(Zuko's POV)

You and Sokka brought Kana to the supply closet for the prison uniform and then brought her to her cell. The entire time the three of you were silent. You felt guilty that you couldn't protect Kana, again.

When you approached Kana's cell she walked in.

"Give me a minute," you told Sokka as you followed her.

"Make it fast" Sokka said as he closed the door behind you.

The cell was dark and cold; the only light came from a small hole in the door. There was no bed, just metal floor and walls. You looked at Kana as you took off your helmet, she was staring at you, it looked like she was about to say something but she never did. The bruise was already purple.

"Kana" you mumbled as you pulled her into your arms, she was shaking, "I'm so sorry" you repeated over and over again as you held her close and gently stroked her hair.

"Zuko, please don't beat yourself up" She said in a soothing but shaky voice as she timidly wrapped her arms around you.

You pulled away to look at her face, "Kana please, don't worry about me, you need to worry about yourself" you told her as you carefully cupped her bruised face. She looked down. You paused a moment, then said, "Why did you push me away when you fought the guard"

Kana looked at you then said, "Because then you would be locked in a cell too, I couldn't let that happen," she said.

You were about to speak when you heard Sokka say, "Hurry up, we need to go"

You pulled Kana close again, "I promise we'll get you out of here" you said as you buried your face in you her neck. "And I won't let him hurt you again" you whispered. "I promise"

Kana held you as if you would disappear when she let go, "I love you," she said.

"I love you too," you said as you pulled away enough so you could capture her lips in a passionate kiss.

"Zuko!" Sokka hissed.

Reluctantly you pulled away. "I'll be back as soon as I can" you said. Kana nodded, she was less shaky but you could tell that she was still terrified.

"Zuko we need to go now, someone is coming" Sokka hissed.

You put your helmet back on and slipped out of the cell and ran away from it with Sokka. Once you were far enough away you sighed sadly.

"We'll save Kana and Suki" Sokka said, "They'll be fine," he added.

Suki will be fine, but it's only a matter of time before your father finds out that Kana is here.

That night you couldn't sleep, all you could think about was Kana alone in that cold dark cell. You tried to think of a plan but you couldn't. The next morning you went to check on Kana as soon as you woke up. As you were about to walk past a guard when they stopped you.

"Where are you going? This is a restricted area," the guard said.

"The Warden sent me to interrogate the rouge firebender," you said thinking quickly.

"You're the third one this morning" the guard said, "well good luck, she's stubborn, and she never talks"

Third one? The sun has been up for a little over an hour and she's already been interrogated twice? You walked up to the cell and opened the door. Kana was ready to attack but relaxed when she realized it was you. You took off your helmet as you walked over to her.

"Are you alright?" you asked as you wrapped your arms around her. Kana hugged you tight and buried her face in your chest.

"I'm fine, nothing I can't handle" Kana said as you looked up at you. You frowned as you saw the bruise from yesterday, it was a deep purple.

You gently caressed her face. "What happened?" you whispered.

Kana looked away, it wasn't like her. "The Warden tried to tough my face, and my first reaction was to scratch him." She paused, "Before I could react he punched me." It looked like Kana was going to speak but she stopped when you carefully kissed the bruised flesh. Without thinking you pulled Kana into a passionate kiss. The kiss seemed to last forever, but when you finally broke away Kana smiled at you.

"You should go" Kana whispered as she looked away. You frowned and she continued. "If you stay much longer they'll check on you." You knew she was right.

You pulled Kana into another kiss; this one was short but passionate. "I'll be back as soon as I can" you said as you put your helmet back on.

"I know," she said with a small smile.

After leaving Kana's cell, you went to go meet Sokka, last night he said he had a plan. You finally found him near the non-bender cells, where prisoners were mopping the floors.

"Where were you, you're late" Sokka said impatiently.

"Checking on Kana," you said through gritted teeth. Sokka looked taken aback, he wasn't expecting your hostility. With Kana locked up you've been having a lot of trouble controlling your temper.

"Well um…this is Suki" Sokka said as he regained his composure.

"We sort of met a long time ago…" Suki said, "Well not formally, I met Kana"

"We have?" You asked.

"Yeah when you were destroying my village" Suki said as she continued mopping.

"Oh sorry about that" You frowned, "Nice to see you again" you said.

Sokka decided to break the awkward silence, "So listen, I think I have an escape plan. I checked out the coolers again and the point of them is to keep firebenders contained, right?" Sokka asked.

"Yeah" you mumbled, you did not like the sound of this.

"So they're completely insulated and sealed to keep the cold it. Well to keep the cold it they have to keep the heat out, right"

"Just get to the point Sokka" Suki said.

"It's the perfect boat for getting across the boiling lake" he finished.

"The cooler as a boat?" you repeated you and Suki gave each other worried glances, "Are you sure about this?"

"I'm telling you, it'll work. I walked around the perimeter. There's a blind spot between two guard towers. It's the perfect launching pointI already tested it out. We'll roll the cooler into the water and just float with the current. It'll take us straight across. As long as we don't make a sound, no one will notice. And bing-bang-boom, we're home free."

"So how do free Kana?" you asked, Suki gave you a look, "No offence, freeing you will be easy," you told her.

"I'm getting to that" Sokka said.

"How do we get the cooler out?" Suki asked.

"Yeah how are you going to get the cooler out?" Chit Sang asked as he walked over.

"What? We didn't, we didn't say that"

"Yeah you heard wrong" you added darkly.

"I heard you hatching an escape plan, and I want in" Chit Sang persisted.

"Theirs nothing to get in on" you said.

"Yeah the only thing we're hatching…is an egg" Sokka said lamely, at least he's more awkward than you are.

"Okay, well I go with you, or the Warden hears about this" Chit Sang threatened.

"I guess we have no choice" Suki said.

"Now we just need to figure out how to get in" Sokka said.

"Oh I can get you in," Chit Sang said.

(Kana's POV)

After Zuko left you were surprised that no one has come to your cell in hours. You were starting to get use to the peace and quiet until the undeniable loneliness set in.

Suddenly your cell door opened, "Get up, time to go see the Warden" the guard said as two other guards grabbed you.

The guards walked you to the warden's office you fought the entire time. You were forced into a chair. You glanced around the room, the Warden was behind his desk facing the window and there was guards stationed around the room.

"I bet you think that you're clever, pretty proud of yourself," The Warden said, then he turned around to reveal three long scratches across his face. At least it didn't look as bad as your bruised face. "I'm still willing to make a deal with you, if you tell me where the avatar is I won't tell the fire lord that you're here"

"Go ahead tell the fire lord, you're going to either way," you taunted.

"I will break you"

"You couldn't last time, what makes this time any different"

The Warden laughed, it was sickening. He walked over to you, "I have plans for you" he said darkly, "You're my special inmate" he tried to put his hand under your chin so you spit in his face; it was the only thing you could do.