Zuko turned the corner and lead her with as they went into a family restroom to hide as Zuko closed the door behind them and locked it.

Katara went to the sink and rested her palms against the side, her head down so her hair shielded her face. She felt like she no couldn't breathe.

"Let's wait a few minutes," Zuko looked at her worried and she nodded frantically.

"Todays just a shitty day," Katara covered her face as she fought off tears.

Zuko waited patiently giving her space to collect her thoughts, Katara sniffled and rubbed her nose, not a tear fell, but she splashed water in her face from the sink before any got the chance.

"Can we stay in here for a little?" Katara whispered looking back at the other teen.

"Take your time, I can leave if you want," he motioned to the door calmly.

"No, you can stay," she let out a breath and walked over to the wall he was leaning against. She slid down to sit on the floor.

"The floors are disgusting," he looked down at her.

Katara brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around, leaning her forehead against them, closing her eyes.

Zuko sighed and slid down to join her on the floor, legs stretched out and arms crossed against his chest.

"He's definitely a piece of work, don't blame you for running away," Zuko shrugged a little.

"You don't think I should've just broken up with him like a normal person?" Katara mumbled keeping her head down.

"I think that would've ended up with a restraining order," he smirked.

"And then you wouldn't have found your best friends," Zuko tried nudging her softly, Katara finally raised her head with a chuckle.

"Besties for life now," Katara rested her head on his shoulder.

"I wish you guys could come with me, to Alaska, no dragons there," she said softly.

"I don't like the cold," Zuko tsked.

"We can buy You a big jacket," Kataras voice cracked a little.

"I don't want to be alone again," a tear ran down her face.

"No one helped me when I was alone,"

Zukos heart sunk feeling how tense she was still, trying to hold in her fears and sorrows of her past coming back. Part of him wanted to go with as well, he would be so so so far away from New York, from the streets, from his family.

He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to try his best to make her feel safe.

"It's okay to cry, it's been a shitty day," he whispered as she cried quietly in his arms. Her shoulders shaking as she struggled to breathe, and trying to stay quiet made it that much harder to not tremble.

—

After ten minutes for Katara to collect herself again Zuko peaked out the door to see if Jet was anywhere in sight, he walked out and waited for Katara to follow. Her eyes were red and she looked ashamed.

"Come on, your going to miss your train," Zuko said softly as she wiped under her nose again and inhaled a deep breath.

"Let's get you something to drink before you go, you still have snot on your nose," he motioned to the side and she turned red, embarrassed as she wiped her nose once more.

"Are you guys really going to be okay?" Katara asked staying by his side.

"I have... I have a lot of money I've been saving up for an emergency, and I'm going to get in contact with my uncle finally, he'll help us out," Zuko sighed softly rubbing his neck.

"I didn't think it would be so soon or it would be for the hospital instead," he was disappointed he had to spend all the money before he could have enough to get an apartment and have extra.

"Your uncle is going to help you though?" She smiled a little.

"It'll be in his name for where we stay, I won't take money from him again," he explained looking down.

"Again?" She didn't understand.

"He helped me with my scar, paid for the bills in the hospital and all, I had a bad infection and fever when it was fresh," Zuko shrugged a little not wanting to remember it.

"You would like him, you both are kind in the same way," he smiled slightly looking back at her.

Kataras lip trembled again and she hugged his arm tightly so they didn't have to stop. Zuko was surprised again by the touch but didn't push her away, she must need the affection when she's upset or stressed.

"Im really going to miss You Zuko, I feel like I barely got to know you and everyone else," she whispered keeping her arms around his.

"I feel like I've always known you guys in a way," Katara said sadly.

"Then I'm sure we'll meet again," Zuko wrapped his arm around her again and kept her close.

"This isn't a goodbye kat, I'll see you soon, maybe by then none of us will be homeless," he smiled hopeful.

Katara liked the sound of that better than goodbye.

—

Zuko handed Katara a Dr Pepper bottle as she tightened her straps of her backpack around her shoulders. He helped her situated herself before the train arrived and waited with her as well.

"Here's your tickets, this will take you to Chicagos airport to get you to Alaska, I already bought the airline ticket, you still have your id on you?" Zuko asked as he unfolded paper that was from his back pocket.

"Yea," she dug through her backpack with her drivers license. 

"Good, did you have a phone?" He asked. She nodded.

"Text your grandmother, call her when you get to O'hare, text your dad and brother also, let them know your okay," Zuko pursed his lips a little worried for her.

"Here's a few bucks for food and if you need to buy a charger," he handed her a couple of ten dollar bills.

"You don't have to, I have some spare money," Katara couldn't take it from him.

"I just want to know you'll be safe till you're home," Zuko urged the money.

"I will," she smiled reassuringly.

"You better, I'm expecting a big coat when we visit," he gulped a little.

"I'll look forward," Katara laughed lightly.

But they heard the train coming and people started to move to get ready to board.

"Katara!! Kat!" They heard screaming from the distance.

Katara looked at where she heard her name and she had a bright smile seeing her friends.

"Kat! We're coming!" Aang sprinted through the crowd with Suki yelling after him. "Don't leave we're coming!"

"Aang! Suki!" She ran and hugged them quickly as they all almost fell to the ground.

"I thought you guys were going to get ready to leave?" She hugged tightly.

"We did but that can wait, we didn't say good bye properly," Suki whined a little hugging her with both arms around Katara and Aang.

"We're really going to miss you kat," Aang whimpered.

"This isn't goodbye, it's a I'll see you soon," Katara smiled at them both as they parted.

"Really?" Aang had tears in his eyes but it was happiness not sadness.

"Really," she rubbed the top of his head.

There was an announcement for her train for everyone to board, they were almost out of time. She had to get on.

"Alright, guess I'll be on my way, bye Suki, bye Aang, I wouldn't have gotten this far without you guys," Katara hugged them again individually. She didn't want to go.

"Bye Zuko, I wouldn't have been here without you either," she turned around and hugged him anyways. 

"I know your not about the mushy affection but call me selfish," Katara whispered. He hugged her back gently and patted the top of her head.

"Your strong, your going to stay strong got it?" Zuko whispered back.

"Got it," she smiled up at him.

"Alright don't miss your flight either, I paid good money," he pushed her away and towards the train to board.

Katara inhaled a deep breath and got on the train with all that she needed. Her knees felt weak and her hands trembled while she walked. Finding her seat and took the one closest to the window, looked to the side seeing all three of her friends waving goodbye. She waved back with a sweet smile. She was grateful for them.

Katara turned on her phone for the first time since she ran away and saw it was filled the brim of texts from everyone she knew, majority was from Jet, she ignored them.

She went to her contacts and opened a new contact, putting in a new number and a name in the contact. Zuko Suzano.

K: I know You said to wait till I was safe in Alaska. But I'm making sure you guys have a way to contact me too:)

Katara sighed resting her head back, she wouldn't get a text back for a while assuming Zuko or any of them wouldn't have a phone on them. She looked out the window again seeing the train was moving. She smiled seeing her friends waiting still for the train to leave.

Yet there was Jet in the crowd, like a ghost that haunted her, reminded her, but the train kept moving. Even after Jet made eye contact with her and looked enraged that she was once again out of reach. She didn't let her smile drop just so her friends wouldn't see.

She would see them soon.