He can pretend to be strong for other people all he wants, but Katara won’t let him get away with that with her.

“Don’t lie,” she says, already stepping closer to carefully remove the bandages. “I had to treat Aang after Azula shot lightning at him, I know how bad it can be.”

The words are out of her mouth before she realizes it, but she immediately regrets it when she remembers when that moment had happened.