( there's a fluster of a laugh, dick nervously bringing his hand up to rub the back of his neck. )

C'mon. Don't ask me that.

( he likes you, mako. and he's never had a friend before, unless you count jason or tim, though - dick doesn't. they're more like siblings, probably. and mako should really be considered closer to his enemy, but dick doesn't really work in lines like that. he wants to see the good in people, and mako wears good like cologne on his neck. dick could smell it a mile away.

he teeters, vaguely. )

I feel bad you're getting in trouble because of me. Really, I mean it. ( he'll have to ... cut back, or something. or stop altogether, but then. people would suffer and dick - wouldn't get to see mako anymore. ) Don't you want the chance to pick at my brain? Do your whole detective thing, you know, uncover my tragic past and secret life.

You'll probably learn a lot. I'm a really bad liar, promise. ( this is a lie!! )