Hi, this is a future-fic, set in a futuristic fictional world. The idea for this has been sitting with me for a while. It's been partly inspired by the tons of future fics out there as well those with thief Merlin. I've always imagined something like this playing out so I just had to write it.

The night sky formed a hazy backdrop against the tall skyscrapers that reached well above the clouds. The moon was a mere white dot in the sky. Humanity's progress was evident in the skilful architecture of the city, steel structures gleaming in the moonlight, with the extensive spindling overhead highways and the sprawling streets of the city. Large gondolas floated near their stations, ready to transport commuters once dawn broke. Neon lights flashed; some showing images of the latest fashion statement while others displayed building names. The air was warm after a long humid day. The low buzzing noise of the helicopters filled the city as they circled above, their lights illuminating the streets below, patrol cars prowled through the city all in search of one thing; The Thief.

Arthur Pendragon was seated in the cabin of one of the Hawkeye helicopters, watching the silent city below him. For six long months the detective force of Pendragon Industries has been hunting The Thief or Emrys as he has become known. Frankly, Arthur was getting sick of this whole charade. Every night it was the same thing; agents in helicopters and cars tried fruitlessly to hunt down this thief and every morning they returned empty handed. Pendragon Industries had greatly underestimated the thief in the beginning, but had learnt after paying for their ignorance. In three nights the thief had managed to blow up more than twenty patrol cars and helicopters, injure at least five agents and stole god knows how many dollars' worth of things. The Detective agents had quickly learnt their lesson. They were not dealing with just any thief. No, this was no ordinary thief; he had magic and was immensely good at it too. He was elusive, intelligent and even mysterious. It was no wonder that Uther Pendragon wanted the thief captured and possibly even dead. This Thief, the so called Emrys, was about to destroy everything his father had built in the last twenty years and Arthur was not going to let him.

He scanned the streets intently. Beside him Ron was also scanning the city below through his infrared glasses. Arthur knew he should also be wearing his pair, but he found the red hue he saw looking through infrared glasses irritated his eyes. They always gave him a headache afterwards. "We're never going to catch him!" Ron exclaimed, throwing his glasses down. He massaged his head, while peering through the glass windows of the helicopter.

"No, we won't, not with that attitude" Arthur told the man sternly. He too was feeling as frustrated as Ron was but was doing his best not to show it. It was an important lesson Uther had taught him from a young age; displaying emotions shows your weakness. Arthur needed to stay in control, stay strong; he was not going to show just how much this Emrys irritated him. This thief was getting over-confident, reckless even and sooner or later will make a fatal mistake and when he does Arthur will be there to capture him. Arthur was determined to catch him, show the world, the druids that he was not some almighty God, and show them they had put their hope in the wrong man. Hope. That's what the thief, Emrys was doing. He was giving the druids hope and it was that more than anything that Uther could not tolerate. Rebellions had grown in the last few months, druids becoming more vocal in their stand against Uther and Pendragon Industries. Just two weeks ago, some druids had managed to blow up one of Pendragon Industries' factories. How they had done that, getting past all that security, still baffled the company. That was why Emrys needed to be captured.

"Catch Emrys, you destroy their hope" His father had said, and Arthur believed that.

"There!" Leon's excited voice from cockpit brought Arthur back to attention. Leon was jabbing at the window, pointing to something. Ron pulled his infrared glasses back on, and Arthur scrunched his eyes peering at the spot Leon was pointing to. A flicker of movement, a shadow on the top of one of the buildings, that's all that was seen. Some nights that was all they saw of Emrys.

Arthur spoke into his mouthpiece. "Target spotted on L6, move in, I repeat, Move in"

Leon needed no further instructions already veering the helicopter in the direction the movement was seen, taking his place amongst several other helicopters. Ron grabbed his gun, checking if there were bullets, all the while grumbling under his breath. "Same thing every night…"

Arthur paid him no mind already used to his insipid attitude. As the helicopter moved closer Arthur could just make out the cloaked figure standing on the edge of the building. He had been on this mission for six months and he had yet to see the face of the legendary Emrys.

He stood tall on the roof of the building, the darkness shrouding him, his cloak billowing in the soft wind. His hood was pulled up covering much of his face, leaving only two blue orbs visible. In the far distance he could see beacons of light heading towards him. Below him, he could see patrol cars circling the streets. Beneath his shadowy shroud, Emrys grinned; looks like the chase was just about to begin.

He looked up as a helicopter moved over his head, coming to a stop behind him, hovering a meter above the roof. Other helicopters came into view, forming a circle around him, trapping him or so they thought. Emrys smirked; six months they'd been hunting him and still they never learnt. He turned around to face the helicopter behind him, just as a blonde man jumped out of the hover pod. Oh how he enjoyed these nightly escapades with the son of Uther Pendragon himself.

"So Emrys" Arthur spoke, his voice a mere hiss as he pointed his gun at Emrys.

"Surrender…and I won't kill you" Arthur continued coming forward.

Emrys did not respond, remaining motionless, aware of the hovering helicopters behind him. Arthur's eyes twitched something Emrys has come to realise as the signs of frustration. He could tell the blonde was getting tired of this, but Emrys would never yield to a Pendragon. His keen eyes caught Arthur's fingers brush the trigger and even before it happened he knew what would happen. Emrys pulled himself and disappeared in a cloud of smoke, hearing Pendragon shout profanities to the black night.

He landed in a dark alcove almost on the bins. Pain seared through his right arm. His eyes bulged as he saw the hole on his cloak and the oozing red on his upper arm. The bullet had brushed past his arm. Just two inches right and he may have lost his right arm. Despite the pain in his right arm, he straightened as he heard a loud crash.

"Not so mighty after all, are you Emrys?"

Three men stood before him and one of them was Pendragon, a scowl etched onto his clean features and his eyes on the wound. Emrys cursed silently. Damn those Pendragons and their technology. In his pain he had completely forgotten about the device that allowed those without magic to follow someone teleporting away. The three men stepped towards him, coming closer to him. A flash of silver caught his eyes and he saw a metal handcuff in one of the men's hands. He had a feeling that those did not just restrain his hands and had no desire to find out exactly what they did. He backed up against the wall as the men advanced, letting the darkness conceal him. He waited till the men were just about to pounce to make his move. Within a blink of his eyes he managed to teleport himself to the top of the building, this time taking care not leave any lingering magic behind. The three men scrambled in the darkness not at all realising that the man they were searching for was now well above them smirking. Finally all three looked up simultaneously. Oh what he wouldn't give to see Pendragon's face right now. Chuckling lowly he vanished. The fun was over for tonight; he'd let them get too close.

Tell me what you thought! ;)

I don't know if you noticed but the device I mentioned- the teleporter thing- was inspired by Jumper- those things those Paladins used. Also I don't really know much about guns and bullets, so correct me if I have the description of Emrys wound wrong.

I may continue this, but I'm not sure right now. I've got some ideas how the story would flow if it became a multi-chapter fic, but they're all a bit hazy right now. If you have got any ideas please do let me know!

Edit: Yes, I'm continuing this