Fin still looked sad. And embarrassed.

--

So Long intercepted them. He was wearing the usual black attire, and he had a bandage around his fist. "... May I speak with you?" he asked Wolfe.

"They'll all forget about it tomorrow," Bren informed him knowingly, "trust me, lots of stuff happens around here."

--

Wolfe took Long in for a moment before nodding and motioning for a very curious Snow to go on ahead. Slowly she did.

Fin still didn't seem too comforted.

--

Long was silent for a long while before finally asking, "Why am I still alive?"

Bren tilted her head for a moment, "Did something else happen?" she asked, "Before Frei drew on you?"

--

Wolfe blinked, "Because there was no need to kill you," he said simply.

Fin remained tight lipped.

--

Long paused, not seeming satisfied with that answer.

Bren sighed a little but dropped it. "Frei wouldn't want you to be sad, you know," she said quietly.

--

Wolfe didn't seem to understand what wasn't satisfying.

Still nothing.

--

After a little while longer Long asked quietly, "May I make a request?"

"I know!" Bren suddenly stated, "You haven't had breakfast yet, have you?" She stood up, "Let's get something to eat."

--

Wolfe nodded.

"... I'm not hungry," Fin replied quietly.

--

"... Erase my memories and send me back," Long requested.

Bren rolled her eyes, "Yes you are," she argued, "You're just too full of embarrassment to tell right now."

--

"No," Wolfe replied simply.

Fin didn't try to argue with Bren. She was just as stubborn as Frei. But with more words.

--

Long paused for a long moment, expression blank. "... Then kill me," he replied seriously.

"Look, Fin," Bren sighed, "I don't want you to be sad. Can I do anything to make you feel a little better?"

--

"No," Wolfe repeated.

Fin shook his head.

--

"Why not?" Long demanded.

Bren paused, "Do you want me to try to find Dominic for you?"

--

Wolfe looked a little irritated, "Until we know for certain your abuser was not from within the Yin Long, I will most certainly not send you back," he stated firmly.

Fin paused, trying to figure out if he really wanted to see his brother.

--

"Why not?" Long repeated, voice sounding angry.

Bren waited.

--

Wolfe looked over Long for a moment before deciding it wasn't worth trying to argue. He turned to leave.

Finally Fin shook his head.

--

"Why not?" Long repeated louder.

Bren nodded, "Should I look for Frei?"

--

Wolfe was silent for a moment, "... And if I find out it was an inside job," he added in a grave tone as he started to walk away, "I'll rip the Yin Long apart."

Fin shook his head.

--

Long said nothing more, speechless.

"So you're just going to sit outside of your brother's door, who you don't want to see, and mope?" Bren inquired.

--

Wolfe went to find Snow.

--

James sighed, looking at Yue strangely for what seemed to be the hundredth time. Finally, he spoke up, "Why are you acting weird?"

Fin paused before sighing a little. It looked like he didn't know what else to do. But Bren pointing it out certainly didn't make him any less embarrassed.

--

"... No, I'm not," Yue replied.

"You want to skateboard?" Bren suddenly asked.

--

"Yeah, you're acting strange," James said quietly, "Are you worried about me running to Laurel? I think I've got it figured out how to avoid her."

Fin blinked, not sure where that came from.

--

Yue paused before sighing, "... How can I not be worried about you?" she asked.

"Do you?" Bren asked.

--

James started to look rather depressed again.

Fin paused before slowly standing, but he still wouldn't look at Bren.

--

Yue sighed again. "How am I not supposed to worry?" she asked him.

"I'm not a monster, you know," Bren rolled her eyes, "And I'm not very pretty either. You won't fall for me," she promised teasingly.

--

"...I don't know," James muttered, sinking further back into himself.

Fin made a bit of a face before realizing he still didn't have a shirt on. So he headed toward his room.

--

Yue grabbed his face so he had to look at her. "... We'll figure this out," she promised. "... It's just going to take time.

"I'll see you at the skatepark then!" she called after him before heading out.

--

James nodded slowly, eyes looking like he wanted to believe her but he was frightened. "... What if it's just not Laurel, Yue?" he whispered, "What if it happens with other girls too?"

It took Fin a little longer than it should have, but he finally arrived at the skate park.

--

"... We'll figure it out," Yue repeated quietly.

Bran was skating around a little bit. She looked decent was still wobbly.

--

"I've already made you cry again," James whispered, sinking deeper into the hatred he felt for himself, "It's not fair to you, Yue."

Fin didn't say anything as he practiced what Snow had taught him.

--

"I know what you need," Yue replied quietly.

Bren didn't talk either, practicing herself.

--

James didn't seem to believe her.

So Yue leaned closer. "I know exactly what will cheer you up," she whispered in his ear.

Even that didn't seem to cheer him up much.

Yue smirked. "Your heart beat starts to quicken," she started quietly. "You start feeling the adrenaline shoot through your veins... You feel the heat from the bright white light as you step out and it blinds you. Then the screams of a thousand fans ring through your ears, cheering you on..."

James closed his eyes for a moment, a trace of a smile making it to his lips before it slowly faded, "... I just want you, Yue," he whispered.

"... There's nothing wrong with loving to be a rock star too," she whispered, running a hand through his hair.

James paused as he suddenly shuttered, "But what if it happens again when I see a girl in the audience?"

"You've been around other girls," Yue replied quietly. "You've given a hundred concerts, but so far Laurel appears to be the only one. You shouldn't worry."

James still looked worried, but after a moment he leaned forward to kiss Yue's cheek.