Crying was stupid and feelings were ridiculous, Lyra'd decided that already, and it wasn't fair that the stupid and ridiculous could overwhelm her like this, and she couldn't think straight enough to get anything under control and then Avery's voice was cutting through it all. With a shaky breath, Lyra looked up at his wide-eyed and suspicious expression and hastily heeled the tears off her cheeks. "I'm okay," she insisted, which was also a stupid and ridiculous thing to say cuz she didn't feel all that okay, though standing up to wrap her arms round his waist and press her face against him, that helped. She locked her forearms in her fingers behind his back, giving herself something to dig her fingertips into, and just breathed against him for a moment, managing a muffled "hey" in his neck in greeting.
Little John had let his arm slip away the moment she moved, and he made a conscious effort not to hold himself like he was a threat, shoulders relaxed and big fingers curled loosely on his lap. He didn't try to explain anything – let Lyra take the lead on that – but he did give Avery a small smile, reassuring, he hoped.