There's a stubborn spike in Nick's spine that tells him not to tell this guy a thing, and Nick almost doesn't.

But is he really going to be an asshole just because this guy gives him the creeps? The worst things he's done are be hard to understand, dressing like a freak, and double-dipping a chip. And he did stop, even if it's only a break in the action.

I'm Nick. Don't have much of a story. Didn't survive the end of the world. It's hard for me to understand you. I'm deaf. He figures Mr. Clown won't need it spelled out for him why understanding is hard.

He knows he'll regret this, but he tears a blank sheet out of his notebook, pulls a spare pen from his jacket, and offers both to the stranger.