Aang, Katara, Toph, and Sokka were thrown back into their so-called 'home'. They were now prisoners of Bai Sing Se, although they were in the highest class possible. Katara sat on the cushion, wiping off the make-up Toph had told her to put on both of them. She took off the silly hair ornament, and her long brown hair came down in curls, the flowers falling out. She didn't change out of the outfit, but took off the shoes. Aang went over, picking up the flowers and sitting in front of her, staring at the beautiful flowers in his hands.
"I can't believe it. All I've heard about Bai Sing Se from gran-gran. It was all a lie," Katara whispered. "Bai Sing Se is a utopia forced upon people. They think they are safe, but they aren't. They are just being forced to think what they wish to believe."
Aang touched the soft petals of a lily. It was a flower that grew all around the Southern Air Temple, so high in the mountains. He was surprised that they were around here as well. They were considered the oriental flower, the flower for women. He was happy that he saw Katara as a beautiful, rich young woman, but he liked her better as a warrior. She was more beautiful Waterbending. Katara touched his shoulder, and he looked up slowly.
"All these people, they need me. But I can't help them because we'll lose our chances of finding Appa. How could this happen to us?" Aang said, and Katara pulled him into a hug, where he closed his eyes as he had when she brought him out of the Avatar State at the Southern Air Temple.
Toph sniffed. She was crying. Momo crept up her arm and curled on top of her head. She smiled a little bit, knowing that he did that a lot, but she was a prisoner of society yet again. Sokka went over and wiped the blind girl's eyes, but she smacked his hand away. She was tired of being watched. Yeah, Sokka was a great older brother, if he was genetically her brother, but he was annoying and she didn't need to be babied.
"Aang, we'll find Appa. Then, we'll fly out of here and go to the Northern Water Tribe again. And then to Kyoshi! We'll tell all of them what the solar eclipse will do to the world. To the Fire Nation. Who cares about those fancy guys in black? Every single warrior in this world that wants to defeat the Fire Nation will find out about the solar eclipse," Katara said.
Aang raised his head, nodding. Katara was right. She got up, walking into the room and getting ready to change back into her usual outfit. But something came to mind as she did. She turned back and pulled Toph into the room, who was still crying but stopped with a yelp at the yank of her arm.
"I'd be able to walk myself if you had asked politely," Toph said, sitting on the bed known as hers.
Katara nodded, and started to braid her hair and then formed the two tiny braids that usually curved her face. She turned around to Toph, and smiled. They were going to cheer Aang up. He needed some support. And some fun. Katara changed into her normal clothes, without the shoes. She kept the wrappings off and her necklace, setting it carefully in the locked chest that sat upon the vanity. She prayed that no one would take it from her. She told Toph her idea.
"Aang really needs to have some fun. I think I'll take him out to the watering pools tomorrow evening, him and I."
"Like a date? You two would be so romantic together. I can tell by the way you move around one another, and your voices."
"Toph, stop it! We're…just friends. I think."
"Friends with benefits. That's what my mother used to say about her and my dad before they got married. Weird how these things work out, really."
"Toph!"
"You're blushing. I can tell. I don't know how, but you are."
Katara was indeed blushing. She tugged at her braid, wondering if she and Aang were ever going to be something more than 'just friends'. She forgot what the fortuneteller had told her so long ago, in that village. But that was nothing. She ignored this, and walked out, her tiny feet being heard by Momo, but not by Aang. He was in his room, looking out the window towards the lower ranks of Bai Sing Se. Katara put a hand on the door frame, resting her head against it as well. Aang was so…peaceful at night. He was always thinking about others, like everyone should be. Aang turned at the sound of Katara sighing, who straightened up when their eyes connected. She blushed, and walked in further, her feet feeling cold against the stones.
"What is it, Katara?"
"I was thinking. Tomorrow, you remember those lakes and watering pools that we passed? I was hoping you and I, alone, could go and, well, have some fun tomorrow evening."
Aang smiled, looking back out the window. Momo came in, sitting between them. Katara gave a tiny laugh as he started to jump up and down, but he calmed and moved over to a pillow in the corner of the room meant for him. Aang turned back to Katara, nodding. He wanted to spend time with her. Just her and only her. No interruptions from Sokka's clumsiness, or Toph wanting to train him in Earthbending. He wanted to wash away the worries of the war for just a day, or even the night.
"I'm glad you want to have some fun, Aang. I guess I'll head to bed now. Good night," Katara got up, walking towards the door when Aang called her name. "What is it?"
"I…I want to ask you something."
Katara smiled, walking back over and sitting on the floor in front of him. Aang looked sad now. She knew he missed Appa. She did as much as him. Appa was the one they trusted from the beginning, along with Momo. Katara took Aang's hand, covering it with both of hers.
"You can always ask me anything. Everything and anything I will answer, Aang."
"Katara, when I saw you in that outfit, I thought I was in heaven. Of course, Toph ruined the moment, but still. Watching you enjoy that, it made you so happy, and it made me happy. I know you haven't dressed that lavishly in a long time, right?"
"I've never dressed that beautifully. It made me feel, well, like a princess. I've always wished that the Southern Water Tribe would have royalty and they would choose me as the first Queen. But when I discovered my powers, I thought, well, Queen or warrior? I chose warrior over Queen. Because I wanted to follow in my great-great grandmother's footsteps."
"You looked like a princess. The make-up I think you would've looked better without. Make-up hides a girl's true beauty. You are more beautiful without the fancy hair designs and fancy clothes. You're beautiful as Katara, the Waterbender, the warrior of the Southern Water Tribe, my friend," Aang paused, looking into her eyes. "The one I really like."
"Aang," Katara whispered, letting go of his hand and throwing her arms around him. "I know how you feel about me. I-I feel the same way so much."
Aang smiled. Katara really loved him. When they first met, they were only kids trying to Waterbend. Both of them, for Aang had to master the element and Katara just needed to learn to advance her skills. Now they were both masters of Waterbending, and had fallen in love with one another even more.
"Katara, I don't know how to say this," Aang gave a nervous laugh. "I guess I'd like you to be my…girlfriend."