Perhaps the reason Derek is so comfortable with the fact that Katniss struggles to voice herself is because he's only just recently started to be able to kick that same affliction. He thinks with his emotions and he acts accordingly; he's seldom been terribly vocal which has been cause for a lot of destruction in his wake and it's taken him most of his life to realize it. Now, he's trying to change. Eventually, he thinks, she'll probably get there too, for her own reasons, and until then, it's all right. He seems to be doing just fine so far remaining patient enough for her to clarify herself before jumping to respond when he's still a little unclear and she seems to be doing just fine making sure to be more clear when asked. This works for Derek.

Derek huffs a soft laugh and shakes his head. "Oh, I didn't mean to suggest that there's, like, an official sort of progression that happens in relationships, or whatever it is you'd like to call us. I just meant, for us specifically," he says, shrugging a little. "It felt right." He'd be lying if he said he didn't feel a little bit concerned, though, that she's never been in any kind of "real" relationship because it makes him wonder if he's pressuring her without meaning to and whether she's bending without realizing it.

"We don't have to...I mean, I don't have to do stuff like that anymore if it makes you feel uncomfortable, you know what I mean? There's nothing defined here. I'm going by the seat of my pants just as much as you are, and I'm not going to be offended if you tell me to chill out. I'd rather you say it than endure something that makes you uncomfortable just because you think you have to. Then I would be uncomfortable," he explains.