Stealing My Way To Power

Cole looked around quickly making sure no one caught sight of what was happening. He picked this alley because of the lack of cameras and the mugger probably picked it for the same reasons.

Actually considering how the guy looked it might have just been bad luck that Cole encountered him. Something told him that cameras were the last thing on that guy's mind.

Just because there were no cameras here did not mean there would be no one watching. Kaito's skills came in quickly here as he scanned the surroundings making sure no one caught what Tammi did.

Thankfully there appeared to be no one seeing this. At least there were small mercies here. Cole would hate to ruin things because he did not have anything planned out.

Tammi was looking down at the mugger with a certain amount of glee that was concerning but she has always been spiteful. She was usually not one for violence as she was a small blonde but she did smack people. The mugger pushed her well beyond that point.

Perhaps leaving her to do what she wished in her current state was not for the best. He was just so shocked about what was happening before him.

Cole walked quickly towards Tammi's side and placed a hand on her shoulder trying to drag her back into reality. She looked over at Cole with a dazed expression which was miles ahead of the glee she had over the unconscious mugger.

"Can you take that wound and store it?" He asked quickly as he looked over at the unconscious mugger. Cole was responsible for him being knocked out but Cole did not really care about that. He was more concerned with the Mugger bleeding all over the alley.

Tammi frowned while looking over at Cole.

"He hurt you" She hissed out and Cole felt conflicted. He was happy about her feeling such anger on his behalf. On the other hand, he was worried about what was going to come.

"I know Tammi, trust me I don't feel sorry for the guy that shot me but his shot is going to attract attention and I don't want more trouble on your head." He explained quickly while trying to get Tammi to trust him in this moment.

He did not know what would happen after they left after all. The mugger had seen Tammi's face before Cole knocked him out and he would question why he was shot. He might assume that I shot him after he passed out but he was more likely to point fingers at cape powers.

Since he was the Cape here he would probably say it was him which was fine but it might track the wrong attention. Healing powers were rare and what Tammi can do is nothing short of a miracle. So if the various gangs got word of this Cole would have people trying to 'convince' him to join their side.

It would be better if the world just thought of him as a weak cape that had a card gun. 

Well, there was a way to take care of this with some more finality. Cole looked over at the man. All it would take was another shot from the mugger's gun and the witness would fade away. Just another body in this city.

The thought was tempting but murder was not a line Cole wanted to cross. Not on someone like this. He could not deny that there was a lot of anger in him but attacking some random was not going to make him feel better. In fact it would probably make him feel worse.

Tammi looked conflicted about doing it but she trusted him over her own spitefulness so she took the injury away.

"There the fucking …" Tammi started saying something while looking at the unconscious mugger but paused while looking at him. She then muttered something under her breath.

Cole was tempted to ask what she was saying but she clearly wanted to hide it.

"Thanks Tammi. I know it sucks but it needed to be done." Cole spoke out softly while he looked around in worry. Maybe the gunfire did not draw too much attention but that might change quickly.

Tammi looked away with a look flashing across her face. She then looked over at the mugger and kicked him in the nuts. The mugger groaned as was likely to wake up so Cole flicked a pellet down his throat to knock him out fully.

Cole gave Tammi an exasperated look but she looked away while blushing.

"Just get dressed we should get out of this place quickly, oh and wear this," Cole spoke out softly while pointing at the clothes he gave her earlier while also taking out another face mask.

Tammi held onto the objects for a moment before looking at Cole as if waiting for something. He tilted his head in confusion but Tammi blushed and glared at him while muttering something under her breath. After a moment of tense looks, she let out a sigh.

"Turn around." She hissed out her face blazing from the blush appearing on it. Cole blinked before blushing himself and turning around. Cole assumed she was going to just throw the clothes over what she was wearing but apparently she was planning on ditching the uniform.

Cole was glad he knew that no one else was watching in this alley. If someone managed to spy on Tammi when she was changing he might have to introduce them to the joys of being hung upside down tied to a lamp post.

He could hear the rustling of clothing behind him and the knowledge of what was happening there was tempting but he had some standards in his conduct….not a lot but some.

Cole used the time that she was changing to store the gun away in his inventory. It was not going to be helpful in a lot of situations but having a gun is better than leaving it with this dick head.

Other than that he made sure that no one even thought about seeing what was in the alley. Not until Tammi was sporting a new look. He needed to hide her after all.

How he was going to do that he had no idea but he was already flying by the seat of his pants no need to stop now. He got a fair amount of energy from stealing that Shard so maybe he could get something good from his system.

With that thought in his head, he looted the mugger for more than just his gun. Cole was going to have to get used to stealing things when the opportunity came up. He had a long distant hope to fulfill and people he refused to lose after all.

The mugger as expected did not have anything that impressive on him. The guy was probably living in a dumpster while mugging people for drug money. It was a harsh description but the guy really did look like he lived in a dump.

He had a surprising amount of cash but no phone. So maybe he pawned it recently to feed his addiction.

"Okay, finished," Tammi spoke out quietly knocking Cole out of his thoughts. He looked away from the mugger to his friend.

She was out of that god-awful jumpsuit and was wearing sweatpants and a black tee. Her skin was just as pale as it used to be but the mask Cole gave her completely shifted her look. No longer the pretty blond Nazi but a mousey brunette who looked like they were a pushover.

Cole picked that mask as Tammi's body language was broadcasting that anyway. Her stay in prison had really knocked her down from her delusions of power. She had some real power now but she was also not confident about getting through this by herself.

"Cole, can we talk?" Tammi shot out nervously and Cole wanted to give in and just address what was happening but they did not have time.

"We can I promise you but we need to get you somewhere safe," Cole spoke out softly while giving Tammi an apologetic look. She still seemed nervous but she accepted that.

He used his inventory to peel off the layers of his costume and replace his mask with another one. It might be a bit paranoid but when it came down to the safety of Tammi he was not going to cut any corners.

He reached for her hand and started to drag her out of the alley. He could feel her freeze for a moment before she relaxed and followed along.

Two completely different people left that alley. Any evidence of their presence left in his inventory. Cole was planning on putting Tammi into a motel for the night.

The mugger had more than enough cash for that and Cole had other ways of getting money if he needed. It was a temp fix as motels were not really that secure but it would have to do till he could figure out something safer.

The pair walked in silence for the most part. Cole was too tense about her safety and Tammi was too lost in thought. They did have people watching them measuring them for their value since it was so late but Cole placed the gun under his shirt in a rather prominent way.

Marking them as not an easy target. They still might get some idiots but thankfully they were close enough to the good part of town that they only had to deal with the looks for a small while.

Finally, they arrived in a rather nice Motel all things considered. They even asked for an I.D. which was a luxury in most places in the Bay. Thankfully he had a rather large amount of fake I.Ds in his inventory from Kaito. The guy really knew how to prepare for shit.

Once they were in a more private location Cole finally relaxed. The tension faded from his frame. He finally noticed that he had been holding her hand for a rather long time but she did not seem to care if they continued.

He hesitated for a moment as it was no longer needed but it also felt nice. The warmth from her palm was a steady reminder of her presence.

Despite all of his worries and everything that was wrong in this world he did it. He was able to protect one of the things oh so dear to him. There was going to be more that needed to be done but having her hand in his gave him some hope for the future.

Tammi seemed to realize that they were still holding hands and she tore her hand out of his. Not in a disgusted manner but an embarrassed one. At least that was what her body language was saying.

She quickly sat on the bed looking nervously around the room. Cole wished he could see her real expressions but the mousey brunette was still in front of him.

She looked up at him with a quiver running through her frame.

"This is not a dream right?" Tammi asked hesitantly as if the question itself would change the reality around her. That acknowledgment of the situation would cause the world around her to shatter leaving her back in that prison cell.

Cole walked towards the bed and sat by her side. Despite the embarrassment running through the both of them Cole held her hand. She stiffened and was likely to tear her hand out of his but he gave her a comforting squeeze.

"I don't know Tammi, I really don't. This whole night has felt so unreal to me. I knew my place in this world and suddenly everything changed. I had a way out of the cliff I was standing on and you were no longer out of my reach. It feels like all my dreams, hopes, and desperate pleas were answered in a grand fashion. All of it was too good to be real but I can't doubt this. Not with you here. Not with your hand in mine." Cole rambled out lost in thought as he spoke out how he felt.

Tammi looked like she was living off of every single word coming from his mouth. The quiver that ran through her body fading as the calming presence of each other did its magic. She made no move to take her hand out of his anymore.

This whole thing might be a dream. A lost thought as his mind spiraled out of control. The desperation and anger that haunted him drove him over that cliff. Those worries were whispering into the back of his mind but he could not bring himself to put any weight into it. All that mattered at this moment was the soft sound of her breathing and the feel of her hand.

If this dream were to come to an end then all he wished for was for this moment to last a little longer.

Eventually, the mood was broken by soft melodic laughter coming from Tammi. The soft grip on his hand firmed as Tammi looked over at him with mirth radiating from her frame.

"Well, that settles it then. If this was my dream you would never be so honest with me." Tammi let out lightly as the worries and concerns bleed from her. Cole wished he could have the same confidence but he knew he had a rather vivid mind.

As if reading his thoughts Tammi poked his face with a soft look on her fake face. Again in that moment, he wished to tear the falsehood away but he was afraid he would lose himself if he saw her looking at him like that.

"You always overthink things, Cole. Too caught up in whys or the pain. Just enjoy this moment for what it is." Tammi let out lightly. Cole was unsure if he could but at the same time he did not want to lose this memory if this world slipped out of his grasp.

"I'll try Tammi." Cole let out with a certain sense of finality. Tammi let out a huff but said nothing for a long while. Just enjoying the peace of each other's presence.

"So what power did you get? I got a pretty sweet one. Panacea needs to get out of my way Brockton Bay's strongest healer is here to stay." Tammi spoke out in a bragging tone the smugness coming in loud and clear.

"Hmmmm I think I'll save my reveal for now. I want to know all the nitty-gritty details of your power so I can downplay my own to not hurt your feelings." Cole spoke with mirth dyeing every single word leaving his mouth. Tammi punched his shoulder playfully.

"As if. I won the power lottery." She spoke out the the arrogance he was used to. Yet, it was not the front that she used to have.

"I can store any and all injuries. I can also store poisons, diseases, and genetic defaults. I can even fuck with brains so I win. As you know I can give anything I store to others with a touch. So I'm not just a shitty heal bot I got versatility!" She spoke out smugly before falling back and lying on the bed dragging him to do the same.

She then turned to face him as she stared at his face as they both gathered themselves.

"So what did you get big guy? Anything coming close to my majesty?" Tammi let out softly her gaze and words holding on to him for a moment.

"I steal things," Cole spoke out blandly but with a smug grin of his own on his face. He knew that such a vague description would bug her and judging from that twitch he was right.

"You steal things?" Tammi asked as if trying to confirm what he said but more likely trying to get him to say more.

"Yup." Cole let out with the same smile on his face. He was not going to let her have her way so easily. Not after all the smug arrogance coming off of her. She was finally starting to act somewhat like a regular girl he was not going to let her newfound power inflate her ego again.

Tammi let out a huff and Cole was pretty sure he would be dealing with a storm of pouts but she gave in first.

"Explain," Tammi spoke out in exasperation. It was a command but he figured he played around long enough.

"It's exactly what it sounds like. I get a pool of energy that refills when I steal things. I can use that pool to steal random things all over the world." Cole shot out downplaying his abilities on purpose. Tammi looked at him before softly patting his head as if trying to comfort him.

"That's okay I can be cool enough for the both of us." Tammi let out softly managing to be both mocking and genuinely comforting. Cole let out a laugh at her actions.

"Alright cool it hot shot. I don't think you quite get it. I steal things. Those things can range from the neighbor's pet dog to someone's lifespan or better yet someone's power. It's mostly random but I can spend more energy to select my own targets." Cole explained smugly beating out her own smug tone. Tammie froze as she tried to process what he said.

Cole did not have a perfect handle on his power as it mainly came from his system but he got through the parts he understood. Hey System can you explain how to use your energy other than blind stealings?

[Each time you blindly steal you open up a world for theft. So you can steal from that world at a lesser cost. You can then use your energy to narrow the field. For example, you can narrow it down to Weapons and then further narrow it down to Hot or Cold ones or other tags. Depending on the tag the cost changes.]

Cole took in that information. It would be helpful for the future. Cole looked over at Tammi as she seemed to reboot from his sentence. For now, he just wanted to enjoy being with her and not worry about what came next.