[ Mako wants to ask about that tension, but he figures it's because Wu is hurt, because they're talking about such deep things. He's a bit tense himself, because he doesn't, still, like bringing any of this up.
But at least, he hopes, it's working. There's relief in that.
Mako smiles at him, small and real. ]
Well. I meant what I said about helping. However I can. I think that's all we can do until we figure out how to get home and make this place safe for whoever can't leave.
[ Later, Mako will think way too much about that little squeeze. He notices the length of Wu's fingers and how soft his hand is—that makes sense, really—and the growing strength in his grip.
For now, he just smiles, soft, but later it'll stick in his head like a burr, unable to be dislodged.
As Wu moves, he pulls out his own vial, safe in his pocket with the tiny hair in it. ]
Yeah. Mine was in my hand when I woke up. Looks like they're the same.
[ He peers into Wu's, noting the tiny curl of black hair matching in his. ]
I have a lot to figure out. About the Layers, and... staying here. Wherever here is.
[ Snorting, Mako lets his hand drop again. ]
Kind of why I want to help with your idea, actually. At least that's something concrete. I like working on theories, but it gets frustrating when you can't get any actual results.
You can have mine. [ Wu presses it into his hand, their fingers brushing.
He was never quite this aware of Mako before, of his body, his hands, the heat of him. That little touch sends sparks through his body and it's stupid how much he wants to kiss Mako. But he can't. It's not allowed, and it's not something that Mako wants or needs. They're friends. They're just friends.
Now, he pulls his hand back quickly, giving Mako a small smile. ]
I, thank you. I appreciate the help. I think it'll be more work than I'm imagining.
Mako frowns a little at Wu's retreat, wondering, but he can't imagine what it would mean. Why Wu is being like that, unless he feels as raw and exposed as Mako does right now.
He nods in thanks anyway, slips it into his pocket with a clink of glass as it knocks against the other vial. ]
Just like building a whole new government. You can handle it.
I think I preferred the badger. [ Wu says without really thinking, but then he remember exactly what happened when he was a badger: the night he spent sleeping on Mako, probably the best night's rest he's had since being in Deerington ]
[ Mako doesn't quite mean to say that, either, but apparently they're just sharing now. The words come out and then he smiles, a little embarrassed, remembering the warm weight of Wu on top of him. He's thought about that a few times in the last month, waking up alone in that massive bed in the hotel. ]
[ Well, now his face is burning. Not that thinking his magical dream badger form is cute means that Mako thinks that he, Wu, is cute, but it sure feels that way, and boy oh boy is that difficult for Wu to take.
He takes a shaky breath. ]
Ah, thanks.
[ And there it is again: that awkwardness. Wu looks down at his hands, wishing that he wasn't the cause of this. Wishing that he could be normal, that they could be normal best friends again. If he didn't have these awful feelings that make him want to do something stupid. ]
[ The awkwardness is a palpable thing, stretched tight between them. Mako stares at him for a second, his brows drawing slowly together, trying to figure out what Wu is doing.
This doesn't seem like it's related to the burns anymore, or any of the things they just learned, or badgers. Mako has no idea what it is related to. He feels like he's seeing the corner of a thing in darkness, trying to figure out the shape of it when it's too large to fit at all. ]
[ He knew he was doing a bad job of pretending, but Mako asking really shows it. He keeps his eyes on his hands, squeezing them too tight together.
He could tell the truth. He could tell Mako the feelings he's been having for him, he could tell Mako that he likes him, loves him, and he could watch their friendship fall apart. He could watch Mako reject him, he could lose his best friend here. Even with the new friendships he's made, it wouldn't be the same.
Or he could watch Mako become the one trying to pretend to be normal around him. That might be worse, to feel this tension around him, always. That would never work. Mako is a horrible actor, Wu knows that. He can't hide his emotions, especially around Wu. Their relationship would never be normal again.
Some tiny piece of him still holds on to hope that maybe, just maybe, Mako could like him. He went on a date with David, after all. He's open to dating men, even if he's not very open to it. That conversation created a tiny spark of hope that Wu's tried to suppress, but it's still there.
He takes a shaky breath, and looks up at Mako, glancing over his face: frowning, annoyed, concerned.
He's not ready to decide. Not ready to deal with the consequences, no matter which way it turns out.
He presses his lips together, before finally saying: ]
[ Mako knows there's more to it than that. A lot more to it, but he still can't tell what it could be. It's so unlike Wu to be this quiet. The last time Mako can even remember this happening was after everything in the mall, when he'd gone very still and very quiet and let Mako take him back to the Four Elements without a word.
Burns or no, that had to have been worse, so Mako has no idea where this is coming from.
But Wu clearly doesn't want to talk about it, and that's something Mako understands very well.
So he nudges his shoulder into Wu's again, nodding. ]
I get it. When you want to talk, or. Anything. I'll do my best to listen. Alright?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
But at least, he hopes, it's working. There's relief in that.
Mako smiles at him, small and real. ]
Well. I meant what I said about helping. However I can. I think that's all we can do until we figure out how to get home and make this place safe for whoever can't leave.
You got one of those vials too, right?
no subject
Yeah. We'll make something good here.
[ He takes his hand away, shifting to grab the vial off his nightstand. That makes Mako's hand slip off his knee, and for a moment, he can breathe ]
Yes, I got this. [ He holds it up for Mako to see. ]
no subject
For now, he just smiles, soft, but later it'll stick in his head like a burr, unable to be dislodged.
As Wu moves, he pulls out his own vial, safe in his pocket with the tiny hair in it. ]
Yeah. Mine was in my hand when I woke up. Looks like they're the same.
[ He peers into Wu's, noting the tiny curl of black hair matching in his. ]
I have a lot to figure out. About the Layers, and... staying here. Wherever here is.
[ Snorting, Mako lets his hand drop again. ]
Kind of why I want to help with your idea, actually. At least that's something concrete. I like working on theories, but it gets frustrating when you can't get any actual results.
no subject
He was never quite this aware of Mako before, of his body, his hands, the heat of him. That little touch sends sparks through his body and it's stupid how much he wants to kiss Mako. But he can't. It's not allowed, and it's not something that Mako wants or needs. They're friends. They're just friends.
Now, he pulls his hand back quickly, giving Mako a small smile. ]
I, thank you. I appreciate the help. I think it'll be more work than I'm imagining.
no subject
Mako frowns a little at Wu's retreat, wondering, but he can't imagine what it would mean. Why Wu is being like that, unless he feels as raw and exposed as Mako does right now.
He nods in thanks anyway, slips it into his pocket with a clink of glass as it knocks against the other vial. ]
Just like building a whole new government. You can handle it.
no subject
He takes a deep breath and smiles at him. ] That was an experience, wasn't it? I've never been a dog before.
no subject
[ Mako will, for the moment, accept this retreat and change of subject, offering Wu a dry smile instead. ]
Not a sentence I ever thought I'd say.
no subject
no subject
[ Mako doesn't quite mean to say that, either, but apparently they're just sharing now. The words come out and then he smiles, a little embarrassed, remembering the warm weight of Wu on top of him. He's thought about that a few times in the last month, waking up alone in that massive bed in the hotel. ]
no subject
He takes a shaky breath. ]
Ah, thanks.
[ And there it is again: that awkwardness. Wu looks down at his hands, wishing that he wasn't the cause of this. Wishing that he could be normal, that they could be normal best friends again. If he didn't have these awful feelings that make him want to do something stupid. ]
no subject
This doesn't seem like it's related to the burns anymore, or any of the things they just learned, or badgers. Mako has no idea what it is related to. He feels like he's seeing the corner of a thing in darkness, trying to figure out the shape of it when it's too large to fit at all. ]
What's with you? Are you okay?
no subject
He could tell the truth. He could tell Mako the feelings he's been having for him, he could tell Mako that he likes him, loves him, and he could watch their friendship fall apart. He could watch Mako reject him, he could lose his best friend here. Even with the new friendships he's made, it wouldn't be the same.
Or he could watch Mako become the one trying to pretend to be normal around him. That might be worse, to feel this tension around him, always. That would never work. Mako is a horrible actor, Wu knows that. He can't hide his emotions, especially around Wu. Their relationship would never be normal again.
Some tiny piece of him still holds on to hope that maybe, just maybe, Mako could like him. He went on a date with David, after all. He's open to dating men, even if he's not very open to it. That conversation created a tiny spark of hope that Wu's tried to suppress, but it's still there.
He takes a shaky breath, and looks up at Mako, glancing over his face: frowning, annoyed, concerned.
He's not ready to decide. Not ready to deal with the consequences, no matter which way it turns out.
He presses his lips together, before finally saying: ]
I just, I have a lot on my mind. I'm okay.
no subject
[ Mako knows there's more to it than that. A lot more to it, but he still can't tell what it could be. It's so unlike Wu to be this quiet. The last time Mako can even remember this happening was after everything in the mall, when he'd gone very still and very quiet and let Mako take him back to the Four Elements without a word.
Burns or no, that had to have been worse, so Mako has no idea where this is coming from.
But Wu clearly doesn't want to talk about it, and that's something Mako understands very well.
So he nudges his shoulder into Wu's again, nodding. ]
I get it. When you want to talk, or. Anything. I'll do my best to listen. Alright?
no subject
Thanks, Mako. You're a good friend.