['Was'. McCoy knows that feeling. Knows it because he refers to his dad after he died. Was. Meant that person was no longer there. And from the quick snippy way he says it, he also measures that she must've been important to him. So just as he knew he'd prefer people not bring it up to him about his dad, he glosses smoothly past it without saying another thing.

Though, he completely balks at Loki's next question. Breathing in slowly, he muddles through that possible answer and tries to define it to himself.]

A friend is someone who enjoys time with ya. There when you need 'em. Listens when you need someone to listen and ya return the favor. Guess bein' a friend is laughin' and cryin' together for whatever reason needed. Jim started off as my best friend. Did all those things.

But I guess things changed at some point. [He turns his cup on the table staring at it.] It started to lean more towards devotion. More than just a listenin' ear. Started pushing myself harder, facing my fears... cause god help me, I never wanted him to leave me behind. Cause I couldn't imagine a world he wasn't in. Guess the biggest change when you become boyfriends is you start to date. Flirt a lot. Look at them like their the damn center of your universe. Sex. Kissing, all that jazz. And sometimes you love them more than you have loved most anything else in your life. Granted that feelin' there is actually close to marriage level, but it's gotta be mutual.

So I guess it's like a ladder of progression. Start off at friends and move your way up. I mean, if you like the person that much. Boyfriends don't have to be in love I suppose.. just really like each other enough to just... be with each other and no one else. [Cause yeah, he may be head over heels in love, but neither of them ever said that particular word.]