Okay so here's the dealio, friends. My life is a jumble of nonsense these days - I'm in my last semester of pre-med, learning all kinds of doctory things only a certain Lauren Lewis would care to hear about, and preparing to go to basic training for the Navy in a few months. Basically, I'm mad busy. And I get overzealous and excited and promise updated all the time and I feel terrible because I can never follow through haha. Just know that I will update! And frequently! Just, not as often as I'd like.
Also, a few people have pointed out to me gramattical/spelling errors. Like I said, I have a lot going on and try to proof-read a little before I post but then back to being overzealous. On top of running out of time. When and if I get the time in the near future I promise I will go back and touch the chapters up. :)
Enjoy~! Thank you so much for reading!
Fingers still intertwined, the pair enter The Dal; Tamsin is slightly ahead of Lauren, with her chin held high, a challenging grin on her face. Stopping just inside the door, the valkyrie surveys the crowd - the happy sunshine gang is at the bar, laughing amongst themselves and definitely not noticing the couple at first. Lauren squeezes her hand lightly; Tamsin looks back at her and flashes a genuine smile in an attempt to ease her nerves, which is returned in full. They make their way to a corner spot by the pool table, Tamsin ignoring Lauren's silent pleas to avoid walking past the group on the way.
Hale notices them first, and begins to waves until he notices their hands, still connected. With a raise of an eyebrow, he lowers his hand and offers them a tight smile instead. Dyson, who was sitting across from Hale with his back turned to them, spins on his stool and almost falls off when Tamsin winks at his slackjawed expression. By the time they finally make it through the crowded bar to the intended table, the entire group is gawking at them (Lauren is thoroughly embarrassed, but hasn't said anything yet to raise Tamsin's concerns - even when Bo's jaw visibly dropped at the sight of them, or when Kenzi dropped a rather snide comment about the pair).
"Talk about making an entrance", Lauren mumbles as they sit down. Tamsin notes that her cheeks are red but she still returns the valkyrie's smile - its strange for her to be so concerned about the doctor's emotions (or anyone's emotions at all), so she doesn't read into it when she silently promises herself that if Lauren seems to really be struggling, they'll leave. No questions asked.
"You know what, doc?", Tamsin says as she reaches for her hand across the table and grabs the doctor's, "This isn't about them. Though I can't say I'm not flattered by all the attention."
Lauren smiles, her warm brown eyes sparking. She peers around the valkyrie and catches Bo's intense stare from her place across the bar. Without exchanging a single word, Lauren can tell that Bo is pissed. Very pissed. It honestly improved her mood to just know that something as simple as walking in to The Dal holding the hand of another woman (albeit an incredibly beautiful other woman) would send the succubus off on a tangent. The doctor returns her eyes to Tamsin, who laughs before continuing.
"This is about me and you, Lauren. Me and you and lots of beer."
They were able to avoid leaving their own little bubble by the pool table for a little while, chatting amongst themselves, holding hands over the table, sneaking kisses when they could (when the group was too engrossed in loudly drinking to be paying attention to them too closely); but Tamsin could only be in a bar for so long without cashing in her promise of free drinks. Lauren happily handed her some money, conceding to the agreement she didn't know she agreed to, and Tamsin bounced off to the bar to order herself a couple of beers.
"Officer Slamsin!"
Tamsin whirled around with her two beers in hand (both for her, of course; someone had to drive home tonight and it sure as hell wasn't going to be her), to smile at Dyson.
"Wolfbreath."
He extended his large fist and playfully punched her shoulder.
"So what brings you to our Light little neck of the woods this evening? Thought you'd be spending your Friday night in a seedy dark bar, losing at pool and picking fights."
The valkyrie smiles and cocks her head. She wonders if the surge of confidence she is feeling is a good or bad thing - deciding that she really didn't care, she returned his play punch (probably a little harder than she intended) before speaking with a sparkle in her eyes.
"My girlfriend is treating me to some drinks tonight. And for some reason she's partial to all you weirdos."
"Girlfriend?", Kenzi quips from behind Dyson's massive body, her bright blue eyes barely visible from behind his shoulder. Bo, who had been quietly nursing the same shot since the pair entered the bar, immediately slams it down before getting up, and makes a bee line for where Lauren is sitting - despite Kenzi's adamant protests. Sensing some ill will, Tamsin goes to turn and follow her without so much as a goodbye, but Dyson places a surprisingly gentle hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"Just let her."
Suspiciously looking him up and down, Tamsin reluctantly takes the seat between Hale and Dyson. She didn't take her eyes off the succubus walking up to her girlfriend, though.
"So...", Dyson sing-songs, "Tell me everything, Tamsin."
**********
"Lauren."
Bo's words force Lauren to pull her eyes up from the glass of water she'd snagged earlier in the evening. Her first reaction was fear - fear of what this first conversation with the succubus since their break up might entail - and then, for some reason, guilt - guilty because here she is across from her very convincing ex while her current girlfriend is at the bar collecting drinks for their date. Thankfully, she catches Tamsin's eyes from across the bar and receives a small nod and a tight smile. Lauren turns her attention back to Bo, putting on the mask of cool professionalism that she knows so well.
"Hello, Bo."
Bo sits down across from Lauren in the seat previously filled by Tamsin, and drums her fingers awkwardly on the tabletop whilst eying Lauren up and down.
"How, uh", Bo clears her throat awkwardly before plastering a too-big smile on her face, "how are you?"
"I'm doing very well, thank you." The words come out and for a second Lauren is in disbelief that is actually isn't a lie. "And you? How have you been?"
"I've been great!", she answers too quickly. "So great. The greatest."
Lauren smiles back at her, feeling too uncomfortable to really continue to conversation much. They sit in silence for a while, avoiding eye contact as much as possible and busying their hands with anything they can get to. Bo is the one who finally speaks up, almost too quiet to hear over the music playing in the bar.
"So. Tamsin, huh? I thought I saw something between you two but didn't think you would actually act on it. Once you go fae you never go back?"
The succubus' attempt at a smug joke only frays the doctor's nerves more. Unable to decide on being angry with Bo, or crying, or storming out of the bar all together, she sends a pleading look to the valkyrie - Tamsin looks at Dyson, who had been keeping a keen ear on the conversation for her, before mumbling 'that's my cue'. She saunters up to the pair, happy to see Lauren's features soften a bit as she got close. Bo doesn't notice her presence until Tamsin lowers her face to just a breath above her ear.
"Hey there succu-Bo", she whispers. Bo jumps a little in her seat but remains composed.
"Tamsin. Nice to see you."
Already on her fourth beer, the valkyrie decides she doesn't have time for patience or pleasantries. She gave the two a chance to talk but as far as she's concerned, talking time with everyone's favorite little fae is over.
"You're in my seat."
Bo steels her jaw and raises her chin to Tamsin, obviously not ready to end her chat with Lauren. She settles visibly into the seat before speaking.
"I'm sorry, Tamsin, I didn't realize you were so protective of your flings", Bo turns to Lauren, "Honestly Lauren you're smarter than this."
The valkyrie, rage and alcohol bubbling inside her, leans forward so that her and Bo's noses are almost touching.
"If you do not move your leather clad ass from this chair so that I can sit with my girlfriend, I will move it for you."
Bo's jaw drops at the use of the word girlfriend - surely, she thinks, Tamsin can not be serious. She again turns to Lauren, completely ignoring the woman a mere breath away from her face.
"Seriously Lauren? You're going to let her convince you that you're special to her? She's dark, Lauren, she's bad news."
Lauren would have replied, would have told Bo how wrong she was, told her how much the valkyrie means to her, how coming to this bar tonight was to show everyone that she was happy with someone other than Bo, then would have ask her to leave, to never speak ill of either of them again, to go fuck off even - if she had had the chance. But before she could say a single word Tamsin made good on her threat and swiftly lifted Bo up by her throat from the chair. She was prepared to throw her, presumably into the nearby pool table, but luckily Dyson swooped in just in time to grab both women by their wrists.
"Okay! Enough!"
His booming voice caused Bo to stop screaming profanities and threats, and Tamsin to drop the writhing succubus roughly on her free. They both looked down, like children being lectured.
"Bo, you're going home. Now. Kenzi is outside."
She began to protest but decided it was a fruitless effort with the wolf; sending daggers at Tamsin one last time, and an almost pleading look at Lauren, she left the bar. He then turned his attention to Tamsin, putting both of his massive hands on her slender shoulders and catching her gaze - she had told him everything, every little detail about how and why the doctor and her had started this relationship, about she felt for her, and he was compelled to be on her side. He did love Bo, though, he always would, and he couldn't allow a disturbance like this in Trick's bar, so he had to put his foot down.
"Tamsin. You can not just go around picking people up by their throats. This is a neutral bar, a place of sanctuary - bar fights and brawling won't fly here. Especially with Bo. I cannot allow it."
She shrugs him off, and averts her eyes, but nods at him. Satisfied that the valkyrie will behave, he smiles at Lauren and offers them both congratulations on their new relationship before leaving the bar to find and calm the angry succubus. Tamsin, eyes down and scowling like a grounded teenager, takes her seat across from Lauren. The valkyrie is almost surprised when the first thing she hears isn't another lecture, or tears even – it's Lauren laughing happily. When Tamsin looks up at her, her green eyes confused, Lauren quickly leans across the table and catches her lips in an all too short, but passionate, kiss.
"Well", the doctor says, still laughing a little as they pull back, "that went better than expected."