James leaned back in the hot tub with a grunt, "I don't even know what we're fighting about..." he muttered.

Yue didn't try explaining that to him either.

James reached out and nudged Yue with his foot, "I don't wanna fight," he whined a little as he started to move closer.

Yue brushed his foot away, but didn't move.

James continued to move closer until he was seated beside her. "You look hot," he suddenly complimented her.

Yue continued to ignore James for a little while. Then suddenly she stood up. "... I can't do this," she decided as she moved to get out.

"Alright, let's go take a hot shower... it's like a normal shower but with us in it." James nodded, standing along with Yue. Yue could tell James felt a little awkward too, like he didn't know how to act around her now.

"No," Yue clarified, gesturing to both of them. "This."

James instinctively took a step back before catching himself. After a moment he forced a smile, "Right... alright," he replied with an almost convincing chuckle, "That's not surprising after all. Well, you enjoy the hot tub, I'll go take a hot shower by myself. I'm hot enough after all," and James retreated quickly. He knew it would come to this eventually. Damn... why did he let himself fall so hard for one woman?

"Tch," Yue snorted, crossing her arms a little. Just like she thought. He didn't care enough to even ask. There was always another willing woman around for him to run to after all.

Laurel was tucked into the crook of Nic's arm, her eyes closed as her hand ran lightly over his abs. "I was really mad at you," she murmured before shifting a little and sighing, "But that doesn't seem important at all anymore."

--

Wolfe finally went to confront Raven after avoiding him for a few days. Frei was currently with Rosen.

Nic didn't say anything, adjusting his arm around her to compensate for her movements.

--

Raven had found a more deserted part of the garden where he was relaxing in the shade of a large tree.

Laurel rolled a little until she was half on top of him, chin resting on his shoulder. She kissed his neck before smirking and murmuring near his ear, "At least I'm not walking on eggshells anymore... well, at least not as many."

--

So Wolfe approached rather awkwardly and didn't say anything.

Nic ran his hand slowly along the top of Laurel's back.

--

Raven's eyes were closed, so he didn't notice.

Suddenly Laurel shot up into a sitting position and starting cussing, rubbing the top of her smooth head.

---

"... hi."

Nic blinked, confused. He started to sit up, but then just laid down again looking tired.

--

Raven jumped a little, but that was pretty normal. "... Hey," he replied.

Laurel slowly turned back to look at Nic, faced crumpled and it looked like she might start crying at any moment. "I... I-I forgot Amela..." she sniffed.

--

Wolfe looked away, "Snow's off on assignment," he said after a moment.

"Where?" Nic asked quietly after a moment.

--

"... Kay..." Raven replied.

Laurel sniffed again, "Chicago..." she muttered.

--

"..." Wolfe stared at some grass.

Somehow, Nic figured. He reached up and rubbed Laurel's back a little.

--

Raven waited.

Laurel suddenly stood, "I'll go get her," she decided, "I know where I left her."

--

"... How's Frei doing?" he asked after a moment.

"That's not a good idea," Nic told her.

--

"... She's missed you," Raven explained.

Laurel paused a long moment before sighing and little and sitting back down, "I know..."

--

Wolfe nodded a little, "You're better with her than me," he replied after a moment.

Nic started rubbing Laurel's back again.

--

"I grew up surrounded by kids," he reminded Wolfe. "I was 'trained' for them. But she still misses you. You're her protector after all."

After a moment, Laurel twisted her back a little, maneuvering so Nic rubbed a tight spot. Her whole back seemed rather tight. Probably since she'd been sleeping in a chair for awhile now.

--

"... She has more fun with you," he replied. He knew he wasn't any fun.

Nic rubbed her back like that for awhile, but it was too difficult to get the knots out like that. So he forced himself to sit up, and he tried to get her to lay down so he could get the knots out.

--

Raven opened his mouth to say something. But then he paused, glancing around. "... There aren't any cameras or recording things out here, right?" he checked.

Laurel paused, "Don't overdo it," she cautioned but it felt too good so she quickly caved and laid down.

--

Wolfe blinked, "They can't see us from this angle," he replied.

Surprisingly, Nic was really good at giving massages.

--

Raven nodded before continuing, "You don't like swimming. So I showed her that. But there's stuff I don't like either. Like, I like dresses, but I don't like wearing them - I'm not fun in that way."

"Mmn..." Laurel replied after awhile, "I should have had you doing this earlier," she muttered in a voice muffled by the bed.

--

"Frei doesn't like dresses," Wolfe replied simply. He seemed to have missed the point.

Raven was quiet for awhile. "... First, all girls love dresses even if they say they hate them," Raven explained. "Second..." He paused before deciding not to bother. "Whatever."

Wolfe raised an eyebrow, "You clearly haven't discussed this with Pepper."

"Pepper is in her own category along with Nic," Raven said as he rubbed his head a little.

Wolfe blinked again, "Am I in my own category as well?" he inquired.

Raven thought about it awhile before shaking his head.

Wolfe tilted his head a little, "Then we must be in opposite categories," he mused.

Raven looked confused for awhile before shaking his head. "I meant they're in their own sexual category," he corrected. "What are you talking about?"

"You're fun and I'm not," Wolfe replied. Well, it looked like they had come full circle.

Raven paused before nodding a little, becoming silent again.

"I'd like... to be funner," he cringed at the word choice, "more fun," he corrected himself.

"... Hm..." Raven muttered like he was accessing the odds of that becoming a reality.