Chapter Five – The Boiling Rock

After dinner we were all sitting around digesting when Zuko offered to make everyone tea. Toph made us a few cups out of the temple's floor and I washed them in the fountain to clean them. I bended the extra water out and then handed them to Zuko who held a tray that Toph had created for him. As the water boiled he pinched a few leaves into each of the cups.

"No one can make teal like Uncle," he said as he poured the boiling water into the cups, "But hopefully I learned a thing or two."

"Where'd you learn to make tea?" Haru asked as he sat next to Katara. I found myself sitting next to Toph.

"Would you like to hear Uncle's favorite tea joke?"

"Sure," said Katara. Zuko stood and began passing the cups out to everyone.

"I like jokes," Aang said excitedly.

"Bring it," said Toph.

"Ok, well I can't remember how it starts," he offered the tray to The Duke and Haru. "But the punch line is 'leaf me alone I'm bushed."

Everyone looked at each other in silence for a moment, not really sure how to react. Zuko's face was priceless. He must have realized it sounded funnier in his head than it came across out loud. "Well it's funnier when Uncle tells it," his voice softened and for just a moment there was a trace of vulnerability in his gaze as it connected with mine.

"Right," Katara said with a sneer even as she took a cup of tea, "maybe that's because he remembers the whole thing." Aang laughed and then the rest of the group joined in, Zuko smiled softly, I hoped that meant he was adjusting to the way they all teased each other. In that moment he seemed very brave to me. He'd left his whole life behind to help the Avatar, and most of the group had accepted him, but I was still worried about Katara.

"It's nice to get a chance to relax for a while," Toph said as Zuko handed her a mug. "It hardly ever happens." Zuko passed a mug on to me and then moved on to Sokka. I'd noticed that he'd been sitting alone, which was odd, but Sokka was Sokka, and knowing him he was probably concocting a plan of some sort. The tea smelled heavenly as the steam wafted up towards my nose. I hadn't had tea in a while, and as I sipped the sweet jasmine brew I sighed in pleasure.

Zuko made his way towards a solitary Sokka. I watched as my cousin asked him something then stood, both walked over to the fountain. The two talked for a few minutes before returning to the circle. Zuko sat down next to me and sipped his own mug.

"It tastes wonderful," I whispered as I took another sip. I was tempted to ask what he and Sokka talked about, but it wasn't any of my business.

"I'm glad you think so," he sipped at his own mug. "Uncle taught me when we were living in the Earth Kingdom. He ran his own tea shop, the Jasmine Dragon."

"You'll have to tell me all about it sometime." For the first time the vibes he was sending were content. I hid a small smile, wondering if he even noticed.

Zuko smiled and nodded as Teo began telling us about a few adventures he'd had while living in the Eastern Air Temple.

The fire was beginning to die down as we talked and everyone told more stories about their childhood. Eventually we all began drifting off to sleep. I once again settled into Zuko's bedroll as he curled up into his Uncle's. I heard him deeply inhale and wearily opened my eyes.

"Uncle's bedroll," he whispered as he looked at me, "it doesn't smell."

"Oh, about that," I said as I sat up on my elbow to look at him. "Katara and I did some laundry, and I washed your Uncle's bedroll. I hope you don't mind." For a moment I thought he was going to yell at me, he'd gotten a strange glint in his golden eyes and his emotions seemed to evaporate like smoke.

"Thank you," his voice was gruff and I feared he was angry and being sarcastic.

"I'm sorry," I whispered quickly. "It was rather stinky, but I should have asked. I should have known you liked it because it smelled like him." I was rambling again due to nerves, and he reached out and placed his hand on top of mine as it rested against the stone floor.

"No," he whispered back, but this time he didn't sound angry. "Thank you. It was beginning to smell. Good night." He pulled his hand away and closed his eyes, but my hand seemed to tingle with his touch.

"Night Zuko," I whispered as I lay back down and closed my eyes.

I stood and quietly left the circle a few hours later. Nature called even if the night wind in this high altitude was freezing. We'd found the bathrooms during our exploration a few days earlier. I patted Appa's nose as I passed, then headed down to the lower level. It was a very intricate bathroom that used the stone and the excess water from the fountain to flush the latrines clean. I heard voices drifting down from the fountain.

"Not up to anything huh," Zuko said from somewhere up above. I heard a muffled yelp of surprise. I walked to the edge of the balcony that was directly below the fountain and looked up. I couldn't see them, but I could hear them. What were they planning?

"Fine you caught me," Sokka's tone was annoyed and defensive, "I'm going to rescue my Dad. You happy now?"

"I'm never happy." I frowned at that, Zuko had to have been happy at some point in his life. Didn't he?

"Look, I have to do this," said Sokka. "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. I have to regain my honor. You can't stop me Zuko." As I listened I realized that this would be my first chance to help them somehow, and Sokka's Dad was my Uncle, one of us should have our father back.

"You need to regain your honor?" Zuko sounded peeved, "believe me, I get it. I'm going with you."

"No," said Sokka. "I have to do this alone."

"How are you going to get there? On Appa?" argued Zuko. I found I was wondering the same thing. I wanted to go with them, but if they were going to take Appa, I was going to need to figure out how to sneak into the saddle. "Last time I checked prisons don't have daycares." I heard the faintest of sighs and then, "We'll take my war balloon."

I grinned. Zuko's war balloon was closer to me at the moment than to them. We'd found where he'd hidden it while he and Aang were off on their adventure. If I got there before them I might be able to sneak on and find a decent hiding place. Thankfully I didn't need to go grab anything from my pack. I was dressed with everything I needed. I ran towards the stairs that would lead down to where the balloon was hidden.

When I got there it was deserted. I hopped into the air balloon and walked around a large metal furnace contraption, there was an odd spout that protruded up inside the balloon itself. I was interested to see how exactly this flew. There was a seat in the bow of the balloon, and two others, one on either side of the metal furnace in the back of the boat shaped basket. I heard their voices as they walked down the stairs. I quickly used my skirt as a cover-up of sorts, so that they might overlook me.

Zuko bended fire into the metal furnace and we lifted off the temple floor. I wanted to express my excitement but knew it would blow my cover, neither one of them would appreciate my help. I watched as the world below moved beneath us, and we began our journey to wherever they were going. I'd missed the destination. It must have been what Sokka had talked to him about earlier. The balloon was fast, but not that fast, and I soon found myself nodding off to sleep.

Through my sleep I heard an odd metallic whoosh and woke with a start. I looked around for a moment confused, and then remembered I was flying.

"Pretty clouds," Sokka attempted to make conversation.

"Yeah," Zuko responded sounding like he'd play along with the small talk, "fluffy." I couldn't see them but the conversation was slightly amusing and I had to hide a snicker. The two were still figuring out what their friendship was going to be like. "What?" Zuko questioned as Sokka started whistling.

"What?" said Sokka, "Oh, I didn't say anything." Another awkward pause passed between them, "Ya know a friend, it was Teo's Dad in fact, designed these war balloons."

"No kidding," Zuko sounded intrigued. I was impressed as well. They were ingenious contraptions.

"A balloon, but for war."

"If there's one thing my Dad's good at it's war," said Zuko as he added more fire to the furnace.

"Yeah it seems to run in the family," Sokka replied.

"Hey hold on, not everyone in my family is like that."

"I know, I know," Sokka sounded like he was trying to ease tensions, "You've changed."

"I meant my Uncle,"' Zuko said softly. I wished I could see his face. It was obvious that this was important to him. "He was more of a father to me, and I really let him down."

"I think your Uncle would be proud of you," Sokka said actually sounding both serious and sincere. "Leaving your home to come help us, that's hard."

"It wasn't that hard," Zuko's voice hardened, and I once again wondered about his life. I knew nothing about him, and wasn't sure we were close enough for me to ask about his scar.

"Really, you didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?

"Well I did have a girlfriend, Mai." I felt an odd little pinch in my chest at these words, but wasn't really surprised. Of course he had a girlfriend. He was hot and sexy, but adorable and cute at the same time. I shook my head, what was I thinking? He was a prince, and I was a nobody, his girlfriend had to be gorgeous and maybe even royalty herself.

"The moody girl who sighs a lot?" Sokka's his voice filled with a tinge of laughter.

"Yeah," said Zuko wistfully, but then his voice turned hard again, "everyone in the Fire Nation thinks I'm a traitor I couldn't drag her into it." There was yet another thing about him that was attractive, he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect his girlfriend. Of course if I was his girlfriend I'd be pissed that he broke up with me rather than let me fight by his side. I made a face as I realized where my thoughts were going. I was not in the position to have any sort of feelings like that for anyone.

"My first girlfriend turned into the moon," Sokka said sounding sad. My eyes widened as I looked up at the sky, even though the moon wasn't out. That sounded like a story worth listening to.

"That's rough buddy."

The rest of the day continued on in a relatively comfortable silence, until my stomach rumbled so loud that it was heard by everyone.

"What was that?" Zuko asked as he opened the door to the furnace. I grimaced as I heard footsteps coming around the bow and then Sokka's face appeared. His eyes widened and I waggled my fingers at him and smiled.

"Malina?" He looked so surprised to see me that I laughed. "How'd you get here?"

"Well I've been here the whole time," I shrugged and stood, then buckled my overskirt back on. Zuko's head appeared as well and his mouth fell slightly when he saw me.

"What are you doing here?" He did not sound pleased.

"I overheard you two talking and decided that I wanted to help," I shrugged again and walked towards them. My body was cramped and I needed to move a little.

"How much did you hear?" Sokka moved out of my way.

"Not much, just that you're going to rescue your Dad and that you were taking the war balloon," I spotted his pack on the bench he must have been sitting on. "Do you have any jerky?" I asked as I looked at him as my stomach gave another loud grumble.

"Do you even know where we're going?" I looked over my shoulder and watched as Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose. It seemed he did that when he was flustered.

"I have jerky, you're more than welcome to have some," Sokka rubbed his chin with his hand. "Why did you come?"

I rummaged round in his pack until I found the jerky. I pulled out a few pieces and offered it to them as well. I took a bite all the while looking at Zuko who'd begun to glare at me.

"Well, I hadn't realized my Uncle, your Dad," I looked pointedly at Sokka, "was missing. I figured I could help somehow. One of us should have their Dad back." Zuko closed his eyes but couldn't hide the frustration that spread across his face. "As to where we're going, I have no idea. I didn't hear that part of the conversation."

"We're going to the Fire Nation's top priority prison," said Sokka. "It's called the Boiling Rock. This is going to be dangerous Malina."

"No worries," I said chewing another bite and waving my hand in dismissal. "If it's a boiling problem, I'll be able to help." As the words past my lips I felt my own brow rise, it had sounded better in my head.

"How do you figure that?" Zuko glared at me, his golden eyes simmering with heat.

"Boiling means water, and I'm a waterbender."

"Absolutely not!" Zuko roared, I looked at him and raised my brows in defiance. "This isn't some grand adventure. If we get caught we might not escape."

"Again," I said patiently. "Boiling Rock, plus waterbender, equals better chance of escape."

"She has a point," Sokka chewed his own piece of jerky.

"No," Zuko said angrily as he again pinched the bridge of his nose. "You can't waterbend on an island crawling with Fire Nation guards. Your cousins saw firsthand what happened to the waterbenders in the Southern Water Tribe, they were taken away and killed. Yet you're going to just waltz right into their top priority prison without a care in the world?"

I humphed and put my hands on my hips, "Well what would you have us do?" I asked as my own temper began to rise. "Turn back? We're already closer to our destination, and if you go back everyone will want to help." I smiled smugly. His golden eyes narrowed into tiny slits of molten gold.

"Fine," he growled, mumbling something under his breath as he walked to the other side of the balloon. We heard him adding more fire to the furnace, so I assumed there was another door on that side.

Sokka and I looked at each other and he shrugged his shoulders, "He's always been a bit moody."

"I'm not moody!" Zuko yelled from the other side of the balloon. My cousin and I smiled at each other.