Nic took it anyway.

--

There was a pause before Fin's face turned bright red. He was silent for another few moments before asking, "W-Why are you... here?"

"I want to swim," she stated blankly.

Fin remained silent and red.

Frei sat up, "I want to go swimming," she stated, throwing off the blanket, "Now."

Fin pulled the blanket closer over himself, still rather shell shocked.

"Now," Frei stated, "Unless you'd rather go back to your little daydreams about me," she stated a little cryptically.

Fin swallowed a little. "... J-Just a minute," he replied as he slowly started to get up.

"Now," she stated, grabbing his decorated arm and dragging him out of bed.

Fin blinked at his own arm, keeping a hold on the covers with his other hand.

Frei turned and glared at him, "You will come with me now," she ordered. Apparently she didn't like being dreamed about.

Fin muttered something under his breath as Frei dragged him off.

Frei dragged him to the pool which was full of ladies at the moment. "Take off your shirt," she ordered.

Fin's face was still a little red, and he started putting up some resistance as he saw all the girls in the pool. And he didn't take off his shirt, looking like he was feeling self-conscious.

"Take it off," Frei stated again a little coldly, "Unless you want me to announce that you dream about me."

The girls were all focused on Fin but it wasn't because he was cute anymore. It was the doodles covering all of his body in permanent marker.

Fin was becoming even more self-aware as he seemed to realize that Frei must have doodled all over him. He swallowed a little, but what else could he do? So he took his shirt off.

Frei nodded, "I'm getting my swimsuit," she stated blankly before walking off.

The girls were laughing now. One finally approached Fin, "Who knew Frei could actually get jealous?" she chuckled.

Fin didn't say anything as he glanced at all the marks on him and listened to the laughing. He backed away as the girl came closer. He was really looking self-conscious now.

"She wrote 'property of Frei' on your back," the girl explained with a laugh, "I guess she didn't like us fawning over you."

Fin backed away a little more, not meeting the girl in the eyes. Then he shook his head a little before suddenly turning and running out.

"Hey, wait!" the girl replied in concern, running after him.

Fin kept running, not turning back.

"Hey, it's all in fun!" the girl replied, still chasing him, "It's not a big deal!"

Fin still kept running. He didn't stop until he made it to the bedrooms. He finally stopped at Nic's bedroom door, yanking on the handle. But the door was locked and wouldn't open.

The girl blinked, sliding to a stop on her bare feet, "... I thought you didn't talk to your brother," she said quietly. Apparently she hadn't been totally oblivious to Fin before. She was around his age and his height.

Fin yanked on the handle one more time before sinking to the ground in front of the door and pulling his legs up to his chest, still ignoring the girl.

The girl tilted her head and walked closer to him, "Hey... you want me to get the markings off of you? 'Cause I can."

Fin almost glanced up, but didn't. "... Leave me alone," he told the girl a little miserably.

"Aw don't be like that," the girl sighed as she plopped down in front of Fin. "I've noticed you don't have any friends, do you want one? I'll be your friend, Fin."

Fin paused before slowly shaking his head. "... She won't let me," he muttered.

"Who, Frei?" the girl asked, "But you have to have some friends, Fin. I know you like her and she likes you, we're just friends, okay?" she smiled, holding out her hand.

Fin didn't take her hand, almost like he was afraid.

"Oh, c'mon," the girl rolled her eyes a little, "I'm not going to bite. My name's Bren, short for Brenda but no one calls me that."

Fin still didn't say or do anything for a long time. But eventually he stuck one of his hands out a little to shake her hand even though he still wouldn't make eye contact.

"There, that's better," Bren smiled, "Now, let's see if we can make you feel a little better." She dug around in a small pouch for a moment, for she had been one of the only girls at the pool clothed. "Here we are," she pulled out a bottle and opened it, dabbing some of the liquid onto her sleeve. The she slowly reached out with the sleeve toward Fin's arm.

Fin flinched a little, but let Bren clean him off.

Bren wiped him off a bit before asking with a snort, "Want to keep Frei's sign on the back?"

Fin paused before quietly deciding, "No..." But he didn't turn to let Bren at his back.

"... Well I have to be able to reach it to get it off," she reminded Fin gently.

Fin was a little stubborn, but after awhile he turned around.

--

Long remained in his room most of the morning. Then he left before lunch, looking for Wolfe.

Bren wiped away the rest of the marker before sitting back against the door next to Fin. "There, now don't be sad," she told him.

--

Wolfe was with Snow walking towards a conference room.