Any Port in a Storm (pg-13)

Russia had given Kas a ton of things to consider. Life was changing so rapidly, he started to feel like a ship lost in a tidal wave. The major question on his mind was- emminent crash? New York's streets were more dangerous than he'd ever pictured, with several anti-mutant groups seeminly always on the watch for anyone doing strange and unusual things.
Vegas wasn't as preoccupied with the issue. It was far from the iconic X-school, and most of the tourists there were busy blowing all of thier cash to care about some freaks, unless the problem was right there in their face.

Traveling by airplane made him realize something, though. Kas really liked the view from a high place looking down. He also realized he hadn't been to most of New York City's major tourist attractions.. it was time to see one.

The Empire State building's top floor proved to be everything he hoped. The sight was spectacular. He could have stayed here all day, just watching and thinking. Luck wasn't often on his side, however. Sooner or later, there would be a reason to leave, but he would stay here gazing out dreamily at the city for as long as fate would allow it.

"Ha ha." Issuing a false humor, Kas glanced over at the feisty woman, smirking just a bit.
"Nothing much, honey-bun. You look like you're doing well for someone that almost took a dirt nap."

Truthfully, it had scared him too. Kas didn't know much about Rachel, but he certainly didn't want her blood on his hands, so to speak.
Moments of silence could pass while he stayed there, staring out over NYC.

"So.. why did you stay behind?"
The question of the hour. Why tell someone else not to take risks, and do so yourself; almost perishing in the process? Rather hypocritical.. and it stung. Didn't she think that he knew what he was doing? Was she really so selfless a person she would have died to save that kid?
One minute, she's talking about making people beg for death's release like some serial-killer nutjob; the next she's trying to become a martyr.

"I don't get you.."

"Seems we have a little common ground, then." Remarking dryly of her views of having no one but herself, he tilted his head and looked at her as Rachel proceeded to again prod at his reasonings. Why did he decide to risk life and limb for a bunch of people he scarcely knew?

"Okay. We'll play it that way. An answer for an answer."
He breathed a sigh, turning around and squaring his shoulders against the cool window behind him.
"I'm trying to make up for all the lives I've taken. Balance things out. It's one thing to know you're going to die- it's another to know you're going to hell when you do.."

He shrugged. Seemed simple enough, right? Though he'd lost countless nights of sleep over it.
"So, I guess it's my turn now? What are you doing in this city?"

He didn't picture Rachel to be the sort that wanders around looking for trouble, but he could be mistaken. He really didn't know much about her- or anyone here for that matter. While friends and companions weren't of a great concern; the cause of his fellow mutant was.
The Xavier school had their own agenda.. which he frankly saw as a moot point. Wasted potential. They could change so much with the people on their side- and yet they chose to remain idle, and react rather than act.
He was more of the 'get shit done' sort. Disable a problem before it becomes a threat..

"What is your goal?"

"Your secrets are safe." He assured, turning somber while listening to Rachel's story. It was so hauntingly familiar in so many ways..

"You already know part of it." Speaking of their short snippets of conversation on the plane. Being a lab-rat stuck in a cage didn't yeild much opportunity to form one's own opinions. He was force-fed the idea that mutant supremacy was only a matter of time; or so he'd been told... It was just a bittersweet lie. Something for him to cling to- a reason to fight.
Ultimately, the reasons were all fake.

"I was programmed to kill. There's really no other way to say it. Humans, mostly. Mutants would get in the way sometimes, and I would have to.."
He stopped there, shaking his head and staring over his shoulder out the window.
"I don't know if you've ever heard of a place called Genosha? That is where my father learned what he knew. After it fell apart, he started his own operation. Dr. Moreau was one of his buddies..."
The fundamentals were different, twisted in their own ways. Though the idea was the same; Mutants were nothing more than property, to be used to further one's own ideals.
The supremacy was really in the hands of those in control..

"Anyway, there's your answer."

While he nodded to Rachel's story, Kas didn't have alot to say. It all made pefect sense. Keeping people at a distance was safer- because you never know when you would make the mistake of opening up to the wrong one. So far, however, he hadn't given anyone to take advantage of. He made no promises to anyone.

At the words 'make our own history', Kelly looked back from the window to the dark-haired woman and half-shrugged.
"I wouldn't know.. Dr. Moreau hasn't been seen or heard from him since the bad regime was broken up, and Genosha turned back into a mostly-normal country." Honestly, he didn't want to think about that possibility. The things that man did were sickening. Screwing with genetics, turning normal humans into 'mutates' who oftentimes became unstable, and tailoring mutants that cooperated with him to have more power than they could handle..

"It's best not to kick a dead horse. There are plenty of other problems to worry about."

"Well, there's always persecution of our kind going on. There's a big problem."
Kas replied passively. No, his problems weren't hers.. and that was the best way to leave it.

Mentioning leaving New York City made him shrug. In a year, he'd been to two cities.
"'My stature'? Please.." He shook his head. "I stay around where there's a cause. As long as no one is trying to throw me in jail. I've been thinking about leaving the country for a while. Getting out there and seeing the world."
The world he'd read so much about, but was never allowed to see.

"What about you? Not interested in sticking around and continuing your crusade against Wall Street?" He snikkered. "If you ever need a partner-in-crime, lemme know. I'm all for the idea of fucking with the power of the almighty dollar."
Next to mutants, the impoversed were an even greater subject of oppression. Add to that the majority of mutants were forced to be poor; and you had a cause worth fighting for.

"Canada? You must like the cold alot." He smiled a little. "You're kind of a crime-fighter then? I bet the NYPD really appreciates that." Sarcasm, of course. Cops always had the opinion that no one was above the law, and to solve matters by your own hand only made you another kind of criminal.
Las Vegas had taught him alot about avoiding police; but not because he was stopping crime..
Maybe, since atonement was the driving force of his actions, it was time to do something good for everyone.. not just the mutant community.

"Okay. Hell, why not. Here is my mobile number. If you ever need a hand with your vigilante work, I'm still willing to help out. The least I could do."

This he said while pulling out a receipt for some drive-thru, and scribbling his name and number on the back with a blue ink pen. Then he offered it to her with a nod.

"Canada is only less crazy because there are less people."
Considering only half the country was livable anyway.. who wanted to get crazy in those kind of temperatures?
Kas smiled a bit as she took the slip of paper and made a fair observation. He was to-the-point when it suited the situation. Her suggestion made him chuckle.
"Maybe. It depends on if you would like that, or not." Now he was being vague, dropping a hint to follow hers. "I'm sure I could find something that might even suit the tastes of a perceptive lady such as yourself."

Rachel smiled at his mention of the phone number. Her only joking turned out to be the thing of reality. She knew guys pretty well, but as always, she didn't want anyone coming too close to her. She feared criminals might use them to force Rachel's hand. She couldn't afford that or to put anyone's life in her hands. Maybe she could allow couple people, but not many. "Canad is fairly large country, and it's close to New York," said Rachel, looking at her watch. "Maybe I'll take you up on that offer someday," smiling again. "Oh, crap...I completely forgot. I was going to pick something for Stephan in the mall. I better get moving, before the mall closes." said Rachel.

Kas nodded, not forcing the issue. It was understandable that she wanted to keep people at a certain distance.
"Take care of yourself, hottiecakes." He snikkered.
"You know how to get in touch, if you ever need somebody.." for whatever reason.
Kelly gave her a smile, returning to watching the city below.

((Guessing this is Completed))