Nic knew that. And he knew he'd need to find something better than push ups. But to make it easier on the both of them, he tried to explain a little, "... You can't surprise me like that if... you don't want that to happen. I need... to be focused, but right now I'm thinking too much about this." He gestured to the computer. "I want it to be special too, but that won't happen while..." He paused, something starting to dawn on him. While what? This was just the first step of stress for him. There was still so much to do...

Laurel nodded slowly after he'd paused, "I understand." she said quietly, "We're both on the run so we can't afford to get distracted. I wasn't thinking." she decided with a sigh, "Sorry, I won't do it again. Perhaps..." she paused for a moment before holding out her hand, "we should just shake hands for now?" she offered seriously though there was tease in her eyes and her mouth twitched upwards slightly.

Nic didn't seem to like that idea.

Laurel giggled slightly before simply grinning at Nic, "No? Then what? Do I need to always ask your permission before I kiss you?" the tease was out in full now.

Nic frowned, trying to remain serious about the conversation. "... Maybe," he replied. "Or give me a chance to say no."

Laurel sighed, letting the teasing drop as she nodded. "Fair enough." she replied with a small smile, "Is loving someone always this complicated?" she inquired after a pause.

Nic paused a moment before shaking his head.

Laurel paused again before shrugging, "I suppose it doesn't help when both parties are doing things illegal." she decided. Another pause, "Can... I touch your hair?" she asked a little awkwardly, frowning a little at how strange that sounded.

Nic didn't seem to think it was a strange request. But he thought about it for a moment before nodding a little and sitting down so his head was easier to reach.

Laurel smiled as she stepped forwards and gently ran her fingers through his hair, smoothing it back out from Nic's previous abuse. "There." she said quietly but continued to lightly touch his hair.

Nic seemed to be doing better. And like usual, he didn't say anything.

Laurel continued to play with Nic's hair before suddenly jerking her hands from it and taking a few steps back. She seemed to have had some thought... that or her slow, naive mind finally caught up... for within moments her entire neck, face and ears were covered in a deep blush.

Nic didn't turn around for a moment, giving Laurel a little time to recover before he looked at her, a little confused.

As soon as Nic turned around, the blush grew deeper and after a moment she proceeded to flee the room.

Nic quietly watched her flee. When she was gone, he let out a deep sigh. Yep, this was going to take awhile.

Laurel ran straight for Raven, once she found him she buried her still fiercely blushing face into his chest and hugged him tightly. Frei looked up from the tablet she had been reading and blinked at the two of them. She'd told Raven she wanted to check the archives.

Raven blinked at Laurel and Frei. "... Uh..." Raven muttered before he remembered what was new in Laurel's life. He glanced at Frei. "... I'll be right back," he told her before trying to get Laurel somewhere a little more private.

Laurel continued to hide her face but followed Raven. Frei tilted her head slightly as she wanted them go.

When Raven found a spot, he asked, "... Is everything alright? What happened?"

"Oh... goodness..." Laurel whispered as she let go of Raven and held her head on both sides with her hands. "He... H-He would have done it..." she murmured vaguely.

"... It?" Raven asked, seeing if they were thinking about the same thing. "What happened?" he repeated.

"If I wouldn't have freaked out... and gotten dizzy... he... I think he would have done... it!" she whispered, as if scared to be overheard. It wasn't clear how she felt about the matter, besides being completely overwhelmed.

"Freaked out?" Raven asked, voice getting worried. "What happened?" he repeated once more.

"W-Well..." she cleared her throat a little, "Well he was looking so hopeless... He can't find what he's looking for on that computer." she explained quietly, "So I decided to kiss him, I thought it might cheer him up. Only..." she paused, putting a hand on her head as she recalled, "He... was different this time. I felt like I'd unleashed something... like an avalanche and got dizzy. I told him to stop but he didn't..." she paused, swallowing, "I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let me... and then I suddenly got scared and I don't know why. I know he'd never... hurt me but I felt like I was going to pass out and I couldn't get away." she whispered, expression growing confused as she rethought what had taken place.

Raven's grip on Laurel tightened for a moment before he noticed what he was doing. "... I know it's hard," he told her quietly. "But what happened then?"

Laurel frowned slowly, "I... I think I started crying..." she whispered, pausing again, "A-And then Nic finally noticed."

"... And...?" Raven whispered.

"He... almost shoved me right off his lap..." Laurel recalled after a moment's thought.

"... Did he?" he asked, a little confused.

"No," Laurel replied, "I... He caught me... At the last second." she slowly nodded, "I was still crying and then he... started doing push ups. With one hand." she whispered.

Raven looked more confused, but shook it off. "But you're alright?" he clarified.

Laurel still looked confused, "I... I think s-so..." she mumbled, "I was laughing with him about it..." Then suddenly Laurel's expression changed as a thought crossed her mind. "R-Raven..." she whispered, "Raven if he... wouldn't have noticed." she paused, a horrified look crossing her face, "What if he wouldn't have noticed?!" she suddenly asked, "He'd never... hurt me knowingly... but..." her wide eyes stared into Raven's for the first time, "He wouldn't have stopped... would he?" she whimpered.

Raven seemed a little overwhelmed himself. "Uh..." Raven muttered. "Why don't you hang out with Frei a bit?" he suddenly suggested.

Laurel suddenly hugged Raven once more, just as tightly, but then leet go and nodded. "Okay... Um... You'll come back though, right?" she asked, struggling not to cry.

Raven gave Laurel a small smile and a nod. "I'll be right back," he promised.

Laurel nodded slowly, "Where... are you going?" she asked quietly as she stepped away from him.

"To check on my rival," Raven joked lightheartedly. He didn't seem angry or upset.

Laurel blinked then slowly seemed to understand. She nodded again, "I'll... be with Frei then." she replied, turning to leave.

And so Raven went to talk with Nic. It was a good half hour before Raven came back to the archives. He seemed to return in more or less the same mood. A little confused and mostly neutral.

Laurel was sitting with Frei, she looked much happier. Apparently whatever Frei had done had helped. Laurel glanced up at Raven, "Is he alright?" she asked, looking a little worried until Frei patted her hand.