The first time Tamsin flirted with Lauren, it was benign. A small comment on the jeans she was wearing, simple and almost unrecognizable as flirting at all, if it wasn't for the valkyrie's mischievous eyes on her body for an uncomfortable amount of time. The second time was less benign, a ghost of a touch over Lauren's palm that went on that one long second longer than she was comfortable with as they exchanged files. She will swear up and down that she saw Tamsin wink at her, but there is no way to be sure now. The third, fourth, and fifth times, Lauren desperately avoided Tamsin's intense stare and shoo'd her off, feigning pressing work matters. After the detective sauntered out of the lab, all three times Lauren leaned against the door and chided herself for even being effected.
The sixth time was at The Dal. Bo and Kenzi were slamming shots at the bar while Lauren was shooting a game of pool by herself. She loved Bo, any and every one knew that. She had even grown to enjoy Kenzi's company, in small doses. But being an introvert by nature lead Lauren to seclude herself from the duo's more extroverted activities. Especially if drinking was involved. Sighing, the doctor lined up another shot and sent two balls rolling perfectly to their intended destination.
"Nice shot, doc."
The self-satisfied grin fell from Lauren's face as she turned to meet Tamsin's smiling eyes. The detective had two beers in her hands, and extended one to Lauren as she walked closer. Not knowing what to say, she accepted the beer. (But not before sneaking a glance at Bo - it was no secret that Bo had a pretty mean jealous streak. Not surprisingly though, she was too engrossed in laughing with her bestfriend at the bar to notice. Lauren was secretly thankful.)
"So did the succubitch not include you in her reindeer games tonight?"
The smirk on Tamsin's face and in her voice made Lauren both sick to her stomach and instantaneously interested. Why would Tamsin, a dark fae with no real history of ever being the slightest bit kind to humans, care that Lauren was playing pool by herself?
"I'm not much for the heavy intoxication", she replied quietly, eyeing the valkyrie as she picked up a pool cue and reset the table.
"Then why isn't your little girlfriend laying off the tanking and laying on the PDA?"
Leaving the answer at a simple 'hmm', they begin an easy and fluid game of pool. Laughing quietly amongst themselves, mostly at Tamsin's very vocal outrage at her inability to keep up, Lauren is surprised to admit that she is actually having a good time. By the time the game is over (Lauren being the clear and gracious victor, only rubbing it Tamsin's face a little bit), Lauren's single beer and Tamsin's three are gone. Lauren notices that Kenzi and Bo are starting to gather their things.
"Thank you for the beer, Tamsin", she wiggles the empty bottle for emphasis, "and the game of pool. Even if you are terrible."
Tamsin scowls, but Lauren can see the smile in her eyes.
"Whatever, doc. I'll get you next time."
Nodding, the doctor starts to walk towards the bar to collect the two very drunk ladies waiting for her there. Just before her back is fully turned, she hears her name. Slowly, she throws Tamsin glance over her shoulder.
"If it were me, I would choose losing at a stupid game of pool over getting blitzed at the bar." She pauses, shifting her gaze awkwardly. Even Lauren sensed the palpable out-of-character feelings Tamsin was emitting. "If it were me, that is."
All this happened before Bo had left her. Before they broke up and Lauren felt like her whole world was falling around her. And now that Bo was no longer in the picture, Lauren was dreading the next time Tamsin would flirt with her. Because, as a doctor, she knows she is grieving. As a doctor, she knows that grief might very easily translate to sexual desires. And as a women, she knows that Tamsin is attractive. And she might not be able to resist the valkyrie for very long.