A/N: Thank you to everyone who read, followed, favorited and reviewed. It really means a lot. To boomerang, it's kind of like Evony's the cat and Lauren's the mouse, especially at first, but as the relationship progresses, it'll slowly become more like the old pantheon stories you hear about gods and mortals, or so I hope. To Y, there are twists coming, and I do so hope to eventually – even if it's not with this fic, but its sequel – write into the canon. Especially season one and two, since there's a lot of scenes where I go 'hang on...in my "canon" verse...'
*cough* but yeah.
To all the guests who reviewed, you are a blessing. Thank you for your kind words. I've read each messaged and I wish I could reply to you individually so you understand my pleasure in knowing you're enjoying the fic.
I hope you all enjoy!
12. Fingering
Having re-hydrated, Lauren placed the glass down on her bedside table, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. The master bathroom was open, a bright light spilling from the room against the carpeted floor of the bedroom.
She could see Evony going through her medicine cabinet, her hair damp as she made herself presentable for leaving Lauren's apartment. Still, Lauren watched her, wondering why the Morrigan had stayed so long. It wasn't sunrise, not yet. But she was sure someone had to keep tabs on Evony in a similar function the way the fae kept tabs on her.
Unless the fae loved self-governing as much as the first world country. It was conceivable, she came to the realization, that the fae world mimicked the human, or perhaps their own social structures bled into human society. Still, one question held on her tongue, the answer of which would either be able to make the guilt forefront or stilled in Lauren's gut.
She waited. Weighing the odds, before finally asking. "Is it treason for you?"
"Is what treason?" the hairdryer turned on, drowning out half of Evony's voice. The woman was used to doing her own hair, probably her own make-up too, Lauren realized. Somehow, she expected Evony to have a team of people to appear and do it for her.
But she suspected that like the car, it was all an image made to have people think she was used to people doing whatever she said.
"Sex. With, err, me?" Lauren asked.
Evony turned, looking over as she continued drying her hair. With one of Lauren's brushes, she easily began straightening it to a sleek, casual style. "Treason?" she hummed, thinking about it. "No, it's just bad taste to play with the Ash's things." She smiled, looking back to Lauren's vanity. "Why do you ask?"
"It's just that…you don't actually get angry at the dog for following a new owner home, I mean, you're frustrated, but you get angry for someone stealing it."
"You're not a dog, dear."
"What am I?"
"Chattel." The hairdryer switched off, placed down before Evony turned to face her. She was dressed again, her face, however, clean from any make-up. "What brought this up? Are you wondering if you can weasel your way out of punishment," Evony's eyes flashed. Lauren suspected that the punishment Evony thought of was drastically different.
Or perhaps she was that much of a sociopathic sadist.
"I was curious," she shrugged. She felt nervous under Evony's eyes. "The Light will punish me if they find out."
"You are a consenting adult, are you not?" Evony asked, placing her earrings back in. "I didn't make you hop into bed with me."
Lauren sighed. "That's not what I meant. I just feel like I'm being used as a whipping girl."
"You are," Evony said. "Anything I do to you, they'll think you initiated it. Much like what women face in the human world actually." Evony turned, looking back in the mirror to play with her hair. "However, I don't believe it's just curiosity ticking in that head of yours. The answer's far simpler than you think, Lauren."
"What is?"
"Don't get caught. Everyone breaks the rules, even the Ash." Evony smirks to herself, looking quite pleased as she looked to Lauren. "Think of it like Schrödinger's cat, if you don't get caught, you've both committed and not committed the crime until witnessed by someone who will prosecute you."
Lauren blinked, disagreeing with the statement. Still, the wording of Evony's reply was odd. Lauren mulled it over, watching Evony turn to the vanity mirror again, brushing fingers through her hair. "Is this…" Lauren asked unsurely, "Is this going to be a repeated event?"
Evony looked at her, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. Lauren didn't know what the expression was, but she felt pinned beneath it, scrutinized. She'd made a mistake. Walking over, Evony's heels clicked from the bathroom tiles to carpet. She reached out, touching her fingers to Lauren's chin. There, her expression hardened. "Don't think that this is a relationship. What I want, I'll have, but not at the expense of dealing with feelings."
Lauren tugged away from the touch, rolling her eyes. Already, she was used to the woman's barriers coming up out of nowhere. "Don't play power games. I was asking a question."
"I was answering it."
"You stayed," Lauren said. "Longer than was necessary. You still want something, so don't brush it off as if you're about to discard me."
"Who said anything about discarding. I just don't like the messiness of romantic attachments. You're fun, Lauren, and I enjoy your company, but the moment you start getting lovesick, this will end."
"What do you want, Evony?" Lauren asked, tilting her head up to look at her. It was almost sunrise. When the sun rose, Lauren knew she'd become aware of the reality of what she did. But psychologically, it was still night, it was late, still dream-like. "If it was sex, you wouldn't have stayed for half the night."
"Perhaps one night isn't enough," Evony said. "I don't think I quite got you out of my system."
"Is that it?" Lauren laughed. She knew what Evony wanted. Evony wanted to feed from her once, and Lauren wasn't going to give in. If she needed consent, then Lauren was going to make her beg for it. "What do you want, Evony?"
"I still want you," Evony said, tugging at the dressing gown Lauren wore. Lauren snatched away, playful as she grabbed Evony's wrist.
"I have work."
Evony smiled, her other hand between Lauren's legs before Lauren even saw her move. Two fingers slid inside, slowly. Lauren rocked onto her toes, eyes fluttering as she felt them curl over a familiar place Evony had taken great lengths to exploit over their time in bed.
Lauren hummed, shutting her eyes as Evony's other hand slipped over her cheek. "You have no idea how beautiful you are like this, Lauren."
"Have you see-?" she cut off in a gasp, fingers sliding deeper inside of her purposely. "You…"
"Yes. I have mirrors."
"Of course." Lauren smiled. "It's not the same. You know your face only from mirrors. I've seen it from…" she trailed off, caught between remembering Evony's face when she came, and feeling the Morrigan inside of her, purposely teasing her slowly. "I have work," she said again. She could feel her brow pinch, conflicted. She knew if she allowed Evony to do whatever she wanted to her, she'd end up being late.
"And how important is that?"
"Work," Lauren repeated, a sigh slipping from her mouth. Evony chuckled, sliding out before she popped one finger, than the other in her mouth. Cleaning them individually before returning to the bathroom. Lauren pressed her back against the wall, finding her breath as she heard the sink's tap turn on, then off.
Fixing her gown, she tucked hair behind her ear nervously, looking to Evony.
"Don't look so ashamed, dear. You enjoyed yourself. I'm sure your girlfriend will understand." There, the word struck her. Lauren feel her good mood leave in an exhale.
Nadia.
"Cheated," she said for the first time. Evony looked unamused at the word.
"Please. The whole coma thing is like them leaving you. There's an acceptable time within social circles where you go around being celibate before you're allowed to move on. Usually nine months, I suspect. However, it's not unnatural in grief to seek sex. It's a very human response," Evony teased.
Lauren looked up, glaring at her. "I didn't ask for your opinion."
"No, you just fucked me, but you are looking for someone to acknowledge that it wasn't the wrong thing."
"It was."
Evony waved her hand, disregarding Lauren's comment. "You'll excuse me if I find monogamy terribly limiting. I mean, as a scientist yourself, don't you find it a bit ridiculous to expect a single person to meet all your needs, especially when they're comatose?"
"It's not about meeting needs!" Lauren snapped. "It's about…" she paused, struggling to find the words. "You don't get into a relationship because you expect them to meet your needs. You do it because you want them, because you can make it work. It's about love, and…companionship, to come home to someone and share yourself. It's not about fulfilling all of your needs!"
"Honestly, I just don't understand it," Evony shrugged. "And I don't think you do either. But, as you say, there is work to be done." Evony leaned forward, kissing Lauren's cheek, "Ta, darling. Try not to angst too hard over your girlfriend."
Lauren gaped, watching Evony leave. She seethed for the rest of the morning, muttering through her notes as she thought over what to say in the near future. Underneath it all, however, she knew that Evony honestly just did not care about her opinion. She didn't get it, simple as that. Most of which, Lauren assumed, was partially due to the society she'd been born in.
The fae and monogamy did not go hand in hand.
She went to work, finding herself on top of both practical and paperwork as Everett's right hand, Cole Briar, took careful measures to run both the medical ward and the science facility. He was quick, intelligent, and though he held humans in the same degree Lauren might hold livestock, he was still moderately respectful to her.
"Here," he said, pointing her over to a curtained patient upon her arrival. "He asked especially for you."
Lauren took the clipboard, reading the name and doing a double take as she opened the curtains. Remington, or Remmy as he'd been introduced, grinned at her. His expression fluttered briefly, eyes shifting blue as she stepped into his space.
"Doctor Lauren Lewis," he said airily. "Good to see you."
Lauren blinked. "No," she shook her head immediately. "I can't."
"I looked you up," he said. "You're a scientist."
"No, Doctor Everett told me-" she gasped, feeling him grab her wrist. It melted through her, a warmth as she felt herself smile at him. He let go and Lauren gasped, dizzy as she nearly fell onto the hospital bed. Her clipboard clattered to the floor, pen rolling away as she looked up, feeling the shame hit her at the residue from his attack. "What…" No she knew what that was. She'd read up enough on incubi and succubi to know. "Why?"
"Sorry," he said. "That was wrong."
Lauren pulled away, glaring at him. "Sit," she said when he went to rise. Another doctor looked over at her, and Lauren felt her cheeks flush, staring at him.
"I'm sorry." he said, "It was an accident, you smell…"
"I smell like what?" she demanded. Like flowers, like a shower, like-
"Sex," he shrugged softly. Lauren shut her eyes, tilting her chin up as she let a sigh hiss through her lips. Of course she did. "It was a…a, what do you call it? Reaction?"
"Reflex."
"Yeah! It's why I came to you. I'm hungry and if I get to that state again, I might hurt someone." He looked at his, his eyes big as he flicked between Lauren's. "Look, this reflex is difficult, I mean, most fae have reflexes too, but…I don't want to be an incubus."
"Everett said-"
"Everett is a traditionalist," he said. "It's how she was raised in the Light."
"Remmy, look, I would love to help you," his face looked up at her hopefully and Lauren sighed, crouching down both to look away as well as to pick up her clipboard and pen, "the truth is if I act outside of…" she paused, feeling the warmth slip over her again. There was a hand on her shoulder, and it was warm and steady.
"It's different with people who have no interest in my gender," he said, his voice like honey. "Or it could physically be due to my age, but in this state your more susceptible to my touch, rather than sexually interested. Now, I want you to stand up." She stood up. "Cluck like a chicken."
She made the noise once, before his touch slipped away from her. Lauren felt herself get lightheaded, blinking confused as she reached for the wall. Fear slipped over her, aware of how she would have jumped off a bridge, had he asked.
A doctor, who must have been watching, snickered in her general Direction. Lauren flushed, humiliated before then feeling herself grow angry. "What was that?"
"I wanted to make a point."
"Forcing me to do things against my will is not making a point. It's violating my trust." She stepped back, away from his touch.
"You're a human," he said, "Like billions of others. And I can easily hurt you as I hurt them."
"You seem to have some control," Lauren said, pulling away from him. She didn't want to let the fear obviously in her face, but flinching away from him, she felt it coil inside of her. She felt violated, from him, from the fae allowing it to happen. "I don't understand what you need."
"That's nothing. Easy. But it makes me hungry and I don't…I can't…I don't know how to stop when I feed. I need something to make me not hungry."
Lauren shrugged. "I can't help."
"Please. I just…I just don't want to hurt any more people. Just something to make it go away."
Lauren pulled in a breath, looking down at her. "I can't help you," she said. "I'd be violating Everett's wishes, and by proxy, the Ash. What you're asking me to do will get me killed."
"Please," he said a last time. "I killed my best friend. Do you know what that's like?" Lauren shivered, looking down at the clipboard in her hands. Slowly, she nodded. "Then, please-"
"I can't. Look, I'm sorry, I am, I want to help but… I just can't, Remmy." She took a breath, squaring her shoulders as she looked at him. "I have other patients to take care of." Remmy stood up, looking at Lauren carefully, before he left. Slowly, Lauren exhaled, feeling the anger wash away from her. Then, just as quickly as she let it go, she masked her features, moving on to her next patient, the next problem. She had other things to deal with.
But Remmy stayed in her mind. His eyes hopefully staring up at her.
It was the next week when Evony turned up at her door at one in the morning. Lauren stared, hand on her hip and beyond exhausted from her latest spout of work and research. Blinking at her, Lauren knew that there were two reasons Evony might be here, and it did not seem to be an emergency. "If this is about sex, the answer's no."
"Not everything I do is about sex," Evony scoffed. She brushed past, dropping pizza onto Lauren's coffee table. "Your light was on, I thought you'd want food."
"Are you stalking me?" Lauren asked. "Because it's not something I appreciate while I'm working for the Ash, whatever your motives may be."
"You on the same main road that the Ash's apartment is on, whom I had a meeting with," Evony said, arching an eyebrow at her. "Or were you not aware of that?"
"I…wasn't," Lauren said. In truth, she never thought of the Ash sleeping. She always assumed he just sat in his throne or worked in his garden when he wasn't doing his duties. If she had to think about it, he seemed more like the person to meditate rather than lie down and sleep.
"Well this apartment wasn't chosen randomly."
"I thought that it was just filled with Light fae tenants," she admitted.
"It is, but not to spy on you, otherwise he would have known of our late night rendezvous and made such a public spectacle of it," she laughed, teasing Lauren as she moved to lounge. Her heels slipped off, legs curling up underneath her on the couch as if she was at home. She reached over, grabbing one of Lauren's books before taking a slice of pizza.
Lauren was left to stare, too tired to even comment. Somehow, she found herself pouring coffee for herself and the Morrigan, setting out plates and serviettes, before taking her own seat beside Evony. The woman wiped her fingers on the napkin, before turning the page curiously.
"I wasn't aware you spoke french," Evony said. "Do tell me it isn't Canadian french?"
Lauren pulled a strange face, biting into a slice of pizza.
"Good."
"What's it with you and Canadian french?"
"The same the British have against the Americans," Evony shrugged. "Or the Australians, I suppose."
Lauren looked at her curiously, trying to figure out why Evony had turned up at her house at one in the morning with pizza. She didn't question it further. Evony had ignored her subtly once, and Lauren suspected that she might continue to so less subtly, if Lauren started asking directly.
She wiped her hands instead, grabbing another slice of pizza as she snuck looks over at Evony. The woman looked so invested in the book she was reading, as if she was honestly interested in the pages' contents.
"Is this about Remington?" Evony asked, turning another page.
Lauren froze, having just sunk her teeth into the slice of pizza. She hadn't eaten anything more sustaining than an apple since breakfast. Swallowing the bite, she wiped the grease from her mouth. "Ah…"
"He came to me," she said, looking to Lauren. "Bold boy."
"He is," Lauren nodded.
"Comes from his father, I suspect. His mother just likes to feel 'the earth between her toes'," Evony quoted, rolling her eyes.
"Do you know everyone you rule over?"
Looking up from the book, Evony blinked at her bemused. "No," she said.
"Oh. You just…talk like you do."
"I should hope so, if the Dark think I don't pay attention, there'd be a rebellion on my hands," she looked back to the book, glancing through the notes. "I directed Remington to you, but I was under the impression that you knocked him back."
"You directed him to me?" Lauren asked.
"When he came to me last week, he was desperate. He wanted to join the Dark to keep out from his father's control. However, we don't allow that to happen unless someone signs for him as a witness and unfortunately I can't do that. He needs someone else and for some reason I can't fathom, people are avoiding him."
Lauren sighed, staring at Evony.
"No honestly," she said, looking up to Lauren. "The death of his friend was tragic, but not unusual in incubi circles when they first come of age. If I didn't know better, I would suspect that someone had made it so he was absolutely isolated from all of his peers."
"Is that possible?" Lauren said. "Of course it is, stupid question." She reclined back, staring up at the ceiling tiredly. "He wants a way to curb his hunger."
"It's in his rights."
"You're not…against that?" Lauren asked. "Interfering with the clans?"
Evony smiled, rolling her eyes playfully. "That is so Light Fae. In all honesty, I don't give a fuck what the clans want. If Remington wants to curb his hunger so he can learn how to feed by himself, then so be it. The Dark don't care about tradition. We're all modern, darling. Rolling with the times. You'd know that if you joined."
"Right," Lauren nodded. She should have known that. Still, she looked at Evony curiously. "Why did you direct him to me?"
"Because he's neither Light or Dark, and you're a genius scientist whose heart gets all fluttery about those menial things," she said, gesturing loosely. When Lauren didn't say anything straight away, Evony looked up. "He asked for help and I gave it. The more that join the Dark, the greater foothold I have, and an incubus on my side is no small thing."
Lauren took a breath, holding it in her lungs. She counted to five, then decided that she couldn't let the comment go. "He's not just as asset. He's a person."
"Lauren, sweetheart, if he wasn't an asset I wouldn't have directed him to you. I would have made him work it out on his own." She shut the book, turning to look at her. "Remember what I said in the alps?"
Lauren paused, then glared, realizing why Evony was getting at. "You see everyone as chattel."
"Good girl."
"That's not a way to live."
"Well it's worked for me just fine."
"But friends, family, relationships?"
"I have people I sleep with and people who don't try to kill me. Isn't that enough?" Evony asked, blinked at Lauren. "What? Do you want me to console you, give you hope that maybe you make my black, empty heart grow three sized big?"
"You know this isn't about me."
"No I don't," she said, frowning suddenly. "But I am surprised. Usually that's what people want."
"I have a girlfriend, I don't need you to fill her space while she's in a coma."
Evony's expression went from curious to playful, and before Lauren could stop it, the woman had removed all obstacles in her way and placed herself onto Lauren's lap, straddling the woman's thighs.
Lauren blinked, surprised before resting her hands on her hips out of laziness. "Why are you sitting here?"
"If I'm not replacing her, why did you let me come in?" Evony asked. Lauren glared, pushing Evony off her. The woman pouted, moving on the lounge beside her.
"I'm not in the mood, Evony. I'm trying to save a boy's life. A boy that, I'll point out, you only seem to see as-" Lauren cut off, feeling Evony's mouth on her throat. "That's…" she sighed, shutting her eyes. "Not playing fair."
Evony's mouth didn't pull away. It slid further down, teeth sliding like an empty threat against Lauren's pulse, before she kissed against it.
"No, I can't. I won't enable you. This isn't okay. You can't just…" she sighed, feeling Evony's hand sliding under shirt. "This is not an appropriate way to distract from the fact that I don't like how you view the boy."
'You can't change my mind, Lauren. So what's the point in all that childishness?" Evony said. "But, if you don't want to take part in this, I guess I'll just have to deal with the situation myself."
Lauren blinked, confused as Evony stood up. "What?"
"Care to watch?"
"Not after you called me childish!" Lauren snapped. The anger was dulled as she watched Evony smile, moving to sit in the armchair. "Evony," Lauren said. "You can't use sex to manipulate my emotions."
"Have you ever wondered why sex is viewed as such a dirty way to get what you want? I mean, lying, manipulation, bribery and threats? They're all valued as better techniques than sex." Evony's legs were together, but Lauren watched the dress rise an inch. "Heaven forbid someone use sex to get their way. I mean, really, why such the kerfuffle over such a useful method?"
Lauren blinked, watching Evony's hands. Looking up, she found her cheeks stained red underneath Evony's stare. "This isn't appropriate."
"The men view it as a woman's weapon and therefor the cowards way. It's 'cheap', because they can't use it against us. Well, you more than me, I suppose." Lauren felt herself sharply inhale, watching Evony's hands slide up her thighs, "But still, when a man tries to seduce me? I'll laugh it off, I can bed whatever man I want. But women however. Well then it's just fair game." Evony tilted her her head, looking to Lauren playfully. "Do you still want me to stop?"
Lauren steeled herself, pushing her arousal away as she thought of Nadia. Once was enough, once would last. She wouldn't do it again. "The problem isn't that it's sex, it's that you're using it to distract me."
"I am."
Lauren sighed, looking up at her. "Please don't."
"Say that again."
"What?" Lauren asked, feeling herself come to the end of her tether. "Don't?"
"Please," Evony corrected.
Lauren took a breath, rolling her eyes. "I told you when you came in here, that if it's about sex, the answer's no."
"Then you told me you don't need me to fill your girlfriend's space."
"I didn't realize you wanted to be my girlfriend," Lauren replied, deadpan.
"Well, no. But I'm sure that you want some of the benefits."
Lauren looked over at her, glaring. "Stop it."
"Stop what?"
"This. Last week was a mistake. It can't happen again," Lauren implored. "I have work to do, someone to save and their physiology is important to know for me to begin to hypothesis how I might even start something like that." She took a breath, staring at Evony.
"You're offended," Evony said.
"Yes!" Lauren said. "Yes! I am, and how do you not understand that the last thing I want is to be used a tool for you."
Evony blinked, looking at her blankly. "A tool?" she asked. "Explain."
"You come here at one in the morning, and the only reason you would is if you wanted something from me, and the only thing I can offer you is science or sex, but clearly you're not here for science so the only conclusion is that you want sex."
"Is that so wrong?" Evony asked. "I was under the impression that it was an enjoyable part of our relationship."
"I…" Lauren sighed, she dropped her hands, feeling the frustration burst from her. "I don't know. I don't want it right now. I can't. I have a girlfriend."
"Stop using that excuse. It's getting boring."
"But I do, and I love her, and the reason why I feel guilty isn't because I'm sociology warped to believe that monogamy is the only way, like you happen to think, but because I know that when she wakes up, she's going to be hurt when I tell her."
"Then don't tell her," Evony shrugged, as if it was the answer to Lauren's problems.
Lauren laughed, finding the reply absurd. "I love her, what am I supposed to do? Keep it inside of me. She knows everything about me, Evony. She knows every detail of my life, including what I was running from. I don't keep secrets from her."
"Lauren," Evony said, pushing up from the armchair. "I don't give a fuck about your girlfriend and you're ridiculous u-haul lesbian fantasy. The truth of the matter is that if you isolate yourself from all touch, any touch offered, you're not going to survive. You need to feel…human," she shrugged, smiling pleased at herself.
Lauren felt the words strikes her face like a slap. Glaring, she stood up slowly, feeling the anger tense her limbs, her lungs especially as she withheld her breath. "Get out," she growled.
"Excuse me?"
"This is my space, and this is me setting boundaries. I want you out of my home. Now."
Evony stopped, looking offended. "Not until you tell me why."
"Why?" Lauren laughed. "Are you kidding me? You don't get to come in here and demand sex, ignoring the fact that I said no. And you certainly don't get to tell me the only way to survive is through that."
Evony's mouth slipped open, an O forming as she realized her mistake. Swallowing, she nodded. "I see," she said, masking her features. "Enjoy your evening then."
Lauren watched the door slide shut, her heart still pounding at Evony's audacity. She knew that that wasn't what the woman had meant, but still, the words were said and Evony's lack of apology more than made clear her standing of the situation.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried not to be aware of how close she'd allowed Evony to get to her as her heart thundered in her chest.
A few days later, Lauren came home to find the books Evony had given her on loan, missing. Her own journals sat in their place. Lauren didn't touch them, didn't want to know if Evony had written anything. More than not, she was scared that she hadn't. That there was nothing to find and she'd end up more ridiculously hurt from a woman who wan't human like her. Who didn't understand what it was like.
She was fae, Lauren tried to remind herself. She was fae, and had only wanted her for as long as she could use her.
Still, a small part of her spoke up, reminding her that Evony had left on her bequest. She didn't stay, didn't make it clear that Lauren was nothing but a mere human compared to her self. She left when she asked her to.
Rationally Lauren knew that Evony was capable of playing the long game, that forcing Lauren into a situation where she made it explicitly clear that she could not boss around the Morrigan, would not work in her favor.
But still. She listened. She left.
It didn't matter. She left, knowing that she'd hurt Lauren. There was no apology, no resentment, only a quiet silence that left Lauren numb. Evony was fae, and as she'd said, everyone was chattel to her. If Lauren wasn't of use to her, then there was no reason to continue whatever they were.
So Lauren buried herself with menial tasks.
Work was a blur, a week past. Comments were dug in, her walls stripped from herself with the realization that all the fae was the same. It seemed like, all of a sudden, everything was back to being impossible. Nadia hadn't budged, and Lauren saw herself become sloppy with her work. Paperwork was done to an acceptable level, patients were diagnosed quickly, with less care. She didn't care about working efficiently, she just worked. Had Doctor Everett been there, she may have slapped sense into Lauren, or at the least, made her do better.
Her right-hand, Cole, didn't care. Lauren did the work, it was acceptable, he moved on.
And then Lauren made a mistake.
A drugged up lycanthrope was brought in. She was strong, strong enough that the harpy holding one of her arms down was thrown away, unharmed. Lauren called in for two extra hands, managing to tie her down before she could grab the appropriate dosage. Mina, the harpy, was directed into tying down the lycan's right arm, but before Lauren checked it was secure, she stepped forward.
The woman, still high off whatever drugs, grabbed Lauren, casting her against the wall. Her head slammed into the wall, before bouncing on a nearby bench as she she slipped to the fall.
She was left unconscious for half an hour before she came to. It wasn't until Lauren spoke up that someone came to her. She was still on the floor where she'd passed out. No one had picked her up. Too busy, it turned out, with dealing with a hyped up lycan and, really, they were sorry, but her breathing had been normal, her heart rate fine, and the beds were all full. So therefor she was fine.
Then, she was discharged to go home, told to take it easy even after protesting that she was fine to work – because she didn't want to go home. Anywhere but home. She needed to work, keep busy and not fucking cry.
"Oh honey, no. You might collapse again. Go rest."
It wasn't procedure. It was the opposite of procedure but the fact was, the medical knowledge the collected fae had in the medical ward would barely scrape by in a human hospital. They didn't know how susceptible to a concussion she was, and most fae would have been up and fine from the same attack.
Lauren left, growing quickly aware that not only was she unsuited to work, she was unsuited to be left unsupervised by herself.
She didn't call an ambulance, or even a taxi to take her to a hospital. Instead, she stepped outside only to find the rainstorm hadn't passed and she was left to walk home in the wet, freezing rain, her mind telling her over and over again that she was a doctor, if it became obvious that she was in real danger, she'd make the call.
She was halfway home when a car pulled up, its passenger door opening.
Lauren crouched to look inside, already knowing who it was by the make and model of the car. "What do you want?"
"Get inside."
"No."
"Lauren, this is not the time to be petulant."
"Why are you following me?"
Evony sighed, staring at her. Lauren knew there was a meeting between local fae governing powers. New rules were being discussed by the Glaive of each party in according to fae territory. She knew, because it had been going on for the last week or so as both the Dark and the Light were in opposition against the new laws. Still, it was easy to rile Evony in her mood.
"You're wet. Get in before I leave you to suffer pneumonia."
Lauren glared, then exhaled, too tired to fight. She was dizzy, in pain and exhausted. Her home was still two kilometers away. Pneumonia was a possibility.
She climbed in, shutting the door and staring ahead. "Just take me home," she said.
Evony stared at her, lifting a finger to the bandage on her head.
"I'm fine," Lauren said, not even bothering to move away. "Minor injury."
"Concussion," Evony said. Her mouth scowled, "don't you humans die from that?"
"It's fine."
"At the rate you work yourself, I don't think so." Evony flicked on the heat, placing the car in gear. "Why are you still angry with me?" she asked.
"I'm not," Lauren replied. "I'm frustrated."
"Why? You're aware that what I'd said was not what I intended. It was bad wording, nothing more."
Lauren snorted. "Or a Freudian slip."
"Don't be-"
"You're fae, Evony. What am I suppose to think?" Lauren turned to looked at her. "You have two uses for me, by brain or my body. And either way, I can't and won't fulfill either for you anymore."
"You have more uses for me than either of those things, Lauren." She didn't stop at Lauren's apartment, instead, continuing to drive. "You're loyalty for one."
"You're a sociopath."
"I am," she replied. "That isn't something I've hidden from you. Though I do find myself devilishly charming," she grinned, receiving no response from Lauren. Slowly, the smile slipped away. "Look, I don't know what you want from me, Lauren. What can I do to diffuse your anger?"
"Stop treating me like that! Like…" she gestured, unable to articulate. Her head swam and for a moment, there was nothing but red and black before her hearing came back into focus. Evony hadn't noticed. "You screwed up," Lauren whispered. "Normal people apologize."
"Fine. I'm sorry you were offended."
"That's-!" Lauren stopped, staring at Evony. The woman looked at her blankly, confused by Lauren's response. "Oh my god, you think that's actually an apology."
"Yes."
"No! It's not."
"Lauren," Evony turned the wheel, pulling up into a parking lot. "I promised you I wouldn't lie to you. I am sorry that you were offended."
"But you don't care that what you said was wrong."
"I do," Evony said. "But I don't understand your anger."
Lauren sighed, shutting her eyes. "Where the hell did you drive me?" she asked, exhausted from the conversation. The parking lot was nicer than her own, but a parking lot no less. Evony exited the car without a word, and Lauren followed, slowly. First by opening the door and placing her feet on the ground, then by slowly hoisting herself up. "Take me home, Evony. I don't want to be here."
"You're sick, and you humans are fragile – and before you get offended, that's a fact not a means to dig under your skin." Evony moved to stand beside her, close enough that she could grab her if she fell, but far enough to not invade Lauren's space.
Lauren sighed, giving in. "Where are we?"
"Waldorf hotel. Do you want a salad?"
"No thanks," Lauren replied dryly, allowing herself to slowly follow Evony into the elevator. The doors shut, Evony pressing a button.
But Lauren became aware that as her hand shuddered on the railing, that she was shaking. She couldn't feel the cold, but she was shaking. Her clothes were wet, cold even after the hearted form Evony's car. "Do you live here?"
"No. I have my own apartment. But, I feel like discretion is required."
"Evony…" Lauren looked at her, feeling her head spin and pound, aching with a sharp migraine as she grabbed the elevator railing tighter, tipping forward. There, Evony grabbed her, looking at her curiously.
"I was a medic over six hundred years ago, I would suggest that you try not to die since my methods are vastly out dated."
"You were a medic?" Lauren asked curiously. Her health was sharply declining. She should call an ambulance.
"It was the war. Everyone was everything back then." The elevator stopped, Evony lead her into a hall, into a room and sat her on the bed. There, Lauren fell back.
"I think I should go to a hospital."
"That would be a mistake," Evony began pulling off Lauren's shoes, her socks. "Did you read the medical journals I returned?" she asked.
Lauren hummed, shutting her eyes. She was too tired to resist. "No."
"Why?"
"I was afraid," she said, blinking up at the ceiling. "Why are you here?"
"Because you're mental health has plummeted to terrifying lows, and though I wish I could take blame, I'm certain it's to do with your work place and lack of self care. May I?" She gestured to the rest of Lauren's clothes, hands on the woman's hips.
"No sex," Lauren said, her voice sounding hoarse as she laid still. The room spun, her head pounded. She didn't make a noise.
Evony stopped, before grabbing Lauren's pants and tugging them down. "I was wrong," Evony said. "I made a mistake. I don't know what more you expect me to say."
"I don't either," Lauren said. "But I know it was bad wording. I'm not upset about that."
"Then what?"
Lauren felt the shirt tugged over her head, Evony's fingers unclipping her bra before a new, dry shirt, was placed on. "You left," Lauren replied. "You left and I know there's no relationship between us, I know that whatever this is between you and me, is mostly for your own means, but you were the first fae to treat me like a person and it hurt. Do you get that?"
"Why?" Evony asked. She stopped this time, looking at Lauren curiously. "You're not developing feelings for me, are you?"
Lauren sighed, looking down at her. "Why is that so terrifying for you. And no, I'm not, it's just that the first person who makes me feel like that maybe all the fae are different and not so shitty, turns out to still be just as shitty."
"People are shitty, Lauren," she replied. "Humans, the fae, whatever. They're shitty. They're complex and they're never going to live up to expectations. That includes yourself if you need me to be less subtle."
"Why are you here Evony? Why have you taken me to some hotel room and practically swaddled me?"
"Because you're about to let yourself die. The world is a bleak place and you don't know how to survive it." Evony reached up, brushing wet hair from Lauren's face. "You're lonely, Doctor Lewis."
"Sleeping with you is not a way to survive." Lauren replied.
"Sex is. It doesn't have to be with me, or only me, or whatever. At the very least, you need to find something extra curricular to do. Normally I'd suggest drugs or alcohol, but that would not be suitable in your working position." She waved a hand. Lauren yawned, actually tired, but making no effort to hide it. "If you actually read the journals, you'd know." She stood up, and Lauren became aware of the sudden switch in her face. She hadn't noticed the soft look on Evony's face until it was gone. "Go to sleep, Lauren. Pretend the fae doesn't exist."
"You never answered my question," Lauren replied.
"Which is?"
"Why are you here?"
"I believe I did," Evony turned to look at her. She looked strange, Lauren decided, like there was something just beneath the surface of her shown emotions. Lauren almost wanted to reach up and see if she could slide the mask from her face. It didn't seem to fit any more.
"I'm no use to you."
"So you believe," Evony smiled. She tugged the blankets of the bed down, gesturing to Lauren. Slowly, Lauren climbed in.
"You're very motherly," Lauren teased, missing the sharp fear on Evony's face. "I shouldn't sleep. I might…"
"You'll be fine," Evony said. "If you die, I'll just bring you back so I can kill you myself."
There, Lauren made a laugh. "I don't understand you," she whispered, shutting her eyes. "I don't understand…"
"No, I don't think I do either," Evony admitted.
"I won't…" Lauren felt herself begin to drift. "Let you feed…" she finished loosely, feeling a hand slip over her hair and almost hearing a word whispered in her ear.
She didn't know what Evony said, but it sounded good.