"I mean, I just don't think the existence of such a thing as "necessary suffering" is reassuring in general. It's a fact, but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck, even if it's happened before, will happen again, and isn't that big of a deal in the larger scheme of things. And it's no great comfort for anyone (ZYL) who's watching someone they love who's suffering, either."

Yeah, ITA on all of this, I couldn't have said better myself.

ETA: Damn, I just continue having extra feelings and thoughts when I think I'm finished. xD

"Aside: also, SW isn't saying "I'm going to be fine" - if he did, that would probably be a bit more reassuring for ZYL! He's saying, "I can handle this", which he can - but handling this, here, involves a contingency plan where he turns himself into a bomb, and so he's not promising to be fine."

I find this lack of promise both worse (because he can't promise to be fine) and better (because it means that he means everything else, it's not just empty words).