HOME | DD

Description
The morning light coming through my window finally got the better of me as I rolled over for the fifth time. I looked at my alarm clock, three minutes before it was set to go off. Ugh, I hate it when that happens. My muscles yelled at me silently as I sat up and stretched. The shitty twin bed still gave me issues despite how thick I am.
I was hungry. My fridge held no real promise of a good breakfast, so I threw on my heavy boots to set out to the nearest Denny’s. As I finished tying them I looked at my closet at my leather jacket. It was my pride and joy, but the August weather was frighteningly warm, even for me. The change on my dresser soon found its way to my pocket, and my cap on my head. As I left my alarm clock started going off. I grabbed a book off my bookshelf and threw it at it. The alarm clock broke. Always hated the fucking things anyway.
I turn to leave my apartment and head for the stairs. My lovely dick of a landlord opens his door behind me, “You’re rent is past due again.”
“It’s on its way. Promise.” I say not looking back at him.
“Always on its way. Maybe it should arrive, or you should not. I could rent out your two-bed for a nice price.”
I turn and give him a smirk, people scowling at me always gave me a sort of evil joy, “Remember that time I saved you from a couple of muggers? Where’s the love?”
He raised his arms in protest, “Love! It was a year ago! I gave you two month’s rent off! I have your love right here!” He pointed to his foot, “Rent, soon you damn hero!”
I turned back and walked down the stairs. After a quick count of my money, being less than five dollars, I settled for the nearby coffee shop. I walked in and grunted under my breath, there was a line. I hate lines. Still, when I got up there I had no idea what I wanted. So I take a quick look, order something with mocha, and the total comes up to six twenty-five. I lay out my three dollar bills and start counting the change again, when a feminine hand comes from behind me with a card.
“I’ll cover him this time around, and I’ll get…” I didn’t get her order. I wasn’t embarrassed, just taken aback at the random act of kindness.
I looked over to her and she gave me a pleasant smile. Damn I’m a sucker for cute girls. We both walk off to the side waiting for our orders. I check her out her pinned up hair and her ass in a long skirt before I mumble a thank you. The orders arrived shortly after, and as I turn to leave she taps me on the shoulder, “I think I deserve some company while I sip my coffee.” She smiles again. I shook my head and put my hand to my forehead, “Yeah, thanks by the way.”
She introduced herself as Jackie Sinclair and we spent a good hour talking. She talked mostly about herself, which worked for me since I didn’t really have anything special going on. I piped in where I could. Jackie was nice, had one of those optimistic attitudes. She was smart, and was a loan officer at a bank on 5th street. After a bit more back and forth it was clear she was out of my league. She seemed interested in me so long as she didn’t know a thing about me. It was to my dismay when she asked me the dreaded question, “So what is your name?”
“Cid.” I never liked answering questions about myself. I have certain trust issues and to be honest there just isn’t much to tell. I am less than impressive, and I like it that way.
“And what do you do Cid?”
I took a long sip of my coffee, which the bottom of the mug showed up way too soon. Size ‘Tall’ my ass.
“I’m a bouncer of sorts.” I say setting my empty cup down.
“Of sorts? Sounds a little mysterious.” She said and smiled again. Damn, she was trying to flirt with me. Maybe she liked a rough and tough kinda guy, but I really wasn’t her type, I assure you.
“Yeah, of sorts. I am a part of a security team that handles big bar scenes, raves, that kinda thing. If there is ever some kind of trouble, I’m usually the one to sort it out.”
“That’s interesting, ever get into a situation you can’t handle?”
“Nope. Never have.” I then grinned at her, “And never will.
She smiled and looked down at her cup.
“Now may I ask you a question?” I asked after a minute or two
“Of course Cid, I’m an open book.”
“Not that I mind, but what gives with the random act of kindness?”
“I enjoy company with my coffee and I am fascinated with finding out other people’s stories. And who knows, maybe one day it’ll be a good thing I bought a bouncer, who can handle any situation, a coffee. He may come in handy.”
I give her another grin and she returned my half ass smile with a genuine one of her own. She looked down at her watched and tapped it, “I am going to run late if I don’t take off, it was a pleasure Cid. May I see you tomorrow? Your story is still just unfolding.”
I looked down at my coffee cup and thought for a moment.
“Yeah, sure.” I said. And she left with a smile maybe. I don’t know, I didn’t look.
I sat there staring at the empty plastic cup I had in my hands, contemplating whether or not her interest was real, and whether or not I was actually gonna be coming back, despite what I may had promised her. Normal guy stuff. I checked my phone, one text message from my boss about a party this weekend, so I had nothing to do on this hell of a Thursday. I sat there for another fifteen minutes listening to the elevator type music they had playing and thinking of what to do with the day. I enjoyed my zoning out time before there was a knock on the window.
A man in a pair of glasses and a suit was standing outside with a book tucked under his arm. I rolled my eyes. It was Gary. Gary was a government agent, a recruiter. He’s had his eye on me since he saw me lift a car above my head a month back. Him seeing it was an accident I assure you. I left the coffee shop, turning away from him.
“May I have a minute?” He said as he walked behind me.
“I don’t have a spare one, go to Verizon.”
“Where are you off to? You have no money and you don’t have work until Saturday.”
“Fish market.” I was used to him knowing my schedule at this point, “Trucks unload on Thursdays before noon. Time to make me a few big ones.”
“Do you know how much you could make doing what I do?”
“Don’t care!” I call behind me.
“Cid, I want you to consider the possibilities of working…”
“No thank you. I like helping people.”
“I do help people.”
“No, you recruit people, isn’t that why you are here?”
He finally caught up to me and stopped in front of me, “No, my boss has told me to move on from you two weeks ago.”
“So the only person who doesn’t know you are wasting your time is you.”
“Listen, there isn’t much room for super humans in the cop world, and there won’t be if you are perceived as a threat. Help us help you. Without a little assurance from the government, it could be chaos against you.”
I look down and filter out my initial thought, then look at him. “Bring on the chaos. Maybe that’s what the world needs. A little chaos. Do you wanna know why I don’t want to be like you?”
Gary took a step back and motioned for me to continue.
“Because you are fake. Not a single thing real about you in all… this. You don’t wear glasses and your book isn’t for reading. It’s for spying. I’ll bet my left nut that Gary isn’t even your real name. Least my two hundred bucks is honest work.”
Gary paused for a moment before returning himself to the pursuit he was on, “Freelance then. You don’t need an agent name or a suit. Just let me call you when I need a little muscle.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, refraining from throwing him through a wall, “Fine, maybe. If you are in a tight spot, I’ll save your ass. I assume you have my number. I gotta get to the market.”
Gary didn’t follow me after that. He got what he wanted; he pestered me enough for a yes. Oh well, I’ve lied before. It took me a good hour to get down to the fish market. There were already a bunch of guys lined up at the trucks. The manager at the fish market recognized me and a few of the other regulars and told the other unemployed douchebags to shove off. We unloaded four trucks before I called it a day. I got a nice slice of salmon to take home and burn along with the two hundred bucks. None of which my landlord was going to see.
I head home and head upstairs. I grow a small conscience and head to my landlord’s door. It was open so I do a small knock, he was in his lazyboy with the TV on to some news.
“Hey, Chuck, listen, I got fifty bucks here, for a sign of good faith.”
He waved his hand at me without turning around, “Yeah, yeah, set it on the table. Have you been watching this?”
I turned my attention to the TV as the Special Report came back from a commercial, “There are seven gunmen confirmed holding up the Regional Bank on 5th street and Carmel. No information has been released yet, but so far negotiations have failed.”
My world went silent around me for just a few minutes as I turned and ran out the door. I wasn’t sure what I could do but stare as a bystander, but Jackie suddenly became important to me. I owed her six twenty-five. It wracked my brain caring about her, but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I ran down the few blocks to Carmel, then hailed a taxi up to 5th.
We got up there and I handed him the fifty promised to Chuck, and ran toward the crowd.
The police were keeping the people back, news crews were having a field day trying to get a clear shot of the police and the bank. I shoved people aside and watched the scene as the police seemed to be doing nothing. An officer tossed a phone to the front door and backed away. One of the robbers opened the front door slightly and picked it up. I traced the line back to the police trailer they got set up, as an officer left, I saw the one person I did not want to see on the other line of the phone call, Gary.
I pushed my way to the door. An officer stopped me, I was going to shove him too, but Gary saw me as the door opened briefly again and he ran to the door, “Let him through, let him through. What are you doing here?”
“The lady I had coffee with this morning works in that bank. Get her out of there.”
Gary looked at the phone that was off the hook, “I am waiting for them to pick up. The police asked me to be here because I am a good negotiator. She’ll be OK, you just need to be patient.”
I turned and walked out of the trailer. Fuck being patient. Jackie was in there with guys with guns who were purposely being unfriendly. Gary called out to me, but I ignored him. I walked down the alleys of the nearby buildings till I found an access ladder to the roof. It was gated and locked. I looked for any onlookers, but everyone close enough to see was paying attention to the bank. I grabbed the lock and pulled, the gate broke. I closed it behind me and climbed to the roof. Now this building was only one story compared to the two that was the bank. The bank was only one floor that I knew of, but it stretched itself above the rest, with high windows on both sides of the building. I walked to the edge and judged the clearing. I’ve done some crazy things, but I’ve never cleared a street before. First time for everything I guess.
I walked back several steps, jumped up and down a few times to try and psyche myself up. And I started to run. The edge of the building came closer and closer… And I skidded to a stop, almost toppling over the side. These were men with guns. Could I handle that? I mean I was strong, and a fighter, but guns? Maybe I should… I shook the thought out of my head that the police were going to get everyone out alive. I shook my head again. Everyone? Damn conscience. I hate caring sometimes. I looked down at my heavy boots. Time to put my super gene to the test.
I jogged back to the ladder and took a deep breath and turned. My run to the edge of this building this time wasn’t hesitant. As I reached the ledge I hurled myself toward the bank. I stuck out my feet and crashed through the window. I hit the tile floor of the bank, broke it I’m sure, and rolled. I stood up next to a guy in a ski mask holding a pistol. He looked as shocked as I did. I shoved him as hard as my arm could. He went up and into the plastered wall. Another robber grabbed me by the arm. I shoved him and he went through the window I had jumped into earlier. Two down.
A third guy was a distance away pointed his gun at me. I dove behind a chair as he fired off his gun. A few bullets went through the chair and hit me in the chest and shoulder. The impact spun me onto my back. I immediately grabbed at my wounds, expecting to put pressure on the bloody hole. But there was no hole. Least, not through my skin. I picked the bullet off my shoulder. It was scrunched up. How badass. From underneath the chair I saw him run toward me. I grabbed the leg of the chair and stood and swung it toward him. It went to pieces as his feet lifted off the ground and he landed on his back.
“Stop! Or… Or I’ll shoot!” said a fourth. He was a very small thief. He look terrified, and he pointed the gun at me through the bullet proof glass used to protect the tellers. I smirked at him and tapped the glass reminding him what was there. He picked up a hostage and pointed the gun at her. It was Jackie. I turned my gaze back to him and glared. I balled my fist and stuck it against the hardened glass. It made a deep boom sound as the glass cracked on my side.
I struck it again.
He flinched.
And then again.
He dropped his gun and put his hands up. Jackie, shaking, hit the floor and started to weep. I ran to the door and pulled it open, the lock coming with it. I grabbed the tiny man and lifted him by his throat. I lifted him high above my head as I noticed the hostages, Jackie among them, were all staring at me. I dropped him and lifted Jackie to her feet.
“Looks like you were right. Knowing a bouncer does come in pretty handy.”
She looked around the room to the three unconscious robbers and the fourth cowering, “You… You just took them all out. Just like that.” She looked at my now holy shirt, “Oh my god!” She grabbed at my chest, a small bruise formed where the bullet struck, “you’re, you’re Ok.”
I shrugged, “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s get you and everyone out of here.”
People rose and followed me out, a few of the people picked up the guns from around the room.
“You can handle anything can’t you?” She looked at me as I put my arm around her.
“I guess I can.” I said smiling, pushing the door to the exit of the bank.
I pushed opened the door to meet flashes of light and cameras and microphones. News people started asking me my name and why I did it and where I found my inner strength. The questions repeated themselves when I didn’t respond right away. I pushed through them rather awkwardly, and Gary found me and Jackie and pulled us away and into the trailer.
“Was anyone hurt?”
“Yeah, a few robbers, oh and I got these.” I pulled my shirt and showed off my two small bruises of war, “You owe me a damn shirt.”
“What I owe you is a pair of handcuffs for getting in the way of my negotiation. And here is this.” He handed me a stack of hundreds, “It’s fifteen hundred.”
“Payment? Was this a setup? I swear to god Gary if you put Jackie-“
“It’s an advance. For when we need you again. Despite your methods, clearly you got the job done.”
I tossed it on the table, “I am not a superhero.”
I went to turn, Gary grabbed a remote and turned on the TV. My face was on it with a banner, “Breaking news: New crime fighter super hero.”
“You are now. And now you don’t have much of a choice. And, as it turns out, you don’t need a mask.”
I grabbed the grand off the table and shoved it in my jeans pocket.
God Dammit.

“He performed better than anticipated.” The small monitor replayed Cid’s actions from the cameras of the bank, “And was quite quick on his feet. And if there is ever need for a next time, he knows he’s bullet proof. You did a good job Gary.”
Gary scratched the back of his head and paused the camera footage, “Cid is definitely someone to have on our side. But it wasn’t just my doing, Agent Malory.”
The brunet finished tying her hair in a ponytail and looked at Gary, “I’m heading out to South America to look into a UFO siting.” She went to walk from the trailer, “Oh, and remember, when we’re in this town, it’s Jackie.”

Description
The morning light coming through my window finally got the better of me as I rolled over for the fifth time. I looked at my alarm clock, three minutes before it was set to go off. Ugh, I hate it when that happens. My muscles yelled at me silently as I sat up and stretched. The shitty twin bed still gave me issues despite how thick I am.
I was hungry. My fridge held no real promise of a good breakfast, so I threw on my heavy boots to set out to the nearest Denny’s. As I finished tying them I looked at my closet at my leather jacket. It was my pride and joy, but the August weather was frighteningly warm, even for me. The change on my dresser soon found its way to my pocket, and my cap on my head. As I left my alarm clock started going off. I grabbed a book off my bookshelf and threw it at it. The alarm clock broke. Always hated the fucking things anyway.
I turn to leave my apartment and head for the stairs. My lovely dick of a landlord opens his door behind me, “You’re rent is past due again.”
“It’s on its way. Promise.” I say not looking back at him.
“Always on its way. Maybe it should arrive, or you should not. I could rent out your two-bed for a nice price.”
I turn and give him a smirk, people scowling at me always gave me a sort of evil joy, “Remember that time I saved you from a couple of muggers? Where’s the love?”
He raised his arms in protest, “Love! It was a year ago! I gave you two month’s rent off! I have your love right here!” He pointed to his foot, “Rent, soon you damn hero!”
I turned back and walked down the stairs. After a quick count of my money, being less than five dollars, I settled for the nearby coffee shop. I walked in and grunted under my breath, there was a line. I hate lines. Still, when I got up there I had no idea what I wanted. So I take a quick look, order something with mocha, and the total comes up to six twenty-five. I lay out my three dollar bills and start counting the change again, when a feminine hand comes from behind me with a card.
“I’ll cover him this time around, and I’ll get…” I didn’t get her order. I wasn’t embarrassed, just taken aback at the random act of kindness.
I looked over to her and she gave me a pleasant smile. Damn I’m a sucker for cute girls. We both walk off to the side waiting for our orders. I check her out her pinned up hair and her ass in a long skirt before I mumble a thank you. The orders arrived shortly after, and as I turn to leave she taps me on the shoulder, “I think I deserve some company while I sip my coffee.” She smiles again. I shook my head and put my hand to my forehead, “Yeah, thanks by the way.”
She introduced herself as Jackie Sinclair and we spent a good hour talking. She talked mostly about herself, which worked for me since I didn’t really have anything special going on. I piped in where I could. Jackie was nice, had one of those optimistic attitudes. She was smart, and was a loan officer at a bank on 5th street. After a bit more back and forth it was clear she was out of my league. She seemed interested in me so long as she didn’t know a thing about me. It was to my dismay when she asked me the dreaded question, “So what is your name?”
“Cid.” I never liked answering questions about myself. I have certain trust issues and to be honest there just isn’t much to tell. I am less than impressive, and I like it that way.
“And what do you do Cid?”
I took a long sip of my coffee, which the bottom of the mug showed up way too soon. Size ‘Tall’ my ass.
“I’m a bouncer of sorts.” I say setting my empty cup down.
“Of sorts? Sounds a little mysterious.” She said and smiled again. Damn, she was trying to flirt with me. Maybe she liked a rough and tough kinda guy, but I really wasn’t her type, I assure you.
“Yeah, of sorts. I am a part of a security team that handles big bar scenes, raves, that kinda thing. If there is ever some kind of trouble, I’m usually the one to sort it out.”
“That’s interesting, ever get into a situation you can’t handle?”
“Nope. Never have.” I then grinned at her, “And never will.
She smiled and looked down at her cup.
“Now may I ask you a question?” I asked after a minute or two
“Of course Cid, I’m an open book.”
“Not that I mind, but what gives with the random act of kindness?”
“I enjoy company with my coffee and I am fascinated with finding out other people’s stories. And who knows, maybe one day it’ll be a good thing I bought a bouncer, who can handle any situation, a coffee. He may come in handy.”
I give her another grin and she returned my half ass smile with a genuine one of her own. She looked down at her watched and tapped it, “I am going to run late if I don’t take off, it was a pleasure Cid. May I see you tomorrow? Your story is still just unfolding.”
I looked down at my coffee cup and thought for a moment.
“Yeah, sure.” I said. And she left with a smile maybe. I don’t know, I didn’t look.
I sat there staring at the empty plastic cup I had in my hands, contemplating whether or not her interest was real, and whether or not I was actually gonna be coming back, despite what I may had promised her. Normal guy stuff. I checked my phone, one text message from my boss about a party this weekend, so I had nothing to do on this hell of a Thursday. I sat there for another fifteen minutes listening to the elevator type music they had playing and thinking of what to do with the day. I enjoyed my zoning out time before there was a knock on the window.
A man in a pair of glasses and a suit was standing outside with a book tucked under his arm. I rolled my eyes. It was Gary. Gary was a government agent, a recruiter. He’s had his eye on me since he saw me lift a car above my head a month back. Him seeing it was an accident I assure you. I left the coffee shop, turning away from him.
“May I have a minute?” He said as he walked behind me.
“I don’t have a spare one, go to Verizon.”
“Where are you off to? You have no money and you don’t have work until Saturday.”
“Fish market.” I was used to him knowing my schedule at this point, “Trucks unload on Thursdays before noon. Time to make me a few big ones.”
“Do you know how much you could make doing what I do?”
“Don’t care!” I call behind me.
“Cid, I want you to consider the possibilities of working…”
“No thank you. I like helping people.”
“I do help people.”
“No, you recruit people, isn’t that why you are here?”
He finally caught up to me and stopped in front of me, “No, my boss has told me to move on from you two weeks ago.”
“So the only person who doesn’t know you are wasting your time is you.”
“Listen, there isn’t much room for super humans in the cop world, and there won’t be if you are perceived as a threat. Help us help you. Without a little assurance from the government, it could be chaos against you.”
I look down and filter out my initial thought, then look at him. “Bring on the chaos. Maybe that’s what the world needs. A little chaos. Do you wanna know why I don’t want to be like you?”
Gary took a step back and motioned for me to continue.
“Because you are fake. Not a single thing real about you in all… this. You don’t wear glasses and your book isn’t for reading. It’s for spying. I’ll bet my left nut that Gary isn’t even your real name. Least my two hundred bucks is honest work.”
Gary paused for a moment before returning himself to the pursuit he was on, “Freelance then. You don’t need an agent name or a suit. Just let me call you when I need a little muscle.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, refraining from throwing him through a wall, “Fine, maybe. If you are in a tight spot, I’ll save your ass. I assume you have my number. I gotta get to the market.”
Gary didn’t follow me after that. He got what he wanted; he pestered me enough for a yes. Oh well, I’ve lied before. It took me a good hour to get down to the fish market. There were already a bunch of guys lined up at the trucks. The manager at the fish market recognized me and a few of the other regulars and told the other unemployed douchebags to shove off. We unloaded four trucks before I called it a day. I got a nice slice of salmon to take home and burn along with the two hundred bucks. None of which my landlord was going to see.
I head home and head upstairs. I grow a small conscience and head to my landlord’s door. It was open so I do a small knock, he was in his lazyboy with the TV on to some news.
“Hey, Chuck, listen, I got fifty bucks here, for a sign of good faith.”
He waved his hand at me without turning around, “Yeah, yeah, set it on the table. Have you been watching this?”
I turned my attention to the TV as the Special Report came back from a commercial, “There are seven gunmen confirmed holding up the Regional Bank on 5th street and Carmel. No information has been released yet, but so far negotiations have failed.”
My world went silent around me for just a few minutes as I turned and ran out the door. I wasn’t sure what I could do but stare as a bystander, but Jackie suddenly became important to me. I owed her six twenty-five. It wracked my brain caring about her, but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I ran down the few blocks to Carmel, then hailed a taxi up to 5th.
We got up there and I handed him the fifty promised to Chuck, and ran toward the crowd.
The police were keeping the people back, news crews were having a field day trying to get a clear shot of the police and the bank. I shoved people aside and watched the scene as the police seemed to be doing nothing. An officer tossed a phone to the front door and backed away. One of the robbers opened the front door slightly and picked it up. I traced the line back to the police trailer they got set up, as an officer left, I saw the one person I did not want to see on the other line of the phone call, Gary.
I pushed my way to the door. An officer stopped me, I was going to shove him too, but Gary saw me as the door opened briefly again and he ran to the door, “Let him through, let him through. What are you doing here?”
“The lady I had coffee with this morning works in that bank. Get her out of there.”
Gary looked at the phone that was off the hook, “I am waiting for them to pick up. The police asked me to be here because I am a good negotiator. She’ll be OK, you just need to be patient.”
I turned and walked out of the trailer. Fuck being patient. Jackie was in there with guys with guns who were purposely being unfriendly. Gary called out to me, but I ignored him. I walked down the alleys of the nearby buildings till I found an access ladder to the roof. It was gated and locked. I looked for any onlookers, but everyone close enough to see was paying attention to the bank. I grabbed the lock and pulled, the gate broke. I closed it behind me and climbed to the roof. Now this building was only one story compared to the two that was the bank. The bank was only one floor that I knew of, but it stretched itself above the rest, with high windows on both sides of the building. I walked to the edge and judged the clearing. I’ve done some crazy things, but I’ve never cleared a street before. First time for everything I guess.
I walked back several steps, jumped up and down a few times to try and psyche myself up. And I started to run. The edge of the building came closer and closer… And I skidded to a stop, almost toppling over the side. These were men with guns. Could I handle that? I mean I was strong, and a fighter, but guns? Maybe I should… I shook the thought out of my head that the police were going to get everyone out alive. I shook my head again. Everyone? Damn conscience. I hate caring sometimes. I looked down at my heavy boots. Time to put my super gene to the test.
I jogged back to the ladder and took a deep breath and turned. My run to the edge of this building this time wasn’t hesitant. As I reached the ledge I hurled myself toward the bank. I stuck out my feet and crashed through the window. I hit the tile floor of the bank, broke it I’m sure, and rolled. I stood up next to a guy in a ski mask holding a pistol. He looked as shocked as I did. I shoved him as hard as my arm could. He went up and into the plastered wall. Another robber grabbed me by the arm. I shoved him and he went through the window I had jumped into earlier. Two down.
A third guy was a distance away pointed his gun at me. I dove behind a chair as he fired off his gun. A few bullets went through the chair and hit me in the chest and shoulder. The impact spun me onto my back. I immediately grabbed at my wounds, expecting to put pressure on the bloody hole. But there was no hole. Least, not through my skin. I picked the bullet off my shoulder. It was scrunched up. How badass. From underneath the chair I saw him run toward me. I grabbed the leg of the chair and stood and swung it toward him. It went to pieces as his feet lifted off the ground and he landed on his back.
“Stop! Or… Or I’ll shoot!” said a fourth. He was a very small thief. He look terrified, and he pointed the gun at me through the bullet proof glass used to protect the tellers. I smirked at him and tapped the glass reminding him what was there. He picked up a hostage and pointed the gun at her. It was Jackie. I turned my gaze back to him and glared. I balled my fist and stuck it against the hardened glass. It made a deep boom sound as the glass cracked on my side.
I struck it again.
He flinched.
And then again.
He dropped his gun and put his hands up. Jackie, shaking, hit the floor and started to weep. I ran to the door and pulled it open, the lock coming with it. I grabbed the tiny man and lifted him by his throat. I lifted him high above my head as I noticed the hostages, Jackie among them, were all staring at me. I dropped him and lifted Jackie to her feet.
“Looks like you were right. Knowing a bouncer does come in pretty handy.”
She looked around the room to the three unconscious robbers and the fourth cowering, “You… You just took them all out. Just like that.” She looked at my now holy shirt, “Oh my god!” She grabbed at my chest, a small bruise formed where the bullet struck, “you’re, you’re Ok.”
I shrugged, “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s get you and everyone out of here.”
People rose and followed me out, a few of the people picked up the guns from around the room.
“You can handle anything can’t you?” She looked at me as I put my arm around her.
“I guess I can.” I said smiling, pushing the door to the exit of the bank.
I pushed opened the door to meet flashes of light and cameras and microphones. News people started asking me my name and why I did it and where I found my inner strength. The questions repeated themselves when I didn’t respond right away. I pushed through them rather awkwardly, and Gary found me and Jackie and pulled us away and into the trailer.
“Was anyone hurt?”
“Yeah, a few robbers, oh and I got these.” I pulled my shirt and showed off my two small bruises of war, “You owe me a damn shirt.”
“What I owe you is a pair of handcuffs for getting in the way of my negotiation. And here is this.” He handed me a stack of hundreds, “It’s fifteen hundred.”
“Payment? Was this a setup? I swear to god Gary if you put Jackie-“
“It’s an advance. For when we need you again. Despite your methods, clearly you got the job done.”
I tossed it on the table, “I am not a superhero.”
I went to turn, Gary grabbed a remote and turned on the TV. My face was on it with a banner, “Breaking news: New crime fighter super hero.”
“You are now. And now you don’t have much of a choice. And, as it turns out, you don’t need a mask.”
I grabbed the grand off the table and shoved it in my jeans pocket.
God Dammit.

“He performed better than anticipated.” The small monitor replayed Cid’s actions from the cameras of the bank, “And was quite quick on his feet. And if there is ever need for a next time, he knows he’s bullet proof. You did a good job Gary.”
Gary scratched the back of his head and paused the camera footage, “Cid is definitely someone to have on our side. But it wasn’t just my doing, Agent Malory.”
The brunet finished tying her hair in a ponytail and looked at Gary, “I’m heading out to South America to look into a UFO siting.” She went to walk from the trailer, “Oh, and remember, when we’re in this town, it’s Jackie.”