[ makoto talked her ear off like five minutes ago, no big deal. still — ]

I never knew. Bending's what you did with the water before, right? The way you were able to help Haru. Is that a normal power for people to have in your world?

[ he understands more than anyone else how useless he was then, barely able to provide little more than bedside manner while korra healed his best friend. sheepishly, makoto disguises his sudden interest with a nervous laugh. ]

Would you be willing to teach anyone, even a beginner, who really wanted to learn? A non-bending type of combat, I mean.

[ ouch. he's practically shooting himself in the foot with this thinly-veiled request. ]