Red n' Black

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Chapter One- A Vigilantes Life

A thick fog covered the city streets making it hard for him to see the street below. The moon shone through the hazy mist that covered the night sky, cast an eerie glow over Hai city. The dim streetlights only added to bleak city, the lights didn't aid the city at all; only gave it a harsh appeal. Of course, Hai City wasn't always like this, only at night. During the day the city was lively and a bit more secure than during the hours when the sun was down and darkness filled the streets.

Of Course most cities did indeed have crime, only, Hai City seemed to be overrun by it, and that was only the start of the city's problems. That was when he stepped in. Standing on top of a cathedral bell tower located near city hall the masked man snarled as he tried to focus on the area below. The blue mask he wore that only covered his face from the nose down contrasted with the black attire he wore. The thick black armor he wore protected his torso and arms, even though he did preferred to wear bag cargo pants that left him unprotected. He tucked his cargo pants into boots that rose up to his knee. He wore a mid length blue cape that only covered his right arm and half his back. The cape ended at his knee and stayed in place as the humid air, which was stale and damp showing no signs of a wind or breeze. Pushing the cape over his shoulder and out of the way of his arm he reached up and pressed a small button on the side of his mask, thus switching the mode of vision to inferred within lenses of his mask.

The B.S. in blue which was print on his chest stood for the name his Uncle had given his alter ego. The name Blue Spirit, the name Zuko agreed and took for his alter ego. It had seemed like a good idea at the time and he had taken a liking to the name. But it wasn't till he saw the initials stamped on his chest that he really cringed at the thought of what people would think. He had a problem with what people thought of how he looked and he could only imagine the degrading jokes he would hear over time about the topic of the letters stamped on his chest. Though he had become well know by the public and widely accepted viewed as a vigilantly and was often slandered by the news paper and the news one industry in general. It was like the news would slander both ends of his life; his alter ego and Zuko Richu, the discarded son of Ozai, he great corporate businessman and felonious overseer of the black marketing of weapons; or so Zuko believed.

He wasn't able to prove this publically just yet; even though no one would go against or speak out against his father. A lesson Zuko and his mother sadly learned the hard way, though Zuko was the only one disfigured by his father. Zuko believed he also killed his mother, even though the police reports claimed suicide; he knew his mother too well to except that lie. His father was a cruel man and a crooked one. Zuko only wanted to stop him at any cost. But he often found himself preventing and stopping crimes in the city, trying to find a connection to his father.

He let his mind wander so long that he almost didn't noticed a strange van pulling up to the city hall stairway. Zooming in on the van, he watched as three figures slowly crept out of the back end of the van. Zuko watched behind his mask as the figures made their way up the stairway and to the large doorway of city hall. He was still unsure of their intentions, and watched as the three figures looked around and each pulled out some unidentifiable item out of their pockets. He pulled out a black rod from the belt he wore and simply pressed a button and the rod opened to become a grappling hook. The figures below seemed to remain in the same spot, not moving all too much, still doing their own thing standing outside city hall

Zuko smirked to himself as he pointed the grappling hook at the roof of city hall.

Pressing the button on the side of the rod once more he made the grappling hook fire across the air with a thin wire strong enough to handle heavy weight but thin enough to be easily missed at first glance. Zuko looked down, trying to calculate his next move. Looking behind himself, Zuko aimed the back end of the rod at a religious statue and pressed yet another button that fired an anchor at the statue. As the anchor took grip wrapping around the statue, it had caused disfigurement to the statue, not that he really cared all too much about the damage to the statue. Zuko then slightly put his weight on the line, testing it stability. Felling that it was secure enough, Zuko took grip of the rod and zip-lined through the air toward city hall.

Pressing a button in mid air, both the grappling hook and anchor retracted back into the rod and Zuko plummeted down right behind the mysterious trio silently as not to alert them just yet. Removing the inferred vision in his mask and returning it normal, Zuko grumbled under his breath when he realized what the trio where doing. The three seemed to only be vandalizing the front face of city hall. So far they only where able to get one word and the start of the second, so it only read 'Freedom Fi…' they continued to work as Zuko hid in the dark behind them, debating how to take this petty crime. It wasn't the biggest of crimes like a bank robbery or a weapon or drug trade, but Zuko knew he would have to do something and stop these vandals.

Zuko cleared his throat in order to gain the trio's attention. All three stiffened and dropped the cans of spray paint onto the marble floor, each making a large clang as they hit the floor. Zuko noticed the three figures varied in height. Zuko may have been unable to see any distinct features in the dark, but he could see the out lines of the figures. The tallest was thin and slightly lanky, while the shortest was short and had a rather untamed bowl hair cut of some sort that was at least shoulder length and was unable to tell if they where male or female. But what got Zuko was the distinct male figure with wild hair; Zuko could make out a silhouette of a tooth pick in his mouth as the man turned to face him.

Taken back by the man's boldness to face him, Zuko couldn't help but be slightly creeped out by the strange smile he held. Shaking the feeling away, Zuko again cleared his throat.

"You all most know Vandalism is illegal and punishable by the court of law" Zuko stated in a stern yet discerning voice.

"I'm going to have to ask you to stop and maybe I'll let you off easy" Zuko stated in a rather bland tone. He didn't care too much for the vandals all too much he had actual hoped the job was bigger then this. Like maybe some thugs trying to break in to city hall, or maybe get some form of lead that connected to father, something a bit more interesting then this.

As soon as Zuko had finished his sentence the wild haired male stepped into the dim lighting from the street and began to laugh sadistically. The males brown hair slightly fell across his face.

"So you must be the Blue Spirit I presume. Yah know you and I aren't too different we're trying to change this city for the better. So how about you let us go or things may get ugly for yah." The brown haired male moved the tooth pick from one side of his mouth to the other with his tongue.

Zuko snarled, not one to like to be belittled by this vandal; to be compared to the petty criminal.

"Look I don't reason with convicts, I gave you a chance to come quietly!" Zuko snarled, as he yelled at this criminal.

"Well that's too bad you don't see it my way. In that case you should get to know your enemy. Names Jet, the leader of the freedom fighters!" Jet yelled taking a defensive stance and both his companions soon stood behind him. Zuko reached for his belt to grab a weapon but his reaction was too slow as he hadn't notice the crow bar Jet had pulled out of his sleeve. Zuko's eyes widened underneath the mask he wore as he felt the blunt force of the crow bar against his skull. Though his mask took most of the blow Zuko was left a bit disoriented as the freedom fighters ran past him, bolting toward the van.

Zuko sneered and growled as he quickly recovered and ran after Jet. Zuko's temper had gotten the better of him as he tackled the brown haired male to the hard ground against the pavement. Jet's body skidded against the black pavement of the street from the force of Zuko's tackle. Jet's comrades had made it into the van already and appeared to be getting ready to get out and help, but Jet knew he would have to end the fight quickly.

Zuko struggled to keep Jet in his hold. Zuko wrestled Jet to the ground, pinning him down with his fore arm against his head as Zuko tried to get hold of his arms with his free hand. Struggling to get a grip of Jet's arms, out of Zuko's blind fury he hadn't notice as Jet pulled out a small butterfly knife and quickly stabbed Zuko in the thigh.

Zuko rolled onto his back and arched his back against the pavement as he howled in pain. Jet smirked as he quickly stood up and kicked the Blue Spirit in the side of his rib cage from feeling victorious over the masked hero.

"Yah should have taken my offer when you had the chance, you masked freak!" Jet snickered as he held a cocky smirk. Jet made his way in to the back of the van and closed the doors behind him. As soon as he got in the Vans wheels screeched against the pavement until the tires gained grip and the van drove off leaving, a cloud of burnt rubber and dirt in Zuko's direction.

Gagging and coughing from the bad smell of burnt rubber, Zuko rolled over on to his stomach and stood up on his hand and knees. Catching his breath Zuko sneered as he reached down to the knife in his right thigh and took hold of its hilt. Taking a deep breath and clenching his teeth Zuko quickly pulled the knife out of his thigh. He groaned in pain for a moment before he stood up of the ground, leaning on his left leg as he applied pressure to his wound with his cape to stop him from bleeding.

Taking deep breaths Zuko sighed in a bit of relief he was still slightly annoyed at the fact he had his ass handed to him by so common criminal. Zuko then looked up at City Hall and Laughed slightly as he saw the vandals where only able to write 'Freedom Fig'. This lightened Zuko's mood slightly as he pressed a button on his belt which lit a red light on his belt. Shortly after, a blue and black Dodge Viper pulled up in front of Zuko. Zuko limped as he made his way into the car and sat into the driver seat.

Zuko glanced at the digital clock on the dash board of his car it was three in the morning. 'Damn' Zuko said to himself he would have to get up in two hours to get into his daily routine as CEO of The Jasmine Dragon Tea Corporation. Grumbling under his breath as he started to drive and make his way home to his uncle's. The bleeding of his thigh stayed under control with the make-shift bandage he had applied. Zuko figured he would be able to maintain the wound on his own as he was able to reduce the bleeding as is.

The sun had already begun to rise as Zuko pulled up to his Uncle's mansion, pulling into the large drive way and parked the car. Reaching for the stick shift, Zuko lifted a small cap on top that revealed a red button. Looking around for a moment to check if the coast was clear it usually was due to the Location of His Uncle's home. It was Gothic styled Mansion out side of the city along the water front where not many came because of the usual threat of flooding in the area, though his uncle's home was built far from the flood line and was built to withstand the flooding in the area if it did happen. The mansion it's self had a wonderful view of the beach making the gothic styling a bit out of place. But the red colored brick boarded by tan slaps of stone placed at each corner and edge of the mansion, the same tan stone was used for the pointed arch ways and main door way and various cravings in to the stone gave the Mansion a unique appeal of it's own.

Zuko pressed the button on his stick shift, which made the drive way to open into a steel platform in front of him. Zuko drove on to the platform and the platform locked Zuko's tires with steel claws that gripped the tires. The plate form the flipped up side down with Zuko and the Car underground as the platform disappeared the drive way closed off the platform returning to what it appeared to before just a drive way. Under ground Zuko waited a few moments under ground as the platform locked on to a large conveyer belt, which slowly moved the platform along a C shaped track. Setting Zuko and the vehicle down and unlocking the grips on the wheels.

Zuko sighed as he opened the driver's door and removed the mask from his face. Holding the mask as the ca door automatically closed it's self, Zuko made his way over to a large open glass case. He placed the mask on to it proper place and began to remove the rest of his suit unlock clasps that held bits of his armor together. Having removed the armor from his torso and arms, Zuko sighed as he sat down a bench that was next to the case for his armor. He slowly began to remove one boot after the other. Sneering as he stood up Zuko took off his belt and hung it up in the case along with his boots he placed at the bottom. He then began to pry off the bloody pants from his wound. Zuko sat in his boxers staring at both the bloodied pants and blue cape; he knew he would have to replace them both. Before he disposed of his pants he removed Jet Knife from his pocket and placed on the bench next to him, he would deal with that later.

Zuko was a bit annoyed at the fact that removing his pants made his wound begin to bleed again, opening up a draw under the bench revealed a vast amount of medical supplies. Grabbing a sterile pad, Zuko removed it form the wrapper and forcefully applied it the pad to his wound with one hand on this wound. With his free hand Zuko grabbed the gauze from the draw and began to wrap the gauze around his thigh.

Being content with the job he had done on his leg Zuko be slipped on a pair of sweat pants and slowly made it through dark room as he passed the motion sector lights lit as he passed by the room wasn't as big as one would think it was fairly small, the room it self was completely steel from floor to ceiling. The dark grey made the room dull and bland. Their where few items in the room the bench from before Six foot tall glass case which held his suit, there was a computer system in the corner in the corner of the room.

Walking up to the scanner on the far side of the room, Zuko pressed his hand against and waited for the scan to finish. As the scanner accepted the print, a part of wall lifted open. Walking through the door way, it opened up to the wine cellar in his uncle's basement. The wall fell along with a wine rack closing the door behind Zuko. Making his way up the stairs and into the kitchen, Zuko glanced up at the clock against the wall. It read five thirty in the morning. This meant he would have no sleep today and he would have to get ready to leave soon.

Zuko sighed having not yet to notice the small black haired female sitting at the counter top eating a bowl of captain crunch.

"Had a rough night their senor pompous!" The female yelled.

Zuko stumbled from being startled, Catching him self on the counter trying to prevent himself from falling. Zuko could see the female roar with laughter as she snorted her milk out of her nose.

"Toph! Don't startle me like that!" Zuko snapped at the blind teenager.

"Daw come on Sparky, I was just having some fun with yah. You're acting as if it's a crime to have fun." Toph snickered at her, own joke as she knew of her house mates alter ego. Zuko calmed himself and looked back at Toph she was wearing a brown band shirt of some sort, Zuko didn't bother to red the name on the shirt as he focused on Toph's face.

"Sparky? Never Mind I don't want to know the reason for this nickname but any way what are you doing up kid?" Zuko leaned on the counter as he watched Toph; Zuko's uncle had taken the young teen in shortly after he hired her at the tea shop.

Toph snorted at the question "Gettin' ready for school duh." Toph said as she picked up a spoon full of cereal and placed it in her month and began to chew in a loud obnoxious manner.

"Da-busss-comes-in-eh-hour" Toph stated with a mouthful of cereal. Zuko nodded even though he knew she would not see.

"I see… Is my uncle up yet?" Zuko asked her.

Toph swallowed her food and placed her spoon into her bowl as she jumped down from the stool she sat. She was fairly short for her age not that she really minded about appearances all to much, She usually put her hair back with a head band but allowed some to fall on to her face. Picking up her bowl she placed it into the sink.

"I wouldn't be up if the old man hadn't woken me up." She retorted back at Zuko.

Zuko smiled as he crossed his arms over his chest. Zuko knew he would have to hear it from his uncle about his late night adventure, but he wasn't to worry about that. His uncle was a very forgiving man but disliked Zuko's crazy motives to get back at his father but did see the good Zuko did for other.

Zuko had been cast out by his Father shortly after his mother mysteriously died. Zuko had spoken out against his father about the illegal sale of weapons to crime organizations and gangs. Hearing this his Uncle took Zuko in and started a tea shop which became more the just a tea shop but a large corporation but that was no surprise since his uncle had once been the heir to Richu Weapons Industries and was a good businessman him self. Zuko followed Iroh each step of the way and began to show promise in the corporate life, he was good at math and numbers as well as being able to investigate deals and companies before making deals. Though Zuko wasn't the strongest public speaker he was able to persuade and make deals with easy, so it was no surprise Iroh when he retired left and the corporation to him knowing full well it would be in good hands.

"Thank you Toph and you should hurry up and gate ready" Zuko stated rather blatantly

"Pst I've got all the time in the world" Toph left the kitchen and felt her way along the wall into the living room, she sat down on the couch and turned on to the TV. Zuko watched her as he knew she wasn't really watching but listing. As the news flashed on Zuko watched as a News reporter stood out side of city hall.

"As You can see here The City Hall entrance has been vandalized earlier this morning Police have yet to find any lead on who may have done this, people are asking who are the vandals and what this Freedom fig" The news anchor woman finished and the news channel flashed back to the news office.

"Well I didn't see and what the hell is a freedom fig. That a flippin' lame thing to write on a wall." Toph grumbled under her breath a bit annoyed at the anchor woman's brief description.

Zuko chuckled at Toph's remark as well as the seeming confused Anchor Woman who was lost on the topic of the Freedom Fig.

Zuko turned way from the view of the TV from the Kitchen and made his way up to the main stair way and to his room. Opening his closet Zuko began to put on one of his suit he picked the dark Navy colored suit with a white button down shirt. Putting on the white shirt first Zuko began to button up his shirt. Zuko was distracted by getting dressed that his Uncle had walked into his room just as Zuko had removed his sweat pants and was getting ready to put on his suit pants.

"Ah I see this room has been untouched all night nephew." Iroh leaned against the door way as he raised one of his eyebrows looking at his nephew.

Zuko had almost fallen again as he was once again startled this morning 'today mustn't really be his day' Zuko thought to him self.

"Gez Uncle can't you knock before entering" Zuko snapped at his uncle.

"But Zuko, how could I have knocked when the door was already open." Iroh laughed at this finding his own joke funny. Wiping a tear from his eye, Iroh looked at Zuko and spotted the bandage oh his leg.

"Hmm… Zuko May I ask as to how you received that injury?" Iroh asked at his nephew with concern.

"Uh … I uh just had some trouble with a few thugs it's nothing to be worried about Uncle I'm fine it's just a small cut" Zuko gave his Uncle a faint smile as he put on his pants and tucked in his shirt into his pants and tightened his belt.

"If you are sure nephew I won't go into the subject any more Zuko, but you do have to work and with no sleep is an unhealthily habit of yours" Iroh Looked down at the floor as he began to get lost in thought.

"Again uncle I'll be fine." Zuko rolled his eyes at his uncle's worry.

"Ah I know what would help with your lack of sleep and would make come home more often, if you had a pretty girl waiting for you in that bed. Yes?" Iroh Smiled widely at this nephew as he rubbed the end of his white beard.

Zuko doesn't know how he did but at that comment Zuko started to choke on his own saliva. He started cough heavily trying to clear his lungs

"But Uncle" Zuko's Voice slightly screeched trying to speaking and clear his throat.

"I don't have time for that and that isn't what I need at the moment. I need to stop my father for you, for my mother, for Toph's father and for every one my father ever hurt or harmed. It's my Job to stop him "Zuko exclaimed to his uncle.

"Plus I don't want risk someone else in my life it's bad enough I put you and Toph at risk each day" Zuko stated as he looked at the floor not wanting anyone to see his weakness.

"Ah I see…" Iroh continued to rub his bread but his features where saddened at his nephews statements, he just really wanted to see his nephew happy but is want for vengeance toward Ozai often left Zuko blind to everything else. Iroh knew his younger brother needed to be stopped he just wished Zuko would tell the police take of that so may move on in his life.

"Very well Zuko… I hope to see you in the after noon at the Jasmine Dragon to pick up Toph and I after work." Iroh smiled faintly and the walked out of his nephew's room.

"Don't worry Uncle I'll be there!" Zuko called after his uncle after he but on his suit jacket.

Reaching up into his closet once more Zuko grabbed a red tie and walked over to the mirror. Zuko looked in the mirror as he made his tie and tucked it under his suit jacket. Looking at him self for a moment, Zuko's frown deepened as he looked at the scar on his face.

Leaving his room Zuko walked down the stairs and maid his way out the front door and in to the large court yard in front of the mansion. He quickly spotted Toph waiting out side for the bus, holding her book bag and walking cane as she sat on a large rock that was on the front lawn.

"Hey Sparky!" Toph turned toward Zuko as she heard him close the door behind himself.

"I was Just thinkin' maybe you could drop me of at school to make sure I got their safely" Toph gave him a cheesy grin as she waited for reply.

Zuko raised his eyebrow and looked at the blind teenager. "Aren't you always the one telling us you can handle your self and that you don't need any help from any one" Zuko stated with a smug tone.

"Pst well yeah, but uh… your not gunna force a blind kid to ride on a bus with a bunch of morons are yah?" Toph tried to persuade her way into getting a rise from Zuko. Zuko laughed at her statement

"I'm sorry kid but you have to deal with all the morons today I'm late for an early meeting maybe when I'm not such a rush" Zuko said to the blind teenager.

"Gez Sparky you are a downer, you know that" Toph grumbled as she turned away from Zuko and sat on the rock with her legs crossed as she rested he chin on the palm of her hand as she continued to sit and wait.

Zuko did feel bad for leaving Toph and had grown rather fond of the teenage girl. She had crude but funny sense of humor. She was independent despite her disability, which she didn't consider a disability at all. She wasn't family but in some ways she had become family to both him self and Iroh. Toph was once the daughter of Poppy Bei Fong, once a great advisor to Ozai in the Richu weapons industries but mysteriously died from falling ill that seemed to begin after he and Ozai had a personal meeting together. Soon after her father's death, Toph's mom began to struggle with trying to by for all her father's bills and take care of her blind daughter, though Toph was perfectly capable to take care of her self her mother cracked under pressure and left her alone she was 12 at the time and spent a year on her own. But it wasn't till She applied for a job at his uncles old tea shop did they learn this, it wasn't to long after his uncle had taken the girl and she became some what of a permanent resident at his uncle's home.

Getting into his regular every day car, Zuko put on his sit belt and fixed each of his mirrors. He put on sunglasses to make it easier to drive with the morning sun. Placing the key in to ignition and turning on the engine, Zuko placed his foot on the break and shifted gears. He looked behind him as he pulled out of the drive way and on to the street, shifting the gears in to drive Zuko then began the long drive back into Hai City.