Disclaimer:

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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Chapter Twelve: Advice

Zuko woke up with Ty Lee's back pressed against his. It was really awkward. He slowly sat up and crawled up. She jumped up as he swung one leg over her.

"Who's there?!" She yelled as she punched without looking. Zuko fell on his back and held his now bleeding nose. "Zuko! I'm so sorry!" She yelled as she jumped out of the bed.

"What's going on?" Sokka asked as he walked by. He entered the room.

"I hit Zuko!" Ty Lee gasped.

"Haha! Zuko got punched out by a girl!" Sokka laughed as he pointed down to him.

"So did you." Suki said as she walked up from behind him. "Let me look at it." She said as she walked up to Zuko; his face lost color. He knew she was still a little angry at him, what if she tried to break his nose off or something? He shook his head, he was being paranoid again. He removed his hand as she kneeled next to him. "Tilt your head back." She said and he obeyed. She squeezed his nose.

"What the hell!" He yelled as he struggled against her. After about ten seconds, she let go.

"All set. I don't think it's broken, just bruised." She smiled as she stood up.

"Because that's not embarrassing…" He said under his breath.

"Sorry…" Ty Lee said.

"It's fine." He stood up and wiped the dirt off his pants. He walked out of the room.

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Breakfast was awkward for the group. Zuko and Ty Lee sat next to each other, but they were both unusually quiet. Ty Lee not talking was like hell freezing over.

"So…can we do some more firebending today, Zuko?" Aang asked.

"Uncle will work with you. I have a lot to do." He said seriously.

"Oh...ok." He said.

"So…how about them…rocks?" Sokka blushed. It was awkward.

"Ty Lee, what are you doing today?" Katara asked.

"Huh? Oh, probably nothing." She frowned and resumed eating.

"Jeez, I thought prison was depressing!" Shin Sang said.

"What is the matter? Would you like to talk about it, Miss Ty Lee?" Iroh asked. She nodded and they got up and left.

"We're going for Mai tomorrow, right?" Toph asked.

"Yeah…" Zuko whispered as he watched Ty Lee go with Iroh.

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"Now, tell me what's on your mind." Iroh said as they took their seat on a small bench away from the others.

"It's just…I like Zuko, a lot." She smiled a little as she thought about him. "I think he likes me, too, and things are starting to get really good with us, but then…" She stopped herself.

"Lady Mai will be returning?" Iroh asked. She nodded.

"And, I know she likes maybe even loves, him, but he broke up with her. She's my best friend, the only one I have left. I want to be with Zuko, but I don't want to hurt her." She said quickly.

"Well, it seems either you break Lady Mai's heart, or you break Prince Zuko's." He said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to him.

"What do I do?" She asked.

"What you feel is right." He smiled. She nodded.

"Thanks, Iroh." She said as she hugged the elder.

"You are welcome." He smiled and returned the embrace.

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"So, what's going on with you and Ty Lee?" Sokka asked as he jogged to catch up with Zuko. They had just finished breakfast.

"What do you mean?" He asked as he kept his quick pace and his eyes forward.

"Remember when we were on that war balloon?"

"Yeah."

"Well, you said you liked Gloomy Girl, but things didn't work out. You said there was someone else, and well, it kind of looks like Ty Lee is that someone else." He looked at Zuko.

"What gave you that idea?" Zuko asked. It was a pretty stupid question.

"Well, you're always with her; I mean you share a bed with her!" He said as he threw his arms in the air.

"Well…you're right." He said after a pause.

"So what's going on with you guys?" He asked again.

"What do you mean now?" Zuko asked as he reached his room. He was growing impatient.

"You won't even look at her." He said and sighed dramatically.

"When I ended it with Mai…I didn't do it to her face. After I talked to her in the Boiling Rock, I locked her in a cell…"

"Stupid much?" Sokka asked.

"Shut up. She already accused Ty Lee before when we were at the palace, but nothing was really going on then. So I'll have my ex-girlfriend living here and I…"

"Want to be with her best friend?" He asked seriously.

"Yeah…pretty much."

"Well, there's only one thing I can tell you." He smiled.

"What's that?"

"You're screwed."

"That helps tons." He said sarcastically.

"But seriously, let Gloomy Girl down easy. I mean, she has knives, she could like slit your throat in your sleep if she sees Ty Lee all over you." Sokka said, still be serious.

"I feel loads better…" Zuko sighed.

"I'm just saying…"

"That my ex-girlfriend might try to kill me in my sleep…" Zuko rolled his eye. "As useful as your advice has been, I'm leaving now." He said as he quickly walked away. His mind flooded with thoughts as he lay on his bed. It was those what if thoughts. What if Mai tried to get back with him? What if he did? What if Ty Lee and her weren't friends anymore because of him? What if Mai did try to kill him? Ty Lee walked in the room, breaking his thoughts.

"Hi." She said as she sat on his bed.

"What's up?" He asked as he sat up.

"I've been thinking…since last night. I care about you, Zuko, a lot. I want to be with you like you don't even know, but…" A tear streamed down her cheek.

"Ty Lee…" He whispered as he went to wipe it away; she pushed his hand away.

"You were Mai's boyfriend. I can't be with you…not like that. So, we both need to move on. I want you to…get back with her." She said with a cracking voice.

"But…" He couldn't speak.

"I'm sorry." She said as she stood up and left. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. When she turned to face him, he pressed his lips against hers. He was standing and holding the back of her head as his tongue passed her lips. He held her close and she didn't struggle. She wrapped her hands around his neck and lightly moaned. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. They showed sadness, hurt, and at the same time want. She wanted him, he could tell. "I'm sorry." She said again and left. He let out a groan of frustration and punched a wall.

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Mai sat in a cold, dark cell. She knew her uncle was trying to come to terms with Azula, but she also knew it would never work. She wanted to see Zuko again. She missed him and Ty Lee so much.

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The rest of the day was quiet. Zuko walked in his room at night and lay down. He watched Ty Lee walk by him. She stared at him as she slowly walked by. He looked away from her gaze; he didn't want to get caught up. Now a bunch of 'does he' questions popped in his head. Does he want to be with Mai? Does he want her to join them? Does he want Ty Lee? Does he want to hurt Mai that much? He let out a groan of frustration and rolled over to go to sleep.

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The next morning, Zuko went to find out who was helping him get Mai out. Sokka suggested, after Zuko going for him, and Ty Lee insisted on going. Mai was her best friend. They got on their new blimp and headed off.

"Same plan as last time?" Sokka asked from where he sat.

"What do you mean?" Zuko gave him a quizzical glare.

"We jump guards for their uniforms." Sokka said, as though Zuko should know.

"Oh, yeah, right." Zuko said as he took a seat.

"Are you ok there, buddy?" Sokka asked.

"I'm fine." He muttered. He looked up to Ty Lee, who was staring down to the ground.

"We're here." She said. They stood up and landed the blimp.

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"How are things, Mai?" Azula asked from outside from Mai's cell, all she could see were her eyes. She didn't respond. "Are you waiting for Zuzu to come rescue you? I don't see why he would need to, Ty Lee would suit him just fine. I'm just saying her flexibility and all. You must feel stupid. You told your best friend to basically hook up with your boyfriend, so sad." She smirked as she heard Mai let out a grunt of frustration and walked off.

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Sokka, Zuko, and Ty Lee had no problem getting uniforms. They walked straight into the prison without any problems; you figure they would increase security.

"More newbies?" A large guard asked, the three of them nodded.

"You guys joined at a bad time, the princess is basically taking this place over." The man laughed, they all just stared at him. "Well, rookies get the dirty work, bring the prisoner her food, her name is Mai, and try to avoid the princess, unless you all want interrogation." The man grinned and handed Sokka the food. They looked at each other and smiled. This would be easier than they thought, a little to easy for Zuko's liking.

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They found Mai's cell and opened the door. Zuko entered with Ty Lee and Sokka stayed outside the door for guard. She looked up to them.

"I don't see why they sent two of you, I don't have my weapons." She said as Zuko slowly approached her. "You leave the food by the door, now leave." She noticed he just stood there. "What the hell do you want?" She stood up and yelled. He pulled off his helmet. "Zuko…" She whispered as she touched his face. Ty Lee took off her helmet. Mai grabbed the back of Zuko's face and pulled him into a kiss, he let her, but he kept his eyes opened and watched Ty Lee's expression sadden through the corner of his eyes.

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