"Except me, hellooooo." It's a weird word, 'orphan', one that fits like a shirt worn in by someone else. Probably because he doesn't know if it's true, if it fits. No one in the FAYZ ever found out what happened to their parents, although none of the conclusions point in a happy direction. 'Orphan' is at least a better word than, Howard doesn't know, detritus or abandonable goods or whatever. "I'm the only orphan you're allowed to share with."

According to the rules Howard just made up, obviously.

"Yes, you totally can. Because if you get hurt other people will have to carry your dead weight around." Howard figures by now the only way to get Cedric to care about himself is to press at how his death will inconvenience others. "Besides, I already got Zou and Fangs to worry about. Don't make me worry for a third."

It's not easy to admit he cares. He looks angry at himself just for having said it.