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.