[ Mako pauses for a second on the stairs, frowning. His brows furrow, and he reaches up for a moment to touch his nose. ]
Huh.
Yeah. It—last thing I remember is being strapped to that chair. I don't know what happens after that. But Korra's free. Korra will deal with it.
[ He says that with complete confidence, pushing open the door to the main floor. It's colder up here, but that's fine. He's already shivering, but that's also fine. ]
And it's not your fault that Guan is an idiot who can't let go of power. You're trying your best.
Anyway, I'm not contagious. It's not that kind of sickness.
Korra will. I trust her. [ Implicitly. There might only be two people Wu trusts in the world: Korra and Mako.
But he's still worried.
But Mako said not to think about it. And Mako says he's trying his best. ] Yeah. Yeah. We'll figure it out. I won't let him take Gaoling or any other part of the Kingdom. I need to protect it.
[ He lets out a breath ] If you say so. But you sound and look awful.
[ His voice is so, so dry. He skirts past the main room, knowing Kristoff would probably yell at him for going to get Naga's saddle. He's not used to all the care, all the doting. It feels kind of good to be on his feet and pushing himself like this, knowing that he can push through like he always does.
Wu's seeing the inside of a very nice house behind Mako as he heads down the hallway toward the stable outside. ]
Stay there. Jog in place if you get too cold, I don't want you getting hypothermia. We'll be there soon.
Okay. [ Wu says again, voice weak, and then fumbles to turn off the camera.
It's a strange little device. He's glad he's mostly figured it out. And that Mako is coming to get him. It's cold and the sun is setting and he has the feeling like he's being watched and he hates it.
He does end up jumping from foot to foot to stay warm, craning his neck to watch for Naga and Mako. ]
[ Later, Mako will be jealous of how quickly Wu figured out the Fluid. It took him and Korra so long—probably at least in part because they're not a great team when they're not actively fighting something else—and Wu just... picked it up.
Then again, the network seems like it was made for him.
It takes him a while to saddle Naga up properly, because he's shivering and aching and too hot and too cold all at once, and his stomach heaves with every too-fast motion, which makes riding her uniquely terrible. She huffs at him, too, like she can tell he shouldn't be doing this. ]
What, you want me to leave him out there?
[ Naga just snorts and tosses her ears as he clumsily mounts her and heads off into the growing darkness.
He's too focused on his goal, for now, to do much more than notice the bright stars overhead. He has to find Wu and get him somewhere warm and safe, and then they can talk about why Korra isn't here and everything happening back home, and he can warn Wu about everything coming for him.
It's a lot. Mako is more than worried. Maybe he should have Wu pick those self-defense lessons back up, learn to throw a punch at the very least, and he'll need a job—
His thoughts are interrupted by a small jumping figure up the hill, and for a moment Mako thinks Korra because it's so familiar, approaching this house, but no. It's Wu, and Korra is gone, and he has to get used to that.
Naga skids to a halt beside Wu and immediately shoves her nose into his face, her own breath coming in steaming puffs. Mako doesn't trust himself to slide off her and mount again without falling over, so he sits there, clinging to her saddle. ] You stayed. Thought you'd be halfway down the hill by now.
Naga! [ Wu laughs, throwing his arms around Naga's giant neck. She's familiar, and she's warm, and she's here and Wu hugs her tightly before looking up at Mako
Who looks terrible. Worse, in person. Wu frowns, slowly pulling back and stroking over Naga's head. ] Mako, you--
[ He bites his lip. Not the time. He should get Mako back somewhere warm.
Stepping over to the side of Naga's saddle, he grabs onto the pommel, using what he learned from doing this before to heave himself up hopefully the right way this time.
He does, and it brings him very close to Mako, who's shivering. ] Mako! You're so cold! You should be in bed!
I told you, I'm fine. Kristoff's barely let me move for the last week. I needed to get out of the house.
[ Mako feels like crap, sure, but he's glad to be out in the cold air moving instead of lying uselessly in his bed trying to read through all the theories about Deerington.
He leans forward just a bit, without quite meaning to, until he's pressed against Wu's back. He's shivering, yes, but he's also both way too hot and way too cold. Wu, by contrast, is warm and that same warmth from Bolin and Kristoff and David is settling into Mako's bones. ] You said you woke up right next door?
[ He gets even warmer as he reaches around Wu to get himself situated. ] Grab on. There've been bear sightings around here, we need to go.
Who's Kristoff? [ Wu asks it without really thinking. He's not jealous, exactly, but he's also not not jealous.
Mako feels nice against his back, despite his shivering. Something settles in Wu's gut, the nerves and anxiety of the last day settling a little.
He picks up the reins, hoping that Naga might listen to him. She starts off, and seems to know the way. ]
I think so! On Princess Avenue, in this really big house. There's no one else there, and it's very cold. I think I need to figure out how to build a fire... [ He frowns, glancing back at Mako. He opens his mouth to say something, then stops. ] What are you wearing?
The guy who made this for me. My friend. He's from a different place.
[ Mako hesitates a little on the next part, half because he's trying not to throw up from all the jostling and half because he still doesn't quite know how to define Kristoff. Korra's his best friend, and yet—there's also Kristoff, who he'd probably do the same thing for, if there was a chance he might disappear. ]
The house we just left is. Mine, technically. Bolin and Korra and I lived there. Korra disappeared. Woke up, I guess. She's gone, and Kristoff offered, so we're living with him. On Princess Avenue, in a giant house.
[ Mako tightens his arms a little bit, pressing closer without really thinking about it. Wu is warm and solid and familiar and more importantly, something Mako never thought would be true: he smells like home. Mako doesn't know why Wu's fancy cologne reminds him of home, except maybe all those years spent at the Four Elements, but it knocks him right back to that airship. He sucks in a shaking little breath and wraps an arm around Wu to keep himself from lurching forward. ] Uh. Sorry. Naga's not a steady ride.
It's... rustic. [ Wu sniffs, but relaxes a little when Mako hugs him.
That's strange, Mako hugging him. Wu can't remember a single time since knowing Mako that Mako initiated a hug. It's always Wu hugging him, but now Mako's arms are wrapped around him. He can't exactly hug him back, his back to Mako, but he wraps a hand around Mako's wrist, squeezing tight, and leans back into his chest. ] Well, that's nice. That you made a friend who will invited you live with him.
Bolin's here too? That's good. Good. [ He bobs his head. He's also a little jealous that Mako is living with so many people. His own house is so large and lonely. ]
[ It is weird, being this close to Wu for so long, but Mako is full of warmth for once, and not fire, and—he really doesn't want to pull away. Strange to be caught between the knowledge that this is a weird thing to do and the fact that he's going to keep himself right where he is.
Especially since Wu's gotten closer, and all Mako feels is a pervading sense of rightness, and also slightly less nausea. That's nice. ] His fiancee's here, too. Anna. She's a Queen, actually. You'll like her. Doesn't want to be one, either, talks a lot.
You've already gotten the rundown on the town, right?
Oh. That is nice. [ He hadn't even considered that there might be other royalty here. Fire Lord Izumi was never really the talkative type. ] I've met a few people, out in the town. And I read up a lot on it. The things that Shiro and Peter and Chloe wrote. And about Maine! Do you know that Maine is part of a democracy? The United States! That's a pretty great idea. Although, I don't think the Earth Kingdom should be completely united. The parts are so different, like the desert, or Zaofu! Zaofu would never want to be part of a larger government.
[ He's rambling, he's rambling and he knows it. He laughs and looks back at Mako, but it quickly turns into another frown. ] You really don't look so good. What'd you catch?
Really nice, actually, and Mako doesn't quite know why. Familiarity, maybe: he got used to listening to Wu over those two-odd years, got used to the constant chatter about things Mako couldn't possibly care about. Mako's always been the quieter one, has lived his whole life with Bolin's voice in his ear.
And now, at least, Wu is rambling about things that actually matter. Democracy, and his ideas for government. It's a far cry from walking Mako step-by-step through some ridiculous, over-the-top spa routine.
It makes Mako smile to himself, glancing away from Wu to aim it at the snow and the stars overhead. ]
You're right. I can't see Suyin being anything other than independent, especially after Kuvira. Must be a Beifong thing.
[ And to do all that reading so fast—Mako's kind of impressed. Kind of really impressed, actually. ] They're good summaries, but it's nothing like living through it. I've been here for three months, Bolin for two. He was here during—it's called October, here. It was... bad.
[ If he just. Ignores Wu's question about how he is, Wu will forget about it, right? That's what he's hoping: that Wu will get distracted by everything else, by the stars or the snow or Naga. ] This month's been pretty quiet so far, but you can't get too comfortable.
Three whole months? [ Wu breathes, watching Mako's face.
Naga is still walking along. They're getting close, Wu can see the familiar large houses. ] That's a while. I, I read about October. It sounded horrible. It all sounds horrible! Could you really not sleep for a whole month? I can't even imagine. [ He shudders. ] That's torture. Literal, honest torture!
I... I'll figure something out. To stay safe. [ He's thought about it, come up with nothing, and then put it away to think about it later. ] You can still bend, right? I read that not everyone keeps their powers. [ Not that that is a problem for Wu.
We were lucky. Korra got something to help us sleep in her basket, and I raided a pharmacy for some other stuff. We used those a few nights, so it wasn't a whole month.
[ Just most of a month. Mako isn't even going to touch on any of the monster parts of it: Wu doesn't need to know about his lack of control, about the fact that he was apparently weak enough to give in and let out some part of himself he didn't want to think he had.
Firebenders are dangerous, though. Everyone knows that.
Normally Mako would answer his question with a little palm full of fire, a tiny light just to prove he can, and because he kind of likes showing off, especially to Wu, who is very easily impressed.
But even with the gem heavy and warm around his throat, while he's sick his bending is unsteady, and he doesn't want to risk burning Wu or Naga. Instead, he nods, his head brushing against Wu's. ] I can still bend. So can Bo. Korra—before she left, she found this spiritual place in the mountains. If you go there, meditate for a while, your powers stabilize.
We should keep going with those lessons, though. You're going to need to know how to defend yourself.
Oh. Well. That's good. [ Wu's still frowning to himself about that. It doesn't sound good. It barely sounds possible. He's pretty sure people die if they're awake for more than five days. ]
So you have all your bending back? Good, good. I suppose this is one of those times where being a bender would come in very handy. Too bad my family never once could bend.
[ He sighs, leaning back into Mako as Naga takes them up Princess Drive. ] I don't know, Mako. You seem too sick and, honestly, I don't think you're a very good teacher.
[ Rude, Mako's a great teacher. He makes an offended little noise against Wu's shoulder, holding tighter as Naga skirts around a few cars. His stomach lurches. ] Explain Bolin, then. Maybe you're not a great student.
[ Should he be politer? Probably, but Mako's entire body hurts and he's tired and the filter between his head and his mouth is a lot thinner than it really should be.
He does wince a second later, though, as his words hit him. ]
Anyway, I didn't mean now. I think if you actually tried, you could pull it off. Fighting. Self-defense, at least.
Maybe your methods work better for him. [ Wu says lightly. Mako's words don't offend him. If anything, he smiles a little glancing back at Mako ]
Maybe. Maybe I should get a mecha suit or something. That would rate!
[ Naga pauses on the street, looking back at the pair of them. ] Oh! We're here. That one's mine. [ Wu points to a big house with a fancy Satomobile out front. ]
You can't just get a mecha suit, nobody makes them here. There's no Future Industries in Deerington.
[ Mako says that before he realizes where they are. He bites down on a little smile, nudging Naga with his knee toward the one Wu pointed to. ] You're right next door. We're in that one.
[ He points to... another equally large house, without a fancy Satomobile out front but with many animal tracks in the snow. ]
[ Mako sighs quietly, staring at the large dark facade of the house. Kristoff and Anna's house—he hasn't started thinking of it as his, yet—is all lit up, casting golden light out over the snowy yard. Wu's, by contrast—Mako can't believe he didn't notice the Satomobile, the familiar straight lines from home—is a dark, hulking thing. ]
The worst should be over in a few days, apparently, and then I'll be fine.
[ He hesitates. He really does feel like crap, and if Wu's going to be here—right next door, instead of all the way in Ba Sing Se—he should probably meet everybody, even though they're probably out.
Later. Mako isn't quite ready for that yet. ]
Let's go light that fire. Your house doesn't have real heating, right?
Uh huh. [ Wu doesn't quite believe him, but he knows Mako well enough to know not to argue. He nudges Naga toward his dark, lonely house. ] I don't think so. There are fireplaces and stuff. I couldn't really figure it out. [ He grimaces ] I think there's a lot of stuff I need to learn, if I'm gonna live alone.
Oh! But there is a sauna! Which... I also don't know how to turn on. [ He sighs heavily ]
[ If it were his house, Mako would just say, stay. It is a massive house, and he's not sure Wu has ever been on his own. While he probably doesn't need a bodyguard here—the threats are for everyone, not just royalty—Mako doesn't like the idea of him in that giant house all alone, with everything that can happen here.
But it's Kristoff and Anna's house, and he doesn't think he's allowed to just invite strangers to live with them. He can't impose on them any more than he and Bolin already are.
So he bites down on the urge to offer and says instead, a little teasing: ] I hear the first time you live alone without butlers and cooks is tough. You'll figure it out.
[ As soon as Naga slows, Mako releases Wu and slides down, a little clumsy, onto the ground. He braces himself against Naga and holds a hand up for Wu. ]
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[ Mako pauses for a second on the stairs, frowning. His brows furrow, and he reaches up for a moment to touch his nose. ]
Huh.
Yeah. It—last thing I remember is being strapped to that chair. I don't know what happens after that. But Korra's free. Korra will deal with it.
[ He says that with complete confidence, pushing open the door to the main floor. It's colder up here, but that's fine. He's already shivering, but that's also fine. ]
And it's not your fault that Guan is an idiot who can't let go of power. You're trying your best.
Anyway, I'm not contagious. It's not that kind of sickness.
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But he's still worried.
But Mako said not to think about it. And Mako says he's trying his best. ] Yeah. Yeah. We'll figure it out. I won't let him take Gaoling or any other part of the Kingdom. I need to protect it.
[ He lets out a breath ] If you say so. But you sound and look awful.
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[ His voice is so, so dry. He skirts past the main room, knowing Kristoff would probably yell at him for going to get Naga's saddle. He's not used to all the care, all the doting. It feels kind of good to be on his feet and pushing himself like this, knowing that he can push through like he always does.
Wu's seeing the inside of a very nice house behind Mako as he heads down the hallway toward the stable outside. ]
Stay there. Jog in place if you get too cold, I don't want you getting hypothermia. We'll be there soon.
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I'm not going to fall off. Be there soon.
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It's a strange little device. He's glad he's mostly figured it out. And that Mako is coming to get him. It's cold and the sun is setting and he has the feeling like he's being watched and he hates it.
He does end up jumping from foot to foot to stay warm, craning his neck to watch for Naga and Mako. ]
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Then again, the network seems like it was made for him.
It takes him a while to saddle Naga up properly, because he's shivering and aching and too hot and too cold all at once, and his stomach heaves with every too-fast motion, which makes riding her uniquely terrible. She huffs at him, too, like she can tell he shouldn't be doing this. ]
What, you want me to leave him out there?
[ Naga just snorts and tosses her ears as he clumsily mounts her and heads off into the growing darkness.
He's too focused on his goal, for now, to do much more than notice the bright stars overhead. He has to find Wu and get him somewhere warm and safe, and then they can talk about why Korra isn't here and everything happening back home, and he can warn Wu about everything coming for him.
It's a lot. Mako is more than worried. Maybe he should have Wu pick those self-defense lessons back up, learn to throw a punch at the very least, and he'll need a job—
His thoughts are interrupted by a small jumping figure up the hill, and for a moment Mako thinks Korra because it's so familiar, approaching this house, but no. It's Wu, and Korra is gone, and he has to get used to that.
Naga skids to a halt beside Wu and immediately shoves her nose into his face, her own breath coming in steaming puffs. Mako doesn't trust himself to slide off her and mount again without falling over, so he sits there, clinging to her saddle. ] You stayed. Thought you'd be halfway down the hill by now.
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Who looks terrible. Worse, in person. Wu frowns, slowly pulling back and stroking over Naga's head. ] Mako, you--
[ He bites his lip. Not the time. He should get Mako back somewhere warm.
Stepping over to the side of Naga's saddle, he grabs onto the pommel, using what he learned from doing this before to heave himself up hopefully the right way this time.
He does, and it brings him very close to Mako, who's shivering. ] Mako! You're so cold! You should be in bed!
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[ Mako feels like crap, sure, but he's glad to be out in the cold air moving instead of lying uselessly in his bed trying to read through all the theories about Deerington.
He leans forward just a bit, without quite meaning to, until he's pressed against Wu's back. He's shivering, yes, but he's also both way too hot and way too cold. Wu, by contrast, is warm and that same warmth from Bolin and Kristoff and David is settling into Mako's bones. ] You said you woke up right next door?
[ He gets even warmer as he reaches around Wu to get himself situated. ] Grab on. There've been bear sightings around here, we need to go.
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Mako feels nice against his back, despite his shivering. Something settles in Wu's gut, the nerves and anxiety of the last day settling a little.
He picks up the reins, hoping that Naga might listen to him. She starts off, and seems to know the way. ]
I think so! On Princess Avenue, in this really big house. There's no one else there, and it's very cold. I think I need to figure out how to build a fire... [ He frowns, glancing back at Mako. He opens his mouth to say something, then stops. ] What are you wearing?
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[ Mako hesitates a little on the next part, half because he's trying not to throw up from all the jostling and half because he still doesn't quite know how to define Kristoff. Korra's his best friend, and yet—there's also Kristoff, who he'd probably do the same thing for, if there was a chance he might disappear. ]
The house we just left is. Mine, technically. Bolin and Korra and I lived there. Korra disappeared. Woke up, I guess. She's gone, and Kristoff offered, so we're living with him. On Princess Avenue, in a giant house.
[ Mako tightens his arms a little bit, pressing closer without really thinking about it. Wu is warm and solid and familiar and more importantly, something Mako never thought would be true: he smells like home. Mako doesn't know why Wu's fancy cologne reminds him of home, except maybe all those years spent at the Four Elements, but it knocks him right back to that airship. He sucks in a shaking little breath and wraps an arm around Wu to keep himself from lurching forward. ] Uh. Sorry. Naga's not a steady ride.
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That's strange, Mako hugging him. Wu can't remember a single time since knowing Mako that Mako initiated a hug. It's always Wu hugging him, but now Mako's arms are wrapped around him. He can't exactly hug him back, his back to Mako, but he wraps a hand around Mako's wrist, squeezing tight, and leans back into his chest. ] Well, that's nice. That you made a friend who will invited you live with him.
Bolin's here too? That's good. Good. [ He bobs his head. He's also a little jealous that Mako is living with so many people. His own house is so large and lonely. ]
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Especially since Wu's gotten closer, and all Mako feels is a pervading sense of rightness, and also slightly less nausea. That's nice. ] His fiancee's here, too. Anna. She's a Queen, actually. You'll like her. Doesn't want to be one, either, talks a lot.
You've already gotten the rundown on the town, right?
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[ He's rambling, he's rambling and he knows it. He laughs and looks back at Mako, but it quickly turns into another frown. ] You really don't look so good. What'd you catch?
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Really nice, actually, and Mako doesn't quite know why. Familiarity, maybe: he got used to listening to Wu over those two-odd years, got used to the constant chatter about things Mako couldn't possibly care about. Mako's always been the quieter one, has lived his whole life with Bolin's voice in his ear.
And now, at least, Wu is rambling about things that actually matter. Democracy, and his ideas for government. It's a far cry from walking Mako step-by-step through some ridiculous, over-the-top spa routine.
It makes Mako smile to himself, glancing away from Wu to aim it at the snow and the stars overhead. ]
You're right. I can't see Suyin being anything other than independent, especially after Kuvira. Must be a Beifong thing.
[ And to do all that reading so fast—Mako's kind of impressed. Kind of really impressed, actually. ] They're good summaries, but it's nothing like living through it. I've been here for three months, Bolin for two. He was here during—it's called October, here. It was... bad.
[ If he just. Ignores Wu's question about how he is, Wu will forget about it, right? That's what he's hoping: that Wu will get distracted by everything else, by the stars or the snow or Naga. ] This month's been pretty quiet so far, but you can't get too comfortable.
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Naga is still walking along. They're getting close, Wu can see the familiar large houses. ] That's a while. I, I read about October. It sounded horrible. It all sounds horrible! Could you really not sleep for a whole month? I can't even imagine. [ He shudders. ] That's torture. Literal, honest torture!
I... I'll figure something out. To stay safe. [ He's thought about it, come up with nothing, and then put it away to think about it later. ] You can still bend, right? I read that not everyone keeps their powers. [ Not that that is a problem for Wu.
And he is distracted, at least for now. ]
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[ Just most of a month. Mako isn't even going to touch on any of the monster parts of it: Wu doesn't need to know about his lack of control, about the fact that he was apparently weak enough to give in and let out some part of himself he didn't want to think he had.
Firebenders are dangerous, though. Everyone knows that.
Normally Mako would answer his question with a little palm full of fire, a tiny light just to prove he can, and because he kind of likes showing off, especially to Wu, who is very easily impressed.
But even with the gem heavy and warm around his throat, while he's sick his bending is unsteady, and he doesn't want to risk burning Wu or Naga. Instead, he nods, his head brushing against Wu's. ] I can still bend. So can Bo. Korra—before she left, she found this spiritual place in the mountains. If you go there, meditate for a while, your powers stabilize.
We should keep going with those lessons, though. You're going to need to know how to defend yourself.
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So you have all your bending back? Good, good. I suppose this is one of those times where being a bender would come in very handy. Too bad my family never once could bend.
[ He sighs, leaning back into Mako as Naga takes them up Princess Drive. ] I don't know, Mako. You seem too sick and, honestly, I don't think you're a very good teacher.
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[ Should he be politer? Probably, but Mako's entire body hurts and he's tired and the filter between his head and his mouth is a lot thinner than it really should be.
He does wince a second later, though, as his words hit him. ]
Anyway, I didn't mean now. I think if you actually tried, you could pull it off. Fighting. Self-defense, at least.
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Maybe. Maybe I should get a mecha suit or something. That would rate!
[ Naga pauses on the street, looking back at the pair of them. ] Oh! We're here. That one's mine. [ Wu points to a big house with a fancy Satomobile out front. ]
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[ Mako says that before he realizes where they are. He bites down on a little smile, nudging Naga with his knee toward the one Wu pointed to. ] You're right next door. We're in that one.
[ He points to... another equally large house, without a fancy Satomobile out front but with many animal tracks in the snow. ]
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He looks back at Mako again, biting his lip ] Are you gonna be okay? You really don't look great, buddy.
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The worst should be over in a few days, apparently, and then I'll be fine.
[ He hesitates. He really does feel like crap, and if Wu's going to be here—right next door, instead of all the way in Ba Sing Se—he should probably meet everybody, even though they're probably out.
Later. Mako isn't quite ready for that yet. ]
Let's go light that fire. Your house doesn't have real heating, right?
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Oh! But there is a sauna! Which... I also don't know how to turn on. [ He sighs heavily ]
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But it's Kristoff and Anna's house, and he doesn't think he's allowed to just invite strangers to live with them. He can't impose on them any more than he and Bolin already are.
So he bites down on the urge to offer and says instead, a little teasing: ] I hear the first time you live alone without butlers and cooks is tough. You'll figure it out.
[ As soon as Naga slows, Mako releases Wu and slides down, a little clumsy, onto the ground. He braces himself against Naga and holds a hand up for Wu. ]
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