"... Maybe she's finally willing to listen," Nic mused quietly before walking away.

After about an hour there was a knock on Nic's door.

--

There was a knock on Yue's door.

There was a grunt from inside Nic's room. Presumable that was a "come in."

--

There was a long moment before Yue replied, "Yeah?"

So Laurel came in. She pulled a small cart in behind her that had a few trays with lids on it. Something smelled really good.

--

James stepped into Yue's room, he looked slightly uncomfortable but nodded to her as he shut the door behind him.

After a moment, Nic glanced over, blinking at the cart.

--

Yue was surprised to see him. It looked like she had been working on something on her tablet. She waited for him to speak first.

Laurel glanced around and seemed a little surprised to see only Nic. Then she shrugged and brought the cart over to the small table where Nic was seated. She took the top tray off and set it nearer to Nic but not close enough to be any danger to his laptop. She quickly removed the lid and inside was a variety of foods that Nic either liked or at least had eaten before made in fingerfood style. She placed the other tray on top of the cart and removed the lid as well. It was also filled with different fingerfoods but this tray seemed to be a bit random.

"I thought Missy would be here." she explained quietly, which explained the random tray, before pushing that cart within reach of Nic's arm as well.

The smells, while of course smelling good, had no strong or overpowering odors that might distract Nic from his work. It seemed like Laurel had thought this through almost perfectly. She even had two small plates with napkins.

"You get too absorbed, remember to eat." Laurel stated with not so much a fussing voice as acceptance on the matter.

--

James stood there for a long moment and for a while it seemed like he wouldn't speak at all. Then suddenly, "Have you really forgiven me that quickly?" he asked.

Nic was silent for awhile looking at the food. He was distracted for a brief moment as his computer started to complain, but after a few clicks it felt better. Then he looked back at Laurel. "... Thanks," he told her quietly.

--

Yue blinked, clearly a little confused by the question. After a moment, she swallowed. She opened her mouth briefly to speak, but nothing came out before she closed it again.

Laurel's face was a bit unreadable as a few emotions swept across her face too quickly to be deciphered. But after a minute she broke eye-contact with him. "Anytime." she barely whispered before clearing her throat, "These all will taste just as good cold." she stated with a confirming nod, "So don't feel pressured to eat it while it's hot." She looked at the food for a moment, "Well... I guess I'll stop bothering you now, I'm sure you have lots to do." and she turned to leave.

--

James frowned a little, "I don't understand." he murmured, "You screamed practically all night because of me and then the next time you see me... you're perky."

Nic didn't say anything more as he turned back to his work.

--

Yue looked away, voice still lost.

Laurel left and music could be heard from one of the dance studios.

--

James' frown deepened, "Every time I'm with you I end up hurting you. I don't understand why you're so friendly." he continued.

Still nothing from Yue.

James was silent for awhile longer before sighing, "I'll leave then." he finally just stated as he turned to leave.

Yue stood, but she didn't try to go after him. She looked, rather embarrassed.

James paused at the door as he noticed she had stood. He glanced back at her, even more confused than before. "... What?"

Yue was really struggling with... something. She looked away again, face pretty red. She played with her hands for a long moment before telling him quietly, "... Yeah... I've forgiven you already."

James let out a long sigh, "The more I come to know you... the more I come to realize I don't know you at all." he said with a bit of a complaining tone. Then he seemed to peer at her more closely, "You... aren't drunk, right?" he asked suddenly, eyes squinting a little.

"No," Yue snapped at him before shaking her head a little. "No," she repeated, but without the unnecessary anger.

James sighed again as he turned and slowly walked back over to her, stopping about an arms length away. "And... what happens with it happens again?" he asked quietly, eyes serious and a bit sad.

Yue took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, looking very uncomfortable and perhaps a bit scared. "... I'll... I'll try not to let it," she replied quietly.

James looked at Yue for a long moment, "Yue, you don't have to do this you know." he said quietly, "You don't have to be around me. I was designed to mimic and cause chaos and pain, it will come up again... I... don't know when but it will. I don't want to hurt you again, Yue." he whispered, real pain breaking through his controlled expression, "D-Dirt... Do you realize how much you were screaming in fear?" If Yue looked close enough she could see that James was actually shaking slightly.

After a long moment, Yue slowly reached out and grabbed James' arm lightly. She was shaking a little to. "... It's... not you that I'm afraid of," she whispered, not looking at him.

James blinked before frowning again, "... Then who?" he asked quietly, "Dominic?"

Yue's silence was confirmation enough.

And suddenly Yue was enveloped in James's arms, "Why?" he asked, pain clear in his voice, "Why does he scare you so badly?" Then he paused, thinking back over Nic's words as he arms tightened around Yue.

Yue gasped a little, surprised. She started shaking a little more. But she bit her lip, trying to keep her emotions under control. After a long moment of silence, it looked like she might not be ready to talk about it yet.

When it was clear Yue wasn't talking James sighed, "You sure have bad luck with men." he whispered to her as he pressed his cheek against the top of her head. "If... you want me to stay, I will." he told her quietly. "... But can I ask you one thing?"

Yue didn't say anything, but that wasn't a no.

"Do... you love Nic?"

Yue's nails suddenly dug deep into James' arm. "I hate him," she spat, voice full of venom. Her reactions were starting to become a bit clearer. It seemed like that angry, spiteful side of her was almost like a safety net for when the pain became too much for her to handle.

James let Yue dig her nails into his arm and said nothing for a long moment. "What do you think of Laurel then?" he asked quietly after a moment.

Yue was silent for a moment as she slowly let go of James' arm. "... I don't know," she replied, anger still in her voice. "But he lost his old pet, so I understand why he would want Laurel to be his new one."

James frowned as the familiar word came up again but didn't comment on it. "I think she's too nice." he diagnosed simply, before loosing his grip a bit to get a look at Yue's face. "Want to take a break tonight?" he asked, "It seems like at this point, there's nothing either of us can really do to help Wolfe anyway..." he sighed, looking a bit depressed at his uselessness.

Yue still looked angry. "... I have some work I need to get done," she replied.

"Alright." James replied as he slowly let go of Yue, "I'm relieved you don't hate me." he told her after a moments pause and it was clear he finally felt more relaxed around her again.

Yue didn't say anything.

James nodded with a small smile, "Well then..." he said, reaching out and patting the top of Yue's head, "I suppose I should let you get back to more important things."

Yue knocked his his hand away dispassionately.

So James left her alone, for now.

As the day past, Nic and Missy found out that the man was Jeremy Yates, age 24 and he had apparently died a little over a year ago. He had indeed worked for the Yin Long until the time of his supposed death. He had been working on assignment when an explosion and subsequent fire had killed him. No body was recovered but it was assumed he had been blown to bits. (lol idk)

When Nic and Missy made their discovery, Nic went to inform everyone else while Missy headed for the pool.

Lucy was already there, splashing about. "You're late!" she informed Missy.

Frei informed Wolfe who informed Yue.

Laurel frowned a bit, "So the Okorie family basically stole him from the Yin Long?" she asked when Frei had left the room.