A homecoming moment

[HeartString]

It was cute to see all the younger kids running up the chromed hallways of the lower levels, but she wanted a moment with her guy. They had been team mates for a few years now, and even though Tracy knew about Mason and his activities she still couldn't stop what she had been feeling for him from growing, especially now that she knew he felt it too.

He had always been discreet in his trips to town or to New York City, but Tracy knew what he was up to. Her power wouldn't let her escape the knowledge, so for him to be wanting to protect her from himself was just what a knight in shining armor would do. He was chivalrous, and she was for too long now his lady in waiting.

As they all walked down the hall together, students and teachers she stole a glance as him. Her hand in his she gave a squeeze and bit her lower lip slightly before letting her lips part into an adorably flirtatious smile. An almost giggle escaped her as she was feeling excited about being home, but more excited about her future now and what would happen with her and Mason.

[Ironclad]

Mason was deep in thought about Cyclops' de-briefing, going through his mind about some of the words of wisdom like he always did. Many may not think it, but he really took the words from his Team Leader seriously. His thoughts were interrupted but a soft smaller hand slipping into his own. He looked down to meet Tracy's wide blue eyes that could melt a diamond. A small half smile slid on his face. Mason never intended for things to go this far with her, he was protective of her to the point where she didn't want him making the mistake of falling for him or settling for him. Now that it did come this, it wasn't that bad and it felt right.

With a smirk on his face, Mason forced them to walk slower, waiting for at least the teachers to pass them. He didn't really care about the other students, he just didn't feel like having alone time with Emma, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and all the rest of them watching him. Once the teachers were a far enough ahead of them, Mason pulled Tracy in the area right in front of the weapons room. He leaned her against the wall and moved his arms around her waist.

"Hey," he whispered moving his hands up her sides. "I didn't get a chance to ask, are you alright? After that whole thing in Limbo and that girl dying up there... well you had me worried." Mason studied her face very carefully to see if she would hold back anything. He knew her well enough to have a good idea when she was hiding something or something was bothering her. The pizza could wait for now.

[HeartString]

Her smile slowly melted and she swallowed hard. She wrapped her hands around his thick upper arms and looked into his eyes. "I try and force those things out of my head, but since you're asking..." she took a breath and said "...that girl died in my arms Mason. I don't think I'll ever forget that, sensing her emotions at the moment of their death as I felt her stop breathing and my power could do nothing for her. No... I'm not alright."

"But that was there and like I said I do what I can to force those things out of my head. She wasn't the first that I couldn't save you know, but it's a part of life, you know death. I don't want to think of it now, I just want to.." she put her hand to her face to hold back the emotions. There had been too many people she couldn't save over the years and she never liked to think about it. If she wasn't 'on call' to save the mutants of the whole wide world maybe she wouldn't have lost so many. She sucked it up, she was better with her own emotions now than ever. "I can handle it. I know I can't save them all, Mason I know that, but it still...it's still awful." Tracy said.

[Ironclad]

Mason's hard dark eyes softened as he studied her while she answered him. She never denied him an answer to a question like that, and he knew when she was holding stuff back. He knew she was holding back, but not cause she didn't trust him, but because she was hurting. I really shouldn't be pissed at a dead girl for dying in my girl's arms, but I am. Trace got enough to deal with and she didn't need that. freak, Mason thought, but put the thought aside to give Trace the little comfort he could.

He pulled her into his arms and held her tight, resting his chin on her head and inhaling her scent. "You did all you could Trace. And you did well, you always do well doll, always," he said in a low voice rubbing his hand up and down her back. Mason knew that he couldn't make it go away, but he was there for her. He had always been there for her before and that wouldn't change.

Rocking her slowly back and forth, the way he wanted to do earlier in the lab, Mason sighed into her hair. "Your one strong girl doll," he said quietly in a gruff voice that was filled with pure admiration for her. She was one hell of a teammate, though they used to be team rivals they were always friends. He watched her come to terms with her powers, struggle with them and slowly master them. She held her own in their training sessions, and kept up with Mason well enough for him to consult her a lot about his decisions for the team. He wasn't kidding when he said she was strong, and that made his heart all the more hers.

[HeartString]

"Thank you so much..." her voice trailed off as he held her and stroked her back, "...so much for understanding Mason. If there was ever one person I know I could go to about anything it has always been you. I do my best, but I am not god. You know people how they look at me- you've seen it- and I feel them when I fail Mason, I feel them hating me or at the least disappointed in me, it is rough. So thank you for what I feel from you right now."

She looked up into his eyes. His chocolate hazel eyes that held the flecks of gold. Gold that showed the purity of his heart, she knew it because she had felt it. He had tried and succeeded for how long she didn't know to hide it from her, but now she could feel it. Now he was not hiding any more. "I ...I..." she wanted to say something but the words, the thoughts, they escaped her. Drawn away from her own grief and stresses by the eyes of her Knight, her chivalrous warm hearted Knight. Her face softened, brow un-furrowed and her soft full lips started to curl into a smile at the faith she felt he had in her.

[Ironclad]

A small smile appear on Mason's face at the look of Tracy all smiles again. "There we go, that's the smile I like," he said giving her a squeeze. He was glad he checked up on her, he usually did anyways because he did give a damn and he made it a duty to make sure he knew what was going on in his teammates heads whenever he could. If he knew what the issue was, it was easier to work with rather than work around and have it effect their team as a whole. The Hellions may have known each other longer, but even with Kelly Burns, the Corsairs were pretty well in sync with each other.

Mason pulled away from Tracy a little bit and kept his arm around her waist. "Up for some pizza doll? I could go for some grub," he said and walked back down the chrome hallway with his girl. "You okay for the crowd? And in general?" he asked again glancing down at her as they walked towards the elevator.