He had escaped the city and almost the planet when he had first met Robin, who had told him to give the money to the poor. The friar had obliged begrudgingly at first, but over time he and Robin had become friends.
Friar Tuck had opened a small bar just before Robin had been forced to return to Loxley to fight in the crusades. He had been finally making an honest business. He had met a singer named Marion who had eventually agreed to work with him at what became known as ‘The Friar’s bar’.
Robin had come in to his bar three months earlier, and had been a sight for sore eyes. Even under the green hooded tunic and ski mask, Tuck had recognized him. He had known the man for years, but since he had returned from the war, Robin had seemed different. Like he was fixing to do a foolish thing, and Tuck could feel it. The friar had done enough foolish things in his time to know when a man was up to something, and he didn’t need to see Robin’s face to see it.
Then of course there was Marion, who had seen him and, like Tuck, she had known who this mysterious man under the hood was. The pair had a history, Tuck knew that, but Marion had waited for Robin to come back from the crusades, no doubt waiting for him to marry her. Alas, Robin had said he had other business on the planet, which had upset Marion. Tuck hated to see Marion upset, but he also knew she was tough. If anyone could wait for the man she loved, it was Marion. She could wait for anything.
Tuck locked the door of the bar and turned on his heel walking right into a tall man with long dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His clothes were black and he wore a crimson cloak. Tuck needed only to look into the man’s eyes to know who he was – The sheriff of Nottingham and the right hand man of the King.
“Going somewhere, Friar?” The sheriff asked, a low, English accent giving his voice the edge of a man with money, breeding and absolute power.
“Sheriff! Good evening, sir! Yes... yes I was just shutting up for the night. I was about to head home," Tuck replied as the sheriff glared at him, patiently running a hand through his dark beard.
“I see. You owe rent on this establishment, Mr Tuck. I don’t mind lateness, but ignorance is unacceptable. You have been ignoring my emails. Are you trying to annoy me, Mr Tuck?” The sheriff asked and Tuck shook his head from side to side, his eyes wide with shock.
“Oh no sir! I er... I... I just haven’t been able to go through all of my emails yet. Blasted spam an all, You understand?” Tuck pleaded. The sheriff only grinned.
“Two thousand credits by Friday, Tuck. The next time I visit, it will be with lawmen and weapons of their choosing. I’d hate for you to have to explain your sins to the almighty father earlier than intended. Don’t disappoint me. One week," the sheriff said, bumping past the friar and stepping down the neon lit street.
Tuck sighed heavily, cursing under his breath. There was no way he was going to be able to come up with that kind of money in a week. Business had been slow, taxes had been raised and the bar barely attracted enough people to cover the costs of rent as it was. He looked up into the night sky, watching the lit up flying vehicles as they shot through the air miles above.
That was when he saw what looked like a man jumping from one of the flying cars to another, perching high above the street on a stone gargoyle that protruded from a building. Tuck rubbed his eyes looking back where he had seen the figure, but the man... or whatever it was... was gone. Tuck continued down the street.
*****
On the rooftops above, following closely – Robin Hood and Will Scarlet navigated the gaps between rooftops, running and leaping through the air, gaining momentum as they ran faster and faster across the rooftops of glass and steel. Will fired an arrow from his crossbow, launching a cable across to another building, pulling it tightly as he leapt off the ledge, swinging across the gap between the buildings, flipping through the air to avoid a collision with a passing taxi which beeped suddenly as the driver steered the flying vehicle to avoid the crazy swinging man. Will let out a cheer, his long hair blowing in the wind as he swung to the ledge of the next rooftop, landing on his feet and turning back to Robin, offering him a wave.
Robin was faster – leaping over the ledge and free falling downwards.
“Holy shit!” Will exclaimed, sighing with momentary relief as Robin landed safely on the roof of a passing flying Corvette, leaping upward onto a flying taxi and then leaping across to another, performing an impressive somersault in mid air. He landed next to Will on the rooftop.
“I’ve never anybody move so fast,” Will said, clearly impressed with the limber older man’s moves.
“Don’t lose him, Will. We need him," Robin said and Will nodded, pulling out a small pair of night vision binoculars and glancing
