[Down he goes, and he does manage a sad, weak little hah.]

Lucky me. And I don't know, Korra seems to know what she's talking about. I'd take her ringing endorsement.

[He appreciates that tone a lot. He clings to it desperately, like it's the only thing keeping him afloat in a sea of awful panic. He doesn't want any of this. He'd very much rather this magic be taken out of him and put...anywhere else. He's not magic. It's not what he's about.

But Mako's words to reach him, cutting through the panic- because he's right. This... this is the life he chose and there's another him carrying on the magic-free life he was leading. But he isn't. Not this version of him. And as much as he hates it (and oh boy, does he hate it, he knows Mako's right.]

I get it. [His tone is quiet, frightened, but at least not unsure.] I do, really. I just- [he rubs his hands on his arms, unsettled] it feels wrong and like I'm not in my right skin. But I do get it. And I- I need to learn, I don't want to hurt anyone. This is too dangerous to just let go unchecked.