Nate never saw the two of the together, so he doesn't know how kind or not Marcus was. The guy's not an asshole, so he doesn't think he would ever have been bad to Sam. Besides, it's not like Sam wasn't capable of being kind of an asshole himself. Nate loves his brother and he'd die for him without hesitation, but he also knows exactly what kind of man he is. What kind of men they both are.
"Trust me, I'm sure you were nicer to him than most other people in our lives," he says, shaking his head. Nate had had Sully to watch his back but Sam never really had even that. They've both spent their entire lives in and out of prison, and Sam was used to life kicking him when he was down. He'd always gotten back up with a grin, but Nate's willing to bet that any small kindness Marcus might have given him wouldn't have gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
He takes a long sip of his beer, stalling for time more than anything else. He doesn't know how to have this conversation for several reasons. He's never been good at talking about this kind of thing - about a lot of things, really - and it's somehow more awkward with Marcus. Maybe it's because they're both just as unused to this. Whatever had happened, he thinks, Sam is gone and there's nothing either of them can do to bring him back. There's no use Marcus being upset about what he did or didn't do while he was here.
"He would've known you cared," he offers, giving Marcus a look that almost begs him to leave it at that. He doesn't want to talk about Sam's feelings any more than he wants to talk about his own. Partly, he realises, because Sam had never told him them. It's odd to think, that he's hearing this all from Marcus instead of his own brother. "Sam was good at that shit. Reading other people."
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"Trust me, I'm sure you were nicer to him than most other people in our lives," he says, shaking his head. Nate had had Sully to watch his back but Sam never really had even that. They've both spent their entire lives in and out of prison, and Sam was used to life kicking him when he was down. He'd always gotten back up with a grin, but Nate's willing to bet that any small kindness Marcus might have given him wouldn't have gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
He takes a long sip of his beer, stalling for time more than anything else. He doesn't know how to have this conversation for several reasons. He's never been good at talking about this kind of thing - about a lot of things, really - and it's somehow more awkward with Marcus. Maybe it's because they're both just as unused to this. Whatever had happened, he thinks, Sam is gone and there's nothing either of them can do to bring him back. There's no use Marcus being upset about what he did or didn't do while he was here.
"He would've known you cared," he offers, giving Marcus a look that almost begs him to leave it at that. He doesn't want to talk about Sam's feelings any more than he wants to talk about his own. Partly, he realises, because Sam had never told him them. It's odd to think, that he's hearing this all from Marcus instead of his own brother. "Sam was good at that shit. Reading other people."