Aura wandered the alley's of new york with confidence. She had few threats other then police and normal police often looked the other way when they saw her. It worked better that way, Aura had been told to keep her profile lower then she had the first year she had been in New york city and for the most part she had. She still maintained a posting on the Humans most wanted list, but gone were the senseless massacres she and Meld had brought frequently to mankind. Aura had figured out something no one had ever truly mentioned to her, their were six billion people on the planet, no matter how hard she tried, even the number of life's she had ended seemed paltry.

Her thoughts were broken as she suddenly realized four men, surrounded her. In the pale moon light it was hard to make out their faces but they looked human enough to her. Instinct began to take over when a fifth man she had failed to see, struck her in the back with a bat. The blow winded Aura and made her mind swim for a few moment's. The specks of pink Aura that had began to form unnoticed, flickered out of existence. Aura's head started to clean only as the bat made contact with her forward. Her Aura cushioned the blow, but her head was throbbing and her concentration fled her, leaving her defenseless.

It was then the moron's decided to start arguing, Aura mind was clearing, and as the revelation of what had occurred to her kicked in, she got angry. It was rare for a human without M to even land a blow on her and this was unforgivable on her own part and theirs. Aura knew if these morons knew who they had, they would have ran or killed her.

Leon had decided to try and learn some more of the elusive places in New York. so far he had been wandering around some of the back alleys for a while now, thinking about what he was going to do in the city and if the choice of staying at the mansion like is good for nothing parents wanted was best for him, in the past he would have done everything his parents said but as of late he had begun questioning if they actually had his best interests in mind. Since he had told them that he was a mutant they barely spoke to him and packed him off here, and he wasn't even sure that here is where he wanted to be. 

These thoughts continued as he walked down the alleys, as he mulled it over most of the normal people that he had come across where either mean to him of attacked. To him as a naturally aggressive person this gave him a pretty good indication as to what was happening in the world, and it seems to him that pretty soon he would be forced to take sides. But the question was which side would he take as allot of his thoughts seemed to drift between leaving the mansion and being homeless, or sticking and helping some people that didn't seem to want him much. 

As he turned down another alleyway he saw what looked like a gang of what must he at least four guys doing something, from this distance he could not clearly see what they where doing but by the way the where standing it seemed obvious enough that someone was in the middle of that gang. He cursed to himself slightly as he had previously gotten rid off all the ash in his body, it wasn't as much choice that he did it as need. The whole experience had been rather horrid as he was literally vomiting ash into a bin. Grabbing a bag of what looked rather unsavory and paper-ish from a nearby trash can, he took out his lighter and lit it hoping that it would burn fast enough to supply him with the ash he needed. 

"Hey b*****s why don't you pick on someone our own size?" He called out to the gang of people hoping that it would make them stop before he had to make them stop, but having dealt with gangs before he pretty much knew the answer and only called out to look tough. 

The new voice cut through the fog that was Aura's mind she could not make out who it was but nether could the gang members. Still whoever it was had given her an opening and she was going to take it. With as little movement as she could manage she took stock of the people she could see, noting her opponents locations. She threw her half formed strategy out when she saw the man with the bat. Aura glanced back to the source of the new voice for a moment, then she sprang forward.

As she moved, her body suddenly encased itself in a thick pink see through substance. The AUra began to form a dagger like extension on her fist and even half formed Aura swung. Her blow glanced off the bat and grazed his shoulder, though deep it was nothing the man seemed to care about. The man swung the steel bat which Aura barely avoided.

Aura next glance told her two of the men were missing, perhaps to engage the other person. Her own Opponents her each drawn a knife. One tried to stab her, aura brought down her dagger. As she swung the dagger, began taking on a finer curved blade until it struck as an axe, the man screamed as he stared at the handless wrist. Aura simply smiled and spoke. "If you Are Mutant's you may live, if you are human you may not" Aura said as her Aura flowed around her foot forming an eight inch long blade. Her kick impaled the man whose hand she had cut off, shock and horror evident on his face.

Typical. The gang would be attacking another mutant he thought as he saw the pink glow from the center of the remaining members, by the sounds of it they where having some fun in their own group over there, but that was the least of his concerns or should it be ideas. As he saw two of the members break off and target him, taking a quick glance at the burning bag in his hand told him what he wanted to know. With a slight thought he forced the red hot ash in the flames to spin and swirl into the bag, churning up all of what he now knew was newspaper. By the time the members reached him he had reduced the bag to a pile of ashes. 

As the first man reached him he could see they both had knives drawn, this didn't entirely surprise him as knives seemed to be the staple weapon of any gang. But those thoughts didn't stop the sight of him sending him into a furious rage, he was done with the ideas of co-existing and equality. If they wanted to fight mutants then they could get wiped out by mutants. He couldn't tell if that was the rage in his head or his genuine thoughts but he was going to follow them for now at least.

The first guy took a swing at his head, which Leon neatly dropped below, with a swing of his fist he delivered an uppercut to the base of the mans jaw, although the force of the blow wasn't as powerful as he thought it would be it didn't need to be. Straight after the initial contact a shifting cloud of ash lifted the man off of the ground by his neck which was left open by the uppercut. Leon could both see and hear the burning ash work at the mans throat and his cries confirmed that it was blistering hot. 

The voice of what he guessed was the mutant brought him back to the fight, hearing what she said he turned to the remaining member who had come to fight him. Knife in hand an oddly determined look on his face. "So which is it?" He asked the man his tone of voice backing up the threat made by the mutant.

The gang members seemed to realize they were in trouble. They were dealing with two powerful Mutant's both of which seemed quite able to defend themselves. Aura could see them questioning weather or not to try and run for it. Aura took their silence as condemnation and she let her aura weapon's loose their shape, and fluidly collapse into the aura around her body. This time in front of her hand formed a drill and pressed her attackers slightly, and as the man with the bat swung, Aura quickly pulled just out of Reach and moved against his exposed flank.

Aura's punch connected with the man's neck and the result was gruesome and silent. Even as she did her third attacker tried to stab her, and his blade made no head way against her aura at all. Aura smiled, it had been awhile since she had some fun like this. A voice in her head reminded her that she had let these fools embarrass her.

SHe had stolen glances of her Ally when she could, his power whatever it was, was beautiful. Aura liked even more that his voice seemed to back up a willingness to kill these humans. Perhaps these Humans had done some good after all, she would not have gone this route herself as their were quicker routes for her path.

Her third opponent tried to run but Aura caught him in the back, this time with an Axe. A second blow garenteed the job was done as she looked back to her ally to see how he was faring against his opponents. She knew she had no idea who he was but she liked him already. She recalled her old friend Meld briefly and the chaos they had caused. She ran her fingers over her head feeling the bump, nothing seemed broken and as far as she could tell thats all she had.

He released the gang member from the ash cloud, and by the look of the burns covering much of his neck and jaw he was done for. With that one out of the way he returned his attention to the remaining member, and by the way he seemed unable to answer the question he guessed he was human. The man lunged forward to try and stab him in the body, having anticipated the attack and the sluggishness of he attack itself Leon easily sidestepped and elbowed him in the chest. As his elbow made contact with the gang members clothing there was a small spark and the flames on his elbow set the mans shirt alight. 

As the man stumbled back and tried to swat out the flames now rapidly spreading across his clothing he glanced a look at how the woman was doing. He was surprised to see that she had already taken care of the rest of the members and appeared to be checking her head for injury's. Remembering that there was an angry man trying to stab him he whipped the cloud around the man who by the looks of things had accepted his fate. As the cloud encased the man it spun and spun pulling the burning clothes off the man and adding them to its mass. confident that he was done as the ash was still glowing and received more heat from the burning clothes he started to walk down the alleyway towards the woman. 

When the mans cries had stopped he pulled the cloud to gather around his legs, although it had grown much more than he thought it should have and he dared not think where all the extra ash came from, with the increased size he had to make some of it swirl around his arms and hands in addition to his lower body. 

"So...Truce?" He said with a laugh, hoping that she would not do to him what she did to the body's around her. But seeing from her earlier statement about humans and mutants he should be fine.  

"Oh i think we can have more then that" she said with a smile. Her aura weapons collapsed and her aura seemed to thin out until it was just a faint covering of her body. Aura liked other Mutants but their was always room for caution. His demeanor suggested that perhaps killing was not unfamiliar to him, as she seemed to disregard the bodies around them as much as she did. SHe wondered much about this Mutant in front of her, her thoughts focusing on her powers she had no idea exactly what he did only that it was effective and the faint smell of burnt flesh still hung in the air.

"My Name is Aura, Thank you friend, your assistance was greatly appreciated. " she said believing she likely could have killed the gang members herself, had she not been cheep shotted. Still this was possibly much better anyway. She brought her hand up in front of her and her aura seemed to flow from her nails and wrap around her hand until it was several inches thick. Fluidly her aura extended from her fingers until it flattened a bit forming a dagger like object. Her Aura flowed back a bit then formed an axe and then a hammer before Aura let the aura around her fist fade to match the rest.

"I can manipulate my aura into weapons and a shield. Your power looked beautiful from what i saw of it, i am curious about it. I love seeing other Mutant's powers, each one unique." she said happily. She wondered if he knew about sanctuary but decided to wait to ask about it.

The neighborhood they were in Aura knew as a particularly bad section of town. It was likely, despite the screaming no one had bothered to call the police. The ally itself would certainly be a crime scene come the morning hours. "No Love for humans?" she asked gesturing to the bodies around them.

Looking at the woman now demonstrating her powers he understood how she had won so fast, forming multiple weapons out of what looked like some form Armour. That would be tough to get past if he ever had to fight her, but from her body language and general tone a fight wasn't going to happen. Having seen her power and having listened to a brief description he couldn't deny her request to know more about his. Making the clouds around his body shoot above his head and break into a multitude of smaller clouds, he pulled as much as he dared into his mouth and into his body. Sending the rest down to the floor around him like snow. "I'm Leon and I can control ash, store a limited amount in my body and tend to light on fire." He said with a smile. 

The second question was one that he was dreading to hear, having been pondering it himself only moments before. That being said he would have to make a choice sooner or later and it appeared that time was now, quickly rummaging through his memories for an answer he was met with images and memories that made him mad. Not the average mad but furious with everyone that had shunned him and spat on his life for being a mutant. And yet here someone was complimenting him for being a mutant the same thing most saw as a curse on him she saw as a blessing. "No not really, been messed about one to many times recently." He said after a small pause. 

He noticed that no one in the streets seemed to care much that people where screaming and being killed, He wasn't really worried much at the lack of sirens or protests. Although the alley did seem quite a bit darker now that his flames had been put out. "So I take it you don't really care much for them either?" He asked her, remembering her earlier comment about them being human or mutant.

His explanation answered several thing's, most prominently why she smelled burnt human flesh. The smell reminded her she had not eaten yet today but decided now was not the time either. The stuff around his body must have been ash and she watched as he sucked it in through his mouth answering her next question of how he could store it internally. It was an interesting display and told her how he had likely delt with his foes.

"I was raised to believe humanity was inferior. Something we evolved from and is meant to die out. More then that though, Iv'e watched humans kill most of the people that were important to me. " she explained. SHe knew she was barely touching base of the truth of it, but that could be a long story as well. Still she also learned incidents like this while incredably relaxing, were also not the best way to take down humanity. Drags like this meant nothing in actual society.

"I Live over at Sanctuary, Mutant only living place. It is a beautiful place." she said. She liked to bring up sanctuary when she could. Many people who were not from NYC had no idea sanctuary existed. Aura had somehow found the place by accident and had in a way never left. Four years later she wa sstill there. "It's nice to live in a place where you don't have to watch your back all the time" she said. Given that he killed the humans it was unlikely he lived at the amnsion but he did not look homeless either to Aura.

The explanation of why she hated humans seemed fair enough, it was a slightly different reason than his but with the same base principle. But those thoughts where completely overshadowed by the fact that she lived at another mutant haven. The fact that one even existed was a shock to him as the mansion was nice and all but the people there seemed on a different wavelength to him, all but a select few he had come to like that is. But this gave him fresh new questions flooding his mind and he intended to get them answered.

"Whats Sanctuary? I know of the Mansion because I've got a room there but is this other place more...understanding? Because I'm going to tell you this isn't the first lot I've had to deal with in the city and pretty soon they might find out...." He said wondering what would happen if the people at the mansion where to find out about the killings. Would they chuck him out or would they give him to the cops, or would they understand? He very much doubted that they would understand as some people around the mansion where not mutants so they would object. 

He made a mental note to check out the place regardless of what happens. Seeing as he may need a place to escape if he ever got caught, but first he still had more questions plaguing his mind. "This place then I guess they all have this view on humans?" He asked, it was more a personal question that was on the top of his mind and had no bearing on the place itself. But if the place was full of human hating mutants then that would be nice to know. 

If he lived in the mansion as he claimed, he was right to be nervous about them finding out, Aura thought to herself. It was very likely they might even turn him into the police. More so if as he said this was not the first time this had happened. She was also unsurprising that he had not heard of Sanctuary, if the mansion might have told him anything about it she was sure it would have been warnings.

"The leader of the mansion did throw me into jail. Given my record is....considerable. But they don't tolerate law breaking there as far as i know. That Human and mutant coexistence crap they promote has to be rather annoying as well. Still them finding out could lead to them tossing you out, or worse." she admitted. She had been to the mansion a few times, while interesting Aura knew she could never live long term there and indeed had never spent even a night there.

"Sanctuary accepts all who come to it, its basically a mutant homeless shelter. Their is no charge for room and board and they don't mind a few burn marks on the only rap sheet. Mine is quite long" she said with a smile. "I have killed many, i am also guilty of robbery and large amounts of property damage among other crimes, but i only target Mutants. Even these scum, had they been of our kind, i would have beat them, but not killed them." she said with a shrug.

"Yes humans are not aloud within Sanctuary and many in sanctuary have some kind of record. Many in sanctuary have suffered in some way because of humanity. Would you like to see Sanctuary?" she asked looking around to make sure they were still alone. Not because sanctuary was a secret but because they were standing in a crime scene. Picking up the bat, She tested the weight and found she liked it. SHe then began going to the body's and checking them over, with each wallet she found, she took the licence and tossed the rest of the wallet, contents and all behind her. She did look over their daggers but discarded them.

So it seemed like the Mansion staff had two sides to them, at least that was the feeling that he was getting whilst listening to Aura, At first glance they would be nice and helpful but they could just as easily throw you in jail for making a mistake. The thought of spending more time in the Mansion with his current record seemed less and less savory, but it seemed there could be a way out of it.

Some how it was not surprising that Aura had a track record of crime, with her mutation it seemed a little silly to not fight and it could easily kill. When she moved on to the topic of the people at sanctuary he picked up a bit,  the way she described the people that both live and work there seemed to be more in tune with his current predicament that the people at the mansion, it would be difficult to leave the people at the mansion especially his roommate who despite everything he felt was a friend.

"That would be great, it sounds more forgiving than the Mansion." He said when she asked if he would like to see Sanctuary, it would be nice to see the place and more importantly know where it is, especially if he needs to make a quick escape at any point. He watched her move around the body's taking each of theirs wallets, it seemed like a waste to leave all of the money but he doubted they had much on them. Whilst watching he remembered that they where in a crime scene and they should most likely move.

"So if we are going, shall we go?" He said with a smile, having no intent to get caught here with the body's and even less to get put in jail.  Although he had a distinct feeling that if anyone did come down to stop them they wouldn't be leaving this alley way alive.

"It is much more so. You are right though, even here, the cops will eventually show up and the MRC after that" she said agreeing with him. SHe considered where they were for a moment and realized it was not terribly far. He did seem like he would fit in with the rest of Sanctuary, he certainly had the right attitude.

She waived for him to follow, even as she talked and moved. "Are you new to the city?" she asked curiously stopping for a moment before slipping into another alleyway. "The Police got tired of getting decimated anytime they showed up to a mutant related call, so now they use the mrc unit, Mutants who hunt down other mutants as par tof the police force. It may not have helped i rarely Froze" she said shaking her head. The idea clearly disgusted her and she did little to hide it.

"When my powers first emerged, i was fighting at school with another girl, i cut her spine in two. That was the moment i learned what i could do. The humans locked me away. Things got much worse after that and more complicated. To put it simply, i was trained to be a front line soilder in a mutant army. Humans killed everyone else" she said, shaking her head sadly, even as she moved down a new alley.

When they reached the end of the alley,a large Building could be seen, and even in the pale light, Aura could see those glorious golden doors. They were beautiful to Aura, a sign of home and safety and Allison. "That is sanctuary, the surrounding area is mostly populated by our kind as well." she said the sight of her home cheering her up and bringing a smile to her.

"I'm from London, England. Only been in the country a while, told my parents about the whole mutant thing and well they kicked me out of the country." He said very plainly as the thought was not a pleasant one and often served to bring up pain and anger. The idea of mutants working with the police to apprehend other mutants was a confusing one, in some senses it made sense with the whole fight fire with fire mentality, but at the same time it seemed like a time bomb to him.

The story of Aura's past was horrible, it opened his eyes more to the horrors that could be committed against people because of who they where. Although he had no way to sympathize with her on the matter it still made him feel some pain and pressed an important thought back into his head. The fact that he would have to pick a side fairly soon and the way things in the city where turning out, he may need to relocate to another part of the city. However at the mention of the word Sanctuary he pushed those matters deep into the back of his mind. 

The first thought he had when he saw it...Gold. The doors where golden and that was a major surprise, not to mention a major target for thieves but looking at the way Aura handled with some petty gang thieves where not a problem. "Gold...." Was the first word he could muster and said it without meaning to. "Sorry so this whole place around here is populated by mutants?" He asked with curiosity, it seemed unlikely to him that the whole place around them would be only mutants. But nothing is impossible just improbable.

 

"It is sad what Humans will do to their own children, but you are in a far better place now. Our stories are to common among our people, maybe yours more then my own. Parents seem to like using the mansion to dispose of their kids in a way, that way their no longer their problem." she said sadly. Aura knew many, even other Mutants saw her as a monster. Aura knew however that what she did was necessary. Humanity could not be aloud to destroy Mutant kind and one day, they would do everything they could to do just that.

"FOr the most part, their are some Humans in the surrounding neighborhoods but most have decided to relocate" Aura said, knowing that the humans were somewhat forced out. Aura had no idea if this was what Lori had wanted of here scheme. The effect of the Insurance racket had been that many humans, simply left. Others wound up dead and fewer still paid the protection money.

As they reached the door, Aura opened them to reveal the well lit Foyer of Sanctuary. While the inside was not as extravagant as the door's, it was clear the place had considerable funding. People milled about but the one who stood out was a quite woman behind a desk. "That's Lisa, if you decide to stay, she will have a bit of paperwork for you. Mostly name and Mutation description kind of thing. Not everyone can control their powers fully and some powers have undesirable results when used together. " she explained, even as her aura thinly materialized around her. Aura always kept her power active while she could, to Aura she was her power and it was her.

"Their are room's a catered kitchen, a garage if you have a vehicle, a gym and other area's she explained as she waived for him to follow her down the hall toward the bed rooms.