A/N: idk this is lowkey filler, I just wanted to update this and get the ball rolling plot wise edit: i wrote six hours instead of six weeks initially so i changed it because i was really lazy with editing

Approximately six weeks after Zuko's coronation, Katara declares that she's going to stay in the Fire Nation. The gaang's in the Earth Kingdom when she makes this decision, stating that when everyone goes their separate ways, she'll stay by Zuko's side. Everyone's sitting at a table drinking tea, Sokka and Suki cuddled next to one another, Toph with her feet propped up beside a beaming Iroh, and Aang, between Katara and Mai, the latter of which had taken her seat besides Zuko.

The announcement comes as a surprise to all of them, including the newly crowned Fire Lord. It's entirely unnecessary for her to stay, when he'd have more than enough medical attention from the doctors in the palace, but she insists that she be the one to make sure that he was healing properly. She was the reason he'd gotten his newest scar. The least she could do was spare a few weeks to assure he was going to be fine.

The rest of the group opts to leave the Fire Nation for other reasons. Sokka and Suki make plans to escort Toph back to her family before making their way to Kyoshi Island. Aang would have to travel the world and help make amends between the nations. That only left Katara, with her tight set jaw, and her new decision to remain by Zuko's side. Mai, despite being quiet and civil for most of the day, seems less than enthused by Katara's proclamation.

Toph's neutral about the matter, not caring where Katara went so long as she remembered to visit. Sokka respects her wish and offers to meet up with his sister down south in a few months time. Rebuilding the Southern Water Tribe is important, but it's equally important to Sokka that he respect his sister's wishes and let her take care of whatever unfinished business she feels she has. Iroh is elated to hear that one of the best healers in the world offered to care for his nephew until he's well, and graciously thanks Katara for her warmhearted gesture.

"You don't have to do this," Zuko says, effectively ending the supportive murmurs of his friends. He avoids eye contact because knows what this is really about. It's the same feeling he had when he opened up to Katara in the catacombs and she was whisked away, a feeling of bareness and transparency, knowing that she knew too much, she'd seen too much, and all she wanted to do was to stay and dig deeper. She wanted to know more about him. She wanted to make sure he was okay. They both knew with time his skin would regenerate and heal, but she wanted to make sure he was healing internally and emotionally as well. He isn't sure how to feel.

"I don't," Katara says. "But I want to."

For the first time that day, Mai scoffs, audibly and dramatically with a roll of her eyes. Zuko doesn't fault her for it really. He knows it will be a learning process (or maybe 'unlearning process' is the proper way to describe it) for Mai to switch from exuding Fire Nation propaganda to accepting his decisions and friends.) So far since their reunion, Mai has learned to control her tongue and avoid making comments she knows would instigate a fight, and for that, Zuko is grateful. But he knows the kind of change she has to undergo isn't linear, and it was only a matter of time before Mai would slip into a slight regression.

What really throws Zuko off is Aang. The young avatar matches Mai's demeanor, and even makes a few comments asking why Katara would ever want to stay in the Fire Nation of all places (which Zuko doesn't take offense too. He understands that his nation isn't the most welcoming and why Aang might have reservations about his former waterbending instructor staying in a country that could've imprisoned her just for existing a month or two ago.)

It doesn't go unnoticed though, that Aang is the only one voicing these concerns.

Zuko looks at Katara, to ask if she herself has any hesitations about staying with him, but her eyes don't meet his; they're burning a hole in his green silk robe where she knows Azula struck him. He wraps an arm around his torso, and Katara's gaze automatically shifts to meet Zuko's amber eyes.

The argument is already done. Past experience tells Zuko that there's no changing Katara's mind, no matter how hard Mai glares and scoffs, or how much Aang pouts and pleads. The rest of the gaang seems to think the same, as they all stay silent on the matter.

"It's been decided," Katara reiterates. Zuko turns to Mai when he hears his girlfriend sigh quietly, but as she has been doing all afternoon, she doesn't say a word. Katara crosses her arms in a way that says my decision is final, and, despite the wavering in Aang's eyes that says he wants nothing more than to convince Katara to stay with him, he falls silent too.

.

.

.

That night, before the sun fully sets and before they board the ship back to the Fire Nation, Zuko holds Katara shoulders and asks are you sure? knowing fully well that she'll say yes. Her dark brown hair sways with the gentle sea breeze and she's smiling at him, warm and genuine as Mai quietly boards the ship before them. Zuko imagines that he might get reprimanded for this later, but now his main focus is on Katara, and making sure that her stay, no matter how long, is one that is comfortable and free of stress. He can feel his own shaggy hair shifting in the breeze and he only asks her one more question. In the wake of the strain he's seen in her relationship with Aang, Zuko asks, 'is it worth it?' to which Katara hesitates, pauses, and thinks before she nods and wholeheartedly replies, 'yes, you are.'

Zuko asks no more questions, and returns to Mai for the rest of the night.