John snorts, thinking again of Zed without meaning to. Laying in her hospital bed thinking she wouldn't survive... He empathizes with Nate though he tries not to, but this whole situation is super messy even by his metric. He opens his mouth to say something probably meaner than the other man deserves, and then promptly shuts it again without getting the words out. He isn't angry or jealous, necessarily, but he does hate that he made Zari feel this way no matter how much he's sure he's been guilty of the same in the past.

"Now I'm the puppy, is that it? I'm supposed to come up with these things on command." It's soft, empathy leaking into his voice as a hand smooths over the back of her head, racking his brain for something that might make her feel better about this whole dumb thing. He decides to go down the highly unserious route since everyone knows he could never bring himself to lay a finger on these idiots, especially since Gary is somehow unscathed after all the damage he's done. "Say the word, luv. I'll kick his arse."