"Did you wanna tal-" Ty Lee was cut off by Zuko slamming his bedroom door on her when she followed him through the business.

"Zuko let me in buddy, I just want to talk," she knocked on the door softly.

"About what?" He cracked the door.

"I heard, everything," Ty Lee whispered sadly. His face scrunched up and closed the door again.

"I don't know why I kissed her back, I don't want anything to do with Mai," Zuko slid down the door with his hands over his eyes.

Ty Lee opened the door a little and was able to sneak herself in the room and let the door close again, she kneel down to Zuko and sat with him against the door.
He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin on top not looking at her.

"How much did you hear?" He whispered.

"Enough to knock Mai out, you know I don't like doing that to my friends," Ty Lee cris crossed her legs and looked at the ceiling.

He was silent.

"I heard when Mai first said she loves you," she pursed her lips admitting.

Zuko stayed quiet as he felt a burning feeling behind his eyes. His throat closing up. His body tense but shook a little.

"Do you think it's true?" Zuko forced out.

"Which part?" Ty Lee raised a brow at him.

"That she loves me?" He closed his eyes.

"No I don't think so, I think she loves having control over You, and how devoted you've been with Katara since she's been here has been driving her crazy, and if that's how she shows her love then that's not right," Ty Lee sighed playing with the ends of her hair.

Zuko nodded understanding but he could feel himself begging to cry and let it all go but he couldn't let Mai win like that.

"Your still upset, why?" She noticed.

"Because then Mai is right, no one else wants me," his voice cracked and he covered his mouth.

"I'm fine, I'm fine with being married to Katara and her not loving me, I've been fine with that before she even got here, but part of me- I don't know part of me still wished I got to..." Zuko trialed off with tears threatening to spill.

"Find love your own way, experience all those fairytales of finding your soulmate and everything that comes after?" Ty Lee offered.

He nodded.

"I think she does love You," she smiled.

"No she doesn't," he whispered.

"In a way, yes she does, she wants to be there for you, she wants to make you happy, she wants to protect, comfort, share with you, that's a love, not in love but she doesn't want anything bad to happen to you," Ty Lee turned to him with a comforting smile.

"There's Eros, philia, storge, and agape, types of love, and I'm sure there's more, she loves you as an equal but not in love with passion, and maybe that'll change," she listed on her fingers as Zuko watched.

"In a way I love you too Zuko, we've been friends since we were children, sorry to say but your like a brother to me, I love you like family," she hugged his arm with a small squeal. Zuko finally smiled a little at her.

"Really?" He asked.

"Of course! I'd never want to see anything bad happen to you, I enjoy hanging out with you, I say that's some sort of extra like," she giggled.

"You know you're pretty smart," he pursed her lips. "I'm sorry for calling you a circus freak,"

"Do you feel the same about Azula?" He raised a brow but her face turned bright red.

"Y-yea of course," she blushed hiding against his arm.

Zuko smiled gently as she played with the end of her ponytail awkwardly. He put his arm around her and ruffled the top of her head making Ty Lee squeak a little but giggled leaning against him.

"You know I wish we were friends sooner like this," she fell and rested her head on his leg.

"What do you mean?" He looked down at her.

"I don't know, Azula and Mai get mean sometimes and I'm sure you are too but your nice, quiet and comfortable to be around," she looked up at him with a smile.

"You know it's a new thing I'm trying out," he rolled his eyes.

—

Katara pulled jet into her room and locked the door with a glare.

"You know the fire nations punishment for attempting to kill a royal family member? No less the first born of the fire lord?" Katara sighed disappointed as Jet looked annoying.

"One of those hard core prisons? You don't think I know the risk of failing?" Jet scoffed.

"No, it's death Jet, they find you and your going to die, Zuko might not kill You but his family will," Katara hissed harshly at him. Shoving the fool back.

"I told you to go, to leave dammit, why are you here?!" She started to raise her voice but Jet panicked to cover her mouth.

"I'm not leaving a failure," he glared down at her. Kataras eyes widen.

She bended the water from the vase that held her panda lily and snapped it against Jet making him gasp surprised.

"You try anything with Zuko and I'll bring you to the fire lord myself, father in law would be pleased," Katara kept the water close with a sneer.

"Why protect him kat?! He doesn't love you, he's your enemy, our enemy for our homes!" Jet held his injured hand close.

"He's my friend! And my husband now, I won't let you kill my best friend," she guarded the door so he couldn't escape.

"What if it's not him? What if I told you I'd go straight for the fire lord?" Jet offered.

She thought about it. She thought about letting Jet take his shot, if he succeeds then Zuko would be fire lord, and if he fails then Jet would be gone, it wouldn't be on Zuko and she'd be considered innocent.

"I'd say it's suicide, the palace is on high alert with your attack, you'd never get past his chamber doors," Katara shook her head.

"It's either the fire lord or the prince, one of them dies tonight," Jet scoffed as a blade slipped from his sleeve into his hand.

"Then you die as a failure, you go into zukos room and I'll kill You, if anything I'll have Azula in with us and she'll do worst," Katara whipped her water again but Jet moved out of the way.

"I gave you a warning, you could've gone home Jet, you don't have to be here," she circled him staying away from his knife as Jet got closer.

"I don't have a home because of your husband," Jet growled and lunged.

Katara gasped and ducked, she moved down and used her leverage below to use the water to throw him against the wall and freeze him.

Katara grinned proudly of herself seeing the hostage but she saw people outside. Mai.

And Zuko?

Katara went to the window concerned seeing they weren't exactly happy to be speaking to each other. Zuko didnt look comfortable as Mai kept trying to touch him. She wished she could hear them but she was to high up.

But then she saw them kiss. And Zuko kissed her back, desperate but there was something off.

Katara stood shocked and tore her eyes away, she couldn't watch anymore.

The ice melted off Jet as Katara was silent. He used it as his escape and ran out of the room, Katara didn't notice him even leaving.

There was a heavy feeling in her chest, like she wanted to sink to the floor, she was upset? Why was she upset? It would make sense for them to have a romantic relationship with someone else. It wasn't fair for them otherwise. Maybe because it was Mai. Mai was horrible to him, abused him and manipulates him, yet he kissed her.

Katara sat on her bed with her hands over her face processing. It's not cheating because they weren't in a relationship. They're friends. But as friends she couldn't stand the idea of Zuko kissing Mai.

Could she stand the idea of Zuko kissing anyone?