Yue stuck her tongue out a little at him.

James swooped in and kissed it before smirking.

Yue scrunched her nose a little before purposefully messing up part of his hair for revenge.

James squawked a little in protest before kissing her right on the ear, blowing a bit into it.

"Stop it," Yue protested, trying to swat him away with her hand.

--

Long said nothing as he entered Sheng's office with a slight bow before quietly walked over to him and giving him a small test tube. Sheng took it and held it up to the light, looking at the tiny orange hair inside. He nodded, it would be enough. Long bowed again a little before turning to leave.

"Long," Sheng said and Long turned back to him obediently. "I have one more task for you tonight."

James chuckled near her ear but stopped, squeezing her a little tighter.

Yue shook her head a little. It was highly doubtful that there would be any taming James.

James picked up a metal stick and poked the fire back to life again, sending up some sparks before adjusting himself back against Yue's side.

Yue put an arm around James as the temperature started to drop.

--

As they were taking a break, Tusk finally paused to take a breath after downing four full glasses of water one right after the other.

James definitely liked that but didn't push her farther, he seemed content that she was letting him touch her at all.

--

Pepper rolled onto her side and raised an eyebrow, "I warned you I was hot," Pepper noted.

Yue seemed content as well. But after awhile, all the peacefulness was starting cause her to dose off.

--

"... That explains it," Tusk replied before drinking another glass of water.

James didn't seem to mind.

--

Pepper shrugged, "Your internal thermal controls off as well?" she assumed.

"As well?" Tusk asked as he finally put down the glass. "You want some water?"

"I've met another one of your type," Pepper explained before shaking her head at the water.

Tusk suddenly grew eerily quiet. "... Where?" he asked after a moment, voice a little dark.

Pepper smirked as she rolled over onto her back.

There was was a small crack before a large pop and clattering as Tusk crushed the glass in his hand. He took a few deep breaths before leaving the mess and going back to the bed. "... What do you want?" he asked her.

Pepper chuckled darkly as she looked up at Tusk, "I'm looking for something," she replied calmly.

"What?" he asked.

"The lab where I was created," Pepper stated in the same tone as she sat up with a grunt.

"... You lost your lab?" Tusk replied, raising an eyebrow.

Pepper smirked before shrugging, "My creator was suddenly struck down with morality and sealed it up, abandoning his failures and wiping it's location from our memories."

"How paranoid," Tusk noted. "... But I have a short leash here," he explained as he leaned in closer. "And the sooner you tell me where my brother is hiding, the more I'll be inclined to help you out."

Pepper smirked before kissing his lips lightly, "I'm sure a man named Tusk can maneuver around a short leash," she replied.

Tusk's hand slowly moved from Pepper's shoulder to the base of her neck. His touch was rough, but it didn't hurt. "... The longer he's alive, the shorter my life is..." he explained quietly. "I won't stand for him to waste days that could be mine."

Pepper nodded a little before deciding something, "Alright, Tusk," she replied, finger tracing his jaw, "Since I like you, I'll be honest. I haven't met another man lab rat but I know of a woman in your same condition. And I happen to know that she has over two years of lifesaving medication at her disposal this very moment. And if anyone knows where your brother is hiding, it would be another fugitive, right?" she smirked.

Tusk was silent. He seemed to zone off when she mentioned that she had two year's worth. He was gone for awhile, trying to wrap his head around that number.

Pepper leaned in and kissed his lips again, lingering, "Two years... would give you a longer leash, yes?" she whispered.

"... Two... years..." Tusk barely whispered before licking his lips slowly. "... News like that makes me want to celebrate," he told Pepper quietly next to her ear.

Pepper smirked, amused as she wrapped her powerful arms around his neck and slowly pulled him down onto the bed with her.

Nic woke up early the next morning, trying to quietly sneak out so he wouldn't wake Laurel.

--

Long slowly blinked his eyes open as the morning came. And as he slowly pushed himself up and looked at his shaking hands, for the first time in years, he started to become afraid that he couldn't remember what had happened the previous night.

Laurel mumbled something. Again, the name Hayden came up. But she didn't wake.

--

James woke with a sneeze. It looked like he'd dozed off as well.

Nic paused, but let her be. He hesitated at the door, and after some thought, left her note saying he had left early to work out.

--

Yue cussed a little as she was roused a bit, but then tried to go back to sleep.

Laurel eventually woke and blinked before spotting the note. She read it, paused, glanced down at her stomach and then decided to dance for a bit.

--

James had gotten cold in the night, he was sprawled over Yue. He quickly fell back asleep.

--

Wolfe was just getting out of the gym and going for a run like he did every morning.

Yue also fell back asleep, snuggling against James for warmth.

--

Nic was also currently running along the most effective path he had determined based on the layout of the resort.

Once again, Wolfe and Nic were on the same wave length. Wolfe had a bit of a head start though.

Nic didn't purposefully try to compete with Wolfe, but his pace happened to be a little faster than Wolfe's.

Wolfe just to happened to be finishing his warm up lap at Nic caught up, so his pace quickened.

Nic didn't bother to speed up since he had found a nice pace. It took him awhile even to notice Wolfe running beside him.

Wolfe seemed to be aware of Nic but didn't bother to acknowledge him.