The Bank Robbery (part two)

I was certain I was about to see my friend shot in front of me. My poor delusional friend, who at that moment thought his head was grazing the ceiling.

I'm still standing by the door, grateful only that Roger's antics have distracted the robbers from the tellers, giving them a chance to press the silent alarm, or whatever it is they use in banks. But Roger was still challenging a bank robber with a loaded gun.

"Leviathan!" I called. The robber looked over at me. Even with the ski mask on I could see the utter confusion cross his face.

"What the fuc-" The robber only got the first bit out before Roger, my amazing Roger, bounded across the lobby and body slammed him. (Later Roger would claim that he only took one step and simply tapped the robber, which was enough to knock him down.) The gun skidded across the floor and a teller picked it up. The other robber, sensing the tide had turned ran out the door, without any money.

I ran over to Roger, his shirt in my hands. I wrapped the shirt around his body, pulling him up to a standing position, dragging him towards the door. Over my shoulder I'm pleading with the tellers that they omit the costume craziness during their statements to the police. I know that the bank cameras will capture it all, but perhaps they won't have a clear shot of Roger's face before his reveal.

Roger is mumbling about his transformation not lasting as long as normal. He keeps apologizing for not getting both of the robbers. I'm telling him to shut up as I'm snatching the eye mask off of his face. Neither one of us have a car near-by, so we stand in the square behind a tree as I search my purse for safety pins and paper clips to replace the buttons on his shirt, my shaking hands making it that much harder.

Though I'm terrified I have to admit it was all rather amazing. How did this loony pull it off? Was the delusion so strong that he would actually be able to fight crime? My hand on his elbow, I sped walked Roger back down the street to my bookstore. Ignoring the look of surprise on Leah, my summer help's face, I steer Roger into the back room which I use as an office as well as for storage. Pushing him down onto a box, I have to snap my fingers in front of his eyes to bring him around.

I barely have to bend over to be eye to eye with him even though he's sitting. I watch as a goofy grin of utter joy spreads across Roger's face. Just looking at him I know that this has broken the last tenuous grasp on reality he had. He is now irretrievably convinced that he is a superhero.