This time when Katniss hugs him, Derek doesn't show any reproach. He hugs her back and pulls her closer, smiling a little. At least she's laughing; he'd prefer laughter to panic. There are plenty of ways she could've reacted to seeing what she's just seen and most of the ones that come to mind when he thinks about that are negative. There's more than a little relief in the fact that she went with a more positive response, instead.

Derek strokes her hair, smoothing it against the back of her head in a gesture he hopes she finds at least a little bit soothing, if not reassuring. "I know, but I promise...this is real. I'm real. This place is real. No more soylent, no more stupid jumpsuits. No more being told our memories are 'glitches' and that everything under the sun could get us arrested and torn apart," he promises.

Just them in this place and this place isn't home but Derek is fine with that. This place is better, anyway. He finally releases her and takes a step back, his hands still on her arms to keep in contact with her. "...is Prim here, too, then?" he asks. He never did get to meet her...