Scared
In the middle of Tamsin's talking, out of nowhere, Bo kisses her. She isn't sure why the urge seizes her, but all of a sudden she bows to its whim and she kisses Tamsin, long and slow. It is not a kiss of lust. It is much different than that. It makes Bo's stomach flutter unexpectedly. Much to her surprise, it is Tamsin who pulls away first. The blonde's brow is creased, her lips are pursed as if to get the taste off them, her hands pulling Bo's away.
"Bo, what are you doing?"
"I don't know," Bo admits, raising her eyebrows. She fixates on Tamsin's lips. She can feel the valkyrie's aura burning hot. "But you like it."
Tamsin gives a weary sigh and gently pushes Bo's arms back down by her sides. "Look, Bo, there's...something you should know. About how I feel about you."
"Don't." Bo looks at her almost desperately. "I'm not ready to hear that."
Tamsin frowns. "Then why the hell are you-?!"
"I'm scared," Bo cuts in. "Of how I feel about you."
Tamsin sighs at her and folds her arms across her chest, almost angry but mostly reasonable. "I've been scared. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna have sex with someone when it means something completely different to me. Unless you need chi, I can't give you what you want, Bo."
"But that's what I'm saying. Tamsin, I don't know."
Tamsin shakes her head. "Well, that's not good enough." She grimaces. "You think you can just keep using people forever? Regardless of how they feel? It doesn't work like that. Eventually something's got to give. This is me, drawing the line. I'm your friend, Bo. But if you think I'm gonna let you play around with me just because it's convenient for you, you're sadly mistaken."
She walks past Bo and up the stairs. Bo doesn't turn around to watch her leave, just hears her footsteps creaking. She lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. That's Tamsin. Always telling her how it is.
Tamsin is right. It isn't fair. She isn't fair. She is still new at this, even after all these years. She is still learning how to love. Right now, she just wishes Tamsin would come back down the stairs. But she guesses she has to work for that.
Later, they are forced to confront each other in the kitchen. It is awkward at first, and Bo's stomach sinks like a stone when she realizes she may have destroyed something between them that she took for granted. She doesn't want to think about that.
"Tamsin-" she begins, unable to take the awkwardness.
"Forget about it." Tamsin turns to her and smiles a little. She holds her hand out to Bo and shrugs. "We're still friends, right?"
Warm relief floods Bo's chest. She smiles and takes her hand. "Right. Friends." She studies Tamsin for a few moments with the intense curiosity and intrigue that is unique to being around her. When they let go, walk past each other, and go about their business, Bo breathes again. Her hand is still tingling pleasantly. Great.