¤ 24 - Pirates and Ninjas

[honorinflames]

[he'd spent all day scouting the city-- gathering information and listening to rumors surely... but, more importantly, watching. Gauging the security of certain sections of town, judging which stores and carts had a little extra to 'spare,' forming a plan in his mind. And, once the sun sinks and snuffs out into the black of the water, he sets said

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[beltbucklerebel]

[Booth is doing a patrol on deck. It was natural, quietly pacing the shadowed recesses while others slept. Even without the attack, it would have been reassuring. After it, it was necessary.

His thoughts are on Bones and Ange and Sweets, all somewhere that is not here when a small sound draws him back to the present. Such a tiny creak..but one that shouldn't have been there.

Hand on the holster of his gun, Booth is surprisingly light on his feet as he moves carefully towards the galley and the quiet rustling there]

[honorinflames]

[it isn't until he's setting the last of this trip's goods on the shelves that something catches the corner of his attention. Or, at least he thinks something does.

He doesn't chance it. Dropping the empty sack, he quickly steps back into the nearest nook of shadows, hand hovering at the hilts of his blades and sensitive ears trained on the entrance to the galley]

[beltbucklerebel]

[Booth is careful as he edges into the doorway, eyes searching the shadows. He doesn't step further in, though he pulls his gun free from the holster.

There are a lot of kids and civilians on the boat. He's pretty sure it's one of them. Or, at least he is until he spots that empty sack.

...hey thief, there is an agent looking for you. What do?]

[honorinflames]

[he slinks back into the shadows between the shelves and the wall, silently maneuvering around, moving when the intruder does.

He waits, breath held, until he's got a clear path to duck out and dodge around to the man's back.

And then, a moment later, there is the soft hiss of blades through the air, as a pair of cutlasses whip out to poise themselves at the back of the man's neck]

--Don't move.

[beltbucklerebel]

[the instant he feels those blades he goes still, holding the gun up with one hand so the speaker can see that it's no longer a threat...but there's no fear in him. Just the quiet sort of tension of someone who is very used to fighting in dangerous situations.]

You don't want to do that, buddy.

[honorinflames]

Oh, I'm pretty sure I do. Drop your weapon.

[goodness, he doesn't understand guns, but he at least knows that they're deadly]

[beltbucklerebel]

[moving slowly, he sets the gun on the ground, careful not to let it go off (it was less predictable without a safety to set), but he stays tense, waiting for an opportunity to turn the tables]

We're not looking for trouble.

[honorinflames]

[wait--] --'We?'

[did this intruder not come alone, or could he mean...

If Booth is looking for an opportunity to move, now would be the time. Zuko's attention momentarily shifts, glancing toward the stairway and listening to hear if Booth has reinforcements above deck-- just a little bit of room opening up between Booth's neck and those blades]

[beltbucklerebel]

[he takes it.

Turning, he sweeps one leg out, looking to kick his opponent's feet from under him]

[honorinflames]

[good shot, Booth. Zuko's legs are taken out from under him and he falls flat. Normally hanging onto his swords wouldn't be a problem, but these are not his dao blades-- while his blades were meant to easily fit together when used as one blade, these were just... two cutlasses.

So, when his wrist hits one of the shelves as he falls, the swords are knocked from his grip, clattering in the darkness.

Immediately he goes to twist around to his feet, whipping out a spinning kick as he does so, hoping to give this man a taste of his own medicine]

[beltbucklerebel]

[in the dark, he notices that sweeping gesture a little too late. Though he tries to dodge it completely, he doesn't jump out of the way quick enough and Zuko's leg catches his feet at the last minute. He doesn't go down, but he does stumble, catching himself on the doorframe with a frustrated huff]

Quick bugger, aren't you?

[honorinflames]

[as he twists up to his feet, automatically falling into a defensive stance, there is a sudden hot flash of fire in the darkness around his hands as he brings them up--ready]

I'm more than just quick.

[beltbucklerebel]

Oh for crying-

Why couldn't you just be a normal thief?

[he'll fall into a defensive stance as well, balancing lightly on the balls of his feet as he gives Zuko a wary glance. He has no idea how he can fight someone who can summon fire...but damned if he's backing down]

[honorinflames]

[--the fire abruptly snuffs out.

Wait a sec.

Sounding offended, now.]

You're calling me a thief?

[...well, technically, he was a thief too. But this guy shouldn't know that]

[beltbucklerebel]

...What am I supposed to call you? You're the one sneaking around our storerooms in the middle of the night.

[his voice is one part skeptical, one part confused]

[honorinflames]

Our--

[--ugh. he opens his hand, holding up a small flame to actually light up this stupid room.

...Yep. Now that he can see his face, he recognizes this guy from around the ship. And he just sighs.]