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An ocean away things were still a bit rocky for both teams. During a business trip to India with Adder Mason had been deceived by a trickster, a mutant capable of using pheromones and illusions to make her target think they were with the woman of their dreams and act and feel accordingly. Well when his dream woman was in fact Adder and he woke to find the trickster in his bed and not Adder things got weird. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Adder what fully happened. He was under the impression he was considered just a friend maybe a bit of a big brother to her. In his attempt to not risk their friendship he distanced himself from her which was damaging their friendship and he didn’t even know it. He’d pushed her away so she went back to her old ways of going to street fights, and now that she was older she also started leaving those fights with different guys. Mason himself had just kind of found his way into just drowning himself in work, both the business he ran and the business of tracking down and eliminating COH cells. And with his launch of Leah’s Lost Souls foundation he’d made himself a target. It was actually the foundation that had brought him and Adder a bit closer, just not quite to what they’d been before India. And now that he was a target of the COH it became his team’s mission to eliminate anyone who wanted to try and stop him and the foundation. Adder putting some of her old and new skills to work with taking on a more assassin role to take down COH before they had a chance to follow through on their threats against Mason’s life. Which the more bodies his team dropped the more Excalibur noticed and wanted to find out who they were. But even with the indent Mason’s team was making it still didn’t stop the COh from trying to act against him through Adder.
While sitting at lunch with his parents, sister, and his aunt and uncle Mason’s phone started to beep in his pocket. “Oh excuse me I need to take this.”, he said pulling his phone out seeing it was Adder. Adder didn’t exactly call often so he was a bit worried. “Pardon me.”, Mason excused himself standing up from the table. His father nodded and the others continued to carry on their conversation. Mason gave a polite smile and stepped out into the garden to answer. “What’s going on? Anything wrong?”, he answered. “This Mason Templeton?”, a male voice answered. Mason’s eyes went wide worried about what happened to Adder. What he hadn't known was that her street fights had been infiltrated by some of the COH members who were looking to target Adder because she was a mutant who in their opinion shouldn’t be protecting, what they thought, a prominent human figure. And with the recent news article where he talked about opening shelters and helping the homeless and abandoned mutants of the country had gotten him more notice on their radar. “Yes this is Mason. Who is this and where is Adder? I want to talk to her, now.”, Mason demanded his tone becoming stern and serious. He’d stayed the night at Skye’s so he had no idea that Adder had never come home from the fights. She’d left the fight with a bloke and he’d managed to knocked her out with a solid hit of a piece of pipe. “Oh that might not be possible. She’s a tad tied up at the moment, literally.”, the man answered looking over at Adder whose eyes were only half open as she sat under a bright spotlight chained to a wall. W’er..w’ere am Ah?”, Adder asked in the background trying to get her bearings her head throbbing blood dried in her hair on the back of her head. She moved to try and reach for it but the heavy metal chains were too short. “W’at t’e ‘ell!”, she yelled.
Mason could hear her in the background and drew in a deep breath. “If you have hurt her…”, Mason started to warn. “You’ll do what mister money bags? Call the cops? They won’t care even if the call is coming from someone has high up in society as a Templeton, she’s a filthy piece of mutant trash. And you elevated her to a status she doesn’t deserve. What you are going to do is come to the St Mary Magdalene Church in Brampton with let’s say a ‘donation’ of six million to the Church of Humanity along with you agreeing to shut down that foundation of yours and you better get here in the two hour or we will start removing bits from your little mutant whore.”, he said before hanging up. Mason clenched his jaw listening to the dialtone. He knew people might come after him for the foundation and his views. But to target Adder or any of this friends...that would not be tolerated. Mason looked over to the dining area of his parents house, he needed to pardon himself without too much attention knowing his father was against him doing this type of stuff. he didn’t want to get into an argument over it, he didn’t have time. He knew the church the guy spoke of and it was over two hours away, he’d have to take every shortcut he knew and exceed the speed limit more than just a little to get there. He certainly had no intention to bring money or to terminate his foundation. The only thing he planned to terminate was the lives of the kidnappers.
The kidnapper tossed the phone aside and looked over at Adder with a sinister smile picking up a pair of rusty forceps from a dirty table. “Well pet...let’s see exactly how much a piece of mutant trash means to Mason Templeton. And every minute he’s late I get to pull a tooth, starting with those fangs. Of course if I get bored…. maybe I’ll start early.”, he said which got a laugh from the two other men in the old cellar of the church. Adder lifted her head, it still throbbing from where she’d been hit. It felt dirty and wrong to hear anyone but Mason call her pet. “Ah ain’t yer pet. Ya going ta be dead mate. Ya s’ould ‘ave killed me, not get mah boss in t’is.”, she hissed her fangs extending glaring at him. “Not much you can do about anything pet. You are a means to an end. Once we have that money and he terminates that foundation we’ll give you back...in pieces. So it will be you who’s dead.”, he countered. She hissed and struggled against her chains. “Let me go!”, she screamed. “Ah’ll kill all of ya! All of ya!”, she yelled. “He won’t do t’at! he won’t bring t’e money and s’ut t’at place down.”, she glared. “If he knows what’s good for his safety and that of his friends and family he will.”, he said calmly turning the rusty pair of forceps in his hand. She laughed. “ya can’t touc’ t’em. ya only got me because Ah don’t care no more.”, she said. She had been gathering up some saliva, filling it with venom before spitting at his face. it was diluted but it should still burn. He screamed in pain holding his hand to his face. “Filthy piece of shit..”, he swore hitting her across the face with the forceps. She smirked even as she was hit. She spat out some blood and looked at him still smirking. He glared at her before looking to the two others. “Watch her and stay back, the bitch is a spitter. I’m going to wash this off.”, he ordered. “And you pet. When I get back those fangs are going to come out the old fashion way.”, he glared before leaving the room. His two associates glared at her but stayed back.
Mason sighed putting his phone into his pocket and walked back inside. “Everything alright Mason?”, his mother asked looking at him. “Just a situation I need to go handle immediately. It’s work stuff. But I do need to go. I’m terribly sorry to leave so abruptly.”, he explained trying to be calm and collected keeping his thoughts buried. “Um... alright. Just give us a call when you get back to London.”, she nodded. “As always it’s been nice to see you. Especially you aunt Wilhelmina and Uncle Jamie. I hope you both have a good trip to Madrid.”, Mason smiled giving a polite nod to the group before heading to his car and pulling out heading in the direction of the fasted way to the church where Adder was being held. Wilhelmina watched her nephew curiously as he walked away so quickly. “Wonder what has his panties in such a twist. Nothing could be that important to drive all the way to London in such a rush.”, she shook her head sipping her tea. “Apparently something came up that he feels is that important.”, Quentin commented with a slight shrug. “Maybe he’s got a girl he’d rather be seeing than all of us.”, Jamie suggested. Gabrielle snorted. Emma looked to her daughter with an arched brow. “What? Since he got back from India and closed that deal with Khumar Mason has been monk mode. My sources say that he hasn’t been seen in the company of a woman in nearly a year, excluding Adder who’s around because it’s her job. Just my opinion whatever he rushed off about it’s not a date.”, Gabrielle shrugged.
He'd gotten there in under two hours having taken back roads and drive as if he was on the autobahn.He stopped a block from the church when he parked and got out of his car. He wasn’t going to let the engine announce him. No these bastards were not going to get that warning. The first he came upon were two men walking the perimeter, probably told to look for his arrival. “So you think this guy will actually show up? I mean six million is a lot to ask for some worthless mutant.”, one questioned. Mason narrowed his eyes as a strong gust of wind kicked up starting to surround the two men. Becoming like a vacuum sucking all the air from the space they stood. As they started to choke unable to catch their breaths Mason waited till they collapsed to the ground before the wind died down. He quietly made his way into the church using his wind to keep him from touching the floor not wanting to risk a single sound. He stuck to the shadows as best as the church's decore allowed. He spotted another standing by a doorway which he assumed lead him downstairs to where Adder was being held. They were proving to favor old church basements for their torture locations. Rather twisted in Mason’s mind. Like before he used his powers to suck all the air from the man’s lungs. He wanted to do this quietly and not leave any trace if the police ever instigated what happened. Once that guard was down he floated down the stairs. He could hear voices on the other side of the door.
“Well, I’m not feeling very patient. So let’s start the fun, pet.”, the leader suggested picking the forceps up again. Adder wanted to rip his throat out every time he called her that. Mason heard the man from the phone call Adder pet and glared at the door. He may not call her that anymore like how he used to, not since India, but he would not stand by and let any other man call her that either. “Ya want anot’er face tattoo? Ah can do it.”, she hissed hating being called pet by anyone that wasn’t Mason. “Oh but it’s such fun to call you pet.”, he smiled enjoying how she got agitated by the name. Mason had heard just about enough and held both hands up building up a strong wind. The door started to rattle under the pressure till finally it blown off its hinges knocking the two guards in front of it down and continued building up momentum slamming into the leader. "You don't get to call her that.", Mason stated walking into the room. She smirked as she felt the wind. "Told ya yer a dead man.", she taunted. The two at the door started to get to their feet a bit confused. "You mutant!?", one examined. "That sentence... was not even worth the breath you used to make it, ingrate.", Mason sighed holding his hands out to the two guards who started gasping for breath like they weren't able to breath. Their faces started turning purple as they slowly went from standing to dead in the ground. The primary kidnapper was getting to his feet looking for a weapon watching in horror at his friends died. She struggled against the restraints, hissing. "Mason, t’e leader!" ,she yelled, some blood running down some wounds."So that explains it all. You want to help mutants because for all your blue blood you're a piece of filth like them." , he laughed a little. "Bet without your powers you're nothing.", he glared trying to keep his nerve.
Mason narrowed his eyes walking further into the room. This one didn't deserve a quick death no he needed to feel the pain. Mason motioned the man forward silently with his hand. "Oh tough guy?", the leader laughed a little uneasy as the table of the torture weapons was being Mason out of his reach. He didn't know what he was in for stepping in the 'ring' with Mason. Mason was pissed and wanted a punching bag and he was just the right size. Mason started hitting the man with hard lefts and solid rights, dodging the man’s failed attempts to counter and strike at him. And Mason just kept hitting him till he was left twitching in pain on the ground. Mason crouched down and took the keys and also the man’s cell phone from the guys pocket and went to Adder removing the chains. "You want to finish this or do I?", Mason asked glancing to the man twitch just alive on the ground. "Me.", she said, hitting her knees and groaning in pain. She crawled over, extending her fangs. "Hey there.", she said. She grabbed his hand and bit down hard on his palm letting the full toxicity of her venom flow. He was already in agony but still yelled in pain from the bite, the venom starting to course through his veins. Mason waited till he saw the man so breathing. "Come on. Let's go home.", he said offering her his hand to help her. She looked up and took his hand, struggling to her feet. "Told ya t’e name fer t’e place was dumb.", she teased weakly. "They didn't take you because they knew you're Leah, just that you're my bodyguard and they figured get to me via you instead of coming straight at me. And I'm sorry, this is my fault.", he sighed helping her out of the room.
“It ain’t yer fault. ya doing w’at ya know is rig’t ‘elping people. T’ese wackos just don’t see it t’at way.”, Adder winced as they walked to the car. “I’ll call for a physician to come check on you at the flat.”, Mason said helping her into the car. “Ya don’t ‘ave ta do t’at. Ah’ll be fine. And Ah’m sure t’is interrupted somet’ing.”, she groaned. “I did leave lunch with my family up in York to come get you, but I’d have done that no matter what. I certainly wouldn’t let some twats like them keep you or any of my friends hostage or hurt them. And yes I do need to call the doctor. So don’t argue.”, he instructed starting to drive to London. Adder shook her head and just rested her head against the window trying to just relax now. She was safe. She had known he’d come for her, no matter what differences were keeping them distance Mason wasn’t the type of man to not come to the rescue. And once again she owed her life to him. The COH wasn’t going to just stop, they both knew that. And since he’d killed anyone that knew he was a mutant to maintain his secrecy they at least wouldn’t know about that. But they would need to be more vigilante. As they drove Mason was thinking about the cell phone he’d lifted. He would have to look through the history and contacts that might be in there. See if maybe someone from the tech team at work could maybe help him figure some stuff out about it. He wanted names, he wanted to know who else was helping those men. He wanted to know who really put the hit on him and on Adder, so he could kill them. That attack on Adder caused him to hirer Webber Torque a rather brilliant man in his mid thirties. With the right financial incentives Webb was more than willing to design and create costumes and other tech for Mason’s team along with getting intell of the various cells of the COH.
For the Excalibur team love was in the air well at least for Billy and Atif. Billy had plans for Atif this Valentine's and didn't want to be late. Billy drove them down to the river where the small boats were docked. “Are we going punting?”, Atif asked as they got out of the car. Billy nodded. “Yes. I thought it’s be a nice date for valentines.”, Billy smiled taking Atif’s hand as they walked to the dock at the Quayside Punting Station. Atif smiled shaking his head as they walked, sometimes there were moments over the years that Billy still managed to surprise him with how sweet he could be. Billy helped Atif get into the little boat where a long stem red rose was waiting. Atif smiled carefully sitting down picking up the rose. “You know sometimes I am still surprised at how romantic you cane be Billy.”, Atif smiled looking up from the Rose to Billy. “Glad I’m still able to surprise you, it’s not exactly an easy feat sweetheart.”, Billy smiled getting into the boat to sit next to Atif. Their boatman remained silent, Billy assumed keeping his opinion of his two homosexual passengers to himself. Which Billy was grateful for the silence because he’d have to punch the man for making a remark. Tonight was supposed to be special and he’d rather it not have any negativity.
Many would look at Atif and Billy and at first glance try to figure who was the ‘top’ and who was the ‘bottom’. And most would get it wrong. They would look and see Atif who’s taller with the broader build and figure he would be the ‘top’ or more of the ‘guy’ in the relationship. But that wasn’t really the case. Neither answered the question of which was top and which was bottom because well that all depended on the moment. However when they were asked which was the guy and which was the girl they always gave the same answer ‘we are both guys’. Tonight as they covered up with the blanket it was Atif leaning into Billy enjoying the moment. The sun was just going down and little chinese paper lanterns were lighting up along both sides of the river. “This is incredible Billy.”, Atif said quietly enjoying the moment and having Billy’s hand rubbing at his back absentmindedly. “Just like you.”, he answered kissing the top of Atif’s red hair. Atif laughed softly tilting his head to look at Billy and kissed him. “I love you.”, Atif smiled. “I love you too. You mean everything to me, you know that right? I can’t picture my life without you in it.”, Billy smiled. “Yes I know. Just like you are to me. And good because I don’t foresee us not being together.”, Atif said lacing his fingers in Billy’s hand.
“I’m glad you see it that way…”, Billy said moving his arm from around Atif to reach into his jacket pocket. “Atif... you are my end and my beginning. I give you all of me. Will you give me all of you?”, Billy asked opening a ring box revealing a two tone titanium ring with a rounded diamond. Atif had been smiling listening to Billy speak but at the end of it where he sounded like he was proposing he felt his heart stop and then there was a box and a ring. As a soothsayer most would think he could predict such things, but he could never see his own future. Atif covered his mouth with both hands. “Yes...god yes.”, Atif said finally nodding his head. Billy grinned taking the ring out of the box putting it on Atif’s finger kissing him. “I wasn’t really sure proper etiquette and if you buy a ring or not. And well I decided to just buy a ring cause there’s gotta be something to seal the deal.”, Billy explained. “Ring or not I would have said yes. I’ve been with you since high school and I don’t ever not want to be without you. I love you William.”, he said kissing him again. Billy was possibly the happiest he’d been in his life. He was going to get to marry Atif, the man who’d gotten him out from under his mother’s control, the man who he willingly faced his mother to defend. Loving Atif had completely altered the course of his life and Billy couldn’t be any more grateful for that. And the only way he could repay that is to just love Atif for the rest of their lives.

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An ocean away things were still a bit rocky for both teams. During a business trip to India with Adder Mason had been deceived by a trickster, a mutant capable of using pheromones and illusions to make her target think they were with the woman of their dreams and act and feel accordingly. Well when his dream woman was in fact Adder and he woke to find the trickster in his bed and not Adder things got weird. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Adder what fully happened. He was under the impression he was considered just a friend maybe a bit of a big brother to her. In his attempt to not risk their friendship he distanced himself from her which was damaging their friendship and he didn’t even know it. He’d pushed her away so she went back to her old ways of going to street fights, and now that she was older she also started leaving those fights with different guys. Mason himself had just kind of found his way into just drowning himself in work, both the business he ran and the business of tracking down and eliminating COH cells. And with his launch of Leah’s Lost Souls foundation he’d made himself a target. It was actually the foundation that had brought him and Adder a bit closer, just not quite to what they’d been before India. And now that he was a target of the COH it became his team’s mission to eliminate anyone who wanted to try and stop him and the foundation. Adder putting some of her old and new skills to work with taking on a more assassin role to take down COH before they had a chance to follow through on their threats against Mason’s life. Which the more bodies his team dropped the more Excalibur noticed and wanted to find out who they were. But even with the indent Mason’s team was making it still didn’t stop the COh from trying to act against him through Adder.
While sitting at lunch with his parents, sister, and his aunt and uncle Mason’s phone started to beep in his pocket. “Oh excuse me I need to take this.”, he said pulling his phone out seeing it was Adder. Adder didn’t exactly call often so he was a bit worried. “Pardon me.”, Mason excused himself standing up from the table. His father nodded and the others continued to carry on their conversation. Mason gave a polite smile and stepped out into the garden to answer. “What’s going on? Anything wrong?”, he answered. “This Mason Templeton?”, a male voice answered. Mason’s eyes went wide worried about what happened to Adder. What he hadn't known was that her street fights had been infiltrated by some of the COH members who were looking to target Adder because she was a mutant who in their opinion shouldn’t be protecting, what they thought, a prominent human figure. And with the recent news article where he talked about opening shelters and helping the homeless and abandoned mutants of the country had gotten him more notice on their radar. “Yes this is Mason. Who is this and where is Adder? I want to talk to her, now.”, Mason demanded his tone becoming stern and serious. He’d stayed the night at Skye’s so he had no idea that Adder had never come home from the fights. She’d left the fight with a bloke and he’d managed to knocked her out with a solid hit of a piece of pipe. “Oh that might not be possible. She’s a tad tied up at the moment, literally.”, the man answered looking over at Adder whose eyes were only half open as she sat under a bright spotlight chained to a wall. W’er..w’ere am Ah?”, Adder asked in the background trying to get her bearings her head throbbing blood dried in her hair on the back of her head. She moved to try and reach for it but the heavy metal chains were too short. “W’at t’e ‘ell!”, she yelled.
Mason could hear her in the background and drew in a deep breath. “If you have hurt her…”, Mason started to warn. “You’ll do what mister money bags? Call the cops? They won’t care even if the call is coming from someone has high up in society as a Templeton, she’s a filthy piece of mutant trash. And you elevated her to a status she doesn’t deserve. What you are going to do is come to the St Mary Magdalene Church in Brampton with let’s say a ‘donation’ of six million to the Church of Humanity along with you agreeing to shut down that foundation of yours and you better get here in the two hour or we will start removing bits from your little mutant whore.”, he said before hanging up. Mason clenched his jaw listening to the dialtone. He knew people might come after him for the foundation and his views. But to target Adder or any of this friends...that would not be tolerated. Mason looked over to the dining area of his parents house, he needed to pardon himself without too much attention knowing his father was against him doing this type of stuff. he didn’t want to get into an argument over it, he didn’t have time. He knew the church the guy spoke of and it was over two hours away, he’d have to take every shortcut he knew and exceed the speed limit more than just a little to get there. He certainly had no intention to bring money or to terminate his foundation. The only thing he planned to terminate was the lives of the kidnappers.
The kidnapper tossed the phone aside and looked over at Adder with a sinister smile picking up a pair of rusty forceps from a dirty table. “Well pet...let’s see exactly how much a piece of mutant trash means to Mason Templeton. And every minute he’s late I get to pull a tooth, starting with those fangs. Of course if I get bored…. maybe I’ll start early.”, he said which got a laugh from the two other men in the old cellar of the church. Adder lifted her head, it still throbbing from where she’d been hit. It felt dirty and wrong to hear anyone but Mason call her pet. “Ah ain’t yer pet. Ya going ta be dead mate. Ya s’ould ‘ave killed me, not get mah boss in t’is.”, she hissed her fangs extending glaring at him. “Not much you can do about anything pet. You are a means to an end. Once we have that money and he terminates that foundation we’ll give you back...in pieces. So it will be you who’s dead.”, he countered. She hissed and struggled against her chains. “Let me go!”, she screamed. “Ah’ll kill all of ya! All of ya!”, she yelled. “He won’t do t’at! he won’t bring t’e money and s’ut t’at place down.”, she glared. “If he knows what’s good for his safety and that of his friends and family he will.”, he said calmly turning the rusty pair of forceps in his hand. She laughed. “ya can’t touc’ t’em. ya only got me because Ah don’t care no more.”, she said. She had been gathering up some saliva, filling it with venom before spitting at his face. it was diluted but it should still burn. He screamed in pain holding his hand to his face. “Filthy piece of shit..”, he swore hitting her across the face with the forceps. She smirked even as she was hit. She spat out some blood and looked at him still smirking. He glared at her before looking to the two others. “Watch her and stay back, the bitch is a spitter. I’m going to wash this off.”, he ordered. “And you pet. When I get back those fangs are going to come out the old fashion way.”, he glared before leaving the room. His two associates glared at her but stayed back.
Mason sighed putting his phone into his pocket and walked back inside. “Everything alright Mason?”, his mother asked looking at him. “Just a situation I need to go handle immediately. It’s work stuff. But I do need to go. I’m terribly sorry to leave so abruptly.”, he explained trying to be calm and collected keeping his thoughts buried. “Um... alright. Just give us a call when you get back to London.”, she nodded. “As always it’s been nice to see you. Especially you aunt Wilhelmina and Uncle Jamie. I hope you both have a good trip to Madrid.”, Mason smiled giving a polite nod to the group before heading to his car and pulling out heading in the direction of the fasted way to the church where Adder was being held. Wilhelmina watched her nephew curiously as he walked away so quickly. “Wonder what has his panties in such a twist. Nothing could be that important to drive all the way to London in such a rush.”, she shook her head sipping her tea. “Apparently something came up that he feels is that important.”, Quentin commented with a slight shrug. “Maybe he’s got a girl he’d rather be seeing than all of us.”, Jamie suggested. Gabrielle snorted. Emma looked to her daughter with an arched brow. “What? Since he got back from India and closed that deal with Khumar Mason has been monk mode. My sources say that he hasn’t been seen in the company of a woman in nearly a year, excluding Adder who’s around because it’s her job. Just my opinion whatever he rushed off about it’s not a date.”, Gabrielle shrugged.
He'd gotten there in under two hours having taken back roads and drive as if he was on the autobahn.He stopped a block from the church when he parked and got out of his car. He wasn’t going to let the engine announce him. No these bastards were not going to get that warning. The first he came upon were two men walking the perimeter, probably told to look for his arrival. “So you think this guy will actually show up? I mean six million is a lot to ask for some worthless mutant.”, one questioned. Mason narrowed his eyes as a strong gust of wind kicked up starting to surround the two men. Becoming like a vacuum sucking all the air from the space they stood. As they started to choke unable to catch their breaths Mason waited till they collapsed to the ground before the wind died down. He quietly made his way into the church using his wind to keep him from touching the floor not wanting to risk a single sound. He stuck to the shadows as best as the church's decore allowed. He spotted another standing by a doorway which he assumed lead him downstairs to where Adder was being held. They were proving to favor old church basements for their torture locations. Rather twisted in Mason’s mind. Like before he used his powers to suck all the air from the man’s lungs. He wanted to do this quietly and not leave any trace if the police ever instigated what happened. Once that guard was down he floated down the stairs. He could hear voices on the other side of the door.
“Well, I’m not feeling very patient. So let’s start the fun, pet.”, the leader suggested picking the forceps up again. Adder wanted to rip his throat out every time he called her that. Mason heard the man from the phone call Adder pet and glared at the door. He may not call her that anymore like how he used to, not since India, but he would not stand by and let any other man call her that either. “Ya want anot’er face tattoo? Ah can do it.”, she hissed hating being called pet by anyone that wasn’t Mason. “Oh but it’s such fun to call you pet.”, he smiled enjoying how she got agitated by the name. Mason had heard just about enough and held both hands up building up a strong wind. The door started to rattle under the pressure till finally it blown off its hinges knocking the two guards in front of it down and continued building up momentum slamming into the leader. "You don't get to call her that.", Mason stated walking into the room. She smirked as she felt the wind. "Told ya yer a dead man.", she taunted. The two at the door started to get to their feet a bit confused. "You mutant!?", one examined. "That sentence... was not even worth the breath you used to make it, ingrate.", Mason sighed holding his hands out to the two guards who started gasping for breath like they weren't able to breath. Their faces started turning purple as they slowly went from standing to dead in the ground. The primary kidnapper was getting to his feet looking for a weapon watching in horror at his friends died. She struggled against the restraints, hissing. "Mason, t’e leader!" ,she yelled, some blood running down some wounds."So that explains it all. You want to help mutants because for all your blue blood you're a piece of filth like them." , he laughed a little. "Bet without your powers you're nothing.", he glared trying to keep his nerve.
Mason narrowed his eyes walking further into the room. This one didn't deserve a quick death no he needed to feel the pain. Mason motioned the man forward silently with his hand. "Oh tough guy?", the leader laughed a little uneasy as the table of the torture weapons was being Mason out of his reach. He didn't know what he was in for stepping in the 'ring' with Mason. Mason was pissed and wanted a punching bag and he was just the right size. Mason started hitting the man with hard lefts and solid rights, dodging the man’s failed attempts to counter and strike at him. And Mason just kept hitting him till he was left twitching in pain on the ground. Mason crouched down and took the keys and also the man’s cell phone from the guys pocket and went to Adder removing the chains. "You want to finish this or do I?", Mason asked glancing to the man twitch just alive on the ground. "Me.", she said, hitting her knees and groaning in pain. She crawled over, extending her fangs. "Hey there.", she said. She grabbed his hand and bit down hard on his palm letting the full toxicity of her venom flow. He was already in agony but still yelled in pain from the bite, the venom starting to course through his veins. Mason waited till he saw the man so breathing. "Come on. Let's go home.", he said offering her his hand to help her. She looked up and took his hand, struggling to her feet. "Told ya t’e name fer t’e place was dumb.", she teased weakly. "They didn't take you because they knew you're Leah, just that you're my bodyguard and they figured get to me via you instead of coming straight at me. And I'm sorry, this is my fault.", he sighed helping her out of the room.
“It ain’t yer fault. ya doing w’at ya know is rig’t ‘elping people. T’ese wackos just don’t see it t’at way.”, Adder winced as they walked to the car. “I’ll call for a physician to come check on you at the flat.”, Mason said helping her into the car. “Ya don’t ‘ave ta do t’at. Ah’ll be fine. And Ah’m sure t’is interrupted somet’ing.”, she groaned. “I did leave lunch with my family up in York to come get you, but I’d have done that no matter what. I certainly wouldn’t let some twats like them keep you or any of my friends hostage or hurt them. And yes I do need to call the doctor. So don’t argue.”, he instructed starting to drive to London. Adder shook her head and just rested her head against the window trying to just relax now. She was safe. She had known he’d come for her, no matter what differences were keeping them distance Mason wasn’t the type of man to not come to the rescue. And once again she owed her life to him. The COH wasn’t going to just stop, they both knew that. And since he’d killed anyone that knew he was a mutant to maintain his secrecy they at least wouldn’t know about that. But they would need to be more vigilante. As they drove Mason was thinking about the cell phone he’d lifted. He would have to look through the history and contacts that might be in there. See if maybe someone from the tech team at work could maybe help him figure some stuff out about it. He wanted names, he wanted to know who else was helping those men. He wanted to know who really put the hit on him and on Adder, so he could kill them. That attack on Adder caused him to hirer Webber Torque a rather brilliant man in his mid thirties. With the right financial incentives Webb was more than willing to design and create costumes and other tech for Mason’s team along with getting intell of the various cells of the COH.
For the Excalibur team love was in the air well at least for Billy and Atif. Billy had plans for Atif this Valentine's and didn't want to be late. Billy drove them down to the river where the small boats were docked. “Are we going punting?”, Atif asked as they got out of the car. Billy nodded. “Yes. I thought it’s be a nice date for valentines.”, Billy smiled taking Atif’s hand as they walked to the dock at the Quayside Punting Station. Atif smiled shaking his head as they walked, sometimes there were moments over the years that Billy still managed to surprise him with how sweet he could be. Billy helped Atif get into the little boat where a long stem red rose was waiting. Atif smiled carefully sitting down picking up the rose. “You know sometimes I am still surprised at how romantic you cane be Billy.”, Atif smiled looking up from the Rose to Billy. “Glad I’m still able to surprise you, it’s not exactly an easy feat sweetheart.”, Billy smiled getting into the boat to sit next to Atif. Their boatman remained silent, Billy assumed keeping his opinion of his two homosexual passengers to himself. Which Billy was grateful for the silence because he’d have to punch the man for making a remark. Tonight was supposed to be special and he’d rather it not have any negativity.
Many would look at Atif and Billy and at first glance try to figure who was the ‘top’ and who was the ‘bottom’. And most would get it wrong. They would look and see Atif who’s taller with the broader build and figure he would be the ‘top’ or more of the ‘guy’ in the relationship. But that wasn’t really the case. Neither answered the question of which was top and which was bottom because well that all depended on the moment. However when they were asked which was the guy and which was the girl they always gave the same answer ‘we are both guys’. Tonight as they covered up with the blanket it was Atif leaning into Billy enjoying the moment. The sun was just going down and little chinese paper lanterns were lighting up along both sides of the river. “This is incredible Billy.”, Atif said quietly enjoying the moment and having Billy’s hand rubbing at his back absentmindedly. “Just like you.”, he answered kissing the top of Atif’s red hair. Atif laughed softly tilting his head to look at Billy and kissed him. “I love you.”, Atif smiled. “I love you too. You mean everything to me, you know that right? I can’t picture my life without you in it.”, Billy smiled. “Yes I know. Just like you are to me. And good because I don’t foresee us not being together.”, Atif said lacing his fingers in Billy’s hand.
“I’m glad you see it that way…”, Billy said moving his arm from around Atif to reach into his jacket pocket. “Atif... you are my end and my beginning. I give you all of me. Will you give me all of you?”, Billy asked opening a ring box revealing a two tone titanium ring with a rounded diamond. Atif had been smiling listening to Billy speak but at the end of it where he sounded like he was proposing he felt his heart stop and then there was a box and a ring. As a soothsayer most would think he could predict such things, but he could never see his own future. Atif covered his mouth with both hands. “Yes...god yes.”, Atif said finally nodding his head. Billy grinned taking the ring out of the box putting it on Atif’s finger kissing him. “I wasn’t really sure proper etiquette and if you buy a ring or not. And well I decided to just buy a ring cause there’s gotta be something to seal the deal.”, Billy explained. “Ring or not I would have said yes. I’ve been with you since high school and I don’t ever not want to be without you. I love you William.”, he said kissing him again. Billy was possibly the happiest he’d been in his life. He was going to get to marry Atif, the man who’d gotten him out from under his mother’s control, the man who he willingly faced his mother to defend. Loving Atif had completely altered the course of his life and Billy couldn’t be any more grateful for that. And the only way he could repay that is to just love Atif for the rest of their lives.