"So he asks if I have any concealed weapons on me, and I go 'No officer, you're looking at my only two.' He says, 'Son...there's not a single weapon I see on you right now.', and so's I flex these two bad boys and go 'You see these guns, officer? I could kill a man with these!', ha!"

I rolled my eyes at another one of Jeremy Jacob's strange jokes, as all around me our co-workers laughed as the average-sized pretty-boy began flexing his not-so-impressive muscles, winking at the secretary as she walked by. Sighing, I ran my hand through my hair and went over my papers once more, something not quite adding up in my head.

My name is Dominic Pericolo--just an average, everyday civilian. My job is to sign contracts with individual companies so that we can get our workers in to build fencing that will protect their company from petty theives and criminals. Most big businesses in Capital City are actually protected by our state-of-the-art protective fencing, which is a big plus for the people who won and operate those corporations. Capital City has alot of people in it to offer their goods and services to, you know?

"Hey Dommy boy, what's crack'a'lackin?!" shouted Jeremy as he made his way out of the group he was in to check up on me, slapping me on the back. I hardly felt the shot to my back, but I knew he intended to jolt me out of my concentration as a joke...and so I pretended to flinch and turn around, rubbing the 'sore spot' where he hit me.

"Just going over forms, Jeremy. This damn company wants a good $10,000 less then our offering price. I could understand maybe 1 or even 2,000...but 10?! I just don't get it--"

"Yeeeeeaah," he interrupted, making some sort of a 'cut it' motion with his hand across his throat as he gave me a grin, "That's all good and well champ, but you work yerself waaaay too hard. When you gettin' off today, anyway? You aught to come along with me and the gang, we're gonna go bowling tonight!"

I almost laughed...almost.

"Nah...I don't really prefer bowling, Jeremy, you guys just go on without me." I said, my concentration turning back on the forms as I turned to look them over again, contemplating how to deal with this inept company that hopefully made a typo when they started putting in the 0's...but of course, Jeremy wouldn't settle for a 'no' just yet.

"Aw come on man, at least give it a try! It's better in a group anyway, y'know? Come on...you won't know what you're missing out on! Besides, you probably need a break anyway." he said, as I sighed and slowly set down my pen, turning in my chair to face him once again. I knew that if I wanted him to leave me be, I'd need to find something to say that would give him the idea that no-matter what he could possibly say, I wouldn't go bowling with them tonight, or any other night for that matter.

"Jeremy..." I began, contemplating each word as carefully and thoughtfully as possible, "I don't...like...bowling. I don't need a break...I'm doing perfectly fine, alright? You don't have to worry about me, I'm fine. Perfectly. Fine. Okay? Do you understand that? If I take a break then tommorow I will have a good hundred or two more forms to have to go through along with these, and I can't handle that. There's nothing wrong now, but if I take a break? There will be."

I was surprised...he actually let me finish what I was saying for once. I suppose that was all I really needed to say, too, because once I did finished he remained silent for a moment or two, probably waiting to see if I had more to add...before simply shrugging his shoulders and turning to return to his group.

"Thank God..." I mumbled, turning back to my desk to resume work, "If I don't figure out how to get these asshats to sign a lower cut-off then this, I might as well fire myself."

You know...one of the most beautiful things in life is how appropriately certain things happen at certain times. It's almost as though karma doesn't like it when my civilian life starts to take more importance then it should.

Just as my pen touched the form, my watch began to beep a familiar tune to myself. A tune that I could only distinguish as a cry for help from someone else within the city. Yes, yes I actually am more then just a civilian...I know that I lied a little earlier, please accept my apology.

Looking back at the others as they left to go to the company cafeteria, I carefully lifted myself from my chair, grabbed my suitcase, and began to sneak towards the bathroom. The security cameras were following my movement, but thankfully for me the large bathroom had a window at the end of it by the sinks, so I could easily return through it once I was done as though nothing ever happened. When my hand finally touched the handle to the bathroom, however, I could hear the obnoxious voice of Jeremy call from the hallway leading toward the same door him and his group had just stepped out into.

"I forgot my wallet guys, be right there!"

What an idiot...

And so I quickly opened the door and shut myself inside, making my way towards one of the stalls to hide in. Outside of the bathroom door I could hear Jeremy's surprise as he saw I wasn't there, and could hear him moving towards his own desk for his wallet as he called out.

"Dominic? You still here man?"

Unbuttoning my shirt, my suit began to show through under it. I could hear Jeremy making his way towards the bathroom door as I carefully folded and set my shirt atop the back of the toilet, comforted with the knowledge that the janitor had cleaned the place only minutes ago. The sound of the door opening then filled my ears, as Jeremy poked his head into the bathroom and called out once again. The annoying little bastard was always wondering where people were if they weren't there...the only thing about him was he actually took the time to try and find out when he probably shouldn't bother.

"Dominic?"

"I'm in the stall, Jeremy, don't bother me." I replied, my voice straining through my annoyance. There was an awkward moment of silence before Jeremy let out a laugh and began to walk away, leaving one last comment to go by in regards to the strain in my voice.

"Don't pop a blood vessel in there, man! And don't you dare stink the place up either!"

I rolled my eyes and sighed, the door closing as I undid my belt and stepped out of my pants, folding them and setting them atop the shirt. Pressing the trigger on my shoulder, protective coverings shooting up around my neck and temples. From both sides of the temple coverings extended two halves of one small mask, made specifically to cover my eyes. They linked just over the bridge of my nose, securing themselves over my eyes and then opening up to allow me sight. I reached for my suitcase and gave the combination to the lock on it, before carefully unlocking and opening it.

Mind you, the inside of my suitcase isn't exactly what many would expect from a every-day civilian such as myself. A light blue tattered and torn-up leather duster lay folded within, as a small stick of metal lay beside it. I carefully lifted the duster from the suitcase, throwing it on quickly before reaching for the metal stick still inside the suitcase. I quickly closed the suitcase and opened the stall, making my way to the window as I pressed the trigger on the side of the metal stick, extending it out into a full metal staff.

"Here we go again..." I mumbled to myself, a smirk forming on my face.

Now this...this was my real job--as a matter of fact, I think we've met before. Yes, I remember now...I welcomed you here to Capital City. Well, I hope you're doing fine so far. As you well know, 'Danger' is my name...and saving lives is what I do. Inspiring hope is what I do. And keeping this city as safe as I can alongside the many other heroes that inhabit it is also exactly what I love to do.

This...is my life, and is exactly who I really am.