Pick a card any card.... no not that one... or that one (Leah)

Ever since the shifter started dating the Princess and getting a job with SUPER there were a few things he rarely did anymore, street hustling was one of the things he missed the most. His girlfriend (his words not hers) probably wouldn’t approve but there were few things he felt he was naturally good at and finding people to throw money at him was one of them.

”Nah, mate. Not that one. Ya just watched me put it down.” Carrick said revealing the card in his hands after the wrong one was pointed out again. His wings opened slightly as he stifled a yawn pretending he was bored.

”Try again but, ya know watch ‘em.” His hands cycled over the cards picking them up on occasion as he rotated the cards. His wings opened behind him and closed adding more of a distraction behind him. It was in a way cheating but he was pretty good at using the cards he was dealt and wings and a tail were an excellent distraction.

”What about you love? Care to try and guess which one’s the queen?” he gestured towards the cards there were three in front of him all slightly bent to make it easier to pick up and drop.

The shifter felt like the queen was glaring at him so he averted his mismatched eyes to a passer by. ”Care to show ‘em how easy this is? Five bucks, and ya can double yer money.” he said grinning, ”Double down and who knows, can take yer wife out or yer neighbors wife. None of my business. Come on’ all about getting those tendies.” he said waiting till someone pointed out the right card.

Carrick sighed and picked up the right card, ”What a shame. Try again? You’ll win eventually.” his guitar was heavy on his back. The shifter was running late for his Biology class but, he’d catch up at some point. Wasn’t like the class was going anywhere. “You’re cheating the card isn’t there!” cried one of the victims.

”Easy there with that accusation boyo,” he said picking up the Queen of hearts and showing everyone who was watching, ”It’s not.” Carrick agreed with him. ”Not my fault ya have a shorter attention span than me. It’s simple. Follow the Queen and pick her out.” his hands moved quickly on the table again. This time his tail flicked behind him waving to everyone.

"Oooooh... a street performer? I want to see!" Leah was on a mission, and while she probably could had stood back and just watched from a few bodies back seeing as she was at least a head taller than everyone gathered, but... where was the fun in that?

Her much shorter companion snorted loudly and rolled her eyes behind her big Gucci sunglasses. "Really? A street performer? Leah, your standards are too low."

The tall blonde whipped back around to wrinkle her nose at her companion, a girl named Steph that she'd used to go to high school with, with who she'd been pressured into a shopping date by her mother. "Oh, I'm pretty sure my standards are right where I like them to be, Hon."

Steph blinked, wrapping her plump lips around the straw for iced coffee. "... You want low standards??"

"If it keeps me from having to deal with people like you, sure," Leah muttered while slipping fully to the front so she could see the table and artist more closely. They were called artists, right? Like... sleight of hand and human magic and stuff? Meh, she didn't care. She'd consider just about anything someone put loads of time and practice into an art form.

Steph pushed her way to the front as well, but a lot less politely and with an air of disgust that she had to be so close to commoners. "What's the point of this, even?" The brunette grouched while making sure to clutch her purse closer to her like someone was going to steal it any moment.

Leah full-on pouted at her and reached up to take her big, rainbow-hued sunglasses off. Contrary to her... friend, she was relaxed and didn't seem to have a problem with any one of the people around them. It always amazed her how terrified of losing their money most of her family acquaintances were.

Steph scrutinized the cards in a calculating sort of wall, all business, as the winged male shuffled them. Leah on the other hand was immediately distracted by said wings and their movement. She happened to be exactly the target this kind of gig worked on most often.

"Ooooh~" Was that a guitar she spied? Neat! She didn't know how to play anything but a bit of piano, which had failed when her mother realized she didn't have the attention span for it. Someone cried out that there was cheating afoot, and that drew her attention back in.

Wasn't that like... sorta the point? Wasn't the whole idea that you needed to be tricky and pull the wool over someone's eyes to win? Maybe she had the wrong idea about street 'magic'.

Steph muttered something unkind under her breath about the obvious mutant among them, and Leah's eyes snapped over to her. How absolutely rude!

"I don't even get what the big deal is. It's not that great of a trick anyway. I could find the dumb card immediately."

"Steph don't you da-" Leah was too late.

The winged entertainer had just shuffled the cards, and immediately Steph slapped down a 20 and pointed an immaculately manicured finger at the queen. She had just the most cruel smirk on her face for thinking she'd just ruined his little trick, though she had also helpfully pointed out that the queen was indeed on the table and he wasn't actually cheating.

Leah was the only one aware that Steph had used a spell to figure out which card it was, and she just siiiighed. Steffani really just was the worst sometimes.

She dug out a crisp 100 from her phone's wallet case and set it down, angling a cheerful smile Steph's way. "Wow, you made that look so easy! I think I'd like to try too!"

Then she turned and made direct eye contact with the table's owner. "Would that be okay? Can I try next?"

His tail stopped waving when he heard someone insult him and claim he wasn’t doing a good job. The money on the table and in his pocket was all the proof he needed at his skills. Was he the best no, but he had the showmanship to make up for it.

Luckily for Carrick the one who did the insulting walked forward and put a twenty down in front of him his pointed canines bared themselves in a smile at the sight of the woman before him. She was rude, pretty and had an air of arrogance about her. The shifter’s favorite audience member, privileged.

”Oooooeeee!” he looked back to the guys who were circled around the table, some of them trying to learn Carrick’s patterns some of them already in the red. ”She’s making ya’ll look bad. First try!” he whistled matching her bet and setting it on top of hers. ”Beauty and Brains!” he smirked and his wings opened a bit a he gave a slight nod. ”Care to double it?”

The next woman to join at least asked permission. She even made eye contact and threw a crisp hundred on the table. Another whistle, most people didn’t throw around money like this. Not unless they knew they could beat him or lose the money. Carrick could match it no problem, at least thanks to the guys standing around the table. Could he afford to lose though? Mismatched colored eyes focused on the tall blonde, ”Would ya like change darling? Or ya willing to bet it all?” his tail flicked behind him failing to hide Carrick’s excitement.

Steph reacted like he'd spit on her, just from the compliment that left his mouth. She didn't even know if it was a backwards or sarcastic compliment, either. The spoiled young woman just didn't like people with less status than her looking at her in ay sort of way. "As if!"

Leah has earned his attention though, and she was more than willing to take the spotlight for a moment to try to make up for Steph's attitude. "No change needed, hon."

Steph was uncomfortable with how friendly Leah was with average folk on a good day, let alone winged ones with weird eyes. "Leh, you're being silly. You know you can't fin-"

Leah waited exactly one second for the winged boy to finish shuffling the cards, turned and looked Steph in the eyes with that same kind smile on her face, and blindly poked one.

"Oops! Silly me. What if I got it wrong? Darn. Guess I better try again? That alright, hon?" She tilted her head out as she fished another few bills out, this time setting 200$ on the table. "Second times a charm, right?"

If it wasn't super obvious that she didn't care if she lost the money when Steph leaned in and tried to tug the taller woman away she figured she might as well make it super clear.

"Leh! Stop, you're just giving money to people who are probably going to spend it on-"

"Oh, Hon, I don't care who spends their money or on what. Once I have it over, it's not mine anymore, you know?"

She gently, but firmly removed the shorter girl's hand from her arm and angled a very sad look her way. "And you should know that every time something mean comes out of your mouth, I'm just going to have to put more and more money down.

Her phone case was tucked away, and she slid her small purse to the front and dug her actual wallet out, which still had all the money she had been planning on spending on clothes in it.

If the cards were reshuffled again by that point, she'd reach out and poke another one blindly, thoroughly enjoying as Steph's pretty face turned a lovely shade of red. She didn't like that they had a literal audience of people poorer than her watching on as she got scolded. "Hmm, I dunno... maybe this one? I'm not nearly as good at this as you are Steffani." You bratty cheat.

"You are so childish, Leah!"

"Ope! Was that a mean thing? That probably counts." She slid 4 fresh hundred dollar bills out of her wallet and hummed to herself.

”No change! Big spender!” Carrick leaned back and elbowed a few of the guys and shook his head, ”Wondering if she’s hiring.” did he need a new job? Carrick watched the second hundred be dropped on the table and he decided he was open to interview at least. Speaking of which was Super even paying him?

The shifter’s ears perked at the giant statement, he didn’t want to be overtly greedy but it was hard not to watch her pull out more bills with every comment one of the girls made. The one who kept throwing around the money also kept calling him ‘hon’. Each time his tail flicked in annoyance. His face however was nothing but smiles best not to scare off the prey. ‘Mate!’ Carrick ignored his instincts.

”Guitar strings and jackets.” he said grinning and turning his back showing off his wings and. It wasn’t anyone's business what he spent his money on but he thought the more he talked the more the lady would throw down. ”Impossible to find anything that fits fer wings n’ a tail.” he said as he placed his hands on the two bills and pulled them closer to the center of the table.

At this rate he didn’t even need to pull the Queen from the table. He’d just keep shuffling till the one who kept dropping hundreds left. Then again, she might get lucky. Carrick suddenly got the feeling that something was wrong. No one. On god’s green earth would walk around with that much money and be willing to throw that much on a table game. They weren’t cops right? The shifter shuffled the cards again and grinned folding his arms.

A kid, Urchin popped out in the alley beside them and walked across the street. It wasn’t often Carrick worked in unison with someone on a game like this but it was better to have more eyes on the situation. Urchin’s job now was to make sure they weren’t about to be picked up by police. Carrick technically was supposed to be on his best behavior. Neither the moms nor his girlfriend (his words) would probably approve of his little side ventures.

Carrick’s mismatched colored eyes shifted casually from the giant lady with bottomless wallets to Urchin then back to her friend when there was no sign of danger. ”That darling, is a beautiful shade of red. Steffani is it? Might need to breath love.” he said nodding his head to the giant lady then to her friend. ”She gonna be alright?” he asked hoping this would spur the dropping of more bills. Amythest was getting treated tonight, he’d even put on a suit.

"Gross." Steph muttered, unable to help herself when it came to expressing her bigoted views about mutants. She came from a circle where everyone she knew felt the same and they were all empowered enough by each other that vocally expressing such thoughts hardly phased them at all.

It was really super sad. Leah liked to think that everyone had the potential to grow past the various issues that each person inevitably would have, but more and more people from her own social circle wore on that belief whenever they could. She was starting to think Steph was a bit of a lost cause.

The tall woman dropped 400$ on top of the three large bills already on the table. She didn't even need to say anything, seeing as the performer himself offered a few comments of his own. Steph huffed loudly, pulled her giant sunglasses back down and turned on her heel to stomp away.

"Hope you have fun with the riffraff, Leh! I hope you don't end up in a dumpster!"

Leah watched her leave and the smile she'd kept up gradually faded. Not for her leaving necessarily, but just for the sad fact that she was so opposed to thinking differently about her views that she'd rather just leave and take their security detail with her. Leah already knew she'd be hopping into a car at the edge of the street and within moments she'd be gone.

Sigh a sigh, she turned back to the table and the performer and the gathered crowd, and mustered up a smile again. best not to ruin his whole gig by letting the impromptu drama end on a downtick!

"Well, this was fun! I should probably stop though because I really am absolute rubbish at games like this. It's so hard to pay attention to where the cards go!" She chuckled and slid her purse back behind her. "Thanks for letting me steal the show for a moment, and I'm so sorry for Steph. She's... problematic at the best of times!" The tall girl slid her own sunglasses back into place and took a step back, gently going about making a plan for her own exit over the heads of all those gathered.

"Have a good rest of your day!"

It didn't take much to make a path out to the empty sidewalk. People tended to naturally step out of her way for the most part just due to her size alone.

Of course... now what was she supposed to do with the rest of her day? Shopping all by herself was just... boring. She didn't quite feel like calling a driver to head home yet, though. Maybe another coffee?

Leah didn't notice that two of those gathered around the card table left the same time she did, obviously following her from a was back.

‘Right back at ya.’ he thought to himself his tail flicking with irritation. He was used to it and didn’t really care but it was hard to keep smiling. ‘I’m dating royalty.’ he thought. There. It was easier to keep smiling.

”Well, that’s uncalled fer! They might look it but these guys aren’t that bad.” he turned and smirked to a few of the people huddled around the table. ”Shame, too. Was worried I was gonna lose everything to her.” he looked back down at the extra hundreds on the table. Then back up to Leah.

The shifter’s eyebrow raised, ”Practice makes perfect.” he smirked and folded his arms. ”If yer sure love, would have gladly shared the spotlight with ya. I’m sure ya draw a crowd where ever ya go.” he gave a little mock bow flourishing his hand and swiping the money in a well practiced motion. It was downplayed by the wings opening and flapping once. A few of the guys around the table had to move out of the way. Carrick was a showman after all.

After she left Carrick went back to the game, ”Tall lady.” he looked to everyone around the table, ”Well ya saw the goods, think ya can win it from me?” he said patting his pocket where the money wasn’t located. Some of the people around the table were questionable. Nefarious even.

Carrick started to shuffle cards trying his best to ignore the look and hand motions two of the table watchers gave each other. The nodded after the tall blonde and took off after her. It wasn’t his problem. Worry about that was something someone else worried about not him.

The pocket that held his Super ID felt heavy. He was supposed to do good. Carrick looked back down to the cards and started to shuffle. She was rich. Rich and nice. He stopped sighed loudly and yelled, ”Fer **** sakes.” he motioned for the kid across the street to take back his spot behind the table.

Opening his wings and a flap he was airborne. She was a giant, she should be easy to track down right? ‘Mate!’ ”No. Fight.” ‘Fight!’ his pupils turned to slits.

Leah, if you asked her, would describe herself in a variety of ways, but 'Observant' wasn't often one of them. She was an easily distracted person and tended not to err on the side of caution like she probably should have.

Thus, she wasn't even aware that she was being followed. Her head was in the clouds as she scrolled through pictures on Speedigraph for what kind of coffee she wanted. It had been a while since she'd gotten something fancy and posted a picture of it. Surprisingly, people had been asking.

The streets weren't exactly crowded, nor were they empty. She stuck out like a sore thumb as she walked regardless. Not many people were naturally as tall as her.

The two men following her waited for a break in foot traffic before ultimately deciding to make their move. Leah was just about smack in the middle of one block, unaware and still engrossed in her phone. They thought about running up for a purse snatching but recalled that she'd had money in her phone case too. Not to mention the various expensive brands she was wearing.

"Hey Lady!"

She looked up, blinked, and stopped walking to turn and see who's shouted. They both produced knives, and held them aloft in what she was going to assume was supposed a threatening manner.

"Hand over all your money and jewelry!"

Leah blinked. Then she turned fully and dropped her phone from her face, propping her other hand upon one hip. "I don't wear jewelry?"

They paused, not having expected her to... not react? "...uh... hand over all your cash then, stupid!"

Her nose wrinkled. "Excuse you, that's pretty rude!" Dealing with horrible attitudes was one of her least favorite things.

"Lady, do you wanna get stabbed??" Usually, women screamed or tried to run. Occasionally one would fight back. They didn't often get... whatever this was.

The bigger of the two decided to approach and just make a grab for her purse himself, knife out and lifted toward her in a warning.

Even with her being a giant and him having a bird’s eye view it took the shifter a few minutes to find her. Took the two guys even less time though seeing as they were already confronting her. One of them had a knife. Carrick’s bird like eyes caught the reflection and that was what cemented who everyone was for him. That and her being a freaking giant!

He wasn’t a hero. He had to keep telling himself while he circled overhead. Why was he here? Was it because she clearly had money and he was looking for a reward? No, that wasn’t it. He already had a handful. Was it because he was supposed to be on the lookout for Super? Nah, that defiantly wasn’t it. ‘Fight!’ Carrick watched the knife wave around on the sidewalk where his targets were. Middle of broad daylight... maybe it was they were looking for easy marks on his table. That had to be it. That or he wanted to prove the giant’s friend wrong. This was far from a bad area.

One of the guys moved towards her, both of which would have been a struggle to lift at least awkward as heck to hold and try to fly. He sighed and swooped down not sure how he would handle the situation. ”Darling, ya forgot yer change.” he decided a verbal route. Several people would be proud of him right now. All of which weren’t currently in his head, ‘Fight!’ he ignored the ‘wise’ council from his shifted form.

He eyed the knife and flashed his teeth, ”Boys, ya wouldn’t be doing what I think yer doing are ya?” his tail flicked like he was about to toy with his prey. ”I know it’s been a few years since I’ve done some table work but I thought there was an understanding when someone loses money ya leave ‘em be?”

“It has been a few years.” the one in the back chimed, “We hardly recognize you anymore Carrie.” the shifter grinned some more. ”I kicked yer asses when I was a third yer size. I went up a weight class.” he said folding his arms flapping slightly overhead between the blonde and the thug. ”You alright love?” he asked not taking his eyes off of the potential prey. A low growl in his throat started.

Really, she probably should have been worried. There was a knife involved and she was clearly being mugged. Normal folk were afraid of that, right? She just felt so... disappointed. Yes, that felt right. This was super disappointing. All they had to do was ask and she would more than happily help them out. Why did nobody ever ask?

"No, I don't think I will." The one with the blade stepped toward her and she was very tempted to lift her purse up out of his range and make him jump for it if he wanted it so badly. "You should reconsider your life choices."

Looks like she didn't have to do anything, though, because a voice piped up from above them and all heads turned toward it.

"Oooh! SO cool!" It was a card table guy! His wings actually could make him fly! "Hello again!" She waved like the excited toddler she was and reached up to move her glasses again.

Apparently, they all knew each other to some degree? The banter seemed playful, but then again she wasn't great with subtext.

"Me? Oh, I'm just fine." Leah offered a pretty smile and plopped her hands on her hips. Then, almost as an afterthought, she remembered the two others and the knife, and her smile dipped back into a frown.

"What did you even need to try and rob me for, hm?" A ton of wild tragic scenarios sprang to life in her head. People didn't just do stuff like this with no good reason, right? "Are you in a pinch financially? Sick family members at home? Do you owe a large debt to the mob?"

The two men blinked and exchanged glances. "Er...uh... sure. I've... got a sick dog at home?"

"Oh goodness! Poor puppy! What kind? How sick?"

She got distracted again a moment later as if just remembering Carrick was there.

"Oh, right, Mr. Magician! What brought you here? Are you all done for the day?"

The guy with the knife in his hand felt more than a little put off. This chick was really clueless, wasn't she?

His growl faded when the giant of a woman waved to him. His eyes turned to her and he gave a half awkward wave while still trying to make himself look bigger than he was. Not for her but for the two now thugs Carrick used to run around town with. They called him Carrie. He didn’t like being called that anymore.

Carrick frowned some confused when the overly friendly lady given the situation said she was fine. She didn’t seem that way but then again she could have had a gun on her or she was the gun. The Irishman looked to the pair and then studied the knife. ”He’s lying to ya.” he said dropping down in between them in a soft landing. His wings folded behind him still not sure what to make of the situation.

”I... was... worried?” the shifter said more surprised with his own feelings. Because he was. Carrick didn’t do heroics, not unless he got something out of it. This whole situation seemed odd to him. Not just because of the people trying to do the robbing but because he was trying to figure out why he cared all of a sudden? Was it because she was nice to him?

The ‘retired’ thief folded his arms, ”They looked like they wanted to cause some trouble with ya after you were dropping the money on the table.” he tried to explain wondering if she had an attention span shorter than his. ”Guessing they saw an easy score.” his mismatched colored eyes shifted over to the pair.

”And what are ya even doing with a knife?” Carrick seemed more frustrated now than before. Maybe he shouldn’t have even bothered? “Just hand over the money. You know what Carrie. You hand yours over too. You’re living too cushy of a life now that your back at the school.” Carrick flashed his fangs in a smile his tail flicking alerting all of an impending attack. ”Really?”

He was lying? He didn't have a sick dog at home? Her disappointment doubled and she crossed her arms with a pout. "Who lies about a sick dog? How cruel."

The winged one, who she was very tempted to start referring to as an Angel (though she hadn't on which one he reminded her of yet) said that he'd come because he was worried, and that brought a thousand-watt smile onto her face. Aww! He'd left his table behind because he cared! She knew Steffy was wrong on so many levels about people, and this just confirmed it!

"That's so sweet of you!" Leah, who was quite a bit taller than all of those currently present, tilted her head as he further explained. Ah, so maybe there were a few uncouth individuals running about then.... but still, that didn't ruin it for everyone else!

Even worse, they apparently weren't wrong in their assumptions. Aside from her shield, she wasn't exactly the type who was well prepared for a fight or even to defend herself effectively. The one scuffle she'd been in a long while ago had involved hairpulling and mean words. Not exactly street fight with a knife territory.

Ah, but it looked like they were serious. They wanted her money, and his as well. Did that mean offering hers up wouldn't be enough anymore? She huffed, and with a little finger wiggle behind his back (which earned at least one crooked eyebrow from the other goon) she had her spell primed and ready. She wasn't about to use it on herself, though.

Leaning over the winged one, she placed a chaste peck of a kiss on the very top of his head and then stepped back.

"Yeah, really. You might've gotten the best of us before, but we're stronger now too." The knife holder aimed a nasty sneer Carrick's way, "Wanna find how much I've grown, Carrie~?" He dove in right away with a burst of surprising speed, aiming for a jab with the knife.

The shifter blinked as he was called sweet. Was he? Or was it more he didn’t like the fact that other people were trying to take advantage of his skills and he didn’t want himself to be associated with him? Was he worried? Heroes worried. Carrick wasn’t a hero. It seemed like far too much work.

Blonde hair moved next to him and he turned towards it wondering what she was doing leaning into him. He blinked as her lips met his forehead and his face started to light up. His inner monologue on what was going to happen was interrupted again by his other less friendly form. It went from screeching ‘fight’ to yelling ‘Mate!’. His ears grew hot and he averted his gaze. It was enough to distract him. His eyes turned round and he forgot what he was doing.

A purr almost vibrated his vocal cords but stopped when his ‘beasty’ sense went off. Someone tried to stab him. Carrick looked back to the guy with the knife and hand and his red face quickly washed out to one of rage. ‘Mat-Fight!’ his pupils quickly turned to slits again. They must have missed with the knife because he just felt angry so angry it looked liked there was a cracked rainbow of light in front of him. There was no way he was going to just let them rob this woman. This nice, tall woman.

Carrick’s fangs bared and he roared, the man holding the knife dropped it and tried to cover his ears a little too late. Using his wings to help guide in his thrust forward as he pushed off the ground and used his body and fist as a battering ram to the knife holders face. His tail flicked behind him as he continued swinging. He wasn’t the strongest or the fastest or knew any form of martial arts but he had been ‘taught’ by his ‘father’. A notorious ‘pub brawler’ back home. Carrick was a scrapper and scrap the now enraged shifter did.

His knuckles were red with blood after a few punches to the guys face before he realized there was another one. This one managed to land a blow on the side of Carrick’s face one that caused his vision to blur. ‘Fight! Kill!’ ”Not now.” he said reigning his ‘other face’ more upset it was only his beast form that volunteered to step in during a fight but whenever he was flying or doing nothing it was his Gryphon form who wanted to tag it.

Carrick snarled and opened his wings lifting him up into a tackle of the other attacker. Did no one know who he was anymore? His fangs bared he grabbed hold of goon number two lifting him in the process only to let go a second later letting him drop two feet. ”I’m obviously immortal now! Did ya not see him try to stab me?” Carrick bluffed not knowing how the knife didn’t stab him.

By the goddess, if that wasn't the most adorable thing! His whole face went red. That was probably the first time she'd ever seen that in person. Leah offered a kind smile and a cheery tilt of the head as she stepped back again, swiftly too, seeing as the guy with the knife was charging in. Geez! They were really serious about this, weren't they? She'd expected maybe a few punches thrown or something seeing as Mr. Winged angel man seemed pretty confident in himself and had been in a scuffle with them before. Came out as the winner from what it sounded.

She couldn't help but gasp and cover her mouth with her hands, hoping the one shield was enough to keep him from severe harm.

Thankfully the knife was stopped. Her shield flashed into existence upon the point impacting it, absorbed the deadly force behind the blow, and dissipated. Would she need another? It was kinda risky getting in there to try and slap a kiss on him again with blades and fists flying.

As luck would have it the weapon was quickly lost, clattering onto the sidewalk as her winged guardian angel leaped into the fray like a fearsome beast, and Leah was able to sneak in and quickly kick it away. She wasn't about to pick it up... she hardly knew what to do with regular knives, let alone ones used to threaten people.

The fight quickly turned bloody, and she averted her eyes for the most part. Violence just wasn't her cup of tea, even if it felt justified in this case. Once the first guy was put down and the winged one launched an attack on the second fellow, she shuffled in just a bit closer in order to poke at the downed guy with one shoe. He groaned but remained down. She cringed a little as a small smear of blood now on the toe of her shoe.

The second fight didn't appear to be going so smoothly. The other guy got a hit in on her savior, which earned another gasp from her, and she definitely started worrying.

Goon two fell, barely catching himself and staggering back into a defensive stance. "Immortal? PFT! Yeah, whatever. I don't know what trick you pulled, but I bet it wouldn't work twice! Come down here and fight me like a man!" He snarled back, trying not to let on to how frazzled his nerves were. "Always showboating yourself around like you're some kind of @#$%ing god. You aren't any different than the rest of us, Carrie!"

”Why fight ya like a man? I’m clearly something more superior. Not a god, close? Angel?” he said bragging as he flapped overhead staring down at the goon. He lowered then gently touched down between them having noticed the other goon was down and the knife out of sight.

”Yer just jealous is all, it’s alright don’t be. Ya just weren’t blessed with my showmanship.” he said as he produced a small ruby from what seemed like his sleeve and waved it around. It was small but it glinted in the red light. ”Now, I don’t want ta leave ya both face down in an alley way in this part of town. Maybe I’m feeling nostalgic for a simpler time with simpler people.” he said insulting the pair yet again.

Carrick could feel his face swelling as he talked, ”Tell ya what mate, ya take the ruby and go and I’ll forget yer breaking our code for a quick score. Ya know I’ve got a big mouth, got no problem shouting it from the rooftops.” he flashed his teeth and tossed the ruby up and down in his hand hoping to distract from his other hand reaching into his pocket till he found what he was looking for.

”It’s a good deal. Real good.” he said bluffing. The ruby was of garbage quality from what his girlfriend told him. Worth nothing but looked shiny at least. ”Ya haven’t a shot against me.” he bragged, ”Been training at that school. Can take a hit better than ever.” that part was true.

”Is it worth getting yer *** kicked? Well at least we have an audience.” his tail flicked behind him kind of hoping he wouldn’t his adrenaline was pumping now and he wanted to keep hitting something but also didn’t want to start shifting. ‘Fight!’ which seemed more likely the longer it went on.