[b][center]Ashton and Luna[/center][/b]

It was two weeks after the events that occurred at the Gala. The Gala was a very expensive dinner party, and as one of the wealthiest and important people in the city, he had prime VIP seating. It was more of a casual affair, but with any meeting among the top 1%, there are always business and politics flying about. The party was going without a hitch, until the unwanted happened... tensions got high, new found powers flying left and right as several were injured, three dead. It was a disaster. Ashton, with the help of his personal bodyguard, managed to escape the incident with mere scratches. In the two weeks prior, Conway industries stocks plummeted. As the owner, CEO, and face of the company, usual business partners refused to buy from him due to his abnormalities. The usual expensive shopping areas, clubs, and restraints he frequented were closed off to him. The bank refused to hold his money, and he had to transfer it to a joint account with his Vice President. He was reduced to staying indoors, going on the occasional drive in his Lamborghini, the streets he used to own seeming oh so unfamiliar. There was a meeting between those affected at the Gala, and he planned on going. But before he did that, he had to make sure the company lived on until this mess was sorted out. A few hours before a meeting with the others from the Gala, there was a separate meeting between Conway executives in a discrete location in the city. Since lots of protestors and rioters were outside Conway industry's main building, to try and avoid hazard, they moved the meeting to one of the smaller office buildings in the city. Ashton also brought his bodyguard, Luna, with him, the same one that had accompanied him in the Gala. She was part of the Guardians, a major buyer of his arms. They had sent her to personally accompany him, as most of their firearms came from him. 

 Luna was not sure what had happened. One moment, they were at the gala, and then next, they were subjected to complete and utter chaos. She remembered the scene quite vividly. She was accompanying Ashton Conway, one of Guardian's most trusted sources of weaponry and client. She had already known the man prior to the gala, given how many transactions they had with the man. When it happened, she had managed to escape with the client and then hide for a while, finding out more about her powers. A symbol had appeared on the nape of her neck which was hidden by her hair. It was in the shape of a lightning bolt and was colored black. However, when she attempted to activate her powers, it turned into an electrifying blue. She wasn't sure whether to fear this new power or embrace it. She learned to do the latter. Though, it became increasingly evident that their newfound superpowers weren't exactly accepted by most of the people. She had accompanied Ashton when he attempted to get into shopping areas, clubs and the likes but they were blocked off because of being one of them. She watched as his business went down because multiple business partners decided to withdraw their claims on his products. Everything had hit rock bottom for him. Luna could say the same for herself. She had contacted HQ about her conditions and they said that they couldn't help, not unless she manages to get out of the country and fly back to them. She understood why. Actively helping her might cause some of their clients to not go to them for bodyguards anymore. And so, Luna was stuck helping Ashton. Well, he had the money anyway... but then again, money isn't exactly a very important commodity to them. There was a meeting between those affected in the gala. Ashton planned on going so Luna was naturally going as well. 

"Here, you can drive. Just don't scrath the paint."

Luna looked at the lamborghini with an impressed look. "Wow, I have never driven a lamborghini before... or at least, not the newer ones." Usually, the other rich people had drivers so she only ever rode in them which was impressive in its own regard. She slid into the driver seat and then watched Ashton starting the engine and the doors closed. She let out a small chuckle. "Uh... I can promise you that much." Her hands immediately going to the seatbelt and clicked it into the lock. She looked over at Ashton, "Can't have us getting pulled over after all."

She then held the wheel and then stepped onto the gas. Her driving was pretty smooth but obviously showed that she wasn't used to this kind of car. She wasn't rich and she didn't even own a car, just a motorcycle that was parked back at HQ. "Where are we headed again?"

"There's a meeting across town, in one of the clubs near there. It's a shady part of town, but it was the place they would least expect a bunch of rich people to have a meeting at. Hopefully this meeting goes off without a hitch." Ashton exclaimed, pushing the face of his smart watch. He put in the coordinates for the club, the speaker on the watch coming to life.

"In five miles, turn left on 2nd Street."

"The power of GPS. Hopefully it doesn't careen us into a ditch." Ashton chuckled, sighing and leaning back in his seat. He checked himself in the mirror, smoothing over his jacket and his hair. He had to look presentable for the meeting after all.

"It is a life saver... unless it does give us wrong coordinates." Luna muttered as she followed the instructions the GPS was giving her. A meeting huh? That was the one where all of them were involved wasn't it? The ones who were at the Wildlife Charity Gala. She was quite looking forward to what they thought they should all do. Were they thinking of leaving? Convincing everyone that they were still the same people they were before, but more powerful?

"What are you looking for in the meeting?" She asked Ashton. "Answers?" She questioned why he would risk going to a shady part of town and going to a meeting filled with superpowered individuals. It might also lead to a trap wherein the building would blow up all of a sudden because of some anti-them attacks.

"No, not answers... I doubt any of us have answers." Ashton said after a while, looking at his hand. He could feel himself regaining feeling, the marks slowly disappearing from his arm. "I know it could be a trap, but it's something I need to risk. We are the only ones of our kind, and if we split up we will be picked off and slaughtered like dogs. We need to group up and stick together, because we're the only ones that are for us now." Ashton said solemnly, looking out of the window.

"You want us, the outcasts, to stick together huh?" Luna thought about it. He had a point. No one would stand up to them. Not the government, not their 'friends'... they could only rely on each other because they knew how each other felt. They were stuck in a state of solitude, being shunned by nearly everyone around them. But they could find companionship with their own - their kind. "Yeah, I get that."

"I used to lead a life that anybody would dream of. Billions of dollars, head of a successful company at 19. Lots of fancy cars, the nicest clothes, the best food, an expensive penthouse in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I thought I had everything. Now? It doesn't mean jack shit. My money can'y buy me shit anymore, and it sure as hell ain't saving my ass. Now I literally have nothing. I want to... I want to get away from this. This constant reminder of what was. That, and I doubt staying in the city is good for our health either..." 

"In 2 miles, turn left onto grape street."

"I really appreciate the help you know. I know you didn't have to stay with me. After this meeting, I'm relieving you of your duty. I'm sure you want to go home or something. I don't know." Ashton looked out the window as he said this, looking at the strip clubs and drug dealers on street corners. They were getting close. 

She listened to him rambling on about his life story. She appreciated him speaking - it filled the silence after all. She agreed with what he said. Money didn't have any use to them now. They can't even enter many establishments now. It's weird. They both had their lives hanging on money, it was the only necessity that they knew they really needed. After all, money can give you anything. To have it suddenly lose its sole purpose for you can be jarring. That much is obvious from his story, and Luna could understand where he was going from this.

She turned to the street, eyes catching on to the multiple bars and shady people hanging around. Oh, this place was familiar. This was her place. She grew up in these kinds of streets, much to the dismay of her mother. She fought in these kinds of streets before, beating up anyone who dared try to fight her. Drugs had been prevalent there but she never did try it. It would only ruin lives. She spared a glance at Ashton when he said that he was relieving her of her duty. "Tch, did you really think I wouldn't leave you after the gala? I tried. But I don't have anywhere else to go." She then gave him a little grin. "I'm stuck with you, whether I like it or not."

"Awe, and I thought maybe it was my nice personality and charming good looks that kept you around. But nope, I'm just your only option." Ashton chuckled, opening and closing the hand that was paralyzed, the marks all but gone now. "Well, I'll be glad to have you around then I guess. I know you've saved my ass one or two times before. Let's just make it a back and forth thing. I guard you, you guard me. It's fulllllllproof." he said, looking outside his window at the club.

"Keep dreaming kiddo. You'd need more than just that to get me to stay without good reason." Luna said, rolling her eyes at the male's remarks. He was definitely amusing. She guessed this wouldn't be so bad. "Yeah, that plan sounds good." Though she guessed that was the plan they both agreed to subconsciously before.

"You have now arrived at your destination."

"Well, our plan may be fullproof, but maybe I should have made the car bulletproof. It's bad enough trying not to get shot here, even without the powers."

Luna looked outside, watching the people go by. "In this place, they respond to power. No worries, they wouldn't attack us for no reason..." She then looked back to the inside of the car. "Well, except for stealing this nice ride." Aside from that, she guessed no one would really try to harm them for anything. But only a display of power would send them away with their tails between their legs.

"Yeah, if anybody even lays a finger on this thing, I will risk paralyzing my whole body to throw them to the fucking moon." Ashton chuckled, half joking as he took the keys out of the ignition and stepped out of the car. He went around the other side, opening the door for Luna. "After you. It seems like we're the first ones here. You seem like the type of person these kind of people would listen to. Why don't you get us a table in the back room or something?"

"Sure thing." Luna stepped out of the car and then walked towards the club. She looked at the bouncer who gave her a simple look-up. He didn't seem to mind the assault rifle slung around her shoulder. She then gestured to Ashton who was behind her. His eyes sparked with recognition and then stepped aside to give them way.

"Hmm, so it's that easy huh. Even in this part of town" Ashton whispered to himself, noting that the bouncer didn't even blink at the assault rifle. Was this really nothing new to him? 

"Don't cause any trouble." He said with a gruff voice.

"Wouldn't dream of it." The bodyguard replied. With that, they were inside the club. Blinding strobe lights filled the room along with the high volume music that were blasted out of the speakers. She certainly didn't like these kinds of places but these were places she frequented because of the jobs. She pulled aside one of the waiters there and then whispered him something and then pressed her hand to his side. He quickly nodded and then led them towards the room where the meeting would be held. Once inside, Luna opened her hand to show the money she promised him. 

He bowed and then asked, "Is there anything you would want?"

"A few drinks, just set them out before our guests arrive. After that I don't want to be disturbed..." Ashton whispered, slipping a few hundred dollar bills into his hand. "Are we clear?" 

"Certainly sir. Your drinks will be ready soon." And with that, the waiter left them to an empty table. Ashton walked over, sitting at the head of the table, putting his feet up on it and his hands behind his head.

"And now... we wait."