She sat by a stream, gently lifting tendrils of water and twirling them about her hands. The moon shone down with fierce intensity, illuminating the tears that stained her copper cheeks.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and Katara ignored them, continuing to toy with the water. When her brother sat down beside her, she pretended that he wasn't there. She steadfastly ignored the moon, her brother, the world around her… everything but the water. The ever changing water that could heal and save; the water that could have saved him had she not been occupied.
"I know how you feel, you know," Sokka said with uncharacteristic seriousness as he gently rested a hand on her shoulder. Katara pretended that she couldn't feel his touch as she continued to twirl a strand of water about her long, copper colored fingers.
"Like your whole world is shattered and you'll never be able to move on," he continued, looking away from his sister and staring up at the moon. "Like you've lost a part of yourself," he finished softly, closing his eyes as the moonbeams caressed his face with the tenderness of a lover.
Katara swallowed hard, staring down at the water that lapped against her calves. "I just wanted to let you know that I understand," Sokka said softly, gently brushing his fingertip across her wet cheek. "I'm here for you. I could help you, if you let me," he murmured, and then he pushed himself to his feet and walked away.
But he didn't understand. He didn't fight beside his lover, see the sweat and love on her brow. He didn't have the bond wrought only by danger with Yue; he didn't have that much in common with her; didn't know her intimately inside and out.
But Katara had. She'd known all there was to know of Zuko and he her. They were two parts to one whole; brothers in arms, lovers, friends.
Katara swallowed convulsively once more and closed her eyes against the water. The water that could heal everything but her broken heart.