Phoenix Flames & Dragon Fire (Aria)

Looking back, it wasn't the wisest choice that Paul could have made. In fact most people would probably say that he had been quite foolish.

The day had started off like most typical days for Paul. After waking he had dressed in extra warm jogging clothes and headed out for his morning exercise and breakfast at a local bakery he frequented. It wasn't as nice as the one he had lived above for a year or so but it was acceptable. A light breakfast of croissant and coffee along with some relaxing as he read the morning paper was the perfect way to start the day but then it was time for the exertion that always helped clear his mind and push aside any negative thoughts that might cloud his judgement.

The temperature was in the low 40's but thankfully there was very little wind. It wasn't what most people would consider ideal running weather but most New Yorkers had adapted to work in whatever weather conditions might be thrown at them. Paul's breath was even, forming a cloud of mist in front of him as though he was some great steam engine. His legs, though beginning to tire, pushed on at a steady, relentless pace that ate away the distance without exhausting him. Running was more than an exercise, it was even more than therapy, for Paul it had become a work of art. Feeling his body fall into complete synchronization, working together like a well oiled machine to accomplish what few could understand. He wasn't the fastest by any stretch of the imagination but his stamina allowed him to cover distances that only the most accomplished runners could handle.

The run had almost come to an end and Paul was just beginning to think about the work that he needed to complete in the apartment he was remodeling when something in his peripheral vision caught his attention. Slowing his pace he turned and jogged back to look down the alley that he had just passed. Near the middle of the alley that cut through from one street to another were three men that were talking rather forcefully to another figure who was leaning up against the wall. Guessing by the build and stance Paul presumed the lone figure was female and without even realizing it he began to make his way down the alley.

"If you want us to keep taking care of you and your little 'needs' then you had better make sure you give the important ones VIP treatment just like we've told you!" The apparent leader was growling with one hand waving in a threatening manner, "Otherwise you'll find yourself a lot less attractive with no one to take care of you!"

"Back off!" The way the words suddenly snapped out of his mouth were surprising even to Paul. Apparently he had been spending to much time around 'good influences' like Maya and Lana because at any other time he would have either ignored this situation or waited even longer to assess what was going on.

As the three men suddenly wheeled around to face the intruder Paul realized one other thing that had apparently changed recently. In the past if he had decided to get involved he would have attacked without any sort of warning so that at least one of the men would have been dead before they even realized they were under attack. Now instead of facing off against two men that were already unnerved by the sudden loss of their friend, Paul was facing three men that were angry and quite confident in their own abilities.

The next few minutes were kind of hazy in Paul's memory... or maybe that was just because of blood loss, but the fight had progressed quickly. The ruthlessness of a street fighter combined with the training of a savante expert had left all three men leaning up against the wall valiantly trying to keep from puking their guts out or trying to staunch bleeding from their noses. For a moment Paul had allowed himself a slight smile and even a bit of pride at what he had accomplished but those feeling were dashed away by an icy sharp pain that suddenly cut through his back.

Turning around, Paul's eyes widened in amazement as yet another knife thrust struck home, this time entering his trunk and angling upwards at a devastating angle. The girl he had been trying to protect was staring at him with wide, frightened eyes and a half craze expression on her face as she pulled the knife out of his belly, allowing bright red droplets to fall down on the dirty gray snow that lay all around them.

***

"Not a wise choice at all." Paul brain struggled to continue its thought process even as everything began to shut down. Already his internal organs were beginning to cease functioning and his thoughts were getting slow and indistinct. The world was beginning to blur out of existence even as the red stain slowly grew around him. It was to bad that he had to die for someone that didn't even want saving but there was at least one bright thought that helped him accept what was happening. "At least it's not a choice that I'll never be able to recover from." And then darkness closed over him.