There is no escaping him again, you thought you had ditched Richie after school with a vague excuse that Pop's needed your help at the center. You were about to get away with it too, that was until Hotstreak decided he was too bored being an average citizen and decided to rob a convenience store right near where Richie and you are standing.

"Son of a bitch" Richie mutters before ducking into the alleyway with the clear assumption you will follow, because when have you never followed him.

It's only moments later before you both burst out of the alley, superhero quick changes being a learned art, and it's time for you to shut down your brain to just focus on the ass kicking Hotstreak is going to receive that might finally convince him to give up crime.

Two zap caps and a trussed up bang baby is thrown in front of you by a very annoyed Gear.

You know you're in trouble and holding your tongue is all you can do to prevent yourself from spitting out the month old excuse 'The sun was in my eye.'

But you don't hold it in for long, and it's a wonder why Richie doesn't punch you.

Well not so much of a wonder as an understanding that to keep up the macho super hero identities they should probably not fight in front of people in uniform. Which is usually why Richie waits until you are both alone to chew you out, except you haven't been alone together in 3 months.

And you think you know why but it doesn't hit you until mid battle, until you see Richie diving over you to take down Hotstreak in a blur of fury and heroism that has you thinking one thing.

"Holy fuck he's hot"

So that plus the mini heart attack you received right after that involuntary thought may have you a bit distracted.

So distracted you don't realize Gear is on fire instantly, but when you do realize he's on fire your screwy brain decides to pat down the flames.

The flames covering his legs.

And then your had definitely lingers there for more that the appropriate amount of time.

Which, in layman's terms, means you coped a feel.

On Richie.

On Gear.

In mid fight.

The look of understanding must be clearly displayed on your face because Gear quite literally grabs you and walks you away from the police and crowds without so much as a word.

You are in so much trouble