Chapter Six – Idioticy

Avatar: The Last Airbender

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Kaitou woke with a start. Someone was in her room, and it was pitch black outside. Laying still, acting still asleep, she heard the footsteps of a guy, but they weren't friendly. Waiting for whoever he was to move into the view between her lashes, she slowed her breathing. Boots stepped right in front of her face, not startling her as the person would have thought had she been awake.

Suddenly, she was forcefully turned onto her back and a gag came over her mouth. She almost rolled her eyes when rope was tied around her hands. Pretending to be frightened, she stayed shock still while whoever he was carried her from the small fort Tian had built. His footsteps were soft, but not as soft as they could have been.

Kaitou looked up and saw golden eyes widen from a wall on the palace. Grinning, she winked. He must have seen it, as Zuko's eyes softened and his right winked back at her. She knew he would be waiting for her to return to find out what had happened.

Finally, after a long time to be carried—she had started squirming a while back as to not arouse suspicion, but it might have slowed the pace—she was thrust to the ground. They were in the middle of a small clearing, but her keen eyes saw a few short people in the shadows. That was all she needed to know who it was. Of course, she couldn't let him know that.

Looking up and the darkened figure with fake frightened eyes, she began slowly working her hands with the knot holding her wrists together. Of course, one of the people behind her noticed this and walked forward, holding her fingers apart. Pouting—not frowning—she tried to send a glare at who was holding her hands, but whoever it was was too short. This could work for her.

A hand shot out from the figure in front of her and tore off the gag, making her realize it was rather sticky and had pulled at her skin. Biting her tongue to keep from screaming, she glared at who it was in front of her, still forcing the 'I'm-not-scared-of-you-but-really-am' façade.

The boy chuckled. "Katara. I haven't seen you for a while."

His voice confirmed any doubts she had as to who he was—which were not many. "Wow, now there's a voice I know I diffidently hate." The grip on her hands tightened, but she paid it no heed. It didn't hurt, so why bother?

The face of her captor loomed down at her, almost making them nose to nose. "I didn't have a chance to thank you for freezing me to that tree…"

"Oh, is that what you wanted. Well then, you are very most welcome. I'll do it again anytime." The gag was slipped back over her mouth, stopping any and all comments she would have in the future.

Jet glowered at her for a second before smirking. "Katara, I'm hurt. But I'll let that slide. After all, I know you like me."

She gave him a look reading, "you're kidding, right?" Using her mind—an a toe—she summoned water from the damp air and made a sound similar to walking. Jet took the bait and turned to it. Seeing no one, he turned back to continue with Katara, but she was no longer there. One of his 'freedom fighters'—the one who was holding her hands apart—was laying in the spot she used to be sitting in, unconscious.

Kaitou had leapt into a tree when all their backs were turned. Working the knot with her fingers, still watching Jet as he started yelling at his gang to hunt her down, she quickly was able to free her wrists and remove the foul tasting gag. She laid back against the trunk, yawning and wondering when they would find her.

Five minutes later, she was growing bored. Zuko was sure to become worried and come after her if she waited too long, but she did want to see how stupid these people were. Contemplating on whether to show herself or not, she twirled a loose strand of hair. She frowned at it. She'd have to fix that once she returned to her room.

She had a sudden thought when she heard the bird call they used to communicate. Shrugging, she covered her mouth with her hands and blew one perfectly. Any ruckus below her suddenly halted and the kids were glancing around, confused as to where that had come from. Kaitou had to stifle a snicker.

Fortunately, the one person she hated just had to stumble into the clearing (right below her, I might add) and started asking who had sounded the call. They all shook their heads. "Well then, if none of you did it, then where did it come from?"

"Um…we were trying to find out when you came, Jet."

The teenaged orphan sighed. "What are you still doing here talking to me? Go find out!" Everyone scampered from their leader's wrath. Jet put a hand to his forehead. "So hard to find good help these days."

"Of course, you aren't all that great either." A voice answered him. His head snapped up and he started into bright blue eyes holding a touch of mischief.

"Katara, I knew you would return."

"Oh yes, that perfectly explains the reason that you have been ordering your group to find me. Although, now they're trying to find me again, just not knowing it."

Jet stood in uncertainty for a few seconds before understanding. He started laughing. "Yeah right. You would never be able to bird call that good."

Her eyes narrowed, making Jet's snickering slow to a halt. In a split second, she melted into the shadows. He stared at the spot she had just disappeared into, watching for movement. "You know, you're really stupid sometimes."

Jet's head whipped around in shock. How the heck did she get behind him? Nothing in the faded darkness had made a movement! "What the…How did you get there? And so fast?"

Kaitou smirked. He was asking questions. If she could only get him to try to attack her, this would be fun. She just didn't want to make the first assault. "I walked." Was her simple answer before she backed into the darkness again. She watched Jet trying to see while she quick-walked as stealthy as she could to his right. "Over here, Jet. You really should keep track of your prisoners."

He spun around once more, with a glare on his face at her last comment. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying I'm not a good captor?"

"Well, first of all, when I met you, you let Sokka get away pretty easily. Then you leave me on the ground and turn your back at the slightest sound, giving me the perfect escape rout. Then you just stand there while I circle you…and you're not even watching me!" She was getting to him…just a few more comments and he would be tied and face flat on the ground.

"I did not let your idiot brother get away! I wasn't even there!"

"Yes, but you gave him to only two people. I would have thought that you would have been smart enough to realize it would take more. But I guess you aren't."

Jet gaped at her. "Are you calling me stupid?"

Kaitou mocked thinking it over. "Yes, I believe I am." Just one more…

Unfortunately, she never got the last bit. Bushes separated and three kids forced a tied up guy through them. "We found him near the palace…where did you find her?"

Kaitou grinned. "Hey Zuko. I thought you would have waited, not come after me."

Said firebender looked up at her. He didn't have a gag, but even if he did, he could have easily burnt it away. "Well, I figured you were gone too long, so I was going to try and see if you needed any help. Looks like I'm not really needed though." He said the last bit while looking at the still unconscious boy nearby.

Kaitou just sighed while shrugging. Turning back to Jet, she smiled at his astonished face. "Well, there's a picture I thought I'd never see: Jet, the idiotic 'Freedom Fighter', amazed." Zuko snorted with laughter.

That brought Jet out of his reverie and he yelled, charging Zuko, who just blinked at him. He didn't get too close before he was tripped and fell flat. He stood up and looked around. No one looked like they had moved. "Who did that?"

Kaitou started laughing. "Wow, he's almost as slow as you, Zuko." Upon seeing his glare, she quickly added, "I mean, as slow as you used to be." The fire prince nodded, content.

Jet turned on her. "You made me fall?"

"It wasn't that hard." Kaitou answered innocently. She faked yawned. "Say, think you can let us go? I really need some sleep before catching up with Sokka and Aang…especially if I'm not going to strangle my brother upon sight." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zuko shaking with held in laughter.

Jet looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Well one; I haven't been in contact with the two for a little over two years. Two; Sokka's being a stupid…well, guy. Three; I'm really tired." She glanced at Zuko, who now had tears in his eyes from his restrained snickers.

Jet noticed her peeking at the fire prince and smirked. "He's not going to be able to save you."

Kaitou tilted her head while a snort forced it's way between Zuko's lips. "What makes you think I need him to save me?"

Jet's smirk grew wider. "Well then, let's see what you can do."

"Bring it, Loser." Was the only reply he got. Snarling, he ran at her, but once again was tripped when she dodged out of the way at the last minute. Leaping up, he saw her calm face—thinking it was a mask. Withdrawing his cross blades, he had hoped for a break. There was none.

Kaitou watched him as he ran at her again. Seriously, she was about to die from boredom. Doesn't this guy know anything about originality? She blocked the blades with a small jump to the side. Apparently not.

Jet was growing more and more annoyed. This…girl was beating him…and she wasn't even doing anything! Now what was wrong with that picture? Roaring like a feline, he charged for the seemingly hundredth time that night, only to flip over onto his back, looking up into Kaitou's bored face.

"I had always thought you were better than this. I mean, you should at least try not to be a fool in front of your 'friends'." The waterbender shook her head sadly at him.

"Of course I'm not the one too scared to even try to hit me." Jet remarked.

Kaitou glared at him. "If you want me to hit you, you could hit me at least once."

Once this was out, Kaitou found herself on her back, but not because of Jet. Glancing up, she saw Pip Squeak helping Jet back to his feet. Rolling her eyes, she stomped her foot, calling the water below the surface. The two boys were blown apart when the geyser came between them. "Sad, you needed someone to hit while my back was turned. Not very courageous."

Jet attacked her again, but this time she didn't block. Her fist made contact with his stomach and he doubled over in pain. Ignoring it for the time being, he made to come after her again. Kaitou jumped over his head and knocked him down using her feet against his back.

About a minute passed and Jet found himself backed to a tree with a foot to his neck. Kaitou glared at him. "Don't try coming after me again. I won't let you off so good." With that, she twitched her foot and knocked him out. All the other kids were down because Kaitou had thrown Jet into them. Taking the rope from the leader's belt, she tied all their hands up.

"Hey Kaitou, think you could untie me?" She looked up.

"Oh Zuko! I forgot about you!" She rushed behind him and found they had tied him like she had before; where he couldn't burn the ropes. Quickly setting him free, he offered to stay while she left to get people to carry the Freedom Fighters.

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