It was all too soon before Tori had to wake up again. Jade took it upon herself to wake her up by pouncing on the bed, holding Tori down and lightly biting at her neck but not drawing any blood. That would have been a disaster for both of them. Tori yelped and jolted awake, then growled dangerously when she felt the sharp teeth at her throat. It didn't help that she had been dreaming about fighting off vampires, desperate to get to Jade who had been overcome by too many. The dream didn't completely end for her so that she grabbed Jade by the neck tightly and rolled them over to pin her to the bed. She bared her teeth, ready to snap back, when she saw who was under her. This time, however, she glared and tightened her hold. Jade didn't put up a fight, just smirked without worry.
"At least you didn't let your guard down this time," she pointed out. An impressed note graced her tone just enough for Tori to detect before it disappeared.
"So should I interrogate you before letting you go then?" Tori questioned, a smug look on her face Jade wanted to punch off.
"Get the hell off me, Vega," she hissed, displaying her fangs.
"Aw, the kitty wanted to play and now she's being a poor sport," Tori continued, leaning in to tap at Jade's nose condescendingly.
"I hate you so much," Jade grumbled. Tori only smiled.
"Good day to you too," she replied. Jade pushed at her stomach, trying to get free, but stopped when her hands shifted and Tori's toned frame contracted under her palms. Her eyes flicked to Tori's chocolate browns to see shock and confusion, as well as a haze of pleasure that was barely noticeable but still there. Experimentally she rubbed up and then back down, watching as Tori's eyes drooped and her grip loosened. Jade slowly flipped them over so that Tori flopped on her back without alarm and Jade was now leaning over her. She rubbed at her stomach again and Tori made a sound that was almost a groan but more of a sigh. She looked to Tori's closed eyes and serene expression, biting her bottom lip in wonder, before slipping a hand under Tori's shirt to feel her burning skin directly. Her hand splayed over abs and traveled a little way higher before coming back down. This time Tori did groan, but it was quiet. It seemed she liked her belly rubbed and Jade was enjoying the way it affected her. It was perfect to use against her, she realized with a devious smirk. She rubbed at her stomach a little longer, her eyes taking in the way Tori's toes flexed, her fingers dug in the sheets, and her head tilted back. Jade gazed at the smooth expanse of her exposed neck.
Her teeth had scraped across that skin not too long ago. She was barely aware of her fingers now massaging and pressing against Tori's body, almost kneading like a cat, until what sounded like a knock at the front door brought them both back to the present. Jade quickly put distance between them, standing completely still at the doorway. Her hand still felt warm from Tori's skin while Tori could still feel the tingles that spread through her torso with Jade's cool touch on her body. She sat up when Jade removed herself so that they were now staring at each other from across the room, puzzled yet wired with an electricity neither acknowledged nor wanted to. Another few knocks and Jade turned away to answer the door, scolding herself and wondering what the hell had happened. She yanked open the door and then left it open so that the group could enter. She sat herself down on the armchair while the others took the couch. Tori came out a moment later and sat down at Jade's feet, leaning back on the bottom of the armchair. She tensed at her proximity and scooted away but Tori didn't seem to notice. Those who did thought nothing of it. When everyone was settled they looked to Beck to start since he was the one to call the meeting in the first place.
"Do you guys remember that story about The Dome?" he began, getting straight to the point. He looked from one face to another for an answer.
"Yeah, I heard of it," Robbie acknowledged.
"I heard it from Robbie," Cat inputted.
"I haven't heard of it but I did hear talk of a safe place. I thought they were just talking about here though," Andre added.
"The Dome…it's supposed to be this fancy high tech safe haven right? A super strong steel enforced safe haven that no one knows the location of, only that it was created so that when it's day time the light shines throughout it as well as being stored in solar panels. At night it creates a light similar to the sun so that in the zero point one percent chance that a vampire does gets in, it'll never survive. Is that the same Dome you're referring to?" Jade shared, tossing out the information like she had it memorized. The others looked at her with various expressions of awe and shock.
"How do you know so much?" Andre asked her.
"My father knew some people. He was a very well-known lawyer. He helped bust as well as defend a lot of people. He probably heard a thing or two. One of the last things he learned was about The Dome that was supposed to have existed. He would tell me almost every night that he wanted to reach it. What he didn't tell me was where it was. I wonder if he even knew?" she pondered, disliking the ache in her chest the memory dredged up. She cleared her throat and pushed the sadness away.
"How come you never said anything?" Beck questioned.
"You never asked, and I felt it was useless to bring up. Anyway, what's your point?" she carried on, deflecting his question with ease.
"I want to find it," he responded, making everyone in the room gasp and then grow excited. The sound level irritated Jade so she stood to silence them.
"Hold on, hold on! Shut up!" she shouted over them, fangs on display. Once everyone was quiet and Tori's warm hand pressed to her leg in an attempt to calm her with subtle support, she continued.
"How the fuck do you suppose we find something that could be anywhere on the damn planet, hm? Enlighten me Beck, because already we're struggling and now you want us to travel?" she demanded from him. Her arms crossed and she glared at him pointedly but he just faced it head on with a determined set to his jaw. Jade might have looked like a teen fighting with an adult but the way she held herself made her just as adult as Beck in that moment, maybe even outstripping him with her stance alone.
"It's our only hope. Maybe, now that we have Tori, we could go there, find a scientist, and he could finish what was started!" he suggested. Jade felt Tori flinch against her and a strange need to defend her arose.
"You want Tori to go back to a lab? Don't you think she's had enough of that?" she countered.
"Yes, she has, but if it means finding a cure then she should be proud. Hell, maybe they can even run some tests on you to better understand the virus!" he pointed out, gesturing at her. Tori made a small sound that had Jade growling protectively. She knew the hybrid was reliving flashes of whatever she had been dreaming about.
"Screw you, Beck! Get out! And take your dumbass idea with you!" she snarled, advancing on him to shove him by the chest. He stumbled back but stayed standing. Andre stood, ready to get in between them if necessary, but Jade was aware of her actions as well as his and took a step back. Tori's hand curled around her wrist and she glanced back over her shoulder to see her looking at her with pleading eyes, asking her to back down. Jade let out a sigh but complied. Both Robbie and Cat looked from Jade to Tori then Beck before meeting Andre's questioning eyes. They didn't miss the interaction between them like Beck had.
"Ok. Fine. But we're missing a lifetime opportunity to save ourselves from extinction here. I think that's worth any discomfort Tori might feel, don't you? Anyway, I thought I should tell you that there had been a radio transmission from a nearby ship. There could be people aboard, or just one, or none. Either way we can still use it to travel," he pressed, his dark eyes still locked with Jade's monochrome ones. She huffed out a gruff sigh and finally looked away to the others.
"What do you guys want?" she asked them.
"It's a good possibility it might be true," Robbie answered first.
"We might as well try," Andre added. Cat nodded.
"Vega?" Jade asked, stepping back so that she could better see her. She stood quietly, eyes staring at the floor as she thought it through a moment.
"It would be in our best interest to at least see. I mean, what if we can help?" Tori finally answered, hesitant to agree but understanding as always.
"If you're willing to be tested on again, then fine. We'll go. You can get poked and prodded all you want but I'm not looking to be some project. I'm going to sleep. I'm getting too tired to deal with this crap," she spat, pushing past Tori to go to her room. She didn't want to admit that Tori not siding with her irked her, but it kinda did, and it only irritated her more.
"Maybe you should go," Tori suggested to the group, averting her eyes. They moved to file out without question except for Beck who stayed put. He stared at Tori a moment, trying to understand the dynamic change between the vampire and hybrid. It was so drastic from that first day. He sighed and gripped her shoulder.
"If anyone can change her mind, it's you," he told her.
"What?" she replied, truly confused. Beck chuckled weakly.
"She may love us like family but she's still so closed off. You seem to reach a part of her we can't. You're both different from us, and maybe it's a means of understanding each other better than we can. You're almost the same in that aspect, you know?" he tried to explain.
"Yeah, I guess so," she accepted thoughtfully. Beck patted her shoulder then headed for the door.
"See if she'll come around. I didn't mean to come off as mean or bartering you for experimentation, but you two could really make a difference. I hope you know that," he said, stopping at the door. Tori nodded. As much as she didn't want to go near another lab let alone be tested on once again, she knew this was important.
"I do," she answered. He nodded and then left. As soon as the door shut she strode to Jade's room, entering with caution. She expected her to be in a bad mood but she was just perched at the edge of her bed, silent. Tori walked in, wringing her hands nervously. Jade heard her and laid down, looking to ignore her by letting her body relax into its instinctual need to be unconscious during the day. Tori ignored the brush off and sat down. After a while she fell over to lay next to Jade, testing the waters, and Jade's patience, with how close she could actually get. They didn't say anything, just laid there in silence. Tori had thought that if she just waited unobtrusively then Jade would eventually talk, but she didn't so she pressed further. She scooted over to rest her head on Jade's shoulder, draping her arm over her middle.
The vampire didn't seem to register the action except for a long exhale. Her eyebrows pulled down over her nose too but that was it. Tori inhaled Jade's unique scent and closed her eyes. It was nothing like the scent of the other vampires they ran into. It wasn't dingy or too strong. It didn't assault her nose like some rotting cadaver or trigger any warning alarms. No, her scent was a calming one now. It smelled like a muted form of a normal human's but there was something there that was distinctly Jade. It was like it held the potential to be something alive. She couldn't quite explain it. It just was. She had gotten so used to her that it was almost a comfort. She didn't know she was nuzzling into Jade's neck until the vampire stiffened and clenched her jaw. She pulled back quickly with a blush and scratched nervously at the back of her neck.
"Sorry," she mumbled, turning away. She was ready to just get up and leave when she felt a cool hand grasp hers.
"Do you really think it's worth it to find?" Jade mumbled, voice low and dull.
"Yes," Tori replied, knowing what she meant and answering resolutely. She met Jade's eyes. They didn't look like a killer's gaze. Jade searched the hybrid's warm browns for any hint of uncertainty but found none. She was being truthful. Tori had always been honest with her. Honest but never blunt somehow, like she was. She let Tori's hand go to place it on her defined cheek instead, just feeling her features under her fingers. Tori closed her eyes and leaned into her touch. Jade leaned in slightly, the half hybrid's scent invading her nose. Before it had been such an offensive smell, but after living with her so long she was used to it. There was an undertone in it that interested her, one she hadn't smelled until now. Before she knew it their foreheads were touching, their noses brushing. She could feel Tori's warm breath ghost across her lips.
"You're sure?" she checked once more. The problem was, she didn't know if she was asking her about finding The Dome anymore. Tori's hand found its way in her hair, grasping firmly at the nape of her neck. Tori's breath seemed to hitch with the contact, like she couldn't believe Jade was allowing her to touch her like this. Jade's cool fingers slid over her jaw to brush at her neck, sending shivers down Tori's spine. She cupped under her jaw gently. The touch that was usually so forceful, so destructive, was now light on her skin. It drove her forward without a thought so that her lips captured Jade's in a kiss that quickly became an exchange of tongues. Jade responded openly to the initiated kiss, pressing back with need. Tori moaned into her mouth while her other hand slid over Jade's thigh. She gasped and pulled back, her free hand stopping Tori's from going any higher. The hybrid was panting now, gaze hazy and dark but still managing to be apologetic.
"S-sorry," she spluttered out. Jade smirked and her previously soft hold turned rough on her jaw, just enough to grip her by the chin.
"No you aren't," Jade growled, leaning close. She couldn't find it in her to be angry though. If anything, Tori's reckless behavior turned her on.
"Yeah, I know," Tori chuckled, smirking right back. Jade's grip tightened slightly.
"Stop being so fucking attractive. I can't like you," she stated, tone sharp.
"But you do, don't you?" Tori taunted, smiling happily now. Jade didn't answer with words. She just kissed Tori again, hard. Tori responded ardently, straddling Jade, while her hands stroked over her body. Jade purred under her touch and gripped at Tori's shirt with desire. Tori leaned in and kissed under her jaw, breathing on her neck. She was so close. She was everywhere. Tori's hips pressed down on hers, her strong thigh slipping between her legs. This time she couldn't stop the moan from leaving her mouth. She pulled Tori in with her arms wrapped around her back and Tori braced herself on the bed with her hands digging into the mattress on either side of Jade's body. She shifted and Jade bit her lip, fangs drawing blood. The slight pain added to her pleasure.
"Tori," she panted, her nails now cutting into the tan flesh of Tori's back.
"Jade," she whimpered, in what Jade thought to be pleasure, but then a faraway yelp reached her ears. The loss of warmth brought her crashing back into reality. As soon as she was fully awake she shoved Tori away harshly and scrambled off the bed on the other side, disgusted with herself. Tori had been lying in bed with her, having entered to see her already asleep. She didn't think Jade would mind as long as she stayed quiet. After all, she knew enough not to bother her when she slept because waking her would almost always cause her to lash out defensively. A sleeping vampire was a vulnerable one, so she attacked first before really becoming lucid enough to check and see who it was. But after a while Jade got used to Tori being around and recognized her by scent so that she wasn't a disturbance. Which was why this time Tori was able to lay down next to her without much notice.
The problem came when she began to doze in an out of sleep, seeking Jade to cuddle with for comfort. Usually, on her own, she would curl into herself. But with Jade next to her she carefully wrapped her in an embrace, her face tucked in her neck. Jade had unconsciously held her in return. That's what Jade had felt while she slept. Their legs had intertwined and inspired Jade's dreams to take a turn down a path she hadn't thought it ever would. But with her already heightened senses more advanced while she slept, to give her an edge in defending herself should she really be attacked, she felt every touch from Tori and her mind provided a cause. A problematic one at that. Tori had almost fallen on the floor with how hard she was shoved, but she rolled off to land gracefully on all fours instead. She then popped back up on her feet, alert.
"I'm sorry, Jade! I was just, well, I was waiting for you to wake up and thought I could just wait here since I hadn't been needed anywhere else. I didn't think you would mind," Tori rambled, clasping her hands and backing a little towards the door. If Jade could blush she would have been. She just had a wet dream about Tori of all people, and it started to get intense. She could feel it all so clearly, but that was probably because Tori really had been wrapped around her, just not in that way. She felt humiliated but beat it down, determined not to let the hybrid know.
"Well, I did," she snapped, crossing her arms defensively. She wished she could get the feeling of pleasure at Tori's touch out of her mind. She couldn't let herself wonder if she would react the same while awake and fully aware.
"I'm sorry," Tori repeated, rubbing at her arm guiltily. She didn't know what else to say. Jade dropped her stiff posture and waved a dismissive hand at her.
"Whatever. Just…if you wanted to stay here you could have let me know at least," she mumbled, her voice falling flat the more she spoke. She felt awkward, even allowing the hybrid permission to lay next to her when she slept. But she understood the need for comfort, especially at a time when loss was so high. She wasn't that cruel. Tori nodded, looking a little securer with the situation.
"So if I ask first I can?" she checked hopefully, smiling in a cheeky way Jade had to wipe off her face. She laughed snidely and strode over to brush past Tori, her hand patting her defined cheek in a patronizing manner.
"Yeah, if you ask first," she established. Tori grinned. She didn't like the lonely feeling that pressed in on her when she was alone. If Jade gave her moments where she could at least be in the presence of someone she knew then that empty feeling wouldn't weigh on her so much. She would take any chance she got.
"Ok," she muttered, reveling in Jade's brief touch. The vampire smirked at her effect on the hybrid but didn't point it out. She never thought there would be a day she wouldn't taunt her, but it seemed the day had come. Jade offered her a small smile and then left the room to start her day, which for her, was the night. She felt the best at night. If she was up during the day she felt weighed down, tired, unless she had a good amount of blood. But that was always hard to come by. Tori got ready too and then followed Jade out of the house without a word. She didn't know where Jade was going but she had nothing better to do at the moment. It turned out she was going to the training room where most of the team hung out. When they entered it was to see Andre talking with Cat.
"Where is he?" Jade asked, knowing Andre would know who she meant.
"He said he was going on a solo scouting trip. Rob went with him to try out more gadgets. By the way, did you try out the new grenade?" he answered Jade then turned to ask Tori who gave it a thumbs up.
"Amazing," she commented. Andre looked wistful.
"That would have been awesome to see," he said.
"It was a blood bath," Tori told him factually. He shook his head and then glanced at Cat who went wide eyed at such destruction.
"Is he stupid?" Jade questioned, going back to the matter of Beck.
"Well, with Beck you never know," Andre joked, succeeding in making Jade smile a little. Tori and Cat snickered.
"How long has he been out?" Jade asked next.
"Hmm, maybe around two hours or so?" Andre guessed. Jade's expression became thoughtful while the others fell silent to let her think.
"He should have been back by now, shouldn't he?" she wondered. They looked at her with a mix of worry and wonder as well, but the moment shattered when there was a scream. Both Jade and Tori tensed then ran back outside with Andre and Cat following. They skid to a stop outside to see people rushing away from one area, that being the manhole. Shots fired and another scream ripped through the night. The gathered team rounded the corner to see a vampire tearing into the neck of one of the posted guards that night. Tori didn't hesitate to attack, yanking it away and then beheading it. Jade pulled out her pistol and took down two more crawling out from the manhole. Movement from it alerted her to more. Tori growled next to her, ready to lunge, but it wasn't an enemy. Beck climbed out then helped Robbie.
"Are you guys ok?" Jade questioned, walking over to them but keeping her gun at the ready in case they had been followed. She smelled blood and saw that Robbie's leg was injured. Beck held him up.
"Yeah, we're fine. Robbie kinda took a tumble when we were climbing and injured himself," Beck answered.
"Clumsy nerd."
"After that we were pretty much ringing the dinner bell. There's a lot out there. Are you sure you guys cleaned out that building?" Beck asked while helping Robbie walk and ignoring the rude AI. It was a slow process. Cat ran over to take him from Beck and Andre helped her direct him to the hospital.
"Yes. There must be more hiding in nearby buildings," Jade told him. He nodded his agreement.
"Did you cover the entrance?" Tori suddenly interrogated, stepping forward quickly. Beck was caught off guard by her appearance and jumped a little but nodded.
"I made sure to pull it closed but if there are any smart ones left they might have seen where we went and figured out all they have to do is move it," he replied.
"I think they already figured it out since some got through. It's that or they're finding another way in," Tori pointed out. Jade's brow creased.
"Shit. Beck, get Andre and tell him we'll need explosives. We'll go down and collapse any branching tunnels we don't use. Go fast. Vega and I will keep watch," she instructed. He took off as soon as the last words left her mouth. There was a lot of work that needed to be done in so little time.