Katara pulled back from Aang abruptly, a blush tainting her cheeks, "I'm sorry." Aang frowned at her sudden movement, "What? Why are you sorry?" He reached for her hand, but Katara pulled back, a hand pressed to her racing heart, "Aang… I can't… This isn't-it's not what I-this is all wrong." His forehead creased as he followed Katara into the corner she was pressing further into, "Katara, what do you mean?" Tears sparkled in her eyes, "I can't do this, Aang. That didn't feel right. I don't think I feel that way about you…" His lips trembled as he tried to keep composure, "Katara, no. Please, let me show you. I can make you fall in love with me, please let me try." Katara turned her head, fingers pressed tightly against her lips, "I'm sorry, Aang. I can't. Please, just go." He stayed where he was for just a moment before he turned and ran inside the tea shop.
Katara expected Sokka to come and find her, but instead it was Zuko, "Katara? What happened?" She shook her head, still trying to quell the tears. Zuko frowned and kicked a pebble on the ground, "Is there something I can do? I could get Sokka or Suki…?" Katara darted forward and grabbed onto his shirt and hiccuped against his chest, "I'm just so confused. I don't know what to do, it was all wrong." His hands pressed against her back and Zuko guided her away from the open balcony doors, "What do you mean? Are you sure you don't need Suki because she's right inside…" Katara brushed the tears from her eyes as she leaned against the railing, "He kissed me and it was all wrong. I thought that Aang was the one, you know?" Zuko didn't say a word, he just let his arm rest against hers on the rail. Katara nudged him, "I mean, I'm sure you realized at some point Mai was the one, so you had that moment. I thought this was mine with Aang, but-" "I never had a moment like that with Mai. I'm not sure who the one is really."
Katara looked up at Zuko and she noticed his troubled gaze, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything." Zuko closed his eyes, "No. It's okay. I know it won't last with Mai. She treats me differently. I think she knows I'm a different person, but she doesn't want to admit it." Katara places a hand on his arm, "You're right. You are different. You're better." Zuko looks down at her, his voice soft, "I never did think Aang was good enough for you. He was too much of a kid." Katara shifts her hand to Zuko's cheek, "I never thought Mai was…emotional enough for you. You're so full of, well, fire." He laughed and started to smile, "Oh yeah? You're pretty full of fire. Well, for a water bender." A blush painted her cheeks as Zuko heard Mai calling for him, "I'll be right in. Are you alright for now?" Katara looked over at him and nodded, her smile slipping away, "Yeah. For now." He walked away and stopped in the doorway, "If you ever need to talk to someone, a friend, I can help." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, "Of course."
Days later when Katara was passing by Zuko's room, she heard an argument rising. She watched as Mai stormed out and she entered silently, "Zuko?" He turned and Katara saw his face was red with anger, "Katara, what are you doing here?" She stepped over to him, "I was passing by. Is everything okay?" He shook his head, his features remaining impassive, "I guess you were wrong, Mai did have some fire in her. Too bad she only showed it to say she was leaving." Katara gasped, placing a hand on his arm, "What? Why?" He smirked, but his eyes curved down at the corners, "I was too different for her." Katara pulled him in for a hug, "You're not different to me, if that makes a difference." He squeezed her tight, "Yeah. It does."