It had been a week since Jeremy had wandered around the mall, hoping to pick up some new running shoes since his old ones had fallen apart. Money was tight, minimum wage was a joke even with his parents helping him out. He’d hoped to pick something up on sale, but everything in his price range looked and felt like a cheap knock off that’d barely last a month.
“Stop him!” He turned his head at the sound. A small man clutching a box darted in and out of the crowd as the mall security ineffectually tried to chase him. From the top level, a large bearded man from one of the fancier stores was shouting.
As the man tried to push his way down the escalator, Jeremy sprinted down the central staircase, taking steps one, two, three at a time. As the thief neared the exit Jeremy barrelled into him at full speed, knocking him to the ground. The box spun away from them both. The small man was back on his feet supernaturally quick, but Jeremy grabbed his ankle and refused to let go. The man turned and snarled, and Jeremy could swear he saw... something... dart across his features. His grip loosened momentarily and the man was off through the exit. Jeremy staggered to his feet.
Breathing deeply, he felt a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you young man.” The accent was hard to place. “I must say it’s quite a while since I’ve seen someone catch up to an Erebus gang member.” Jeremy felt his hand being clasped tightly. The store owner was a big man, easily 6′ 4″, handsome if a bit husky from good living. Behind his beard his eyes twinkled as he looked Jeremy up and down. From the leopard-skin scarf around his shoulders to the wine-dark cowboy boots it was clear the man had expensive, if perhaps unsubtle, tastes.
“No, er, no worries mister -”
“Thanks, um, Dion, I just did what anyone would do.”
“Mr Dimetor, we got your goods back.” The red-faced mall security guard handed Dion the box.
“Idiots,” Dion muttered. “Young man would you mind awfully escorting me back to my store? I think we can sort out a reward.”
Once upstairs, Dion ushered him to sit. The store specialised in jewelry from what Jeremy could see. Gold, precious stones, a few high end fashion pieces and antiques. “So, Jeremy, anything catch your eye?”
“No mi- I mean Dion, honestly you don’t have to give me anything.” Jeremy imagined it would take him a month’s salary to buy the cheapest thing in the window.
“Come now, what did you come shopping for today?”
“Well, I was just looking for some new running shoes.”
“Having seen you today, you don’t so much run as fly young man!” Dion smiled. “Sit there, give me one moment.” Dion disappeared into the back room while Jeremy shifted in his seat. “Size tens right?”
“Er, yes,” said the confused youth.
Dion emerged and placed them on the counter. They were gold of course, with a little winged design on the heel he didn’t recognise. Jeremy’s jaw dropped. “I - I - I...”
“I have a few pairs custom made for a customer and dear friend who drops by from time to time. He won’t mind. I’m certain of it.”
“Should I try them on here?” An almost lupine grin came over Dion’s face.
“I’ll tell you what, do you have a quiet place where you train?”
“Go there this evening and try them out. If you like them, keep them. If there’s any problems come and see me tomorrow.”
That evening, just as it was getting dark, Jeremy laced up his new shoes over his white sports socks. It was cool, but not cold, and he’d just picked some shorts and a t-shirt to wear over his underwear. He rocked back on his heels. He had to say, these felt incredibly comfortable. He jogged a few steps, turned and jogged back. And light. And the grip was superb. The field near his home was more or less deserted. He could do a few laps and see how they held up. He started to run.
He ran fast, and then faster. Every step seemed to send him careering forward but with utter control. He felt the wind whip past him, closed his eyes and gave it all he’d got feeling utterly alive in every part of himself. He raised his hands and shouted, “Fastest thing alive baby!”
And then he heard the horns honking.
He opened his eyes and looked around. He was stood on a pillar. Not in the field, but at a cross roads. On the other side of town. And other than his socks and new trainers, he didn’t have a stitch on him.
“What the hell man!” Jeremy, having partially recovered from last night, had come into Dion’s store as soon as it had opened. After convincing a curious police officer it was a prank gone wrong and being given a ride back, and then having to wake up his room mate (who couldn’t stop laughing) since his key was in his disappearing shorts, Jeremy had barely slept that night. Literally hundreds of people had seen him naked, and he was pretty sure several had taken pictures.
“Well,” said Dion nonchalantly, “I told you they were custom made. The man I acquire them for is a courier, best in the business. But he’s not big on modern fashion besides the footwear. To be honest, I’m slightly surprised the boots left you your socks. Seems even old Merc has his preferences.”
“Man, I ended up totally naked!”
“So? I never understand you American guys nowadays. Not like you’ve got anything to be ashamed of Jeremy,” Dion paused and sipped from his cup, “or so I hear.” Jeremy wasn’t quite sure how he felt.
“Now as it happens my friend, I will admit a slightly ulterior motive. As you may have guessed the goods in here are worth rather a lot, even more than they appear to mortal eyes. I can’t afford any more losses like the one you foiled yesterday. But my customers are somewhat set in their ways, they like the hand delivered, personal touch.”
“You want a delivery boy?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
“What’s the pay?” In his current state Jeremy felt he was on auto-pilot.
“Commission. A percentage of the value of each successfully delivered parcel. This,” Dion waved towards some boxes, “for instance would be, well...” he scribbled down a number and passed it to Jeremy. His eyes bulged in his head.
“That’s what that’s worth?”
“No, that’s what you get. For flying across the world on golden wings.”
Jeremy gulped. “Do I get some time to think it over?”
“Do you really need any?”
Jeremy paused. looked at the piece of paper in his hand, remembered how it felt to run in those shoes. He nodded.
“Right then, best get you in uniform before you start then. The customers expect nothing less.”
