Jet checked himself in one of the mirrors in the hall for a second time. He was feeling nervous but confident, but as he got closer to where Katara was, his nerves outgrew his confidence.
"Jet!"
The Freedom Fighter looked over his shoulder to see Sokka running full speed towards him, behind him was the prince he loathed.
"Sokka, what's up?"
"You, you can't," Sokka said breathlessly. "My sister, Zuko, has chosen my sister."
Jet's eyes glared at Zuko then he looked to Sokka.
"I know, I'm sorry. I never should have said you could ask-"
"So."
"What?" Sokka and Zuko asked in harmony.
"So what if he chose Katara now. I don't care. I'm still going to propose and marry her."
Zuko's blood was starting to boil. The thought of Katara in another man's arms, it angered him. Why hadn't he notice before how much he cared for her?
"Jet, I don't know you well, but don't make things more complicated than they already are."
"What, are you afraid of? That she will choose me?" Jet asked proudly. "You and Mai aren't the only ones with history. When I almost died in Ba Sing Se, I was sent to the Southern Water Tribe where Katara nursed me, and we made something together."
"Jet, that's over now." Sokka reminded him, "I only allowed you to propose because I didn't want my sister to be alone. I thought Zuko would choose Mai, and I didn't want her to go through that alone."
"Sokka, how could you feed your sister to these monsters? Have you forgotten what they've done? What has he done?!"
Zuko clenched his fist, but Sokka spoke before he could say a thing.
"No, I haven't forgotten. I can never forget the bad and the good. Zuko, yes, he started off on the wrong side of history, but could you blame him? If my father did that to me, I would do everything to gain his favor again. Yet, Zuko betrayed his father for good. He sacrificed, and knowing this, I know that my sister will be in good hands."
Zuko looked at Sokka, amazed he saw him in that light, and could even empathize with him.
"Well, I can never forget. The bad outweighs the good, and I trust what Katara and I had will guide her to the right decision."
"Jet-"
"No, that's just it," Zuko interrupted. "Had, you had something, but now you don't. All you have are the memories and hopefully the lessons from that time, but you have nothing. Not anymore."
"You know nothing of Katara and me." Jet boasted. "If you did, you would have never said something so stupid. If we didn't still have something, she wouldn't have allowed me to kiss her."
Sokka's eyes grew wide again but not as extensive as Zuko's.
"Yes, while you were with your ex-girlfriend, it was I who was with Katara. She confided in me as always, she let me kiss her and hold her. I've loved Katara since the day I first saw her, and no matter who comes back in my life, I know I wouldn't hesitate. It will always be Katara."
"Jet," Sokka warned, but he kept going.
"She and I have a deeper history than you can imagine. Between man and woman, I am her first, and I sure as hell will be her last and only."
Zuko could not hold back his rage any longer. He moved to pass Sokka and fired a fiery punch. With a smirk, Jet was ready. He pulled out his swords to block the flames, but Zuko was relentless.
Sokka pulled his weapon wanting to cut in and break the fight, but Zuko never gave a chance. Swing after swing and kick after kick. His moves were swift and deliberate. His flames burned on 'til Jet tripped up and landed on his back. Zuko stood over him and yanked at his collar. Jet still held a smug look despite his losing position. Zuko's fist was pulled back and ready to give the blow.
"What are you waiting for? Do it, but it won't change anything. Katara has only been and will only be mine."
A growl grew in Zuko's chest, and he swung his fist only to stop inches away from the target.
"Stop it!" He heard again, and this time he and Jet looked down the hall to see Suki, Ty Lee, Mai, and Katara.
"Stop it both of you!" Katara cried out.
Zuko released the man and stood up properly. His stomach turned when Katara rushed to Jet's side and not his.
"Zuko, how could you?"
"What?!" Zuko snapped. His rage was still boiling.
"Katara," Sokka opened his mouth to explain, but Suki interrupted.
"Sokka, what happed? How could you let this go on?"
"It wasn't me!" Sokka shot back. "Jet went too far."
Jet came to his feet with Katara holding his arm for support. "Katara, I was looking for you because I have something I want to ask you."
Katara looked to Jet a little worried as he took her hands.
"Don't you fucking dare," Zuko warned.
Katara looked to Zuko, she never saw him so angry.
"You have no right to ask her." Zuko reminded.
"Please, Jet, I'm sorry, but I was wrong. Don't make this more difficult than it already is." Sokka pleaded.
Jet frowned. He hated that Sokka was taking the side of a firebender. He looked back to Katara and got on one knee.
Ty Lee was shocked. Suki didn't know what to do. She had to protect Zuko but could feel his energy filled with fury. He would be the one to attack, not Jet, and he had every right to.
Katara looked down at Jet, knowing what was coming and wished she could freeze time. Don't say it, please don't ask. She pleaded inside.
"Will you marry me?"
And there it was. Mai stood looking at Zuko. She had never seen this side of him. Yes, she had seen the man angry, but not to this extent.
Katara could feel all eyes on her as she looked into Jet's eyes. "I," She didn't know how to answer. She knew after that kiss that she wanted Zuko. Though, if he didn't want her was she to refuse every man who came her way because she wanted what she couldn't have? She and Jet had their differences, and so did Zuko and Mai, but they still loved each other. Maybe, she thought, perhaps she could come to love Jet again. "I don't know."
Jet's smirk turned to a flat line. "What?"
Zuko was a little surprised too, he could have sworn after what he put her through she would have gone to Jet. He had thought he lost her.
"I mean, I can't." Katara pulled her hands away and looked to Zuko. "I like someone else."
Jet stood up feeling betrayed, "Katara, don't you see he doesn't care for you. It's me, it's always been me."
Katara hated this. If Jet was to propose, she wished he had done it privately, so that she could express her true feelings without Zuko being there. "Yes, but Jet, I can't marry you. That dream died a long time ago, and now I don't think it can ever come back."
"Why, cause of him?" Jet pointed to Zuko, "He has you on a string dangling you around and not even considering your feelings."
"That's not true," Zuko defended himself, "I've considered her feelings from the start. That's why it took me 'til now to make a decision."
Mai and Katara noticed Zuko's wording, he had decided.
"If it was me, there would be nothing to contemplate." Jet looked to Katara, "It's you, it always has and always will be you."
Katara's heart tightened. Jet had just spoken the words that described her feelings, but not for him, for Zuko.
"Will you stop this," Zuko cut in again, "If that was true then why now? Why ask for her hand now and not before?"
"Because of the war!" Jet shouted. War complicates things, and people and you Fire Nation did your best to ruin everything in my life, but not this time. I won't hand Katara off into your clutches. Besides, why now? Why do you care that I propose to Katara now when you've said plenty of times that you're in love with another woman?"
The reminder stung Katara, and she wanted to flee. She looked to Mai, who showed little expression on her face. How could she look so calm?
"You are right. I do love Mai, but you have no right to do this to Katara."
Zuko's words cut Katara deeper. Hearing him say it again and again, she got it. She understood, Zuko loved Mai.
Jet looked back to the water tribe girl and saw the glassiness of her eyes, trying to hold back the tears that sat on the brim, ready to fall. "Hey, when we are alone, give me your answer again. Think this over. He isn't worth it."
Katara bowed her head, trying to hide her embarrassment. She was the girl that wasn't wanted. She was the girl that was thrown from one man to the next. She was the girl so easily tossed. "Ty Lee."
"Yes, Lady Katara?"
"Will you escort me back to my room. I want to get out of here."
"Yes." Ty Lee rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. As they walked pass Mai, she could see her friend was hurt underneath that mask. It must be hard to hear a man confess his love for you while watching him fight for another.
Jet went in the opposite direction, still sure of himself despite Katara's answer.
"Sokka," Suki tugged at his arm. Zuko had watched Katara walk away, but now he looked to Mai and she to him.
Sokka noticed the same and nodded his head. "I need to go check on my sister. This is all my fault."
"No, I will talk to her. It's I who needs to explain myself, but first…" He looked at Mai again, "Mai, can we talk?"
Mai and Zuko walked into her room, that same room where they had their first…
"Mai,"
"There are so many memories in this room. On this bed."
Zuko looked around and saw the shadows of him and her. He took in a deep breath, "Mai, I-"
"Don't," one tear rolled down her cheek, "Let me have the moment a little longer. Let me have you a little longer."
Zuko's heart broke. As always, she read him clear. She always knew what he thought before he said it.
"I love you Mai, but I,"
"I know. You wouldn't fight over a girl if you didn't love her."
"He dishonored her, and yes, you're right. I do love Katara."
There was a moment of silence. Everything was out, and Mai had her answer.
"So that's that, huh? This is how our story ends."
"Sorry, I couldn't give you that fairytale ending."
"You know I never believed in fairytales."
They both smirked, but their faces still held a sadness.
"You will always have a special place in my heart but Katara,"
"Look, Zuko, you don't have to explain. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to know why you love her. All it will cause me to do is compare myself to her, which's the last thing I want. You love me, but you love her more, or you love me but not like you did before."
"Right." Zuko didn't know which one it was, but he knew he loved Katara.
"Well, you can go now. I need to be alone, and I don't want to see you right now."
"I understand." Zuko walked to the door, then paused as he was leaving. "Mai, I'm sorry I hurt you."
"Yeah, well, wounds heal." This one will just leave a bad scar.
