Ryder slumped down into the sofa with a heavy thump, his heavy kevlar armour making the sofa groan in protest. His face could not be seen behind his motorcycle helmet but his shaking hands gave him away.

“You alright Ryder?” Ghoul asked.

“Sure,” he answered in his soft synthetic voice. “Just wasn’t sure we were walking out of there free.”

Ghoul felt for him. Of their four person team Ryder was the youngest and newest to a life of a supercriminal. He had never faced major league super heroes before and the stress had clearly gotten to him. She went to the fridge and got a can of beer and tossed it to Ryder.

“Get us some too,” Amber said. Ghoul obliged with a sigh and brought three beers to Amber and Umbra and had a seat with them.

The walking void in a trench coat that was Umbra slugged back the entire can. “What in the world went wrong? We have been planning to break the Baltic Bank for months and some amateurs manage to ruin the score of a century in a breath. HOW?” Umbra asked indignantly.

“A breath is usually the time it takes to ruin any heist,” Amber said. His glowing yellow eyes reflecting off his beer can. “Besides, we had a greenhorn with us too.”

“Ryder is a good kid, capable too. He did his part perfectly,” Umbra said.

“Seconded,” Ghoul said. “I suppose the world’s greatest plan falls apart when introduced to bumbling third parties. I mean the other guys didn’t even have a way to counter the infrared sensors and how they intended to enter the vault silently is beyond me,” she said and heaved a sigh.

“They probably intended for that brute to take the vault doors off its hinges. I will be feeling that left hook for weeks,” Amber said and stroked his sore side.

A moment of sullen silence followed.

“You think Thunderstorm recognised any of us?” Ryder asked.

“Low chance, only Ghoul and Amber have any notoriety and the voice changers you provided and the new armour disguised them well,” Umbra said. “And good thinking Ghoul, telling them we were new heroes. Would never have thought of it myself.”

Ghoul chuckled. “And that is why I’m the boss.”

“Still, are you certain that doing time is not preferable to being congratulated as heroes? Yuck,” Amber spat.

“Stop bellyaching,” Umbra said.

“What do you think kid? Jail time or pretending to be a hero?” Amber tossed at Ryder.

Ryder didn’t answer. He had felt terrified when the most powerful hero in Europe came to apprehend him. He was on the verge of running in a panic at the time. But when Thunderstorm swallowed the story of them being heroes and gave his heartfelt thanks was an experience he had not felt in years. That kind smile and warmth. What if the fiction became true? He looked over at the trio.

“Shut up Amber,” Ghoul said. “Get some rest, we can rob a money transport tomorrow or something to make up for today.”

Ryder cradled his unopened beer can in his hands and let his mind wander.