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~25~

"You need to regain your honour? Believe me, I know all about that. I'm coming too."

"I need to do this alone."

"No, you don't," You said, finally making yourself known. Sokka and Zuko both jumped as you spoke, looking to you with shock on their faces.

"Y/N," Sokka asked. "What are you doing?"

"Coming with you," You replied. "There's no way I'm letting you two idiots break into a prison by yourselves."

"You don't have to do this," Sokka said, but Zuko interrupted him.

"Don't even try, Sokka," He said. "When Y/N makes a decision she sticks to it." He ended his statement with a glare in your direction, and you responded in a very mature way—sticking your tongue out at him.

Sokka sighed, "Fine, you guys can come." He continued to climb onto Appa's back and you cleared your throat.

"Um, Sokka," You said.

"What?"

"Where were you planning to leave Appa when you get to the prison?"

"Oh," He said, sliding off the bison and to the ground. "Right."

"It's okay, we can take our war ballon," Zuko said.

***

The ride to the Boiling Rock was long and awkward. You and Zuko took turns keeping the balloon up, while Sokka whistles away and tried to avoid eye contact.

"Pretty clouds," Sokka said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," You drawled.

"Fluffy," Zuko added, but blushed from embarrassment when the two of you looked at him in confusion.

"You know," Sokka said. "A friend of mine actually designed these war balloons. I helped."

"Really," You asked.

"Yep, a balloon... but for war."

"If there's one thing the Firelord is good at it's war," Zuko added angrily.

"Seems to run in the family," Sokka mumbled but quickly closed his mouth when you shot him a death glare.

"Not everyone is like that," Zuko said.

"I know, I know," He said. "You guys have changed."

"I meant my uncle. He was more of a father to me. And I really let him down."

Sokka looked to you, clearly wanting to know your opinion on this.

"Don't look at me," You said. "I never was as close to Uncle Iroh as Zuko, but I still feel horrible for what I did." You gazed at the ground, feeling your eyes brim with tears. "I know he'd never be mad at me—I honestly don't think he's capable of being mad at anyone—but it still hurts to think about."

"Well I, for one, think your uncle would be proud of you guys. Leaving your own country and family to come help us, that's brave."

"Wasn't that hard," You and Zuko answered at the same time.

"Really," Sokka asked, shocked. "You didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?"

"Well," Zuko said. "I did have a girlfriend, Mai." He glanced at you awkwardly while he spoke, and you rolled your eyes in response.

Sokka grinned and poked Zuko in the shoulder, "That gloomy girl who sighs a lot?"

"Yeah." He drawled out the last letter, letting it drop off into a lovesick sigh. You rolled your eyes, and pushed him over to the furnace as you sat next to Sokka.