Zuko's POV

Kidah and I tried to keep our distance from one another throughout the day. It was a constant struggle not to throw her up against a wall and claim her every time we were alone. We were together, but didn't want to make it awkward for everyone around us. I could tell Aang was observing us closely, but other than that it went on without a hitch. Our training earlier that day had even been very productive. The day was coming to an end, and everyone gathered around the campfire. I was currently attempting jasmine tea and began filling cups for everyone to try it.

"No one can make tea like Uncle. But hopefully I learned a thing or two. Would you like to hear Uncle's favorite tea joke?" I look out to the people I was beginning to see as friends.

Katara shrugs a shoulder, "Sure."

"I like jokes," Aang smiles reassuringly.

"Bring it," Toph agrees.

I start walking to each person, handing them cups of tea. "Okay. Well, I can't remember how it starts but the punchline is, 'Leaf me alone, I'm bushed'." Everyone stares silently. Embarrassment fills me, "Well, it's funnier when Uncle tells it."

"Right. Maybe that's because he remembers the whole thing," Katara mocks me.

Aang and Kidah laugh and the group joins in. It calms my anxiety only a little. Now that Kidah and I had fixed the problems between us, I really wanted to connect with the rest of them.

"It's nice to get a chance to relax a little. It hardly ever happens," Toph takes a sip of her tea and smiles.

I take a seat next to Kidah. She elbows me lightly in the ribs. "I'm glad Iroh taught you a few things… This actually tastes like his Jasmine Tea, Zuko." She giggles quietly, and my cheeks burn. "That first time you made tea for us when Iroh woke up, it was terrible!"

I scoff, "why didn't you say anything?!"

Her hand raises to her mouth as she laughs harder, "it was such a wholesome gesture; I couldn't break your heart like that!"

Sokka walks over to me and taps my shoulder, "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" I look to kidah, who raises her brows curiously.

I follow him over to Appa, where the sky bison is already asleep. "So, what's up?" I ask as I pet his soft head.

Sokka stares up to the night sky, "If someone was captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?"

"What do you mean? Who was captured?"

"When the invasion plan failed, some of our troops were taken. I just want to know where they might be."

This is bad… "I can't tell you."

"What?! Why not?"

The thought fills me with shame of my people. "Trust me. Knowing would just make you feel worse."

I turn around and Sokka grabs my shoulder. "It's my Dad. He was captured too. I need to know what I put him through."

"It's not good, Sokka." I cross my arms.

"Please."

"My guess is... They were taken to the Boiling Rock." A sinking feeling fills my stomach.

He frowns, "What's that?"

"The highest security prison in the Fire Nation." Sokka's mouth goes slightly agape. "It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake. It's inescapable."

He crosses his arm defiantly, "So, where is this place?"

I tilt my head questioningly, "Why do you need to know? What are you planning?"

"Nothing. Boy, you're so paranoid." He waves his arm dismissively.

I watch him warily. "It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. You guys actually flew right past it on your way here."

"Thanks, Zuko." He yawns and pats my shoulder as he walks towards the temple. "Just knowing makes me feel better."

I roll my eyes, "Yeah, I'm sure it does." As he leaves, I return to my spot beside Kidah.

"What was that about?" She whispers.

"He's about to do something stupid." I shake my head.

"So, are we going to help the stupid or stop the stupid?" Her teal eyes sparkle in the campfire. I want nothing more than to hold her hand, or pull her to me.

"Meet me here after everyone goes to sleep. We're going to help."

She claps softly and whispers, "yay! Adventure!" I pat her arm to quiet her, and she nods knowingly.

Seeing as the only way Sokka would be able to get to the island in the first place is with Appa, Kidah and I decide to wait there to surprise him. I sit with my back up against the saddled basket. She leans up against me, and I wrap my arm around her.

"This is nice," she sighs into me.

"We could just tell everyone, you know. I know you don't want to make things awkward, but everyone has been pretty welcoming and forthcoming lately." I run my fingers through her loose hair. I loved it when she left it down.

"Aang kind of already knows…"

"I figured. He's been watching us lately."

"We can talk more about it when we get back… Do you think my troops from the invasion are at Boiling Rock, too?" Her voice is full of sorrow.

I let my head rest atop hers, "possibly… Its the highest probability that they would be sent there. Especially, if they are benders."

"What about the waterbenders?"

My stomach falls. "If it were to be thought they had pertinent information about the war, it'd save their lives. The Fire Nation would keep them heavily locked up, so they couldn't bend." I kiss her hair, "it'll be alright. We'll get them. If not now, after we beat my father."

Appa rustles below us, and we hear Sokka shushing him. We pull away from each other and wait for him to climb aboard. His eyes bulge when he sees us. "Not up to anything, huh?" I ask cynically.

Sokka yelps in shock and loses his grip, falling down on the hard stone floor with a loud thud and groan. Kidah winces beside me.

We climb down to confront him, "Fine, you caught me. I'm gonna rescue my Dad. You happy now?"

I sigh and cross my arms, "I'm rarely happy."

He looks away from us, "Look, I have to do this. The invasion plan was my idea. It was my decision to stay when things were going wrong. It's my mistake and it's my job to fix it."

Kidah steps forward, "Sokka, we planned that invasion together. Our misfortune is as much my fault as yours." She places a hand on his shoulder.

He ignores the Northerner and stares me down coldly, "I have to regain my honor. You can't stop me."

"You need to regain your honor?" I put my hands in the air defensively, "believe me, I get it. We're going with you."

Sokka shrugs off Kidah's hand. "No. I have to do this alone."

Annoyance bubbles inside me, "how are you going to get there? On Appa? Last time I checked, prisons don't have bison daycares." He sighs, losing the confidence that had brought him so far. "The only way to get there undetected is undercover… We'll take my war balloon."

Unfortunately, an awkward silence had filled the balloon as we sailed towards Boiling Rock. I pushed a few blasts of flames into the fuel tank. Kidah stares out the front of the basket. The smallest smile graces her features.

Sokka coughs, breaking the quiet, "pretty clouds."

I lean up against the basket, looking up, "yeah, fluffy."

I watch as Kidah plays with the clouds, forming small animals in front of her amusingly. A whistle distracts me, and I turn to Sokka. "What?"

"What? Oh, I didn't say anything…" He looks around uncomfortably. "You know, a friend of mine actually designed these war balloons."

"No kidding," I respond drily.

"Yep. A balloon. But for War."

I turn to fire more into the fuel tank, "if there's one thing my Dad's good at, it's War."

Sokka tilts his head nonchalantly, "yeah, it seems to run in the family."

Anger rises as my automatic defense, "hey, hold on. Not everyone in my family is like that." Kidah's hand lightly touches my shoulder to calm me.

He waves at me dismissively, "I know, I know, you've changed."

I touch her hand lightly, needing the solace. "I meant my Uncle. He was more of a father to me. And I really let him down."

His face changes to that of empathy, "I think your Uncle would be proud of you. Leaving your home to come help us, that's hard."

"It wasn't that hard," I squeeze Kidah's hand. She pulls away slowly, and I turn to see her smiling warmly at me.

"Really?" Sokka asks. "You didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?"

I stay silent for a moment, trying to absorb his words. I realized I didn't care for any of them… Except Kidah. "I was more returning back to someone..."

Kidah's cheeks turn a light pink, beside me. She takes my hand, changing her mind on the silence of our relationship. "Returning to me," she explains.

Sokka gasps, his mind reeling at the new information. "The Fire Nation may think I'm a traitor, but I knew the difference between right and wrong… besides, I had made a promise." He stays silent for a moment, so I try to ease the tension. "Do you- uhm… have anyone?"

"My first girlfriend turned into the Moon," he sighs.

Kidah squeezes my hand consciously. I leave her to pat Sokka on the shoulder, "that's rough, buddy."

Shorter of a chapter, but needed for the next scene. I'll post again soon! Please, leave reviews for me if you have any thoughts as to our favorite couple's ending. I have an idea, but I'd love to hear you guys' opinion! Also, for some reason I still can't see my newest reviews. I thought after posting these, they'd finally pop up. Hopefully, they'll show up tomorrow! I can only see 11 out of 13?