Zuko waited in the backroom of the teashop that evening. He knew Katalina was done with her work around the city by now, but she had yet to return. And he was trying to not let that worry him, but after what happened he was always worried about her.

"Why are you just sitting down here?" Mai suddenly asked, coming down the stairs.

"Oh, I'm waiting for Lina," he answered absentmindedly. "A-and Jet," he quickly added after realising what he had said.

She nodded, unconvinced. "Right." She sat with him. "Do you mind if we talk about her?"

"What about her?"

"I don't like how close you two are," she admitted flat out.

"How is it any different than when we were kids?"

"The difference is that we're no longer kids, Zuko. And you're dating me."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I don't need Katalina trying to undermine me and steal you from me."

"C'mon Mai, she would never do that. We're only friends. Nothing more."

"So you've honestly never had any feelings for her?"

Now she shrugged. "I dunno. I guess I've never really thought about it."

"How have you not thought about it?"

"Why do you care so much? You should trust me!"

She paused. "I do trust you, Zuko. It's her I don't trust."

"Get over it, then."

Her eyes widened. "Excuse me?" She pursed her lips. "You know, you two were much better off keeping your distance," she then went on. "She's a bad influence on you. She's bad luck!"

"Bad luck?" he repeated. "What the hell has gotten into you?"

"It's not what's gotten into, but who's gotten in between this relationship," she corrected him. "You can't have both of us, Zuko."

"Mai—"

"You value honesty now, don't you?" she cut him off. "Well, I'm being honest with you."

"You're not being fair."

"Look, I know you're concerned because of the attack on her, but she's a big girl and she can take care of herself," she continued. "She can clean up her own messes and you don't have to always be there to save the day."

"It's not even like that!"

"Oh please, yes it is. Think about it. Katalina always goes to you when she needs help. She always has. But you need to let go and start letting her help herself. After all, things are different now."

He shook his head. "I don't always save the day," he denied again.

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "You have to let her protect herself. Every time you've helped, it's backfired and you got hurt. Do you really wanna keep going through that?"

"Where do you come up with this bullshit?"

"It's the truth! Or are you just that ignorant about your own friendship?" Now she shook her head. "Katalina doesn't actually care about you. She's only ever used you as a shield."

"Shut up!"

"Excuse me?"

"You don't know what you're talking about!"

"That's what you think." She got to her feet and moved behind him, wrapping her arms gently around his neck as he remained seated. "I'm only trying to look out for you because I truly care about you. And you don't need someone like Katalina Palmer in your life." She kissed his cheek. "I need you to realise that before it's too late." She then slid away from him to return upstairs.

Zuko swallowed hard. "You can't make me choose between the two of you," he then called after her.

Mai stopped. "I'm gonna give you time to think about that," she replied. "But I know you'll make the right decision in the end." She left.

It wasn't long before Iroh was sitting across from Zuko.

"How much did you hear?" he asked his uncle.

"Enough to understand the premise of the argument," he answered. "Though, every argument you two have now seems to revolve around Katalina."

"Mai was never like this before," he stated. "So why is she acting like this all of a sudden?"

"You really don't know?"

"If I did I wouldn't be asking you, Uncle."

He chuckled lightly. "Here's all I'm going to say about it," he then began. "Mai is telling you to stop being friends with Katalina. But has Katalina ever once told you to stop dating Mai?"

He shook his head. "No. She actually feels really bad about the fights she's been unintentionally causing."

"So which relationship is the toxic one?" he wondered. Then he stood back up. "Goodnight my nephew." He went back upstairs.

Zuko contemplated his uncle's final question. Then Katalina and Jet entered the backroom. He jumped to his feet, startled for some odd reason. They didn't seem to notice his jerky movement, though.

"Hey," she greeted him with a smile. "Sorry we took so long tonight."

"Yeah, we walked around the city a little bit before walking Shion home," Jet explained.

"No worries. It's not dark yet, so…" he trailed off, shrugging his shoulders.

"Well, I'm gonna turn in," he replied. "G'night!" He headed upstairs.

"How long were you waiting?" Katalina wondered.

"Not very long," Zuko lied. He paused, thinking. "Hey, you don't think I should breakup with Mai, do you?" he then asked her.

She froze. "W-why?" She folded her arms across her chest. "Are you c-considering it?"

"No! I was just curious—"

"I wouldn't tell you to end any relationship."

"Even if you weren't fond of the girl?"

"Even if that were the case, it still wouldn't be my relationship to interfere with. I mean, I don't make your decisions for you. Whatever goes on between you and your girlfriend is between you and your girlfriend. I have no place in that."

He nodded. "I appreciate that."

"Well, that's how it should be just in general," she said back. "Why? What did Mai do this time?"

"Huh?"

"I'm assuming you're asking this because she made some sort of rude comment about—"

"She didn't do anything," he lied again.

"Ah." She paused. "I'm gonna go to bed, then." And she hurried upstairs.

Zuko fell back into his chair with a heavy sigh. He wasn't sure if he had just made things simpler for himself…or more difficult.