Such open laughter... it tugged at his chest again. To see her laughing so easily and freely while sitting with him and the kittens, it left a strange feeling in his chest and yet made him oddly... happy. Relaxed.

Growing up Zuko had never had many friends. As prince to the Fire Nation, his only friend had been his mother. Azula's little posse, Mai and Ty Lee, never counted. Was this what friendship was supposed to be like?

A smile tugged at his lips and he allowed it to show, briefly. "You've been saying that ever since I found them," he pointed out, reaching down to teasingly tug on Boots' tail.