A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews. It's great to know that people are actually reading this stuff. To those who are wondering, Becky is not Bo. Lauren just has a type. I'm imagining the introduction of Bo to be a little more special. I'm still setting the scene a little before Bo makes her first appearance. Since all of the characters are changing a little, I need to lay the foundation for what is the same and what has changed.
In response to some of the reviews, anything is really possible with this story. People can switch sides. Some people may be dead. It all depends on whether I think it would be interesting to explore the impact a change will have on the characters themselves. Will they do things the same or will they choose a different path? I have an idea on what I am going to do for the story a whole, but I haven't settled on the differences with a couple of the characters. For instance, there is one character that I have two ideas lined up for him/her and I just haven't decided which would be better. Luckily, I don't get to that character right away. If I end up going with what is in my head, this story could be quite long. I hope I can keep you guys engaged. Please keep sending reviews. Thanks all.
CHAPTER 2:
"Don't be awake. Don't be awake. Don't be awake," Lauren pleaded silently as she unlocked the door to the condo she shared with Kenzi. Lauren loved Kenzi like a sister, but she really was not in the mood for any teasing tonight. She cracked the door open slightly and did not see any light emerge from inside.
"Good." Lauren slowly opened the door further and peaked her head around the edge to be absolutely certain that no one was asleep on the sofa. When she found the coast to be clear, she creeped inside and shut door behind her as quietly as possible. Without turning on the lights, she hung up her jacket and set her bag on the floor. Lauren didn't want to eat food in her bedroom, but the risk of waking up Kenzi was too great so she decided to break her number one rule and take her carry out meal upstairs with her.
Lauren tried not to look around the first floor of her condo as she proceeded to the stairs. She did not want to see the disaster area that Kenzi probably left in her wake because she would feel an overwhelming desire to repair the damage. If she didn't see it, then maybe, it didn't exist. Unfortunately, her plan was foiled as she tripped over something on her way to the steps. "Really, Kenzi?" Lauren whispered as she saw the rollerblade that had been left in her path.
To an outsider, the bond the two women have forged might seem illogical. The roomies really are as different as night and day. Lauren subscribes to the old adage "a place for everything and everything in its place" while Kenzi thinks everything has its place on the floor, on the sofa, on the kitchen island and anywhere else in their place. One is serious while the other is a constant smart ass. One is logical while the other is more emotionally based. One is set in her ways while the other is more of a free spirit.
Yet, despite all of their differences, they work well together and they have for over a year. Kenzi looks after Lauren. The young woman helps the doctor to loosen up, to take things less seriously and to get out of her head, when necessary. Kenzi might be quick with a joke and people probably think of her as immature, but Kenzi provides Lauren with great advice and is her rock in difficult times. For Kenzi, Lauren has proven herself to be a great listener with a wickedly dry sense of humor and truly kind soul. Kenzi knows that Lauren would give up her health, her happiness and even her life to help her friend. That kind of loyalty means the world to Kenzi. Plus, Lauren always finds a way to save Kenzi's ass when she gets into trouble and Kenzi gets into trouble a lot. In fact, Kenzi's knack for finding trouble is what introduced the pair in the first place.
Kenzi was in the middle of rebelling against her ultra rich, ultra conservative parents by dropping out of school, dressing like a goth and spending her future inheritance on having a good time at local raves. She craved something more than stuffy dinner parties and late morning brunches, but just as important, she desperately wanted to piss off her controlling parents who always had political aspirations for their daughter. Kenzi hated the fake, plastic world that her parents loved so dearly and wanted absolutely nothing to do with politics whatsoever. She desired freedom, the freedom to choose to how to live her own life.
Despite her silver spoon upbringing, Kenzi had a talent for blending into any environment, when she gave it a try and the dark, dank world of the streets was no exception. Everyone loved Kenzi, even the "street rats", as her parents liked to call them, who were normally very leery of newcomers. They taught her how to survive on the streets. They taught her how to pick locks, lift wallets, steal cars and evade the police when they break up a kickin' party.
Even with all this knowledge, it is easy for anyone to let their guard down when they feel like they are in no danger. That is what happened to Kenzi. She got sloppy and didn't notice the drug that was slipped into her drink at one of these kick ass parties. The guy that she was with at the time was supposedly a friend so she didn't think twice about letting him walk her to a crash pad at the first sign of wooziness. It wasn't until he started groping her in the alley and she found herself unable to push him away that her mistake was brought to light.
That is when fate intervened. At least, that is what Kenzi calls it. Lauren just thinks of it as an important event that resulted in a favorable outcome for them both. In spite of being Fae and having seen a lot of inexplicable things in her life, Lauren doesn't believe in fate or destiny. Things happen because of the choices we make and not due to some immeasurable, invisible force. Mysteries are simply questions that have not been answered yet. Everything can be explained, if we have the intelligence and fortitude to find the truth.
On the day that Lauren and Kenzi met, Lauren was making a house call to a very sick and very influential Fae elder. A Fae elder who liked living in a rough part of town because it offered a "cornucopia" of feeding options, as the old woman later explained to Lauren. The doctor was walking past an alley to the Fae's apartment building when she saw a nearly unconscious woman being beaten and her clothes ripped apart by a man twice her size. She hated being violent, but in this case, her instincts took control. Without much forethought, Lauren rushed to the woman's aid, throwing the man to a nearby wall and draining him of enough chi to make him pass out cold. Once she was sure that the man was not moving, she rushed to Kenzi's aid. Kenzi begged her not to take her to a hospital and in spite of her better judgment, she brought the woman home for treatment. Lauren likes to joke that she hasn't been able to get Kenzi to leave her condo ever since.
Although she was heavily medicated at the time, Kenzi saw what Lauren did to that guy and even grabbed video of it on her phone. That is how the Fae cat was let out of the bag, so to speak. She might have been a little scared of the good doctor at first, but she quickly accepted Lauren for her differences, even tried to convince her that being a succubus was awesome in a super hero kind of way. In fact, it was probably easier to get her to accept her Fae nature than it was to get her to respect her medical profession.
Lauren found Kenzi's admiration difficult to accept at first because she hated being a succubus. That was one of the reasons she became a doctor. She wanted to find a way to control her nature, to free herself from her biological needs so that she could hopefully, live a normal, human life one day. She despised the idea of taking people's chi, of using people for her sexual needs. She, secretly, felt like an primitive animal who prayed on innocent people. At least, by becoming a doctor, Lauren felt like she could give back and make amends for her nature, for her succubus ways. Lauren is the first one to agree with Kenzi when she says that being a succubus is wasted on the doctor because "she neither enjoys nor takes advantage of her shit", which is completely true.
While she may not agree with Kenzi that being a succubus is the "best fucking thing ever", Lauren deeply appreciates how Kenzi can make her feel special and yet normal all at the same time. She quickly came to see how desperately she needed someone fun in her life who would pull her out of her shell and have her back when something bad was happening in her life. If Lauren were to be honest, Kenzi saves Lauren's life by being her friend every bit as much as Lauren saved Kenzi's life that one "fateful" night.
It is difficult for Lauren to say how long the two have been roommates. After they met, Kenzi was always around. Lauren would find more and more of Kenzi's belongings in the condo, especially in her guest room. It didn't occur to her that Kenzi was moving in gradually until she found a lava lamp sitting on her coffee table. She didn't say anything to Kenzi about it, though. Lauren found a way to let it go. The tiki torch sticking out of a potted plant in the living room was a very difficult to accept, but she didn't say a word. The straw that broke the proverbial camel's back was when she found the pristine walls of her guest room were littered with posters. Even then, Lauren just walked up to Kenzi and asked "Have you moved in?" Kenzi said "Yep. You need me, Doc...Real Bad. Now, let's chat about how we can make this place more livable..." The rest, as they say, is history.
For Kenzi, the starting point of their living situation was much more clear cut. They became roommates after Lauren came to her rescue. Kenzi just didn't finish moving into her new place until she broke free form the chains that her parents shackled on her from birth.
It was about a week after the incident. Kenzi's parents publicly disinherited her in front of the country club sect simply because she she showed up completely plastered to a high society fundraiser and aired her family's dirty laundry in front of the attendees. In the heat of the moment, Kenzi's father declared that she was a disappointment, a failure and that she was no longer a member of his family. To which, Kenzi told everyone that she was moving out of the family mansion and into a trailer at the other end of town with her lesbian lover. The news had its desired effect. Mouths dropped, whispering started and Kenzi's mother fainted. While her father fanned the face of her unconscious mother on the marbled tiled floor, Kenzi's parting words were "Bye, bitches. I hope I never see any of you back stabbing, shallow assholes ever again." That was how Kenzi cut off all ties to this part of her life.
Lauren tiptoed up the stairs and swiftly made it her bedroom without further incidents. Though her room was pitch black, she was able to adeptly find the knob, shut the door slowly and turn on her overhead light. The moment she turned around, she was greeted with a smiling Kenzi who jumped off her bed, phone in hand and shouted "Welcome home, Doc" as her feet slammed against the concrete floor, making an echoing noise. In her surprise, Lauren dropped her dinner on the floor and placed her hands on her chest as she exclaimed, "Shit, Kenzi. What the hell?"
Kenzi groans and stumbles forward so she can help Lauren pick up the dinner from the floor. "What does a girl have to do to get a fuck out of you, doc?" Because Lauren is not prone to cussing, Kenzi had been trying for weeks to get Lauren to say the word fuck so she could make it into a ring tone. Knowing her roommate very well, Lauren was doing her very best to avoid giving her what she wanted.
Lauren did not miss a beat, "An elegant dinner, a massage and a 1564 copy of the Definitionum Medicarum Libri XXIIII and I'm all yours, Kenzi".
"Ha...Ha...Ha...and Ew" Kenzi said with little enthusiasm as she tried to scoop the food on the floor into the styrofoam container that once housed it.
"We both know that if I preferred an automatic over a stick, you would be the one doing the wooing, not me." Kenzi yelled as Lauren briefly left the room to retrieve some paper towels and cleaning solution from the hallway closet.
"You got me, Kenzi. I want you bad." Lauren said sarcastically as she tried her best to stifle a yawn.
"So, you are home a little sooner than I expected. Let me guess...You didn't find anyone who met your strict standards? I haven't met any other succubi, but I am pretty sure you are the pickiest chi sucker that ever lived."
"For your information, I met a very beautiful brunette, but things didn't exactly work out exactly as planned." Lauren said.
"You didn't try to pick her up the old fashioned way, did you? You know that you have no game. That's why fate gave you the whammy. Why do you refuse to use your whammy? Shit, Lauren, it is a wonder you don't starve to death." Kenzi said with all sincerity as she looked in the doctor's eyes.
"I will have you know that she was very interested in me and quite willing to take things to the next level. Whammy or no whammy" Lauren replied.
"So you didn't succu-sway her?" Kenzi said as she raised her eyebrow.
"I didn't say that, but I don't think I needed it this time." Lauren said in rebuttal.
"Sure, you keep telling yourself that, sweetie."
"I'm serious. She said she was interested in me before I even approached her." Lauren finished cleaning up the floor as Kenzi sat at the edge of her bed.
"Trust me. The moment you pulled out one of your nerdy, awkward pick up lines, you needed the help. Did you tell her the joke about nitrates?" Kenzi asked.
"No, I haven't used that one in a long time, Kenzi. I've been working on my approach and I think I am a lot better."
"If you are any better, it is because of my expert tutelage." Kenzi said as she blew on her fingernails and brushed them on her shirt.
Lauren rolled her eyes and blew the blonde hair from her forehead as she sat down next to her best friend on the bed. Kenzi turned a little to face her before continuing. "So, if you used your special succu-touch and didn't geek her to sleep, why are you here?"
"Well, we left the Dal together and she kissed me in the alleyway before we got to her car. Unfortunately, I got a little carried away and ..." Lauren's voice starts to drift off as she mumbles the rest of her sentence.
"Huh? What was that?" Kenzi interrupted "I think you are confusing me with the she-wolf. I don't have super doggy hearing. You need to speak up."
"I may have, accidentally, taken a little too much chi before we really got very far and she temporarily lost consciousness. She is fine, though. She just thinks that she had a little too much to drink. I called her a cab and she will be as right as rain in the morning." Lauren said looking at the floor.
"Uh Huh... Premature Chi Sucking. I thought that only happened to teenage incubbi and not to a 30 something succubus like yourself."
"Funny." Lauren replies giving her friend a scowl.
"This is why you need to feed more often, Lo-Lo. You could end up hurting someone and we both know how devastated you would feel about that."
"I know...I know. Logically speaking, I realize that I need an active sex life to remain healthy and I do find I am able to control my powers better when I have maintained a steady diet. It's just..."
"It's just that you have better things to do like save people from plagues or work on your important research projects than rocking some woman's world. I get ya." Kenzi said with an understanding nod.
"It's not just that, Kenzi." Lauren answered as she tilted her head to the ceiling to stare at nothing. "It just makes me feel so...empty inside." With that, Lauren lays her head on Kenzi's shoulder.
"Is my favorite doccubus a closeted romantic? Are you craving a little lurve connection?"
"Perhaps. It would be nice to connect with someone on a deeper level...Wait...What did you call me?" Lauren said as she turned to face her friend again.
"You like it? You are a doctor and a succubus. Put them together and you get doccubus. The guys at the Dal lost their shit when I came up with it." Kenzi answered with a large smile.
"I'm sure they did." Lauren chuckled as she rolled her eyes. "I must admit it is one of your better ones. It's better than Lo-Lo."
"Damn straight. Sometimes, I even impress myself, but...what the hell is wrong with Lo-Lo? It's fucking adorable" Kenzi looked at Lauren with an exaggerated angry face and the two women started laughing.
Kenzi patted Lauren's back before standing up. "Have no fear, succubum. Kenzi is here. You and I are going to paint the town red. No excuses and no work. I am going to get you laid whether you like or not and who knows, maybe, you will find that special someone." Kenzi declared with seemingly boundless energy.
"Oh no, Kenzi. That's okay, really. I can take care of things on my own." Lauren spoke in a slight panic as she stood to face her friend.
"Nope. You had plenty of chances and now, it is time for your gorgeous, charming, sexy fairy godmother to hook you up. We must prepare. A shopping trip is in order." Kenzi turns to walk out the door.
"Kenzi, I don't require any new clothes. I have an abundance of really lovely outfits and like I said, I was able to attract interest in someone. I just lost my head for a minute. Thank you for the offer. It means a lot." Lauren's face pleading with Kenzi to let it go.
"You have a ton of jeans, button ups and dresses, but I have memorized your wardrobe, sweetie, and you don't have any fuck me clothes. That is what you desperately need and I am going to finally do something about it. No arguments. That is the end of this discussion" Kenzi puts her index finger up to her mouth as she starts talking to herself "Hmmm... Maybe, some leather and stilettos...Shit, I've got a ton of prep work to do." She returns her attention to Lauren "Sleep tight, Doc. We have a ton to do in the next couple of days. Tootles." Kenzi runs out of the room, excited about her new mission.
Lauren squeezed her eyes tight as she flopped down on her bed and groaned. "Fuck" she whispered to herself. She heard Kenzi's heels clicking on the floor as she ran back to Lauren's room. "What was that?" Kenzi asked.
"Nothing, Kenzi. Good night." Lauren said as she opens her eyes and the corners of her mouth turn up in a smile. Kenzi may not have super doggy hearing, but her senses are quite extraordinary for a human.
Kenzi grumbles before responding. "I know you said it...Night" The young woman turns and as she walks away again, she says, "She does this just to screw with me. I'll get her. It's only a matter of time."
