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So after a moment or two, Nic reached out and put Laurel's head on his chest.

"I-It's..." Laurel murmured in a quiet, shaking voice, "so warm... s-so warm." There was a bit of awe in her voice.

After a moment Nic asked a little awkwardly, "Do you want an cold drink or something?"

Laurel let out a breathy laugh as she tilted her head upwards and kissed his neck, then she pushed herself off of his chest and looked back into his eyes. "I... love you, Dominic." she stated quietly, eyes dropping a few more tears as she smiled at him, "I think I've loved you for a long time." She felt herself finally understand...

Nic blinked and tilted his head a bit, still a little confused. But he got over it. "... I love you too," he replied as he reached up and gently wiped the tears off her face.

Laurel was clearly blushing as he wiped the tears away. But then she paused, "Not... like a brother." she suddenly felt the need to clarify.

Nic frowned and slowly took his hand away. "... What... do you mean?" he asked quietly, sounding almost hurt.

Laurel began to look a little flustered, "Well, I..." she paused, "I wouldn't... kiss my brother, right?" she finally said quietly, looking rather embarrassed.

"Why not?" Nic suddenly demanded.

Laurel blinked, clearly surprised. She looked into Nic's eyes silently for a long moment before she replied. "Because I want to be more than a sister to you." she decided quietly, "You love your siblings differently. It's love but in a different form." she smiled slightly, eyes thinking of something past. "I... don't love you like a sibling, Nic. I love you like... I want you. All of you. I don't know how to explain it. You're even more precious to me than a sibling."

Nic looked confused, but after a few more moments it seemed to start sinking in. After a minute he seemed to be relaxed again and gave Laurel one of those rare small smiles. "... Right," he replied quietly with a nod. "I'm sorry for asking that... I was... confused. I didn't mean..." he struggled for a few moments. "To... make your warm-ness cold..." His face distorted a little, clearly he didn't like that explanation, but he moved on. "But when I say 'I love you,' I mean it the same way you do."

Laurel smiled back, the blush returning as she relaxed along with Nic. "It's alright." she reassured him quietly as she leaned in and kissed his cheek, her arms going back around his neck and pulling him into a tight hug. "Sorry it took me so long to figure it out." she whispered near his ear, "But I understand now. There are different kinds of love... some are to be trusted and others are not. Some are corrupted and some are lost. But the love I feel for you is completely true and you... are a person I trust completely with my heart. Or whatever's left of it." she added with a small sigh.

"... It... makes me happy to hear that," he told Laurel quietly before kissing her cheek. "But I'm not sure what's left of me either. That's why I left - the key to the future is hidden somewhere in the dark past. I can't run anymore. I can't lose you."

Laurel hugged him a little tighter, "You won't lose me." she murmured back, "And if I can help you... find this key, I will." she promised. "I've found mine or more like... broken free of mine. You can too."

Nic sighed a little, hugging Laurel back. "... I wish it was that simple."

Laurel ran her hand along the back of his neck and was silent for a long moment. "Crust..." she suddenly muttered, "I really love you one terra of a lot." she whispered helplessly, sounded more than a little overwhelmed.