Please tell me what you think.

L.L.A.P

~Laces

Chpt.4

"Y'know, I missed your cooking." Jason informed as he finished his second helping of pancakes followed shortly after by a low burp. "Mind if I get another plate?"

"I don't mind, but where the hell do you put it all. I mean sure, you're a big guy, but you already must've eaten your weight in pancakes." Ruari shook her head, looking at her friend in bafflement.

Jason chuckled as he patted his stomach.

"I think I have a hallow leg." He said proudly.

"Lucky." Ruari smiled as she handed him another plate of pancakes. "I get full too easily. I should check out if something's wrong with me."

Ruari found it a bit ironic how she loved cooking, but always ended up eating very small portions of what she concocted.

"I know what's wrong with you. You're stressed. If I were you, I'd be too." Jason shrugged. "I suggest moving to another place besides America. It'll be harder for you to be found. Ever try Japan?"

"Yup. And Germany and Italy and Ireland and Australia. It was more expensive and they found me anyway." Ruari sighed as she grabbed her laptop and started to type.

"Do you think there will ever be a time when you'll stop having to run?" Jason questioned in a serious tone, his eyes staring into Ruari's. She looked down at the computer screen and her fingers typed quickly.

"I used to think that one day everything would just go away. That I'd jump into a car and drive wherever the hell I wanted without a care in the world." The girl sighed heavily. "Now I think I'll be on the run until I die naturally or they kill me." Jason didn't like the thought of her dying and shot her a playful smile.

"Please, they wouldn't kill you. They just want to capture you." Jason informed honestly, his smile unwavering, but she remained silent and serious. "Hey, Ruari?"

The girl looked up at Jason, and he grinned, giving her a comforting look.

"You'll get out of this. It'll all turn out."

Jason wasn't good at giving words of encouragement, but Ruari was an old friend, and when she didn't have that goofy smile of hers plastered on her face, something was wrong. Jason also blamed himself for bringing up the subject of her running away.

"Thanks Jay." Ruari said with her small grin returning to her face. Jason tried to turn the conversation to something lighter.

"I read one of your more recent books by the way." Jason informed proudly. "It was good. You certainly have a way with words."

"Thanks. I'm working on another one right now." She stated as she continued typing.

Jason stood from his chair and walked over to Ruari. He leaned on the girl's shoulder, and she seemed to not mind. When with friends, Ruari's personal space bubble was practically nonexistent.

"Y'know, you're one character, Justin, sounded awful familiar." He smirked. "Handsome, strong, someone who can save the day. I wonder what inspired you to write a story with him in it." Jason laid a brief kiss on Ruari's cheek causing her to chuckle.

"I get inspiration from people I meet." She informed with a small shrug. "My current story features a character based on my neighbor from across the hall."

"Huh. What's he like?" Jason questioned, frowning how his kiss didn't evoke the reaction he wanted.

"He's funny. He likes to sing, but he's not very good at it."

"The guy have a name?" Ruari giggled a bit, then took a break from typing to rub her temples.

Jason could see how tense she was and started to rub her shoulders from his position behind her. She was able to hide her stress well, but Jason could feel the knots in her back as he continued massaging her.

"Honestly I don't remember it. I think it started with a D… or a G… or something. I've just been calling him Officer since he's a cop."

"You can't remember his name?" Jason questioned with a laugh. "Seriously? You can remember almost every little detail of something, but you can't remember the guy's name?"

"It's just lost to me." Ruari admitted honestly.

Jason chuckled, then placed another kiss on Ruari's cheek as he continued to rub her shoulders.

"Ruari, I was hoping that maybe you could give me more than just some food tonight." He whispered in her ear then nibbled at her earlobe.

"I know Jay, I picked up your hints, I was just hoping you knew that I was ignoring them."

"Why not?" Jason pouted. "Nothing serious. Just a little fun. You know I don't disappoint."

"Yes, I know you don't." Ruari chuckled. "But not tonight." She grabbed his one hand and kissed his knuckle. "You understand, right?"

"Guess so." Jason shrugged as he returned to his seat, but he did smile due to the kiss. "But can I still spend the night? Your apartment is a lot more welcoming than the creepy motels they have here."

"What about your brother?"

"I honestly have no idea where he lives, and I can give him a call tomorrow." Jason said nonchalantly. "So, can I stay?"

"Sure thing, Jay." She grinned.

~*~*~*~*~*~Earlier~*~*~*~*~*~

Once the man he was trailing gave up, so did Dick. Whoever the men were looking for wasn't going to be found that night.

Dick decided to head home and get some sleep. He had an earlier shift the next day so he would need the rest.

Stripping and then getting into something more comfortable, Dick slugged around his apartment in a pair of loose sweatpants.

"Jason! Stop!" he could hear a muffled voice coming from Ruari's apartment.

Was that Ruari? Dick wondered, then heard the voice again.

"Jason! Stop! Please!"

"I'll keep this up all night!" laughed a man's voice.

The statement made Dick jump into action and he ran to Ruari's apartment. Using the spare key that he saw Ruari hide under her doormat, Dick swiftly opened the door.

He was expecting to find Ruari being attacked by some malicious man and Dick fully intended on rescuing her.

However, what he saw instead was Ruari being pinned down on the couch by his brother. She was fully clothed and her face was red from laughter. Jason had been tickling her.

Questions buzzed in Dick's head, but he couldn't verbalize any of his thoughts. All he did was stand in front of the two with a dumbstruck look on his face.

"Sorry for any disturbance, Officer." Ruari informed from her position on the couch like it was the most natural thing.

"Dick?" Jason questioned.

"You know each other?" Ruari inquired, looking from Dick to Jason. Both looked surprised to see one another.

"He's my brother." Jason informed. Dick shook his head while he stared at the two. He had to ask,

"What is even going on here?"