Robin hood (peter parker)

11: guns for hands

"Ain't no rest for the wicked" cage the elephant

it was only 4:16 in the evening, but the summer sky was filled with grey clouds that cast a dark shadow over the city of Queens. rain threatened to pour as the first sounds of thunder boomed through the city just after the first bolt of lightning. Joey wiped down the tables by the window, a smile lighting up her face as she awaited the oncoming storm. she always hated how rain was thought of as a 'bad omen' or they felt 'uneasy' because she always found the pitter-patter sound relaxing.

the bell behind the girl rang as the last customer in the restaurant exited the building. "have a good evening!" she called out as the door swung shut. Joey moved back behind the counter when she finished cleaning up the front room. there was not a spec of dust left to be seen. 

the young girl hopped up on the counter and crossed a leg over the other while Kate took a bite of her half eaten cookie. while Joey had only gotten to work an hour ago for closing shift, Kate had been working the whole day. other waiters had come and gone, a majority of them working the lunch rush. Duncan, a twenty-something year old man, was supposed to be working close with the girls, but he called in sick last minute and there was no one else free to cover for him. It was no problem though; they never had too much business whenever it rained or snowed. 

"I'm getting so tired of pizza today." Kate sighed as she finished off her snack. "If I pay, will you grab us some panda express?" the false Chinese restaurant was only a couple stores away since they were located at an outdoor shopping center. The pizzeria was in a more secluded location of the shopping center, a separate building than the rest. whenever either girl got tired of pizza, they would split a meal from one of the many other restaurants around them. Because their building was separated, they would have to run through the rain to get to the panda express.

Joey groaned at the thought of standing in a line to order food. "ugh, couldn't we get them to deliver here?" Kate shot the girl an annoyed look, but knew it was only a joke. "alright, fine I'll go, but if I come back with an empty container of food, and a soaked uniform, you can only blame yourself."  Kate playfully rolled her eyes and moved to the back room.

"let me just grab some money." she called out once she was out of view. 

with an exaggerated sigh, Joey jumped off the counter and rubbed her eyes to rid herself of exhaustion. she turned when she heard the sound of the bell and plastered on as genuine of a smile as she could muster. "welcome to Lorenzo's Pizza, what can I-" 

Joey stopped short. masked face. dark clothing. hands in pockets. only a fool wouldn't understand what scene was about to unfold before her. the man reached into the inside pocket of his coat, the lights of the restaurant causing the object to shimmer. it was in this instant that the young girl knew she would have a decision to make: she could be agreeable and follow every order, or she could follow her heart and do what she knew to be the more difficult task of saying no. no to anything and everything the man was going to command of her.

"open the register." his voice was low, but the gizzly sound of his voice made his words threatening. Joey's eyes were wide in fear, never having had a gun pulled on her before, and now she would soon know the crippling anxiety that would accompany it. she she did not move, the man grew impatient and pulled a colt 1911 on the girl. "did I stutter? open the damn register and give me your money." 

Joey's mouth opened, ready to refuse, but no words came out. she was a thief, and a damn good one too, but she would not and could never steal from the one place she was employed at. life had a way of taking from her: her parents, a stable living situation, her sister's health, as well as her grandfather's, but this job was the only place that gave back. they gave her a job to support her family when they were desperate, they gave her new friends, and they gave her their trust. she could not bring herself to destroy what she had built with them.