Tracy frowned at the loud, quick thuds he heard through the halls. Cynthia poured through the threshold of the kitchen, eyes wild and frightened. "Hey," he said, circling his arms around her shoulders. He ran a hand up and down her back, feeling her shiver violently against his touch. "Are you okay? It's just some bad circuitry."<br/><br/>After a minute of just standing, Tracy slipped his hands between them to take a hold of her shoulders. He pushed her away a few inches and craned his neck down to look at her face. A primal sort of fear lined the once-soft lines of her face. In the time he'd known her, she hadn't been afraid of the dark or being alone or anything. Had she?<br/><br/>He hugged her against his chest again, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. Maybe it was simpler than that. They were in a new house, officially living together for the first time; maybe this was just nerves. Tracy kissed the top of her head before slowly turning her around and ushering her back out of the room. "Tell you what," he offered, trying to keep his chin balanced on her head as they walked. One of the perks of being ridiculously tall and dating a girl that was not. "Let's just go upstairs and get in bed. It's been a long day, we're both tired, and that is a<span style="font-style: italic">really</span>comfortable bed."