Disclaimer: I don't own The L Word.
Summary: A story in three parts, based around the theme of "First, Last, and Forever". Tibette.
First, Last, Forever-
-Part One: First
"I could have sworn I watched you put this back on."
Tine let out a quiet laugh and shrugged, letting her hands hit one another as her arms swung. She felt nervous, standing before the gallery owner she had met the night before, but it was a nervousness Tina had never felt before. She felt—giddy, as if the nerves running through her were creating a light happiness that started in the pit of her stomach and spread outward.
She watched as Bette slowly made her way around the table. Tina was surprised to find that, as the other woman moved, her gaze was set straight forward; not on the ground, but on Tina—their eyes locking.
Tina gulped nervously, feeling like she should take a step back, but unable to do so. As Bette moved, she moved with a determined grace. Her steps were precise and her eyes were focused. It was an air of confidence Tina had never before witnessed in another human being; only in predatory animals as they stocked their pray.
Tina blinked and suddenly Bette was before her, holding her hand out. Tina looked down to the earring in Bette's hand then back to her eyes. She felt her breath start to quicken as Bette continued to look at her, almost without blinking.
Tina reached forward, letting her fingers graze Bette's hand as she picked up the earring. Tina felt a fire blaze in her fingers that quickly ran through her body; a feeling she had only felt once before when she had taken her earring from Bette the night before. Instead of releasing the earring, Bette dropped her hand and Tina felt hers follow. As their limbs dropped, Tina felt Bette take a tighter hold on hers, wrapping her fingers around her palm and tugging.
Tina stood, transfixed as Bette moved forward. Their bodies remained still; close but not touching, as Bette closed the remaining distance between them and brought their lips together.
Tina was certain her heart stopped beating and her lungs stopped breathing. She felt light headed, and yet everything seemed clearer. Her body flushed and tingled. She had never kissed a woman before and she wondered why she hadn't; wanting nothing more than to continue keeping her lips locked with the woman before her. Bette's lips were soft and warm; inviting—intoxicating.
Tina wondered if this was what it was like to play with fire; and if it was, she would buy all the matches in LA to continue to do so.
And as quickly as it had begun, it was over and Bette was pulling back. Chaste yet lingering. Tina's mouth slacked and she tried to catch her breath. She opened her eyes to find Bette looking at her once again; a crooked smile gracing her lips that Tina was certain was a smirk. She felt her hand being pushed up as Bette released it. They both looked to Tina's earring, before turning their gaze back to one another.
"Have dinner with me tonight," Bette said, her smile turning genuine.
Tina's face flushed and her mouth moved slightly, silently responding to the question that Bette had easily made into a statement. "I have a boyfriend," was the only thing Tina's mouth allowed herself to say.
Bette's smirk returned and her eyes lit as she let out a chuckle. Tina stood, captivated at the laugh; it was deep and quiet, but lyrical and light. Tina wanted to hear it again.
"I once had a boyfriend, too," Bette replied.
"And now?" Tina asked, cursing her own voice for cracking in anticipation to Bette's response.
Bette smiled, the predatory look returning to her eyes. She let her fingers lightly trace down Tina's arm. Tina felt herself shiver at the contact, an act that only fueled Bette's smile. "Now, I don't necessarily find the company of men enticing."
Tina suddenly found it hard to breathe, her breaths coming in small, labored puffs.
"Just dinner," Bette said, taking a slight step back. Before she realized what she was doing, Tina felt herself take a step forward, following Bette's retreat. Bette's brow quirked.
"I've never been on a date with a woman before," Tina said, hating the words the minute they were spoken. Naïveté was not a trait she liked to show; but show it well she did.
Bette's quiet chuckle returned. "Tina," she said, making Tina's head spin at the ease with which she spoke her name. "No one ever has until their first time."
"Bette? Bette Porter? That Bette?"
Tina looked at herself in the mirror, deciding that she looked good enough. She held the phone in place with her shoulder as she adjusted her blouse.
"Yes, that Bette," she said, running her tongue over her teeth.
"You too really hit it off, huh?" Eric's voice questioned from the other end of the phone.
Tina froze, her eyes widening; she quickly took hold of the phone with her hand and straightened herself. "What?"
"I just said, that it seems like you too really seemed to have hit it off."
Tina swallowed nervously. The last time she had heard Eric use the fraise "Hit it off" was when he had been describing the beginnings of their own relationship.
"You're always complaining about how you don't have any friends outside of the movie business and how it drives you crazy," Eric continued. "It'll be good for you to have a friend that you don't work with."
Tina let out a long breath she hadn't realized she had been holding; suddenly realizing that to anyone else her dinner with Bette tonight was nothing short of platonic. "Yeah, right," she said before a knock on her door interrupted her from saying anything further. "Eric, I have to go, or I'm going to be late."
"Alright, Babe, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye."
"Bye," Tina breathed before disconnecting the call and throwing the phone onto her bed. She cast one more look at the mirror before leaving her bedroom and heading towards the front door.
As she walked through her apartment, Tina supposed that she should be feeling guilty. Guilty for the fact that she had a boyfriend and yet she was willingly going on a date with Bette Porter. A date, that she was very much looking forward too. And yet, Tina couldn't bring herself to feel guilty. No matter how far she dug into herself, there was no guilt. Only excitement and anticipation. She didn't even feel guilty about not being guilty. Her only thoughts of the woman waiting for her on the other side of her front door.
With a calming breath, Tina opened the door. Bette stood before her, a picture of perfection. Tina's breath caught simply gazing at the woman before her. Bette stood, poised, with the doorway framing her; the most intoxicating and thrilling work of art Tina had ever laid eyes on.
"You look beautiful," Bette said, learning forward and brushing her lips against Tina's cheek.
Tina blushed as a small smile graced her lips. "Thank you, so do you." Her blush deepened.
Bette smirked. "Are you ready to go?"
Tina nodded. "Lead the way."
And Bette did.
"I would love to travel," Tina said as Bette scooped Sesame Chicken onto a plate for her. "Thank you," she said, taking the proffered plate. "Just get up one day and go."
"Why don't you?" Bette asked, spooning her own dinner onto her plate.
Tina shrugged. "Work—other commitments."
Bette nodded, taking a forkful of rice into her mouth. Tina had a feeling the gallery owner understood what Tina was saying on a level no one else had, before. "Where would you go?" Bette asked, after swallowing her mouthful.
Tina bit her lip as she thought. "I don't know. Anywhere I suppose. Though, I'd really like to go to India."
The corner of Bette's lips turned up and for the first time Tina saw a soft edge surround the stoic nature of the woman before her. She found herself drawn to it as she unconsciously leaned forward.
"What?" she asked, smiling.
Bette shook her head and leaned back in her chair; crossing her arms. She regarded Tina with a questioning eye. "You—took the words right out of my mouth."
Tina quirked her head to the side. "India?"
Bette nodded.
Maybe we could go sometime. The words froze on the tip of Tina's tongue and she had to swallow them away. She shook her head. What was happening to her?
The two shared a smile before Tina returned to her dinner.
"So have you always wanted to go into the entertainment industry?"
"Hm?" Tina inquired through a mouthful of chicken.
Bette smiled. "You work at Alphaville."
Tina swallowed. "Yes." She took a sip of wine. "And I suppose I have. Film can reach such a wide audience and effect so many people, that I thought, maybe if I was a part of it, I could end up helping someone someday."
As she spoke Tina noticed that she had Bette's undivided attention. Even as she ate, Bette was able to keep her eyes on Tina. "And you head the Development Department?"
Tina nodded. "I've started producing too. I'm much better at the behind the scenes stuff. And it keeps me busy, which is a good thing I suppose," she said with a laugh. Bette smiled.
"Never a peaceful moment in the movie business."
"Truer words were never spoken," Tina said, taking another sip of wine. "What about you? Why art?"
Bette set her fork down, leaning forward and placing her chin on her hands. "For me, I suppose the question has always been, why not art."
Tina listened as Bette began to talk, speaking with a quiet passion that captivated Tina; grabbing her at the core and holding her. She had heard people talk about art before, Eric did it constantly. And though Tina loved art and held her own appreciation for it, when Eric spoke about it she easily became annoyed. But now, sitting before Bette and hearing her speak; Tina wanted nothing more for the night to turn into one big art history lesson.
Tina knew she was attracted to Bette. She wouldn't deny it. She had known it when the gallery owner had shook her hand the night before. It was something so strong; Tina knew trying to deny it would be for naught. And yet, it seemed to be so much more.
As their dinner continued, their conversation flowed with an ease that surprised Tina. Never before had she felt so comfortable talking to someone. Usually, Tina found that when she spoke to dates, the conversation was often forced; both parties searching for something to keep the conversation going. It was something that usually required time to build. But with Bette, the conversation seemed to guide them; a flow of words that streamed together, each topic blending with the next as if the two women had been conversing for years.
But, what Tina noticed above all else, was how she herself felt. When it came to first dates, Tina was always nervous. No matter whom she was seeing. She always felt like she was on the spot, being scrutinized and observed. Even if the date was going well, Tina was always acutely aware of the time. Wanting nothing more to leave, no matter how good of a time she was having.
But with Bette—with Bette, Tina felt nothing short of calm and relaxed. For the first time in her life she felt like she was exactly where she needed to be.
Author's Note:I hope you enjoyed the first part! The second part, Last, will probably be up later this weekend.
Thanks for reading!