Story Title: Psychopomp (alt. title: "Darkness Falls")
Chapter: 08
Author: Moor (or 'beyondthemoor' from LJ)
Length: approx. 1600 words
Genre: Dark/Modern AU/General/Wangst
Rating: I'll say M
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Summary: Rough sketch scenario: Modern AU; Underground societies; Iroh left the Fire Nation syndicate to join the Avatar Group, but was attacked shortly after his defection. The Avatar Group vow revenge at his bedside; the only clue they have as to who ordered the hit are some rumours claiming Zuko was responsible, but no one knows if it's true. Darkfic; Toph and Aang leave to gather a group of elites from Bumi --their superior-- and hunt down the person or people responsible for Iroh's coma.
Disclaimer: I have no ownership of "Avatar".
"How polite, they're welcoming us."
Azula crossed her arms in front of her patiently and surveyed the corridor of the hospital's ICU wing while shots occasionally perforated her appraisal. She gave a wave of her hand; her bodyguards and thugs moved forward towards their target.
"Remember, bring the old man back alive, if you can," said the golden-eyed woman as they advanced. "Though you're welcome to help yourselves to anything else you come across."
The coordinated group issued a collective murmur of understanding, plodding on.
Inside Iroh's room, things weren't much better.
Longshot and Smellerbee had retreated into the doorway to defend their position, and hadn't been reassured when they'd noted Katara's gun at their leader's temple.
"Katara, I swear, I didn't bring them here!" Jet's voice insisted patiently. He still hadn't moved and was getting increasingly uncomfortable from his bent-over position and proximity to Iroh. Katara had kicked out the back of his legs and forced him to his knees when she'd heard the gunfire outside the room. She kept her barrel trained on his shaggy dark hair the entire time.
"Any other last words?"
"Not to interrupt," interrupted Smellerbee, "but we could really use some direction up here."
There are at least ten Fire Nation guys out there, and they're not newbies, put in Longshot. They're getting closer and coming in whether we like it or not.
"And that woman is leading them."
For the first time in what felt like an eternity to Jet, Katara's focus moved away from him. "What woman?" she asked instantly.
"Dark hair, pulled back, gold eyes, obviously used to being in charge, looks ruthless—."
"Azula," the name resonated like a curse as it left Katara's mouth.
"Sounds like it," added Jet.
Katara looked disdainfully at her quarry one last time before releasing her hold on her gun slightly. It was all the nod Jet needed. He sent a quick, unreadable look at Katara's stormy blue eyes before joining his fellow Freedom Fighters at the door.
"Ok, new plan, guys," he said, his quick mind already resorting their priorities. "First job: we need to get out of here. Alive."
"Something a bit more specific would be appreciated," grumbled Smellerbee. "You said 'pack light', remember. We aren't exactly in a good offensive position right now." She spoke softly, unsure if Katara was included in their brainstorming session.
Oh yeah. Shit, he thought to himself.
Katara watched them like a hawk. A very desperate hawk that's first priority wasn't her own safety, but her weakened charge's.
He looked over at his lovely former colleague. "I don't suppose you have an assault rifle handy?"
She glared at him darkly. All the better to kill you with, my dear…
"Or three?" he asked, hoping to pique her desperation with charm. He could see she was warring with herself. He didn't know if she had any weapons with her at all, but reasoned it would be stupid of her fellow Avatar Group friends to have left her alone with no means of at least self-defence. Weapons to engage in a full-frontal assault were obviously out of the question as they'd have been nearly impossible to get past the nurses due to their size, and besides, it was a small room, there really weren't many places to hide weapons anyway. Jet was now looking around the room for anything he'd be able to use as an explosive, if it really came down to it, to blow away the front lines of the oncoming street soldiers. Really, though, how could they have left Katara with no means of defending herself except that handgun, he thought to himself. She was good, but she could really have used a few--.
"… Under the bench cushion. It's hollow."
"What?" He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Jet looked at the Water Tribe girl and she met his gaze levelly.
"The bench is hollow. Look under the cushion – and hurry. Pass me a few rounds, too, along with the semi-automatic." She ordered, and he obeyed.
"If you even think of aiming one of these at Iroh, or me, you'll be dead before you know it," she added, receiving the firearm he'd pulled from the modified piece of furniture.
He was already talking to his subordinates and distributing the well-maintained weapons to them.
"Longshot, you're our sniper, you know what to do. Smellerbee, you and I will cover him, got it? For now, aim for the thugs, one at a time. If you get a clear shot at her Highness, take it. If we can take her out, it may be enough distraction to disrupt their ranks and give us the break to get out of here." He almost swallowed at what he'd just said, and looked back at Katara.
She was on the phone, calling for reinforcements from someone called 'Bumi'. She hadn't heard his last words and didn't know he was planning on leaving her to fight on her own as soon as he could. For a moment, he felt very, very cowardly. But only for a moment.
"No, they're not back yet," he heard her say in a calm tone. "If they were, I would have… Yes… Yes… Understood."
For the third time, blue eyes met brown.
"Well?" Jet asked.
"Well what?" she replied, snapping the phone shut. Longshot and Smellerbee were already in position.
"Care to join us for old times' sake?"
Katara was pulling the blankets off Iroh and wrapping him in her jacket as best she could. She'd even started discarding the tubes and wires he'd ruined earlier, unplugging machines expertly so they made less noise to alert the outer invaders to their plans. She knew exactly what buttons to push and lines to pull to keep Iroh stable, but practically ready to be mobile. Like Jet, she was obviously planning on abandoning their current location at the first opportunity, too. He wondered if she'd received new orders during her call, and if so, what they were.
"I'll be right there."
"Then you'll be beside me." He felt a warmth stir within him when he said it. It didn't diminish when she glared back at him in reply.
Then, something changed and she smiled beautifully. He felt hope, reached for her to help her get into position…
"Don't get shot," her tone was ebullient and false.
"It'd be more reassuring if you were less sarcastic when you said that…" he muttered, feigning hurt.
Meanwhile, Longshot had already taken out a thug and moved on to the next target. Another man fell. Smellerbee sent out some distraction shots. She nicked a man off to the side; Longshot finished the job.
Katara finished her preparations and joined them, weapon raised.
"Welcome back," said Jet smoothly.
Katara ignored him, too preoccupied with what was at stake, and praying her brother and friends were ok.
"Three, no, four down," noted Katara aloud after a quick appraisal. "Good job, Longshot. Don't bother keeping 'em non-lethal."
Yes ma'am.
"You know, Kat, later on--," started Jet.
"I promise we'll finish our fight."
"No, that wasn't what I--."
Smellerbee took out another one.
"Nice BeeBee, we're almost equally matched with them now," praised the Water Tribeswoman, using her old nickname for her former friend. Smellerbee nodded.
Katara continued ignoring Jet. She paused a moment in thought. "Not to knock your skills, you two," she said slowly, "but they're going down pretty quick. Are you sure there are only ten? Are these guys are elites or …?"
Smellerbee and Longshot kept their focus and nodded, but Jet glanced at her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw past her and noticed a flicker of movement outside the window.
SHIT.
Snatching her weapon away from her so she wouldn't accidentally –or perhaps, deliberately—shoot him for what he was about to do, he shoved Katara to the ground and unleashed a volley of shots straight out the glass panes. The window crashed down and shattered all over the floor inside the room and over the sill; there were a few yells from the intruders as they fell down the walls outside. Jet rushed over to the sill and checked for any other potential threats from the exterior of the hospital. Katara was already in a defensive, crouched stance and had his weapon raised—at him. He wasn't surprised, but he did feel she was being just a little too ungrateful.
"Clear, as far as I can tell," he internally cursed the darkness for cloaking the assailants. "Ok, I'm taking up this spot for now. Katara, you backup Longerbee."
Cursing her former lover's methods meanwhile, it was Katara's turn to listen & obey. She was mad at herself for nearly missing the rear attack.
What is with me? Why is he distracting me so much I can't even decipher this stupid plan?
She still couldn't discern with any certainty if Jet and Azula's groups were in cahoots. She let out a deep, slow breath the more she thought about it. It wasn't entirely impossible.
From a logical point of view, she knew Jet would never team up with the Fire Nation—again. She didn't know as much about Azula, however, or whether she could have tricked Jet. She didn't think they were connected, but couldn't shake the feeling that something just wasn't right (admittedly, on a global level, gang-related fights within the confines of a hospital ward were definitely on the far side of 'wrong' as it was…); that there was something obvious missing from the whole scenario. Everything felt almost… military in its mis-execution and precision. The failing frontal assault still seemed like a decoy to her, despite Azula being there. And attacking from outside a window?... Since when did gangs engage in tactics like that, especially in a place as public as a hospital?
She wished she had her friends with her to help her make the connection she knew she was missing. This was more Sokka and Aang's thing.
Where are you guys? I need you here, she thought to herself. She started to feel the first tendrils of panic thread up and down her spine. She did not like this, not at all. She gave a quick glance over at Iroh, and mentally sent a prayer to Tui and La for assistance in any form. Anytime, guys, she thought to herself, I'm ready for you to show up and start helping again anytime…
Outside the door, Azula smirked confidently; she and her henchmen were less than a few yards away. They continued closing the gap.
AN: Thanks for reading!
AN: After just finishing "Twilight" and "New Moon"... I'm so tempted to turn this into a vampire fic, hahaha:)