Time passed, and Iroh's plan became more and more clear. He spent every unsupervised moment training, and quickly alternating into his 'demented old man' act whenever a guard neared our door. I soon joined in, doing pull-ups in the bars above me— with much difficulty, I should add. After realizing that I have very limited upper body strength, I transitioned to the gymnastics that Ty Lee had been teaching me. To say that I'd mastered it would be an overstatement— but, if all else failed, I could have a successful career in the circus.

One evening, I laid on the floor of my cell, and Iroh leaned against the wall and clapped absentmindedly to convince the guards outside our door that we was a loony old man. I grew annoyed with the antics, but I knew it was crucial. The heavy door creaked open as Bao entered with two bowls on a tray.

Once the door closed behind him, he asked, "How are you? I heard what happened with Azula, but I can't say I'm surprised." He knelt down and slid a bowl into each cell. "What were you thinking, Saki? I know you hate it here — but, attacking Azula? Do you have a death wish?!"

Grumpily, I muttered, "It's not like I struck first..." I shoveled the rice into my mouth. At this point, I despised the taste and texture of rice, having eaten it every single day since coming to the Fire Nation.

"That's not the important part," he frowned at me, his hand coiling around a bar of my cage. "The important part is that you're okay. Things could've gone a lot worse for you, you know. You could have been exiled, or even executed! If you weren't Zuko's—"

"Zuko's what?" I snapped, lunging for the bars and gripping them until my knuckles were white. My lips curled into a snarl as I glared at him. "Zuko's whore? Isn't that what everyone's calling me lately?"

"What? No! Where would you get that from?" He flinched and looked at me with concerned eyes as he sat closer. "Who said that about you? Was it one of Azula's maids?"

"The whole palace believes it, apparently!" I frowned.

"Saki..." Bao gently placed his hands over mine. "I don't think of you that way. I know who you are, and what you can do — which is why I need you to promise me you'll behave." When I didn't reply, he persisted. "Promise me you'll behave until I figure out a way to get you out of here. Promise me, Saki."

Quietly, I said with a nod, "I promise..." My grip loosened from the bars and Bao took my hands, softly kissing my palms. He stood and bowed to pay his respects to Iroh, who had ceased from his delusional act and nodded to Bao with a stern look. Bao left with with the empty tray, leaving us alone again in our confinement.

"I see you have stolen the heart of yet another young man." Iroh cracked a smile.

"Another?"

Iroh chuckled. "That young man in Ba Sing Se, this young guard, my nephew..."

"Your nephew has no heart," I spat, then quickly regretted it. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that... I just... I don't understand him anymore."

His light-hearted tone was gone. "That is another thing you share with Prince Zuko. He does not seem to understand himself, either. But I believe that he will find his way again."

I sighed and laid on the cold concrete. My appetite was dead. It wasn't until that I noticed how often I make promises that I know I can't keep. I promised Ursa that I would keep Zuko safe and help him in life, and look where that got us. I promised Zuko that I wouldn't leave his side, and that didn't end well. I led Katara and the others that I would remain by their side, and I left them — not once, but many, many times. And now I promised Bao that I would "behave". If only he knew what was bound to happen.

Moments later, the door opened again, light spilling in as the guard that'd called me a whore entered. He'd no true purpose to be in there; we had already had food brought to us. But, I remained silent. "You used to be the pride of the Fire Nation," he snarled. "Our top general, the Dragon of the West! Now look at you..." He palm was slammed against the bars of the cell. "Look what you've become." The guard exited again, and Iroh stood up. He began removing his rode, and his blanket from where his protruding belly had once been. As weird as it is to say, the old man had obtained a body that made him look about twenty years younger.

"So," I said, fidgeting with the ends of my hair, "when exactly is it happening?" When he gave me a confused look, I frowned. "You know, it. The thing you told me to be prepared for?"

Iroh reached up and grabbed a bar above him, lifting himself into numerous chin-ups. He grunted, "You must be patient."

I crossed my arms and grumbled, "I'm past patiently waiting..."

"The time will come," he said, "and when it does, you will know." He began discussing our plan, explaining every step and every precaution.

As he relayed the details, my grin grew wider and wider.