"Nggh…" Lynx was on her feet before she'd fully woken up, staggering toward the kitchen and pouring water into the coffee machine from a plastic bottle, swallowing. Shaking her head, tail thrashing and flicking, she glanced at her phone- nothing. Vision swimming, world blurry, stomach churning-
"Lynx, love? May I please make your coffee for you?" Alice offered gently, folding her hands, tail flicking about- those big, dumb blue eyes sparkling like sapphires as she stared at Lynx. The cat girl stepped back, swallowing, and when Alice raised her arms to hug the blonde, Lynx stepped back, careful.
"Did you, have a bad dream?" Alice whispered, understanding.
"Yeah." Lynx swallowed, nodding.
"Don't shut me out baby, talk to me."
"I'm… stressed about Aerendyl. He hasn't answered my calls or texts for days and days- I get being busy, but this is a sudden change."
"Hm. Before I answer that- may I please make you your coffee? I don't want you to feel infantilized. Don't give me any of that, I shouldn't love you stuff either, okay? Knowing who and what you were to some extent, I'm sure you're no stranger to losing people. Your feelings are valid, at the least."
"Mm… sure, yes, please, to the coffee. I get it, you want a girl you can fix. You like 'em violent."
"Oh I do, how did you know?" Alice winked over her shoulder. "Let's be logical, Lynx. Aerendyl- he's an arch angel. Almost nothing can kill him, and if he was dead, or missing, or something. There'd be some sort of news coverage by now- he's pretty much a celebrity, you know?"
"I just… I know he's fighting for the good of the people, trying to cleanse CA of corruption, whatever, and I feel completely useless," Lynx shrugged, rubbing an itch out of her chest, pacing the small apartment now. "I should be out there, doing something."
"There's a process though, hon- you get your badge, and you can do things the right way, you know? It's not like Aerendyl is trying to keep you in a cage."
"Yeah. I get that," Lynx huffed, pacing faster, exhaling sharply. "Nara saved what, thousands? No species identification. No sparring. She was there, and she made something happen. I can do that, too, I can fight, I can help, so I should be out there doing that and not studying world wars. I understand that everything has a process, but what about when I'm not in classes? What about the free time, the weekends, the random happenings near us? I should be helping people, instead of- ugh. You know?"
"Lynx- there…" Alice swallowed, thinking for a moment. "I'm… seeing this through a pink haze, through my want, my need, to see you safe. I know you're brave- I'm scared that you might not have the self-control you need. The ability to be calm, and talk down an aggressor instead of fighting."
"Ha- well you weren't in that basement with me."
"The warehouse?" Alice asked gently, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't mean anything cruel or judgmental, I just…"
"Just…" Lynx closed her eyes, grit her teeth, images flashing behind her eyes. The man who could have shot her in that basement room, several times over. The way she'd convinced him- just play dead. He was the only one to survive Nara. "I promise, I can control myself. I hope I don't sound bitchy when I say this, but it's a compliment to you that I can hardly keep myself from falling apart around you."
"Mm…" Alice smiled a small smile, then covered her mouth. "Sorry, I shouldn't be pleased with that, I don't-"
"It's fine-"
"I love you. Lynx, why don't we go and see Aerendyl, today? I'll drive, and we can go to his house, try and make a wellness check. Then, maybe together, we can pester him. If you're doing well in classes, what would be the harm in a little ride along, now and then? Field experience, homework, however we have to spin it. I'll fight for you. Sorry for doubting your self control, I don-"
"Alice I slammed you into a wall and choked you over a misunderstanding, didn't even listen to you first. You're fine."
"Do it again."
"What?"
"Hm?" Alice blinked innocently, head angled to the left. "I said uh. Let's go get in my car!"
"I- I hate you. Screw you." Lynx laughed, face reddening rapidly, and strode back to the counter, snagging creamer from the fridge and starting to dilute her coffee. "Let me drink this first, then we can get going. Yeah, I'm… I'm just worried about the guy. Then, separately, I feel stuck, I've got no agency. Need to make something happen, or I'll go insane sitting on my thumbs while other people are out there, fighting the good fight."
"Oh, and by the way," Alice grinned, stepping closer, hands behind her back. "I love you."
"Go screw yourself," Lynx huffed, flipping Alice off with a playful scowl, glancing away, cheeks darkening still further as she sipped her coffee, now, stirring it some with a simple shake of her hand in slow circles.
"I love you, and," Alice whispered, leaning in close. "Take a shower before we go anywhere. Stress sweat is stinky, cutie."
"I'm not cute," Lynx muttered, eyes narrowing, and Alice snorted, decidedly unladylike, stepping back now.
"I'm gonna use the bathroom. We can hit the road whenever you feel ready, it's a rest day for me." Her steps retreated, and a moment later, the bathroom door closed with a click, leaving Lynx alone with her thoughts, if but for a moment. A small curiosity tugged at the back of her mind, but Lynx pushed it aside for later, closing her eyes and returning her attention to the warm mug in her hands.
-
"By the way, Lynx, we should get you a new phone." Alice commented idly as Lynx fiddled with the relatively-ancient thing in her hands. Confusion struck the cat-girl, and she cast her eyes away from the window, glancing over her succubus.
"Why's that? Thing works fine."
"Quality of life. It's one of those things that you just wouldn't understand if you'd never had a nice phone. Once you upgrade, you'll feel the difference."
"Then, I'd rather not upgrade at all," Lynx commented honestly. "Why spoil myself? If I'm used to low quality it'll be cheaper, won't it."
"I'm so not concerned with cheap," Alice snarked, winking, and Lynx rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
"I'm not concerned with taking advantage of you, either. So. Thanks, though. You're already paying my phone bill and for my groceries for now, until I get around to finding a part time job."
"No. You're eager to get into the force and start doing things that matter, aren't you? Focus on acing your tests, get your job in CA. I'll consider us even, debt repaid, if my supporting you pays off, y'know?" Alice's answer was delivered so sweetly, so genuinely- it would have made Lynx blush if the succubus wasn't grinning wolfishly.
"You know what you're doing."
"I do."
"I hate you."
"Yeah, yeah. We're almost to angel boy's, so why don't you just relax." Alice hummed, head bobbing from side to side like some kind of bird as she drove. Listening, Lynx exhaled slowly and leaned back, watching the trees pass by as they skirted the edge of town, nearing the lake. Before much more time passed, Alice was pulling into Aerendyl's driveway and parking. No sooner had she done as much, Lynx was opening the door and putting a foot down- crunch. Snow.
The memory of him melting the driveway for her came back, but… that was for me. It doesn't necessarily mean that he's not here.
"Come on," Alice shivered, wrapping her arms around herself and headed up to the door. Lynx followed, knocking, waiting. Waiting…
"He's not here, is he." Lynx muttered, after a moment, scowling.
"Hold on, don't be so negative… give him just a minute," Alice offered gently, knocking again, waiting.
"Hm…" When he didn't answer, again, Alice tried the knob- unlocked. "Eh? Aerendyl didn't strike me as the careless type, I didn't think that would…" Swallowing, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, glancing back at Lynx. "Aerendyl? Are you here?"
"Mm…" Lynx hesitated, then stepped forward, into the house with Alice, closing the door behind her. "Aerendyl, where are you at, man?!"
"Nothing." Alice spoke quietly, thoughtfully, crossing her arms and standing in the living room still. "Well, that's concerning."
"I want to look around a little, my tongue feels weird," Lynx muttered, brushing past the succubus.
"What do you mean-"
"I smell something weird," Lynx shrugged, swallowing and following the scent through the living room. She could taste it, in an odd way- and though it made no sense at a glance, she assumed that it must be something to do with her cat's traits. Her nose, her mouth, carried her to Aerendyl's office, and she shoved inside, looking around. The room was as simple as ever; computer, desk, chair, small radio.
Stepping forward, Lynx looked about for anything that might have caused the smell- and there, on Aerendyl's desk. Something like an ash tray- but there was no ash, nor cigarette butts. Something was dried to the bottom, a golden fluid of some sort that glittered faintly in the afternoon light through the window.
"What's this…?" She sat down in his desk chair, unceremoniously, and leaned closer, lifting the ash tray, sniffing. More of that odd, acrid smell filled her throat, and she wrinkled her nose, leaning back. "What is this…?" What's it taste like?
No sooner had the cursed thought occurred to her, Lynx dragged her tongue along the tray thoughtfully, shuddering at the strange taste- something about it felt wrong, and she set the tray down, chills running through her chest, her shoulders, her arms.
"Lynx? What are you doing in here?" Alice peeked around the doorway meekly, waving.
"Just trying to figure out what weird gold liquid Aerendyl spilled on his desk," Lynx gasped, back arching lightly, her heart pounding, for some reason. She cleared her throat, trying to clear the spit- gods, am I hungry? Why my mouth watering so much-
Before she or Alice could speak again, the radio crackled.
"All units in Ravenhold's downtown, please report to Jeshua's Diner- I repeat, please report to Jeshua's Diner. Crazy ex-boyfriend has turned into a stickup has turned into a hostage situation. All units…"
"Let's go," Lynx insisted, sitting forward.
"H-Huh?"
"Let's go!"
"Lynx, we shouldn't," Alice shook her head. "There are specialists for that kind of thing-"
"But we can get there fast, maybe the fastest. Please?"
"Lynx…" Alice frowned, shaking her head again. "We really shouldn't…"
"Please, Alice. For me? Listen, we can do this best."
"Yeah? Better than the professionals?" Alice raised an eyebrow, scowling.
"Yes. So, please just trust me for a minute?" Lynx insisted, standing up, leaning forward. "CA will show up with guns ready, prepped to take a body. If we go in and we talk to him, appease to his humanity, we can avoid any conflict at all. So please, let's go- let me prove I can do something!!"
"A-Alright…" Alice sighed, stepping back, toward the exit, and Lynx hurried to follow. "Come on, let's go. Only because I can tell this means a lot to you- I think you're being stupid."
"I love you for telling me that, and not keeping it to yourself," Lynx smiled wolfishly, grabbing the succubus and cupping her cheek. Alice shuddered, shocked, eyes widening as Lynx harshly kissed her, nipping the succubus' bottom lip as she stepped away. "Let's go!"
"L-Lynx, what has gotten into you," Alice shuddered again, tail thrashing, and followed along, shaking her head. "Let's just go, miss expert hostage negotiator!"
[author] Lynx is getting sick of her lack of agency[/author]