Chapter One: Robin Hood
Zuko knocked on the door and waited, Sokka was holding a party, and Zuko was running late. Sokka opened the door a few minutes later wearing a black tank top and his signature blue jeans. "Zuko, glad to see you could make it. Come in" Sokka said after a brief handshake into one armed hug. "Going to be honest, I'm surprised you didn't bring anyone tonight. What happened to that girl, Jin?"
Zuko stepped into the house and looked around, it was a small gathering, smaller than he originally thought, Aang, Toph and Hahn were sitting on the couch, a few beers on the table and playing Mario party on the Wii. From the door way he could see straight through to the dining room. Suki and Teo were playing a card game. He couldn't see anyone else but he guessed Katara and her boyfriend Haru would be in the room she stayed in whilst visiting her parents, and Ty lee would be entertaining a guy or two somewhere else. "Haven't seen her in a while, It was only a one night stand." Zuko answered as he sat down on the couch beside Aang.
"Hey Zuko, what have you been up to?" Aang asked, controller in one hand, beer in the other.
Zuko sighed, thinking about his job working for his uncle at his tea shop. "Just working mostly, met a girl the other night. I'm sure Sokka told you all about her."
"That Jin girl?" Toph asking winking at him.
"He told you too?" Zuko groaned shooting a glare at Sokka who was walking into the kitchen, back to Yue.
Toph laughed, "I wouldn't be surprised if everyone here knew." Toph said being the first to the end of the level. She smirked at her accomplishment.
Zuko groaned again before joining them on the couch, Sokka returned a few minutes later and passed him a beer. "All set for tonight are we Zuko?" Sokka asked sitting on the arm of the couch, Aang looked at Zuko for his response.
Zuko nodded, removing the lid from his drink and swallowed a mouthful. "As long as Aang doesn't chicken out again."
"Hey, that wasn't my fault." Aang spluttered. "I don't want to get caught, that guard knows me. If we get caught, I'm the one who suffers, it's not like we are doing this around the corner from your house Zuko." Aang's defensive side kicked in.
"We know Aang, but you're the only one who lives that close to the city. If we did it in my area, we wouldn't even have anyone to run from." Sokka comforted him, "The suburbs suck man."
"I know, but still. I just wish we could do it somewhere I don't go with my family every now and then." Aang replied, taking another sip of his drink and looking back at his game.
"It's the best place to get the job done. I'm sorry it endangers you but we need the money man."
"Maybe we should wear masks." Zuko thought out loud. "Aang's right, it's not right to risk his life like this. We should just wear masks."
"But then we would be seen as the bad guys. People would run, and they would most likely think we are going to rob the place or something." Sokka replied. "Trust me Zuko, we have thought about it before. We can't risk them thinking we are there to do the wrong thing."
"Sokka, you can't really say what we do is the right thing. We disturb people, some like it, others hate it. It's just what we do." Zuko disputed. "If we get caught, or they recognise Aang, it's over. Fines, maybe even jail time. We need the money, can't earn it if we are locked up."
"Why don't you guys just hit somewhere else?" Hahn butted in. not a part of the group but still willing to help. "I'm sure there are plenty of places in the city you could go."
"We've tried; none of them got the same amount of attention." Aang said. He understood why they did it, but he hated that he was the only one putting in any real risk.
"How about a distraction. Get someone to go in, get the guards away and you guys can go ahead and do your stuff?" Toph suggested. "And I know just the person to cause a distraction, me." Her grin spread directly across her face.
"You do know if you're caught, or we all are, you will be held as responsible as us. Fines and jail time for you too." Zuko warned, "Thank you for the offer Bei Fong"
"Do you know who you're speaking to?" Toph bumped Hahn, "Does this kid know who he is talking to?" Hahn slowly shrugged, confused. "Of course I'm up for it sparky, I'm a Bei Fong, we are up for anything."
"I think that's just you Toph, I doubt your brother has spent a day without studying for a test that's still three weeks away." Aang laughed, Sokka joining in.
"If you're sure about this Toph, we would be happy for you to join." Zuko said, clearly the more serious one in the group.
"So when do we leave?" Toph asked, placing her finished beer on the table.
"Slow down Toph, we still need to get Jet from Azula's house and we need to finish up here first." Sokka answered.
The party continued for the next few hours, it was almost midnight when they finally got into Zuko's car and began the forty five minute drive to Aang's house.
"So we all know the plan?" Sokka asked, always worried before a job.
"I'm going to stand near the double doors at the entrance, and I'm going to start a fight with a civilian. Cause a distraction." Toph stated.
"I'm getting us in, and then being on lookout from the car park." Jet spoke his role.
"And that leaves us three to get it done." Zuko said referring to Aang and Sokka. "You sure you're up for this Aang?"
Aang sighed, once again worried for his safety. "Let's just get this over with. You guys promised this is the last time."
"Let's just get through this first, before making any promises." Zuko said turning onto the highway. "This is probably the biggest job we have had to do, and I don't want any of us treating it as if it isn't."
The mood in the car seemed to die down a little from the realization of what they were about to do. They had only ever gone through with a job once, and it went smoothly, they had been studying this place, thinking of every possible outcome for weeks. But they were running out of time, they needed to pay back Long Feng and his gang before the end of the week. Zuko was the most worried out of the whole group, but he kept his cool. It was Long Feng who he owed the money to, and it was Zuko who Long Feng would send his goons after. But Zuko was their leader, and if everyone else saw him cracking under pressure, the plan would surely fail.
"There are three guards on the bottom floor, at the entrance Toph will be causing the distraction." Sokka said pointing to the direct opposite side of the shopping centre. For past midnight the place was still bustling with people. They sat in the food court, eating a few small things to dull the nerves. "By the steps behind me, there are two guards who regularly change shift, there is a two minute window whilst the first guard goes to get the second, and it happens every half an hour." Sokka looked to Zuko, waiting for his gathered Intel.
Zuko placed his sweets on the table, "There are two guards who circle the bank constantly, and the guard break room is directly across from there…"
"May I ask what shop we are targeting today?" Toph asked, still unsure of the complete plan.
"There is no shop Toph, we don't rob the innocent." Zuko answered, "Under the stores is a factory that manufactures weapons for the fire nation. We have been trying to stop them."
"Wait, you guys are, like, the modern day Robin Hood?" Toph asked confused, "If we are fighting against the Fire Nation, then why don't we just call the police. This is the Earth Kingdom, no one wants the Fire nation here."
"This isn't the history books Toph, this isn't the one hundred year war. Firstly, I doubt they would believe a bunch of teenagers. Secondly, if we call them, they will take the shipment that Long Feng needs, and he will kill all of us. And finally, the police are in on it." Zuko answered.
"The earth kingdom police, are working with the fire nation?" Toph asked, clearly surprised.
"No, just the police in this city. It's been corrupt for years, anyone who joins and isn't on the fire nation's side is killed off." Sokka butted in, "The police force is the biggest crooks, Long Feng might be a criminal, and he may be the leader of the known gang of killers. But he has the cities best interest at heart; he wants to liberate the city of fire nation control."
"Though his methods kind of suck." Zuko added.
The whole time Aang continued to look around the large food court, "Uh… guys, does it seem like there are more guards than usual?"
The others looked around, a guard stood at the three entrances to the food court, four guards were constantly patrolling on the floor above and armoured guards carried crates in and out of the guards lounge constantly. "They are moving the package." Zuko said, worry clearly on his face. "They know something is up. Aang, call Jet."
Aang pulled his phone from his pocket and dialled Jet's number. "Jet, something's happening, where are you?"
"Aang White, a pleasure to speak with you again." A unfamiliar voice replied, Aang could hear struggle in the back ground. Aang felt his heart sink.
"Where's Jet?" upon asking, the rest of the group's attention were now fully focused on the phone call.
"Oh he's right here. If you and your friends don't leave my shopping centre in the next two minutes I cannot promise he will be when you return." The man hung up.
"Someone has Jet, we need to get out of here now or they are going to kill him." Aang said, fear and worry in his voice, he stood up quickly, pulling Toph up with him.
"But Aang, this could be our last chance; they are moving it right now. If we don't strike, we might not ever find it." Sokka said, matching his worry.
"It's Jet, Sokka, we can't leave him behind, when we started this two years ago we made the pact to never leave anyone behind. Remember what you promised Sokka."
"He's right Sokka, we can't leave Jet behind." Zuko said standing up, "Let's go, we can always try again, we have until Friday."
They rushed out together in the direction of the car park, Zuko's car that Jet had been sitting in was on the third floor watching the streets. "Sokka and Toph take the elevator, Aang the stairs over there." Zuko pointed to his left, "I'll climb up the side, we need to come at them from different angles. We go in when the elevator reaches the top." The group nodded and went their ways. Zuko jumped and climbed up the railing along the side of the elevator shaft, he then jumped across a small gap and grabbed the protective railing of the car park and climbed another floor higher. He looked up slightly, his car was fifteen feet away, he could see Jet, a sack over his head in the driver's seat, as well as two men standing around the car. Both dressed in black suits, glasses covering most of their face. The one closest to Jet had a silenced pistol in his hand, whilst the one on the passenger's side of the car, leaning against the window held a mini Uzi. He heard the elevator passing behind him and awaited the ding. He pulled out his own revolver, something his dad gave to him the day he died. As soon as the elevator reached the third floor and the doors opened the two men straightened up, the man with the Uzi opened fire, causing Sokka and Toph to press their backs to the wall to take cover from the fire. The other man walked away from the car, trying to get a better position to open fire at the elevator.
Zuko shot quickly, he hadn't had much practice, the first shot missed, but the second one hit the sub machine gunner in the chest, the fire almost instantly stopped. The people in the shopping centre screamed, he could hear all the commotion as Aang busted through the door and tackled the second man to the floor, he kicked the gun across the parking lot and slammed the man's head into the floor, knocking him out on impact. Zuko climbed over the railing and ran to the man he had shot; he was crouched over on his knees, his gun pressed to the floor and his left arm clutching his chest. Zuko kicked him over and grabbed his gun. "Let's go, the police will be here soon." He ran to the other side of the car and untied Jet's wrists, he removed the sack from his head and saw the reddening of his face, slight blood on his lips, he had clearly been beaten. The others rushed over to the car. "Get in the back Jet, I'll drive." Zuko commanded, Jet climbed out quickly, they could already hear the screeching of tires coming up the ramp. Zuko sped at the car as it came up the ramp, last second he turned down the ramp, a gunner spraying down the ramp behind him.
"Who are these people?" Toph screeched, her voice cracking in fear.
"Those would be the men we were going to rob." Aang said looking behind him, "Faster Zuko, they are gaining on us."
Zuko kept the pace up, driving through the busy city, "We might have to ditch the car, once we get onto the streets we aren't going to be able to get away from them in this." Zuko called to the group behind him. As soon as I stop, we all go. Stay in groups, Sokka go with Jet, Aang and Toph you go together. We will all meet up at Aang's house in two hours. Don't go back unless you're sure you're alone." Zuko planned out.
Moments later he slammed on the breaks, seconds before crashing into traffic that had slowed to a halt. They all piled out of the car and ran in different directions, Sokka and Jet carrying the Uzi Zuko had picked up, hidden in his coat. Zuko ran in the direction of the traffic. Sliding along the hood of a car that almost hit him. The men behind him had restrained themselves from shooting in public but they continued their chase on foot. Zuko continued running until he almost passed out. He found himself in an empty basketball court, an unused playground to his left, and an abandoned church in front of him. It wasn't until he stumbled to the middle of the basketball court, under the only light in the entire park that still worked that he noticed his pursuers had not only kept up with him, but there were more of them now. He saw two of the five were armed.
"Zuko Angi, surrender yourself to the Fire nation." An armed man directly in front of him spoke in a booming voice.
Zuko could barely hear the daunting sound of the men drawing closer to him, he pulled the revolver out from the back of his pants and shot the man who spoke, the bullet passed through his heart, killing him instantly. The other armed man shot at his chest, the bullet lodging itself in Zuko's stomach, he dropped to his knees, the burning agony tearing up his insides, the men stopped getting closer, and instead they picked up their fallen friend and left Zuko alone under the street light to die in a pool of his own blood.
*45 minutes earlier*
It was close to four AM when Jet and Sokka walked into Aang's house, Toph was holding a coffee in her hand, and offering another to Aang who declined, they both looked to the door as it opened. "I'm glad you two are safe." Aang spoke up, they had split up just over two and a half hours ago. "Did you see Zuko while you were out there?"
"He's not back yet?" Jet asked walking in the direction of the kitchen to get ice for his swollen face.
"I was hoping he found you two, and you would come back together." Aang said.
"Should we go back out and look for him? Maybe something happened?" Sokka suggested ready to leave instantly.
"That could be best, Toph, wait here and look after Jet. Sokka and I will drive around for a while; see if we can find him." Aang replied, picking up his coat and walking out the door with Sokka. They got into Aang's Toyota and drove back in the direction of the street Zuko's car had been left at.
When they arrived they noticed one of the men in black suits searching the car, another keeping watch. Police surrounded the shopping centre, trying to cover up the death of the fire nation men. They drove past Zuko's car, hiding their faces as they did so and continued onto the now empty streets of the city. The last time Aang saw Zuko he was running in the direction of the abandoned church. He drove down alley ways and along streets, Sokka looking for any sign of Zuko the whole time.
"Maybe he made it to our hide out behind the church and fell asleep or something." Aang optimised, looking at the time, they had already been driving for half an hour. "We should at least check." They drove to the church and parked around the corner. They stepped out together and started walking through the trees, they could hear foot steps to their right but continued walking though, when they reached the edge of the tree line, right on the edge of the old basketball court they saw Zuko, slightly hunched over panting for breath. Sokka stepped out of the clearing and was about to call out to Zuko when Aang yanked him back. He pointed to five figures that emerged around Zuko from the trees. They watched as Zuko shot the man, and was shot back, and they both forced back tears as they watched Zuko drop. Sokka held Aang back as the fire nation men dragged their friend out of the clearing before running to Zuko's side once they had all left. He was still breathing but he had passed out.
Hopefully you enjoyed my first story back in a while. -Prince Zuko3
A sequel will be out eventually, I'm currently working on a (sequel of sorts) one shot that's set in between the final chapter and the first chapter of the next story. This is completely finished and you can expect updates every few days depending on the response it gets, you want more, make sure you let me know what you thought via a review.
A huge thanks to SubjectDeltaBubz who beta read every chapter for me, go check him out ( u/2314262/SubjectDeltaBubz) fantastic modern A/U author for A:TLA
