A/N: Don't drink and drive folks. Thanks for reading.
Chapter 14: Takin' Care of Business
Tamsin had just finished showering, changing, and fixing herself up when she heard the knock at the door. She opened it, rolled her eyes and laughed at the sight before her despite herself. Vex stood there with a huge smile on his face, arms held wide open, which he used to grab her into an unexpected friendly embrace. He patted her on the back a few times before releasing her and re-introducing his 'associate' he failed to mention he was bringing along. "Tamsin, glad you decided to join us! You remember Choga, of course." The pair of them looked like the Blues Brothers, sans pork pie hats and Wayfarer sunglasses. Although the Mesmer had told wear whatever she wanted, she felt under-dressed in her usual jeans and plain button-down shirt, in comparison. And since this was a job, she had pulled her hair tightly into a bun at the back of her head.
The Valkyrie crossed her arms and assured him she did remember the slimy man looking decidedly uncomfortable in the expensive jacket and slacks he was wearing, "Vex, I am not going to play watch dog for you while you pimp out the toad boy for people to lick in the restrooms if the price is right!" Tamsin wasn't angry at the Mesmer for trying to con her; he was, after all, a self-admitted con man. Still, there were limits on what she would do for money.
"No, of course not! This is a high class operation! We've managed to package Choga sweat into pill form in order to appeal to a more discerning, and wealthier consumer base! We need to generate a consumer base and develop distributors. You helped me out at the track, and I want to repay you. Isn't that what friends are for? And you will have a good time, I promise!" he soothed her. She remained stock still, regarding him with undisguised suspicion. Recognizing this, he reached out his hands and grabbed both her shoulders. He looked her right in the eyes before adding, "Trust me. This is just what you need right now."
She gave in to him. She had to; she needed money if she was going to leave the colony. And Tamsin had told him she would help, and she didn't want to go back on her word. Honesty was especially important to her now that she knew Dyson, whom she had considered her friend, had used her so unknowingly cruelly and lied about it right to her face. However much it hurt, though, she couldn't really blame him. He didn't understand fully the nature of Valkyrie, and everything he did was for the love of Bo. She could understand that – love trumps friendship every time, especially if they were rivals in love with the same person.
She met them at the destination in her own truck; she didn't want to ride with Vex and his idiotic companion in their probably stolen car. I'd have to talk to Dyson in the interrogation room after all, if we got busted by fae cops. she reasoned to herself. The thought that her already partially inebriated state might also gain her unwanted attention from the police didn't cross her mind. She was a Valkyrie, after all, and could perform no matter what.
The club was everything that Vex's former one wasn't. It was brighter and more mainstream in every way, and far too busy to be a failing business. Uh, this place looks like it is doing great - did he lie to me? And if so, what for? Her suspicious nature returned as she began to rebuild the walls around her heart. She thought of several different and increasingly painful ways of repaying the Mesmer if this was some sort of bizarre attempt at betrayal before dismissing them. All he had to do was leave me alone, I'm sure I would have punished myself worse than anything he could do to me. At least I'm going to get paid and have some distraction."
Vex was introducing her, now, to a sad looking freckled woman sitting at a more quiet side bar, and that broke her out of her musings. She offered a small smile and nodded at the strawberry blonde club owner, Lila by name, who did so in return before turning back to stare at her champagne flute. Awkward, indeed. She looks like I feel. "Misery loves company…" again the Ravens words came back to haunt her. She looked around anxiously to make sure it was not in fact a bona fide party going on.
Vex mistook the intensions of her actions, and pulling her aside said to her, "Don't worry, none of them are here. It's a dark fae club. Just stay here and watch over Lila and keep an eye out for any trouble. She's taking a big risk letting me be here. And don't worry; she won't bother trying to engage you in the small talk you hate so much - she's rowing the same boat as you are. You can empathize with her! " He clapped her on the back of the shoulder in reassurance and winked, a suspicious conspiratorial grin in place, before dragging the still mute, and probably high, Choga off to the other side of the dance floor to met his supposed business contacts.
Tamsin let out a deep breath before taking a seat next to her still thankfully silent 'client.' She was still suspicious mischievous Mesmer, but her depression overrode her discretion and right now she only wanted a drink. Before she could open her mouth ask for one, the bartender placed a glass of clear liquor over ice in front of her. "Compliments of the house, top shelf Vodka, over ice. Let me know if you want anything else." He told her politely. She shook her head; he nodded once in acknowledgement, and returned to his duties.
The Valkyrie regarded the free drink for a moment before carefully sipping it. Delicious. Who cares if it is drugged or poisoned? It's been awhile since I had a decent drink. Suddenly remembering her equally miserable companion, she felt compelled to offer her thanks to her benefactor. "Thanks for the drink. You didn't have to buy it for me."
"It's all right." The woman said quietly, glancing at her, briefly, with sad eyes that were pale blue in color and reminded the Valkyrie of Kenzi's. She seemed not to want to engage in any further discussion. Tamsin took the opportunity to look over her companion more thoroughly. She was wearing a simple, yet stylish black dress that hugged her slim frame, her hair bobbed at the shoulders in the style of a 1920's flapper. She was cute, in a way, but not overly attractive and certainly not smoking hot like Bo.
They sat silently for about an hour, the bartender replenishing their drinks whenever they motioned for him. Tamsin gazed around the club from time to time, checking on Vex and his less intelligent protégé. They seemed to be doing well for themselves, easily fitting in and laughing with the jovial, fun-loving crowd. She was wondering how long they would have to be there. The lack of conversation she was, of late, so desirous was now making her oddly uneasy and restless.
Lila was drawn out of her own thoughts by the Valkyrie's sudden and constant fidgeting, and informed her gently, "You don't have to stay here, you know, if you don't want to. I'm fully aware that I'm not good company right now."
Tamsin was startled more by the fact that the woman spoke words so similar to the ones she used with Vex than the fact that the woman had suddenly started a conversation. She stopped playing with the buttons on her cuff and looked at her, "No, it's not that. I just…." She trailed off, not knowing what to say. She wasn't even sure what she was feeling right now. She could, however, tangibly feel the absolute despair rolling off of the other woman like an avalanche, crushing her under it and making it hard for her to breathe easily. It was making her uneasy, and she wanted it to stop. They looked into each other's eyes and the uncomfortable feeling increased to the point where Tamsin had to do something, anything, or she thought she might suffocate. "…dance with me?" she finally squeaked out, desperate to at least be moving with a purpose.
Her companion nodded solemnly, "OK."
The Valkyrie huffed out a breath in relief, and took the woman's hand, leading her to the dance floor. As if on cue, the DJ played a Nora Jones song about love and loss. Tamsin placed her hands lightly and awkwardly on the woman's waist, while she equally cautiously placed her arms around the Valkyrie. Lila seemed almost afraid of touching her partner, hands balled into fistfuls of the taller woman's shirt. They danced slowly and shyly at first, never looking at each other. The uncomfortable unease the Valkyrie was feeling slowly began to dissipate, and in response, she cautiously wrapped her hands around the other woman. When her partner responded by releasing her shirt and holding her, Tamsin pulled the woman closer, until their bodies were pressed together. She wanted to comfort her; she needed to comfort her. The compulsion to show this stranger compassion was a mystery to Tamsin, all she knew is that it made her feel better to do so. The thought that she might be drugged or the other woman might be charming her somehow entered her mind, but she didn't feel out of sorts in any other way.
The slow song ended and a popular, boisterous rap song began much to the cheering crowds' delight. With the sudden change of moods and genres, it was obvious the DJ was taking requests. But the two heartbroken women danced on, slowly – oblivious to everything except the person in their arms. Tamsin felt a slightly familiar feeling, as if the woman was somehow feeding off her. But it wasn't exactly like with Bo, it was gentle and soothing instead of sudden and harsh. Nevertheless, she felt her energy slipping away all the same, and her curiosity prodded until she asked in a whisper against Lila's ear, "Are you feeding off of me?"
The woman nodded against her chest. Tamsin tensed up with the confirmation of her suspicions, until Lila re-assured her in a whisper, "I won't hurt you. Please don't stop." They continued dancing like that for a few moments until Tamsin sighed deeply, and relaxing again, drew her in more tightly against her. She began rubbing a hand up and down Lila's back in a consoling gesture. It was late, and she was growing tired. She didn't want to be there anymore and somehow felt her partner didn't want to, either. It was at that moment she saw Vex and his inebriated business associate over Lila's shoulder about twenty feet away. The Mesmer said nothing, not that she would hear him over the music, and merely gestured that the pair were leaving. He gave her big grin and thumbs up before dragging the semi-conscious Choga towards the exit after she nodded in acknowledgement.
Finally! the Valkyrie thought. Her assignment complete, Tamsin decided it was time to go. She stopped dancing, pulled away and looked into the eyes of her companion. She was obviously disappointed that their embrace had ended. And if she was being honest with herself, it was disappointing to her, too. "Uhhmm, I have to go now. Thanks for the dance." She said, trying to be polite. The feelings of despair from the woman and the unease it caused the Valkyrie reappeared, though not as intensely.
Lila looked at her feet and nodding, telling her sadly, "I understand."
Tamsin lifted the woman's chin to look her in the eyes, smiling at her "Let me take you home." She had no inclination to sleep with her, and had no idea why should would say that; it just felt right. It was as if she needed desperately to show the sad woman that someone cared about her; understood what she was feeling. And it felt good to do so.
Lila smiled warmly in return. "OK."
The drive most a mostly silent affair, Tamsin asking which way to go, and Lila giving concise answers. Once they reached her upscale apartment building, a stone's throw from Evony's old office building, the Valkyrie surprised her passenger by insisting she park the truck so that she could escort Lila upstairs to her own door, safely. Isn't that what 'good' people do? Besides, I'm supposed to be protecting her. She thought. Once there, however, her unease and the fidgeting it caused reappeared as the club owner unlocked her door.
Lila turned back to her bodyguard, dismissing her for the evening, "Thank you, Tamsin. You've been so very kind to me." When her companion didn't reply or move to leave, she asked with sincere concern, "Are you alright? Do you want to come in for a minute?" Her intense pale blue eyes sought out Tamsin's green ones as the Valkyrie glanced everywhere but at the woman before her until their gazes finally met.
"Uhmmm, OK. Just for a minute." Once the door was shut and locked behind her, Tamsin quickly pulled the unsuspecting shorter woman into a tight embrace which was eagerly reciprocated. As she rested her head on top of Lila's, she sighed out an apology into the strawberry blonde hair, "I'm sorry." I don't know if I'm sorry for imposing on her, or for her heartbreak, or my own. Maybe I'm sorry for too many things at this moment I just can't pin it down to one thing. she thought to herself as the feeling from earlier in the evening began again. She didn't care. She's feeding off me again. But damn, it feels good to hold someone and be held in return.
Lila broke the embrace, stepping away slowly. She seemed to be feeling much better, and apparently was done feeding. She looked into the Valkyrie's eyes again and smiling, said to her, "Thank you for this evening. It was lovely. Your obligation is over, and you can go now, if you're OK."
Tamsin took a deep breath and let it out before she whispered hopefully and honestly, "What if I'm not?" her eyes betrayed the pain she was feeling. She didn't know why she wasn't trying to hide her feelings from someone she had only just met, but she was willing to risk being rejected again if it meant she had a chance to be held again. By Odin's hairy balls, I must be drunker than I know. What the fuck am I doing?
The mysterious woman gave her a knowing look and told her, "Then don't." before slowly taking her hand and leading her to her bedroom. Once the door was closed, she turned to the Valkyrie and regarded her for a moment. The other she placed a hand on Tamsin's check before informing her, "I don't know how anyone could hurt a creature so rare and beautiful."
"Because she never loved me, and never will! Because she thinks I can't feel!" Tamsin chocked out involuntarily, her tears threatening to erupt again.
"Shhhh, shhh, it's alright. We both know that's not true. Why don't you lie down, and get some sleep. Things always look better in the morning light." The strange woman cooed to her soothingly as she stroked the Valkyrie's face, almost as if comforting a distraught child.
Tamsin closed her eyes and sighed again. She was tired, and somewhat drunk, but she knew deep down that thoughts of Bo and the accompanying feelings of pain would keep sleep from claiming her easily. When she opened her eyes again, and looked deeply into those of her companion she saw the compassion Lila felt for her. In that moment, she stopped thinking and acted on impulse, grabbing Lila's face with both hands and pulling her into a gentle, yet passionate kiss. She didn't even know if the club owner was attracted to women or the gender of her former lover. When the other woman responded, she pulled back in surprise and shock, dropping her hold on the other woman's face with the realization of what she had done without intention.
"I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have done that. I should go." She said staring off at the wall. Shit!
"NO! No, don't be sorry." This time, Lila reached out and held her face in both hands, gently requesting her attention. Tamsin couldn't look her in the eyes as her tears began fall. "It's Ok. You can pretend I'm her for tonight. I don't mind. You can be with her as before, one last time."
The Valkyrie still didn't meet her gaze at the offer, "No, I don't want that." She whispered unable to mask the pain behind her words, or stop them from spilling from her lips in the first place. Her hands were at her sides clenching and unclenching in a vain attempt to stop herself from showing anymore vulnerability than she already had. Bo had been so different in bed with Lauren than she had with her.
"Then tell me what you want from me, Tamsin. Tell me why you are still here, please." She entreated softly, pulling the Valkyrie's head towards her as she took a small step closer.
Green eyes snapped to lock onto the pale blue ones waiting patiently for them. "I wanted it to be like how she was with the one she loved!" The Valkyrie blurted out, her voice suddenly regaining strength as her resolve to hide her emotions surrendered.
Lila smiled, nodding in understanding while wiping her tears with the thumbs of both hands holding Tamsin's face. She moved forward to capture her quivering lips in a tender kiss. The shorter woman reached back and freed Tamsin's hair out of its confining bun as she pulled back only far enough to whisper against them "Show me!" before claiming them again.