Keep talkin' like that and I'll kick your butt once you get outta your little hidey hole, boy.

[There's still a joking edge to his repsonse, even if it's a little forced.]

Listen, I'm not sayin' I can match up to a god's powers. But maybe I can help before it comes ta that. Find a way to stop it, even.

And the stuff you said about belonging... [He trails off again, still not sure how to say all this stuff.] Look, you can't belong anywhere if ya don't let anyone in, right? And if you don't want that ta be me, then fine, but... If you're gonna get through this, you at least need someone you can count on.