[He rolls his eyes and sips his wine, then lifts an eyebrow at the emphasis put on 'friendship'. Why is she so hung up on that? What did he ever do to her? He hasn't tried to split them apart, but make things easier between them, advising that Zuko not lash out at her.

Clearly, she can take care of herself, but looking her up and down -which he actually does do obviously before setting his wine aside- it doesn't appear that way. She looks a mess, like she isn't handling this all very well.]

No.

I have no control over what your brother does. He approached and made a friend out of me, and he's said what he's said. Whether that was a good decision [On second thought, he's picking his wine back up. He needs to keep his hands and mouth busy and will not smoke indoors.] or not.

You seem to want me to hate you, or you want to make an enemy out of me. I'm not sure why. You're entitled to how you feel, of course. I guess I want to understand what I did. Aside from how Zuko and my first interaction went. I'm a different person than the Gokudera you both knew on Lunatia, and I'm curious...

[He looks down into his wine, swirling it about in the cup.]

Do I make you feel threatened? Do you think I'm going to take him away from you, or something? You make him happy. I wouldn't do that to him. And you've done well to show me that you're far superior in combat to me. More clever, attractive, dangerous?

Why then do you hate me so much? Or is it everyone? No one can compare. You're bad and you're good at it... But you're far from the first or last person I have dealt with who's knocked me on my ass.

[Maybe he can aggravate her and she can take out some of her feelings on him. Gokudera came suspecting he'd be attacked.]

What damage could me knowing what he's told me do?