Measuring One's Worth

Like many big cities, Las Vegas appeared to be the kind of place where dreams came true. The lights, the fancy casinos and attires, the seemingly endless array of things to do. Yes, this indeed seemed like the Disneyland for adults. However, another thing this place shared with those like it was a darker side that few were privy too, or even refused to admit existed.

If one bothered to look past the glitz and the glamour, maybe even take a trip down the alleys, they'd find all sorts of shady activity going on, from swindlers and drug addicts to homeless people beating on each other for whatever scraps they could get. It seemed even in today's society, there was still a great divide between those who had too much and those who had too little. However, there were those trying to change this in whatever small yet meaningful way they could.

"Here ya go, sir. Nice hot meal for ya," Alan said with a smile as he dropped off yet another brown paper bag to a homeless man on the street. When the man tried to get out whatever money he had, the young man shook his head, "You can repay me by enjoying your food. That's all I ask. Now if you excuse me, I got a few more deliveries to make." With a quick salute, he headed off down the street, arms full of paper bags and passing them out to whomever looked in desperate need of them.

Alan had been raised from a young age to help out his fellow man, and seeing the way the people here lived angered him to no end. As such, he managed to walk out of a Las Vegas buffet with parcels of food, saying he had a big family to feed. He felt a bit bad about lying, but it was quickly squashed when he remembered why he was doing this. It wasn't much but at least it proved there were still those who cared about the little guys.

The rhythm of hurried footfalls echoed through the alleyway. Mingling with the tired breathing of a person seemingly on their last leg, falling against one of the rickety dumpsters, making a small racket that went unnoticed. Another shove off of it, rushing forward through the dim darkness. This mad dash forward continued, until he seemingly was thrown against a wall. A thick meaty thud rang out, person sliding along it until they connected with the ground.  A faint shimmer of blood streaking down his forehead, made apparent with the faint light from some kind of artificial light. The one having knocked them into the wall looming like an imposing figure over the downed male, glaring at them.

”Going to keep running or do I need to break those legs.” The large male rumbled, looking down upon the smaller one. ”Trust me, I wouldn’t mind doing that.” No response to that, several seconds of silence followed with a flash of fire, heat and light filling the alleyway. Washing over brick walls, and the person that had been standing over the downed man, keeping that stream maintained. A hand reached through the flames, grasping his throat and slamming them against the wall hard enough to rattle them a little. Instantly stopping the flow that had been created, and leaving the alleyway in darkness again.

“A fiery temper to match the ability.” A smooth, deep voice spoke up. Faint lights dancing from embers revealed someone walking towards the two, dressed in fancy black slacks and a dress coat, tan skin matching the well kept beard hugging his jawline. Black hair cut short, belying the bookish aspect that the glasses gave him. “I don’t believe my friend quite likes someone trying to burn him to death, or the attention that brings.” A foot away from the male, enough so that he could touch them by reaching out with a casual motion. Fingers and thumb touched his forehead, seemingly to slip through in an odd ripple. No flesh was broken, and no sound of cracking bone accompanied it, Anthony pulling back with an odd shaped disc within his hand.

“You won’t be a problem anymore.” A gun removed from his coat. “You used your gift for many terrible things, so now you get your punishment.” A pull of the trigger, slamming through his shoulder due to a quick movement. Blood splattered across the wall as he was already making a run for it.

Alan was just after dropping off the last of the hot meals when he heard a commotion from a nearby alleyway, "What the?" Cautiously, he stepped forward for a closer look but when he went for a peek...the entire alleyway seemingly burst into flames. The young man recoiled just in time to avoid being caught by the fire. However, before he even had a chance to properly react, the flames went out just as suddenly they had appeared.

Curiosity and concern overwhelming self-preservation, he peeked into the alleyway and paled at what he saw. One man had his hand on another's face and pulled it away to reveal he had some sort of disc. They then backed off and pulled out a gun, shooting the man dead. Deciding now was as good a time as any, Alan stepped into the shadows and morphed into Siren before using their telekinesis to move a car into the exit to the alley with herself sitting on top of it.

The shadows partially obscuring her face, her eyes narrowed at the gun-wielder, "Hi there....mind telling me what that was all about and why I shouldn't just leave you to the cops?"