Katara Pov

I hate these cloaks, this ship, the color red, but all of this will be worth it when Aang wakes up. After Ba Sing Se, we captured a Fire Nation ship for travel and picked up a few friends. It felt good being surrounded by what I was fighting for. It helped me keep my focus while I was awake.

Nighttime was a different story. The fantasy that I grew accustomed to morphed into a nightmare. I dreamt of my capture, my torture, and my enjoyment at the hands of him. The burned Earth Kingdom boy of my dreams was gone and replaced by the cold reality of the now-returned, Fire Nation Prince. With him closer to the enemy side, the chance of peace felt slimmer. I trained harder even with the lack of sleep. The war just got even more real.

Healing sessions with Aang helped as well. With his back turned to me I was forced to stare at the consequences of trusting his kind. I should've ended him in the catacombs when I had the chance. Then maybe, we wouldn't be in this position. Hiding in the Fire Nation, with an Avatar that can't enter the avatar state. Our greatest weapon is his secrecy. Without the world knowing of his survival the chance of reuniting with him on my terms is greater.

Aang struggled with his sense of stealth is frustrating. I try to be kind and understanding but I need him to enter his war mindset. This is a fight for all of us, and his pride and arrogance will lead us to failure.

"I need my honor back," he said.

I fought back an eye-roll. Another man on another mission for a sense of duty and honor while leaving those who care about them in their wake. Can purpose not be accomplished with a team? Does unity not matter for the greater good? He sounds like two people I know.

"You're talking about me too, aren't you?" My father shuddered.

My daddy issues have come to the forefront. I guess this is where the love of bad boys comes from. They all have that sense of purpose. The drive above all other things. I see it in my father, I see it in Aang, I saw it in Jet, I see it in Zuko. It's as attractive as it is poisonous.

It felt good to begin to heal from his abandonment. The duality between pain and responsibilities. How what we want and what we need can keep us up at night.

"I thought about you every day I was gone, and every night when I went to sleep," he admitted.

I cried into his arms sharing his sentiment but for different reasons. I too had someone I thought about while afar and haunted my dreams while asleep. This was a different kind of pain duty had rendered for me. I could not lie and say that I hoped one day he would come to his senses and abandon his sense of destiny for mine. Until then, we would be on opposite sides of the war. I will not allow myself to be lost in the feeling of abandonment. Instead, I will use that space to bring me closer to my purpose.

We found Aang on Crescent Island and let the old identities of our hopelessness burn up with his glider.

I hate these clothes, this island, the color red, but I can't deny they look good on me. I switched up my hair to something more like his kind and fought the shudder that when down my spine at my appearance. I envisioned him behind me, tying the knot on my top, telling me one of the perks of his nation is the heat. I daydreamed that he bent to my ear and told me that as much as he likes seeing me dress to his culture, he'd rather see me without it. That's enough, I told myself and left to get a real compliment.

"Your necklace," Aang reminded.

I removed the garment and stared down at it. I'd never be able to have both, it's better to stay focused. I replaced it with another necklace available in the local shop and tried not to wonder what Fire Nation betrothal traditions were.

"Saphire Fire," what a stupid name. Almost as stupid as hosting a party in a cave.

Aang could dance. He was light on his feet and letting him lead was fun. What would a trained Fire dancer dance like? Aang began to dance with a girl he met in school and it was hard not to imagine what it would be like growing up here. Meeting a boy you liked, but shouldn't. Sneaking away from your parents to a party to do forbidden things. I felt robbed. She could've been me and Aang could've been… someone else.

"Eh, if that's what you like," I snarked back to Sokka to hide my jealousy.

Aang took my hand and I let the fantasy take over. We danced like no one was watching, even though everyone was watching. With Aang's hair and Fire Nation clothing, I settled for the illusion of a mix of short-haired Zuko and the Zuko who invaded the Southern Water Tribe. It was wrong but the goosebumps broke out over my skin nonetheless. When my eyes met Aang's, I only saw his.

The dip sold the performance, but I was back in reality when everyone cheered. I kissed his cheek in apology for using my friend selfishly. Even if he didn't know, I know the spirits knew.

Traveling through the Fire Nation was some of the best of our travels. There was more to do undercover. More ways to help people and enjoy ourselves at the same time. Donning the alter ego of The Painted Lady and watching Sokka master swords fighting is worth risking our lives in this Nation. Luckily, Master Piandao was an ally. If he had turned us over, we all would've been cooked.

We were so far so good until "Combustion Man" showed up. Well, Combustion Man, and Toph and I getting captured for being bandits. At least I learned a new skill, sweat bending. Until I learned another skill, the secret of my kind.

Hama forced a gift on me that I never hoped to open. She showed the ugly truth of my people. A style of bending birthed from the agony of war. When the powerful became powerless, she reclaimed control. Blood bending was sick and inhumane. It was rooted in the nature of his kind, considering the technique was birthed in their prisons. When I felt her blood at the edge of my fingertips I felt like them. I couldn't deny that it was a feeling I longed for. Authority, intensity, dominance. I vowed to never reach for another soul's blood again. Unless I had to…

The day of Black Sun was upon us and everyone was in position. I returned to my Water Tribe clothes and it felt good to separate my imaginary Fire Nation life from to reality.

I would spend our time on those islands day-dreaming. Seeing little trinkets and day-to-day activities that would make me wonder what he would say about them. What he would have to teach me. The scorching nights didn't help to keep the dreams at bay. The sweltering air, his hot breath, burning touch, I dreamt it all. I would wake at the crack of dawn every morning with what he said to me a year ago on his tongue.

"You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun."

Yes, this is where I was meant to be. In reality, at the frontlines of war. Being my enemy's greatest threat.

When Aang kissed me a pang hit my chest that this could be the day everything changed. Maybe it was time to start being realistic about my romantic expectations.

We failed and my father was captured along with many other of our allies.

"We tasted victory, and that counts for something," my father said.

If only it meant I would see everyone again, if only it meant the war was one step closer to being over without our allies, if only I could've seen him one last time. But his kind had my father and many other people that I care about and it was time to be realistic about the fantasies in my head.

We arrived at the Western Air Temple to take refuge, the gang and the rest of our ragtag group in tow. At least there was Haru, he grew a mustache. Maybe while we're here things will change for the better, and I can stop dreaming of the banished prince in my bed.

Okay, disclaimer because I haven't said it, I don't own this series just following the dialogue for context. I believe the rest of this series might be from Zuko's POV picking up their relationship growth in detail starting with the Western Air Temple. I hope you all are enjoying!