"Just what are you planning, Fire Boy?" I ask Zuko as he sneaks back into our tent. He had just been talking to Sokka about how his mother left them. Kya was taken by the Fire Nation's soldiers years ago.
"How did you know I was gone?" he whispers.
"I'm a light sleeper," I smile in the darkness. "And these tents are paper thin, so sound carries."
He climbs under the blankets and turns to face me. All we have to see by are some glow sticks I found in my bag, which I handed out to everyone for their tents.
Zuko sighs and tells me his plan. "I know who killed Katara's mother—the Southern Raiders. I was asking Sokka how their mother was taken away, and I managed to piece the rest together in my head. I want to take Katara to see the man who took her mom."
"Are you insane?" I whisper/shout. "She'll kill them the first chance she gets! Do you really want more blood on your hands?"
"No," Zuko firmly says, "but I want her to trust me."
I soften and find his hand under the blankets. I give it a squeeze.
"You know," I say, "that if you go, I'm coming with you."
He squeezes my hand back. "No, I can't put you through that danger. Not after what happened at the temple."
"Zuko, I can take care of—"
"I can't do that again!" he interrupts. "Besides, they need you here."
"But I need you," I whisper.
We face each other in silence for a moment. I think about what he said, about not putting me through any more danger—protecting me. I sigh and make up my mind.
"Fine," I yield. "I'll stay here." Zuko interrupts with a kiss.
"Thank you," he says.
"But," I sit up and rummage through my pack until I find the two little devices. "I want you to take this. If you're ever in any trouble and you need me to bail you out, just push this button here. It'll send a signal to mine, and I'll stop time, giving you a chance to escape." I give him one of the pagers, while I keep the receiving beeper.
"But how will that help Katara get out of wherever she is?" Zuko asks.
"Simple," I reply, "you somehow never get frozen when I stop time, so all you have to do is pick her up and get out of wherever you are. When you're safe again, just push the button and I'll release time so you'll be able to travel back."
Zuko kisses me again and pulls me under the warm covers.
"Thank you," he whispers one more time.