Chapter Text
This was supposed to be Mark's last job for tonight. He had just saved a women trying to jump off a bridge and goddamn was it tiring. The woman was way too insistent. Too unwilling to be saved. So he was fairly tired but a little happy to have finished another round of his self acclaimed job as a 'Hero'.
That was until his watch sing songed that specific tune of 3 beeps, which meant emergency.
Rushing to the location, he immediately knew it was a case of theft. The location was the mansion of one the country's most important politicians. Now he would have to run to catch a thief in this huge ass mansion because it was an 'emergency'. He didn't even like the politician, damn.
But work is work.
So he jumped the window seals of the 3 story mansion, and it took him barely 3 minutes to find the thief, right at the locker.
The thief was young. 26-27 maybe? Around his own age. Upon taking closer look, Mark recognised the thief. He was wearing his signature eye mask. Usually you'd think thieves would wear masks to hide their identity, but Mark heavily doubted if the ridiculous hot pink mask did the job.
He has been in the headlines for a while now. Looting multiple villas and mansions with ease. The police has tried catching him many times, often getting very close, often there being a fight, and yet somehow the thief broke free. Mark had never had the opportunity to deal with his thief himself, so he dared say he was excited.
Mark quietly stepped in through the window and reached closer to the thief while he was engrossed in putting in the code for the locker. He looked like he was confident, maybe a little too confident, and knew the exact code.
The locker fell open with a click sound.
Stacks of gold and cash.
Everything that was definitely the attraction of the thief.
But instead of grabbing any of those, the thief turned around to face Mark.
Like he has all the time in the world.
Like he expected Mark to appear.
It made Mark pause. He had always been known for being very silent and observant, so much that the criminals never noticed him until he has got them in his hold.
This one wasn't supposed to notice him either. So how did-
"Hi", the thief spoke first, his low deep voice cutting through the silence.
Right as Mark took the first step towards him, the thief stepped back, towards to locker. Two more steps in and he was sprinting, somehow having stuffed his sling bag with gold bricks within that split second.
He crossed the room and headed straight upstairs to the rooftop, completely ignoring the opportunity of the open window. Even with his speed, Mark was faster though. So by the time he was about to jump off the roof to land on another shorter one, Mark was already behind him, pulling him in a headlock.
Once in his hold, Mark tightened his hand around his neck and shoulder and slammed him against the wall of the attic. His one hand made quick work of pulling out the cuffs from his pocket while the other held the thief around his neck, secure against the wall.
The thief's initial struggle suddenly subdued somehow. Relieved, Mark made the call to the police, letting them know that they have another arrest to carry out.
But as he turned to look back at the thief in his hold, he was...not in his hold anymore?
Because the thief was already back near the edge of the roof, obviously having escaped his hands somehow, looking back at Mark with his wicked smile. This time, he beat Mark in speed and jumped off the building, quickly lunching too high and far.
Maybe Mark could catch up to that too. But something in him wouldn't let him move, his footing fixed on the ground.
Back home, he was left with a feeling of disappointment but not quite regret. Which honestly, surprised him because he was always regretful when he failed a job.