I thought about making the titles of the chapters the same as the songs that "inspired" them―because that's what I'm calling it―but decided against it. Some of them will have titles that match the songs, some won't, I guess it'll just depend on the song and how the story that goes with it plays out and all that.

Anyway, this one takes place after the failed invasion and right before Zuko joins their group, before Zuko lets them know he wants to join their group, even. They―meaning Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, The Duke, Teo, Haru, Appa, and Momo―are at the Western Air Temple. The way I figure, Aang's gotta be feeling pretty shitty right about now, what with the plan failing, their men getting captured by the Fire Nation and all that; you can imagine how you'd feel in that situation, right? So I thought Aang would probably be a little down and depressed, maybe angry at himself, and who, exactly, do you think would be able to cheer him up from that?

Disclaimer: I don't own A:TLA or any music mentioned in this fic, they all, instead, belong to their respective owners despite my best efforts to make the opposite a reality and isn't that just a little bit sad? No? Yeah, I didn't think so...

Song This Chapter Was Inspired By:

"Catch Me If You Can," ~Angela Via~

Fic:

Looking at us from an outsider's point of view, we probably looked as stupid as anyone ever had before in their life.

Katara and I, that is.

We were staying at the Western Air Temple with after the failed invasion plan with our friends. I was in a miserable mood. I felt like a failure, like I'd let the whole world down all over again, and I just wanted to be alone to wallow in my self-pity, so I'd slipped away from everyone―Teo, Haru, The Duke, Sokka, Toph, Momo, Appa, and Katara―while Katara was cooking dinner and they were all trying to make conversation and keep off the topic of the failed invasion plan. For my sake, I'm sure. But that's not why we probably looked stupid.

I was sitting with my knees drawn to my chest on a rock over-looking a canyon of sorts that had fog floating inside it, masking its true depths from prying eyes. I was thinking about the invasion plan and where we went wrong, how it went wrong, what I could have done personally to ensure it had been a success, what I had done wrong, how I could have, at the least, saved all our men from being captured, saved them all from going to prison. I would have liked to have saved Sokka and Katara's dad, at the very least; it crushed me to see how truly heart-broken she was over having to be separated from him again, it really did, so maybe if I could have saved him at least, she would have forgiven me for, well, everything. For failing, for kissing her. I wondered just a bit at the moment what she'd thought of the kiss, but I was too depressed to really think about it at the time.

Somewhere behind me, I heard the crescendo of footsteps coming towards me and assumed it was Haru or Sokka coming to tell me dinner was ready; I could smell the delicious food Katara had cooked up and just knew there was no meat in it and that that wouldn't please Sokka, but I wasn't very hungry at the moment. I didn't think I'd ever be hungry again, to tell the truth, but if I told whoever this was that, they'd tell Katara that and I didn't want her to worry about me, so I settled on something not quite as dramatic.

"Tell Katara I'll just get my dinner later." I tossed back at the person behind me, hoping to send them off before they could get a good look at me. But they didn't, they kept walking and let out a slight giggle as they reached me, and I perked up instantly. It wasn't Haru and it wasn't Sokka, it was―

"Why don't you just tell Katara that yourself?" She asked, and I could tell from her tone that she was smiling, meaning she hadn't taken in my state yet. She walked around the rock I was sitting on and stood in front of me with her hands resting on her hips, taking me in with a slight frown. She looked down and met my grey eyes, her own blue ones traced with concern.

"Aang, are you―"

"I'm fine, Katara." I lied, but of course she saw right through it. She sighed and dropped her hands from her hips, leaning down and meeting my eye level. She rested her hands on top of my own and gave them a squeeze, conveying in that one gesture that everything was well and forgiven, that she didn't think I was a failure, that the world would forgive me if only I could forgive myself. And that everything was going to be okay. Water bender's honor. She gave me a small smile that I couldn't help but return and coaxed me to my feet.

"Dinner's ready. I know you said to tell Katara you'd get yours later, but she thought that if she made the trip to get dinner a bit more fun, you'd be willing to change your mind."

I quirked an eyebrow at her, curious. "And how's Katara gonna manage that?"

She smiled at me and walked backwards around the rock, facing me with a wide smile on her face the whole time. And then she turned around without a word and broke out into a run, calling at my amused and surprised expression over her shoulder before she got too far out of range.

"Catch me if you can, Aang!"

I smiled widely and started running as well, picking up speed using my airbending in a matter of seconds, but not allowing myself to catch her quite yet.

That's why we looked stupid.

Well, that's why Katara looked stupid. Because who challenges an air bender to a foot race? I mean, really? I was glad she didn't care about looking stupid or winning or anything, I was glad all she cared about was making me smile and cheering me up a bit. Because that's exactly what I would have done for her, and I love her, so that meant that she had to feel something for me as well. And that cheered me up. Really it did.

And picking up my speed to win the race at the last second didn't exactly do much to dampen my spirits or anything.

Because who challenges an airbender to a foot race? Really.

Fin.

Hmm, I'm hoping Aang didn't seem too OOC. A little bit is fine, but too much and it starts getting weird, you know? But I'm pretty sure he's perfectly in C and this is just my low blood-sugar talking. Anyway, the song "Catch Me If You Can" is from one of those Pikachu shorts that used to come with the Pokemon movies. I think it's from the first one from the first Pokemon movie. Pikachu's Vacation, I think it was. I dunno though, it's been a while since I saw it, but I'm pretty sure that's it.

Anyway be sure to let me know what you think!

Always,
~Hisa-Ai~