Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Chapter 5

This Romeo Bowman was a ridiculous flirt. It may not have been the same attitude he had dealt with but it had all the same spirit.

He was still flattered by what he was saying, even though it was only done to lure him in, so he let this little head game continue for the next week.

By the end of the week Andy was feeling confident. "Romeo" had been asking many questions, and while he was concerned that the man he met in the coffee shop was setting out to do exactly as he had said, he was having trouble figuring out how questions like "what's your favorite band" would "lead to his downfall" or however he put it. It honestly just sounded like he was interested in him—

In any case, Andy had other things to worry about. He had three bills coming due and he was already behind in paying for his mother's home. He had talked himself into a decent position, but he knew it wasn't lucrative enough to get him the money he needed to cover all of what was due. He really didn't have thousands of pounds just sitting in the bank.

The bank.

Andy knew exactly what he had to do, he didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before.

Within the hour he had plotted it out and made it to the bank, though he had reservations about it. he couldn't wear a mask because someone would know something was up but if he didn't and just used his powers the bank he was targeting could easily look at footage and track him down later even if the plan went off without a hitch at the local branch.

He finally found a way to anonymously call the central customer service for the bank, use his powers to convince someone to give him details about security including cameras, convinced them to shut off two of them and by the time he got to the bank he knew exactly how to avoid the rest.

He did not account for Romeo to show up two minutes into the robbery, thwarting his well laid plan just simply by walking in.

Andy didn't have any weapons because he knew he wouldn't need them if he used his powers, but the plan was contingent on everyone being susceptible to his powers. He knew he had been made when Romeo looked around the room to see just about everyone sitting down on the floor.

He did not expect Romeo to wearing a vest with "Beaumont" written on his chest, carrying a walkie into the bank.

"I just knew it was you, can't stay out of trouble for long can you?

"You didn't say you were--" Andy stopped himself. He needed this. He couldn't let this be a failed venture, it really was his last hope.

Rye flashed his security badge, "Not quite, and first week but don't think about trying anything stupid."

"Nobody listen," Andy paused, waiting for everyone to cover their ears, "the less they know about me the better, I would say the same for you but we're past that aren't we."

Rye lowered his walkie, he wasn't sure what was going on, or why he was even considering listening.

"I'm in a hole, I need the money or my mom's out of her place. I don't have any other options and a bank this big is insured, they'd be losing dust in comparison to what they have," Andy reasoned, hoping it would break through.

He paused for a moment to think about it, not okay with what was happening but understanding how much of a predicament he must have been in--if he was telling the truth. That was it though, he didn't know if Andy was telling the truth; but was he willing to chance it?

"The teller didn't buzz the security alarm before you could fully persuade them, and I don't think you're on any of the feeds," Rye said as he pointed up to one of the malfunctioning cameras, "which means neither am I. You have a bigger problem though, I was sent in first to investigate the camera issues. The second patrolman is headed here to sort it out with me, do you understand?"

Was he really doing this?

He seemed to be but Andy couldn't wrap his head around it.

He had to take it, even if it might be a trap.

"Do you want to be my getaway?" Andy asked, without using his power of coercion. He knew it wouldn't work anyways, he knew it wasn't a fluke, the only thing he wasn't sure about was why it didn't work. As far as he could tell, Rye didn't have the same powers as him, if he even had powers at all.

Rye paused, listening for the sirens of the police vehicles approaching quickly. He understood why he did it this time, he could almost see himself doing the same in that position but—

"I won't stop you this time, it's not under the right pretenses," Rye pushed the emergency door open, beckoning him to go through and escape before the other guard came and called the actual authorities.

"Maybe I was wrong about you," Andy offered, grateful that Romeo, or whoever it was, was helping him out instead of trying to thwart him.

Andy leaned forward and pulled him down into a kiss, convincing himself it was just to show his gratitude and put his theories to the test.

He did not expect him to kiss back so fervently nor did he expect that he wouldn't want him to stop.

Rye couldn't help but freeze at first, but he began to melt when his heart picked up in pace, pounding in his ears. He was starting to think, perhaps, revenge would never taste quite as sweet as he did.