Fin immediately came to a sloppy stop and looked back at Frei, worry for her clear on his face.

--

"He can't hurt me," Nic reassured Laurel.

Frei was tilting her head at him, standing and perfectly fine.

--

"H-He's Long!" she persisted, not happy that Nic wasn't taking the threat seriously.

Fin blinked at her. "... Why did you jump off?" he asked.

--

"He's injured," he sighed, wishing she wouldn't make such a big deal about this.

Frei shrugged, a tiny smirk on her lips.

--

His response seemed to hurt Laurel. She stared down at her food silently.

Fin blinked, wondering if she was just sadistic.

--

Nic was silent for awhile, eating. Then he continued, "He's not a mindless brute; he'll listen to reason once he's more comfortable."

Just then Frei yawned a little, looking really cute as she wiggled her nose. She walked back over to the motorcycle, "Home," she decided.

--

Laurel didn't reply for a long moment, "... Long... scares me," she whispered, "not because of his physical strength... but of what he stands for... and what... they could take away from me."

Fin paused before nodding a bit, scooting back so she could sit in front.

--

Nic paused before nodding a little in acknowledgement.

So Frei swung up and took off at top speed again.

--

Laurel's eyes were watering, threatening to overflow, "S-Sorry..." she murmured, rubbing her eyes, "sometimes... it just overwhelms me, the things we have yet to face."

Fin held on tight like the first time.

--

Nic nodded in acknowledgement again. "We'll get through," he replied before taking another bite.

When they got back to the jet, Frei turned to Fin, "You're alright," she stated, having seemed to have decided. Perhaps this was all some sort of test.

--

Laurel nodded back, "I know," she replied quietly, "i just... forget about our troubles sometimes... I think we're an ordinary, happy couple but... we're not."

"Thanks," Fin replied, hoping that was a good thing. "You're alright too."

--

"Forget when you can," Nic suggested.

Frei nodded and started up the jet, "Fun," she added.

--

Laurel sighed a little, "But you never do... do you?" she answered apologetically.

Fin chuckled a little as he strapped himself in.

--

"... On rare occasions," Nic disagreed.

Wolfe found Yue, handing her the key to Long's room, "You need to talk to him more than anyone else," he figured.

--

Laurel looked up, a look of hope on her face, "Really?" she asked quietly.

Yue paused before nodding and taking the key. So after Long had some more rest, she went to go talk with him some more when everyone else was busy with something else.

--

Nic paused before nodding once and getting back to his food. He had just said so.

Laurel slowly reached out and put a hand on Nic's, "That makes me happy," she told him quietly, still upset over Long but that feeling was slowly fading now.