Chapter Text
Lance jumped up and down, his hands wringing together. “This is going to be amazing.” His smile was wide, taking over most of his face. His blue Water Tribe clothes contrasted with the Green and Tan all around him.“I can’t believe that the Avatar is coming here.”
Hunk rolled his eyes as he and Pidge followed Lance through an Earth Kingdom Marketplace. The people around them talked loudly, bargaining for lower prices and gossiping amongst themselves. “So you’ve said.”
Pidge put a hand on her head dramatically, leaning into Hunk, her glasses sliding down her nose slightly. “Oh Allura is so pretty! Her hair is like snow! Her eyes are shine like diamonds!” Hunk laughed and Lance glared back at them.
“She’s the Avatar!” He protested and lifted his chin defiantly. Physical beauty means so little to me. I can about deeper things.”
Pidge snorted. “So what about the Princes from the Fire Nation?”
“Prince Shiro has metal arm and can bend lightning!” Lance shouted. “That’s amazing!”
Hunk shrugged and looked down at Pidge. “To be fair he is even more obsessed with Shiro’s brother and he doesn’t even know what he looks like.” Rolling her eyes Pidge waved a dismissive hand.
“Okay, that’s not fair. Everyone is obsessed with Prince Keith.” Lance stumbled over a loose stone as the path as he spun around to address his friends, forcing them to a stop on the busy street. “He’s a mystery! I mean no one ever sees him. He’s the perfect mysterious bad boy.” Lance looked off dreamily. “But if he looks anything like the rest of his family, I’ll bet he’s hot.” Pidge and Hunk groan in unison. “And once I meet him, He won’t be able to resist the Lance charm.” He wiggled his eyebrows at his friend’s unimpressed expressions.
Suddenly a cabbage flies through the air, slamming Lance directly in the back of the head. Hunk, being the best friend he is, at least had the decency to try to stifle a chuckle, while Pidge might have pulled something from her roaring laughter.
Lance spun around, trying to find the source, only to see a dark haired boy in red Fire Nation clothing and a black cloth obscuring half his face charging towards him. A man with a broken cart, spilling with cabbages was screaming after him. Guards spilled out of the crowd shouting for the boy to stop. When one got to close, he spun around and kicked out a him, a burst of flames shooting towards them, sending the guard backwards.
“Do you think he needs help?” Lance mused almost to himself as he took a step towards the chaos.
Hunk grabbed Lance’s arm. “Dude, looks like he can handle himself.”
Pidge pushed her glasses up, a disinterested look on her face. “Plus he seems to be the criminal.”
The Firebender took off again, heading in Lance’s direction. Lance felt transfixed, his eyes drinking in every move and turn the other boy made. The Firebender was finally barely a foot in front of Lance. He slid to a stop and their eyes met. Lance stared into the violet and his breath caught. The Firebender blinked and glanced back at the guards still racing after him. With one more brief look towards Lance, he turned on his heel and darted down an alley.
Lance stepped forward without really thinking about it. He could just barely register Hunk groan behind him. The Guards closed in and Lance raised his arms, pulling water from large barrels next to a stand. He pulled it to create a wall of water, flying up on command. The force of the water pushed the guards back and Lance smirked. Two guards made their way around the wave. Hunk stomped, his hands balled into fists. The cobblestone beneath one of the guards shot up, sending him flying. Pidge whipped her hands up, moving mud to slam into the other guard. She frowned in concentration. Being from the Foggy Swamp Tribe, she seemed to have a hand in the elements of both her best friends.
Lance laughed brightly as he moved his hands smoothly to manipulate the water, sending it to swipe the feet out from under one of the guards. He dropped to one knee as a metal wire, from one of the guards, wrapped around his leg and pulled. He winced.
Hunk stepped forward, as he moved his body, the metal cord followed his will, unraveling from Lance’s leg and pulling the guard down from where he was perched on a roof. He looked at Lance, almost pouting. “This could have been avoided.”
Lance shrugged. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“The fun is in not getting arrested or killed!” Hunk yelled as he sent a boulder hurtling to more approaching guards.
Pidge knocked another in the stomach with mud, causing them to bend over. When they’re head was at the same level as her’s, she swung, her fist colliding with his jaw and causing him to crumble in on himself. She shrugged. “Being arrested isn’t as bad as they make it seem.”
Lance and Hunk glanced at her with wide eyes, but she paid them no mind as she cut down enemy after enemy. Lance lost his footing, a guard knocking him backwards slightly. He pushed back, swirling water in the air preparing for his next attack. “We can’t hold them off for long.” Hunk yelled as he tried to build a barrier in front of them.
“Hunk’s right.” Pidge said, her voice strained.
Lance shrugged, a smirk falling onto his face. “How fast can you guys run?”
Hunk and Pidge groaned in unison. Suddenly, a knife whizzed by Lance’s ear, embedding itself in the shoulder of a guard that was barely a foot away from Lance. He hadn’t seen him, wasn’t prepared for him. He felt himself loosing energy. Another knife flew past, landing directly on it’s mark as before. Lance looked over his shoulder briefly to see the Firebender poised carefully on the side of the roof.
He flipped down, falling gracefully to his feet and ran towards the group. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Lance and conjured fire, shooting it at their attackers. Lance could feel the heat radiating off of him.
“When I say run. You run.” The Fire Bender's voice was rough and clipped, but Lance nodded nonetheless. Suddenly, he jumped up and kicked, his body moving expertly, shooting out a wall of fire, sending the guards scattering back. “RUN!”
Lance, Hunk, and Pidge wasted no time. They raced through the marketplace, dodging in and out of the crowd. After a moment, Lance glanced back to find the Firebender just behind them, weaving more gracefully than Hunk and Pidge who had already barreled into two people and one cart.
Once out of town they made their way into the woods, running through the trees until the voices and bustle of the market was far behind them. Hunk dropped to the ground with a groan, sending a glare towards Lance who looked far more exhilarated than he should have in the moment. Pidge had her hands on her knees, glasses slowly sliding down her nose as she panted. Lance stood up straight and looked at the Firebender who was tense, staring cautiously in the direction that they came. His black handkerchief had fallen from his face and Lance was suddenly struck by how attractive he was.
“Who are you?” Pigde’s voice broke the silence. Her tone was merily curious.
The Firebender whipped around, his violet eyes wide. A second later, he seemed to come back to himself and turned to glare at Lance. “Are you an idiot?”
Lance stepped back, a hand touching his chest in offense. “Excuse you?” He pointed at him. “This idiot just saved your ass, Mullet Man!”
The boy rolled his eyes. “I didn’t need your help. Nor did I ask for it.” He turned and stomped away, but Lance followed after angrily.
“Hey who the hell do you think you are?” He shouted. “You could say thank, you ungrateful-”
Pidge looked up at the sky as if silently praying. “This is going to be fun.” She said sarcastically. Hunk nodded solemnly from where he still sat on the ground and watched as one of his best friend’s stomped after a dangerous, firebending stranger.