[ Together, he says, and Mako doesn't know why that makes him frown so hard except maybe that he hates that Wu had to get caught in the first place, that the Dai Li really did seem to follow him everywhere.
But he realizes Wu might misinterpret his frown so he shakes it off, his eyes narrowed. ] The Dai Li really are terrible.
[ What did Wu and this boy do, Mako wonders before he can quite stop himself. Is it different? He knows how to kiss girls, he knows a little bit more than that, really, but he doesn't know—he doesn't know. For a moment he wondered, with David, but then the whole thing made him feel so exposed, like anyone could find out.
Maybe that's how Wu felt the whole time. Mako swallows. ] But they aren't. You know. Here, so. You shouldn't worry about that. If you want to... uh.
They are. [ He wants to ask, about that frown, about the expression on Mako's face, the tension in his voice, but. He's not sure how to. ]
I, I'm realizing that. I'd just, um. Have to find someone. Who wants to be with me. [ He laughs a little. It's not like someone liking him is too farfetched, but sometimes it feels that way. ]
Which is kind of a risk, here. Anyone could disappear. I... know someone, her girlfriend just. Disappeared. Showed back up, forgot everything about her.
[ He feels terrible, still, for Chloe. For the pain in her face, for how much she's gone through. ]
It doesn't seem worth it, to me. But you don't have to hide it, at least. No Dai Li, no great-aunt.
Oh. That's awful. [ Wu's face falls too. He can't even imagine that. ] I-- I suppose I'll just see what happens. Maybe I won't meet anyone who I'm interested in.
And that, that could happen, if you dated, here, too.
[ Some—not all, but some—of Mako's tension eases away a little bit, and he relaxes back against the counter with a tentative smile. ] Did I actually help?
Yes. You did. [ Wu smiles at him, then he's across the space between them, his arms around Mako's waist, squeezing tight ] Thank you! For listening. And for not freaking out.
I don't know. People back home freak out about stuff like this. [ Wu mumbles that into his shoulder, holding on tight.
People freak out, especially the man who two days ago told you he couldn't date you because you're also a man. Even if it was a hallucination or a dream, Mako told him that, to his face.
Slowly, he pulls back enough to look at Mako. ] I guess I give good advice. I do feel better.
[ Though that is a very fair worry, and Mako still doesn't know the words for all of the confusion he's gone through, all the uncertainty. But that's for another time. Or never. Deerington isn't the place to examine things like that, isn't the place for dates, he learned. There's too much at risk.
He feels oddly cold when Wu pulls away, lets his hands drop slowly until they're apart, and then offers a small smile. ] Let's, uh. Make a smoothie. Then we'll finish the cakes.
Yes. Yes, I suppose you are. [ Wu watches him for another moment before clapping his hands together ] Smoothie! Yes. I'm sure it'll be better than the one I attempted earlier. It was.... terrible.
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But he realizes Wu might misinterpret his frown so he shakes it off, his eyes narrowed. ] The Dai Li really are terrible.
[ What did Wu and this boy do, Mako wonders before he can quite stop himself. Is it different? He knows how to kiss girls, he knows a little bit more than that, really, but he doesn't know—he doesn't know. For a moment he wondered, with David, but then the whole thing made him feel so exposed, like anyone could find out.
Maybe that's how Wu felt the whole time. Mako swallows. ] But they aren't. You know. Here, so. You shouldn't worry about that. If you want to... uh.
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I, I'm realizing that. I'd just, um. Have to find someone. Who wants to be with me. [ He laughs a little. It's not like someone liking him is too farfetched, but sometimes it feels that way. ]
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[ He feels terrible, still, for Chloe. For the pain in her face, for how much she's gone through. ]
It doesn't seem worth it, to me. But you don't have to hide it, at least. No Dai Li, no great-aunt.
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And that, that could happen, if you dated, here, too.
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[ Especially not after David. Mako is now completely convinced it's a terrible idea, and a distraction he doesn't need. ] It's not worth it. To me.
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I, thanks, Mako.
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He did it, though. He listened, and he didn't freak Wu out more, and Wu's thanking him. ] What would I freak out about, exactly?
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People freak out, especially the man who two days ago told you he couldn't date you because you're also a man. Even if it was a hallucination or a dream, Mako told him that, to his face.
Slowly, he pulls back enough to look at Mako. ] I guess I give good advice. I do feel better.
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[ Though that is a very fair worry, and Mako still doesn't know the words for all of the confusion he's gone through, all the uncertainty. But that's for another time. Or never. Deerington isn't the place to examine things like that, isn't the place for dates, he learned. There's too much at risk.
He feels oddly cold when Wu pulls away, lets his hands drop slowly until they're apart, and then offers a small smile. ] Let's, uh. Make a smoothie. Then we'll finish the cakes.
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[ But Mako, this time, is mostly smiling and not laughing at him, so that's something, right? ]
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It was thick and gluey. I couldn't drink it.
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[ He is Not Laughing, Wu, he promises. Nope. ]
Okay. Smoothies 101, come on. This is probably the most important cooking skill for you.