Chapter Text
Dyson was where the best of two worlds met. Had he not been born there, he might have felt torn between their differing natures. The part of him wolf, pure and loyal; the man passion and duty. Both had led and defined him in equal measure over the years. And now, after lifetimes of being at peace, they were what he thought would finally divide him.
He was bound to Bo by a part of him that he was only beginning to undo and understand. The part of him that was complexly man, trying to defy his own nature to fit with her forever. But the part of him that was wolf, that sought simple honesty and loyalty returned, was drawn to Kenzi, determined to protect; to keep her alive and safe and whole.
No matter what followed.
~LG~
Kenzi kept a mental list of all the things she hated in the world. And while the contents and categories drastically shifted into the extreme and absurd over the past few years, solidly within the top five remained being vulnerable, and asking for help. That this was the position she was now forced into didn’t sit well with her. That she had no way out of it sat even worse.
But despite facing down plagues with wit, childhood nightmares with courage, and sacred trees with chainsaws, that’s exactly where she now found herself. The last place she ever wanted to be.
Resigned, hands dug deep into the pockets of her cropped bomber jacket, she stood alone on the sidewalk, faced with having to go into a place that had steadily lost rankings on her list since meeting one of her best friends: the police station. Murmuring a Russian curse under her breath she made her way inside, taking one for the proverbial team, despite not feeling a part of it for longer than she technically had.
She avoided eye contact with any officers milling about as she found him, luckily alone and at his desk. Dyson. Plastering a smile on her face she tried to sneak up on him.
“What brings you here?” He asked, not turning around. “And alone?”
“Did you sniff me? That’s both gross and an unfair advantage.” She accused, shutting the door. “And just because I always come by with Bo doesn’t mean that I can’t see you, right? Buddy o’mine?” She sniffed her hair, “Should I change my shampoo?”
The file that he had been reading sagged and his chair swiveled. How could he both look so nonchalant and wary all at the same time? She was almost hurt that he didn’t seem to trust her words. It was almost like he knew her better than that.
“Are you alright?”
“Sure, I mean, I’m pretty much over being stabbed and the fact that our awesome defeat of the Geruda might not have actually stopped the oncoming war; but I’m still coming to terms with the whole being abandoned thing, you know? First Bo and Trick for “family time”, then Hale on Fae business and Lauren for gods know what… and who knows where Vex went. So yeah, I’m great! You're all boring most of the time, anyway.”
He stood up and crossed to her, his eyes locking on hers in that way that made her feel, for a moment, like the only thing important enough to pay attention to. “Kenzi, I promised Bo that I would look out for you while she’s gone. And I’m going to do that.”
She nodded, knowing that he was as good as his word. And while that wasn’t as assuring as she would like it, she knew that it was certainly something she could turn to her advantage. She took a couple steps away from him, focusing on the items strewn about the office, wondering how much she could get away with stealing. “So, does that mean you’ll help me with something?”
He should have known that she had an angle. He sank back into his chair with a shake of his head. “What do you need?”
“Look, I’m not asking for a favour, I’m asking in hopes of evening the score. I mean, you save my life, I save yours, you save mine, I save yours, again, and risk my life returning your love… it’s getting repetitive and really hard to keep track of. So, how about this? You do this for me and that’s it, you will never have to feel obligated to save my life again.” She held out her hand, balancing on the balls of her feet, shooting him what she hoped was her most adorable smile that he wouldn’t be able to say no to.
He leaned back, crossing his arms against his chest. And he waited.
She cursed to herself. She should have known that this wouldn’t have been easy. Why didn't he find her more adorable? “And I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell Bo. Look, I know you have a lot of Fae shit happening right now, I get it, but it’s about my family, okay? I need help with my boring, dysfunctional, human family. So, can you just take a moment and help me?”
He seemed taken aback. He was half expecting she had gotten into trouble with another Fae or artifact outside of her understanding. He didn’t expect something so… “You want my help with a human issue?”
She rolled her eyes. It was a good thing he was so pretty because in moments like these, he didn’t really prove himself overly smart. “No, I want your help with a legal one. You’re a cop, ain’t cha?”
He leaned back, eying her up, not surprised when she crossed her arms and looked impatient when others may have felt insecure under his scrutiny. “What kind of legal trouble are they in?”
Progress. “Ever heard of the Russian mafia?”
Why was he surprised by her any more? “Your family is mixed up with the Russian mafia?” He asked, even as he turned towards his computer.
She took that as a win and crossed to peer over his shoulder, “”Mixed up with”, “runs” what's the difference? Details, am I right? So not important.”
“So, what do you need?”
“I need to know what the undercover cops poking around know.”
He pushed away from his computer. “I can’t do that.”
It took all of her strength to push his chair back where it had been. The guy was heavy and she needed to work on upper body strength. “Don’t confuse can’t with won’t. Look, I get it, there are “rules” and “laws” but I need help. Remember all those times that my cousins came through for me - for us? Well, they’re calling it in. They usually keep me on the outside of this, but they said that there’s trouble going down which could get really bad for them. If someone else takes over, they’ll pull a Romanoff and *f-fh-it* there goes the entire family. MY entire family, Dyson. I figured that you out of everyone could understand why I would want to avoid that.”
“Alright,” he gives in after a long moment. “No promises, but I’ll see what I can find.”
She gave a little squeal and a happy dance before hugging him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I owe you for this!”
He had long before stopped fighting his smiles at her attention. “I thought this was to even the score. Remember, “I’ll never have to save your life again”?”
“Right. I mean, you can totally still do it, you know, if you want to, but yeah. So, how about I buy you a coffee instead?”
It was with that same smile that he stood, wrapped an arm around her and together, made their way out of doors. “Can you even afford a coffee?” He thought to ask.
She squeezed him tightly, “That, I will have to owe you.”
~LG~
They sat together in the cemetery where he had once found her near death, now she was again full of life, looking worlds wiser with experience and pain survived.
“So,” she began after a moment spent in companionable silence, “how are you? I mean after that whole “getting your love back only to be enslaved by feelings in Bo’s blood and being her thrall” thing?”
Leave it to her to cut to the chase. He met her eye, a sad smile on his lips and his hand connecting with her knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It… wasn't great, but it was needed and I’m okay. It’s actually good that she’s gone away for a bit.”
“I’m glad you’re still here.” She slid close to him, wrapping her arms around his, her head against his shoulder. Out of everything she had seen in him, it gladened him that she hadn’t thought to become afraid of him. But then again, she really did know him better than anyone else he currently knew. Maybe better than anyone ever had.
He rested his chin against her head. “Me too.”
The invisible hairs on the back of his neck bristled when a scent hit his nose like a song he knew he should have known the name of. It pulled at distant memories and instinctual, primal anger. But just as quickly as it came it was gone again.
“I should get going,” Kenzi told him, reluctantly climbing to her feet. “I have some other leads to call in about the family.”
“I’ll do what I can,” he assured her, “If you need anything.”
“Even a wolfy foot warmer?”
“Almost anything,” he corrected before standing beside her. “Let me walk you home?”
“Well look at you being all chivalrous. But it isn’t necessary. I’ll talk to you later.”
He watched her take three steps before feeling the need to remind them both “Bo will be back.”
“Of course she will be,” was the call over her shoulder, “And that’s why you aren’t going to tell her about this! Peace out!”
~LG~
“I’ve learned so much,” Bo gushed over the phone when she and Kenzi connected for one of their few phone calls since going away, “About Trick and my grandmother. About where I come from and for the first time, I feel like I belong somewhere and to someone.”
Kenzi smiled sadly, glad both for her best friend for discovering this in her life and that that same best friend wasn’t there to see that the smile didn’t reach her eyes, where tears instead lived. She would have thought by now that she would have come to terms with being jealous of Bo while loving her even more despite it. Maybe the others hadn’t been the only ones enthralled by their resident succubus. “That’s really great, Bo. Really. I’m really happy for you.”
Bo had a destiny. Kenzi was a liability.
Bo had legions of devoted followers. Kenzi was overlooked.
Bo belonged. Kenzi was on the outside, looking in.
Bo was loved by everyone. Kenzi would never be anyone’s first choice.
“So, what have I been missing?”
Kenzi blinked back the unshed tears and banished those thoughts elsewhere. “So much! They’re starting to air Columbo reruns again. And, I bought the best boots. They make me almost as tall as Dyson.” She cursed herself for speaking his name first. “Things have been quiet, the two sides seem to be turning inwards deciding what to do now. Everyone’s been pretty hush hush.” Another family business she was kept on the outside of. “I’ve even been keeping out of trouble, if you can believe that.”
“Dyson must be working overtime if that’s the case,” the brunette joked before growing serious. “He’s well?”
“You did a number on him, Bo,” Kenzi felt the need to remind her. “But yeah, he has me looking after him after all. And I am great at cheering people up.”
“That you are. And I’m glad that you are there for him. That he can be there for you. It takes away the guilt of my not being there.”
“It does feel a little weird,” the smaller woman admitted. “I mean, it feels like my parents have split and I’m being time-shared between you, you know? Am I allowed to love you both?”
“Kenz, I know you love Dyson.” Kenzi sat up. “He’s one of your best friends. I don’t want to ruin that.”
Sure… “I know. I just miss you. When are you coming home?”
“Soon, I think. I’ve been talking to Lauren and I think she’s going to come and visit for a while, just until things smooth over there and she feels safe enough to come home.”
“You… and Lauren…” Kenzi could only repeat, resentment rising within her and jealousy again flared. Was that why she was on “Team Dyson”? Because as long as Bo was choosing him, she wasn’t picking another human over Kenzi instead? “It’s good,” she rushed to cover. “Just, take care of each other.”
“I will. And you too. I know you’re tough, but keep safe.”
Kenzi could only nod as she ended the call. She knew that it was petty and bordering on emo, but she couldn’t get over that she had no one left to allow Bo to wish her the same sentiment. There was no one left that needed her to take care of them too.
~LG~
Dyson sat looking at his computer screen, inwardly debating with himself what he was going to do and how far he was going to look. He had made his career skirting human rules for Fae benefit. But never had he contemplated something like this, something that risked more than it would gain for those relying upon him.
Just Kenzi.
His inner self rejected that sentiment. Ever since he had walked around in her insanely uncomfortable and impractical boots, ever since he had seen what she held within her, she would never again be 'just Kenzi'. He hated that that was what she had been to him for so long.
Being in her body, once again connecting with love and pain and longing that he hadn't felt since before meeting the norn, he understood what lay under layers of eye shadow and those impractically tight pants. Feelings that had once been the same as his own.
Loyalty and bravery and determination that matched any Fae. Her ingenuity that made her strong enough to walk into impossible situations and walk out again with his body and the best parts of him that others - that he - had left behind.
She had earned her place in their world every day she survived it, every day she helped them to survive it too. So, it was all he could do now, to make sure she survived her own world as well.
~LG~
Growing up in a large family, however dysfunctional it was, made Kenzi used to a certain amount of chaos and noise. Both of which were now nicely fulfilled by her hew family. Until they all went away, leaving her alone. Topping the list of things in the world she hated: being alone.
And yet, when she was making her way from the crack shack down an alley into the city’s nightscape, she knew she wasn’t. She glanced around, seeing and hearing nothing, but feeling it in her gut. Something was there. Suddenly, being alone was something she desperately longed for.
She jumped when she saw him, standing tall and lean and imposing against the shadows from which he emerged. While she didn’t know what he was, she was sure he wasn’t human. That… wasn’t good.
There was a growl from somewhere behind her, causing her to jump, even as she shoved her hand desperately into her bag.
“Pretty human,” the Fae before her said, his tone making her skin crawl.
“Sorry, I’m not really one for random encounters," she said, willing her voice even as she pulled her hands up slowly, her grip tight on her phone. "What do you want?”
The Fae took a step towards her. “I have a message. For Dyson.”
Crap. “Do I look like a messenger? I don’t know any Dyson.”
“You reek of him, human.”
Double crap. “I’m sure all wolfy-people smell alike. I really can’t help you. I guess you’ll have to tell him yourself.”
Hands closed over her arms with a growl, squeezing tight, counting until she finally showed pain. His lip quirked, showing a fang, impressed at the spunk within this piece of fodder before him. His eyes flashed yellow on black.
“You’re a shifter.”
“And you’re not a messenger,” he corrected. “You’re the message!”
~TBC~