The GUN rooftop

Xyron walked out onto the rooftop, both hands folded atop his head. So much had happened recently that he felt he needed a little time to just clear his mind. The quiet, fresh air of the falling dusk provided just what he needed. Almost immediately he could feel himself getting calmer, and more in tune with the solitude. As his mind started to empty itself, however, he detected the presence of another on the rooftop. He turned to the individual in question.

"Can I help you?"

Pain was leaning back, staring at the beautiful sky, with of course a lit joint in his mouth...He sat up and pushed his hair back when he heard the other mans voice..."Look's like angel boy found my spot...Unless ya got somethin interesting to say, beat it..." Smoke poured from his mouth as he spoke.

Xyron glanced at the smoking object in the man's mouth, momentarily confused as to its purpose, but he quickly dismissed it. "You must be Brock. Or was it Pain? I have known you as both, so I was never sure which to call you. You are the leader of this institution, are you not?"

"If I like you enough, you can call me Brock...But never call me by name on the battle field..." Pain stopped to inhale another hit, and as he spoke smoke poured from his mouth again..."And yeah, I own this joint, what ya got a problem with the way I'm runnin it? Or did you just come to kiss my ass?"

Xyron laughed at the man's apparent vulgarity.
"Not at all. I hardly have the skills for such an endeavor. I am afraid that my abilities as a fighter are...limited to say the least. As such, I plan on aiding the other members in battle as opposed to fighting alone. I have found that it is much easier to do so with some measure of confortability on or off the battlefield. Your 'ass' has nothing to do with it."

Pain chuckled at him before responding..."It's cool man, I got a few good fighters here...The rest are just support...So I'm use to doin most the work...What's your powers angel boy?"

Xyron put a force field around a pebble and lifted it into the air. By moving his left hand, the pebble began to swerve around in the air. "Just the simple manipulation of energy to create barriers and heal others." He let the pebble drop, before looking back at Pain. "If I am close enough to feel your wounds, I can heal them almost instantaneously. I am afraid the limit to these powers is that I am unable to return individuals back from death. I can only prevent such atrocities."

"Ya aint gotta worry bout me...I can't be killed, and I heal on my own...But that don't mean your useless angel boy...Plenty of the others are gonna need ya to save there asses...So stay alive..." Pain extended his hand that held the joint, "Join me for a smoke? Or is that against the "Angel code" " Pain said mockingly with a chuckle...

Xyron was still a little unsure as to what the item's purpose was, but he took it anyway as a show of good faith. Mimicing Pain's earlier actions, Xyron took a toke...and almost immediately started coughing. In between coughing fits, he handed back the joint. Taking a moment to regain his composure, Xyron eventually managed to cease his violent reaction to the fumes. "It is not against any code of mine, but I am afraid I might add it after this experience." Xyron looked up at the sky, taking in the glittering stars that were scattered like confetti amidst the dark blue backdrop. "It is a beautiful night tonight."

"It aint so bad once ya get use to it..." Pain chuckled at him as he looked up at the sky, admiring the stars with him..."Yeah...It is pretty nice out..." He inhaled another hit and exhaled after a few moments...

Xyron extended a hand, trapping some of the smoke into the shape of an arrow. He then released the arrow into the sky, as if to shoot the moon. "It is a pity that the world doesnt always know peace such as this. All the suffering and killing is almost too much to bear. I am drawn to it, like a moth to the flame, and I am truly disappointed by what has become of humanity." Xyron looked back over at Pain. "But then there are others. People who are better, and shine like these stars that dance before us. You are one such individual. Despite all the hardships you have endured, you still fight for the good in the world. I commend you for that."

Pain shook his head and let out a small chuckle..."I aint the hero your makin me out to be...I'm just keepin my friends dream alive..." Pain looked up to the stars..."Your an angel right...So that means...Heavens real...You wouldn't happen to know if Ein and Emmett are up there..."

Xyron smiled. "I knew you would ask eventually. I could sense it playing heavily on your mind." He leaned over, and his face took a more serious expression. "Ein and Emmitt were both extraordinary individuals, full of both courage and a sense of what was right. Your brother sacrificed himself nobly, seeking to tear down the tyranny of Mistresso and Doomplague. Ein too fell battling the oppression of SCAR. You knew them both and you knew the color of their character, so you already know the answer." Xyron never took his eyes off the battle-scarred veteran, allowing enough time for his vague answer to sink in. "But that is the tricky thing about knowledge. It tends to remove your faith. I could tell you that your friend and brother are both in heaven, or you could believe that they are, and have faith in His judgement. Sometimes having faith can inspire hope, and hope is often your greatest ally."

"Yeah...The thing is angel boy...I don't have hope or faith...I don't really have much knowledge either...But they did..." Pain took a moment before he spoke again..."The thing I'm really worried about...I don't know if I'll ever see em again...I didn't exactly lead my life as a saint like them..."

"'Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.' You need not lead a life of sainthood, unless you were planning on becoming a saint. Redemption is ahcievable by any man." Xyron laughed as he added: "You should read a book sometime."