Over all. Today had been successful. Sara had a commission job, and she managed to fit some pick pocketing in. Where Sara used to only steal enough to get by for the next day, she had made plans. She had things she wanted in those plans and now, in order to accomplish those plans she needed more money than just a measly 20 dollars a day for food.

Sara carefully selected her targets on the street. They were people who weren’t paying attention and who were well dressed. Repeatedly she pulled wallets out, took half the bills inside, then put them back in the owner’s pockets. No one would be the wiser because what type of thief leaves you with half?

There were only four men, that Sara hadn’t returned wallets to. The men she didn’t like, so they didn’t deserve to have their cash. Simple as that. When the street lights came on, Sara stopped her diligent work. The streets traffic had slowed too much for a feline mutant to sneak up on individuals easily. So Sara selected a quiet alley way to count her cash. Yes. It was HER Cash now.

The four extra wallets were arranged in an evenly spaced, line in front of Sara. The IDs and credit cards sat in Sara’s pockets, and she began divvying up the cast between the four wallets. About 1,047 dollars to be exact.

The trip to Paris with Raina had been both wonderful and dreadful all at the same time but together they had made the trip end on a positive note. Once they were back in New York both had things to catch up. Raina had been busy with things at the school as well as at her new job and Luke had been busy with things at his company plus his night time patrols.

Even with his short time gone, it was apparent that some of the gangs had started moving off of their turf again. For the past two nights Wraith had focused on forcing them back into their own area again and letting everyone know that he was still around. Wraith may have been on vacation but he hadn't left permanently.

After the two busy nights, tonight was shaping up to be a rather quiet patrol. Wraith had nabbed a pick pocket right off the bat with his patrol but the victim had not wanted to press charges, instead just taking back his posessions and leaving. After a few threatening words the perpetrator had run off, hopefully to never try a life of crime again.

"But he probably will... with things so tough in the world right now, crime is just turning out to be an easy way to survive." Wraith had to admit to himself.

***

It was still early in the patrol as Wraith was moving over the rooftops that he noticed something surprising. As he made his jump over an alley way his sonar scanned the ground below, picking up a familiary feline that was counting money with four wallets in front of her.

"Sara, sara, sara... why now?" He pondered as he skidded to a stop. For a moment he was half tempted to just walk away and forget what he had just seen, but that wasn't who he was or how he lived. Shaking his head slightly Wraith hooked a grapple line to the edge of the roof and then rapelled down, landing lightly on his feet only 10 or 12 feet away from Sara.

"That looks like a little more than survival money Sara... what's going on?" He asked quietly as he looked over at the cat. There was no use trying to disguise his voice around her and since noone else was around, Wraith spoke in his normal voice. "Did you have some type of emergency come up or something?"

The first wallet was given 100 dollars. Sara had filled that one with the smaller bills, and she was just tucking the money inside when a familiar buzz built up in the back of ears. Her eyes squeezed shut and she did some mental head banging.

The first wallet was tucked into her pants pocket as gook ol’ Wraith did his super hero entrance. Sara glanced up before calmly beginning to scroll an E on the back of the second walled with the tip of her thumb claw. 250 would soon be counted into that one.

"That looks like a little more than survival money Sara... what's going on?"

“Nothing.” Sara replied simply. She started sorting out the rest of the one dollar bills and all the fives. Then came the counting of the ten dollar bills till she had her 250 to put into wallet E.

She knew the theft thing was wrong and Sara was never completely proud to be doing it, but with any luck the next year would be her final finally of thieving. She just needed to get enough cash, and she didn’t need Luke here bringing out that moral dilemma that Sara faught so hard to keep in the back of her mind. “You said it yourself. Part time commission jobs don’t pay for everything. Especially when you only do them once. Huhh, boss.” She said with a shrug.

"Did you have some type of emergency come up or something?"

“No.” Sara was just saving. She was determined to stop sleeping on the streets and she was doing this on her own steam. “I’m saving.” and she didn't want to tell Luke for what, or how she was going to be able to keep afording what she was saving for.

Wraith couldn't believe it... Sara was lieing to him again. As she calmly sat counting out the money that she had obviously stolen from someone she simply said "Nothing." as though he should believe whatever she said. What did she think he was? And idiot?

“No. I’m saving.”

"Saving? Is that how you justify it in your mind?" He asked quietly as he stood there with arms crossed over his chest, "Last time we spoke you were steeling to survive... that's how you justified it. You stole to survive not for anything else. You need work and money? Fine. I'll pull up the files and see what we can get you working on."

Sara was an odd feline that he just couldn't figure out. She believed in right and wrong but she was willing to look past it if it fit her goals. And because she didn't trust anyone she wouldn't just come to him for help.

"Or are you just doing this because you still think I was out to kill you?"

Sara’s lips pressed together as she listened to the cochins. Her right ear twitched and flicked, but she still stuffed the 250 into wallet E, and started n the next wallet. “That was then, this is now Luke. And not all the money I get is stolen. I take jobs other than what you’ve given me.” Those jobs just aren’t all regular or as honest. Not as the great Luke would like.

Sara moved onto the next wallet and used her claw to put an H on. The rest of the cast when in there and the last wallet was marked with a C and stuffed with the coupons she found between all four wallets. Including 13 free ice cream tickets she intended to give to Johnny. “You’d rehire me after what happened last time?” Sara actually let out a laugh. Her head tilted back up at Luke and she slowly stood. “Look. One, for what I’m saving for, I need a large lump sum, and two, you and I don’t exactly work well together. If you hire me, you’ll have to hire a referee for the same nights.”

"Or are you just doing this because you still think I was out to kill you?"

“It’s still a possibility.” Sara shrugged. Why did he have to bring that up? Sara still didn’t know where she stood on that subject. “You know I’d be stealing still weather I thought you were trying to kill me or not.” She sighed.

What was he supposed to be thinking in this situation? How was he supposed to deal with a cleptomaniac kitty? She was admitting that she wasn't going to give up stealing so... what now? Did he turn a blind eye on her and say that she was above the law or did he try to take in someone that could beat him in a fight without breaking a sweat and that was also an extremely good friend to the love of his life.

"Why does this job have to be so difficult?" He silently pondered as he tried to decide whether he should ever bother saying anything else.

"I don't get you Sara. Do you think CS is an idiot or something? What about Raina... you think she's a ditz? Obviously if you're still considering the idea that I was out to kill you then you must question their judgement." His voice was even but with a trace of annoyance just beneath the surface, "That's a pretty sad commentary... even people you trust, you don't really trust."

"I don't get you Sara. Do you think CS is an idiot or something? What about Raina... you think she's a ditz? Obviously if you're still considering the idea that I was out to kill you then you must question their judgement."

Sara froze. Luke was right there. She didn’t like admitting it, but he was. She’d always avoid thinking of things that way. “Isn’t it obvious that your right there?” Sara glared at him. She was trying to stay calm but that last thought was starting to push her. “Obviously I’d be staying at the mansion if I trusted their judgement of places. Of people.” Sara started walking away because putting distance between her and Luke felt better than getting closer.

"That's a pretty sad commentary... even people you trust, you don't really trust.

Sara froze again. Her lips pressed together and she chose to not look over her shoulder at the super hero wanna be. “You’re wrong. I trust CS and Raina with my life. Things that work for them don’t work for me. Same goes for you! If it did, I’d accept a home at the mansion with the rest, but it doesn’t so I can’t do that.”

"Oh that's right... you can't understand them because they don't live at the mansion. If only I didn't live there, maybe you could trust me more." He began, as though finally realizing something before his voice suddenly turned sarcastic, "But wait... I DON'T live there!

Sara was more frustrating than anyone that he had met before. She had just admitted that she trusted Raina & CS's judgement but she still couldn't agree that maybe, just maybe Luke was trustworthy.

"But that's right... I can't understand the big bad kitty cat because I can blend in with the world. I don't have to sit in an alleyway and feel sorry for myself because I'm covered with fur and don't fit in."

That was a low blow and Wraith knew it... he was pushing Sara and he didn't even know why. What was it about her that just brought out the snappy side of his personality?

"I think I finally figured out your problem." Wraith added as he gripped his climbing rope just a little more firmly, "You just like being miserable."

Without another word he began to climb up the rope toward the roof top above. It was time to get back to patrol before he said anything worse.

Sara was listening to him but her arms were crossed, defensively, and she was standing with her back to him. She trusted him enough because he wasn’t behind her and she had her back to him. Right. Couldn’t that count?

"But wait... I DON'T live there!

“Stand down Luke.” Sara grumbled a warning. She was still staring a head of her. Her arms were still crossed, and things were going to stay that way or Sara was going to walk away because Luke wasn’t going to do this to her again. Even if Sara’s right ear was twitching and flicking like crazy.

"But that's right... I can't understand the big bad kitty cat because I can blend in with the world. I don't have to sit in an alleyway and feel sorry for myself because I'm covered with fur and don't fit in."

Sara’s head jerked and twisted back to glare at Luke. “Don’t even start to act like you know me well enough to say things like that.” Sara shouted. Her eye whidened and she quickly checked herself back into the position that faced her back towards Luke and her arms crossed. Ear twitchy, twitchy. Sara was going to be good. She was going to keep facing this way. She was going to not let Luke do this to her.

"I think I finally figured out your problem. You just like being miserable."

Sara spon around, on her heal. “I do not!” before Sara realized it, she’d covered ten feet between them. She halted, again. “I’m doing this to stop being miserable.” She nearly blurrded out she was buying a safe house but stopped. Luke didn’t need to know that. “What about you!” She tried turning the tables on him. “You apparently love pain. How many times have you been bruised, stabbed, shot. What about that for Raina. Huhhh? What about that for the rest of the x-men. You want to be a hero but what happens to them when you get into trouble. You must have a hell of a guardion angel because all I going for you is a shit load of BS and a bunch of hot air.”

The truth was Sara had respect for Luke. She actually found him to be strong, but cutting him down with things he'd told her he thought of himself felt better than giving him compliments.

Wraith paused on his rope, aproximately eight feet in the air. Narrowing his eyes within the shadows of his hood he slid back down to the ground, landing so that he was facing the cat that had finally turned to face him.

"Love pain? No... but I have a reason for doing it. What about you Miss Healer?" He knew he was about to say something he would probably regret later but right now he didn't care. Sara wanted to get off by acting so high and mighty as though she didn't care about anyone and noone cared about her... she wanted to make it clear that noone could judge her when maybe that was exactly what she needed! He knew that he wasn't perfect but somehow he doubted that Sara had come to that realization about herself.

"You've got enhanced hearing... how do you handle walking down the street when attack victims are sobbing in the shadows? Or how do you like the scent of blood when you walk by some kid that accidently got shot by a drive by?"

Raising a hand, he jabbed a finger in Sara's direction, pointing at her chest without actually touching her, "You spend so much time feeling sorry for yourself and for the people that you know that you don't think about how much good you can do! All you want is to be left alone while out there in the street people get hurt and die! You've got a tail, fur, and you look like a cat... GET OVER IT! Do I like pain? NO! But I sure as hell sleep better at night knowing that I did something to try and help the situation."

There he went again. Sara needed to walk away or better yet, to run, but her feet were rooted to the spot. She couldn’t. when her mind said leave, every physical ounce of her being rooted her to the spot.

"You've got enhanced hearing... how do you handle walking down the street when attack victims are sobbing in the shadows? Or how do you like the scent of blood when you walk by some kid that accidently got shot by a drive by?"

“Hey!” Sara shoved the finger that was pointing at her away. Luke was getting way too close to her heart there. “It hurts!” There he admitted it. Luke should be happy. “I’ve tried the being the hero thing, and my instincts still make me follow a cry for help. So stop Luke.” But he didn’t…

“All you want is to be left alone while out there in the street people get hurt and die!”

“No.” Sara had discovered she was actually a social creature. That times were better when people were around, even if she pushed them away after the disaster was over.

You've got a tail, fur, and you look like a cat... GET OVER IT! Do I like pain? NO! But I sure as hell sleep better at night knowing that I did something to try and help the situation."

Ok that pushed it. Before Sara really knew what her hand was doing, it had moved to shove Luke away only at the last second the fur on the back side of her paw likd hand went up to whip across the face of that acusing Wraith mask. All that pushing of her just sort of exploaded and she wasn’t sure what to think.

He wasn't expecting Sara to try and slap him so there was no chance of avoiding the blow. Even if the had been expecting it he probably couldn't have avoided it since she was so much faster than him. For a few moments he just stared to the side, feeling the sting that the blow left on his face. Cautiously his tongue probed his molars to make sure that none were loose. A part of him knew that Sara really didn't want to hurt him but still... she could, and she could do it quite easily.

"Are you happy now?" His voice was quiet, almost emotionless as he finally brought his head back around to focus on Sara. His control was being stretched to the limit but as much as he wanted to take a swing at Sara he wasn't going to. He wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing him lose it... again. "Do you feel that sense of pride just making you feel all warm and fuzzy?"

His mind was screaming at him to shut up... to just walk away and leave Sara to stew in her own juices but something held him in place. "You can't blame your appearance forever Sara. Sometime you'll have to admit that your own actions got you to where you are. Not just human prejudice."

Sara slapped him. Sara actually slapped him.. .. ..

She kept the glare on her face, just in case Luke’s sonar could pick it up, but behind that glare, she was shocked. Both at the fact Luke was still just standing there, and at the fact she had really just actually slapped him.

"Are you happy now?"

Sara’s lips tightened. “No.”

"You can't blame your appearance forever Sara. Sometime you'll have to admit that your own actions got you to where you are. Not just human prejudice."

Sara blinked. “I don’t blame that.” At least she had told her self for ages that she hadn’t. She didn’t like blaming that. Yes she found some situations funny, and she found some situations frustrating when it came to her looks. She shook her head slowly, because head shaking just makes statements like that easier to believe. “I don’t know what I blame, but I can’t… I don’t blame that.”

“What’s wrong with you Wraith? Do you like reminding me of these things?” Sara crossed her arms tight around her to try to put up that invisible wall everyone talks about, and to make sure her arms were properly restrained. Fearing her instinct might make her slap Luke again. “You don’t like pain but you still stand here knowing that you can remind me of things that you know are easy low blows. That must make you feel really big.”

Sara’s right hand dislodged it’s self from under her left arm and now it was Sara’s turn to point a finger at Luke’s chest. “You need to stop acting like you know me. Like you know what goes through my head. Assume starts with the word @$$ for a reason, and that’s exactly what you’re being.” Sara noticed she’d slowly started leaning forward, towards Luke. She pulled herself away from him but the pointing finger stayed. “You tell me I want to be alone while people die and you’re wrong. I hate solitude. I don’t want to be locked away as much as I don’t want to see the death and destruction and things that go on and if a building were to burn, I would be one f the first people running inside. So stop making all your stupid assumptions!”

“What’s wrong with you Wraith? Do you like reminding me of these things?” Sara finally had her comback and she was throwing it in hi face with a vengeance as she crossed her arms over her chest, “You don’t like pain but you still stand here knowing that you can remind me of things that you know are easy low blows. That must make you feel really big.”

"You should know." He replied without the slightest hesitation, "That's how you treat me every single time we're around each other."

“You need to stop acting like you know me. Like you know what goes through my head. Assume starts with the word @$$ for a reason, and that’s exactly what you’re being. You tell me I want to be alone while people die and you’re wrong. I hate solitude. I don’t want to be locked away as much as I don’t want to see the death and destruction and things that go on and if a building were to burn, I would be one of the first people running inside. So stop making all your stupid assumptions!”

Scanning the area around him, he decided that he had to be hidden in the shadows for the moment so it was time to face Sara as he really was. Reaching back he pushed back his hood and slid the visor up to the top of his head so that his pale eyes would be staring directly back into the kitty cat's own gaze.

"In case you haven't forgotten, I've done my best to be your friend and help you!" Luke replied angrily, his voice heated as he crossed his own arms, doing his best to fight off the urge to punch Sara right on the tip of her nose, "You're the one that stole my cell phone, interupted an evening with my girlfriend, and then accused me of trying to kill YOU because someone adjusted the test house. When all you do is throw my friendship back in my face, WHY THE HELL am I supposed to think you are interested in anything but being alone?!"

She had friends... sure Sara had friends, but why in the world did she have to hate Luke so much? Deep inside Luke knew that all of his frustration and anger still had one focal point... the fact that she had actually thought he would try to kill her. Hadn't she figured out anything about him? Why had her very first assumption been that he was out to kill her or prove that he was a hero? Where did she come off only assuming the worst about people?

"You should know. That's how you treat me every single time we're around each other."

Sara wasn’t denying that. She knew it was the truth. Though that accusing finger lifted slightly.

It was a little shocking when Luke lifted his mask and Sara fought the impulse she had to jerk it right back over his eyes. What was he doing? Pulling his mask up like that. Sara knew what his eyes looked like. She didn’t have to actually have to look at them for his lips to flap. Why harp on her about keeping his identity secret if he was going to blow it right here right now!

"You're the one that stole my cell phone,

Of course he’d bring up that. “I did return it.”

interupted an evening with my girlfriend,

“Raina actually thanked me for slowing things down.”

and then accused me of trying to kill YOU

“Well some people would see interrupting them with their girlfriend as jut cause for killing.” Stupid argument but it worked for Sara.

When all you do is throw my friendship back in my face, WHY THE HELL am I supposed to think you are interested in anything but being alone?!"

By this time Sara felt herself shake a little. She tried to still herself by straightening that accusing finger but she ended up pulling it back. “It’s because you scare the crap out of me!” It was like the words weren’t said, but fell out of her mouth. “I don’t understand you and you scare the crap out of me. You’re too nice and when ever things are too nice, they haven’t been true.” Sara pulled her arms closer around herself as she talked. “When most people would slug me you bought me a hot dog and offered me a job. I cant say what I do isn’t wrong, but you don’t act human. It makes you unpredictable to me. I know what patterns to expect from anyone else, but you.”