[Confusion spread across Varian's face- genuine, unfiltered confusion. He didn't think anything he said to Fern was out of place. Heck, most of Rapunzel's Deep Motivational Friendship Talks run much like that. If anything, he was only putting what she taught him into practice.

But now he feels like he's misstepped somehow. Got it wrong. He knows he's not great at it, but things seemed to be genuinely okay for a second there. So, naturally, he misunderstand's Fern's meaning. ]

Fern, I meant what I said. You really are my best friend. You really do mean a lot to me. Me and Ruby and... and whatever that's going to be doesn't change that. I- I mean, you can have a best friend and... well. [He and Ruby aren't even at a point where they have a label for it yet. ] They don't have to be mutually exclusive.

[He rubs the back of his neck, perplexed. ]

Sorry. I just... wanted to be honest with you. I don't want you to think I was hiding anything from you.