Lulu had finished her eleventh crossword puzzle of the night when she heard the familiar chime of the front door opening. She didn’t bother looking up. Why did customers have to torment her? Nobody needed to be here at 1:28 AM.

“Welcome to Lucky’s Gas Sta—“

“How much money’s in the register?”

Lulu heaved a long sigh that ended in a groan. And here they go again. What was it? Seventh time this month? That had to be a world record. What other gas station in Initium was robbed this often? Other than the second Lucky’s Gas Station a mile away.

The masked intruder waved a weapon around and threatened her. Blah, blah, blah. Same shit every time. Lulu opened up her register, putting her arms up in the air as the guy started shoving the money in his bag. Ugh, as if any stores kept that much cash on hand anymore. Seriously, it wasn’t 2026.

“Put those cigarettes in there too, girl. No, not the green ones. Why the hell would I want those?” Stupid Annoying Robber blabbed. He was glancing at all the cameras, sweat on the small visible part of his upper brow.

“Right.” Lulu popped her gum and handed him the other pack. “That all for you, sir?”

He, for reasons Lulu couldn’t explain, did not immediately make his escape. Instead he asked, “Didn’t call for any heroes, did you?”

Lulu, for more obvious reasons, rolled her eyes. “Sir, calls are automatically made nowadays.” Dude must’ve been born in 2060. Lucky’s Gas Station didn’t have the most advanced building, but even they had sensors for robbers and stuff. Any minute now a hero would come sweeping through. She had to fight back a smile.

It had to be you. You were the only hero The Crusaders sent over to this area.

The masked man was threatening her probably, mad at her like she was the one who told him to rob a gas station. Whatever. Lulu was too busy staring over his shoulder as you came through the doors.

Bells chimed and a shot was fired into the ceiling.

Lulu ducked behind the counter with a dreamy sigh. Grunts, skin meeting skin, a scream. All of it hardly registered. Already she was imagining what she’d say to you. Maybe she could ask if heroes were allowed to date fans? Like, just out of curiosity. Nothing serious.

Once she stopped hearing a struggle she poked her head back up. Of course you’d won. Lulu hadn’t doubted you for a moment. With a gasp she leaped to her feet.

“That was, like, really cool of you. Um, do you remember me? Bluebelle. Well, everyone calls me Lulu because Bluebelle sounds—Sorry, I was here last time we got robbed? Oh, and the time before that.” She pointed at her neon yellow uniform. “You signed my vest?”

Lulu ignored the struggles of the man you had pinned. “Well, me and my coworkers wanted to show our appreciation. For always saving us. And stuff.” A complete lie, Lulu just wanted an excuse to talk to you. “So, uh, here.”

She pulled out a small gift basket with a pink bow shoddily tied around it from beneath the counter. A bunch of different chips and candies were shoved into it, several $5 gift cards between, and what looked to be letters in every other spot.

Nobody ever believed Lulu when she said you were her favorite. Probably because you had zero fans. Like, your official Viscord server only had 73 members.

Or maybe the fact Lulu was a known liar. She lied about being Enhanced (her hands just get abnormally sweaty when she’s nervous), about being Frostbite’s second cousin (technically they were both Korean, and her mom said she knew his), small things like that. But she wasn’t lying about you. She had all three of your photo cards! Multiple of each one even. The Crusaders sucked for never promoting you.

“You’re, like, the coolest person ever. Oh, I can get you a slushy too if you want. Don’t worry, it’s on me. I know unknown heroes don’t get paid much.”