bulletproof [riot×tank]

chapter 2 - who are you ?

Tank

The dreadlocks appeared in the crowd and I immediately started smiling. I'd recognize these dreads everywhere any time.
I was getting faster to get to him.
"Hey you" I said and pushed my elbow in his rips.
"Ouch...Hey!" He turned to me and boxed me.
"I'm so hurt" The ironic was unmistakable.
"And you are so funny. Seriously I can't stop laughing" Riot didn't mean it (of course, he wasn't laughing) but I didn't care.

"I know" I looked around. "Anything exciting happened while I was gone?"
"Nope" Riot shook his head. "Well I met a few fans" I gasped.
"You- What? And that's not exciting? Are you fucking kidding me?"
He laughed. He laughed like an angel. Uhm...his laugh was nice.
"I'm sorry. I'm sure you'll get that experience soon. I got the question if we were the same person or not two times today. From different people."
"Oh yeah" I put a hand on my hip and acted like it was the most obvious thing ever.
"Because we have the same hair, skin tone, voice and height...we could be twins"
Riot had usually gloves on. One time he didn't for a few seconds and I could see his flawless brown skin. Lightskin I guess. I was not so ... yeah.
Riot nodded.
"Duuuh" He giggled.

It's been four weeks since we met and the protests were still current. No day passed without protests in the United States. It felt great. Like we really did something and changed at least a few things. I participated in as many protest as I could.
I worked as a journalist and couldn't go to the office due to the corona virus. I had enough time. My articles were mostly about the protests or anything with similar issues so it was a more or less perfect situation for me.
If you wonder: my work for Anonymous was more like a time consuming hobby.
Riot and I didn't know our names or how we actually looked like. We met at some protests and then I decided to give him my number. It wasn't my real number. I had a private number and a number for Anonymous and Riot. I know, it's complicated. (I bet Anonymous knows my real number tho...)
Riot was always on my mind during the last weeks. I thought about the color of his eyes or what his smile might look like.
Was that creepy? Yeah, probably.

"Hey, Tank?"
"Hm?"
We walked behind most of the protestors because it was a peaceful protest and they didn't need our help.
"Do you think... That we might get in trouble because we are here?" He looked up at me.
I shrugged and concentrated on my poster. It said Black lives matter in big black letters.
"I don't know to be honest. I hope we don't. Nobody can be sure that we are from Anonymous. And as long as we don't hurt anyone they can't arrest us. And we didn't and we won't hurt anyone."
Riot didn't seem to be convinced. I wanted to take his worries away but didn't know how.
" Hey look... If we get arrested Anonymous will help us." I stopped him from keep walking and turned him to face my helmet. My hands rested on his shoulders.
" Are you sure they care about us? " Riot quietly asked.
" Yes" I said that more convinced than I actually was. "We are all in this together. They won't let us down. That's the good thing about Anonymous. One of the good things"
I smiled because he started laughing.
I did it.
"Yeah... I bet you're right."
I opened my mouth to say something like 'of course I'm right. I always am.' Or something cooler but I didn't get the chance.

Out of sudden the crowd started screaming, running and the police advanced.
I saw two boys standing there not moving and yelling "Black lives matter!" An officer pushed one of them out of his way and the boy hit the ground. He didn't get up.
Riot and I started running at the same time.
And then... Tear gas.
"Oh come on" Riot yelled and helped a woman to get back up.
"Are you okay Miss?" He asked. He was so polite.
"Yes... Yes I am. Thank you" She covered her mouth and nose with a bandana and started running.

Our helmets kept most of the gas away and for the rest of it we had special masks. But we didn't have the time to put them on. Everything escalated too fast and I didn't even know why.
What the fuck has happened?
I reached the boy who still layed on the street. He hit his head badly. It was bleeding.
"Fuck..." I searched for Riot but he dissappeared.
"Hey... Kid, can you hear me?" His eyes twitched and he groaned.
"Yes" He whispered.
"Great, great. Stay with me, okay? I got you. You're going to be okay." He just nodded and reached out to touch his head.
"Don't" I gently pushed his hand down.

My ears hurt from the noises. Everyone was running, screaming, crying. The gas made my eyes burn like hell (how worse was it without a helmet?)
Oh shit his eyes. I pulled out a scarf and gave it to the boy. He just grabbed it without opening his eyes.
Suddenly a hand layed on my shoulder and Riot kneeled in front of me.
I was never happier to see him.
"Is he okay?" he asked.
"No... He's bleeding"
"Damn it... We have to get him out of this. The police is-"
He couldn't finish. A tall cop appeared out of nowhere behind him and pushed him to the ground. He had a truncheon and slammed it against Riot's leg. He groaned in Pain and in this moment I didn't care what could happen to me. I wanted to hurt the officer so bad that he had to be taken to the hospital.
But the boy was still by my side.
"Stop! We don't have any weapons!" I screamed instead.
The cop ignored me and told two more officers to come and help him.
We were already on the ground... Why would he need help?
I couldn't decide. Who needed my help more?
"Go... I'm okay" The boy mumbled and forced himself into a sitting position.
I bit my bottom lip and thought.
"Okay" I slowly said. "Go to the diner down the street okay? I'm gonna come and help you with your wound, okay?"
He nodded and got up. I wasn't comfortable with the situation but what was I supposed to do?
All the attention was on Riot and me and the boy was able to dissappear.

I stood up at the very moment the two other officers arrived. I raised my hands in defense.
"We did nothing wrong"
"Officer... Sir, Please" Riot tried his best to talk to his attacker but he didn't listen. He hit him again.

Then everything happened very quickly.
A dark figure ran past me. And then another one.
One pulled the officer off Riot and helped him get up and the second one started yelling at the officers. They seemed very intimidated. No wonder. The guy was taller than me (I couldn't believe my eyes but he really was) and had a threatening voice. Also he wore just black and was not scared of them.
He didn't insult them. Just told them that they'd get huge problems if they randomly start beating up people. (Nothing new actually)
I couldn't say anything. My jaw dropped.
I looked at Riot as the Officers retreated. He sat on the street holding his leg.
"Who the fuck are you guys?" He asked and looked at the guy next to him who grinned at us with an Anonymous Mask covering his face.

_____________________________
I hAvE nO iDeA wHo ThIs CoUlD bE...

Also... Yeah I know riot and tank might be the same person... But not to me let me dream pls :((( XD

Have an awesome day <3

~anon