Rhea's eyes fluttered open. Her back was on fire as she stared at the bars overhead. She sat up painfully. What had happened? The last thing she remembered was Aang and Katara escaping and a searing pain in her back, which still lingered. Her cell was completely bare, no sleeping mat, no chair, nothing. The cold stone walls were solid, without even a window to break up the grey monotony. Despite those brick walls, thick metal bars formed a cage around her.

Beyond the confines of her cell, she found a small open area leading to a wooden door with a tiny barred window, which allowed a small amount of light into the room. No doubt, there were guards stationed on either side of that door.

Rhea sighed, leaning her aching back against the cold bars. She knew where she was. She was in the highest security prison in the Fire Nation, located just outside the capitol. It was second only to the Boiling Rock. (She was a little surprised they hadn't sent her there.)
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"Against the wall." The guard ordered as he entered the room with a plate of food in his free hand.

Rhea glared at him.

He smirked. "Unless you'd rather go without food... again."

Against her will, her stomach growled. Maintaining her rage-full glare, she stepped back, pressing her back against the farthest wall from the door.

The guard strode smugly forward, handling the hilt of his dagger with his free hand. He dropped the plate on the floor, scattering lukewarm rice on the cold stones. "Enjoy." He laughed as he left the room, slamming the wooden door behind him.

Rhea walked over to the bars and knelt by her strewn food. Sighing, she picked up the bowl of rice that had tipped over on the plate. No utensils. Of course. They didn't want her picking the lock.
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Ming walked in on the ceiling, closing the upside down door behind her. She held the plate of food in both hands, not bothering with her knife.

Rhea let her arched back relax and drop to the floor. She rolled onto her knees and stood, facing the female guard.

Ming smiled. "Rice and dumplings... again, but I managed to sneak some salt onto the rice to give it some flavor." She spoke softly to avoid being heard.

Rhea nodded gratefully as Ming gently placed the food on the floor inside the cell. "Thank you." She sat crosslegged on the floor and picked up the plate, resting it on her lap. "If I might ask, why are you so nice to me? As far as the Fire Nation is concerned, I'm a criminal. Why do you risk so much just to be kind to me?"

Ming thought for a moment. "Well, I like to see the best in people. And, often times, if I treat someone well, they offer me the same respect, like the general."

Rhea's head snapped up. "What did you say?"

Ming cleared her throat nervously. Clearly she'd said too much. "I have other duties to attend to." She ducked out of the room and disappeared.

Rhea stared at the door, her mind reeling. A general, in the Capital City prison, who was respectful to Ming. Her breath caught in her throat. It had to be Iroh.
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Rhea glared at Zuko as he walked in, a hooded cloak shrouding his features. "What are you doing here?"

He tossed back his hood and met her gaze. "I wanted to make sure you were alright."

She scoffed. "You betrayed me, attacked me, and let them lock me up in here." She gestured to the bars surrounding her. "What gives you the idea that I'm even remotely 'alright'?"

He hung his head, his scar tilted towards her. "I'm sorry. I didn't want it to end this way." He lifted his head to look at her again. "I didn't think they'd put you here."

"What did you think they'd do with me?" Rhea snapped. "In their eyes, I'm a criminal, a foreigner, a traitor." She locked eyes with the scarred prince. "I tried so hard to find you, to make it up to you, to help you find a better path, and you threw it all away... for what?"

His gaze narrowed to a glare. "For my honor."

"You had it!" She stepped up to the bars. "When I found you in Ba Sing Se, not chasing ghosts, you had more than earned it back," she gripped the bars with a white-knuckle grip. "but then you had to go and choose your father's opinion over ours - the people who really care about you." She could see the doubt flickering in Zuko's angry gaze.

He dropped his eyes to the floor, unable to meet her gaze.

"Zuko," she finally spoke again. "I never saw the scar."

His head snapped up.

"I only ever saw you." It was her turn to look away. "You and Iroh are the closest thing to family I have left. I just... don't want to lose you, either of you." She met his gaze again, tears stinging her eyes. "What about you? What do you see when you look at me?"

It seemed like a million thoughts were racing through his mind, warring behind his eyes. It took him a moment to answer. "I see a traitor, who chose the Avatar over the people she claims are her family." He turned on his heel and walked out without another word.

Rhea's tears rolled down her cheeks. Her grip loosened on the bars and she slid to the floor, kneeling on the cold stones. Her heart seemed to stop beating in her chest and she couldn't seem to breathe. She'd lost him. She'd lost both of them.

A/N
Yay!!!!! A got a chapter out and on Christmas no less! 😁
Hope you enjoyed the chapter. We've entered Season 3. I have some fun plans for this one. I'll try to get the next chapter out soon.
Merry Christmas! 🎄
-Cheshire