Again, her words startled him. It wasn't that he didn't know the things she spoke, it was just that no one had ever taken the time to vocalize them. He could relax and be the real Zuko when around his uncle and his uncle alone (he never could bring himself to relax fully when his uncle's men had been around) and had tried to around Mai for a brief time, but kept having to throw up his various masks in response to awkward questions and his sister always being around. But, with the waterbender...
He almost questioned why, but shoved that thought aside. No. Why didn't matter, what mattered was that he could. He could quit pretending, quit being on guard all the time, quit trying to live up to the image that everyone else had of him. He could be Zuko. Just Zuko. The Blue Spirit without the mask.
Zuko was unsure what to say in response to that, but it seemed as he felt himself leaning in that he wouldn't have to use words to express his gratitude. He nodded visibly before closing the gap between them and placing his lips gently upon hers in perhaps the most tender kiss he'd given her.