Thread: I save you, you saved me (Charliesweb7 & RVJ94)

The mid afternoon heat in North Central Texas punched Joseph Giordano in the face as he stepped out of his vehicle in the bank parking lot. He squinted his eyes, even through the white-rimmed sunglasses that wrapped around his dark brown eyes. The sunlight was indeed quite blinding in the cloudless sky, and the heat emanating from the nearby busy intersection only made the naturally hot weather even worse. Looking over to a nearby group of construction workers, he felt a slight bit of pity for them. He was a product of a mixed family, a blend of mainly Italian and Filipino. His dark brown hair, deliberately kept cut short, and eyes only confirmed to anyone who knows what to look for, of his eastern heritage. His mother emigrated to the US in the 1970's, while his father's family came from Europe at the turn of the 20th century, looking for opportunity just like everyone else, it seemed. He carried his 6'1, 185 lbs frame well, working out all of the time to keep it in top shape, as any typical athlete who is getting paid a handsome amount of money should. The heat was brutal, but it wasn't as if Joseph was unfamiliar with it. He was a local boy, born and raised in Dallas, moving away only to attend the University of Denver on a hockey scholarship. While the odds were certainly against it, he had hoped his athletic career would bring him back home, and it did rather quickly. He was a 3rd round pick of the Dallas Stars prior to going to college, but held off on turning pro until he fulfilled a promise made to his folks that he would get graduate college. A promise that was even more important, considering that one of his three younger siblings was killed in a car accident when Joseph was 16. His younger brother, Paul, was taken away from them at the age of 13 by a drunk driver. A repeat offender, no less. It shook up his family quite a bit, but they were able to get through it together. With degree in hand, he returned home and began his professional athletic career. After only his second full season, he had established himself as not only one of the top players on the team, but as one of the more recognizable faces in the city. Increasingly, his green and white 94 jerseys were selling well and could be seen being worn by fans at each home game. It was an awesome feeling, to see his name emblazoned on the back of the sweaters, making him and his family proud. Joseph normally used his offseason to catch up on several things. He had already traveled a little bit around the country, and had future plans on expanding beyond those borders. When not recuperating from the grind of a long season, he spent time with his friends, worked on personal hobbies, or took care of his errands. Today was being spent on the latter. Walking into the bank lobby, he was immediately greeted by a banker whose task must have been greeting customers. The bank greeter was well dressed in a medium gray suit and lavender tie, a significant contrast to Joseph's dark blue jeans and gray t-shirt. He walked to the end of the line, raising the sunglasses to the top of his head. Six people ahead of him. This might be an extended wait, he thought to himself. No worries, though. He'll busy himself by checking out the attractive woman in front of him. Great body. He wondered if she worked out -- That's when the commotion began. Four masked men stormed into the bank, screaming orders at everyone in the lobby. His heart automatically started racing. His hands were already raising up into the air, when the gunshots rang out. He didn't know how many, but there was multiple, and the sounds gave him a a brief, but good, startle. Instinctively, he reached for the young woman in front of him and quickly brought her to the ground. His sunglasses bounced off of his head and onto the tile floor. The force probably would have hurt her, but even if it did, that was the least of any of their problems. His right hand rested on her shoulder, silently urging her to stay down, while his left hand remained free and extended out. He had turned his head around just enough to see someone in a sky blue uniform on the ground, down in a heap and completely motionless. The security guard. As the screams of frightened bank customers and employees filled the lobby, Joseph couldn't help but think to himself, the shit's getting real.