He didn't step back, he stayed where he was feeling just as awkward now that they were just standing around. He was never good at this stuff, never when it came to girls and never when it came to 'friendship'. And being alone with her didn't exactly help either.

"All right..." Zuko watched her while her eyes were lowered to the ground, quietly studying what he could see of her face.

It was weird; they should have been at each others necks this entire time. His room should have been completely burnt and flooded by now. Why weren't they locked in a struggle to the death? Why wasn't he drowning on the water in his body and why wasn't she screaming in agony while frying on the floor next to him?

Comforting... As awkward as it was at that moment, having her around was, believe it or not, a comfort. But Zuko wasn't going to believe that shit, he was going to believe that because his roommate was long gone, he was just lonely for some company.

Yeah. Yeah, that had to be it.

It couldn't be any other reason-- but maybe that was just a lie his mind had made up. All those years searching for the Avatar at sea, Zuko had been alone minus the company of his uncle and the crew members on the ship. Although one wouldn't exactly be alone then if they'd had his uncle talking nonstop about tea and the weather and 'music night' and Pai Sho, and there being no one his age. Everyone had been much older than he.

Remembering his times with his uncle, a part of him really wished that his Uncle Iroh were here to help with this. He cringed then as he thought about it and then realized that maybe ... maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all.

Zuko glanced away for a moment, coughing to himself, and then back at her. "Sh-should I--" But he trailed off and gestured helplessly to the door.