Billy waits. A nugget of impatience threatens to make itself bigger, but he smushes it down mentally. Tommy had been patient long enough with him, Billy could return it.

"Sounds like me when you were helping me be a better person. I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing. Good thing I had a speedy gremlin of a guy to keep me on the right path."

Billy gives Tommy’s hand a reassuring squeeze. "Speaking of that, I’m… sorry for using that word. I shouldn’t have, even if it didn’t upset you like it has before."