"I know..." Nic replied, taking a moment to think through his response. He decided to take a more blunt approach. "You want to go slow," he tried explain. "And thinking about sleeping on the couch together, makes me want to go faster."

Laurel blinked, "I don't want to go slow... but, you're so experienced it's a little..." she stopped herself and got defensive again, "You're the one who said we had to wait until you're done with... everything. Whatever everything is."

Nic blinked. "... Well..." he replied after a moment. "I thought you wanted to wait and go slow."

"If you don't keep attacking me and trapping me until I pass out, then no. By slow I meant..." she paused, "It want it be enjoyable for both of us." she replied.

Nic paused a moment before nodding.

"As long as you keep some control over yourself then I'm fine with it." she explained, "No more pushing me off of the couch." Yep, she was stuck on that.

"I didn't know you were there," he repeated.

"And last night you told me you'd do anything for me... what a rude awakening." she complained with a tease, rubbing the back of her head dramatically.

"... You didn't ask," Nic complained a little. It sounded like he needed coffee.

Laurel finally smiled as she shook her head and lifted herself up, sitting in front of him on the couch. "I'm teasing." she chuckled, "Sorry for surprising you." she told him, leaning down and kissing his cheek. "Sounds like my man needs his coffee." she murmured near his ear before sitting back up.

Nic looked a little confused, wondering why she would think that. But he didn't ask.

Laurel patted his cheek, "You think after all this time, I don't know your coffee schedule?" she mused.

He had a coffee schedule? He didn't question it. But he turned his head and kissed her hand lightly.

Laurel blinked, clearly surprised then quickly blushed. "S-So..." she cleared her throat, "Are you still taking me on that date tonight?" she asked, not removing her hand.

"... I haven't had any time to plan anything," he replied.

Laurel stuck out her tongue a little, "Who needs fancy?"

"... We couldn't leave James' house," he added.

Laurel pouted a little, "Why not?"

"We don't know if it's safe," Nic explained.

"But... you'd be there." Laurel reasoned.

"... I wouldn't want to risk it," Nic argued.

Laurel sighed but nodded, "Alright, then we shouldn't tell any of the girls what we're doing." she told him as she squeezed his cheeks together lightly between her thumb and forefinger, "They wouldn't leave us alone..."

Nic blinked, looking rather silly which he was very unaware of. After a moment he nodded a little.

Laurel smiled at Nic for a moment before suddenly wrapping her arms around his head and lifting it up as she bent down slightly until his face was snuggled into the crook of her neck. She ran a hand through his hair as she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I won't let anyone else hurt you." she whispered more to herself than to him before kissing the side of his head.

Nic ran a hand through the stubble on her head and kissed her cheek.

Laurel hugged him tightly for a little bit longer before pulling away and looking at his face. "Do you like hair better or no hair?" she suddenly asked seriously.

Nic was quiet for a moment before asking, "My hair or your hair?"

Laurel blinked, "Mine, obviously." she replied slowly, "You'd look terrible bald." she grimaced slightly.

Nic blinked, like he really hadn't thought about how he'd look bald. "... Well, I haven't seen you with hair," he replied, not considering the fuzz hair. "I like whatever you're more comfortable with."

Laurel paused, "I... don't know." she said quietly, "I haven't had hair in such a long time I've forgotten if I like it." she admitted, fiddling with Nic's hair a little. "My dad said I looked too much like my mom with it." she murmured, frowning a little as she focused on his hair.

After another moment, Nic shook his head a little, making his hair bounce around. "... Mine's a little long," he decided.

Laurel snapped back from some daydream and glanced at him, "What me to give it a trim?" she offered, "I'm pretty decent at it."

"Maybe later," he replied.

Laurel nodded, pushing some hair out of his eyes and let her hand rest on his cheek again, "You really do have a lot of freckles." she noted as she surveyed them all, "It's a genetic enhancement, right?"

Nic shook his head.

Laurel's eyes widened in shock, "What?!" she demanded, "But you have so many? It has to be some sort of enhancement!" she retorted, poking his cheek.

Nic shook his head again.

Laurel shook her head a little in amazement, "I always knew you weren't normal but..." she continued to poke his cheek.

Surprisingly, Nic let her keep poking his cheek, but after awhile he moved his jaw around a little.

Laurel blinked before smirking, "Sorry." she replied as she stopped, "Now, can I kiss you before I get your coffee, sir?" she asked with a chuckle.