She sat down next to the boy who hugged his knees to his chest, unable to tear his gaze away from the ground. She handed him a twinkie and he took it without thanks. He didn't eat it though, which probably worried Katara the most.

Katara didn't know what to say. It had been a while since her own mother had died and she knew that no number of "I'm sorry"'s or "She was a great woman"'s ever made her feel better; how would it be different for Zuko?

It turned out that Katara didn't have to say anything. She heard Zuko whisper in a small voice, "You know what makes it worse?"

She didn't say anything because she knew Zuko would continue eventually. She was right:

"Everyone keeps hugging me."

Katara glanced at him quizically. "What do you mean?"

He finally raised his head to look at her, his eyes glowing with tears. "They all hug me. And I can't stand it. I think that if I get one more hug, I'll just... break. Snap in two."

Zuko swallowed the lump in his throat. He waited for her to laugh at him for being stupid, for being so ridiculous for having such a thought. But the laugh never came. There was only silence. Strangely, the silence gave him courage to speak again:

"But it's weird, you know? I feel like... I'm already broken."

Katara had to stifle a sob. This wasn't Zuko. Zuko could get over anything. He was strong like that. But this boy, this alien replaced her lifelong friend. The Zuko she knew was gone. He left with his mother.

"Don't worry," she said slowly as she turned to look at him. "I won't ever hug you."

While the comment sounded offensive, Zuko thought it was the best thing he'd heard all day.

The corners of Zuko's mouth twitched upwards as he opened the twinkie wrapper. 

There he is.