I'm doing some writing exercises in which I randomly generate numbers from lists of fandoms and characters! This is going to be my AtLA set, and I'll have others, too. I'll update each fandom when I can. After picking a fandom and character, I go into my itunes shuffle and get inspiration from songs!

ATLA, Katara, Dark Horse by Katy Perry

"We could be friends."

The offer had died on her lips back in the catacombs.

Someone like him didn't deserve friends.

But now here they were again. Katara, Azula, and Zuko. Only this time the playing field was leveled differently.

Katara stood, one hand on a pillar of the court yard, watching the wild flames swell and shrink rapidly. The air roared, hissed, and snapped as though they were all standing in the den of angry dragons. Blue flames zagged viciously to each side of the arena, rushing to create a circle that would cut the combatants off from outside interference.

Not that Katara could find it in herself to move. She was petrified.

Dual walls of blood orange flames erupted up and up and up, effectively cutting off the erratic sapphire ones, while a huge pulse of red rolled up the middle, straight for the source of the evil blaze.

Katara watched, amazed at the spectacle. The red current heaved and ebbed around Azula, swallowing her attempt at a counter. Zuko moved carefully, swaying gently, pushing and pulling the inferno as though it were an ocean.

Azula responded as only she would.

Blue sliced through the waves of red, lancing violently, its heat licking Katara's skin as it ricocheted around the columns. She quickly leaped back. Azula was laughing. Yet she didn't sound pleased.

Zuko had dodged his sister's strikes and was now lobbying quick bolts of his own, the fire bending technique obvious in his movements once more. The sudden change in his tactics took the acting Fire Lord off guard and she was sent crashing to the ground.

Katara was amazed when the twisted girl stands back up, limbs struggling to support her. Azula's hair hung in untamed tangles around her scary expression.

Zuko settled into a new position. "No lightning, today? What's the matter? Afraid I'll redirect it?"

Katara was already moving, praising her feet for letting her go. She knew lighting could be redirected, she's heard of it before. But she's never seen Zuko do it and she's terrified of Azula. She needs to be there…just in case.

Azula narrowed her eyes, clearly reeling in her wrath. A heart beat.

"Oh, I'LL SHOW YOU LIGHTING."

The lightning was screaming, Zuko was screaming, Katara was stunned silent.

Katara paced angrily back and forth. How that—that fiend though he could just waltz in offering himself up as a fire bending master and be greeted gladly. How could he stand there and think everyone would be so pleased. How could he?

Yet he was welcomed. If not pleasantly, than calmly enough. No one else was letting their emotions fuel the decision. No one else was suffering the torment Katara was, having the snake-rat in their midst.

She had threatened him. He had taken it. She hadn't believed his silent acceptance possible, and it only made her angrier. She went out.

He had found her later, sending stinging whips of water through the trees, slicking branches and leaves apart. Her arms snapped quickly, throwing ice spikes, water balls, and steam to and fro.

She had spun around, seen him, and had launched steam straight for him. His eyes had widened as the heat flew to meet him. A fine, warm mist washed over him instead.

He had opened his eyes to see her shoulders heaving.

She hadn't had the guts to burn him. She had cooled the attack, reluctant to hurt him. She didn't know how this made her feel.

Zuko moved to step forward, but stopped at her raised hand and glaring eyes.

"Don't." She looked away. "I'm doing this for Aang. I'm doing this for the world. I will tolerate this situation. I will accept it."

That she didn't have to like it was left unsaid.

She stomped back toward camp, stopping just at his left side. "Don't make me your enemy."

Blind emotion had guided her to his side. Later, Katara wasn't entirely sure she'd be able to relate how she had gotten the better of Azula of the Fire Nation. How she had drowned out the crazed girl's barbs, how she had lived through the resulting lightning storm. She had been only vaguely aware of wrapping the chains around the astonished fire bender's wrists. How she had got there, she wasn't sure.

She was only certain of her actions as she healed Zuko. And when he relaxed, it was one of the strongest feelings of relief Katara ever felt.

"Thank you, Katara."

Her eyes watered. "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you."