A/N: This is me doing real life things when I should be reading economics. Fun.
"Alright!" Kenzi exclaimed, jumping off the bar stool and rushing for the door. "Let's haul ass! It's almost lunchtime."
Trick held up a hand, stopping her midway as he struggled with the words fumbling in his mouth. "Kenzi..." he began. "Maybe you shouldn't go."
The human froze in her tracks, spinning around with a bewildered look. "Why the hell not?"
Bo and Dyson also looked to the older man, waiting for an explanation. Trick glanced at them uneasily before he continued on. "Humans don't have the strength to fend off an illithid attack. If you were to be caught in its spell, you would go crazy instantly."
"Well, that ain't gonna happen," Kenzi replied, the exclusion an unexpected blow. "Bo charges in with her boobs, the wolf pants goes 'rawr' and I slip blondie out the backdoor. It won't get me." When the hesitation still lingered, the human pressed on. "It's a solid plan!"
Finally, Bo broke the tension but her words struck Kenzi with more disappointment than she had anticipated. "Babe, if this thing is even half as crazy as Trick described, I don't think it would be wise to put you in danger."
Kenzi stared at her friend, the shock in her eyes so piercing that Bo had to look away for a brief second. "I'm going," the human intoned. "End of."
Not wanting to carry on with the awkwardness, Dyson looked over to Trick and asked, "First, how do we kill it? Let's not go in half-cocked here."
"Physical attacks are the only way," Trick answered. "You have to be quick. You have to swarm it so that it can't concentrate. And whatever you do," he paused, emphasizing his next words. "Do not get caught in the radius of its mind blast."
The three of them paused outside of the cave's entrance, peering warily into the darkness.
"Is this the right one?" Bo asked, turning the map around in her hands.
"Yes!" Kenzi snatched the object from Bo's hands and examined the area where the necklace had pointed to, taking note of their general direction before making her way towards the cave. "You clearly have no sense of direction."
"So, run by this plan again, Kenzi," Dyson spoke up before the human reached the entrance.
"You two run in and distract the illi-what's-it's-name together. While you keep it busy, I grab the blondie and we vamoose." Kenzi paused and then turned around. "And maybe we can add bit of shanking. Or a lot. I'll let you kids decide on that. Now let's go!"
Bo and Dyson glanced at each other, smiling, before they rushed in behind their human friend, disappearing into the foreboding darkness together.
The screams were the first thing they heard as they traversed deeper into the depths of the cave, the bloodcurdling, chilling wails that Bo immediately recognized as Tamsin's. Bo suddenly felt the anger tearing through her, the urgency peaking to an unbearable frustration as she dashed forward, doubling her pace against Dyson's. She threw all caution to the wind when her succubus took over, the only thing on her mind being revenge and inflicting untold suffering to that thing that was responsible for this-responsible for the emotions raging through her.
When the claustrophobic path widened out into the mouth of the cave, Bo tore right through, the plan that they had formulated earlier now quickly discarded by her impetuosity.
"Bo!" Dyson called out harshly, watching in dismay as the succubus charged blindly towards the dark monstrosity that was hovering over the valkyrie thrashing on the ground in agony. He turned quickly behind him to address Kenzi, feeling the fear in her smile and said, "Keep your distance. Don't do anything stupid." Then, he ran off after Bo, his natural protective instincts kicking in.
The powerful blast sweeping out from the creatures stunned them senseless as Kenzi watched in horror, witnessing both Dyson and Bo being knocked to the ground.
Kenzi stared ahead at the source of this destruction, eyes widening as they fixed on the dark robed figure that started to move in her direction. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before, the eyes looking at her like two bulging dirty pearls, the tentacles from its head slithering and billowing at every sudden turn.
Slowly, Kenzi inched her way around the perimeter of the cave, pressing herself so close against it as she moved towards Tamsin that she could feel the cold, hard stones from the wall jutting into her back.
"Guys?" Kenzi whispered gingerly when she saw Bo and Dyson begin to stir. Their collective groan was the only response as the creature snapped its head towards the small human, slowly approaching with every wet sound it made.
Kenzi's heart began to race when she saw its eyes fixed on her and, giving in to the fear, she began to move back towards the mouth of the cave again, doing anything to distance herself as she rounded to the other side.
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" she yelled to the bodies on the ground. "Evil squid face coming right at me!" Kenzi thought about running in circles around the cave, running until the damn thing would get exhausted and give up. It would usually work in most other situations, but then again she'd never been chased by something with tentacles before.
She cursed herself for being so adamant in joining this not-so-fun shituation. With her eyes warily watching the creature, she quickened her pace, nearly stumbling on her own feet as she could feel it closing in, the dread washing over her like a cold sweat.
Kenzi was about to open her mouth and scream-the kind of embarrassing scream that they only made in movies-when clawed arms gripped the creature from behind and pulled it back. Dyson snarled, tossing it away from her as he charged at it again, his eyes wild and his teeth sharp with retaliation.
Kenzi quickly took the moment to sprint over to Bo, lifting the succubus up as she groaned and fluttered her eyes open.
"Ow." Bo said, sitting up and reaching for her knife.
"That's what happens when you don't follow the plan," Kenzi said simply, gazing at her friend in relief.
Bo rolled her eyes as Kenzi helped her up, their attention suddenly ripped towards Dyson as he howled in pain, the creature stunning him to the ground and hovering over him, ready to feed.
"Shit. Dyson!" Bo cried as she readied herself into a stance, throwing her right arm back, charging the knife, and launching it with all the strength she could muster. The blade tore through the air like a bullet, sailing fast towards the back of the creature's head.
Kenzi and Bo watched on in anticipation, their hearts lifting as the knife continued on its trajectory, any minute now sinking deep into the creature's skull. Immediately, their faces dropped when the unthinkable happened as another invisible pulse sent the blade flying backwards towards them, careening straight for Bo's chest, causing them to hastily drop to the ground to narrowly avoid the succubus's impalement.
"Fuck!" Kenzi yelled, holding Bo's terrified gaze.
Lifting herself up, Bo said, "Time for plan B."
"And what would that be?"
Bo's brown eyes dissolved into the blue glow of her succubus taking over. "Go Chuck Norris on it." She started to charge off then froze in place, turning abruptly as she looked at Kenzi, her eyes filled with concern. "Take care of Tamsin, will you, babe?" The human gave a firm nod, watching as her best friend rushed towards the creature, slamming a leg into its back and tearing it away from Dyson.
Quickly focusing on the task at hand, Kenzi shifted her attention from the fray before her and rushed towards the crumbled blonde form in the far end of the cave. When Kenzi approached closer, peering down at the valkyrie from above, she wasn't sure if it was even the same Tamsin they had all recognized. Though not unconscious, the figure before her was an unsightly mess, her eyes red-rimmed, her face streaked with tears stained by the dirt, her lips muttering something over and over again.
"T-Tamsin?" Kenzi asked gingerly, fearing that if she raised her voice any louder the valkyrie would completely dissolve before her.
"I'm sorry..." Tamsin murmured. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." The valkyrie's face was lined with agony, her brows scrunching so intensely that her emotions seemed palpable to the touch.
Kenzi bent low, squatting by the blonde's side, her hands pressing lightly on either side of the valkyrie's shoulders, wanting to shake her but deciding against it. Instead, Kenzi called quietly again. "Blondie, it's me, the annoying human pet." But there was no discernible response.
The mutterings continued as Tamsin stirred, turning over. "I love you."
"What?! " Kenzi nearly jumped backwards.
"It hurts me so much to love you." The valkyrie looked straight at Kenzi or, rather, straight through her, the tears streaming as she offered a sad smile, lifting her head.
"Right..." Kenzi began slowly. "I know you're not talking about me, blondie."
Tamsin gave no acknowledgment of her, as if trapped in her own little nightmare, her head dropping down to the dirt again as she stirred back and forth.
It was another scream that tore Kenzi away, looking over in horror as Bo grabbed her head and fell slowly by the creature's feet. Kenzi's eyes quickly flicked to Dyson for some hope, but her heart dropped when she saw him lying motionless on the ground beside Bo.
The thudding intensifying in her chest, Kenzi looked back to Tamsin, still dazed and lost in whatever mental construct that the fucking squid head had trapped her in.
"Wake up," Kenzi beckoned, quietly at first. When her words hit a brick wall, she pressed on with more urgency. "Wake the fuck up, Tamsin!" She gripped the blonde desperately by the collars. "Bo needs you!"
As Bo's screams persisted, Kenzi cursed, giving up on the valkyrie as her gaze fell to the knife lying a few feet to her right. She scrambled over on her hands and feet, ignoring the roughness of the craggily ground, her hands reaching out to grip the handle. "Right," she said, steadying herself as she stood up. "Make this human save all of yo' asses, why don't you?"
After some mental preparation, Kenzi broke into a sprint, charging at the creature with the knife raised high. When it felt her approaching, it dropped Bo to the ground, the succubus whimpering as she fell. Kenzi swiped at the creature, catching it on the shoulder and grinning with satisfaction as it squealed in pain. She took another step forward, ready to launch another strike when the creature lashed out with its claw-like fingers, wrapping tightly around her neck and reeling her in towards its monstrous face, the knife in her hands clattering loudly to the ground.
Kenzi promptly closed her eyes, squeezing her lids shut, hoping to blink it out of existence. She saw no evil, but she could certainly feel it-feel it in the rubbery grip around her neck and the stale air pressing against her cheek as it breathed. Her chest felt like it was ready to burst, the fear so suffocating that it was seeping into her lungs, constricting her breathing.
Slowly she felt a sharp pain in her temples, the feel of it like tiny needles probing their way in. Kenzi's mouth dropped open, the rumblings of a scream nearly imminent as the pain intensified when suddenly the creature went slack. It wailed in agony, releasing its hold on her as she stumbled backwards, her ass hitting the solid ground, eyes searching for the source of the creature's pain.
Tamsin lunged at it from behind, hands gripping the knife that Kenzi had dropped as she sank the blade deep into the creature's neck. "Fuck you!" she screamed, stabbing into it with unrelenting fury. "Fuck you!" She brought the blade down again and again and again, piercing the creature into a bloody mess as she was consumed by the madness.
"Tamsin!" Kenzi cried, watching the horrifying sight before her and wanting to snap the valkyrie out of it. "Tamsin!" The blonde finally ceased her violence, looking up, tormented green eyes gazing directly into Kenzi's. "Tamsin, it's okay."
Tamsin snapped her eyes open, the unfamiliar softness of the mattress beneath her causing a slight panic as she lifted her head, trying to pull herself up. Her eyes darted around the room, noticing the bathtub in the room in front of her and the busy fabric wrapped around the four columns of the bed she was lying in. This was Bo's room. Why the hell was she here?
As if on cue, light footsteps rounded the corner as the succubus strode into view, her face lighting up when she saw Tamsin watching her.
"You're awake."
"That's twice I've woken up here today," Tamsin said, groaning as she sat up, her back now resting against the headboard.
Bo gave a small smile. "You passed out after stabbing that thing to death."
"Can't be too careful," the valkyrie replied with a slight shrug.
Bo kept her gaze on the blonde as she inched towards the bed, sitting by the edge. "You should stay here and rest, Tamsin."
"No," the blonde said abruptly, sliding out of the bed and rising. "What I need to do is go back to the Dal and get my damn truck."
"You are in no condition to be going back there," Bo immediately objected.
"Well," Tamsin began hesitantly, "Where else am I supposed to go, sweet cheeks?"
"You can stay here or I can drive you home." Bo also rose to her feet, approaching the blonde who was close to making her way out of the room, frustrated at her stubbornness among other things.
"Dude, I live in my truck."
"That's-"
"Sad? Pathetic?" Tamsin crossed her arms with a scoff. "Whatever, succubus. It makes for an easy escape."
"That's not what I meant!" Bo protested, her hands reaching out to pull Tamsin back in.
The valkyrie threw her arms up, shoving Bo away. "Just...don't, okay?" Her brows were scrunched, her lips a thin line. "I don't want anything from you."
Bo breathed deeply, her hands dropping to her side, the silence settling in as Tamsin stood motionless avoiding her gaze. They were more comfortable, it seemed, in the stillness of the air and the silence around them than the actual partaking of words with one another.
Finally, Bo stirred, her thoughts racing as she made the attempt to brush a subject that hopefully might open the valkyrie up. "Tamsin," she started. "I felt it too-what that thing did to you." Her brown eyes, now slightly shimmering with tears desperately sought for the valkyrie's gaze. "I felt everything from all of my feeds..."
Tamsin snapped her attention towards Bo, her eyes softening for just the briefest of seconds before they fell cold and she said, "At least you have a nice human doctor to go crying to."
The response was like a kick into her chest as Bo's expression dropped and she took a step back. Tamsin headed for the stairs, but before descending the first step she turned around, her eyes fixed on Bo. "For the record," she began, "I wasn't completely drunk off my ass when I was on that lumpy couch of yours."