And Sage finally opens up to Mako.
Chapter 29: Talking it Out
Mako looked at Sage and he lets out a deep sigh as he looked at him straight in the eye and said, "Listen, son...this whole thing between us has really gotten out of hand. I just don't really wanna fight with you and I'm just tired of arguing with you over the slightest things."
Sage blinked his eyes a few times and he was on the verge on losing part of his pride and didn't know what he was gonna do, but he felt Luna's paw on his paw and he looked at Mako in the eye and said, "I'm just not used to authority. It's like...everything I learned from South China has been challenged."
"Sage...this isn't South China anymore. Why are you sticking to what you already know?" asked Mako.
Sage sighed heavily and he looked at Mako and said, "It's all I've ever known. Why should I change for someone that I know that I'm not gonna make anyone happy?"
"Listen...no one is forcing you to change." Mako added.
"You do. It's like I'm not good enough for you or anything." Sage responded.
That seemed to strike Mako in the heart after hearing what Sage just said to him and the fact that Sage thinks that he's not good enough for Mako took him aback and he asked, "Why do you think that?"
Sage was a little afraid to tell Mako how he really feels because he's not used to being in that position before, but Luna gave him a little nudge of encouragement to help him out and and Sage replied, "Because...because I'm scared, all right?"
That literally surprised Mako to hear that from Sage and he had no idea that Sage would be afraid of something and he asked, "What are you scared about?"
"Scared that I might change...into something I'm not. It was hard enough to move out of South China and getting used to this place here. I try my best to change who I am, but even that is harder than anything. The thought of me trying to perfect for someone and that I might fail...I just don't know if I'm good enough to be your son." Sage explained.
"Why didn't you tell me this?" asked Mako.
"Because if I showed that side of myself, my posse would say that I'm weak and everything I taught them was meaningless. So...I'm always a brute kid in front of everyone, but when the doors close...I'm always like this. No one's really seen me like that before and I always keep that part away from everyone else." Sage answered.
"Sage...don't you realize how good you have it here? When I first met you at South China, you were a streetfighting kid with a temper and a stubborn attitude. I was hoping to find something inside of you to tap into your true potential. And I do see potential in you, Sage. You just have to show the best part of you." Mako added.
The fact that Mako saw the best in Sage really wanted him to give him a chance and he blinked his eyes in response and asked, "You mean it?"
"Of course I mean it." Mako answered.
"You see? Even your dad sees the best in you." Luna said, with a smile.
Sage nodded his head at that and he said, "I'm not gonna make any promises about this, but I'll try my best to get used to the Valley of Peace."
Mako nods his head and he said, "Fair enough for me."
With that, Mako comes over to hug Sage tightly and Sage has never felt that feeling before with Mako, but he was overwhelmed with that feeling and hugged him back with his eyes closed tight and Luna was happy to see this come to light and she thought to herself, 'Luna, you've done it again.'
Epic victory for Luna! Sage will still be Sage, but at least it's one step! Last chapter is coming!