The next time Katalina woke up, she noticed that it was late at night. And she would've just gone back to bed if it wasn't for the rumbling in her stomach. So she carefully got out of bed and made her way downstairs. Then she started searching for something to eat, but it wasn't long before someone joined her.

"I've always admired this about you," the male voice said. She turned to see Zuko at the bottom of the stairs. "You've always been so strong," he finished. "You've always been a fighter."

"That would be why I created the Resistors," she responded. "You know…to fight against the Colonies."

"Right." He nodded. "The only problem is that you tend to fight against yourself a lot as well."

"I don't know where you're going with this. I mean, I just came down here to find food."

"I just mean that you shouldn't let this attack get the better of you. Don't let it get you paranoid."

"You do realise how random this is, right?"

Now he shook his head. "I know you're strong, Lina, but you don't have to act strong for the rest of us."

"Seriously Zuko, what are you talking about?"

"How are you feeling right now?"

"Hungry."

"Besides that."

She paused before shrugging her shoulders. "I feel fine."

"And that's what I mean."

She sighed. "I do, though. I feel fine."

"You haven't eaten in days. You can't feel fine."

"What does it matter?"

"Because I admire your strength, but I hate it when you just act strong for others. And I know you will enough to know that that's exactly what you're gonna do after this whole incident."

"There's nothing wrong with acting strong," she denied.

"There's also nothing wrong with being weak. And I've known you my whole life and have never seen you weak, but now I know that you must feel weak and you must feel paranoid."

"Yeah, that's why I don't want to stay here. I don't want to see any of you get hurt on account of me."

"No one else will get hurt."

"How do you know?"

"I won't allow it."

"Look Zuko, can I please just get some food and get back to bed?"

"So long as you don't fake it in front of me."

"Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

"Because I've learned to appreciate honesty."

Her eyes widened a bit. Then she shook her head. "I'm exhausted…"

"Then I'll let you go," he gave in.

Katalina found something small to eat and headed for the stairs. Then what Zuko said finally registered with her.

"Hold on, you don't think I've even been weak?" she questioned.

"I thought you were going back to bed," he replied.

"No, I'm finally waking up and realising what you said. And you really don't think I've ever been weak?"

"You've never been weak," he declared.

She shook her head. "You don't even know the half of it."

"Then tell me, Lina. Tell me everything I don't know because I want to know. I wanna remain a part of your life. So don't let us drift apart."

"Are you saying you wanna be friends?" she checked after a few long moments of silence.

"No, I'm saying I wanna stay friends," he corrected her. "And I know things have changed, okay? I know things aren't going to be the same as they were three years ago, but that's okay. I mean, things are better now. Things are much better. And we can build off of that, can't we?"

"Mai won't like it," she pointed out.

"Mai's gonna have to deal with it," he said again. "Come on, I thought I told you that already."

"And I thought I told you that you have to respect your girlfriend's feelings."

"If I have to respect her feelings, then shouldn't she have to respect my feelings as well?"

She paused. "I'm toxic, Zuko," she then stated, beginning to feel overwhelmed by the situation at hand.

"What kind of bullshit excuse is that?"

Now she sighed. "It means that I could fall apart at any second."

"What's causing you to fall apart?"

"I'm more so ripping myself apart," she admitted, trying to fight off the dizzy sensation come over her all of a sudden.

"Then stop. Fight against it. I know you can. Plus, you'll have me to help you along the way. From here on out I'm standing by your side, whether you want me to or not."

"I do want you to be there, but—"

"No, there are no buts. These are just simple steps to be taken."

"If you know me then you should know that I tend to trip over thin air."

"Then I'll be the hand that helps pull you back to your feet."

"And what if I fall?" she asked. She spun on her heel to face him at this moment, which was a bad idea. The dizziness took her over and she fell into him again. "What happens then?" Her voice had softened.

"I'll catch you," he answered, holding her in his arms now. She looked up at him and he smiled down at her. "You're not getting rid of me."

"I was afraid you were gonna say that."

That caused his smile to fall away. "Let's get you back to bed." And he went to pick her up like he had done before.

"I don't need you to carry me this time," she denied, stopping him. "Just walk behind me."

So that's what he did. They headed back upstairs and Zuko walked with Katalina until she was back in her bed. Then he bed her goodnight and returned to his own room. She tucked herself in and stared up at the blank ceiling. She remembered the food she had brought with her, but she no longer felt hungry. Instead she just set it aside and turned her back on the door. She waited for the sound of footsteps. And when she didn't hear them, she closed her eyes and fell back asleep.