"Oh, Oh good, he behaved," Ellis exhaled a breath he wasn't aware he was holding in. He was so sure Nick had gotten into trouble while he wasn't here. "Sorry, I just know he's not th' friendliest type but he's got his head on survivin' an' keepin' us safe. It's been a while since we've split up."

The way El spoke, it was more like a younger brother talking about his more accomplished sibling, a sweetness that never went away even as he scolded Nick. He wouldn't regret his friendship in any way.