Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is created by Michael DiMartino & Brian Konzieko and owned by Nickelodeon.
Based on "The Boiling Rock Part 1" originally by May Chan and Love is a Battlefield by J. Torres.
Inside the metal building the next day, in a dark room with lights that only illuminated the shelves full of helmets, shoulder pads and boots, Sokka and Zuko wore the items. They disguied themselves.
"I hope these disguises work," said Zuko.
"We just need to lay low and find my dad as soon as possible," said Sokka.
The corridor suddenly filled with running guards. Sokka and Zuko grinned nervously, and hoped that they won't be noticed.
A guard stopped at the opening of the corridor to addressed the two boys, "Guards! There's a scuffle in the yard, come on."
Zuko and Sokka ran behind the last of the group. The guards ran toward a mass of people wearing red in the yard. The yard was filled with prisoners who formed a circle around two people in the center as they circled round each other. The guards shoved the spectating prisoners aside. The guards attempted to form a barricade in front of the crowd.
Chit Sang said, "I didn't do anything. I'm going back to my cell." He walked away. The guard firebent a whip and lashed it near Chit Sang's legs.
Bully Guard said, "Stop right there Chit Sang."
Zuko and Sokka as Zuko walked forward and was about to interfere. Sokka gripped onto Zuko's elbow.
Sokka whispered, "We can't blow our cover."
The guard approached Chit Sang from behind and said, "I've had it with your unruly behavior."
Chit Sang turned back to the guard and asked, "What did I do?"
Bully Guard replied, "He wants to know what he did." He turned toward Zuko and Sokka and asked, "Isn't that cute?" He looked back at Chit Sang as the guys stared at him in silence. The guard sensed something suspicious and raised his visor to inspect the boys.
Sokka's eye looked toward Zuko nervously. Zuko replied, "Uh, yeah, very cute sir."
"Super cute," Sokka added.
The guard smiled satisfactorily at their answers and walked back towards Chit Sang. Bully Guard said, "You didn't bow down when I walked by Chit Sang."
"What? That's not a prison rule," said Chit Sang outraged.
Bully Guard stared up at Chit Sang, "Do it."
Chit Sang protested defiantly, "Make me."
The crowd watched the commotion. Tthe guard as he smirked and walked away from Chit Sang. Then he firebent another whip traveled toward Chit Sang. Chit Sang turned around and firebent the whip and directed it back to the guard. The guard who kicked the flame aside.
Bully Guard shook head and replied, "Tsk, tsk. Firebending is prohibited." Chit Sang remained in his stance. "You're going in the Cooler." He dropped his position. The Guard suddenly pointed to Sokka. "You! Help me take him in."
Sokka whispered to Zuko, "Meet back here in an hour."
Sokka went with the Bully Guard and took Chit Sang to the Coolers, while Zuko asked around to find out if there were any prisoners of war there. There weren't. The Warden also arrived to interrogate Chit Sang and reminded him that no one has ever escaped.
Meanwhile at the Western Air Temple, Aang sat on the ground. He drew the symbols for airbending to represent him and waterbending to represent Katara inside a heart.
"Hey!" Katara said. Aang looked around in surprise. Katara saw his drawing, and she asked, "What are you doing?"
Aang stood up and hid the stick behind his back. "Uh... nothing, Katara!"
"Aang, I have something very important to say to you..." Katara said as she held a ball of water behind her.
"Really? I mean ... yeah, I've been wanting to talk to you, too, but..." Aang was happily surprised.
"Think fast!" Katara said as she threw water at Aang.
"What the?!" Aang said surprised as the water hit and splashed him. Katara laughed while Aang stared angrily in disbelief. "That's it? that's what you had to say to me? I thought maybe you finally wanted to talk about-"
Katara interrupted, "Enough moping around. Time to practice your firebending." She moved into a position for attack. "Watch out or you might get another one in the kisser..."
Aang lost concentration and remembered their kiss before the invasion. He hadn't had much of a chance to ask her about it.
"Come on Aang! Zuko said to practice your firebending while he's away with Sokka!" Katara said.
"Huh? What?" Aang asked unaware of the water that was heading his way. The water splashed over him, as he created a rock pyramid.
"Aang? Are you in there? Hello?" Katara asked.
From inside the pyramid, Aang said, "Yeah,I'm in here Katara."
"Well...nice defensive earthbending move...but you're supposed to be practicing your firebending!" Katara announced.
"I don't really feel like practicing my firebending right now," said Aang still inside the pyramid.
"Aang, you have to be ready to battle the Fire Lord. This is not time for games or playing Hide-Aang-Seek," said Katara.
"Who's really playing games here, Katara? Are you sure you're not the one hiding something? I thought you wanted to talk about what happened before the invasion!" Aang retorted from inside.
"Uh...I don't know what you are talking about..." Katara replied caught off guard. "I mean...I can't hear you properly from in there so just come out and bring the heat!"
"Ha! Obviously, you can't handle it when things get a little too hot!" Aang angrily replied.
Katara got angry and summoned water. "This isn't about us! You're supposed to be preparing for the Fire Lord!"
Katara threw icicles at the pyramid. Aang narrowly missed the icicles.
"Cut it out, Katara! I said I don't feel like doing this right now!" Aang replied.
"Come on already, Aang!" Katara pulled in water over her hands. "Show me some fire!"
Aang stood up inside the pyramid with a blazing aura. "Fine!" He took a firebending stance. "You want fire?" He ignited his hands. "I'll show you fire!"
Fire erupted from the top of the pyramid and Katara watched in surprise.
"Whoa!" Katara said.
The pyramid smashed in all direction as Aang stood with his fist forward in the middle of the fire. Aang looked over and noticed Katara was crouched down with her head covered.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you. Are you ok?" Aang asked concerned.
Katara turned around with a smile. "I'm fine Aang – And that move was impressive!" She stood up. She continued, "Come on, let's practice it again so that you can show Zuko later."
Aang turned and started to walk away.
"Where are you going? Are you scared of burning me again?" Katara asked.
Aang looked down at the image he drew in the dirt earlier. "Actually..." he sighed and brushed the heart away with his foot. "I'm more worried about being the one who gets burned."
Aang walked away.
Sokka and Zuko met up outside along a railing.
"Hey there, fellow guard. How goes it?" Zuko attempted conversation.
Sokka raised his visor, "Zuko?"
Zuko raised his finger to his mouth, "Shh. Listen, I asked around the lounge. There are no," he gestured with his hands, "Water Tribe prisoners." He raised his visor. "I'm afraid your father's not here."
Sokka was in shock. "What? Are you sure? Did you double check?"
Zuko replied, "Yeah, I'm sure."
"No," said Sokka as he held his head in despair and walked toward a wall. "No!" He banged his fist against the wall in frustration.
"I'm really sorry Sokka," said Zuko.
"So we came all this way for nothing. I failed," said Sokka as he leaned on the wall. "Again."
"Err," said Zuko as he held his chin in thought, "what would Uncle say?" He looked to the sky. He stared at the clouds. "Sometimes clouds have two sides, a dark and light. And a silver lining in between. It's like a silver sandwich. So..." Sokka was disinterested, "when life seems hard..." Sokka looked to the side and his eyes widened, "take a bite out of the silver sandwich." Sokka smiled and rushed to the railing.
"Maybe we haven't failed after all," said Sokka.
"That's the spirit. I can't believe," said Zuko as he folded his arms, "that worked. I didn't even know what I was saying."
"No, what you said made no sense at all. But look," said Sokka as he pointed, "it's Suki!" Suki was sitting on a rock in the yard.
Guard said, "Prisoners!" A bell rang through the yard as Suki got up. "Back in your cells!"
Sokka lowered his visor and rushed off.
Toph came over to Katara.
"I heard you and Twinkle Toes fighting," said Toph.
"Yeah, I was trying to get him to firebend," said Katara.
"How'd that turn out?" Toph asked.
"First, he didn't do anything. Then, he earthbent. Finally, he got mad at me and firebent. He thought I wanted to talk about my feelings," said Katara.
"What did you tell him?" Toph asked.
"We should focus on fighting the Fire Lord," Katara replied.
"Is that how you really feel?" Toph asked.
Katara sighed.
"Hey, Katara," Haru called in the distance.
"Coming," said Katara.
"Katara, love is a battlefield," said Toph. "Twinkle Toes will just have to man up."
Katara walked away from Toph to see what Haru wanted.
Suki laid on her bed. The door to her cell opened, which illuminated her face as her eyes looked to the door.
Suki sat up as Sokka stood in front of her. "What is it?" She sat up straight on her bed and looked at him. "Did I do something wrong?"
Sokka crossed his arms and repeated what she said the last time they met, "You mean you don't recognize me?"
"You people all look the same to me," said Suki a little annoyed as she looked to the side.
Sokka looked on smugly, "Oh. Then maybe you'll recognize this." Sokka attempted to kiss Suki, but she grabbed his chin and pushed him against the door. Sokka slammed into the door and his helmet fell off. He was surprised at the sudden violence. Suki remained in her stance as a look of relief washed over her face.
"Sokka," said Suki as she ran to him, "it's you."
Sokka was on the floor as Suki embraced him. Sokka smiled and hugged back her back. Suki teared up. They stood up.
"Are the other Kyoshi Warriors here?" Sokka asked.
"No," said Suki worried. "I don't know where they are. They locked me here because I'm the leader."
"Well, you," Sokka touched her face with one hand, "won't be here for long, I'm busting you out."
"I'm so glad," said Suki as she held on to Sokka's hand that was touching her face, "to see you, Sokka. I knew you'd come."
They lowered their hands into a hug. They looked in each other's eyes for a moment as they leaned in for a kiss.
Zuko stood outside the cell. A guard walked up the stairs. Zuko knocked on the door of Suki's cell to warn them. Sokka and Suki broke apart from the kiss. The female guard approached Suki's cell.
"'Scuse me, I need to get into that cell," said the female guard.
"No, you can't go in there," said Zuko as he looked into the opening of the cell door. "The lights are out... the prisoner," he pointed to the door, "could sneak up on you." The female guard frowned.
"Step aside, fool," she said as she tried to push Zuko aside but he grabbed her arm and threw her against the wall. "Hey! Hey! What are you doing?"
The female guard maneuvered her way around and threw Zuko against the cell door. Suki and Sokka sat down against the door, looked up at the opening and heard the commotion. Sokka put on his helmet. Zuko tried to balance himself as he attempted to push the female guard down. The door to Suki's cell opened and Sokka snuck out. The female guard tried to elbow Zuko's chin. The female guard looked to the side at Sokka.
Female Guard said "Guard, help!" Sokka cringed. "I think he's an impostor!" Sokka turned around. "Argh! Arrest him!"
Sokka stared at the situation for a moment. He slowly walked forward and grabbed Zuko's arm and threw him against the floor.
"You're under arrest!" Sokka announced. He helped Zuko to his feet and whispered. "Don't worry, I'll figure it out."
Sokka lead him away while the female guard massaged her sore shoulder. Zuko looked up as the door opened and light shined on his face.
To Be Continued...