Title: A Resolute Mind (or: That New Year's Fic)
Authors: hbomba & lonejaguar
Rating: M
Summary: Bo and Lauren ring in the new year, putting the past to rest and coming to an agreement about the future.
A/N: This one goes out to Spyklv, a long time supporter who asked so nicely that we had to take notice. I hope you got more than you bargained for!
Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. - Hal Borland
Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. - Oprah Winfrey
Lauren grunted, holding her drink aloft, its contents sloshing over the side as an ogre knocked into her. Where the hell is Bo? It was twenty minutes until the clock would ring in the new year and Bo was MIA. Lauren continued to elbow her way through the boisterous Fae crowd gathered at the Dal. Bo had disappeared on a trip to the washroom an hour ago and they had yet to meet up again.
She couldn't spend New Year's without someone to kiss. Not again. Not when she finally found her plus one. This was supposed to be their big coming out as a couple post-break and all Dark. She had an open deal with the Morrigan and so far Lauren hadn't figured out the catch, if there was one. Bo, on the other hand, was still railing against her Dark Fae status.
During the break, Lauren pondered-really pondered-could she share Bo? Life, as it were, handed her that answer like a swift kick in the rear. While Lauren had been gone, Bo had been spending her time with Dyson and as much as that burned the dear Doctor, she knew Bo still loved her and Lauren reciprocated in every sense of the word.
She spotted Kenzi waving from her perch atop the bar, Hale kissing her knuckles like the prince that he was, and she smiled back. Kenzi, Kenzi, Kenzi, she thought. Party planner extraordinaire, Kenzi had somehow convinced Hale to bankroll a Light and Dark New Year's Eve party at the Dal. Everything from dim sum passed hors d'oeuvres to rock you like a hurricane test tube shots.
Lauren sidestepped an angry sprite and an amorous troll-something she could have lived three lifetimes and gone without seeing-and plodded to the bar. A clammy hand was on her arm. She looked at it and then to the hydra it was attached to. "Doc, I've got this rash…"
"I'm going to stop you right there," Lauren said as she peeled the fingers away from her arm. "I'm on holidays. Tell you what, use some talc to calm the itching and I'll see you in the new year." She turned abruptly and took a few desperate steps away from him before he could respond. It had only been a short time but Lauren was somewhat of a celebrity to the Dark. She had left the Light, her on again, off again girlfriend was newly Dark herself and she was crafty, something the Dark really prized.
"Doctor Lewis," Evony almost purred as she stepped in front of Lauren, halting her path to Bo once more.
"Evony," she answered. Lauren had laid it on pretty thick the last time they saw each other and it was apparent that she had not forgotten.
"Where's your date?" The Morrigan asked quasi-innocently.
Lauren didn't buy it and even entertained the idea that Evony could have Bo tied to a chair somewhere, but she just smiled and nodded. "She went to the washroom."
"I hear the line is murder!" Evony chuckled. Lauren just needed Bo to come back so she could start taking the Morrigan with a grain of salt again. "How delightful," the Morrigan said as she lifted a pulled pork petit four from a passing tray. "So tell me, are you settling in?"
She sipped a half empty glass of sauvignon blanc. "Yes, thank you, getting back into the lab has been gratifying."
"Science nerds. All you need to keep them happy is to keep them busy."
Lauren smiled and bowed her head. "I suppose that's true."
"Does Bo keep you busy, Doctor?" The lecherous tone that had crept into Evony's voice was sudden and set Lauren on the defensive.
"I don't think that's very appropriate," Lauren said seriously, setting her empty glass on a passing waiter's tray.
"It's certainly relevant. After all, I let the two of you wander around together helping the Light. It's simply bad form."
"Our deal-" Lauren started.
"Has conditions," the Morrigan warned. "But you may skirt them if you give of yourself."
"I will not be fed upon," Lauren said, scouting an opening to escape the terrible conversation she had found herself in.
"Save that for your Succubus, do you?" Evony ran her tongue along her bottom lip.
"If you'll excuse me." She slipped past Evony and into the masses again. The boisterous chatting and laughing was reaching ear-piercing decibels in the small, packed bar. It was slow going through the crowds, especially when you're stopped every five feet to problem solve ailments. The Dark had long gone without reputable healthcare and Lauren's services became that much more prized. For the first time in her life with the Fae, Lauren began to feel empowered.
The woman's washroom was packed. Bo had slipped away from Lauren almost half an hour ago and was just finally escaping the cloud of perfume and makeup at the mirror. She breathed in deep when she exited and was immediately stopped by a wall of party goers. Kenzi had really out done herself. She talked for days on end about wanting to throw a party for everyone, Light and Dark, and somehow seemed to manage to draw the entire city.
"Excuse me," Bo said, trying to squeeze her way past a goblin who rushed to the men's washroom next to her. She stood on her toes and tried to see over the sea of Fae that filled the bar. "Shit," Bo sighed and looked left and right. She needed to find Lauren, there was only a half hour until midnight.
"Bo?" The voice made her stop at the entrance to the lounge and she felt a hand on her arm. "Are you Bo?"
"Who's asking?" Bo looked the stranger up and down, appreciating the curve of her hip and thigh.
The woman pulled her over and shook her hand. "I'm Marti, Stonehenge Magazine." Her smile was dazzling. "You are just all the rage in Dark Fae circles," she said. "Unaligned Succubus, finally choosing a side." Her fingers touched the back of Bo's hand and she leaned into her. "And we're so glad you chose us."
Bo frowned at the warmth she felt travel the length of her arm. It wasn't until Marti had whispered in her ear that the familiar sensation finally registered. "Woah," she said, her fingers pushing Marti back a step. "You're a succubus."
Marti smirked. "You're a celebrity," she said. "What was it like on the Death Train? Is it true you saw the Wanderer?"
"Are you kidding?" Bo crossed her arms. "You're coming onto me to get a story?"
"It worked, didn't it?" Marti touched Bo's elbow. "Come on, one thing. Just tell me one thing."
Bo looked over her shoulder into the bar. "I don't remember anything," she said, glancing at the clock. "I have to go, I have to find my girlfriend."
Marti's face lit up. "Doctor Lewis is here?" she said.
"Hey." Bo turned back and pointed at Marti. "Touch her and die." Marti blinked a few times before clasping her hands together in front of her. Bo patted Marti's shoulder. "And it didn't work," she winked. "But don't worry, a little practice and you'll be almost as good as me."
Lauren stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Bo was nowhere to be seen so she freshened up her make-up before heading back out into the sweaty throng of Fae. There were only a few humans at the party, but she was the only one that was free. The satisfaction and responsibility she felt because of this was overwhelming. She pushed through the mob of people lined up outside the washrooms with purpose and checked her watch. She had ten minutes to find Bo. Ten minutes stood between her picture perfect New Year and the typical disappointing fare Lauren was used to.
"Doc!" Kenzi called from the end of the bar.
Lauren sidled up to the bar next to Kenzi. "Kenzi, have you seen-"
"Bo's dress? Isn't it something else? I helped her pick it out, you know, for you."
"It's great," she had to admit but that got her no closer to where Bo was. "Have you seen her, Kenz?"
"She's around here somewhere, whining about losing you." Kenzi raised her eyebrows expectantly. "She didn't mean that literally, like you're not off again, are you?"
"No," she closed her eyes momentarily and shook her head, "we're good, you know?"
Kenzi re-crossed her legs with flair before she spoke again. "Do I know? Of course, I know. My bedroom's above Bo's remember?"
"I just need to find her." She patted the bar-top before being swallowed up by the crowd once again.
Bo pushed past two burly ogres after a quick glance to the bar and grunted as she finally made it to the open area around the pool tables. The crowd was claustrophobic and she breathed a sigh of relief at the open air. The air escaped her lungs in a huff as soon as she realized why there was a clear circle around the table at the back. Bo rolled her eyes as she watched the Morrigan bend over the edge of the table, reaching across for the perfect shot.
"Like what you see?"
Bo rolled her eyes. "Why does everyone think they just need to flash a little leg for me to do what they want?"
Evony straightened, holding the cue next to her. "Aw," she tsked. "What's wrong, sweetie, lose your puppy?"
Bo stepped close to the Morrigan, their faces nearly touching. "What?" she snapped.
"Easy, Succuhulk," Evony smiled at her. "Just a little New Year's jest." When Bo took a step back, the Morrigan's tone changed. "I might also remind you that until you work out your little problem, your fealty is owed to me. You don't have many chances left."
Bo sighed. "Have you seen her?"
"Oh Doctor Lewis is around here somewhere," Evony replied, resuming her game. "Probably saving some poor sick child out in the alley or something equally nauseating."
The Morrigan was never one to show a softer side. Bo knew there was one there, somewhere, there had to be. Maybe. Bo frowned at Evony and shook her head. Maybe not. She turned then, looking toward the bar and then the fireplace, her eyes straining to see the familiar blonde curls, or the curve of her hip, or even to hear her voice. Bo moved through the crowd toward the fireplace and felt a strong grip on her arm.
"Jesus, what now?" she said as she was pulled aside. "You know, this'd better be good."
"Bo." Dyson smiled at her and sat clumsily in a wingback chair next to the fireplace. He giggled. "Sorry," he said, sitting up and straightening his back. He looked at her then, not hiding the intention behind his eyes. He shook his head and smiled at himself. "You look great," he said, leaning back. "That dress is…"
"Thanks." Bo smiled looking around the tables there. "Have you seen Lauren?"
Dyson took a long drink from the pint glass in front of him. "Not since you came in," he said. He patted the arm of the chair next to him. "Can you sit? I wanted to talk to you."
Bo's shoulders slumped, feeling another time-stealing conversation coming on quickly. Dyson never wanted to talk. "About what?"
"About us." He smiled and Bo closed her eyes. She sat down next to him with a sigh, perched on the edge of the seat. Dyson stared at her, his eyes darting to her hair, her face, her breasts, her legs. He was drunk, she knew, but there was a vulnerability in his expression she'd only seen a few times before.
"Dyson," she started, but he shook his head.
"I don't…" He started and stopped again, then smiled as he covered her hand with his. "I've… really enjoyed spending time with you lately. And when you were in my head… It was weird and intimate."
Bo scoffed. "Tell me about it."
"I'm just glad it was you." He squeezed her hand. "I know we can't… "
Bo bristled. "I keep telling you those rules don't apply to me."
"But they apply to me, Bo." Dyson looked at his lap. "And until it gets worked out…" He smiled at her again, but she could tell he was having trouble voicing his thoughts. "But you have Lauren."
"I do." Bo held back the smile and rubbed the back of his hand. "And I have like, five minutes to find her and not screw up the perfect New Year's Eve, can we maybe…" Bo's voice trailed off as she finally spotted her. A vision in a sparkling black dress walking out the front door of the Dal. Bo's jaw dropped. "Oh shit," she said. Dyson watched Bo, her attention stolen as fast as she disappeared into the crowd, rushing for the front door.