The Step-In

Who watches the watchman? Who helps those who help others? Actually, there is a name for those people.

Niko has a mouth full of slightly stale ramen noodles when the symbol lights up the city sky, brighter than any streetlight. It’s Captain Greatness’ symbol. Someone’s in trouble.

Niko slurps at his bowl in a not so graceful fashion before getting up from the table and grabbing the remote, switching to the local news channel.

“The First Bank, ironically on Second Street, has just been robbed by no other than Sticky Fingers, the ruthless bandit that has been annoying the town of St. Louis for the past ten years.” The reporter reports.

As if on cue, Niko’s phone rings.

“Niko? Captain Greatness’ is busy fighting crime in Chicago right now, we need you at the First Bank, stat!”

Niko resists the urge to fist bump at the words. This was his chance to show himself to the city, to prove he was worthy, or worthy of a cool nickname at least. He clears his throat, “Yes sir, I’m on my way.” Niko rushes to his closet and grabs his red, white and blue costume, hand-stitched by his mom of course. He changes into it in a blur before jumping out of his always opened window.

As he flies over the crumbling streets of St. Louis, he sees numerous camera crews filming eager reporters, trying to capture the chaos, and a crowd of nosey civilians. Niko lands on his feet and jogs over to the nearest police officer, who raises his hand as he finishes sending a text message. 

“We’re trying to text Captain Greatness, but he’s not answering,” the officer huffs. 

“He’s busy in Chicago, but I can help out.” Niko says optimistically.

The officer looks up from his phone, seeing the shoddy superhero costume and naive face of the young man in front of him and rolls his eyes, “I guess, but step aside if he shows up OK?”

Niko nods, “Of course. So what’s the situation?”

“Bank robber is still in there. He’s got one hostage that we know of. Would have been easy for Captain Greatness.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you down,” Niko gives a salute and then internally groans. A salute was too dorky, he thinks as he dashes around the police officers and through the front door of the bank.

The whole world freezes as he zooms into the bank, running around people as if they were cones on a go-kart track. He sees the robber in the corner, yelling at a teller to load up the bag.

“Hurry up with the money or I’ll-,” in a blink, the robber is no longer inside pointing a gun, but sitting in a police car, in handcuffs. “What the?!”

The crowd cheers as Niko approaches, recognizing the familiar red, white and blue costume, but the clapping and cheering soon fade as they see his face. 

“Wait, were in Captain Greatness? Is he here? Did he help you?”

“I’m sorry to disappoint, it was just me,” Niko doesn’t have a superhero name, the press refuse to give him one no matter how many desperate emails he’s sent. “But if you’re interested, I’d love to answer any of your questions.” 

“Where is Captain Greatness?”

“Wait, it’s him!”

There’s a harsh whoosh and Captain Greatness lands beside Niko with a beaming smile, “Sorry I’m late, but thanks for the help young chap. I’ll take it from here.”

Take what? The situation is over, Niko thinks but he is quickly pushed out of the way as fans swarm Captain Greatness.

Niko flies back to his apartment, resuming his not even cold noodles. After expanding a lot of superhero energy, he would usually wolf down another packet or two of noodles, but Niko finds he is no longer hungry.

His phone rings again, but the area code isn’t one he recognizes.

“Great job today. Think that had to be a record for the fastest diffused hostage situation, don’t you think?” a strange voice says through the call.

“Who is this?”

“I’m Ron Johnson, the mayor of Cincinnati. I’ve got a job for you.”

“Who says I’m looking for one?” His mind flickers to the sad $2,000 check the city sends him every month to help with the crime. Or really the $1,400 check since the city takes $600 for a 'Superhero Destruction Tax' in case any property is damaged when Niko helps solve crimes. It's only Captain Greatness that is clumsily destroying the city more than helping, Niko fumes at the thought. He hasn't damaged anything in over two years!

“Because you know you deserve better. Move to Cincinnati and be the main hero for a change.”

So, who watches the watchman? Who helps those who help others? Actually, there is a name for those people. In St. Louis, they’re called the step-ins. For when the town's main superhero Captain Greatness is busy, Niko is called in, but he doesn’t get the fame or the glory or even a nickname. He’s got the cheaper, homemade outfit instead of the designer sponsored super suit. He doesn’t have a signal in the sky, just a phone number.

“I can promise we’ll pay you triple what you’re being paid, and I’ll even throw in a superhero name.”

Niko gulps at the offer when he remembers that the bank he just helped was the bank where he got his first check book, and the street over from that bank was where he took his first date (a first date who was ultimately using him to get closer to Captain Greatness, but that’s not important). Every building, every street had a memory. 

He shakes his head, “You want me to just abandon my hometown?”

“A hometown that doesn’t appreciate you, Niko? Yes.”

Nikos eyes flicker to the TV as the reporters interview a beaming Captain Greatness, saying how it was no big deal flying between Chicago and St. Louis to solve both of the crimes.

“I guess that’s why they call you Captain Greatness,” the reporter jokes.

The mayor hums, as if watching the same news report, “What do you say Niko? Or should I say...Mr. Wonderful?”