The bunker stretched on. Their every step echoed until Tamsin opened the vault door. She motioned Bo inside. Bo was puzzled. there was nothing inside the vault. She occupied a space as big as a closet. Tamsin stepped in front of Bo. Their faces were barely inches apart. Tamsin hardly dared to breathe, let alone let herself look at Bo. Tamsin typed in another code on the wall behind Bo and pressed her palm against a screen. A portal in the tiny space they were in opened and as they stepped inside Bo remarked,
"Nice bachelor pad,"
"Thanks,"
Tamsin smirked. It was far from a bachelor pad. She held back from explaining she hadn't brought anyone here before. It was better to keep silent about some things. Her trust in Bo surprised her as much as it frustrated her. All it took was one look from that warm, strong and beautiful face and she was completely disarmed. That was supposed to be her skill, not Bo's.
Armies would be envious of the armoury and state of the art equipment Tamsin had. Helmets, shields and broadswords were decorated the back wall. Mounted on the walls were several screens for surveillance. To the right a punching bag dangled from the ceiling and just behind it lay a bed and closet. Tamsin headed for her closet and pulled out a black oversized shirt with some obscure rock band's logo on it. She tossed it to Bo and instructed,
"It's late, you'll need your rest."
"You were the one tied up, don't you need to rest?"
"I'm okay. Thanks to you," Tamsin replied.
The silence hung in the air. Bo smiled sweetly and Tamsin felt as though she was about to burst out of her skin.
"..Buddy," Tamsin blurted.
'What is WRONG with you? You don't deserve a vagina.' Tamsin thought, criticizing herself. She wanted to punch herself in the face. She cleared her throat.
"SO. Bed! It's over there. I just need to take care of a few things first."
Bo was speechless. She tried not to make eye contact with the Valkyrie and turned her back to change.
Tamsin did the same and stripped off her mangled clothes. She looked down again at the mark on her hip. It was still there but it had seemed to fade. Then she turned her palm up and examined her wrists. There were no red markings on them anymore. Tamsin was puzzled. Maybe the cuffs weren't on that tight and it was all in her head. She glanced over her shoulder at Bo, just in time to catch a sight of her lower back before her shirt slid over it. She bit her lip and silently scolded herself for allowing her mind to wander back to when she was in Bo's bed.
"Oh SHIT."
Tamsin froze.
"What's wrong?"
"Kenzi, Lauren! Oh my god, Trick and Dyson! When someone finds the Morrigan-"
"Already done, doll."
"Wait..what? When?"
"While you were driving. Sent Dyson a message. They'll be safe, he's got both of them staying with him and team of our biggest and baddest on guard at all times. Trick knows by now too. We..might need to stay here a few days until we work out something. Can't take the chance of doubling back to your place."
Bo nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Fair enough. And thank you, it was thoughtful of you."
Tamsin dimmed the lights on Bo's side of the bunker. She made her way to her cupboard and took out several different vials, one of them a smoke bomb, another for creating mirages, and a third for protection. Placing them in a small case, she carefully put them in to a holster bag. She began to rifle through her desk and fit a scroll in to the bag as well. The scroll contained a short hand of codes for Bo just in case they were separated at any point. They'd need all the supplies and extra help they could get. Tamsin had travelled to the other realm countless times, but she had made a point of not getting to know her marks. Bo complicated things, she wasn't a mark. She was Bo.
Bo slipped under the covers, curled up and let the comfort of the bed carry her. Although her eyelids were heavy and the coolness of the pillow and the increasing warmth of the blanket appealed to her exhaustion, falling asleep seemed an impossible task. She felt as though she had been existing in a daze, walking, talking, breathing on auto pilot since Lauren told her to get out. If being apart was what Lauren wanted, she'd have to respect it even if it tore her apart.
Bo turned on her side and listlessly gazed at the sword on the wall. On it's surface she could see the slanted reflection of Tamsin with her back turned. She noticed Tamsin turn around and stare at her. Bo quickly closed her eyes and heard the click of the light switch. She sensed Tamsin walking closer. Then, fingertips slipping underneath the sheet at her upper arm and a soft tug, drawing the blanket higher, covering her shoulder. Tamsin moved away from the bed. Bo felt her tears welling up again. She turned and broke the silence,
"Tamsin?"
"Mm?"
"Where are you going to sleep?"
"Couch,"
As much as Tamsin wanted to slide in beside Bo, she wanted to give her some space. She had just separated from the doctor.
"Could you stay with me?" Bo murmured.
Tamsin opened her mouth to speak but words failed to escape her. She lifted the blanket and hesitantly slipped in next to Bo. Tamsin's body was rigid, she was almost afraid to accidentally touch Bo. After what seemed like an eternity, Bo was asleep. Tamsin was wide awake and glanced over at Bo. She was immensely strong but she was still so vulnerable. Tamsin knew that girl all too well. She thought she had grown out of it, but she questioned whether that was true. Bo made her question herself, who she was as a person and who she wanted to be.
Suddenly Bo shifted and turned, burying her head near Tamsin's neck. She draped her arm over the Valkyrie's stomach. Tamsin froze momentarily, before a smile melted on to her lips. She enclosed her arm around her and although she knew Bo was sound asleep, she whispered,
"Goodnight, Succulette."
—-
Miles away, in the sprawling alleys of the city, wing beats pounded the air, swaying the grass violently. Multiple hooves landed with a deep thuds. The creature landing was half horse and half dragon. It was roughly the size of a tractor and had an six meter wingspan. It was black as the night, save for its lime green eyes which caught the light of the moon and glowed. Thick scales covered it, like armour. It swiftly crawled in to an old parking garage for a minute before emerging again as a man. Crows gathered, swarming the wires of the alley. The dark figure's shiny black loafers hit the grit of the pavement and caught the attention of a cat sitting above the alley on a fire escape. After a second of contemplation, the cat bolted upwards and on to the roof.
He tugged his jacket straight and cricked his neck. No more delays, Tamsin.
—-
Tamsin awoke before Bo. She carefully lifted Bo's arm off her and slipped out of bed. She waved her foot at a sensor on the side of the floor and a series of glowing indigo lights a few inches off the ground flicked on, dimly lighting a path for her. She made her way through the dimly lit bunker to the bathroom. Closing the door, she smiled to herself and tried unsuccessfully to stifle her grin. Bo asked her to stay and had her arm around her the whole night.
Tamsin had a difficult time brushing her teeth with that huge grin that wouldn't leave her face. The world was crashing down yet somehow everything felt like it would be alright. The sex was incredible, but last night rivalled the other. It was perfect.
She knew she'd have to break the news to Bo sooner or later. That soured things a bit. For now, she was content-perhaps foolishly so- with Bo sleeping soundly nearby.
—-
She ran through the streets, nimble and with purpose. She had to get to Bo but the Dal was closer. She'd tell Trick she saw the creature and then rush to Bo. She jumped and climbed effortlessly and squeezed herself in through the gutter way leading from the street in to the Dal. She made her way upstairs, feeling the sun beams warming her and making her eyelids heavy.
Just a few more steps.
Just one more step-
—-
Bo inhaled deeply and stretched her arms high above her head. She reached over to the spot beside her and sat up to find Tamsin gone. She heard the shower being switched on. The clock read 10:00am. Bo turned over and reached for her phone. No messages, no calls. Disappointed, but not surprised she put her phone down, flipped the sheet off her and made the bed.
For a bunker it was a comfortable size. Everything was more or less in order. Bo walked around and examined the armour and weapons. Each one was beautiful but she returned to the blade Tamsin bestowed upon her. She could tell a lot of work must have gone in to the blade. It eclipsed the other weapons displayed. The handle was carved with intricate designs, figures of mythological figures, Bo assumed. The words encircling the bottom of the hilt appeared as though they had been lazer-cut. The blade itself had a faint blue sheen.
Bo tried to wrap her head around the fact the blade had belonged to Tamsin's first love. She put the blade back in to it's sheath. She didn't want to acknowledge Evony was right. Tamsin had feelings for her. That night wasn't just a feed to Tamsin. Bo sat back on the bed and felt a pang of guilt claw in to her stomach. Tamsin confused the hell out of her and irritated her to no end. Bo didn't want to admit it, but the truth confronted her every time she looked at Tamsin.
That night was more than a feed to her too.