Llf Return To Yamati

I do not own Tomb Raider or any of its characters. This fanfiction is for entertainment only.

This is a direct sequel to Lara's Little Fan. I felt it justified to make a new series, as the tone gets more serious. This section of plot will also be Lara-centric, or perhaps switched POV chapters.

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Ch. 1 - Lara

All of the little games Seymour and I had been playing, had planned, were instantly smothered before they could wake. My phone had been spammed by Sam, and none of it was good or cute little animal videos she insisted I needed in my life.

She knew something was wrong, and I absolutely believed her. Her behavior and mood the last time Seymour and I saw her was nothing like her. Of course Sam could have her moods, but not like that. Sam was my longest surviving friend, and I wasn't about to give up on her so easily.

"What seems to be the matter?" the astounding Mr. Phelps asked. This young man was an enigma. Some times I would swear he was my age, other times he was every bit the horny 18 year old young man. I was under the impression that his mind was every bit as brilliant as his heart and his cock. If I could trust anyone with this situation, it was my companion Jonah and Mr. Phelps.

"Sam knows there's something wrong with her," I said as I immediately started to pack my bags. "I am so sorry, Mr. Phelps, but I need to go check on her." I went into my wallet and left him a card and 500£. "I'll be back in the morning, I hope. If not, I'll arrange to have you sent for," I said in a hurry. I doubted he'd need such sums, but I was leaving in a hurry.

I took a moment to gage his reaction, but I couldn't see his face. He was busy with packing his things as well. "I'm not staying here, Ms. Croft. I believe my time as your assistant starts now."

I couldn't help but to smile at the younger chap as we scrambled to clean up the room. Within a few short minutes, we checked out and left an apology letter for Rachel, and saw ourselves out, ignoring the face the man behind the counter who had seen us doing forbidden things in the spa area was making.

We were soon back in the car, heading fast for Croft Manor, where I had texted for Sam and Jonah to meet us.

We arrived in much better time than we reached the hotel in. Mr. Phelps and I were much less randy and straight toward business.

I crashed through the door with Mr. Phelps behind me. "Jonah? Sam?" I called into the stately foyer that Mr. Phelps worked so hard to keep tidy.

"We're here, Lara!" Jonah called back to me, his voice booming as he made his way out of a side room and towards us.

"Lara! Thank you for coming back!" I heard Sam and she grabbed me in a tight hug from the side before I had even seen her. Had she been an intruder or an assassin out to get me, I would have been in serious trouble, I thought to myself.

"Of course. Now what is the matter?" I asked, keeping her at an arm's distance, though I kept my hands on her shoulders.

"I don't know," Sam said, her voice already strained, like she was trying to keep down an anger she had been fighting for hours. "I don't know what's wrong but I know something is. I haven't been well for a while, Lara."

I looked at her, holding her eyes with mine as I rubbed her shoulders, giving her all the time and support in the world. Jonah and Mr. Phelps stood on the sides, watching intently, giving us our space but there if we needed them. I expected it from Jonah, but Mr. Phelps showing such respect, loyalty and maturity solidified my thinking that he was a good fit for our crew, and helped me from feeling immature about letting our flings continue.

"I've been having headaches, hot flashes and mood swings for weeks. Recently, within the last week... I've been having dreams. Dreams we're back on Yamati."

I saw Jonah shiver from the corner of my eye, and my own skin turned to goose flesh at the mention of that place. Mr. Phelps looked confused. I knew he had heard stories about the place. Everyone had upon my return and the release of our findings (the findings I carefully curated and let out), but he was not there with us. He had no way of knowing about what we left out of our stories we told the media and news outlets, even parts of the academic communities.

"I haven't said anything because I didn't want to worry anyone, to bring back old demons, but..." I took a deep breath. "There was a song I heard on an old record player, deep in the woods on the island. It was inside an old bunker, but the song carried further than was possible. And... over the last week, I've heard it playing in my head, like I first heard it back on the island," I said softly, hearing it again in that moment in my head. It made me feel phantom pains, phantom aches and cold that I've relived in my sleep and waking memories.

"What does it mean, Lara?" Sam asked, huddling into herself, wracked with a fear I hadn't seen since we dealt with our nightmares upon coming back and trying to blend again with society.

I Sighed deeply and let go of Sam to rub my own temples, a pressure headache having very quickly formed. "It's calling us back, you guys... the island. We have to go back."

"Are you serious?"

"To that hell hole?" Sam and Jonah questioned me in turn.

"I don't like it. The idea turns my guts, but clearly we left something open, something unfinished we need to see to. We might never rest, might never be free of it until we do. We broke the curse of Himeko, but there's clearly something still awake there."

There was silence in the foyer. No one spoke for a very heavy pause. I could hear the clock on the walk ticking and the blood in my own ears. Finally, Jonah spoke.

"I'm with you, Little Bird. You know I always will be. I'd rather go to hell than back there, but if I would follow anyone into hell and Yamati, it's you."

Sam threw her hands up and then slapped them down on her legs dramatically. "I don't know what help I'll be, but I have to come. It's calling me, too, and I might be a key to whatever the issue is."

I turned to Mr. Phelps. "You don't have to come, Seymour. This may very well be the most dangerous journey you ever embark on. Even with the curse broken, I cannot guarantee your safety. However, you will never have a chance so extraordinary as this one to cut your teeth and learn so much. No one in this room was the same after we escaped that place, and none of us would be who we are without that crucible of an island."

Everything I said was my truth, and we all studied him as the words sank in, and I'm glad he had a look of inner turmoil on his young face. Wheels ground in his mind as I'm sure he weighed the pros and cons of if he stayed or went. "I'll go," he said, nodding resolutely. "You three may not need me, but I need this experience. And if I want to ever be more than the groundskeeper around here, I need to start somewhere. Starting where you three did seems like a good place."

"Who the hell is this kid?" Jonah laughed. He and Seymour had spoken a few times in passing when Jonah and I visited, but Jonah was not used to the strong-willed and well-spoken side of Mr. Phelps that I knew. We all knew Jonah's question was a light-hearted one.

"I don't want any more than just the four of us," I said. "This island is extremely dangerous, and the more people that are brought in will seriously disrupt the balance of the island. I want us prepped and ready to go in two weeks. We can never be fully ready for Yamati, but we'll sure as hell be more prepared than the first time."

"You mean you don't want to get shipwrecked and ambushed without any idea where we are, what's going on, and minimal supplies?" Jonah teased.

"That's exactly what I mean. We've also spent considerable time honing our minds, bodies, and skills in combat and survival techniques that would have gone a long way on the island. Mr. Phelps, I know you aren't quite an official part of the team, but you've been lightly training for this with us. Not Yamati, per se, but a nightmare situation."

He nodded, his arms crossed over his still filling out chest. When I met him he was scrawny and lanky, but he had been doing considerable training and I had been feeding him along side me. He was my favorite stray, and he ate up everything I'd given him to date, in every sense of the word.

"I don't want to get in your way. I don't want to be a liability and I don't want to have to be saved. However, everyone starts somewhere. If you three can stomach carrying me, I'll come along and try to prove useful." I smiled at the young fellow. He didn't want to play hero, but he wanted to learn, and I could already see him rising to great heights by starting that way. Nobody ascended to legendary status by getting killed running up a hill.

"Also, Lara," Jonah said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Our nets picked up something... someone, interesting. I should say, someone found *our* nets. He's a tech and gadget whiz who goes by 'Zip.' He refused to give me his real name, but he knows his stuff."

"I'll call him. I want our missions to be clean and concise. Pocket-sized, if you will. The problem a lot of clandestine and government bully projects have is they're sloppy and logistical nightmares. If this 'Zip' fellow can get us what we need in pretty packages, then that's fantastic. Arrange a meeting ASAP, please."

Jonah took some serious time to recover after Yamati, like we all did. I thought he'd want to go separate ways after everything, but he showed up on my step one day with a bottle of tequila. I remember laughing because I'm a vodka girl, but he said we needed to unwind and cry. We did both of those, and Jonah has been a trusted companion and team member since. He truly had been since Yamati, but we had made it verbally official that night.

"Sam..." I said softly once Jonah had left the front room, not even sure how to broach what happened to us; her, Seymour and myself.

"I am so sorry, Lara. And I am so sorry, Seymour. I didn't mean anything I said today. It was like I was trapped inside my head, hearing words I wasn't saying leaving my mouth and I was powerless to stop them. If you can forgive me...."

"There's nothing to forgive, Sam. Not from me, anyway. I've known you a long time, and through some of the worst hardships of my life. I've known you to be reckless," I giggled, "but never cruel and flippant like that."

"Seymour, is there anything I can do... any way I can show you I'm sorry and that I didn't mean it?" Sam pleaded. This was between them. I just stayed for moral support and incase I had to intervene if things got out of hand. I didn't want to put Sam under house arrest, but it was clear she wasn't always in control of her faculties.

Seymour shook his head, his arms crossed. "There's nothing you need to do. I do believe that what happened today wasn't your call, but I'm sorry. Until we can figure out why you lashed out... I don't want to leave myself emotionally or physically vulnerable to that treatment again."

I stood there, stunned, as Seymour made a very strong and reasonable boundary, but not one I expected from someone of his age. Sam's reaction showed that she was hurt by Seymour's move, but her nodding and tears showed that she understood and respected it.

"I-I understand. I am so sorry, Seymour," she said through a sob. "I'm... I'm just going to go to bed. I'm sorry I ruined your night, guys," Sam whispered as she headed to the stairs.

"Bollucks," I cursed under my breath. "Why can't anything just be easy?"

Seymour sighed and looked at me with a sympathetic face. "I felt like I made the right call. I just don't know if I actually did. I don't want to punish Sam for something she can't control, but...."

"No Seymour, you made a good call. She isn't directly at fault, but whatever is can hurt you through her. I don't blame you for drawing that line. I'm sorry you and she are going through this. This week was supposed to be fun and easy for you." I hadn't forgotten that Sam and I had made extensive plans to give him the best graduation week any 18 year old boy had ever had. It had been going splendidly until the shadows of Yamati clouded us.

Seymour let out another sigh, both had been deserved and weren't dramatic. "I think I might be heading to bed, too. It's been a long day, and my cock has been drained quite a few times, anyway. Despite the drama instances, thank you for the lovestruck day, Lady Croft," Seymour said as he stepped a little closer and kissed my cheeks. The kiss was sheer gratitude, making sure I could not mistake it for last.

"Good night, Mr. Phelps. These trips are not ready for launch overnight. Hopefully we can sneak in some more, erm, celebrating, before we depart." I wanted to keep his morale high, and I didn't want him to feel forgotten.

"It's okay," he said as he went to the stairs. "I won't push. I understand there are more important things going on right now. If we have to rain check my party, so be it."

I frowned but watched him go. I stood there at the bottom of the stairs, feeling like I was in the middle of a game of tug-of-war. I wanted to keep my small circle of friends from falling apart and warring with each other because of supernatural forces.

After a few more minutes of mulling, I headed upstairs myself to check on Sam. It was my first chance to talk to her one-on-one since this early afternoon's little blow-up.

I knocked on her door and waited a moment before saying, "Sam, are you decent? Can I come in?"

"Yeah, it's open," said my old friend, and then I let myself in. She was in the process of changing into pajamas. I had certainly seen her more compromised before. "I think we're a bit passed having to worry if I'm decent or not," Sam told me with a seemingly forced laugh attached.

"Today's been... a lot. I'm just trying to check in," I said as I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, my hands in my jeans pockets.

"I want to tell you I'm okay. I'm a little hurt, but Seymour is totally right to protect himself. You'd be right to protect yourself from me, too."

I shook my head and pushed off from the door. "I won't leave you behind, Sam. I won't let you be isolated. I'm a big girl and I can handle whatever this is."

Sam stepped closer to me, cutting the distance in half. "I'm going to have a hard time looking Seymour in the eye after today. And we had so much fun planned for him, too. Fun for the three of us, really." She let out a deep sigh. There had been a lot of those in a short time. "You should keep those plans for him. I'll just make myself scarce. He deserves it."

"Sam... have you noticed any patterns? Anything that could be telling you when you're going to... lose control?"

Sam stood there for a moment, sharp eyes burning a hole in the lush cream carpet before she spoke. "The last two episodes, only. But they were the worst. A dull cramp in my stomach, like a period cramp. A headache that felt like I just hadn't drank enough water, and then... then I felt dizzy. After that, it was like there was someone else, logging me out and taking over. I remember everything I said and how I acted, but it's like the part of my brain I wanted to use, to stop and take control back, was paralyzed. It happened a week ago at work, too. I completely shredded an intern at the office. It was totally uncalled for, and I made her cry in front of everyone. I felt horrible once I was back in my own head. She quit...."

"Oh, Sam," I said sympathetically as I closed that last difference and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm so sorry, but I'm glad we can track your symptoms before attacks."

"So maybe... maybe I don't have to stay locked in my room until Japan?" she asked, her voice sounding like she was trying hard not to be too hopeful.

"Yes, Sam,' I giggled. "I won't make you a prisoner. I just need you to let us know when you feel a spell coming on," I said as I released her.

"Do you think Seymour would let me keep... celebrating his graduation, if we talked to him?"

I let out a puff of air. "I can't read that boy's mind. He may be willing to entertain it if I'm there in a mediating capacity," I offered, but I was genuinely none too sure. "Another thing I don't know if I should mention or not, Sam... but Seymour is far more intelligent than I ever think he let you see. He played the stereotypical 18 year old, but mentally and maturity speaking, he's far more than he let's on."

Sam scrunched her brows together. "Why would he pretend with me? Did I do something to make him think he couldn't be himself?"

I shrugged. "The way he is with you is the way he wears his mask around most people. The Seymour you saw tonight at our little meeting is the Seymour I know."

Sam's face fell further. "So he's only the real him with you?" I could hear an anger in her voice boiling up, and I saw her rest a hand on her belly. "Shit, I'm cramping."

"Sit down," I ordered her and I guided her to the bed. I handed her a water bottle she had on the night stand and she drank from it deeply. "It seems like anger or jealousy might speed up your episodes," I noted aloud.

"I think you're right," Sam agreed and closed her eyes, forcing herself to take long, slow breaths, and I could see her muscles releasing. "I'm starting to feel better. Fuck, I'm like an Asian Hulk," she joked and I just rolled my eyes.

"Get some rest, Sam. We'll talk to Seymour in the morning." I kissed her forehead and stood up. "Please don't hesitate to wake me if anything happens, okay?"

"I won't. Thanks, Lara. You're a lifesaver... again."

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I woke up with a start, my body being jostled. Instinctively, I pulled the knife that was expertly hidden under my fluffy pillows. A bed looking so decadent hiding a sharpened defense weapon. Perfect.

However, upon opening my eyes, I saw Sam jumping backwards, dodging the blade. "Easy there, killer!" she said. "I didn't mean to startle you. I should have known better."

"Sam? Is everything alright?" I asked, wide awake and heart pumping as I tucked the knife back in. "What's going on?"

She blushed and looked away. I squinted my eyes at her. "Did you wake me up because... because you're horny?" She blushed harder and I just laughed. "Are you serious?"

Sam huffed. "I know, it's stupid. But listen... since things have gotten weird, I've like... needed a lot of uh, release. Like to the point I've been using a Lush vibe in the office. If I don't, I Hulk out and get moody. Not like getting the girl fired and attacking you and Seymour bad, but like, PMS-y."

I sat up, not caring about the covers because I was still in panties and a light tank top. "And I fit into this... how?" I already knew, but I was going to get some fun out of this.

Sam rolled her eyes and sat on the side of my bed, next to my legs. She pulled the blanket further down, baring my thighs. "Please, Lara? I'm tired of doing it myself, and I can't ask Seymour just yet."

I let a teasing grin spread across my face. "How are you going to make me want it?"

"Playing hard to get?" Sam smiled and pounced, pinning me to my bed, my head falling easily into my fluffy pillows. "This... affliction, makes me hungrier, Lara. It makes me more savage, more feral," she told me as she nuzzled into my neck, pinning my arms down in her hands. "The scent of you... makes it hard to control myself."

I tried to wriggle free. Usually I could pretty easily overpower Sam, but right now, I couldn't break free. She was somehow stronger. "Sam...." I said, starting to get a little worried.

"Shhh, let me enjoy you, Lara," she purred and licked up the column of my neck. "I need you, need sex... I can't sleep without it," she groaned as she used a knee to spread my legs apart, making me gasp.

"Sam, let me go," I said and tried to get out from under her, but I was well and pinned. "Sam, get off!" I barked but the last word was caught in my throat as she rubbed her thigh between my legs. "Oh, hell!" As much as I didn't like losing my say in what was going on, Sam's mouth on my neck and collarbone as well as her thigh grinding on my sex felt pretty bloody good.