( dick notices, of course. he's a fairly observant person, because that's how bruce trained him to be. but. his birth parents raised him to have manners and be polite, so he doesn't call mako out on it. just smiles, warm and friendly as ever, although it feels a little more honest with the mask out of the way. it was a barrier between him and the rest of the world, a wall of confidence keeping him safe. now he's. just himself. a little more sheepish, but a little more kind, too. )

Well, here's the thing.

( there is no thing. mako, just hang out with him.

it's also blindingly obvious that he isn't water tribe, now. dick has tan, sunkissed skin, but it's nowhere near the caramel of water born children. )

I'm kinda just a citizen now, if you squint a little. Isn't part of your job ... I don't know, to help the people? Help me, I need help.