After the prisoners were locked down in their cells that evening, Nai and Zuko met with Dako, Zomi, and Sokka.
"We have several more guards willing to join," said Dako. "So we're still on schedule."
"Good," said Nai. "I'm not sure how much longer loverboy here's going to hold out."
"Ha, ha...!" laughed Sokka. "...loverboy...but...uh...speaking of which...I need your help after shift change before you get some sleep," he winked making Zuko cringe.
"He'll be sleeping in the barracks tonight," said Nai.
"Not even one day and she's already kicking you out of the bedroom," teased Sokka. "What did you do?"
"I had to put her in solitary," said Zuko ashamedly.
"You what?! Why would you do that to her?"
Sokka's reaction made him feel worse, and he dropped his eyes. "I just wanted her to drink some water."
"So because she didn't you locked her up for it?"
"Zedak started walking over to them when he gave her the water," started Nai. "Princess Chiara hit the ground so that from where Zedak and I were it looked like Z slapped her."
"What did Zedak do?" asked Dako.
"You know that jerk; he loved it. The princess looked up and said, 'I just wanted a drink.' She was good. Zedak insisted she stole the canteen so he confined her to solitary. He thinks Z's on his side now."
Dako and Zomi laughed.
Zuko could not understand why they found it so funny. "She shouldn't go without food," he said sadly. "She looks so fragile."
"Don't worry about her, Z," said Dako. "Nai'll take care of her."
He was not reassured.
"I'll sneak her some food later," she said. "I've done it before."
"And at least she's getting a break. She doesn't have Zedak making her slave around out there."
Dako's point was a little consoling to him.
"Before you guys go, I need to visit a prisoner," said Sokka.
"Why do you need us?" asked Zuko. "Isn't your dad on the first level?"
"It's not my dad. It's my girlfriend."
Zuko gave him a suspicious look. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"So is this just some random girl you saw in the prison and suddenly have a crush on?" he asked.
"No," said Sokka with a playful tone of offense. "She happens to be the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors," he said proudly.
"Huh," said Zuko. "So some girl you just saw in the prison and have a crush on..."
"I'll have you know Suki and I go way back," he said.
"And she feels the same way?"
"Is it so hard to believe that she does?" asked Sokka.
"Yes, it is."
"Says the guy who put his own wife in solitary. At least my girlfriend doesn't have to put up with a moody, angry jerkbender like poor Chiara does."
"Sir, shall I lock him up in a cell for you?" Nai asked Zuko with complete seriousness upon hearing Sokka insult the prince.
Dako and Zomi were snickering.
"No," said Zuko, softly chuckling at her offer and even appreciating her sincerity. "He...he's actually not wrong."
Sokka threw his arm around Zuko's shoulders. "Don't worry, Nai, me and His Highn-ass here go way back."
"Personal space, Lee," said Zuko through gritted teeth as he crossed his arms. "Or I will let Nai lock you up."
"Yep," continued Sokka, ignoring Zuko's threat. "I remember when Prince Pissy was even pissier than he is now with all his I must get the Avatar to restore my honor...," he said in a deep dramatic voice, waving a fist in the air.
"Okay, Nai," said Zuko. "I think he needs a time out..."
Just then, the bells rang for shift change.
"Ooh, ooh, time to see Suki," said Sokka excitedly, pulling away from Zuko.
Zuko looked at Dako and Zomi. "If he doesn't return, just assume he's serving time."
"Let's go, let's go," said Sokka who had already started walking off. "She's in the first sector."
Dako and Zomi gave Zuko a slight bow before he and Nai turned to follow Sokka.
They crossed over to the other sector of the prison and continued following him to the prisoners' cells.
Just as he was about to enter Suki's cell, Zuko grabbed his arm. "A word of advice: take off your helmet as soon as you're in the room," he said rubbing his own chest where Chiara had pushed him.
Sokka nodded, and Nai and Zuko waited outside while he walked into the cell.
"Your friend is really weird," said Nai.
"And annoying," said Zuko with a slight smirk.
Inside her room Suki was lying on her cot. She was not pleased to see a guard enter, and she sat up wondering why anyone would be entering her cell after lockdown.
"What is it?" she asked. "Did I do something wrong?"
"You mean you don't recognize me?" asked Sokka crossing his arms.
She looked away repulsed by the Fire Nation guard. "You people all look the same to me."
"Oh? Then maybe you'll recognize this..."
He approached her with his lips puckered. Disgusted by his intentions, she grabbed him and punched him away from her sending him hard against the door where he dropped to the floor.
"Should we go in there?" Nai asked Zuko as they heard him slam into the door.
"Nah. I'm sure he's okay." Zuko was laughing to himself.
As Sokka's helmet fell off, Suki took in his young face and blue eyes immediately recognizing him.
"Sokka! It's you!"
She ran and threw herself down on the floor grabbing hold of him to hug him as tears fell from her eyes, Sokka embracing her in return.
"The other Kyoshi Warriors," he said as they stood up, "are they here?"
"No. I don't know where they are. They locked me in here because I'm the leader."
"Well, you won't be here for long. I'm busting you out."
"Why are you even here?" she asked.
"We came to rescue Chiara."
"Chiara?"
"Zuko's wife. You know, Prince of the Fire Nation."
"And you're-you're helping him?"
"He joined our side. He's Aang's firebending teacher."
She assumed that to be the reason why the prince's wife would be locked up in a Fire Nation prison.
"And the Avatar's here too?" she asked.
"No. Just me and Zuko. When he found out they brought her here, he was determined to rescue her," he continued. "Oh...and my father's here too. We're coordinating a mass breakout."
"How is that possible?"
"Several of the guards are loyal to Zuko. We're going to need prisoners from this sector to break through to the entrance courtyard and incapacitate the warden."
Suki grinned. "That's the job I want."
That put a smile on Sokka's face. "That's my girl. I'll fill you in on the details once we have more allies in this sector, but for now, I'm getting ready to go on duty."
"So you're working as a Fire Nation guard now?" she asked him.
"Yeah, well, it's not the first time," he said. "But now I'm Lee instead of Private Wang Fire or Tang Fire."
Her mouth opened.
"Long stories," he said knowing she was about to ask. He reached for his helmet. "I have to go, but I'll come back for you."
He turned to her, and they were looking in each other's eyes again.
"I'm so glad to see you, Sokka," her eyes lost in his blue ones. "I can't believe you're here."
He hated the idea of leaving her a prisoner, even for a couple days. Unable to resist, they wrapped their arms around each other and kissed, which Sokka felt was nicer, and a lot less painful, than getting thrown into a wall.
When he left her cell, Zuko looked at him and crossed his arms.
"You forgot to take off your helmet, didn't you?"
Sokka laughed guiltily. "Yeah, I did," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
They started down the corridor to return to the other sector.
"I understand how you feel now, Z," said Sokka. Zuko looked over at him. "I hate the idea of leaving Suki in that cell."
"At least you didn't have to lock her up in solitary."
"True. That was a jerk move," teased Sokka.
Zuko rolled his eyes, but silently agreed.
--------------------
Sokka returned to Dako and Zomi while Zuko and Nai went to eat dinner. Later, she took him to the barracks where she made sure he had a cot in a dark corner where no one paid attention to him or noticed his scar. After leaving the guards' quarters she went to the solitary cells.
"Princess," she whispered after entering Chiara's cell, "I brought you food."
"Thank you, Lady Nai. How's my prince?"
"He's sleeping in the barracks."
Knowing how difficult it was for him when he was worried, Chiara suspected he would get little sleep.
"He wanted to come with me, but it's too risky," said Nai. "If Zedak sees him sneaking around here, he might get suspicious."
"I'm worried about him. I don't know how he'll handle it if things get really heated with Zedak. Is there a way you can just keep me locked in solitary for a few days?"
Nai gently laughed. "That might actually be the safest option, but Zedak can be so unpredictable. If I put you in here, he'll think it's to keep you from working."
"Maybe Prince Zuko will take the night shift."
"I don't know...he could barely keep his eyes off you today."
Chiara sighed. "I'll try to be more careful around Zedak...but like you said, he can be unpredictable."
=============================
Zuko lay on a cot tossing and turning most of the night unable to sleep well without Chiara by his side and he was awake before sunrise.
He was already sitting quietly in the chow hall when Nai met him for breakfast.
"How'd you sleep?" she asked sitting down across from him.
"Not well," he said softly.
"Lonely?"
He nodded.
She leaned down towards him. "Most of us are," she said in a low voice. "A lot of us are separated from our families. And for what?"
"For Fire Lord Ozai," he said bitterly.
--------------------
Later in the day, Chiara was helping a few of the older prisoners with their work. Zuko resisted the urge to talk to her, and he just kept an eye on her from a distance. Just as he was desperately wanting to go down to the site and help her with a bucket she was carrying, he saw a dark-complexioned man walk up and take it for her.
"Princess Chiara," Hakoda greeted her. "I want to apologize for my words to you before. Sokka told me that you're an honorable woman, and I'm sorry for how I spoke to you."
His apology was unexpected, but she bowed to him. "I understand. This war has been difficult on everybody, and we've all suffered losses."
He was impressed by her understanding and forgiveness.
As Zuko was watching them, Nai came up to him and held out a small pouch and some other items.
"Three rings, a chain diadem, a knife, and a sword sheath," she said.
"Thanks," he said taking them from her. "The diadem's all she has left of her mother from the Water Tribe, and one of the rings is all I have left of my mother."
He tucked the jewelry inside his uniform and placed the knife and empty sheath on his belt.
--------------------
After the prisoners had eaten dinner one of the guards stopped Chiara on the way out of the chow hall.
"Princess," Damon addressed her, "would you mind cleaning dishes? I need Sota to help Zaro."
They were all allies and plans were cautiously being made among them now that some of the prisoners were aware of the breakout. Zaro and Sozoh intended to lead a movement for Zuko's cause, and they were trying to gather their own allies that would help once they were all free.
Chiara nodded to Damon. Zuko was on an upper level where he could look down at the yard and watch her, and when she went to the water buckets where the dishes were piled, he slowly moved to keep her in his sight.
She had not been working long when Zedak found her.
"Water filth," he addressed her. "This isn't your job."
As soon as Zuko heard Zedak, he watched more closely worrying about what might happen to her.
"But it needs to get done," she said.
"Where's Sota?" he asked. "He's supposed to do this today."
"He needed to help someone."
"It's not his job to help anyone! This is his job today!"
"What does it matter who does it if the work gets done?" she asked.
Zedak was getting angrier. "Prisoner scum! You're going to talk like that to me?"
As he continued yelling at her, Zuko was desperately fighting the urge to jump over the rail and attack him. Nai walked up to him.
"Why does he have to pick on her?" he asked deeply.
"Some people hate good," she said. "Your wife doesn't have a hateful bone in her. She'll help anyone no matter who they are or where they come from or even how they've treated her. People like Zedak don't know anything but hatred, so when they see something good, they lash out."
He considered her words and found her observation profound, but he did not feel any better as he watched Zedak mistreat his wife. While the guard continued belittling Chiara, she just ignored him and kept working like he was not even there hoping he would just walk away, but it only enraged her tormentor further. Zuko was growing increasingly angrier with Zedak as he watched, and Nai noticed his knuckles turning whiter as they gripped the railing.
"Calm down, Z," she said softly. "She'll deal with it. I know it's hard, but you especially can't get involved." She saw Izin walking towards them. "Look," she said as she nodded towards the other prisoner. "Izin'll help her out."
They watched Izin walk up to them.
"Why are you yelling at her, Zedak?"
"This is Sota's job," he said. "Where is he?"
"Damon wanted him to help Zaro. Take it up with him."
"Oh, I'll take it up with him, but not before I take it up with her."
"She doesn't have anything to do with this," said Izin. "Leave her out of it. You're just looking for an excuse to punish her."
"You are a prisoner, and you will not speak to me like that! You're nothing more than a coward and a traitor like all the other traitors here. Traitors defending traitors. Traitors defending filthy spies...!"
"What's going on?" asked Damon as he walked up to them.
"Sota needs to be doing his own job," said Zedak.
"I needed him to do something else," said Damon. "What's the big deal?"
Zedak was upset. "She's supposed to be working in the quarry now!" he yelled pointing at Chiara.
"He's just picking on the Fire Princess," said Izin.
Chiara winced knowing that was going to set Zedak off. It did. He angrily kicked the tub with the clean dishes in it, so it tipped over next to her.
"Stop calling her that!" he yelled.
He raised his hand to strike her. Zuko was gripping the railing ready to jump over it, but Izin grabbed Zedak's wrist and stopped him from his assault.
"Zedak!" yelled Damon, also grabbing him while Jiro ran over to them to help.
Zuko was angry, and smoke was emanating from his knuckles as he watched intently, struggling to keep out of it.
"They've got it," Nai said to him trying to keep him calm.
Chiara was standing near Izin who let go of Zedak as the other guards stepped in. "Izin, it's okay," she said, not wanting him to get in trouble.
"Zedak, calm down," said Jiro.
"The Captain doesn't want you punishing her without a reason," said Damon.
"She's a spy! That's all the reason I need," Zedak yelled as he pulled away from Jiro and Damon. "You're all traitors!" He stormed off.
"Are you okay, Princess?" asked Izin.
"Yes."
They fixed the tub and he helped her clean the dishes again.
"See?" Nai said to Zuko. "Izin helped her out."
"Why would he do that?"
"She went to solitary in his place," explained Nai. "If he sees anyone messing with her, he steps in. He's been put in the cooler for protecting her."
"Really?"
She smiled and nodded. "She's got a lot of allies here."
He was relieved to hear it, but it did not make it easier to stay out of the fight.
--------------------
That night after lockdown, Zuko and Nai met with Dako, Zomi, and Sokka again to discuss their progress. All of the prisoners in Sector 1 had been made aware of the breakout and groups were being formed for taking down the gates between sectors. Zaro and Sozoh were meeting with Sector 2 prisoners who had been informed of the plans and finding ones who were willing to sneak through the Fire Nation islands and colonies and collect more allies once they were free.
After shift change, Zuko and Nai went with Sokka to visit Suki in her cell to update her on the plans, and that evening Zuko entered Chiara's cell to remain with her for the night.
When she saw him enter, her eyes lit up making his heart skip a few beats. He set his helmet on the floor when he sat down next to her, and then he took her in his arms to embrace her.
"I missed you last night," he said.
"I missed you too."
"I'm so sorry."
"Please don't apologize," she said. "I don't blame you."
He released her.
"Are you here for the night again?" she asked hopefully.
"Yeah. Sokka and Zomi are watching."
"Lie down on your stomach," she ordered.
He obeyed and she started massaging his back.
"Oh, Prince Zuko, you're so tense."
"It's been so hard watching Zedak mistreat you."
"Why don't you take the night shift and sleep during the day?" she suggested.
"No. I don't want to be away from you anymore, and I won't be able to sleep anyways."
She pulled out a small orb of water and started her technique.
"You need to relax, and don't let what Zedak does get to you."
"How can I not let it get to me? He's constantly abusing you."
"It's only a few more days," she said as she worked out his tension. "And knowing you're here, I could suffer Azula visiting me everyday."
"I couldn't handle that," he said tensing up at the thought. "Unless...you can't firebend, can you?"
She let out a soft laugh as she remembered him telling her about his dream. "No. Would you rather I be a firebender?"
"Why would I want that? We already have a firebender in our family...two, counting Uncle. I just thought maybe if you could bend both elements that would be helpful fighting Azula."
"I don't think that's possible except for the Avatar."
"Then it's perfect that you're a waterbender instead." He could feel the tightness in his muscles loosen as she worked. "Who else could do these wonderful water massages?" She giggled, happy that he enjoyed them. "Oh no," he groaned. "I'm starting to sound like Uncle."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"I guess it's not," he smiled. "But I should be doing this for you." He pushed himself up on his elbows. "You deserve a heat massage."
She pushed him back down. "Don't interrupt."
"But you're the one who worked all day," he argued.
"You relaxing, relaxes me. And if we make it out of here, I'll take you up on your offer," she said as she continued her massage. "Now relax, and don't worry about anything. Just overlook whatever happens here; it won't be much longer."
He tried to push the worries out of his mind and give in to her treatment.
"I know the perfect spot," he said serenely, his voice reflecting the calming effect of her technique. "There's a waterfall not far from the air temple."
"It's a date," she said softly.
She worked out the tension in his muscles until he fell asleep.