Catch Me a Catch

CHAPTER FOUR

Since when are you in a match, Chava?

I thought you had your eye on your books

"I just don't understand," Aang mumbled from his seat atop of a pile of snow. "Why would she want to go?"

"I know!" shouted Sokka beside him while waving his hands exaggeratingly. "Katara's going to get herself into trouble! I saw those heated stares Zuko would give her!"

"She was happy traveling around, hanging out with me. She never once mentioned marriage."

"What if he puts the moves on her? Oh my god! What if he gets her pregnant to trap her into marrying him?"

"Maybe this was her way in getting away from her parents while I was in the South Pole… But she came here! So…that doesn't make sense…"

"What's she going to eat there, anyway? All the food there is hot and spicy! You can burn your tongue on just drinking the water! She'll starve to death!"

"What if she really does like Zuko? They did get along pretty well before…"

"…You two a pathetic," Suki said as she walked over to the two boys and stared up at them. "Honestly, there's a simple solution."

The two boys perked up and looked at the Kyoshi warrior, who had arrived earlier that day, eagerly. "There is?"

Suki nodded and rolled her eyes. "Aang if you want Toph back so much just go and tell her. Sokka…get over it."

"Hey!" Sokka yelled. He jumped down from the snow hill and glare at his fiancé.

"Your sister's a strong girl, Sokka; she can take care of herself."

"Well so can Toph! Why does Aang get the nice advice?" Sokka demanded. Aang smiled and floated off the hill as well to stand next to his two friends.

"Because the reason Aang's upset is so cute! His love away from him, in someone else's Courting Ceremony. You're just being an idiot."

"Yeah Sok- Wait, what?" Aang doubled back. "My love? W-What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on, Aang, it's so obvious. That's why you're so upset Toph is gone. You like her but she's about to become someone else's wife."

"…Their wife? I thought this was all a joke?" Aang sounded desperate.

"It might be," Suki said, shrugging her shoulders. "But Courting Ceremonies are very important in the Fire Nation. After General Iroh came to talk to me I decided to read up on Fire Nation culture. In one case, where the Fire Lord couldn't decide who to take for his wife, the Council members chose for him."

"Wait!" said Sokka. "You mean…there's a chance that one of those girls could actually become the Fire Lady?"

Suki nodded. "Yes. She would have to agree, of course, but then, who wouldn't? Money, power, and if the husbands nice it would seem as if they had won the lottery."

"Toph and Katara don't care about those things." Aang seemed to be trying to convince himself more than Suki.

"Maybe…" Suki rubbed her chin in thought. "Though… Toph has been looking for an excuse to get away from her parents. If she marries Zuko she'll have more freedom and she won't have to stay with her parents for a few months whenever you visit the South Pole."

"Wow, she has a point," Sokka said, looking at the Avatar with sympathy. "Toph's going to marry Zuko… Well, as long as Katara's safe." He shrugged his shoulders and started to walk away, hands behind his head while whistling.

"I wouldn't be too sure," Suki continued, examining her nails. Sokka stopped dead in his tracks. "Katara had gotten use to traveling, so staying in one place is hard for her, especially it being the South Pole… If she became the Fire Lady she'd get the chance to travel the world for meetings and such. Also, she and Zuko seem to have this…chemistry about them…" Suki shrugged. "Oh well, I guess we wont know for sure until another month, huh?" She walked away, leaving two distraught boys staring after her.

Later that night a figure slowly crept its way towards Appa, who was sleeping a little ways off the shore. The figure threw his bag onto the flying bison, jumped onto his upper back and took hold of the reigns.

"Hold it!" A loud voice. The figure grimaced. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Um, Appa needs to get some fresh air so…"

"Uh huh… You're going to the Fire Nation aren't you?"

"Pft, No!"

"I'm going with you."

"What? But-"

"No way, I need to go save my little sister! I left a note for Suki, she'll understand."

The figure smiled. "Alright, get on."

And you have your eye on the Rabbi's son

Well, why not?
We have only one Rabbi and he has only one son.
Why shouldn't I want the best?

"You didn't have to shoot me in the butt," Smellerbee grumbled as she rubbed the sore area the arrow had pierced.

Jet shrugged. "That will teach you two for tracking me down after I said not to. Who's watching Jin?"

"Probably some hyped up Fire Lord by now," Smellerbee sneered.

This got Jet's attention. His back stiffened and the grass stem in his mouth fell out. "What did you say?"

"That's why we came." Smellerbee pointed between herself and Longshot. "Jin's in the Fire Nation participating in the Fire Lord's Courting Ceremony! She might become his wife!"

"Wait, wait, wait," Jet said, running a hand through his hair. "I leave for a few months and she goes off to get married? Why weren't you two doing your job?" Longshot stares hard at Jet. "Of course you could have tied her down," Jet replied in aggravation. "How do you think I get her to stay out of trouble?"

"By ditching her for three months?" Smellerbee snarled sarcastically. "What were you thinking, anyway? It probably would have been better if you had told her a little before hand, instead of the day you were leaving!"

Jet rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Okay, instead of trying to blame this whole thing on me, tell me how you two are going to get her back to Ba Sing Se."

Smellerbee and Longshot glanced at each other. "Uh…Jet, she's at the Fire Lords Palace; do you really think they'll just let us take her?"

"You're Freedom Fighters! You can think of something!"

"Oh no, Jet; you got yourself into this, you go get her. Longshot and I are going back to Ba Sing Se and we're going to relax and try to get over the fact that you almost accidentally shish-ca-bobbed our butts."

Jet glared at their backs as the walked away, the wheels in his head churning as he tried to come up with a way to fix this.

He ran a hand through his messy hair and looked in the direction he should be heading, and then turned a little to the left in the direction that his girl was, probably getting herself into more trouble than she could handle.

He let out a sigh and started running. "Dammit!"

Because you're a girl from a poor family.
So whatever Yenta brings, you'll take, right?
Of course right!

"What made you decide to participate in the Courting Ceremony?" A member of the Council asked Toph.

When the girls had been woken earlier that morning they were informed that today was "interview" day. Each girl would meet with the Council, one at a time, and answer any of their questions. So far Ty Lee and Jin were finished, Toph almost done, and next was Katara.

Toph shrugged nonchalantly. "I figured it would keep me occupied for awhile."

The Council stole glances at each other and cleared their throats. "Um…right. Well, thank you for your time. Please send in Miss. Katara of the Southern Water tribe."

Toph nodded and walked out of the room with her usual smirk of arrogance. "Hey Sweetness, it's your turn."

Katara looked up from her book and let out a nervous sigh. From the moment she walked into the room, Katara could tell she was the least favorite of all the girls. The Council stared critically at her, some started murmuring to each other in hushed tones.

"So… Miss. Katara of the Southern Water Tribe," said a member of The Council. "What is your position in society?"

Katara raised a brow. "Um… Excuse me?"

They all sighed. "Are you in high society? A princess? Who are your parents?"

"Oh, um… Well, my father is sort of in charge of the Southern Tribe…" Katara thought hard. "He's pretty much considered the Chief…"

"He is not the king?"

"Well, no; the Southern Tribe has just been rebuilt and we have a different government than our sister tribe…"

"So… You're a peasant?"

Katara bristled. "I wouldn't say that."

"You also helped the Avatar end the war, correct?" asked another member, ignoring her last comment.

"Yes," Katara said proudly, fondly remembering the days she and her brother traveled with their two best friends Aang and Toph to help Aang stop the Fire Lord.

"What made you decide to participate in the Courting Ceremony?"

Katara stiffened. She was fairly positive she wasn't suppose to tell the Council that Iroh had asked her to join the Courting Ceremony so Zuko could stay single… Talk about an oxymoron. "Well…" said Katara, wringing her hands. "Well Zuko and I got along pretty well and are close friends… I have been missing my traveling days and was sort of suffocating in the South Pole so…"

The Council turned to each other, speaking with one another with their eyes.

"Thank you for your time, Miss. Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, you may leave."

Katara blinked a few times. It was over? She was sure that the others had taken longer. No matter, Katara got up, bowed, and walked out of the room.

"Boring aren't they?" a voice from her right. Katara spun quickly and saw Zuko walked her way.

Katara bowed out of habit but she smiled widely. "They certainly can't hold a candle to Aang, I must say."

Zuko scoffed. "I would never appoint obnoxious Council members."

"Oh admit it, you miss him."

Zuko shrugged as he and Katara walked down the hallway together. "How did the interview go, anyway?" Katara sighed woefully. Zuko smirked. "That well?"

"They don't seem to like me that much," Katara said feeling slightly offended. "Just because I'm not "technically" a princess or whatever."

Zuko nodded his head. "Yes, the Council takes status very seriously."

Katara laughed and nudged him in the ribs. He scowled down at her. "I remember a time you took it just as seriously. What was it you called me…? Little peasant?"

"You were trying to stop me from achieving my goal!" Zuko said defensively.

"Your goal was to steal Aang and bring him to your father!"

"Well aren't you two get all cozy together." They turned to see Toph smirking at them.

"What?" Jin asked as she appeared behind Toph. She looked from the Earthbender to Katara and Zuko. "Did something happen?"

"Oh, I just found this two getting cozy with one another," Toph replied nonchalantly, knowing full well she was implying more than what she saw.

Jin's eyes widened and she covered her mouth in mock shock. "No! You mean… The Fire Lord has already chosen? He was getting so comfy with her before they even announced the engagement, as well?" Toph nodded in affirmation.

Zuko and Katara looked at each other in bewilderment and then turned back to the two girls. "No!" they shouted at the same time.

"How disgraceful," Jin said, smirking. She turned around and sashayed away.

Katara glared at Toph. "See what you do?"

"…Not really," Toph replied, pointing to her glossy eyes.

"That's not what I meant!"

"Whaaat? Fire Lord Zuko and Katara were getting it on in the hallway?" They could here Ty Lee clearly, even though she was in a completely different wing of the palace.

Hodel, oh Hodel,
Have I made a match for you!
He's handsome, he's young!
Alright, he's 62.
But he's a nice man, a good catch, true?
True

"Alright girls," Iroh said as he walked into Katara's bed chamber. "I know how the Council feels about you all."

"Ugh, I don't want to know," Katara grumbled.

"Why ever not? They like you just fine," Iroh said cheerfully.

Katara straightened. "You mean I'm not their least favorite?"

"Oh no, you are," Iroh replied. "But that doesn't mean they hate you; they just wish she had a better social standing." Katara grumbled. "Ty Lee is their third favorite."

"Why am I third? I'm Fire Nation!" Ty Lee said, narrowing her eyes.

"Well they consider running away from home to join the circus to be a slightly big offense," Iroh explained.

"Stupid Council."

"They're second favorite is Jin."

"Me? I have an even lower social standing than Katara!" Jin exclaimed.

"Yes, but they feel your looks cancel that out."

"…Cool. I knew these puppies would come in handy some day," She stuck out her chest and stared at it proudly. Then her eyes widened and she shook her head. "What am I saying?" They all shrugged.

"So that leaves Toph as their favorite," Iroh continued, grinning at the Earthbending girl.

She shrugged. "You realize this Council is full of idiot's right? I'd probably make the worse Fire Lady."

Iroh sighed and shook his head. "If they had rational minds than it wouldn't be as fun."

"…True…"

Everyone nodded.

I promise you'll be happy,
And even if you're not,
There's more to life than that---
Don't ask me what.

"I'm sorry, but I've been instructed not to let anyone in without instruction from the Council or the Fire Lord." The guard looked down at the two boys standing in front of him. They both looked tired, as if they had been traveling all night and all day.

"But he's the Avatar!" Sokka exclaimed, pointing out the arrow on Aang's head.

The guard thought for a moment, than his face brightened as he remembered a talk he had earlier today. "Oh, and I've been told especially not to let the Avatar in."

"What! Why?" Aang asked in bewilderment.

The guard shrugged. "I don't know; I just follow orders. I was told to tell you that you can come back in a month or so."

Sokka's eyes widened. He grabbed onto Aang's arm and pulled him away from the guard and behind the corner where no one could see them. "I can't believe them!"

"What?" asked Aang, perplexed.

"They're keeping you away while the Courting Ceremony is going on! They know how you feel about Toph!"

"What? How dare- Wait, what feelings? I don't know what you're talking about." Aang glanced around nervously.

Sokka rolled his eyes. "Oh come on Aang. Anyway, we have to find a way to get in without anyone noticing and be able to help and/or save my sister and Toph! Now…what would Suki do…?"

"You need to ask yourself what a girl would do to get in?" Came a husky voice. It was Jet. He scoffed. "What a loser."

"…You couldn't get in either, could you?" Sokka said, putting his hands on his hips and wearing a smug look.

Jet looked down at the ground, silently giving his answers.

"Anyway, Suki's smart, so if I do what I think she would do- I got it!" Sokka jumped around happily. "I got it! I got it!"

"What is it, idiot?" Jet asked.

"Well…what would Suki do?" Sokka looked pointedly at Aang.

It took him awhile before Aang got it. "Oooh."

"I am not doing this," Jet said a few minutes later as he glared at the dress Sokka was holding out for him.

"Come on," Sokka said, waving the dress around. "As maids we can see and hear everything and no one will recognize us!"

"I am not dressing like a girl!"

"Alright," said Aang as he stepped out of the dressing room wearing a long sleeved red dress and a black wig with ringlet curls. His eyes were covered with orange eye shadow and the lipstick he wore was too deep a red and the blush made him look like a clown. "If you don't want to get Jin back then you can just stay here."

Jet glared at the dress again. "Dammit." He snatched the red material from Sokka's hand. "Jin better reward me for this."

Sokka picked the bottom of his dull red dress since it was way to long for him. His hair was in a bun with red chopsticks holding his hair in place. His eyes were shaded a deep blue, the blush made his cheeks lighter than the rest of his skin, and he wore bright pink lip stick that did not go with his assemble. "Alright men," he said while pointing toward the exit. "Move out!" He stomped his way toward the castle.

"…I hate my life," Jet said sorrowfully as he started to put on his own dress and make up.


Author's Note: If you haven't noticed, I try to make the scene match the lyrics. Also, this chapter had some Zuko/Katara interaction, huh? lol. I have been wanting to write about the boys cross-dressing for so long, lol.