[ It comes out a little sharp, and Mako winces, shaking his head at himself. He reaches out, squeezes gently at Fern's arm. ]
Listen. I know you're going to think like that, and you're going to worry, but asking what-if doesn't do Varian any good right now. If Peter is right about everything, and he has been so far, then Varian is going to wake up from this and it's pretty likely he'll be fine. The best thing you can do for him until that happens is keep guard on his body. You're a knight, right? You know how to do that. Watch him, keep him safe, and if anything changes, we deal with it then.
[ His face softens a little bit after that and Mako shifts a bit closer. ]
Waiting is the worst part. I know. When Korra was taken, I wanted to burn things until it brought her back, but that didn't.... do anything except make everyone around me feel worse.
[Fern unconsciously tenses up in response to Mako's tone. That has him listening, at least, though he's nervous he's going to get yelled at. Or worse - Mako will just get upset and leave.
But he doesn't. His grass rustles when Mako takes his arm (it's probably an unsettling feeling), but he calms down a little at the touch. He... isn't wrong, Fern supposes. Peter's PDF has been right so far, and since cutting Varian out didn't work, doing the knight thing and protecting him is still something he can do. It's what Finn would do, if Finn were here.
Then again, if Finn was here Varian wouldn't be in this situation. Somehow.]
I'm not really good at just waiting. Or protecting people, usually. [He glances down at Mako's hand.] Mostly just getting mad and cutting stuff.
[ It is a pretty unsettling feeling. Mako's eyes dart over to his arm. Like a field rustling under his palm, but it's Fern's arm. It's really nothing like touching a person: no body heat, really.
But that isn't the important thing here. The important thing is keeping Fern calm. Mako squeezes his arm a little, since it seems to be helping. ]
Then this is your chance to practice. Trust me, guarding someone is... mostly waiting around to make sure nothing bad happens. It's a blast.
[ His voice gets a little dry at that last bit. ]
You can definitely still get mad. Just, you know. Hold off on the cutting.
[Thankfully, Fern doesn't notice Mako's reaction, and his hunch is right. He's always reacted very well to physical affection, and the squeeze makes him relax and slump.
Waiting around, great. Loads of time for him to get all twisted up inside his own head.]
Hold off on the cutting. I know this is gonna go horrible.
[He can't, but that isn't stopping him from being afraid of the worst happening. Still, he doesn't argue, and he takes Mako's advice to heart.]
I'll try. [There's more negativity on the tip of his tongue - 'I'm not good at planning,' 'The town'll do what it wants no matter how hard I try' - but he holds off on that this time. At least planning for the worst case scenarios gives him something to do.]
[ Mako flashes him a small smile, hopefully reassuring He's trying to be reassuring, anyway. ]
It always gives me something to do besides worry uselessly. If you need a distraction, let me know. I can stay here for a while with you, make sure nothing changes.
[For a moment Fern debates saying yes, solely because it would mean he wouldn't have to be dealing with this alone. But he stops himself - a knight could handle this. Finn could handle this.
He shakes his head, looking down at one hand clenched into a fist.]
Sure. Let me know if anything does change, though. I might not be the Avatar but I can usually figure something out.
[ It's all he's got to cling to, these days. And he gets that pride, that knowledge that some things you have do just to prove to yourself that you can.
He might just settle back with his Fluid and stay a little while all the same. ]
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[ It comes out a little sharp, and Mako winces, shaking his head at himself. He reaches out, squeezes gently at Fern's arm. ]
Listen. I know you're going to think like that, and you're going to worry, but asking what-if doesn't do Varian any good right now. If Peter is right about everything, and he has been so far, then Varian is going to wake up from this and it's pretty likely he'll be fine. The best thing you can do for him until that happens is keep guard on his body. You're a knight, right? You know how to do that. Watch him, keep him safe, and if anything changes, we deal with it then.
[ His face softens a little bit after that and Mako shifts a bit closer. ]
Waiting is the worst part. I know. When Korra was taken, I wanted to burn things until it brought her back, but that didn't.... do anything except make everyone around me feel worse.
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But he doesn't. His grass rustles when Mako takes his arm (it's probably an unsettling feeling), but he calms down a little at the touch. He... isn't wrong, Fern supposes. Peter's PDF has been right so far, and since cutting Varian out didn't work, doing the knight thing and protecting him is still something he can do. It's what Finn would do, if Finn were here.
Then again, if Finn was here Varian wouldn't be in this situation. Somehow.]
I'm not really good at just waiting. Or protecting people, usually. [He glances down at Mako's hand.] Mostly just getting mad and cutting stuff.
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But that isn't the important thing here. The important thing is keeping Fern calm. Mako squeezes his arm a little, since it seems to be helping. ]
Then this is your chance to practice. Trust me, guarding someone is... mostly waiting around to make sure nothing bad happens. It's a blast.
[ His voice gets a little dry at that last bit. ]
You can definitely still get mad. Just, you know. Hold off on the cutting.
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Waiting around, great. Loads of time for him to get all twisted up inside his own head.]
Hold off on the cutting. I know this is gonna go horrible.
[Sorry Mako, he's a negative nelly sometimes.]
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[ No matter how much Mako respects planning for the worst outcome. He keeps his hand on Fern's arm, firm and reassuring. ]
Think it's going to go terribly, plan for that. That way you're ready for it, if it does.
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I'll try. [There's more negativity on the tip of his tongue - 'I'm not good at planning,' 'The town'll do what it wants no matter how hard I try' - but he holds off on that this time. At least planning for the worst case scenarios gives him something to do.]
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It always gives me something to do besides worry uselessly. If you need a distraction, let me know. I can stay here for a while with you, make sure nothing changes.
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He shakes his head, looking down at one hand clenched into a fist.]
I... I'll be okay. I got this.
[And he glances up.]
Thanks.
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[ It's all he's got to cling to, these days. And he gets that pride, that knowledge that some things you have do just to prove to yourself that you can.
He might just settle back with his Fluid and stay a little while all the same. ]