Vigilante by Choice

Chapter 36: Fifth Time's the Charm

"How do I look?" I asked, combing my fingers through my hair.

Rory glanced up at me. "Like a dork."

"What?" I looked back at myself, trying to see what was wrong.

"I'm kidding, you look fine. Make sure you keep the gloves on, we don't need people finding out who you are." Rory reminded me.

I nodded. "Will do."

"And don't say anything stupid." Rory groaned.

I looked at her. "When do I say anything stupid?" Before she could respond, because I knew she would, "Don't answer that."

Rory rolled her eyes light heartedly. "You'll do fine. You're just getting an award. Don't mess it up."

"Make sure nothing happens here. If it does then just call me." I said, going out of the window and making my way to the subway. Had to make sure no one saw where I was coming from.

* * *

I was bombarded by camera when I made my way into city hall, Faye being one of the lovely people there. But after all that random I made my way up onto the stage and met the mayor. Before she started the ceremony, "What is your name?" The mayor asked me.

"The Guardian." I said.

"Your actual name." She asked, giving me a look.

I gave her the same look back. "The Guardian. I'm not going to my secret identity."

She scoffed and turned to the audience. "Well we are pleased to know that there is someone out there who is keeping the streets safe from crime. I am here to present The Guardian with a medal depicting his heroism that occurred just this past week. Saving a school from hostile invaders. " The mayor placed the medal around my neck. "Thank you very much. The city is glad to have you here. And we would like to give him the key to the city. Keeping the city in check and will be keeping this city safe." She handed me a small box. A random garage key was in the box, looked like it was super old. Symbolic I guess.

* * *

After that there were a lot of pictures again but I eventually got out, the reporters stopped following me. Well all but one. "How do you expect the city to pay for all of the damage that has been cause by you hero work?" Faye asked me following me out of the building.

I looked down at her and answered. "The only thing I am worried about it keeping people safe. I don't want bad people promoting crimes and gang activities that will hurt innocent people."

Faye kept the questions coming. "But if you want to save people then why do you cause so much damage to the city? That hurts people too."

Does she think I live in a mansion? "I know how that is, but the bus explosion wasn't started by me. The bank robbery was caused by the Celon brothers."

"Which one of them was killed in the process. I thought you didn't kill people." She was talking in her reporter voice, god it was sexy.

But she was using it against me. "That wasn't my fault. Dan Celon's death was an accident. Why does it seem like you are siding with them?"

She was taken aback by my accusation. "I'm not, I'm just asking questions."

She wasn't going to blame me again. "Why are you targeting me as if I am the bad guy in this situation?"

Faye stood tall. "I'm getting the information the public wants." She kept walking into the street, not seeing the semi speeding towards her.

I pulled her back into my arms. "Watch out."

"Shit." She whispered into my chest.

Was that another save? I think it was. What does that leave me at? First time we met, then the bus, then the bank, then the situation at the school, and now this. One, two, three, four... "I think that is save number five. That means you owe me something."

Faye glared up at me and tried to push away from me. "No, no no no."

I kept my grip around her waist. "If you wouldn't mind, I don't want all of this attention."

"You can kiss me when I am dead." Faye spat, her eyes shooting daggers.

She doesn't need to be so hostile. This hatred needs to stop. "Let's make this private. I want to talk to you."

I pulled out my new grappling hook and shout it up to the top of a building. It dragged us to the top. The whole way up she held onto me as if her life depended on it, which it did.

Once we reached the top I set her down and faced her. "Why don't you like me?"

She looked at me, her eyes filled with anger and annoyance. "Because you go out of your way to make it seen that you save people. Can't you do the right thing for once in your life. Just save someone because it is morally correct? Stop trying to impress the city."

She doesn't know why I do this. Why I started this journey. "I don't do this for the fame and fortune. I do it so my family can have a good life. The city hasn't done anything for me. Do you know what I get paid in? Keys to the city, which don't even work, and being laid off. That's what I get, Faye. Why can't you appreciate what I do, I try to help people." I yelled in frustration. Why didn't she like me?

Faye stood there, looking at me in disbelief. "What was that last part?" The question was asked in her reporter voice.

Why did everything have to be a news story? "Nothing. You wouldn't get it, having a poor life. I do this to give people hope. You can take this interview and manipulate it however you want to." I started to walk away.

"But what did you say before that?" She reached for me.

I turned to face her. "I'm done here. I'm done with this interview. I'm done with trying to impress you."

She shouted after me. "Wait, come back! Did you just say my name?" But I was gone by the time she finished.

God, to think she would ever like me was outrageous. She would never love someone like me. If she can't like this version of me then she can't like me just as a person.