The sun had set while they walked and Zuko kept his flame as they exited the tunnel into the dim twilight. Kyoshi Warriors were moving quickly to pack up the camp and Hyun-Woo darted to join them. Toph didn't move and Zuko looked at Katara, unsure of what to do next.

"Suki's coming." Toph announced and then turned back toward them. "You don't need to hold hands anymore."

Katara's hand zipped out of his and Zuko looked down. The earth trembled slightly as Toph buried their tunnel and Zuko continued to look at his empty palm.

Suki approached with two other women, one of whom held a length of rope and the other had a pair of sacks.

"I don't like any of this." Zuko groaned and slumped over.

"Here's the plan." Suki started, gesturing to the woman on either side of her. "We're giving you back."

"Wonderful. Question, why the sacks?" Zuko asked.

"Because this way you'll be able to deny ever seeing us." Suki replied evenly.

"That's acceptable." Katara said and looked at Zuko. He shrugged and she frowned.

"There's just a couple of things first." Suki said and waved another woman forward. Approaching with two cups, Zuko eyed the fans tucked into her belt warily. Looking toward the others, he found that all of them had their weapons easily accessible.

"I don't know how long it'll take them to get to you, so this will keep you hydrated." Suki explained as Zuko and Katara took a cup. "Drink them quickly."

Zuko tossed his back quickly, and blanched at the taste. Katara also made a noise of disgust and grimaced at Suki.

"How long has this been in your water bag?" She asked.

"It'll be fine." Suki said and watched as Katara finished her drink. "Alright, now it's time for the other not fun part."

The woman with the rope approached and wrapped Katara tightly. Zuko stepped forward as she winced but Suki held up her hand.

"We will be in touch, prince. You are going to help us as you said, but I can't risk holding onto you for much longer. Your bodyguard has started burning houses." She said, still watching as Katara was restrained.

When Katara wobbled, Zuko moved again. Now the woman with the cups intervened, holding him at bay with her fan.

"We have to make this look like an authentic kidnapping." Suki said.

"Zuko-" Katara pitched to the side, but her captor caught her and slowly lowered her to the ground.

"Is she okay?" Zuko asked. His vision tilted and his stomach lurched in the opposite direction as if to balance him.

"A potent sedative that can be smelled on the breath." Suki shrugged and faced him. "Anything to make it convincing."

"You can't just," Zuko stumbled as his vision abruptly shifted to the other side of his skull. "They're always going to be suspicious."

"You're going to tell them that we were Fire Nation rebels and that we were going after the Tribal siblings. When we found out you were the prince and that the Red Hound was onto us, we dumped you to escape." Suki explained.

"They're suspicious of me, so they might not believe me." Zuko replied. Suki smirked and the woman with the fans lowered her arms.

"So we're going to make this believable." She said. And punched him in the face.

Zuko woke mid-groan. He was sitting on the ground and his torso had been tightly bound to a tree. Knobby bark dug into his back and an ache had started in his hip. The sack over his head was coarse and the rough fibers scraped against his face. Pain flared in thin lines from the touch whenever they passed over the bruises. He could still breathe easily from his nose, so at least that wasn't broken, but it felt like a rock had been jammed into his cheek.

Suki had a mean right hook.

"Are you awake?" Katara asked.

"Yeah." Zuko managed as he struggled against his bonds.

"I don't know about you, but I'm tied pretty tightly to a tree." Katara said, deadpan.

A memory flashed in Zuko's head and he flushed from the shame of it.

"Where are you? Are you close?" Katara questioned and Zuko could feel the ropes shift as she moved. His hands were tied behind him but he still moved them as much as he could. It shocked him when his fingertips touched something soft and his hands shot back toward his body. Quietly, he put his hand back out and found Katara's.

"Do you still have your necklace?" He asked.

"Yeah?" Katara shifted again and Zuko ensnared more of her fingers.

"Good, I'm-"

Barking in the distance made him freeze.

"What was that?" Katara asked.

"Our rescue party." Zuko said and felt his fingers prickle. "Look, we tell them that Fire Nation rebels took us because they wanted you and your brother. We don't know why. We didn't see anything. We're getting returned because they found out I'm the prince."

"Got it." Katara whispered.

The barking hounds got closer and then there was yelling. Ropes were cut, Zuko was lifted, and the sack removed all in one dizzying go. There was no need for pretense when the rows of handheld flames made him wince and stumble.

"The prince has been drugged." One soldier announced.

"The Waterbender as well." Another said.

"Is she-" Zuko half turned but almost fell as his knees slowly regained some feeling.

"Are you well your highness?" Zuri asked casually. Their hand on his shoulder, Zuko tried to look at Katara but was turned away.

Zuri made a noise of disgust as they illuminated his face. "You look terrible."

"I was punched in the face." He responded dryly.

"Your poor mother is already distraught, I fear your injuries may devastate her." Zuri sighed.

"I can-" Katara started to speak but Zuri snapped at the guards.

"I said to keep her restrained, you fools! She isn't to be released until we know she's completely innocent." They said.

"Now hold on-" Zuko took a step but was once again stopped by another raised hand.

"I'm not exactly certain of you yet either, prince." Zuri lingered on his title and Zuko glared at her. At least with that he could speak with full honesty; he was a Fire Nation royal.

"Let's get them back to the manor. I will tell her royal highness of her son's safe return." Zuri said and lightly clapped a hand against Zuko's cheek. He winced, sucking in air sharply between his teeth, and Zuri smirked.

"Go and question the locals. Someone must have seen something when these two were offloaded." Zuri announced as they walked away from Zuko. Scowling, Zuko blew a breath out of his nose. Steam curled upward in a velvet ribbon, and two soldiers stiffened.

There were only two people known to breathe fire, and in this world his uncle may not have been so careful about it.