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"I don't have to talk you away," Pepper said with cold eyes, "I could just kill you. If you get in our way, I'll set up an 'accident,'" her expression showed a perfect seriousness. "We're dealing with a global crisis if we lose to CLIKZ, do you really think you matter enough to warrant my respect?" she sneered.

"If you were going to kill me, you would have done it already," Raven replied with both fear and confidence in his voice.

Pepper smirked slightly, "Would I have? You weren't completely in the way until recently," she replied too calmly. She stepped forward, her face getting close to his, "It wouldn't take much, you know. Human bodies are so frail."

"Enough, Pepper."

Pepper turned and snorted at Wolfe, "What's this? The prince as come to rescue the useless damsel?" Wolfe's face remained the same. "I know what you did earlier, you've crossed a line."

Wolfe sighed slightly, "Have I?" he mused, "I don't recall seeing one." Was... Wolfe actually trying to be funny?

Pepper glared at him, "We have so much to do! You don't have time to mess with him! We need to focus right now, Ryu, we're running out of time!"

"You don't think I know that?" His voice was cold now, eyes flashing slightly. "What have I done so horribly? What have I messed up so badly for you to threaten someone who is no threat to you?"

"You got involved in HIS affairs!" Pepper shouted, pointing at Raven.

"So?" Wolfe countered, "Did that change our plans? Have I not done everything up until this point without fail?"

Pepper was silent.

"Well, have I or haven't I?"

"You have," she muttered.

"And are you suddenly my babysitter? My mother who checks on who my friends are and if I'm doing my homework? Who are you to question me? I've never given you any reason to doubt me, Pepper! I've held our team together from the start!" Though his voice never got louder, the angry showed clearly in his tone and in his eyes.

Pepper glared at him, "You're losing focus!"

"Why?! Because I installed a security system at his house to protect what he loves? That's losing focus?" Pepper continued to glare but did not answer. "Let's set one thing straight," Wolfe nearly whispered, eyes flashing, "If we are not able to protect the innocent, we have no business finding this lab. If we do not try to protect those who are swept in this chaos, we are no better than CLIKZ."

"Don't lecture me, Wolfe!" Pepper hissed, "You're the one infatuated with a useless farm-boy." She stormed off leaving a still clearly angry Wolfe glaring at the plants.

Raven didn't say anything as he stood and brushed off as much of the dirt as he could. It wasn't too productive. He didn't look at Wolfe.

Wolfe slowly looked over at Raven. His eyes were unreadable once more as he looked him over but his lips pursed a little.

Raven stood there for a long time. But it seemed like he still couldn't think of anything to say. So he knelt down and started tending to the plants he had crushed when Pepper threw him down.

Wolfe was silent for awhile as well. "You need to make a decision soon," he finally said blankly, "Whether you choose to stay here or at home, you'll be safe. If you chose to go elsewhere, I cannot protect you. Regardless, your family will be taken care of to the best of my ability."

Raven messed with the plants for a long moment more silently. Then without turning around he finally whispered, "What am I to you? Really?"

Wolfe was silent for so long it seemed like he wouldn't reply. But then, in a soft whisper, "I... don't know," he admitted, "I've never felt such a strong desire to protect someone since Frei." He paused for a moment, "You're... really admirable, Raven." Those last words took effort to get out as a self-conscious part of Wolfe surfaced. There was some awkwardness in the air as he shifted on his feet slightly.

It didn't look like Raven was going to be satisfied with that. "... Is that it?" he asked quietly.

Wolfe was silent, the awkward air growing. He shifted a few more times, "... no," he finally replied, sounding uneasy.

Raven paused for a moment, not sure what to say back. "... Would..." he replied quietly, "Is there... a chance it might be a reason for me to stay?"

Wolfe shifted a few more times before suddenly running a hand threw his hair, a nervous move Raven had never seen him do before. "I..." he muttered, sounding very unsure of himself, "I... don't want to... influence your decision." So that was a yes.

Raven didn't say anything for a long moment. Then finally he replied quietly, "... You scare the shit out of me." Not quite the confession the mood had established.

That statement seemed to touch on a very tender nerve. Instantly Wolfe began to withdraw back into his shell as he looked away, "...I'm the demon," he confessed quietly, referencing the old nickname Wolfe had given Raven for his eyes. There was some deeper emotion surfacing through his words.

"... No..." Raven disagreed quietly. "Demons don't 'defend the innocent.' They don't care about what others feel... It's... more like..." he thought about it awhile. "A fallen angel," he decided. "You've done and seen it all: heaven, hell, earth. But through it all you managed to keep something from up there in you even though you can't go back."