"Only because they have nowhere else to go!" he countered, brows knitting.

He wasn't going to admit that he was only keeping them to feel less alone. She wouldn't understand; she had both the Avatar and her brother to keep her company. Even with Toph now gone, Katara wasn't alone. And his friendship with Sokka was still something new and strange to him, the entire concept of 'friendship'... so unfamiliar...