"...Yeah, but that's 'cause you took him out. I saw it... well, not it. But I saw you take him back."
"He would have stopped if he could, Trav. I didn't do anything special."

Ghost and Travis, an 'I just turned eleven for your information' year old shape changer, were sitting in the adult's hall a yard or so away from the landing that lead to the stairs. They sat side by side, facing away from the main stair, tossing spilled pebbles from a planter toward the yawning mouth of a decorative vase that could only have existed un-shattered for as long as it had in the calm hall full of supposed adults.

It was after lunch, but not yet after school time. Travis had to be skipping class. Ghost had a short stack of books from the library and notepaper scattered around where she had been sitting next to Garrett's door. She'd been stubbornly doing her work there waiting for him to stop by. That's when she'd run into Travis. Or rather Travis had run into the planter. Ghost hadn't seen Garrett in what felt like forever, and she was prepared to wait for him there all day and all night if that's what it took. Melodic sounds echoed musically in the stillness of the hall as the pebbles bounced against the delicate vase. Tossing rocks at a vase was a much needed homework respite. Plink. Tink.

"I heard he's got no hair." Ping. Travis broke their comfortable silence first with a straightforward statement and grammar that suggested that maybe he was missing English class.
"Well, no, he doesn't have any hair. Not that I know of anyway. Maybe eyelashes? I'll check next time I see him if you like." Pi-pi-pink. That one had bounced back and fourth on its way down into the vase.

"I don't get it."
Plink. Ghost patiently waited for Travis to expound upon his misconstructions.
"How come you're not scared of him? He hurt everyone. H-he's different. His ability is bad." Travis was shaking his head. This seemed to be a common thought among the younger kids. Poor Garrett had been cast as the new boogey man. Most had really felt helpless against the pain that had awoken them all in the night.

Ghost shrugged simply. Tink. "I'm not scared because I know it wasn't on purpose." She smiled, taking careful aim before she let the next pebble fly. Clink. Nothing but net. "Sure, he has the potential to hurt people, but I think we all have that potential. Even me and you." Plink. "But you wouldn't hurt anybody would you? Not on purpose, right?" She nudged him and Travis shrugged.

Bi-tink-clink. Another bouncer.

"You sure you're not a teacher?" Travis eyed Ghost until she laughed.

"Not yet. I'm still in school too... speaking of which..." Ghost poked the younger toe-haired boy in the shoulder. "Don't you have class today? Or was your assignment to try and break and enter?"

She only got muted grumbles for an answer.

"Tra-vis! It's important!" She nudged him again. "We're extraordinary people, right? Class, even the lame ones, are all helping shape you into the person you'll eventually become. Extraordinary people need extraordinary control."

Ping. "So we don't end up like Pain Guy?"

Ghost sighed. "Even if I didn't know for a fact that Garrett is a good person, I still think that's a little insulting. That was a one-time thing, Trav. Control wasn't an option. If it were, you probably wouldn't even know Garrett lived here."

They sat in relative silence for a moment sending little rocks zipping through the air at the vase as they both mulled. This time it was Ghost who broke the silence, "You know... Even though you think Garrett's mutation, his gift for neural stuff, is only harmful, there's good there too. I actually think he might have thought he was a bad guy too at first." She mused with a smile. "But I think there is a real balance in everyone. Good and bad. There's good in everybody, you know. An upside to every downside." Ting. She had to believe that was true...

"Sois that mean there's bad in everybody too?"

Ghost shrugged again. Man, this kid was a real philosopher. Plink. "That's why I think people are actually pretty on the inside." Ping. "That balance? It's all potential. Sure there are people who do some bad things, but I think everybody actually wants to be good on some level. Everybody just needs a wittle woooove and affection." She teased as she rumpled Travis's hair with one hand and lay her other arm across his shoulders.

"Augh! Gross." He responded in true little boy fashion. He shrugged out of Ghost's arm and smoothed out his hair style with his sweaty palms. Like he had an image to protect or something.

"Still think it's a good idea to spy on him?" Ghost shot back, unabashed.

"I was only just-- I mean, it's not like I was gonna... ug." The rest of his protests came out as half-hearted murmurs.

"Have a good time going back to class." Ghost smiled sweetly wiggling her fingers to the boy as he got to his feet. "I'll tell him you said hi if you want."

"Psh. You're only sitting here 'cause you so like him." Travis accused and Ghost had to blink at him a few times as he launched into a rather convincing round of 'Ghosty and Pain Guy sitting in a tree.' It didn't surprise her that he'd noticed, most every emotion seemed to filter through no matter if she tried to hide it or not. She hadn't been trying to hide her... affections. Not to her knowledge at least. 'K - I - S - S - I - N - G.'

Ghost blushed, well that had happened once. "Mmmm. You might actually be right about that one." Travis gasped dramatically and then transformed into a rather lopsided baby's carriage in order to accentuate the rest of the song. An antique looking black bassinet with two different sizes of metal wheels continued to sing to her in a teasing boy's tone.

'first comes love, then comes marriage...'

Ghost shifted nervously now. She obviously hadn't thought that far ahead.

'then comes Ghosty with a baby carriage.'

Ghost swatted at the carriage but the wheels seemed to turn on their own, sending him speeding down the hallway. "Go to class, you skipper!" She shouted feebly after him. Stupid kids. Always knew how to ruffle your feathers.

Garrett had spent the day wandering the grounds of the Mansion. Talking with Raina had given him calm as well as apparently doing the same for her. Looking out at the gray skies, the crisp wind of Autumn blowing over the smooth skin of his head, he thought about the night of the incident. Whoever the man in black was, he had come in and walked the property, gotten into Neena's office and pilfered prior to even being discovered. Much work was to be done around there. Neena couldn't do everything, though it often seemed to Garrett that she was the only 'adult' contributing much.

Garrett had heard the whispers and seen the glances of fear from the younger students. Part of him wanted to encourage the fear, but, fortunately, that part of him was no longer relevant. It was there, permanently, but it had just become another challenge. It was another obstacle between Garrett and his higher purpose. His facing and eyes turned back towards the Mansion. How many others like him, lost in the cold world, could this place save and protect? Too many of the students took the refuge they had for granted, not realizing how bad it could get.

Garrett walked through the front doors, closing them behind him to keep the draft out. he could hear the television on in the living room. He smiled and looked over, seeing several kids and teens watching something. He started to take a step but eyes and whispers shot his way, the laughter becoming hushed anxiety. He looked down, his smile faded. He looked up at the stairs, thinking not only of the solace of his bedroom, but of Maya as well. He had avoided her for a while, fearing the demon might get the better of him and his internal anger spilling onto her needlessly. He had spent several days in isolation, trying to meditate and understand himself.

Trudging up the steps, he could hear her voice. It was like a welcome melody of native birds that a soldier, returning home from a war, might happily greet as their warbling assured him he was home again. He also heard a younger child's voice. He stopped short of being high enough up to be seen, listening to the boy affirm his suspicions about the younger kids and their fears. It hurt him to know that those that should be looking up to him were actively looking away. It made him want to turn and walk off again. However, Maya's voice at the talk of kissing seemed to wrap its gentle embrace around his head by the ears, pulling him closer to her.

As he topped the stairs, he could see a screaming..baby carriage? careening off into the hallway. He stood and looked at Maya's form from behind for a moment. She could already sense him, whether she voiced it or not. " I'm glad you enjoyed the kiss as much as I did. Hopefully, it won't be the last." She spun around and looked at him. Her honey brown eyes soothed and warmed him immediately.

First comes love....

She knew someone was coming, it was part of the whole elemental awareness, but it didn't make it any less of a surprise when it turned out to be Garrett. Maya knew his voice and once he spoke she knew at once who it was. She turned where she sat, craning her face up to meet his eyes. Her cheeks were already burning pink even before he mentioned kissing. "You just had to hear the part about kissing..." She lamented. He heard the parts about kissing and not the parts about him being very good and kind.

Maya smiled up at him automatically, it was her natural response. "It's been a long time." She shifted to get her feet underneath her so that she could stand in a single graceful movement without needing help. "Have you found your balance?" She asked a bit shyly. Her books, her scattered papers, even the baby carriage, Travis, that had just been taunting her... all were forgotten. This is what she'd been waiting for. She knew he had to come back at some point.

" Found my balance? Not yet. Though I now have the firm footing to begin such a maneuver." No time to wax cosmic. She was here, her eyes and smile burning into him. He slid the key free from his neck and unlocked his bedroom door, pushing it open, his eyes never leaving hers. He slid his arm around her waist, looking firmly at her. " I'm sorry for hurting you. I know it wasn't me, but still, I will never hurt you again. I promise."

Old Garrett would have waited patiently for a reply and rebuttal. Garrett kissed Maya warmly and fully before retracting and stepping over the threshold of his room. "Come on in and we'll talk about it in length." He smiled his smile at her, so happy to see her and have her back.

"Found my balance? Not yet. Though I now have the firm footing to begin such a maneuver." She smiled glad to hear that at least he had begun the journey. He opened the door and slid his hand around her waist and she was instantly nervous. Maya hardly protested even when he looked at her with eyes that held so much depth that she thought she might get lost.

"I'm sorry for hurting you. I know it wasn't me, but still, I will never hurt you again. I promise."

"You didn-" but he was pressing his lips against hers cutting off her protest. Her brows bunched, but again she did not protest. She swallowed nervously as he withdrew from her and stepped into his room beckoning her in. Maya took a step forward and felt her papers slide beneath her bare feet. Oh right. The world did still exist. There were things to do still. Things to say. She knelt and gathered the books and papers before stepping into Garrett's room.

"You didn't hurt me." She finally took the time to finish the statement that he'd kissed away, but only after swallowing again and clutching her books tightly to her chest. She felt like a kid all over again: cheeks ruddy with a constant flush. Maya stood just inside the door. "But I'm glad you're back. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me..."

Garrett's demeanor seemed to catch Maya off guard, but not as readily as the kiss did. He felt her return it, but barely. She was still the formal girl he had fallen in love with. He just felt that life was too short not to kiss the woman you loved when you felt the urge. She lingered at the door, seeming hesitant to enter."You didn't hurt me." Garrett smiled , obviously relieved. " I am glad to hear that."

"But I'm glad you're back. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me..."Garrett's smile faded away as he thought of the time he had spent alone lately. " Honestly, I did at first. I avoided everyone. I was filled with a ravenous appetite for revenge and even discussed some possibilities with people. It took a while for me to realize that was the last bit of the demon, fighting for control. I needed to purge that hate and anger, just not in such an extreme way. In fact, I am still carrying it, it just isn't so hidden anymore." He sat on the edge of the bed, looking out the window and then back into Maya's eyes.

" I thought of you often, though, and knew I couldn't be apart from you for long.I love you, Maya, more every day. I thought about leaving the Mansion behind even, but the thought of your tears made that only a fleeting thought. I think instead I am going to stay and try to make this place better. I'm glad to see you have been studying. Perhaps I should enroll in some classes too. "

Garrett admitted to avoiding her, well, he'd avoided everyone - not just her. That did kind of make things a bit better. It also meant that what little smile he had rallied died at the mention of the last few days. Honestly, Ghost had been keeping herself busy. She hadn't been around enough to realize the actual damage caused.

"...I was filled with a ravenous appetite for revenge and even discussed some possibilities with people. It took a while for me to realize that was the last bit of the demon, fighting for control. I needed to purge that hate and anger, just not in such an extreme way..." Maya nodded along gravely. For a time she had considered a revenge of her own kind. Not harmful, but more reconnaissance aimed. She still hadn't dismissed the idea, but she hadn't spoken with anyone about it yet either. It was still simmering. Her eyes flicked from where they had drifted off unfocused while she was thinking to Garrett as he took a seat on the bed. He seemed to feel her eyes on him and he turned from the window to meet her eyes.

"I thought of you often, though, and knew I couldn't be apart from you for long. I love you, Maya, more every day." She nodded along absently. That was fine. Love was fine, right? Better than hate, though just as dangerous.

"I thought about leaving the Mansion behind even,"[/color] A brief flutter of panic flapped to life in her chest. "but the thought of your tears made that only a fleeting thought. I think instead I am going to stay and try to make this place better. I'm glad to see you have been studying. Perhaps I should enroll in some classes too."[/color] Maya sighed in relief. If he left... what would she do?

"Cerebrally, I came to the mansion thinking that I would never entwine the cord of my life with anyone else's..." Maya made herself slide the books, her safety net, onto the desk next to the ever present incense. "I'm glad you didn't leave. I think we're a bit too intertwined to make for a clean separation." She was entirely too attached. These last few days had been very busy for her, but Garrett had been constantly on her mind as well. It seemed it was too late to go back now. It was time to go forward.

Maya swallowed and sat gingerly next to Garrett on the bed. She maintained a polite distance just in case. Garrett should really get some chairs in here. "I couldn't stand sitting there when you were unconscious so I kept busy. I hope you weren't lonely, but a lot happened while you were out. As you can see, I started classes. I got a fake ID. I even got a job." She smiled a bit wearily and wrinkled her nose. "They make me wear pants." She was still getting used to the change of pace, but it was good to be busy again.

"I started training in the Danger Room, I went to meet Tarin and the shop was trashed, but you probably heard about that," Maya shrugged simply as she thought of the myriad other things that had happened as she smoothed the wrinkles in her floral print skirt. "First round of papers are due this week. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to be in school, but it's starting to come back. I think the structure would be nice for you, Garrett. There's something to do all the time."

Maya didn't seem to flinch at the mention of love. He felt it and needed to say it . Her silent assent at least made him feel as if she felt similar. He saw her put her books down, apparently relaxing somewhat, though seemingly still shaken from the kiss. "I'm glad you didn't leave. I think we're a bit too intertwined to make for a clean separation." Garrett had a look of puzzlement for a moment." I am not going to leave you, dear. Quite the contrary. I want our relationship to grow and become something great. "

She sat on the bed near him, still keeping her distance and returning to her nervous habit of smoothing her skirt out. It made Garrett smile to see such simple reminders of the one he loved."I couldn't stand sitting there when you were unconscious so I kept busy. I hope you weren't lonely, but a lot happened while you were out. As you can see, I started classes. I got a fake ID. I even got a job." She smiled a bit wearily and wrinkled her nose. "They make me wear pants." Garrett listened to her, nodding and finding every word interesting. " I don't blame you for not remaining vigilant at my bedside. Waking up to find you there was what meant most to me. Once I was out of the woods, so to speak, it was really best for me to rest and try to heal. I'm glad to see you motivated and surprised a bit to hear of a fake ID. I understand why though. Where do you work?" He decided nt to mention out loud his notion how how nice she must look in pants. He'd just wait to see that himself.

"I started training in the Danger Room, I went to meet Tarin and the shop was trashed, but you probably heard about that." Maya shrugged . "First round of papers are due this week. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to be in school, but it's starting to come back. I think the structure would be nice for you, Garrett. There's something to do all the time." Garrett seemed to be concentrating as she mentioned Tarin. He vaguely recalled hearing about something like that, but the memory was fuzzy. He'd try to find out more before too long. " The Danger Room? I hope it helped. I need to spend some time in there, really get the hang of the programs, not to mention that a good vigorous workout would only make me better." He smiled at her again.

" Well, the school idea sounds good. I really need some education and purpose. I can clearly see that now. I need to have a nice long official talk with Neena before long. The one thing I want you to realize though, for certain, is that I am not going to abandon you. Ever. I will be here as long as you are. Perhaps if we both tire of the Mansion, we could get an apartment together off campus. Other than that, I need you too much to be too far from you." Garrett's eyes echoed the sentiment.

"I am not going to leave you, dear. Quite the contrary. I want our relationship to grow and become something great."

"Ehm. I would like that very much." Maya swallowed nervously. In regards to Garrett, she wasn't afraid of the same kind of pain that everyone else was. Her skirt was a light wash of watercolor poppies on a pale blue sky with light tendrils of green and splashes of sunny yellow. Maya's eyes and the index finger of her left hand traveled the course of green, spiraling vines detouring along the edge of a poppy before picking the tendrils back up as they entwined up her thigh.

She was trusting by nature and yet she didn't want to rush into this kind of thing. If he became important to her, well... there just weren't any guarantees in this life. He could disappear just as suddenly as her mother, her family, her normal life.

"I don't blame you for not remaining vigilant at my bedside." The sound of his voice made her finger pause momentarily in its tracing. Even if Garrett didn't blame her... she did. Maya smiled slowly, but not because she was happy. If she'd been there when he was recuperating they probably could have smoothed some of the wrinkles then. She wiggled her fingers to get the tenseness out and then smoothed the fabric once again. "...It was really best for me to rest and try to heal. I'm glad to see you motivated and surprised a bit to hear of a fake ID. I understand why though. Where do you work?"

"Oh. Heh. I err -- the ID was so I could get into school without raising any flags. But you know... I think I actually..." She hopped up and reached over to the table using one hand to flip open her book. She'd been using her driver's license as a bookmark so that she wouldn't loose it. To ensure that she wouldn't loose her place, Maya left the philosophy book open, still on the chapter about justice. She slid the ID out from the crease in the book. It was all one smooth and quick movement and just as suddenly Maya was again settling into place next to Garrett.

"here." She placed the identification into his fingers. "I started work at a small bookstore downtown about five streets over from the Medium Shop actually. Under this name." She tapped the ID sheepishly. Vega Altair. Maya smiled out from the tiny square picture with every confidence of someone with a flashy name. Well, she'd still been really excited by the idea when teh picture was snapped. It was a rather flashy name. She probably should have asked for a second opinion first. Ah well. "It's called the Full Circle Book Store. It has a revolving door and the people there are friendly enough. Finished training register, but still working on getting stocking down." Her eyes flashed from the plastic identification up to Garrett's eyes and face and then back to the card.

She only nodded at his acknowledgment of her visit to the Danger Room. That had been... well, not a mistake, but it did help solidify some things. It definitely helped her work out a little frustration. She'd probably end up talking with him at length about training later. But for now she just didn't feel like much shop talk. Maya leaned stiffly back on her arms locking her elbows to support her weight. She smiled when he practically said 'you're right' about school. Of course she was right. As much as Garrett probably abhorred the idea, maybe if he attended class with the younger kids -- if they could just get to know him -- they wouldn't fear him anymore. That would be a large step forward for the entire campus socially.

"...The one thing I want you to realize though, for certain, is that I am not going to abandon you. Ever." Her smile faded somewhat. "You can't promise that..." She began to protest weakly, but he was still talking and she let him trample over her feeble attempt to refute him. "I will be here as long as you are. Perhaps if we both tire of the Mansion, we could get an apartment together off campus. Other than that, I need you too much to be too far from you."

She felt his sincerity, but she was still blinking at the offer to essentially run away together. Not far, but moving in... together? Didn't that mean...? Didn't people who lived together...? She blushed and flicked her eyes away from Garrett's genuine gaze. Her mind reeled back to the last thing he'd said. "You... need me[/b]?"[/color] She laughed excitably. The idea was preposterous. He'd survived in foster care, on the streets, on his own... he didn't need anybody. Not like she did. Garrett's brush with death had her worried perhaps more than it had worried Garrett. He couldn't promise that he wouldn't some day die. He couldn't even protect himself in the same way she could... that was kind of how this whole thing had started after all... that dart went right through her... and into him.

Garrett observed as Maya seemed to have really beaten herself up over not being around while he recovered. He was genuinely glad she wasn't, since the first day or two was brutal. His mind was split and instantly fused. It took a while to silence the chatter in his mind. He would have been gibbering too much to be any good to her then. Now, at least, he had the presence of mind to process everything properly. He was pleased to see the genuine optimism at the suggestion that they continue enriching their relationship. He never doubted her, but there was always the general anxiety over the initial incident.

She seemed to lighten up a bit with the mention of her ID. She quickly snapped it out of a book and showed it to him. Her pseudonym and her shining eyes in the picture made him smile warmly. " Vega Altair? Two bright stars. It reminds me of when we were lying in the grass looking at constellations after our trip out to the city. Those were good times. I think our future is even brighter than those stars. I'll have to stop by that place sometime and visit. I assume it's okay. After what happened to Tarin, I might need a new job as it is." He chuckled weakly, the reality of the situation setting in with the cold of the fall.

As Garrett, tried to ensure her that he would never leave, he heard her attempt her usual ways and fight him on the point. Her eyes kept going to her skirt, her constant device for distraction from his piercing emotions. He dismounted from the bed and knelt on the floor in front of her, so that when she looked down, she'd still have to look at him. He knew that being so forward carried risks with her, but it clearly outweighed not talking about things. He looked up at her as she was still disbelieving the fact that he did indeed need her.

" Maya, listen. I cannot promise not to die. No one can, but short of that, I can and do promise to be with you until our time comes. If anything was present in my mind lately, it was you. I do need you. You are the balance I need. I have searched everywhere for that feeling of buoyancy that I get, the natural state of ease without resistance, when I am near you. That's one of many reasons that I am falling in love with you. I'll respect your boundaries. I am just different, now. I think it is a change for the better, for sure. No more letting life slide by easily. I want to honor and cherish every moment we have in this life together." He smiled at her and looked into her honey eyes, nodding to help cement the genuine feelings he had for her. He then returned to the bed, his feet dangling over, waiting to see how she responded.

It pleased Maya to no end that he seemingly approved of her false name. That he knew at least part of their origins and could tie it to a happy memory. It made choosing it that much less silly and that much more meaningful. She liked things to be meaningful.

"...I'll have to stop by that place sometime and visit. I assume it's okay. After what happened to Tarin, I might need a new job as it is."

"You always worry so much." Maya smiled. "And I'd love for you to visit... Just don't take my job." She teased.

When he slid from the bed and knelt like a knight in shining armor at her knee, Maya ran the back of her thumb quickly under her eyes where she was afraid moisture would pool. It was dry for now, but it didn't make her cheeks burn any less red when Garrett started speaking. For some reason the Pain Guy and Ghosty song was streaming through the back of her mind. '...then comes marriage...' A proposal wasn't what he was aiming for, kneeling at her knee as he was, but embarrassingly enough it was what sprung to mind. She would have loved to have been able to dodge his hazel eyes at that moment.

"Maya, listen. I cannot promise not to die. No one can, but short of that, I can and do promise to be with you until our time comes... You are the balance I need. I have searched everywhere for that feeling of buoyancy that I get, the natural state of ease without resistance, when I am near you. That's one of many reasons that I am falling in love with you." Actually, that wouldn't be a bad starter for a proposal, she mused -- and then quickly stuffed that thought into an air tight box, lost the key, wrapped it in steel, buried it in concrete wrapped in chains and then tossed it off the Brooklyn bridge. Maya felt as if her heart was trying to crawl up through her throat and come out of her mouth. It was nice to be needed. It was even nicer to be wanted... appreciated... loved.

"I'll respect your boundaries. I am just different, now. I think it is a change for the better, for sure. No more letting life slide by easily. I want to honor and cherish every moment we have in this life together."[/color] He smiled almost shyly as he met her eyes and Maya knew she was melting right into his capable hands. Boundaries? What were boundaries between two friends, two ... kissing friends... who could someday potentially move--yeah, okay so the boundary wasn't that far yet.

He stood and slid right back to his place beside her. Both of their legs dangled freely over the edge of the mattress, hanging free from the knee. She leaned ever so slightly to the side so that their shoulders were just barely touching while her eyes remained where Garrett's had been moments ago. "Honor and cherish every moment," she echoed his earlier words while she wiggled her toes. "I know ehm... that life is transient. I'm sorry... if I'm slow... and cautious, but thank you for being patient with me."

Garrett felt much better to have the weight of his love off his chest. Maya moved closer and seemed to warm up further, the telltale wiggling of toes showing her general happiness. He looked down at her toes and followed along her legs and torso until he reached her face, half hidden behind silken locks. She was echoing his sentiments of honoring and cherishing their time. He slid his hand over hers and held it as she spoke. "I know ehm... that life is transient. I'm sorry... if I'm slow... and cautious, but thank you for being patient with me."

He caressed her hand with his fingers. " It's a pleasure, because you are worth the wait in every way. You certainly put up with my worrying and mood unpredictability. It's the least I can do. Anyway, you know how I was mentioning talking to Neena? Among other things, I am going to officially request training to join the X-Men. I hope you'll consider it too."

"It's a pleasure, because you are worth the wait in every way. You certainly put up with my worrying and mood unpredictability. It's the least I can do." He slid his hand into hers and she noticed that his skin looked quite tan in comparison to hers. She laced their fingers together and settled more comfortably into her place at Garrett's side.

"Anyway, you know how I was mentioning talking to Neena? Among other things, I am going to officially request training to join the X-Men. I hope you'll consider it too."[/color]

"Erm. Really?" Actually, now that she was thinking about it she had entertained the idea before... "I mean, I haven't seen much of the team around. I haven't really met many X-Men beyond Neena and Streak and as nice as they are... do you really think the X's have their hearts in the right place? I mean sure they have the right intentions..." She fidgeted, playing with his fingers now instead of smoothing her skirt. They hurt people. Maybe they were hurting the bad people, protecting the weak or something like that, but ... it just didn't sit right. Maybe that was just her meekness speaking. "Are you sure your heart is in the right place?" She smiled to maybe ease the question. "I mean. It's not just revenge, right?"

Maya's fingers now curled into his own as she visually became more comfortable by his side. She listened along until he mentioned joining the X-Men, to which she seemed surprised."Erm. Really? I mean, I haven't seen much of the team around. I haven't really met many X-Men beyond Neena and Streak and as nice as they are... do you really think the X's have their hearts in the right place? I mean sure they have the right intentions..." She fidgeted, playing with his fingers now instead of smoothing her skirt. "Are you sure your heart is in the right place? I mean. It's not just revenge, right?"

Garrett thought about it for a moment. It was a valid question, it deserved a measured amount of thought and an honest answer."I understand your reservations. I really do. I have met one other of the team, Nika. She's a cat girl. I am surprised you haven't seen her. Regardless, what the team, the Mansion , Neena, and everyone else around here needs is someone to step up and take the reins of the program, to lead. I am going to do so. Neena is great, but she is more of a trainer and base operator. If the team could get some solid recruits and a strong leader, we'd be able to weather anything the others throw at us." He was rather animated about it, as he had wrapped his mind around the whole process tightly to avoid the demon in the early hours of the recovery process.

"It's not revenge.One thing that kept running through my mind about that night was the fact that the intruder got in so easily and did whatever he liked. He was armed. There are children here, defenseless when asleep. You were drifting along, but what if it had been a firebug type of criminal or you had been solid and napping? Too many possibilities for a much darker scenario. Someone has to actually protect the people here and look out for them. I want to be that man."

He paused for thought, something she really admired about Garrett. He took the time to get it right the first time instead of blurting things out as she sometimes found herself doing.

"I understand your reservations. I really do. I have met one other of the team, Nika. She's a cat girl. I am surprised you haven't seen her." Maya squeezed his hand. Oh, she'd seen Nika alright. Two women incapacitated and laying on a bed of thorns was not a scenario one quickly forgot. Especially considering who had done the incapacitating. Maya pressed her lips together in a hard line to keep from mentioning it. She'd seen Nika, but they'd hardly been introduced even after the cat girl had picked herself out of the brambles.

"Regardless, what the team, the Mansion , Neena, and everyone else around here needs is someone to step up and take the reins of the program, to lead. I am going to do so. Neena is great, but she is more of a trainer and base operator. If the team could get some solid recruits and a strong leader, we'd be able to weather anything the others throw at us." At this Maya hmmmed. She really didn't know much about the team and how it was organized... or rather how it was lacking organization. Maybe the intruder had been a blessing in disguise. Garrett seemed energetic and motivated about the idea.

"It's not revenge."[/color] She knew the truth behind this statement already due to the tone of his earlier fervor, but she still let out a soft sigh. It was just good to hear it from his lips. "One thing that kept running through my mind about that night was the fact that the intruder got in so easily and did whatever he liked. He was armed. There are children here, defenseless when asleep. You were drifting along, but what if it had been a firebug type of criminal or you had been solid and napping?" She fidgeted again then. She did have a bad habit of falling asleep wherever she stopped long enough. Lately that had been in the library, but the fact remained that her habits weren't the safest. Especially since he had proved his point about the mansion being not so impenetrable as she'd initially thought. "Too many possibilities for a much darker scenario. Someone has to actually protect the people here and look out for them. I want to be that man." [/i]

"You could be that man." She acknowledged with a small and growing smile. "Sometimes I feel like I'm dragging behind when you think of things like this, but then I realize that you're just making me grow." She chewed her lower lip for a moment. It was hard to imagine where she would be right now had she not been taken to the camps. In a strange way she was grateful for the forward motion it had spurned for her. And now it seemed there was no end to the momentum. No end to the potential growth. "I'll support you wherever you need me. If that means joining the X's... even if that meant moving to the moon, I'd do it." Her trust was implicit. She wasn't afraid of the demon in the slightest. Not while Garret was there.