Author's Note: Once again, thank you all for the reviews. I know that I just threw that kiss in there, but, not to worry...there is still a lot to work through for our fae-vorite girls. ;) I just wanted it to be out in the open that Kenzi has acknowledged her feelings for Tam. It will not necessarily be smooth sailing from here. After all, we have a jealous succubus to tend to. Please comment, let me know how I am doing!
The ride to the clubhouse was filled with an awkward silence. Neither woman had been expecting the kiss to happen. This was new territory for them each, in different ways.
Kenzi had never been with a woman, nor had she ever desired to be before. She was scared of what she was feeling for the strong, beautiful Valkyrie. Her mind was telling her that things could never work. That Tamsin wouldn't want her, she was nothing but a mere, weak human. She glanced over to the blonde, who met her eyes, smiled softly, and turned her attention back to the road.
Tamsin was not used to having people around who cared for her. Who WANTED her. Kenzi took care of her through her rebirth, and she'd grown close to the human. She was comfortable with her, she trusted her, and she understood what Bo had told her once about how special she is.
As they pulled into the parking space outside of the old place, Kenzi let out a deep breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding, causing Tamsin to turn and look at the young woman as she turned the engine off.
"You okay, pipsqueak?" Tamsin asked sincerely, placing her hand on the human's shoulder.
"Uh, yeah, I'm great." Kenzi fibbed, turning away from the blonde.
"Kenzi, please look at me." Tamsin said, maneuvering herself to face the brunette, while gently turning Kenzi toward her by her shoulders. When her eyes met the beautiful blue ones, she hesitated for a moment, before she was able to speak again. "Look, I am sorry about that kiss back there. I had no right. Forgive me?"
"Tam, there's nothing to be sorry about. I kissed you back. But will you tell me why you did?" Kenzi responded, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Only if you tell me why you kissed me back." the Valkyrie bargained, and after getting a nod from the human, she continued, "There is a lot you don't know about me, Kenzi. I don't have a lot of friends, in fact, I have made a hell of a lot more enemies in my many lifetimes than I have friends. You, Bo, the gang, are the closest I have ever let myself get to anyone. I care about you a lot Kenzi, and I care about Bo, Dyson, and even the others to an extent. But you took me in. Took care of me when I had no one. You protected me when I couldn't protect myself. And now, I want to protect you. I am sorry if I crossed the line."
"I...I don't know what to say Tam." Kenzi stared into the blonde's eyes for a moment, her own face full of different emotions. "I care about you too, more than I ever thought I could, to be honest. Which is why I kissed you back. I trust you, and I feel safe with you, safer than I even feel with Bo. But don't tell her I said that."
Tamsin chuckled a little, before responding. "Don't worry Short Stack, your secret is safe with me. I promise. And I won't say anything about what happened. Okay? It'll be less complicated. Just between us?"
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Kenzi agreed, and added, smiling, "And as long as we are spilling our guts here, that was the first time I've ever kissed a woman before. Not counting Bo."
"You kissed Bo?" Tamsin asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
"It was for the greater good, it wasn't anything weird. I was trying to help her while she was in that Fae prison." Kenzi replied, giggling a little at Tamsin's shocked expression.
"Oh, I got ya." Tamsin chuckled. "But, for the record, it was a damn good kiss." she said, before winking, and opening the door to get out of the truck. "Now come on and help me get this stuff inside, will ya?"
"Yeah, of course." Kenzi answered, a goofy grin plastered on her face after the compliment on her kissing skills.
The women walked into the clubhouse, arms full of bags from the various clothing stores they had visited. Bo was sitting at the counter looking over a case file that she had been working on. She looked up, and smiled as Tamsin and Kenzi entered the house.
"Looks like you had a good day." the succubus said, cheerfully, as she walked over to relieve the girls of some of the bags. Her mood seemed to have risen dramatically since she left the car lot earlier in the day.
After the girls put Tamsin's bags down, the Valkyrie excused herself to the bathroom for a moment, leaving the two best friends together in the living room. Kenzi took the opportunity to hug Bo, tightly around the waist.
"I'm sorry about earlier, Bo-Bo. I didn't mean to upset you if I did." Kenzi told the succubus, who had wrapped her arms around her best friend as well.
"I'm sorry too, Kenz. I dunno what came over me." the older woman replied. "I know you aren't even into women. And THAT woman has an affect on me that I can't describe. There's something about her..."
"Yeah, well, Succu-lips, how about we order some food and forget about it? Capiche? I am starving!" Kenzi said, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, alright. What do you say we order some pizza and watch cheesy scary movies all night?" she suggested, before planting a big kiss to the girl's temple.
"That, sounds amazing, actually." Kenzi replied, pulling out her phone, to order the pizza just as Tamsin descended the stairs. "Yo, Valkyrie, what do you like on your pizza?"
"Uh, anything except olives, peppers, onions, or anchovies." the blonde answered with a grin.
"Pepperoni with extra cheese it is." Kenzi said, dialing the number that she had memorized, and walking across the room to hear over the phone.
"Hey, succulette, I got ya something today." Tamsin said, as she rummaged through her bags, finding the box that had Bo's kimono in it, and handing it to her.
"Aww, gifts? This early in the relationship?" Bo teased, not catching the icy glare Kenzi gave her for a split second from across the room. She opened the box, and her smile grew bigger as she pulled the silky fabric out. "Tamsin...it's beautiful, thank you."
"Kenzi picked it out, actually. It's just something to say thanks for letting me crash here. Which reminds me..." She trailed off as she dug through the bags once again, finding the box containing Kenzi's boots. "Here ya go Half-Pint."
"Thanks Tam!" Kenzi said excitedly, taking the box and smiling brightly at the Valkyrie. She then sat on the couch and proceeded to put her new boots on, and showed them off to Bo. "Mama has a new pair of boots to break in!"
"I can see that. Very nice, Kenz." Bo commented, sitting down on the couch next to the girl, and looking closer at her boots. "Although I wouldn't recommend you wearing those out on cases."
"Whatevs, you know I can handle anything in boots. I'm a pro." Kenzi joked. "Speaking of cases, what were you working on when we came in?"
"Yeah, succubus, I could use a little violence in my life." Tamsin chimed in, smiling. "I've been missing out on all of the action."
"I beg to differ," the succubus scoffed. "Miss I-Have-Wings-And-Didn't-Bother-To-Tell-Anybody. Massimo sure found out the hard way what a freshly reborn Valkyrie was capable of."
"Yeah, Tam! And why haven't I seen these wings anyway?" Kenzi added, sitting up, putting her hand on her chin, waiting for an answer.
"First of all, that was an accident. I couldn't control my powers. Secondly, they aren't really something I want to show off. It means that I am on my last life. No more rebirths for me. After this, I go to Valhalla, never to return to earth." Tamsin told the women, who were listening intently.
"So, if you die...again...you won't come back?" Bo asked, concerned.
"Yep, that is correct. But I don't plan on dying anytime soon." Tamsin answered, winking at the other fae, before turning to glance at Kenzi who was frowning, gazing at the Valkyrie. She noticed, and tried to send a reassuring smile to the human. "Anyway, Bo, the case?"
"Right, it seems that someone is kidnapping young women. Four have been reported missing in the last week. All aged between 21 and 27. That is literally the only things they have in common. Their age range, and that they are girls, oh, and human. Different backgrounds." Bo replied.
"Hmm, sounds familiar. Have their families been interviewed?" Tamsin asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yeah, but I don't think they were much help actually." Bo answered, handing the file to the blonde, who began looking them over as she sat herself between the two brunettes on the couch. Her brow furrowed as she tried to make connections between the victims, leaning back against the cushion.
Both of the other women were looking over either of Tamsin's shoulders, also looking at the file. Bo rested her chin on the Valkyrie's shoulder, as Kenzi leaned up against her other side, hooking her arm through the blonde's. Tamsin tensed up, not comfortable being the center of attention this way. She felt Bo's hand brushing over her bicep, and sneaked a glance at the succubus, whose attention seemed to be on the paperwork. But when she shot the same glance to the human, she couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw the girl's icy blue eyes flicker from her own back to the case file.
There was a knock on the door a little while later, interrupting their brainstorming session. The blonde quickly used the distraction to get out of her awkward situation, and got up to answer the door, paying for the pizza and walking it over to the kitchen.
"Tamsin, you didn't have to pay for that, I was going to take care of it." Bo told her.
"No worries, I will probably eat more than you both combined. So, please tell me there is some beer in this place." Tamsin said, as she sat the pizza boxes on the counter.
"Of course there is Tam, did you forget who lives here?" Kenzi asked, chuckling as she bounded over to the kitchen, grabbing a slice of pizza and taking a large bite, before pulling a Dark Belch out for each of them.
Tamsin just smiled, and took her beer from Kenzi, and a slice of pizza for herself, moving back to the living room to mull over the case file some more. The two brunettes seemed to want a break from it, and stayed in the kitchen, which suited the Valkyrie just fine. She was able to focus more on the file when she didn't have the two women looking over her shoulder.
"It seems that all of these women were last seen at the same place. A Dark Fae night club, one that just happens to be formerly owned by our friend, Vex. But after Evony came back, he was stripped of all of his assets again. I am honestly not sure who owns the place now." Tamsin mused, "But WHY would humans be there?"
"Maybe they were lured there." Bo suggested, walking up behind the couch, looking over the blonde's shoulder. "It wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened."
"Well, I think we should go check it out." Tamsin suggested, looking over her shoulder at the succubus.
"I'm in. Guess we will have to do this one without Dyson." Bo noted, smirking. "I'll go get ready. I'd suggest you do the same Valkyrie. Wear something...hot."
Kenzi walked over to the living room area, picking up a couple of Tamsin's bags. "You can hang these in my closet for now," the human offered. "Bo-Bo doesn't have any room in hers, and we don't want them getting messed up."
"Thanks, Kenz." Tamsin replied, grabbing the rest of her bags, following the little human to her room. "I guess I need to find something to wear then."
"I think you should wear this one." Kenzi stated, holding up a simple dark gray tank top that showed off the Valkyrie's curves, along with some ample cleavage. "With the dark blue skinny jeans. And the super hot new leather jacket."
"Yeah, I think I will. Thanks, Short Stack." Tamsin replied, taking the top from Kenzi, and rummaging through her bags until she found the other items. "Do you mind if I change in here?"
"Uh, no, that's fine. I was just going to grab a change of clothes myself and get ready." the human replied.
"And what makes you think you are coming with us?" Tamsin asked.
"Well the victims were all human women, around my age. I would be a perfect target." Kenzi tried to reason with the blonde.
"Which is exactly why you AREN'T going." the blonde told her, matter-of-factly, turning her back to the human, before peeling her top off. "I won't have your name be added to that list."
Kenzi was searching through her closet, not paying attention to Tamsin's actions, when she turned around to argue her point, seeing the Valkyrie's bare back, turning quickly back into her closet, blushing furiously. "But you and Bo-Bo will be there, and I know that you all won't let anything happen to me."
"Doesn't matter that we will be there. If anything distracts us for a minute, you could be gone." Tamsin told the girl as she slipped her new shirt over her head, and quickly changed her jeans into the ones she would be wearing to the club.
"I am going whether you like it or not, Tamsin. You can't stop me. What if I promise to stay with one of the two of you all night? Never leave your side? I really need a night out and some brewskis!" Kenzi pleaded.
"Fine." Tamsin sighed, "I guess. But I do not want you leaving my side, understand?"
"What about Bo?" Kenzi asked.
"Well, she tends to let her hunger get her distracted, so I would really prefer if you stuck by me." the Valkyrie told her as she sat on Kenzi's bed, lacing up the boots she decided to wear.
"Fine, I will not leave your side." Kenzi said, rolling her eyes, though she actually was glad that the Valkyrie was worried about her.
Tamsin shrugged on her leather jacket, smirked at Kenzi, and walked into the living room. "Better hurry up Half Pint."
The blonde walked into the living room, and sat back on the couch, waiting for the other two women to get ready. Bo was the first to emerge from her room, walking downstairs quietly, and sneaking up behind Tamsin, leaning down just next to her ear, whispering, "Do I look okay?"
"Geez, Bo give a girl some warning, instead of sneaking up like that." Tamsin joked, turning, her face only inches away from the brunette's, who, being bent over, was giving Tamsin a good look at her ample cleavage.
Bo chuckled, before replying, standing back up. "So sorry, Tam." She turned, giving the Valkyrie a good view of her outfit, a black and red corset with her typical leather pants and a black leather coat.
"You look...damn good, succulette." Tamsin told her, looking over her outfit, standing up herself for the succubus to give her own outfit a look. "Will this work?"
"You look incredible, Tamsin." she answered, walking up to the Valkyrie, looking her up and down. "Perfect. You ready to go?"
"Just waiting on Kenzi." Tamsin answered, stepping back from the lustful gaze of the succubus.
"Kenzi?" Bo asked, "She is NOT going! She will be a target!" Bo snapped out of her gaze and glared at the Valkyrie.
"That's what I told her, but she insisted. She figured that if she was there, and someone tried to nab her, we could see who was behind all of this. I told her she wasn't allowed out of our sight." Tamsin assured her.
"That's right." Kenzi added, walking into the room, wearing a black lace shirt with a hot pink tank top underneath it, and tight black jeans, with the new shoes that Tamsin had bought her earlier in the day. "I am gonna be stuck to you like glue."
Tamsin turned to look at the human, smiling at her. "You look great, Short Stack. You ready to go be bait?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." the human told her, walking toward the door. "Now, let's get going, shall we?"
The girls arrived to the Dark Fae bar, Bo using her charms to get Kenzi past the bouncer, and began to look around. They ordered some drinks, and Tamsin kept a close eye on her little human friend. The trio sat in a little booth in the corner of the bar, before Bo decided to start asking around for any clues she could find about the disappearances.
Kenzi kept her word, staying close to the Valkyrie as the night progressed. A little while later, she got a text from Bo, saying that she found out who the new owner of the bar is, an old friend, Ryan Lambert.
"Ugh, the Loki? How does she know him?" Tamsin asked with disgust.
"She actually kinda, sorta dated him for a while." Kenzi replied, "She almost MARRIED him. But I saved her."
"That sounds like a fun story. For another day." Tamsin smirked, taking a drink from her glass. She hadn't been drinking much wanting to stay sober, to keep an eye on things. She noticed a few new faces, and recognized a few old ones. As she was continuing to scope things out, she and Kenzi were approached by a local Dark Fae nymph who Tamsin had know for several decades.
"Well, well, if it isn't Freya's favorite Valkyrie, Tamsin." the woman stated, smiling, then turning to look at Kenzi, frowning a little. "What is the human doing here?"
"Nice to see you too Kyra." Tamsin smirked. "The human, has a name. It's Kenzi, and she is with me."
"Well, looks like your standards have lowered significantly since the last time we...were in contact." the nymph said, coldly.
"Hey! I am sitting RIGHT HERE." Kenzi said, defensively.
"Hey, back off Kyra. Kenzi is infinitely better than you could ever be. And much cuter." Tamsin told the Fae, moving over to put her arm around the human, smiling softly at her, and whispering in her ear, "Don't let her get to you, Kenz, she is just upset that I rejected her advances the last time we crossed paths."
Kyra frowned as she remembered their last encounter, causing Kenzi to smirk a little.
"So, Kyra, have you heard anything about human women going missing from here?" Tamsin asked her.
"Actually, I have. Rumor has it there is an Agas in town. So you might want to keep a close eye on your little...friend there." the Nymph nodded in Kenzi's direction.
"Shit, seriously? An Agas? I thought they went extinct centuries ago." Tamsin told her, her eyes widening a little, subconsciously squeezing Kenzi tighter.
"What's an Agas?" Kenzi asked, gently tugging on Tamsin's jacket to get her attention. "Should we hunt it down? We need to find Bo."
"I will explain later, okay? But we need to go. Kyra, thanks. As always, it's been a pleasure." the Valkyrie said, sarcastically, before getting up, pulling Kenzi with her, looking to the girl. "Text Bo, tell her to meet us out at her car ASAP."
Kenzi did as instructed, and followed Tamsin closely as they made their way out of the bar. Tamsin noticed a beautiful woman standing at the bar that she had never seen before. She looked very exotic, caramel colored skin, dark brown eyes, and long black hair framing her flawless face.
Tamsin and Kenzi stood next to Bo's car waiting for the succubus, as Kenzi attempted calling her, with no answer. "Tam, maybe we should go in and find her. She isn't answering my text or the calls."
"Maybe she's making up with her ex." Tamsin smirked.
"Oh, she better not be! I'll kick her succubus ass!" Kenzi exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "He was not exactly good for her. While they were together, Bo was not exactly herself."
"Alright, we will go get her, stay close to me." Tamsin told her, taking Kenzi's hand, pulling the girl behind her.
Before they make it back inside, a large beefy man intercepts them, blocking their way. "I don't think you want to go back in there, Blondie. You...or the human."
"Who the hell are you?" Tamsin asked, pushing Kenzi behind herself, shielding her.
"I am just the messenger. I will be taking the girl. Now." The man told her.
"I don't think so." Tamsin said, lunging at the man, punching him squarely in the jaw. The Fae barely flinched as her fist made contact. Her eyes widened in a mixture of fear and surprise.
The man just grinned and knocked her to the ground with ease. Even at her full strength Tamsin struggled to get up, looking around frantically, wiping the blood from her face. "Kenzi?"
"Tamsin, help me!" Kenzi called to her, struggling with the henchmen that had grabbed her from behind as Tamsin was knocked to the ground. He was attempting to get her into a black SUV.
Tamsin jumped up quickly, hearing Kenzi's cry for help, shaking off the pain from the punch, and leapt onto the henchman that had Kenzi in his grasp, throwing punches before her face began to darken, her Valkyrie face showing . "Let her go, asshole, you don't want to hurt her."
The goon let go of Kenzi, confusion washing over his features, as the muscle bound man came up behind Tamsin and punched her in the temple, knocking her unconscious.
"TAMSIN! Get up!" Kenzi yelled, running over to the blonde, shaking her, trying to make her come to, just as the big man wrapped one arm around her waist, tossing her over his shoulder. The brunette tried her best to escape the man, kicking and punching, screaming for help, as she was thrown into the back of the SUV as the Valkyrie lay unconscious on the pavement.