know what she's thinking about and there's no telling whether she needs to be lost in thought before responding.
Except that she doesn't respond at all. Instead, she moves, leaning into him and wrapping her arms around his waist; hugging him. Derek sighs softly, frowning with empathy and he envelopes her in his arms as well to hug her back. If that's what she needs, he's more than happy to give it to her. God knows, there were a million times in the past when Derek thought something as simple as a hug might have helped pull him out of a dark place, but there hadn't ever been anyone there to give it after Laura died. There's no reason to make Katniss suffer that emptiness if he's sitting right here and she's reaching out.
Derek reaches up to stroke her hair, smoothing it against her head with one hand before tilting his head down to draw her head beneath his chin. It's impossible to ignore the fact that, even though he knows that she's only doing this because she needs someone and he just happens to be right there and marginally trustworthy, he selfishly and guiltily kind of enjoys being this close to her again. He just wishes it was for a less awful reason.
"I know that talking can either help or make things feel worse, but if you're one of the people that it helps...you can always talk to me, Katniss. I know how this all feels. I wish I didn't, but I do, so...if you need to get it off your chest and want to talk to someone who understands, I'm here. Okay?"
no subject
Except that she doesn't respond at all. Instead, she moves, leaning into him and wrapping her arms around his waist; hugging him. Derek sighs softly, frowning with empathy and he envelopes her in his arms as well to hug her back. If that's what she needs, he's more than happy to give it to her. God knows, there were a million times in the past when Derek thought something as simple as a hug might have helped pull him out of a dark place, but there hadn't ever been anyone there to give it after Laura died. There's no reason to make Katniss suffer that emptiness if he's sitting right here and she's reaching out.
Derek reaches up to stroke her hair, smoothing it against her head with one hand before tilting his head down to draw her head beneath his chin. It's impossible to ignore the fact that, even though he knows that she's only doing this because she needs someone and he just happens to be right there and marginally trustworthy, he selfishly and guiltily kind of enjoys being this close to her again. He just wishes it was for a less awful reason.
"I know that talking can either help or make things feel worse, but if you're one of the people that it helps...you can always talk to me, Katniss. I know how this all feels. I wish I didn't, but I do, so...if you need to get it off your chest and want to talk to someone who understands, I'm here. Okay?"