Laz always starts it. But Marley always ends it without harming Laz. He just puts up with Laz's attempts. He wouldn't hurt a fly. Or a mouse these days. But I think that he finds Laz's pounces more amusing than worrisome.
Laz's problem might be that he just has too much energy to release on his own. I've tried wand toys, tossed toy mousies, and springs, but he doesn't really react to those (the wand play wears me out quickly).
I sometimes think he really needs another male cat about his own size to play with, but I am reluctant to go to 4 again. When I had 4, it felt like 1 too many. Marley is too big for him and Lori is too small.
16 pound Marley has little to fear from 9 pound Laz. So he puts up with it rather calmly. He might even enjoy the "play". It is hard to tell sometimes, but Laz's wrassling never seems to bother him.