By the time the sun went down they boarded the water tribes ships including the avatar who has not stirred in his sleep once, as if he was dead but the coma gave them hope still.

The earth king said his goodbyes to the children that saved him, he wished to travel the world with his bear bosco, they were given clothes to blend in with the commoners and other travelers, for safety he was still given resources to survive and a map with multiple safe spots that would help him. Then they parted.

Toph threw up three times in the few hours they sailed across the sea and stayed sitting down for most of it. Zuko stayed by her making sure she was alright while the siblings helped their tribe sail with the little practice they had.

"You look like your going to get all angsty again?" Sokka noticed Zuko looking out over the water as Toph was sitting on the ground groaning and clinging onto a bucket.

"I do?" Zuko raised a brow at him. He was zoned out admiring the waters around him.

"Has it been a while since you traveled over waters?" Sokka sat with him anyways.

"No, but it's never been for anything good," he ran a hand through his hair with a sigh.

"No good memories being on a boat? I mean I doubt you've gone canoeing but does the fire nation have anything like that?" Sokka tilted his head to the side curiously.

"I had to take a boat to get to my family's vacation house, when I was a kid," Zuko offered quietly not really sure if he clearly remembered those days.

"See that's something! Why did you guys stop if it was a happy memory?" The older boy smiled brightly.

".. my mom died?" Zuko said slowly raising a brow.

"Oh, sorry," sokkas face turned red in embarrassment and looked down in shame.

"Don't be, I barely remember," he waved him off casually.

"Really?" Toph turned now interested.

"How old were you?" Sokka asked now with sympathy.

"Nine," Zuko shrugged.

"I was eight," Sokka nodded understanding. "I don't remember my mom either,"

"That's scary," Toph whispered leaning on the bench Zuko was on.

"Yea, it is, I just remember her voice kind of, I don't remember her face anymore," Zuko agreed.

Sokka looked at him softly, he didn't realize how much he and a fire nation solider would have in common. He didn't remember his mothers face or voice anymore, he knows the memories and if he saw her again he would be able to pick her from a crowd. But when he tried to picture her face, he never could. But instead he would see his sister instead, that voice in his  head to tell him to think things through or to pick up after himself was Katara. Not his own mom.

"Have you slept yet? It's almost midnight, it's been two days," Sokka groaned a little seeing Zuko zoned out again.

"Nope, not till Katara sleeps," Zuko shook his head.

"I told you I'm fine! I'm not tired!" Katara heard her name from across the ship.

"Then I'm not sleeping either!" Zuko yelled back sitting up.

"Your so ridiculous for fucks sake," she scoffed as some men chuckled at their youngest warrior.

"It's not a competition, I really just can't sleep, I'm antsy and wide awake," Katara stormed over and towered over Zuko while he was sitting.

"I'm antsy and wide awake too," he told her calmly.

She growled to herself a little as Zuko looked at her challengingly. She was stubborn but he was determined, neither of them would break until the final moment. They both knew it.

"I'm going for another healing session for Aang," Katara scoffed a little.

"No your not," zuko immediately stood up. Katara booked it trying to run but Zuko chased after her quickly.

"Uh oh sugar queen found someone that disagrees with her way," Toph whistled impressed a little hearing her cuss Zuko out.

"It's weird with someone not letting her boss them around," Sokka watched.

Zuko threw Katara over his shoulder as she started to scream louder and was able to make the most brutal gruesome threats any sailor heard. Bato and Hakoda watched the girl get taken away from below deck, Zuko carried her with ease and didn't seem phased by her.

"I'm making tea, anyone want any?" Zuko asked as Katara was kicking.

"Which tea?" Sokka asked curiously.

"Literally anything," Zuko said tightening his grip before Katara tried to escape.

"Oh that's my cue," Toph nodded and dug in her pocket, tossing something to Zuko and he caught it then shoved in his pocket before anyone could see.

"Your not funny," Katara groaned giving up and rested her elbows against his back to support herself.

"I can be," Zuko hummed. The smallest bit of the corner of his lips turned up while he dragged her along.

-

"You know once you reach a certain amount of time without sleep you start hallucinating," Zuko sat with Katara in a separate part of the ship as she was pouting a little, he made them both a cup of tea.

"I hit three nights without sleep before, you won't feel tired," he used his bending to make the flame hotter.

"I don't want to sleep," Katara finally admitted.

"I know," he nodded.

"What if something happens? What if Aang wakes up? Or he needs me to heal and I'm asleep? Somethings going to happen I know it," she covered her face stressfully and he listened.

"Nothing will happen, your safe with your tribe, Sokka and Toph are right outside, so is your dad," he poured them both a cup of tea.

"You'll drink it with me?" She asked giving up the battle they had.

"That's what I said," he nodded, sliding the cup to her.

"We're in this together?" She gulped holding the cup.

"I got your back now princess, we're in it together," Zuko raised the cup and drank first. He could see right through her, the fear of failure, her worries of the world on her shoulders, the responsibility she thought she healed alone. So he drank first for her to follow.

"My uncle always told me a soldier needs his sleep," he sighed. Katara had tears in her eyes again, and drank the tea anyways, swallowing her pride.

"Can you tell me more about your family? I like listening about your life," she wiped her eyes quickly.

"Why?" Zuko didn't get it.

"Because I never thought about the fire nation as other people, as humans, not until I met you," Katara admitted quietly.

"Understandable, I never thought about the water tribe till I went to the North Pole, and I don't think about the sons and fathers life's that we took in the earth kingdom, I think it's normal we don't think our enemies as human, makes war easier," Zuko sipped his tea keeping his eyes down.

"You've killed earth kingdom soldiers?" She asked looking at him. Obviously the fire nation has but Zuko himself?

"I have, I'm not a good person," he nodded.

"No good person says they're good," she pursed her lips.

"I remember the fire time I killed someone close range, they died on top of me, with the knife my uncle gave me," Zuko told her looking her in the eyes.

He remembered a non bender earth soldier ran at him, he was still a child, small, he was an easy target. The man tackled him on the battle field and strangled Zuko as a child, he grabbed the knife from his belt and stabbed it into the man's neck while hands were tight around his neck. The man died on top of him as he could barely breathe himself.

"We've all partaken in someone's death, like you've said before, Aang, I'm sure I have too," Katara didn't change her look, she didn't seem disgusted by his kill, she wasn't afraid of him.

They both yawned after a moment of silence.

"I think I'm going to tell Sokka and Toph about my past," Zuko rubbed his face.

"You don't have too," she said concerned.

"I don't want them finding out like Aang, you both already know... they'll find out sooner than later, for once I want someone to find out from me," he sighed a little.

Katara smiled softly and scooted over to sit next to Zuko, it was way past midnight now, who knows who was still awake. She rested her head on his shoulder and sipped the tea, relaxing and let the idea of sleeping again sink in.

"Your warm," she mumbled as Zuko was tense at the sudden touch.

"It's cold at night," he gulped.

"Thank you," Katara whispered.

"For what?" He knit his brows together.

"For everything, for being a good friend, for being my friend," she smiled a little.

"You don't need to thank someone for something dumb like that," Zuko rolled his eyes. She pursed her lips but didn't say anything.

"But thank you too... for being a friend," he mumbled under his breath.

That made her smile again, warmth reaching her cheeks, Katara buried her face against his sleeve and closed her eyes. Zuko leaned against the wall and listened to the sounds of the ocean outside. It was peaceful.

"Good night princess," Zuko said softly.

-

When the sun rose Hakoda went to the cabin the two teens went to isolate before while his daughter was throwing a fit. Who knew the girl had so much anger built up. 

"Katara?" He knocked on the door. "The suns coming up, are You guys still awake?"

He opened the door hearing nothing, making sure they were still in the cabin of the ship.

Hakodas face softened seeing the two teens deep in sleep, Katara was curled against the fire bender as her legs were across his lap and head in the crook of his neck, while Zuko had an arm around her to make sure she didn't fall and his head against hers while he slept as well.

"Thank you," he whispered looking at the soldier that protected his daughter.

He knew how hard she's had it since he left the tribe, Katara taking on roles in the village and taking care of the children. There was someone that took care of her.

"Are they alive?" Bato looked over his chiefs shoulder seeing the two snoring away.

"Yea," Hakoda left the room and closed the door behind him.

"Are you okay with your daughter being alone with a fire bender?" Bato asked cautiously.

"I'm surprised she would befriend one but you know how Katara is," he laughed a little.

"Stubborn?" Bato raised a brow.

"Extremely," Hakoda smiled. He wondered if they'd ever date, that would be something.