drabbletag: Superior (Spooks, Zoe/Tessa, rank)
Title: Superior
Author: Angie
Fandom: Spooks
Pairing: Zoe/Tessa (Zoe/Helen)
Word Count: 500 (Taking advantage of the extended word limit...and I checked that drabbletag was included)
Prompt: Spooks, Zoe/Tessa, rank
Lately it seems that the world wants to chip away at any faith she may have had in humanity.
She holds Tessa’s money in her hand, still surprised at how little it weighs. £10,000.
Sometimes she allows herself a little fantasy. She could have a lovely holiday. Buy a half-decent car. Pay off her student loans. She fans through it, convinces herself that it smells dirty. It reeks of deceit.
She should tell Harry. Tell someone. But part of her still looks up to Tessa. Part of her still wants to believe that there’s a reason behind all of it. A test.
Every time Tessa smiles at her she feels sick. There’s a horrible sense of collusion. That they’re two co-conspirators, getting one over on the big boys. Zoë hates it.
*****
In the pub Tessa sidles up to her. Self assured as ever. Zoë’s too tired to push away the hand on her thigh. She’s too lonely to refuse the whispered proposition.
The taxi ride to Zoë’s flat is silent. All that Zoë can think of is how Tessa’s perfume gives her a headache. Tessa puts a hand on her back as she unlocks the door and her body recoils from it. Tessa doesn’t react.
The sex is clinical. Zoë lies back and thinks of another time, another person.
Tessa crawls up her body and looms above her, her eyes confirming that this, like the money, is meant to guarantee her continued silence. No more, no less.
Zoë closes her eyes.
*****
Tessa gets dressed afterwards. She picks up a photograph from Zoë’s dressing table.
“She was a pretty girl. Such a pity.”
Zoë is on her feet immediately. She grabs the frame from Tessa’s hand.
“Don’t touch that.”
Tessa can’t help herself, she smiles that condescending smile, shaking her head.
“Oh Zoë, not still pining over the tea girl are we?”
Zoë’s hand connects with Tessa’s cheek with a resounding crack. For a second, Tessa is not unflappable. Zoë leans in close, her voice low, her height intimidating.
“Don’t you dare speak about her. If you hadn’t taken me away from that op she’d…she’d still be…”
Zoë turns her back on Tessa, but continues to speak.
“She was ten times the woman you are. She was a better person than you’ll ever be. And I cannot believe I’ve sunk this low. I’m ashamed of myself.”
Tessa brings her hand up to her own cheek, feeling the heat emanating from it.
*****
She hears the door close and sinks to her knees, holding the photograph tight against her chest.
She’s been so stupid. Tessa isn’t someone to be admired. She’s a conniving snake of a woman who will step on anyone and everyone on her way up.
Zoë takes in a shuddering breath and looks down at the photograph. Helen smiles back at her. A beautiful smile, frozen in time.
Zoë runs to the bathroom and throws up violently.
She’ll tell Harry tomorrow. She’ll give the money back. She’ll bring Tessa down.
Author: Angie
Fandom: Spooks
Pairing: Zoe/Tessa (Zoe/Helen)
Word Count: 500 (Taking advantage of the extended word limit...and I checked that drabbletag was included)
Prompt: Spooks, Zoe/Tessa, rank
Lately it seems that the world wants to chip away at any faith she may have had in humanity.
She holds Tessa’s money in her hand, still surprised at how little it weighs. £10,000.
Sometimes she allows herself a little fantasy. She could have a lovely holiday. Buy a half-decent car. Pay off her student loans. She fans through it, convinces herself that it smells dirty. It reeks of deceit.
She should tell Harry. Tell someone. But part of her still looks up to Tessa. Part of her still wants to believe that there’s a reason behind all of it. A test.
Every time Tessa smiles at her she feels sick. There’s a horrible sense of collusion. That they’re two co-conspirators, getting one over on the big boys. Zoë hates it.
*****
In the pub Tessa sidles up to her. Self assured as ever. Zoë’s too tired to push away the hand on her thigh. She’s too lonely to refuse the whispered proposition.
The taxi ride to Zoë’s flat is silent. All that Zoë can think of is how Tessa’s perfume gives her a headache. Tessa puts a hand on her back as she unlocks the door and her body recoils from it. Tessa doesn’t react.
The sex is clinical. Zoë lies back and thinks of another time, another person.
Tessa crawls up her body and looms above her, her eyes confirming that this, like the money, is meant to guarantee her continued silence. No more, no less.
Zoë closes her eyes.
*****
Tessa gets dressed afterwards. She picks up a photograph from Zoë’s dressing table.
“She was a pretty girl. Such a pity.”
Zoë is on her feet immediately. She grabs the frame from Tessa’s hand.
“Don’t touch that.”
Tessa can’t help herself, she smiles that condescending smile, shaking her head.
“Oh Zoë, not still pining over the tea girl are we?”
Zoë’s hand connects with Tessa’s cheek with a resounding crack. For a second, Tessa is not unflappable. Zoë leans in close, her voice low, her height intimidating.
“Don’t you dare speak about her. If you hadn’t taken me away from that op she’d…she’d still be…”
Zoë turns her back on Tessa, but continues to speak.
“She was ten times the woman you are. She was a better person than you’ll ever be. And I cannot believe I’ve sunk this low. I’m ashamed of myself.”
Tessa brings her hand up to her own cheek, feeling the heat emanating from it.
*****
She hears the door close and sinks to her knees, holding the photograph tight against her chest.
She’s been so stupid. Tessa isn’t someone to be admired. She’s a conniving snake of a woman who will step on anyone and everyone on her way up.
Zoë takes in a shuddering breath and looks down at the photograph. Helen smiles back at her. A beautiful smile, frozen in time.
Zoë runs to the bathroom and throws up violently.
She’ll tell Harry tomorrow. She’ll give the money back. She’ll bring Tessa down.