title Penance or Boiling Rock Rescue

author khushiyan

rating PG-13 for now

pairing Zuko/Katara; another pairing but this will give away the plot... :)

setting Post B3C13: TFM.

disclaimer Avatar is not mine, alas. :(

summary Based on Boiling Rock Rescue Game. Why does Zuko go in and save the prisoners by himself? What drives him to do it and why?

an Spoilers for spoilers for TBR... erm, if that makes sense, so don't read if you don't want to know. I've written most of it out already because I rewrite my fics a lot but I'm posting it anyway or it'll never get posted and then the ep will air and I'll lose all confidence and fee stupid. But if I do realise I've made a mistake, I'll change it and tell you guys when I post the next chapter. Also, I'm sorry if it's not IC. I usually only focus on Zuko and Katara but I realise that's stupid if I want to write hardcore Avatar-verse, so I'm sorry if it's totally IC. Tell me if it is and then tell me how to fix it! One more thing, shout out to syrai: thank you for helping with it! You and your crafty ways of making me thinkg! Um, I should shut up now... Enjoy!

"Guys, I've come up with a master plan," Sokka told the group seriously. His eyes flickered with excitement and danger as the benders began to gather around him.

"Great! Let's hear it!" Aang chirped and scooted over to Sokka.

"Only thing is, we're going to need help. Lotsa help," Sokka stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"What kind of help?" Zuko called out and put his Dao swords away with a sharp clink of metal.

"Big bender help. The earthbending kind."

"That's my favourite kind!" Toph exclaimed and wriggled her toes appreciatively. "But you've got me and Haru, why d'ya need anyone else?"

"You, my little badger mole," Sokka draped an arm around her and poked her nose affectionately, "are going to be very busy!"

Toph turned her head away, hiding her blush. "Doing what?"

"You'll see," Sokka pulled his arm away and promptly hit his head with his hand, "Er, I mean, find out..."

"Right," Toph rolled her eyes.

"But first we need to get the others out." Sokka returned to his map of the firenation and stroked his chin.

"Who?" Zuko asked confused.

"Our dad and the rest of the freedom fighters," Sokka frowned sadly.

"They were imprisoned during the attack," Katara shot out accusingly.

"Right," Zuko nodded unaware that she was trying to pick a fight. "If they're anything how I imagine them, they'll be held here," he pointed to a small and secluded island that looked suspiciously like a stain, some way away from the mainland. "It's a maximum security prison," Zuko looked closely at the map and furrowed his brow. "It's actually a series of smaller islands, not one larger island."

"Hey! Don't insult the map!" Sokka grabbed the map and held it close to him. "I spent hours copying this! It works perfectly!"

"Yeah, it's accurate too- I never realised how much like a shark-squid the fire nation looked like," Zuko sniped.

Sokka opened his mouth in outrage whilst ther others giggled and glanced at his map before turning to Zuko with searing eyes, "I hate you."

Zuko rolled his eyes and prised the map out of Sokkas hands. "The islands are in a hexagonal shape and have a perfect view of each other, sort of like back-ups. Anything can be seen up to ten miles away so we'll have to..." Zuko trailed off and frowned deeply. He lifted his head and looked at the others for inspiration. His eyes rested on Katara who promptly huffed and crossed her arms.

Zuko glanced down again and smiled at his own brilliance. "Katara can ride on Appa and go under water. We'll hide out till we can free the others and quickly head back here." Zuko folded his arms and sighed contently.

"Yeah, been there, done that..." Katara told him flatly.

"Oh, okay..." Zuko grimaced and dropped his arms.

"Great plan Zuko!" Aang clapped Zuko on the shoulder and beamed. "So when are we going?"

"We're not going anywhere. I'm going," Zuko said defiantly and gestured to himself with his thumb.

"What?! You're going to need me!" Aang argued.

"I know the islands more than anyone else here. I can use it to my advantage. What do you have?"

Aang's face soured. "I'm the Avatar!" He puffed out his chest proudly.

"And I'm sure that excuse usually works for you but not today," Aang visibly deflated at his words.

"Hey, stop picking on Aang! He's got every right to be there!" Katara jumped in, her hands on her hips.

"He's got more important things to do. What kind of teachers would we be if we let him do all the work because we're too lazy to do it ourselves?"

"Really good ones!" Katara argued lamely.

"Zuko, this isn't about laziness. I want to help," Aang offered truthfully.

"That's enough Aang. I'm not going to let you risk everything we're worked for," Zuko commanded.

"You mean everything we've worked for," Katara spat out. Zuko turned to look at her and held her gaze. She saw the flicker of hurt in his eyes but she ignored it and clenched her jaw.

"Ri-ight..." Zuko glanced down for a second and then lifted his gacze to meet the others. "So it's settled then: I'm going in alone. I'll head-"

"How are we supposed to trust you?" Katara shot out suddenly, cutting his words short.

"What?!" Toph, Aang and Sokka yelled unianimously. "Katara, I think he's proved his worth enough times," Sokka poined out.

"Not enough for me," Katara huffed and folded her arms so tightly they looked as if they were going to snap.

Zuko raised his brow, a disbelieveing look on his face. "You have my word."

Katara scoffed loudly, "Oh right! Like that's worth anything, Prince Zuko."

His eyes narrowed and his lips thinned. "You have my word as the son of Ursa and Iroh."

A smug smile slipped onto Katara's face. "I'm sure that works for you a lot too, but not this time... You have to swear not to use any bending."

"What?! That's insane!" Toph yelled.

"And you can't spill a drop of blood."

Zuko's face instantly darkened and a small part of Katara wished she hadn't said that. "What kind of person do you think I am?" He whispered.

Katara's mouth twitched and the words poured out again. "I don't know." Her voice was sharp and clear and Zuko shook his head. "Fine. No bending and no blood. Happy?"

"Not until the others are free," Katara snapped.

Zuko gritted his teeth together and nodded slightly. "Katara and I will leave tomorrow night. We'll try and be back before the morning is out but don't worry if we we're not."

"When should we worry?" Sokka asked playfully.

"If we don't come back."

Sokka gasped loudly. "You have to come back! You're integral to the master plan!" He grabbed all the papers on his desk and held them close to his chest, "Master plan!"

"Who isn't?" Toph commented dryly.

"Him!" Sokka pointed blindly and dropped half his papers. His finger landed on Momo who purred indignantly. Sokka looked at Momo and shook his head. "Sorry Momo, I mean him!" He pointed again, this time at the Duke who was playing a few metres away. Realising that everyone was staring at him, the Duke snapped his head up and grimaced. His shoulders slumped and and a distinctive "Aw man!" echoed through the grounds as he stomped away.

/Preview for chapter two/

"And why do you keep saying 'we'? You have to go and save people and win trust and things! I don't have to do anything, the group already loves me!" Katara nodded excitedly, her voice thick with exhaustion.

Zuko's lips puckered in annoyance and he shook his head. "You have to drive Appa."

"What?! You want me to be your rickshaw service?!"

an2 The 'son of Iroh' comment is a shoutout to fandomme's Stormbenders because I am in love with that story. nods =)

- khushiyan.