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Chapter 9

First Strike

The first weak was the worst. After the unwelcome guest in the girl's locker room Ty Lee seemed to be really shaken up. In response to this, Aang was even more on guard. For that entire week he was fully alert to everything around him which resulted in the expected overstressed and jumpy outcome that everyone anticipated. After that first week passed without word or incident however, Aang slowly began to unwind. Time began to flow at a constant pace again rather than slower and slower with each passing minute.

Rather than succumb to his worry and paranoia, Aang made better use of his free time. If he was not in class or working he made sure to drop by to see his friends and share any news that may have turned up. Over at the Jasmine Dragon things were the same as usual with the exception of Zuko never being around. When Aang asked about that, Iroh told him Zuko was looking for a place of his own during his off hours. Sokka and Suki were managing their lives well with the added threat by increasing their home security systems and being alone as little as possible. Suki warned Aang not to stick around too long or Sokka would talk his ear off over Pian Dao, the famous artist that Sokka had gotten to meet. Apparently they had become fast friends. Katara was around every evening too. Ever since Zuko had told her what was going on she spent every afternoon and early morning commuting to school. It was draining on her gas, but she said it was worth knowing everyone was safe. Aang later heard from Azula that Katara had also been tagging along with Zuko on his apartment hunts.

The only person Aang still actually worried about was Toph. Even with the looming threat she would still sneak out every other night to go to that MMA organization. Then again, she was never one to do ash she was told so Aang expected that. Every few nights he would go with her fights, but nothing out of the ordinary occurred. The only big thing that seemed to be going on was the talk of The Blind Bandit being the best chance in recent history to beat the circuit's undefeated streak.

After a few more uneventful weeks, Aang was comfortable sitting with Ria and the others at lunch again. Though he was more calm he maintained a certain level of diligence. He was not so jumpy that he brought attention on himself, but every so often his friends would ask him where he was when he was staring off and not listening. So the days passed. The weeks turned into a month and the month into two. The ground was covered with a layer of ice and snow and the world was preparing for the Christmas season.

"Hard to believe how fast this year's gone by," Toph was saying.

"Yeah," Aang agreed as he brushed Appa's fur in an attempt to get some of the bits of ice out. "Everything is just a blur since Zuko told us what's been going on."

"You still worried?" Toph asked.

"I don't know if that's what I would call it," Aang replied. "It's not so much worry as it is anticipation I guess. I know it's going to happen, I just don't know when. How about you?"

"Not even on my mind," she boasted. "Gotta focus on my responsibilities. Anji has really come a long way since her first lesson. Not to mention I've got a twenty-three fight undefeated streak at work. Fourteen more victories ties me with the record."

"Good luck," Aang smiled. "Speaking of work, I need to get going. We got a new woman a few days ago and it's my first day working with her."

"Don't get too excited and scare her away."

"And you be careful if you're going to work tonight."

Work had become something that Aang eagerly looked forward to. Every other day he got to spend with a group of kids that truly enjoyed his company. He would tell them jokes and stories, play all kinds of games with them, he would even teach them crafts and help them with their lessons. There were even times with the younger kids that he would get this incredible sensation warming his heart and soul. He wondered if this feeling was what it was like to be a father.

"Hey, everyone!" Aang greeted as he walked in the door.

"It's Aang!"

"Aang's here!"

Immediately he was pounced on by a few of the younger kids. Some of the older ones gave him high fives or shook his hand, but they seemed just as glad that he had arrived.

"Can we go outside today?" one of the kids asked. "Pretty please? We wanna play in the snow!"

"Just let me get checked in with the boss lady first and we'll do that," Aang smiled.

Aang made his way up to the counter and filled in his time sheet for the day. After speaking with his boss to find out which kids were on restriction for the afternoon, Aang told the kids to get their coats on and took them outside. There was more than enough snow for the kids to have fun pummeling each other with it, and Aang too of course. Always one to get caught up in the fun, it was not long before Aang was making snowballs and throwing them himself.

"So what's the new lady like?" he asked some of the older kids.

"She's really weird," one of the boys answered. "She's got this massive forehead. Long hair that starts at like the top of her head."

"She practically never talks unless it's to tell us to behave."

"And she sits in a chair in the corner all day with books."

"She likes to read," Aang said. "That's no reason to call her weird."

"That's not the weird thing!" one of them said. "The weird thing is she sees everything! Even without looking up from her book she catches people doing things they shouldn't be doing! From all the way across the room!"

"That's good," Aang said. "At least this way I know you guys aren't getting into trouble!"

"I don't think they're the ones you oughta worry about gettin' in trouble."

It all happened so fast. Aang turned to the source of the unknown voice only to find a large piece of ice hurtling into his face. He fell back into the snow, barely able to hear the shouts of the kids that had seen it. As his eyes began to focus he could make out the silhouettes of five individuals standing over him. He did not recognize any of them.

"Shut those kids up," one of them ordered. "I wanna enjoy this."

As Aang felt a kick slam into his chest, he used the momentum to help push himself back to his feet. His vision was not as clear as it could be, but he would have to make due. No one was going to touch these children as long as he could do something about it.

"I've been expecting you guys," Aang said, trying to sound less worried than he was.

"Maybe," the apparent leader laughed. "But I bet you weren't expecting all of us."

That was when Aang noticed them for the first time. It was not just the five guys in front of him. The people walking on the other side of the street. The people waiting at the bus stop. Even the people coming out of the diner two doors down. They were all wearing the same symbol on their clothes and they surrounding Aang and the kids.

"You guys are after me," Aang said. "Let the kids go."

"Now how are we supposed to beat you senseless without any effort if we don't have leverage to make sure you don't fight back? This just makes things easier."

As two of the attackers moved towards the children, Aang just reacted. His body leaped from where it was rooted and sailed through the air before each of his feet connected with a target's chest. He turned to the other gang members, defiance and fury in his eyes.

"You won't lay a hand on them."

"You can't possibly fight all of us off and protect those brats at the same time."

"Try me."

"Okay, boys," the leader said with a sinister smirk. "Break him."

As the gang started to close in, Aang grabbed the hand of the oldest boy behind him. Fourteen years old at the most.

"As soon as you see them rush me, I want you to take everyone else inside."

"No way!" the boy protested. "I'm gonna help you bust them up!"

"They're right!" Aang said sternly. "I can't keep all of us safe. I don't know if I can defend myself from this many people at once, let alone all of us. Get everyone safe inside and call for help!"

Unfortunately they did not rush as Aang had anticipated. Instead they slowly closed the circle around Aang and the children limiting his options. All he could do was try to keep them safe and hope that someone inside had already seen the trouble and was calling the police. The first attempt was not even on Aang, but on one of the kids. As the punch moved in, Aang kicked it away leaving himself open to be struck from behind. He turned to the attacker and caught a second attempt to strike him as well as staved off another back attack. Then a fist collided with the side of his head and he spiraled to the ground again.

"Get up, Aang!" the kids shouted.

Aang did not have to be told twice. He was on his feet before anyone could get in any more cheap shots. The sheer number of opponents was overwhelming though. Even worse, Aang could now feel the blood running down his forehead and over his eye. He was at enough of a handicap without that irritation.

"Too easy," someone said.

At the sound of the voice, Aang sensed the incoming attack and latched onto the striking wrist. A few quick movements to redirect the force allowed him to pull the man off his feet and launch him into a few of his gang buddies. The moment they hit the ground the kids ran over the top of them and scrambled for the door of the child care center.

"Let 'em go," the leader ordered. "We got what we came for right here."

With that order an entire mob of members jumped in on Aang. He punched, kicked, and pushed as many of them away as he could, but in the end he was overwhelmed. He was forced onto his knees with a person on either side of him holding his arms. To his back were two people resting their weight on their knees right on top of his calves to keep him from rising up. They were remarkably prepared for anything he might try to free himself. Lots of practice at this kind of thing, Aang assumed.

Blow after blow landed on Aang's face. Every so often his head would receive a reprieve from the strikes when a foot would slam into his gut. He could even tell that one of them was wearing steel toe work boots. When the blows stopped for a few moments and the leader began to talk down to him, Aang managed to force his eyes open only to see the red stained snow on the ground around him. Things could not get much worse.

"Okay, boys," he heard the leader say. "Hold up his arm. I think I'll start with the wrist."

At least it's not my leg again, Aang thought miserably.

"Get back in here! You'll get hurt!"

It was Aang's boss. He did not know who she was shouting at, but he hoped it was not one of the kids trying to save him. He would not have to wait long to find out how mistaken he was in that guess. The leader turned to see what was going on just in time to crouch to the ground. All Aang could make out was a long, slim something swing just over his head and catch the two holding his arms right in the faces. Not giving the opportunity to escape slip away, Aang swung his entire upper body backwards, reached over his body with both hands and shoved the two men sitting on his legs. They tumbled off easily in their distracted state and Aang regained his fighting stance.

"Here," a woman's voice called.

Aang saw what looked like a broom handle sail towards him and he took it from the air eagerly. Fighting a group unarmed was one thing, with the aid of a staff it was another entirely. Quick sweeping motions kept his attackers at bay as he slowly took their numbers down one at a time with the help of whoever had provided his weapon of defense.

As he fought, Aang took in as many details of his savior as he could. She was an older woman with long black hair that started at the crown of her head. She fit the kids' description of the new woman that started at the child care center. For someone who looked middle aged or possibly a little older she moved as nimbly as the wind itself. Without a weapon she was easily defeating more than half of the gang members that had taken Aang to his knees. When it was all said and done the gang was running away as quickly as their battered bodies could carry them.

"Thank you for your help," Aang bowed. "Are the kids okay?"

"They are fine, young man," the woman bowed in reply. "However, I'm afraid they are not the ones that you should be worrying about."

"What do you mean?"

"There is no time to explain everything," she told him as she turned her back to him and raised her hair. There was a small tattoo of a white lotus on the back of her neck. "My name is Yangchen, I am a friend of Iroh's. Aang, your friends are in great danger."

"Where?" he asked. "Is it Toph? Zuko?"

"All of them, but they are not the ones who need you most. Please entrust the safety of your friends to us and stop the Fire Lord's plan."

"What's he planning to do?"

"He is going to cast the Fallen Angels and their home into a blazing inferno."