So not everyone has it ... seems like being a bender would be a lot of responsibility.

[ huuuuuh. the most exposure makoto's ever had to supernatural abilities dealt with nagisa's complete intolerance to fear in a haunted house, so people who could manipulate elements with a flick of their hand never ceased to amaze. makoto would make a good target for a scam; gullible enough to be duped into believing a hoax, sheepish enough not to begrudge the conman if the truth ever came out.

there's an air of legitimacy about korra, though, one that he's seen first-hand with his own eyes, so it's not like there was ever any room to doubt to begin with. ]

Yeah, I mean ... [ falter, falter. ] ... if you're free, and you wouldn't mind taking me on as a pupil. Um, I can reimburse you in credits if you need it, it's just — I think it'd be a good idea, after the last few sticky situations I found myself in.

[ a discernible stutter-stop echoes in his voice, nervous and terribly self-conscious. ]

I want to be useful in an emergency.