Dreaming.All the ships, all out at sea.

Price and Ghost were currently negotiating with a local farmer and a large map in Arabic, which left Soap to guard the truck and their fixer.

"Eh, Nik?"

The big Russian looks up from beneath the hood of the truck, all glistening skin and oil-streaks through dark chest hair, turning over what looked to be a fuel filter in one hand. Not unusual. They get clogged with dust in terrain like this. "Da, sergeant?"

"Is it hard nae seein' ye family? Ye know, since bein' an informant..."

A pause follows as Nik crouches on the floor by the vehicle toolbox and searches through for a new filter, but he shrugs when he stands. "It used to be. But most are dead, and those that are alive are... less than ideal. I still miss home."

"Ye got Price though, right?" Soap smirks, knowing he's pushing it, and receives only a return little smile from Nik for his troubles. "A'ight then, if ye had to choose between ye family all comin' back and ye livin' happy ever after, or Price, who'd win?"

Nik raises an eyebrow, pausing again as he fits the new filter. As he leans up from the engine, he glances up at Price, dark eyes dropping from head to boots as if studying him. There's an appreciation in that look that can't read any other way; Nik's in love with the captain, and it goes far beyond friendship. As Nik reaches to shut the hood, he gives his answer. "Price, of course."

"Oh, aye? Ye naw jus' sayin' tha' cause he's the gaffer?"

Nik wipes the oil from his hands on an old rag he'd found in the toolbox, and the wondrous look in his eye is replaced by a glint of mischief. "Da. Blood is not thicker than that ass."

Zuko: "Yes."

Sokka: "Wait, I didn't finish-"

Katara is no longer an anonymous waterbender but a master waterbender and is becoming more active in the war efforts.

Zuko is no longer a banished prince but a fugitive of his own country.

Both of them no longer have their usual defense around them when they are in prison together in the catacombs.

They are both torn away from everyone they can hide behind.

Zuko doesn't have Uncle.

Katara doesn't have her brother, Toph and Aang.

So they are both at their breaking point and rather than attack each other or hurt each other, they try to understand each other and why and how this war has both impacted them.

Especially the catacombs scene and how close Katara was to emotionally breaking down.

She was literally about to go into a panic attack in front of Zuko, and he helped her get through it instead of attack her.

Watching this scene as a kid, I didn't know the signs, but as an adult, I could see them.

Katara was hugging herself, the slight shaking, and trying not to cry.

She's alone.

Everyone is gone.

At that moment, it's just her by herself in this situation.

It's just her at one of her most vulnerable moments, and Zuko chose to help her instead of making it worse.

I don't think anyone really realizes how much that can impact a person.

Kpop demon hunters reminded me of this.

That's why Katara had a very hard time with letting herself be seen like that again around him.

That's why her walls were up so high for so long.

Their personalities compliment each other in such a way they never have with anyone else.

Once you drop the armor and the titles, they are just a boy and a girl with fire and water abilities trying to live in a world decided for them the day they were born.

They effortlessly open up to one another whether they mean to or not.

Katara can start venting and ranting about something because she's scared or anxious and Zuko calmly talks her through it.

That's how they are.

Katara has tells Zuko can see when she is trying to suppress how she feels and he'll annoy her until she finally lets it out.

It's push and pull at it's best description.

So when antis use the "They are just close friends" thing, that's not the clap back they think it is.

Friendship has levels and Zuko and Katara reached the highest levels within MONTHS of knowing each other as TEENAGERS.