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Wolfe was starting to walk off, "Sorry," he said over his shoulder, "I'm not in the best mood currently."

--

Laurel blinked, "A message... for you?"

Raven sighed a little. "... But I'll take that as you wanting me to stay though," he announced.

--

Nic nodded a little. "... I thought everyone in Yin Long hated me. But it looks like an old friend wants me to resolve my past."

Wolfe paused, "Take it however you wish," he relied tiredly, back to his usual ambiguity.

--

Laurel pulled away and took Nic's head in her hands, "That's great!" she smiled.

Raven took that as a big fat yes. So he went back to fixing the flowers before going to take a shower.

--

Nic didn't entirely seem to think so. After a long moment he told he quietly, "I think he intends to bring me back into the gang."

Laurel shrugged, unconcerned, "So? You're not going back and information is information, no matter what the giver's intensions are."

"... I might not be given a choice," Nic tried to explain. "He has the power to bring me back."

Laurel sobered instantly as her eyes focused on Nic's, "You really believe that?" she asked quietly.

Nic looked away. "... It depends on what he wants," he replied quietly. "I might be able to bargain my way out. But I don't know what the price will be. But I thought I'd let you know."

Laurel pulled away from Nic slowly. Then, without any warning, she moved to slap him.

Nic didn't stop her.

There were tears in Laurel's eyes, "You... 'thought you'd let me know'?" she repeated, "How considerate. How considerate of you to let me know that if the circumstances are not in your favor, that you'll be giving up. How kind of you to let know that when the time comes, you'll end up back in that gang you've been running from. Thank you, thank you so much for warning me that you'll vanish from my side as quickly as you entered," she hissed, barely able to find enough breath to whisper.

Nic was silent for awhile. Then he replied quietly, expression unchanging, "I won't give up," he promised, eyes distant. "I thought I'd let you know that it might get hard on us for awhile. Yeah, I might have to go back for awhile. But I'll never stop fighting to get back to you."

Laurel stared at Nic for a long moment. Then she suddenly kissed him and leaned in, wrapping her arms around his head to trap him. It was clear from the sadness and loneness expressed in her touch that part of her doubted things would work out in their favor.

Nic tried to reassure her, but he also doubted. He could fight all he wanted, but it was inevitable. His curse would catch up with him.

It was only when Laurel felt Nic's own doubt that she began to cry. She squeezed his neck tightly, "I-I... wanna put y-you in a g-glass b-box..." she whispered, sobbing, "W-Where you'd... b-be hidden... safe and..." she couldn't finish as she buried her face into his neck.

--

Frei sat in her corner, away from the world and hidden. If she remained here... she wouldn't be in the way and... wouldn't bump into Raven.

Nic closed his eyes so Laurel couldn't see the pain in them. He hated it when she cried.

--

After his shower, Raven stayed up awhile. He spent a lot of time thinking, and then called up an old friend before going to bed. In the morning he started passively searching for Frei as he looked for someone in charge to let them know a juttle was coming in later that day.