Keven is waiting for someone, not just anyone, a friend. If you asked him, he would lie. Jim is late. He was meant to show up at 9 but now 30 minutes have passed and the no-so-fresh cookie has slowly been chipped away. The goal of this meeting, at least Keven's goal with it, was to find out what Jim’s power is. It has been a couple of days since Keven has seen Jim, with it being winter break, he has been on a family vacation. Maybe to some place where there's snow, Keven thought.
He is at a cafe. It's a small cafe only serving coffee and fresh cookies, Keven declined the coffee when asked. He didn’t get to pick the place and hated being reminded of his power, which didn't take long to happen, as the barista made coffee long before a suited man came in and ordered some.
The suited man seemingly knowing the woman behind the counter began talking to her and has been talking to her ever since. Hearing some of the conversation from the booth, the suited man seems to be asking how the owner’s doing.
The owner was a superhero about 30 years ago when it was less common. The man hasn’t been one for some time, it’s not known why he stopped, over-usage, age, or trauma. It doesn’t matter, but the posters and images on the wall show what once was: Illustrations of the hero standing over some exaggerated villains in chains, a newspaper clipping about how the future teller and stop-man captured Brian who could have destroyed the world, they didn’t elaborate on how the man would destroy the world just that he’s getting jail time. *ding* He was thinking about heading out when he saw the man himself walking over. Keven was surprised at how Jim looked a lot older only after a few days. Keven was about to ask if he was Jim's dad but was interrupted without getting a word out.
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“We have to get out of here”
“What” Jim grasped Keven's arm and started to explain while pulling him to the exit
“Someone is trying to kill Stop Man”
*ding* The door closes behind them. Out in the alleyway, two men are standing wearing ski masks. One seems to be focusing and not looking toward the cafe. The other pulls out a gun.
“Is it up?” the one with the gun asks.
“Yes,”
The Gun goes off. The shooter has shaky hands but compensates with quantity. Keven is momentarily pulled forward by Jim before collapsing. His head slams onto the cracked ground. Not knowing if the ringing is from the gunshots or the slam, he lies there. Feeling a warmth surrounding him he notices a flower. A dandelion that has broken through the concrete only now to be soaked in his blood. Keven can’t hear the steps over his heartbeat but feels their vibration. After more shots, a man yells incoherently through the ringing. Looking up Keven wipes the blood dripping down his forehead to see the gunman who is now wearing a coat of red. He’s looking at me, even with a covered mouth Keven could tell the man was smiling as he raised his gun. *bang*