Katara waited until everyone was asleep before she suited up. A pair of crimson tights and black combat boots adorning her lower half; her torso clothed in a short, black lace dress with long billowing sleeves, a blood red corset on top. Her hair done up in a flowing, tousled braid, messy and yet beautiful. She painted her lips crimson and lined her eyes with kohl, saving the best for last. She carefully dipped her index finger in a little bowl that was filled to the brim with blood, warm and sticky, and painted an intricate design on her face. She was deadly, a menace, yet it didn't take away from her shocking beauty. Wrong doers beware; you may accidentally fall in love with the enemy. She fixed a rose in her hair and made to sneak away from the campsite, but she wasn't quiet enough and quickly used her bending to draw an eerie mist around her, obscuring her from view. She was so focused on her mission that she didn't notice a pair of golden eyes following her as she descended into the dark.
He must have imagined it, he had to. Zuko had a very hard time sleeping after he had been awoken in the middle of the night. He had left his tent to check on the others, and what he saw absolutely stunned him. There was a beautiful woman dressed in black and red, her face covered with what looked like blood. He didn't think it was from a wound, it was painted on in such a beautiful design that it had to have been done on purpose. She looked dangerous, fierce, like she could kill him in an instant. He didn't let that deter him, he had dealt with dangerous women before, he used to live with a psychopath for a sister before he joined the Avatar. He didn't want to fight this girl, the way she was twirling about in the mist, the epitome of ethereal beauty, suggested that she was a spirit. He caught just a glimpse of her crystalline eyes and raven hair before she vanished as quickly as she had appeared. Something about her haunting beauty was familiar to him, her posture suggested pride, like someone else he knows. It couldn't have been the water bender though, Katara was safe and sound in her tent… at least Zuko thought so.
The next morning, he emerged from his tent to see Katara bustling around a fire, preparing breakfast. It smelled absolutely delicious.
"Morning Ice Queen! What's for breakfast?" I called, genuinely happy to see her. If she's here safe and sound then she clearly can't be that spirit girl.
"Good morning to you too, Hot Head. We're having venison, potatoes and fresh bread." She smiled; clearly please with the substantial meal she's providing us. After eating nothing but various types of fungi and nuts for the past week, I'm thrilled at the prospect of Katara's cooking. When she serves me a large plate, I can't help but wonder where she got this scrumptious food.
"So Water Tribe, where did you get this marvelous grub?" I manage between mouthfuls of my heavenly breakfast, while studying her face. Her little nose scrunches up a bit and her full lips quirk as her pupils retract, making her clear blue eyes look impossibly larger. She straightens her back and puffs out her chest, turning her back from me and something in her tousled black hair catches my eye. It's a single rose petal, stranded in her forest of dark hair. It reminds me of that spirit from last night, that strange and dangerous woman of immense beauty. That's who she reminded me of… The spirit reminded me of Katara.
"I went into the nearby village and struck up a deal with an old man, I water his garden and he pays me in food. It was a massive garden, thousands of plants… but it didn't take me very long." I smile triumphantly; he seems to be buying my story. He doesn't need to know about my secret agenda, my double life. It's my business, and I don't plan on sharing this secret with him, even if I'm starting to trust this boy. I yawn resignedly, last night took a lot out of me, and I have a few minor injuries to prove it. Burns and scratches here and there from the fire in town last night; I had pulled everyone from the building, healing injuries as I went. They're all convinced I'm a spirit, a lady of the night coming to help them. That's fine, perfect really. They've painted a picture that I'm a beautiful dead girl, trying to right some wrongs, they don't know I'm a water bender… or that I'm even alive. Yet, I like it this way; I have my privacy and I get days off every now and then. I don't know how this started, but I'm not going to stop this. No matter where I go, there are people that need help and I'm going to deliver the help that they need even if it means sacrificing my sleep, my safety to do it.