The 'F' Factor
by Elaine Martin
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Not mine. I do however own a brand
spanking new Prada dress which shall, from this day forth be my pride and
joy. It's looking at me now saying 'Wear me.....' I think it's love.
Author's Notes: Apologies, but this is the first fic I've
written since before Crimbo. Since then, I have
depleted my brain cells by about 99% through
EXTREME abuse of alcohol (BUT THEY MADE ME DO IT!!)
If you actually want to read a good B/F fic, check out
anything by SwaySlayer or Star. There are dozens of
other great fic writers for this particular ship, but
these two are the only ones springing to mind at the
mo. Ok, read and review my pretties :)
Feedback: PULEEEEAZE. I've already promised my
first born to someone else, but shold multiple births
occur, you may have one of those. Also, for anyone
who's interested, my arsehole soon to be ex-boyfriend
will soon be on the market. Particularly favourable
applicants are those who relish inflicting pain :)
'Nuff said :)
"Shit!!! Dammit!!! Fucking OWWW!"
"B, wots up? Big bad in the changing room with you?"
"Christ!!.....Faith, could you help me out here please."
Faith pulled the curtain aside to find Buffy whose head was stuck in the sleeve of a sweater, grappling furiously with the offending garment.
"Jesus B, how did you manage that one?!" Faith's laughter caught the attention of several shoppers, who peered curiously in their direction.
"OW! My damn earring's caught... Faith, shut up and help me."
"Now, now B - Mrs S didn't raise you to use such foul language."
"Faith! I swear to fucking God......" Faith continued to laugh as she tugged on the jumper. Buffy, whose shouts had attracted quite a crowd, struggled beneath the material, attempting to aid Faith in her ministrations.
"Stand still B...."
"Will you just get this....damn, poxy thing off my fucking....." Buffy flew backwards as the top was torn from her, landing ungracefully on her arse outside the changing rooms. Her bra was missing in action, and she sat, oblivious and red faced, amongst a crowd of wided jawed Saturday shoppers. Faith bit her lip and looked away, willing the impending tears not to fall.
"Faith, what's so funny?.....OH MY GOD!!!!"
Freshly showered, Faith slung her hair into a loose ponytail and crawled into bed. Slaying action had been lacking of late, so she had fallen into old habits and spent much of the night in 'Eddies Tavern' a shithole pub three blocks from her motel.
Although her head was spinning, she was far from tired. She had almost hooked up with a breasty blonde. The blonde had been well up for it, but Faith wasn't interested. She had someone else on her mind. Constantly. She allowed her hands to travel south, the familiar ministrations of her fingers creating a rise in the pit of her stomach. As her breathing deepened, she imagined Buffy as she had been earlier. Red faced and topless.... In this scenario however, Buffy was gazing imploringly at Faith, waiting for her....wanting her. Faith came with a jolt, a low feral moan eminating from her open mouth. She tossed her sheets aside as her breathing subsided. Jesus, what would Buffy think if she knew Faith was masturbating over her? Straight laced Buffy Summers who would probably have a coronary if she knew Faith was that way inclined.... No, Faith decided, This was definitely a no-tell situation. She couldn't face rejection, not from B.
"What I wouldn't give to have been a fly on that wall," Xander murmured wistfully.
"Xander!" Cordelia swiped at her boyfriend who hesitated momentarily before flinching.
"OW! You're surprisingly strong!" Xander scowled and clutched his arm.
"No, you're just a wuss."
"Ah, but too the contrary. You see, I'm so manly that such a comment cannot even begin to penetrate my masculine ..."
"Guys, prorities here. I flashed half of Sunnydale AND their children. This is beyond humiliating." As though on cue, several footballers wolf whistled in Buffy's direction.
"Hey Summers, we missed the show yesterday, how 'bout a private viewing later." Steve Anderson, Sunnydale high quarter back received several high fives for the comment. Buffy merely blushed.
Willow grasped her friends hand in sympathy. "Buffy, you know what these things are like, it'll all blow over. Tommorow, Harmony will be talk of the campus for giving it to the entire basketball team...or, or Susan Laumplugh will get another botched nose job, or....."
"Thanks Will, you're right. Thank God that Faith was with me, at least I had someone there to accompany me on the walk of shame out of the shop."
"Faith was there?" Cordelia arched her eyebrows.
"Yeah, after a hell of a lot of protesting on her part I managed to drag her into the Gap. Shocker, I know."
"No, I mean she saw everything?"
"Well, yeah. As I said, she was there with me."
"Bet SHE wasn't complaining." Cordelia asserted knowingly, before sipping from her soft drink.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Buffy implored.
"Oh COME ON...." Cordelia gazed around the table at her friends who stared at her with confusion. "You have GOT to be kidding me... Did no one else notice?"
"Notice what, she of the suspense?" Cordelia took another sip of her diet coke, before sticking her tongue out at her boyfriend. She continued:
"Notice that Faith has a MAJOR case of the 'I wants' for Buffy."
"What?!!" Three voices simultaneously.
"It's SO obvious. Faith's hot for you Buffy."
Willow and Xander shared a shocked silence while Buffy shook her head in disbelief. "Cordelia, where'd you get that idea? In case you haven't noticed, Faith's a huge fan of driving stick. And I'm quoting her."
"Don't believe me then," Cordelia stood and retrieved a mirror from her purse, "but when you've been dating as long as I have, you become perceptive in these matters. I know what I'm talking about." Cordelia surveyed her appearance, checked her teeth and popped the mirror back in her bag. "Anyway, I have to go. The cheerleaders are choosing who's going to top the tier, and I'll be damned if I have to support Harmony's fat ass."
"Well.....I have to go too. Extreme case of mind candy overload." Xander stood awkwardly, a book strategically placed as he hobbled from the lunchroom.
"Wow Buffy, do you think it's true?"
"Class!" Buffy interjected, leaving Willow staring after her.
"Man, this is beyond repulsive.... I mean, I kick the crap out of all sorts of ugly slimies on a daily basis, but this is just taking the piss.... What did Freddy ever do to anyone?" Buffy grimaced and handed the knife to Willow. The red head chuckled and took over the task of dissecting the remnants of Freddy the frog, removing what appeared to be a section of his intestines. Buffy retched and looked away.
"Really Buffy, you'd think you would have a knack for this sort of thing."
"Gee thanks Will, I'll remember to stick that one on the CV: Buffy Summers, punctual, diligent.... oh, and great at slicing and dicing living things - She has a knack for it."
"And how are my two lovely ladies this morning? Treating you well, are they Freddy?" Xander prodded the frog lightly before swinging his arms around the shoulder of both girls.
"Buffy is opposed to the dissection of Freddy here," Willow informed Xander.
"It's barbaric," Buffy pouted.
"Much slayage last night, Buffster?"
"Oh yeah, a few beheadings here, some fatal stabbings there. A run of the mill Tuesday I guess." Xander and Willow exchanged smirks.
"Hey!!" Buffy exclaimed catching the exchange, "it's so NOT the same thing. Poor Freddy was defenceless, at no point did he EVER try to smother me in between his crotch or strangle me with his tentacles. Freddy was a good froggy."
"And Faith...." Willow prodded, "was she there?"
"Yeah, for about half an hour, then she took off."
"And.... did you get to talk to her?"
Buffy hesitated. "Look, I really don't think that Faith likes me in THAT way. She was all hyped about some guy she was meeting later on. Anyway, what was I supposed to say; 'Thanks Faith for dusting the vamp that was just straddling me. By the way, Cordelia thinks you're into me, so are you?'"
Willow's reply was interrupted by Mr Barnstien, the science teacher, calling for silence.
^THE NIGHT BEFORE^
Faith assesed herself in the mirror. Tight leather trousers? Check. Mucho cleavage? Check. She hadn't arranged a slaying duet with Buffy for the evening, but she assumed she would find her in one of the dozen Sunnydale cemetaries. She double checked her image, chastising herself as she did. She was dressing to impress B. She was patrolling on her night off. Giles had suggested that the slayers alternate nights, given that the hellmouth seemed to be on spring break; but Faith felt compelled to see Buffy, a strange and new sensation. Hell, she had been attracted to people before, but she had never sought them out before. No, Faith never did the running. Until now it seemed.
Buffy slung the vamp over her shoulder before delivering a roundhouse kick to the creature fast approaching her. 'So much for quiet on the hellmouth,' she thought, grabbing her knife from the ground. The 'creature', an incredibly large and slimy character grunted in pain as Buffy delivered a series of punches to its oozing torso. "Anyone ever tell you you're an ugly bastard?" The creature growled and produced half a dozen tentacles, all of which curled around her neck.
Buffy could feel the air being expressed from her lungs as she was hoisted into the air. Behind her, she could hear the vamp recovering from the blow it had been dealt. 'Oh shit,' she muttered, grappling with the knife in her hand. With all the strength she could muster, she swung at the creature and was rewarded when it shrilled and fell limply to the ground. The tentacles around her neck loosened, and she fell to the ground with a thump. No sooner had she drawn a quick breath was the vamp upon her, circa 1985; she-vamp was all 'like-a-virgined out', safety pins dangling from a torn wedding dress.
"Madonna called," Buffy quipped as she wrestled with the vampire, "she wants that era of her career wiped from human memory. Luckily, me and Mr Pointy can be off help to her." Buffy searched for her stake with a free arm, the other one currently supporting the weight of her, Madge-vamp and at least 100lbs worth of safety pins.
"Awww, poor slayer. Can't find your stake?" The vamp hissed through fanged teeth. Buffy struggled beneath her, trying to quell the rising panic. She watched in horror as blood stained fangs descended towards her, nearing her neck..... And then Madge-vamp was gone, and in her place was Faith.
"Sorry B, did I interrupt something special there?" Faith grinned at Buffy and lowered her stake, making no attempt to move. "I've got to admit, it is comfy here girlfriend...mind if I squirm a little?" Buffy paled and stiffened. Definitely not the reaction Faith was expecting. They always engaged in this post slayage innuendo, at least Faith did and Buffy generally laughed or rolled her eyes good naturedly...Now B looked almost...scared?
Faith stood quickly and laughed to ease the tension. "Hey B, I'm not gonna jump your bones. You're cute and all, but just not my type. I generally like them more externally endowned in the southern region. I'm off for a roll with a hot boy toy right now." Faith made towards the exit, scooping Mr Pointy from the ground and tossing him towards Buffy as she did. She broke into a sprint and vaulted over a headstone. She continued to run, not stopping until she reached 'Eddies Tavern.'
"SHIT!" Cordelia swore, swerving her jeep slightly and causing Buffy to wake from her reverie.
"Jesus Cordelia, What?!!"
Cordelia pouted and held out her finger for Buffy to inspect. "I've chipped my polish. Don't you just hate when that happens!" Buffy stifled a grin. Cordelia's idea of chipping her nail varnish was a barely visible scrape.
"Oh yeah," Buffy replied dryly, "The bloodshed and constant bruising I can just about stand, but chipping my nail polish is on a completely different level altogether."
Cordelia, not amused by Buffy's sarcasm, pulled to an abrupt halt outside the Summers' house on Revello Drive. "Are you coming bronzing tonight?"
Buffy sighed and shrugged, "Depends on what Giles has planned slayage wise: but, if any dusty tomes are passed in my direction, I'm there."
"Well, me and he of no fashion sense will be there about 8." Cordelia turned the key in the ignition and made to pull away.
"Cordelia, hang on.....I have to ask you something." Buffy hesitated as though trying to choose the right words.
"Any day now Buffy, I have a wardrobe to survey." Cordelia tapped her watch impatiently with the chipped fingernail.
"What exactly made you think that Faith has a....thing for me?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "CHRIST, you people really are without perception. Try the constant staring and the 'how long can I stare at Buffy's rack for' eyes, coupled with the incessant Buffy talk - Get the picture?"
"I asked her about it last night, and she denied it."
"Well she would, wouldn't she," Cordelia replied re-starting the jeep. "She knows that she's lacking three Buffy essentials: 1: Male genetalia, 2: the lifelong need to survive solely on a diet of pigs blood and 3: the quality every girl most desires, turning all evil after a night of hide the salami." With that, Cordelia waved and sped away, leaving Buffy staring after her.
When Faith opened her eyes, she was quickly forced to shut them again. Lying beside her was a vision more repellent then all of the fungi demons she had ever fought, combined.
"Mornin' gorgeous."
Faith was forced to open her eyes. Propped on her elbows, beneath roles of naked fat, was what could very conceivably be the Queen of the land of Butch. A disturbing cross between Harry Enfields 'Perry' and Elvis, the latter years. Butch raked a hand through shorn red hair and grinned, displaying crooked, cigarette stained teeth.
Faith was at a loss for words. A quick glance around the room confirmed a night of supreme intoxication. Various bottles of liqour lay empty amidst an array of clothing. Double take. Was that a goddamn MUMU?!!
Faith pulled the sheets around her naked form, eliciting a moan of annoyance from Butch.
"What did you do that for, Babe? I was enjoying the view."
Faith shuddered. "We didn't...y'know?"
Butch leered and licked her lips. "Unfortunately not. You passed out just before I made my move... But, better late than never I say." Butch edged her considerable bulk towards Faith, displaying numerous tattoos. Faith watched in horror as 5 fat digits descended towards her breasts.
"Listen, I'm busy. Shit to do, y'know." Faith leapt from the bed, dragging the sheets with her.
"I don't think so, Babe. You owe me."
"I OWE you?!!"
"I gave you that free tat. And that Buffy chick will never know, my lips are sealed."
Faith froze. "Free tat? What the fuck are you talking about? And what's Buffy got to do with anything?"
Butch chucked huskily. "Shit babe, you don't remember nothin', do you? Check out your back and then come back to me for some lovin'."
On receiving a wink from Butch, Faith fled to the motel bathroom. Ensuring that the door was locked behind her, she dropped the sheet and inspected her back in the mirror.
Sweet mother of FUCK! Above her shoulder blade was a tattoo. A large red heart bearing Buffy's name in black lettering. Faith rubbed at the inscription vigiourisly. Fuck! Permanent. Large. Highly goddamn visible.
Faith swung the bathroom door open. Butch lay on the bed, legs spread, dragging from a cigarette.
"Take it fucking off!!!" Faith demanded.
Butch scowled. "Hey! That was a freebie. It would have set you back at least $80, and you still owe me babe."
Faith fell against the wall and slunk to the floor, her mind reeling. Mid summer, Sunnydale. 102 degrees in the shade. Highly visible fucking TATTOO. And then Butch was on her. Literally. Roughly 300lbs of naked flesh writhing against her. Faith shoved her off, sending her sprawling across the room.
"Get the fuck out!"
Butch, deciding not to argue, grabbed her clothing from the floor allowing Faith to verify the presence of a mumu, albeit one depicting various scenes of carnage.
"Crazy Bitch!" Butch slammed the door behind her.
Faith remained where she was for several hours, until a knock at the door shook her from her daze.
"Faith, you there? Big bad a brewing..."
Sod's fucking law.
Giles was surrounded by cardboard boxes loaded with books when Buffy arrived in the library. The summer vacation clearout.
"What's up?" She inquired, causing Giles to look up in alarm.
"OH, it's only you." Giles looked visibly relieved.
"Geez Giles, I wasn't expecting a parade or anything, but a little more enthusiasm wouldn't go astray."
"What?...Yes." Giles was distracted. He removed his glasses and polished them. "Buffy, you'll need to locate Faith. It appears that vampires are descending upon Sunnydale in their dozens. Myself and Willow have pinpointed their location to the sewers, although the exact proximity of their nest is unclear.... I suggest that yourself and Faith patrol the area while the rest of us research."
"Oh great, a night of sewerage fun and I don't even have a new outfit."
"Buffy, we have reason to believe that attempts are being made to raise the master...time is of absolute essence."
Buffy froze. "But we killed him...we smashed his bones - How can this be?"
"It seems the orb of Hasiba has been unearthed - believed for centuries to have been destroyed. The orb allows for the resurrection of the deceased....regardless of the condition of the corpse. Essentially, the master will be re-animated."
"NO!" Buffy stared blankly at her watcher. "He...He can't."
Giles embraced his slayer. "Buffy, we must find the orb and destroy it."
"Then I'm on it. I'll find Faith." Buffy ran from the library, not stopping when Giles shouted after her.
Buffy ran through Sunnydale, unaware of the stares she was receiving. She continued at full speed until she reached Faith's motel room. The early afternoon sun blazed, and Buffy was sweating as she knocked on the door.
"Faith, you there? Big bad a brewing."
Nothing. Impatiently, she knocked again. Finally, Faith swung the door open. She was wrapped, to her neck, in a sheet.
"Oh, hey B." Faith avoided eye contact, choosing to stare over Buffy's shoulder.
"You ok Faith?" Buffy enquired. Odd behaviour. What was with the sheet?
"Yeah...too much under-ageing last night."
Buffy noted the assortment of liqour bottles strewn throughout the motel room. "Damn! I can see that."
"What's the big evil then?" Faith enquired hastily, as though changing the subject. Buffy offered a condensed version of events.
"Alright, I'll, um, just get changed and we can check out the sitch. Hang on a sec." Faith closed the door, leaving a bewildered Buffy alone on the doorstep. Minutes later, she emerged, clad in denim cutoffs and a.....poloneck? Quite apart from being shocked that Faith actually OWNED a poloneck, Buffy was positive that she wasn't alone in feeling the 100 degree heat. The tank top SHE was wearing did little to cool her down - She had even considered wearing a bikini top.
"Notice the weather, Faith?"
"All my other stuff's in the wash."
"Well don't come crying to me when you melt." Faith smiled weakly. What the..?
"Faith, you sure you're ok?"
Faith merely nodded in reply.
The sewers actually offered relief from the stifling heat. Faith walked ahead of Buffy, directing them through various tunnels. Both slayers knew Sunnydale's underground intimately, so Buffy was happy to follow her. Conversation, however, was stilted. Buffy gave up talking after a while and they walked in silence.
As they embarked further into the sewers, the water level rose considerably. Soon they were wading through foul smelling liquid up to their knees. Conversation still lacked, and Faith gave no warning when she stopped suddenly, causing Buffy to walk straight into her. As such, Buffy bounced off Faith and fell backwards, immersing herself completely in the combination of human and demon waste. When she managed to clambour out of the water, Faith was unable to stifle her laughter. Buffy, drenched from head to toe and smelling of dead fish was not amused.
"B, I heard something." Faith informed when she had eventually stopped laughing. She pointed in the direction of a parallel tunnel. Buffy listened. She could here the faint sound of chanting. Grabbing Faith's hand, she pulled her in the direction of the noise.
Faith shivered. The feeling of Buffy's skin against her own, however slight, sent tremors through her. Buffy led them deeper into the tunnel, her hand still clasped tightly in Faith's. Despite the situation, and the fact that Buffy had excretment smeared down her face, Faith was attracted. Fuck, B could shave her head, dye it puke green and roll around in shit so that it constantly encased her body, and Faith would still be attracted......Ok, mind on the fucking situation!
Buffy and Faith watched from a vantage point in the tunnel. Eight or nine vamps stood in a circle, from which a bright red light eminated.
"The orb," Buffy whispered, nodding towards the light.
"Well, lets get it then." Faith made to move towards the vamps, but Buffy pulled back.
"Are you crazy?!!"
"So I've been told," Faith replied, recalling Butch's final words.
"We can't just attack that many vamps! There's only two of us."
"Fine," Faith replied, "we'll just wait for the master to rise. Looks like they're starting to wrap up. Once he comes along, it'll all be plain sailing and we can go home and play a relaxing game of Ludo."
Buffy scowled. She started to speak, when a blinding light filled the cavern. The ground beneath them rumbled and Buffy fell atop Faith. The master was back.
For once, Faith didn't enjoy having Buffy on top of her. The master had spotted them. He and his cronies, several hillbillies and President Nixon - Jesus Christ, Nixon was a vamp?!! - were heading towards them. Buffy lay frozen, and Faith understood. B had spoken little of her dealings with the master, but Faith knew that this was her Kakistos.
Pushing Buffy aside, Faith grabbed her stake. The master smiled slowly. "What do we have here then? The slayer and her successor? How very unorthodox."
"Twice the slayer, twice the staking," Faith retorted, "We're a two for one special."
Instead of attacking her, as Faith had expected, The master lunged for Buffy, grabbing the paralysed slayer by the neck. Impulsively, Buffy writhed and kicked, but her eyes betrayed her fear. Almost simultaneously, Nixon made for Faith. He proved to be as good a vamp as he had been a president, and Faith staked him within seconds. The master had carried Buffy to the makeshift nest, which was flanked by candles. Faith watched as he lowered her into the water, submerging her head....
"BUFFY!" Faith cried, wading furiously towards the blonde. Vamps on either side of her lunged, but Faith knocked them aside. She seemed to possess a strength she never knew existed.
Buffy was flailing in the water, her efforts weakening by the second. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!" Faith was unaware of the tears streaming down her face. Buffy was drowning....he was killing her and Faith could do nothing to stop him.... A vamp attacked Faith from behind, causing her to stumble. It was useless, they were both going to die.....
And then Faith spotted the orb.
Faith was being dragged backwards, further and further from the faint illumination of the orb....the master's life giver. She had no time....Buffy was dying...she could be dead. With as much accuracy as she could muster, Faith flung her stake at the glass orb. It shattered, spraying glass everywhere. Time stood still: one by one, vamps began to dust until finally, with a blood curdling cry, the master crumbled. His bones snapped audibly, before turning to a fine dust...
Faith waded frantically towards Buffy, who was floating face down in the water. Faith pulled her upright. Buffy's face was ghostly pale, her lips a violent shade of blue. "Come on B..." Faith administered mouth to mouth, her body wracking with sobs. "Buffy, please..please Buffy, please don't die Buffy, please...." Lungful after lungful to no response... "No, come on, please B, I love you, please....."
Faith fell against the wall, embracing Buffy's lifeless body. Her chest heaved and she fought to take a breath as her tears fell in a current. Her voice, strained and manical called Buffy's name as she rocked back and forth, clutching the slayer's body...
And then Buffy coughed. The most beautiful sound Faith had ever heard. Water spilled down Buffy's face and onto her chest, and she opened her eyes slowly.
"How many times does that bastard have to drown me?" She was smiling. She was OK.
Looking back, Faith didn't know what made her do it. Maybe it was the fact that she was crying. Faith never cried, not even when her mother passed. Maybe it was because Buffy had almost died...She had almost lost her. Maybe it was because Buffy was lying in her arms gazing up at her: or maybe, maybe it was because, for the first time in her life, she loved someone other than herself. But Faith kissed her. She brushed her lips gently against Buffy's, coaxing them to warm up. Her tongue found the other girl's, and she massaged it...slowly, so as not to alarm... And Buffy responded. She kissed her back - and there they lay, two slayers, drenched in crap created by the population of Sunnydale, but lost in the moment.
Notes: Thanks again to all my lurvley FBers...and of course the Cadbury Dream bar (the new love of my life.)
"My lord Buffy, are you alright?" Giles looked at his slayer with concern.
"Yeah, fought the baddies, drowned, was resuscitated, showered and it's not even 8 o'clock." Buffy forced a grin. "Now I think sleep is in order." Buffy stood up and made to leave the library.
"Buffy...I could walk you home...maybe we could talk..." Willow started after her friend, her concern matching that of Giles.
"Look," Buffy snapped, "I'm alright, I slay every day of my life. I've done all this before and I'll do it again. Right now I just want to go home and sleep."
"Buffy, we're just..." but Buffy was gone, and Willow's words were lost to her "we're just trying to help."
Cordelia slowed her jeep and lowered the window. "Hey Buffy, jump in, I'll give you a lift."
Buffy continued walking, not glancing at Cordelia. "I'm fine."
"Buffy, stop acting like a spoiled brat and get in." Buffy hesitated, caught between shouting at Cordelia and accepting her offer. She decided on the latter.
"So what's with the all the weirdness, Buffy?" Cordelia asked when Buffy had fastened her belt. "So you died again: granted, I'm sure that's never pleasant and I plan on dying just the once, but GET OVER IT! You're still alive."
Buffy scowled. "Jesus Cordelia, good to know that I can always count on you for support."
Cordelia sighed. "In case you hadn't noticed, all your nerdy little friends and my fashion-less boyfriend were trying to do just that, and you completely blanked them."
"Look Cordelia, I don't need a lecture - I spent most of the day wading through shit, I was drowned for the second time by something I had ALREADY killed, and I was kissed by a...." Buffy stopped mid sentence and blushed.
Cordelia swerved and pulled to an abrupt halt on the kerb. "Kissed by a what Buffy?" Buffy reddened further, and Cordelia's jaw dropped. "It was Faith wasn't it?! Oh my God! She brought you back to life and then she kissed you! I'm right, aren't I?!!" Buffy's rapidly reddening face provided confirmation.
"I...she just..."
"And you liked it, didn't you!"
Buffy swung around to face Cordelia, snapping the seatbelt in her fury. "NO! I'm not like her... I don't like other...girls."
"Ok, firstly, you just killed my seatbelt and secondly, contrary to popular belief, I'm not completely self-centred. I can read people, it's one of my many gifts. I'm also not as shallow as everybody thinks - and may I use Xander as a shining example of this. You might think I march in the homo-NO! parade, but I don't, Buffy. If you feel anything for Faith that she feels for you, give it a chance."
"Cordelia - I feel NOTHING for Faith. She kissed me against my will."
Cordelia ignored Buffy and continued, starting the car as she did. "If it's any consolation, people already think you're weird, what with all that secretive slayer skulking you do."
"I'll say it again Cordelia, I DON'T LIKE FAITH...And who thinks I'm weird?"
Cordelia pulled into the Summers' driveway and signalled for Buffy to get out.
"Cordelia, you're wrong - You haven't got a clue."
Cordelia smirked knowingly and reversed onto the street. Buffy's shouts of protest were silenced by the gunning of Cordelia's engine as she sped down the road.
Faith wrapped a towel around herself as she stepped from the shower. The Buffy tattoo was visible, despite the fogged up mirror, and Faith pulled the towel over her shoulders to cover it.
'Such a fucking idiot' she berated herself for the thousandth time. Maybe she had imagined Buffy responding to her kiss; the feel of their tongues duelling softly. Maybe she had also imagined the kiss lasting all that time; enough time so that Faith had caressed every inch of the blonde's face, memorising each contour... But Buffy had freaked, pushed Faith away from her and ran.
Faith dressed hastily, and threw her remaining possesions into a bag. Time to get the fuck out of dodge. She surveyed the motel room for a final time before slamming the door behind her. Fuck that, she was out of here. Fuck Sunnydale, fuck slaying and most of all, fuck Buffy Summers.
Buffy couldn't sleep: and it wasn't because of the unrelentless heat which seemed to penetrate every inch of her body, despite the air conditioning. She glanced at her clock, and the digitally illuminated numbers read 3.05...3.06...3.10
She buried her head beneath her pillow and groaned. Less than six hours until her Spanish final... But school was the last thing on her mind. She had died today. Again. At the hands of an old and an ALREADY slayed foe. And Faith had kissed her... Why was this bothering her so much? Ok, so Faith had a thing for her, but she DEFINITELY didn't reciprocate...
Buffy lay staring at the ceiling for another half hour. The clock read 3.45. Tossing Mr Gordo across the room in frustration, she clamboured out of bed. Maybe a walk would do her good...she might even manage an extra curricular slay if she was lucky. Throwing on a pair of denim cutoffs and a red tank top, she slipped into a pair of Nike's and climbed out the window.
Buffy strolled through the various cemetaries, stake at the ready. Unfortunately, everyone else, including the undead, seemed to be asleep. She made her way through downtown Sunnydale, past the cinema and the Espresso Pump...And then she was outside Faith's motel, outside her room, knocking on her door...
Buffy had no idea what she was doing; why she was standing outside Faith's room at 4 in the morning banging to be let in. She knocked, trepidatiously at first, and louder when there was no response. The door was slightly ajar, so she swung it open. 'What the fuck am I doing?'
A form, barely visible but for the light provided by an outside streetlight, lay still on the bed. Buffy edged her way towards it slowly. Dark hair contrasted against the stark white of the sheets. She lay, on her stomach, sheets lightly draping her lower body. As Buffy's eyes gradually adjusted to the dark, they were drawn to a tattoo. A red heart, bearing an inscription. Buffy drew nearer, tiptoeing so as not to awaken the sleeping figure. She leaned closer so as to make out the word. It was a name...it was HER name.
"Can I help you?" The ticket attendant didn't look up from her newspaper when Faith approached.
"Next bus out of here. One way."
"Next bus leaves Sunnydale for Philadelphia at 7.05am. That will be $32 even."
"You're shitting me!" The attendant looked up from her paper and glared at Faith.
"I don't set the prices."
"No, I mean, there's no bus before then?"
"I don't write the timetables either. Next bus is 7.05am - $32."
Faith swore and handed over the money, glancing at the clock above the ticket attendant. 12.06am. Tossing her bag over her shoulder, she glanced around the station. A single, empty vending machine, and several benches inhabitated by various drunks, made for a less than appealing place to wile away the hours. 'Fuck it' she thought, 'I might as well head back to the hotel for a few hours kip.'
Buffy stared at the tattoo bearing her name. Faith's tattoo. A tattoo, on Faith's body, displaying HER name. She reached out to touch it...to see if it was real. With a shaking hand, she traced the image lightly. Definitely real.
Faith awoke with a jolt. A sudden gasp told her that she was not alone in the room. Cursing the dark, she tried to focus on the figure before her. Her sheet slipped from her body as she reached beneath her pillow for a stake. "I suggest you talk unless you want this embedded in you permenantly." Faith squinted against the dark.
"Faith...it's me..."
"B?" Faith's eyes were adjusting slowly, and she could make out the slight form of the blonde. "What are you doing here?"
"I..." Buffy was at a loss for words. Faith sat upright in bed, her sheets forgotten on the floor. She was naked but for a pair of black underwear. Buffy swallowed, afraid to speak. She couldn't deny the sensation developing in the pit of her stomach, or the flush that was sweeping her body. The room suddenly seemed a hell of a lot hotter.
Faith waited for Buffy's reply. The other girl stood, unmoving, mouth agape. A not unwelcome scenario, for Faith had envisioned this a hundred times...but she knew Buffy wasn't interested. She had demonstrated as much when Faith kissed her...Nevertheless, Faith felt her breathing deepen. Buffy's cutoffs exposed tanned, slim thighs and her tank top, wet from the heat, clung to her breasts...
"B," Faith managed, "I asked what you're doing here."
"I...I don't know." Was Faith imagining it, or was Buffy having as much trouble breathing as she was?
"Buffy..." and then the blonde was beside her, reaching for her face, caressing it. Their eyes locked, and Buffy's lips were descending towards her. Softly, they kissed, almost experimentally. Buffy's eyes closed, as she allowed her tongue to slide against Faith's. And then the kiss deepened, and Faith found herself straddled beneath Buffy. Her head met the headboard with a thud, but she felt nothing except the feel of Buffy's lips against her own.
Buffy knew that this was wrong. She didn't like girls...but why did it feel so damn right? Faith's body was naked beneath her, and she wanted nothing more than to remove her own clothes and feel the contact of bare flesh against bare flesh. But what the hell was she doing? She wasn't gay...she couldn't do this.
Buffy pulled away from Faith with a start. Faith was panting, and she reached to pull the blonde back on top of her, but Buffy shrugged her away.
"Faith...I can't...I don't know..."
"What the hell do you mean 'you don't know?!"
"I...I have to think about this."
Faith climbed out of the bed, and grabbed Buffy by the shoulders. "What's there to think about, B? Fuck knows I want you, and I just got the impression that you wanted me. What's the problem?"
Buffy could feel herself melting beneath Faith's touch. Her naked breasts were heaving against her own, erect nipples belaying exactly HOW much she wanted Buffy.
"Faith...I have to go... We'll talk tomorrow."
Faith dropped her arms from around Buffy. "I won't be here tomorrow, B."
"What?.."
"Don't fuck me around, B. I'm not sitting here like a fucking love sick puppy while you decide if 'gay is in.' If you leave this room, I won't be here when you get back."
"Faith, please...I'll come by straight after school...I'm just confused. I have my finals, I need to finish them and then..."
"Finals, B?" I couldn't have put it better myself. Faith slammed the door behind her, and for the second time in as many days, Buffy found herself alone on the doorstep of number 49 Sunnydale Inn.
PART 7
Notes: - Special spanks to Star, owner, creator and loaner of the wonderful purple
haired Taz. I'm so chuffed to have her featuring in this here fic :)
- And to Sway, whose back in the land of BFdom - I am INSISTING that anyone
who hasn't read any of Sway Slayers fics, go out and do so NOW! She is a
top notch writer - My personal fave (as is Star), so to read some decent BF
fics, check these two out.
- Again, sorry for lack of funnies and general crapness in this part, but
such reflects my life at the mo... For details, feel free to e-mail me and
I'll rant for hours.....
The sound was almost rythymic. Thirty pencils scribbling hurriedly on rapidly filling test sheets. Buffy's was blank, but for her name: Summers, Buffy Anne.
She clutched her head to her hands, ignoring Willow who was attempting to mouth her concern from two rows over. Xander chewed his pencil, brow creased with confusion. Cordelia was absently applying lip gloss while gazing out the window.
The clock above the blackboard ticked audibly, almost synonymous with the sounds within the classroom: coughing, creaking chairs, tapping fingernails... It was deafening. Buffy leapt from her chair, oblivious to the suprised expressions of the students around her. She ran from the room, continuing until she had exited the High School. Once outside, she fell to the ground. Only then did she allow herself to cry.
Faith knew that it was hopeless, yet she gazed towards the entrance one last time. Nothing. Despondantly, she boarded the bus, shoving her bag into the overhead compartment. She allowed herself to sink into her seat, closing her eyes as she did. So this was her life. Running from a little blonde bitch because she had allowed herself to feel. Well fuck that. The sooner she got the hell out of dodge the better. In her heart of hearts she had known that Buffy wouldn't show, yet she had clung to that last thread of hope... Well no more. The old Faith was back, of that she was resolute.
"Anyone sitting here?"
Faith looked up. Before her stood Angelina Jolie circa 'Girl;Interrupted', albeit with a shock of purple hair. Granted, she was not the ACTUAL Angelina Jolie, but she did a hell of an impression. Faith grinned at the girl widely, nodding by way of invitation. The girl sat, flinging long sunkissed legs over the seat in front of her. She blew a bubble, also purple, popped it and returned the gum to her mouth. Returning Faith's grin, she reached into her backpack and produced a walkman.
"Want an ear?" Faith nodded, still grinning as the sound of an unfamiliar Drum and Bass tune assaulted her eardrum. Fuck yeah, the old Faith was back and there was no better place to start.
She didn't hear her name being shouted as the bus departed the station. Nor did she see the blonde slump dejectedly to the ground as she closed her eyes and gave herself to the music. No looking back.
"What the hell happened in there?" Xander filed behind Willow as they handed their test sheets to the teacher.
Willow shook her head and gazed sadly at her friend. "I don't know Xander, but something's up. Buffy hasn't been herself for days, and I don't think it's just because of the master."
Cordelia elbowed her way between the two of them. "Are we talking about she of the supreme weirdness? Aka the chosen one, vampire slayer and/or 'get the hell over it, you like girls'."
Willow and Xander exchanged confused glances. Cordelia rolled her eyes and sighed. "For people who claim to be Buffy's best friends, you two are incredibly lacking in the 'having a clue' department."
And again, an exchange of glances.
"Christ! No wonder you two were single for so long. The condensed version: Faith wants Buffy. Buffy thinks 'Eeew'. Faith tries it on with Buffy, Buffy freaks, but we all know she's just fooling herself. She wants a roll as much as Faith does."
Willow stuttered and blushed profusely while Xander, for want of a large solid object, crossed his legs and thought of his Uncle Rory naked.
"So, what does 'Buffy' mean?" Taz (as Faith had learned was purple girl's name) traced Faith's tattoo with purple tipped fingernails.
Faith hesitated. "Nothing important."
Taz laughed sadly, a light melodic sound which Faith found appealing. Even more appealing was when she hitched up her skirt to reveal a tattoo of her own.
"Let me guess, big love lost?" Taz enquired. Her tattoo was, unsuprisingly, purple. A small butterfly on her thigh, beneath which was etched 'Taz and Jaime.' "It fucks you up, doesn't it." Taz's voice had lost its upbeat tone as she stared at the inscription.
Faith's eyes clouded, and she turned to stare out the window not wanting Taz to see her reaction. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned. Taz's tear filled eyes mirrored her own. "Yeah, it fucks you up..." Purple lips met scarlet, as miles of deserted landscape passed, unwatched.
Buffy allowed her answering machine to screen her calls: Willow, Willow, Xander, Willow...
Outside, the mid-afternoon sky was bright. She wondered where Faith was now, what she was thinking... Clutching Mr Gordo to her, she fell into a fitful sleep...
Notes: Sorry for MAJOR delay on this part, but blame the profs who have an
agenda against me which involves constant grief and a fuckload of
assignments.*sighing audibly, hoping to portray pissed-offness to readers.*
- Again, thanks to all my fb-ers - I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
- Special thanks to Star for the loan of the lovely Taz, who I have
undoubtedly shaped beyond recognition. Apologies to you both, please
forgive :)
- Just watched 'Older and Far away' tonight - Dear GOD who is that fox who
played Richard?!!! Need a name so I can stalk with an obsession like no
other.
Faith lay on her stomach, head resting on her arms. Taz sat on the brunette's back, tracing her tattoo with gentle fingers.
"Tell me about her."
Faith stiffened. "Who?"
"She of the 'name permanently inscribed on your back' fame."
"Nothin' to say." Faith avoided Taz's gaze, and instead stared at the headboard before her. Regulation motel: cheap wood bearing excessive carvings - 'Jack fuked Mandy here prom nite '98.' Learn to spell Jack.
"Fair enough, I'll go first."
Faith continued to stare at the headboard. The J in Jack looked more like a G.
"Faith, look at me." Faith felt Taz's hand on her shoulder, saw the startling mauve of her fingernails.
"Look Taz, I'm not one for sharing. More of an introspective let it simmer and then kick some ass kinda gal."
Taz fell silent, and Faith turned to find the girl smiling sadly, eyes wide with unshed tears, stroking the tattoo on her thigh.
"Shit Taz, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
Taz stood abruptly, sliding a motel robe over her naked form. "We met when I moved to Oregon... Dad got transferred from New York and I was sent to Bible bashers 'R Us Catholic school, for nuns in training. Half an hour into my first class I was sent to the principal's office." Taz laughed and gestured towards her hair. "That's where we first met. She was waiting outside trying to fix a purple plaster over her nose ring...
"So, we figured that we had purple in common, and an innate knack for pissing off those of the cloth. By our second month of junior year, we had set fire to Sister Nualas habit after a wayward flicking of cigarette incident, and alienated most of the other students after dying the church's holy water purple. Man, that shit stains skin for at least a week..." Taz grinned, displaying perfect white teeth heavily contrasted against the lilac of her lips.
"I always knew that I loved her. I can't count the times that I went to kiss her and chickened out...didn't think she'd be into it."
Taz bit her lip, willing away the impending tears.
"Anyway, I managed to scrape enough credit together to graduate. We both turned up for the ceremony in purple gowns, she even dyed her hair purple for the occasion. Sister Nuala nearly had a coronary when we went up to accept our diplomas, and Jaime gave her a full on kiss on the lips. It was classic." Faith's smile mirrored that of Taz.
"She was all set to go to college in the autumn. I, on the other hand, planned on arseing around for a good three years before settling into the rewarding vocation of bag packer at Walmart.
"The summer seemed to fly by, we were planning a road trip to the Grand Canyon. She always wanted to go there. Said she wanted to sing there, hear her voice echo for miles and miles... But she was too busy planning for college - Man, she was so excited - picking out all her dorm room shit and choosing her classes... I knew I had to do something."
Taz paused, fishing in her bag for a cigarette. Faith stared at her intently as she lit up, soiling the filter with purple lipstick. Taz inhaled deeply before continuing:
"She went to visit her college one day, to check stuff out... so I went to the local shithole, got rat arsed, and procured this." Taz moved her robe aside to reveal the butterfly tattoo.
"Christ does that sound familiar." Faith lamented, sparking up a cigarette of her own.
"I managed to climb up her trellis, and I was waiting in her bedroom when she got home. I showed her the tat, and I lunged at her; I mean hands and tongue EVERYWHERE." To Faith's surprise, Taz blushed slightly. "Given the amount of romantic scenarios I had envisioned over the years, this was not one of them. Anyway, she freaked. Asked me what the fuck I was playing at - told me to go home and sober up, and she'd call me in the morning.
"So, I went home... packed all my crap into a bag and legged it. Any of this ringing a bell?"
Faith didn't respond, instead she drew from the remnants of her cigarette before stabbing it out on the bedside table.
Taz continued: "So I fucked around for a year. Shit, I must know every Greyhound route there is. I wallowed, blamed everyone else... My sister managed to contact me in Memphis. I'd been there for a while, temping at as a secretary... she said Jaime was sick and I had to come home."
Taz closed her eyes. "She looked so different. Tiny, and... afraid. She had lost her hair... it was beautiful before, blonde and long. Always shiny." Taz cradled her head in her hands, flinching when Faith touched her.
"She asked me why I had run away, told me that she loved me back, but she had just been confused. And she kissed me, right there in the hospital room while everyone waited outside.
"I stayed with her, made the nurses set up a camp bed right there in the room. It was like I'd never gone; we laughed, took the piss out of old teachers and students, held hands and kissed."
Taz looked up, gazing directly at Faith. "We're going to the Grand Canyon now." She reached into her bag, removing a purple container. "I'll have to sing for her... I tried to get out of it, but she made me promise." For the first time that night, Taz laughed. "I could never say no to someone with a bod like that."
Faith embraced the girl, allowing her to sob against her.
"Faith, you know this story has a moral, don't you."
Faith said nothing, clutching the girl to her.
Notes: - Why did I set this in Philadelphia, knowing nowt about the State?
Because I'm a rubberhead.
- As always, for top notch F/B-age, see the works of Swayslayer.
- And of course, huge thanks to the gourgeous Star for loaning me Taz. Do I
have to give her back?.... Damn, I think she wants to go home :(
"Buffy, I know you're in there! Open the damn door!"
Buffy buried her head in the pillow, covering her ears in an effort to drown out Cordelia's voice.
"Fine... You've given me no choice. I'm climbing the tree, but I swear to God Buffy, if I break a heel on my new Jimmy Choo's, you're buying me a new pair..."
Sighing, Buffy crawled out of bed, and swung her bedroom window open. Cordelia glared at her from below.
"About time. You know, if you're trying to avoid people, you should really try to act more inconspicuios...like, closing your curtains so people can't see you walking around."
"What do you want Cordelia?"
Cordelia tapped her foot impatiently. "Are you going to let me in or do I really have to climb the tree?!"
Buffy shook her head despairingly. "Fine, wait there. I don't think Mom has enough insurance to re-clothe you."
Cordelia barreled into the house, striding past Buffy, who sighed, running a hand through tangled hair. Cordelia surveyed the slayer, and rolled her eyes. Buffy, wearing a sesame street t-shirt and the first pair of tracksuit bottoms ever made, looked as though she had spent the best part of a week in bed.
"Cordelia, what do you want?"
"Well, lets see... Vamps are up by about 110% because the slayer has become a recluse AND Willow and Xander are boring me to tears with their incessant 'what's wrong with Buffy' babble."
Buffy stared at her feet and said nothing.
"Jesus Buffy, will you just go find her already!"
"Find who?..."
"Missy, the cheerleading chick from 'Bring it on.'- Who the hell do you think?!"
Buffy trailed her toe across the corner of the rug, hesitating before meeting Cordelia's glare of exasperation.
"I...."
"Look Buffy, I'm not going to prompt you. Busy day and all. Unless you want to alienate everyone, be responsible for countless deaths at the hands of the undead and slowly go crazy while accumulating every cat in the Southern California region, I suggest you go find her and tell her how you feel."
Buffy opened her mouth to protest, but decided against it after receiving the wrath of Cordelia's glare. The brunette reached inside her denim jacket, retrieving an envelope and handing it to Buffy.
"First class all the way to Philly. The return ones are open."
Confused, Buffy sliced the envelope apart with a fingernail, and inspected its contents. Three tickets for Delta airlines. The first, one way, destination Philadelphia. The remaining tickets were returns. Two tickets... so she wouldn't have to return alone.
"Well, that's me all packed. A whole life rammed into a piece of shit rucksack." Taz swung the the afforementioned bag over her shoulder, its straps becoming entangled in her purple locks. Cursing audibly, she disentangled herself from the unwelcome constraints, and turned to grin at Faith. "Wish I could do something about all this fucking hair, but Jaime loved it, so..."
"Stay." Faith interrupted suddenly. "One more night I mean... it's late and dark and shit, and I bet there won't be a bus for hours... But if you wanna go that's cool too, y'know, whatever." Faith cringed and mentally staked herself repeatedly.
Taz regarded the brunette for a moment, before dropping her rucksack to the ground and grinning broadly. "Fuckit, might as well flake for another few hours, I mean the Grand C isn't going anywhere, is it?" The relief in Faith's eyes was almost audible. She was lonely. Shit, hadn't Taz been there not long before?
"I was about to mill into some J.D if you're up for it?" Faith reached under the bed, dragging out a full bottle of Jack Daniels.
"Hell yeah," Taz leapt onto the bed beside Faith, embracing the slayer in a bear hug.
Buffy hated flying. To be honest, it scared the crap out of her. To make matters worse, she was seated between a similarly minded middle aged man and a frat boy, who leered unashamedly at her chest as she tightened her seatbelt.
The plane was rolling at a leisurely pace down the runway. Buffy knew the score. In a few minutes, the engines would blast into action and they would propel down the runway at a speed that was very unnatural and very, very wrong. Beside her, the middle aged man voiced her thoughts, albeit, with religious overtones. Frat boy had somehow managed to snake his hand over her own white fisted one. She absently shoved it aside and returned to her list of flamy death scenarios.
The engines gunned, and they were off... ascending now... Buffy clutched the hand rest, crushing the metal beneath her fingers. Fuck, fuck, FUCK!
3 hours and 35 minutes were spent with eyes squeezed shut. Sadly, the handrests of seat f, aisle 47, were never the same again.
Faith had produced another bottle of J.D, and she and Taz were currently making quick work of a nagan of Apple Schnapps. An unlit cigarette hung from Faith's moist lips, as she clumsily searched for a lighter amid the clothing that lay scattered beneath her.
"Wheresh the fuckin' light?" Faith drawled, falling against a giggling Taz. "Y'know, I bet Buffy B's never had a smoke in her life. Or a good fuck." Faith hiccuped in conclusion, before rolling off Taz and landing in an ungraceful heap on the floor.
Still giggling, Taz hung her head over the side of the bed and stared at the motionless brunette. "Faith? Faith, you alright?"
Faith's eyelids flickered slightly, and she gazed up at Taz without recognition. "Shit B, you look well fucking weird. Whenja dye your hair purple?"
"Come on Faith, time for beddie byes. You can look forward to one bastard of a hangover tomorrow though. Damn, you must have drank at least 3/4 of those bottles of J.D. That's some metabolism you got going for ya." Taz offered an unsteady hand to Faith. Faith ignored the procured hand, continuing to study Taz with interest.
"Come on Faith, help me out here." Taz extended her hand further, succeeding only in rolling off the bed herself and landing atop Faith. "Ow, shit!" She giggled again, but was silenced by Faith's hand, gently grazing her face.
"I loved ya B. I'd never loved anyone or anything 'til I met you. This face, I see it all the time. All the fucking time... But it's not gonna happen, is it?" Faith smiled sadly, tears clouding her vision. Taz clamboured, awkwardly from the brunette, her feet unsteady beneath her.
"You're fuckin' hammered Faith. Get some sleep and we'll talk about Buffy tomorrow." But Faith was already asleep, snoring gently as a tear cascaded down her face.
'Way to think this through' Buffy chastised herself, as she crossed through the arrival's terminal. Ok, so Faith had taken the Greyhound to Philadelphia, but what was to say she was still here? And, if by some miracle she was still here, where the fuck was she EXACTLY?
Flagging a taxi, Buffy cursed herself for the hundreth time. Process of elimimation. She vaugely recalled some Sherlock Holmes flick she had seen years ago. What was it he said? Eliminate all possibilites and then.... A proverbial bulb alluminated above her head, and Buffy directed the driver to the Greyhound bus terminal. Faith generally made the cheapest of motels her temporary abode, so might as well start from her arrival point and work from there. Sighing, Buffy leaned against the leather of her seat and stared vacantly out the window.
The gentle rapping on the door awoke Taz with a start. Having eventually managed to drag a disgruntled Faith into the bed beside her, the brunette seemed oblivious to their early morning visitor.
"Faith..." Taz shook the slayer, receiving only a sucession of mumbled profanites.
'Fuck this.' Taz padded from the bed, uncaring as to her semi-clad state. Her head throbbed, and she squinted against the dawn light streaming through the uncurtained window. Outside, the visitor knocked again.
"Jesus, I'm coming, will you relax!"
"Taz?" A semi-alive Faith rubbed her eyes and groaned.
Taz swung the door open with annoyance. Before her stood a petite yet striking blonde. Despite the early morning intrusion, and the presence of the definitive hangover from hell, Taz grinned at the girl. The blonde appraised her silently, apologetically.
"Who the fuck is it at this goddamn hour?" A bleary eyed Faith ambled behind Taz, adjusting to the sunlight.
All three stared silently. The blonde's eyes widened, her bronzed face paling as she stared from Taz to Faith. With apparent realisation, she edged backwards, omitting an almost silent "Oh."
"B?" Faith was wide awake, hangover forgotten.
Another "Oh," and the blonde was running.
"Buffy!" Faith was tearing after her, barefoot and dressed only in an underwear and bra. An early morning trucker, unloading his wares, paused to watch the scene, a leering grin playing on his lips.
"Buffy?" And for the third time in as many minutes, Taz offered an "Oh."
Notes: Thanks be to sweet Jesus, this poxy fic is over at last. I started
it with all of the best intentions, but sadly, it all went horribly pear
shaped as this final part will attest. On the up side, NO MORE F FACTOR!!!!
Again, thanks to everyone who has FBed me throughout this hellish
ordeal... And on to the NEW!
- Despite protests from the women herself, I'll continuing plugging Sway
Slayer's fics 'til the day I die. Hmmm, that sounds decidedly filthy.....
- To Star, owner of the ever gorgeous Taz, HUGE thanks for the loan :)
Feel free to take and keep Tilly.
- I had intended to thank each of you FBers personally, in this final part,
but being the lazy shite that I am..... well, your names aren't here. But
you know who you are, and I hope you know how much I appreciate it. Love ya
all!!
- Oh, final note - This fic was originally intended as NC17, but somehow
failed to get there. I'm reckoning R.
Cordelia sauntered into the library, absently blowing a strand of hair from her eyes. Her gaze settled upon Giles, who was frantically cleaning his glasses while pacing the floor.
"So neither of you spoke to her recently?" Xander and Willow, both white faced, shook their heads in unison.
Giles closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, as though trying to elicit information. "Her mother says that only the basic essentials are missing; toothbrush, hair supplies, shampoo.... She left no message. Nothing to indicate where she was going, or the purpose of her travels..."
"Kidnapping demon who believes in maintaining his victims personal hygeine?" Cordelia offered, settling into an empty chair.
"Buffy's missing." Willow looked close to tears. "We think she's run away again."
Cordelia dismissed this with a wave of her hand. "Buffy? No, she's in Philadelphia. She'll be back in a few days."
Cordelia removed a compact from her purse, and inspected her lipstick, unaware that three sets of eyes were fixed upon her.
"Errrr, Cordelia?!..." Xander, eyebrows raised, broke the extended silence.
Cordelia finished applying her lip gloss, rubbed her lips together and acknowledged her boyfriend. "What?"
"Buffy's WHERE?!!"
Cordelia sighed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Christ, how do you people battle the big evil when you're all COMPLETELY devoid of everything the clue department has to offer?!"
Willow blinked. Giles returned his glasses to their rightful position. Xanders brows remained furrowed.
"This is the LAST time I tell you this. Faith loves Buffy. Buffy finds out. Buffy's all confused, but we all know that she really digs girls." Three sets of jaws dropped in horror. "To rephrase, everyone else knows but you idiots, who, by the way, I can recall telling much of this story to REPEATEDLY!"
"Buffy's...gay?" Willow managed to stammer, her face turning a violent shade of red.
"Christ Almighty, give me strength... ANYWAY, Buffy rejects Faith. Faith runs off to Philadelphia. Buffy realises that she DOES in fact like Faith, so she goes to tell her. And that's the story so far."
After a moments silence, Giles muttered something unintelligable, concluding with an audible "tea!", before heading towards his office, closing the door behind him.
Willow and Xander remained immobile and open-mouthed.
Cordelia fluffed her hair, rolled her eyes and strutted out of the library.
Buffy blinked furiously in an effort to abate the threat of tears. A giant apple settled in her throat, and she swallowed, to no avail. Behind her, Faith was calling her name, and she hesitated for a moment before continuing on.
"B!" Noting Buffy's hesitation, Faith sped up, grabbing the blonde's shoulder and swinging her around with unintended force. Buffy teetered momentarily, before regaining her balance and swinging at Faith, fist connecting with nose. Faith's eyes watered as blood descended from the point of impact, but she didn't retaliate. Wiping her lips of blood, she stared imploringly at Buffy, who returned her gaze with a ferocity that Faith didn't recognise.
"B...."
"Fuck you, Faith." Buffy's voice was low. Emotionless.
"B, that back there, Taz... It was nothing B..."
Buffy laughed sardonically. "She has a name? Thought your fucks were faceless jokes Faith. Is that what you wanted me to be? Another notch on the bedpost? A hilarious memory to conjure?....how you corrupted Buffy Summers."
Faith reddened and she balled her fists, her nails cutting into her palm. "You know that's crap B. You know you're different...Dammit B, you know I....."
"What Faith!?" Buffy watched the blood trickle down Faith's chin, watched as it dripped onto her chest, disappearing into her cleavage. Despite herself, her gaze remained momentarily on this focal point.
Faith stifled the urge to draw attention to Buffy's transfixtion. Not the time, and definitely not the place. Faith became aware of the early morning commuters who stared unabashedly at her near naked form, spoiled only by the continious stream of blood covering her lower face and chest.
Buffy averted her gaze, and locked eyes with Faith. "What do I know Faith?! I know that you gave me an ultimatum and fucked off when you didn't get the answer you wanted. I know that you found yourself a purple haired slut not ten minutes later. I know that you couldn't give a damn about anyone but yourself. And most of all, I know that you really couldn't give a damn about me....otherwise you wouldn't have left."
Faith watched in stunned silence as Buffy's face crumpled, tears falling readily from large green eyes. Ignoring the bemused pedestrians, she reached for the blonde slowly, running a thumb gently across her tear stained face. Buffy stiffened, before shoving Faith's arm aside.
"Goodbye Faith." Buffy turned, walking slowly from the staggered brunette. Faith stood motionless, wanting to tell her, but....afraid.
"Don't fuck this up." Taz was behind her, purple hair tied in an untidy bun, rucksack hanging from her shoulders. "Don't let her get away." Faith watched as Buffy turned a corner, disappearing from sight. "Here, take this." Taz removed her denim jacket and handed it to Faith. "You'll want to leave something to the imagination. Plus, I think that old dude over there is about to have a heart attack." Faith smiled at Taz, slipping the jacket over her arms.
"Thanks Taz. For everything, I mean."
Taz shrugged modestly. "Hey, I'll send you a postcard from the Canyon."
With a final grin, Taz shoved Faith gently. "Go on then!" It was all the encouragement Faith needed.
A gentle hand on her shoulder. A near silent whisper. "B.."
Buffy stopped, and turned. "Faith, I told you...."
"Please B... you were right, almost everything you said was spot on. I left because I didn't get the answer I wanted. I went out and fucked the first person I met. Before I met you, I didn't give a shit about anyone, especially not myself. But you were also very wrong..."
Faith's nose had stopped bleeding, and she wiped the sleeve of her jacket against her face. She didn't think Taz would mind. Shit, it was her jacket now. Buffy's eyes widened with disgust, causing Faith to grin.
"See B, it's stuff like that. I know your every expression, every line on your face. That's the look you give me when I do stupid shit like licking the bottom of the bowl or walking through my motel room with dog shit all over my boots. I know before you do when you're pissed off, or when you're gonna laugh. Christ B, that's why you're so wrong. There's no one I care about more than you...."
Buffy placed a silencing finger on Faith's lips, brushing the brunette's hair behind her ear with her free hand. Slowly, she edged towards Faith, her heavy breathing a stark contrast to Faith's complete lack of. Pink lips met red, a tentative peck. Faith enveloped Buffy, dragging the blonde against her, running hands through tangled hair. Buffy reciprocated, lacing her arms through Faith's, allowing her fingers to explore the patterned muscles of Faith's back. Tongues duelled greedily, all senses on alert. When at last Faith reluctantly pulled away, Buffy was shivering.
"You cold?" She enquired, draping her arms around the smaller girl.
"Not anymore." Buffy leaned her head against Faith's chest, allowing the brunette to savour the vanilla scent of her shampoo.
"But..." Buffy noted, tugging at Faith's bloodied sleeve, "it looks like bath time for someone."
"If it's of the sponge variety, I'm in." Faith chuckled, noting Buffy's expression. "See B, right there, that's your 'Faith, that's inappropriate' glare."
Buffy punched Faith lightly on the arm, smiling despite herself.
Faith feigned pain, unravelling her arms from around Buffy. "Shit B, you give me a bloody nose and a dead arm, yet I still love you."
Buffy stopped in her tracks, mouth agape. She opened her mouth to respond, but this time it was she who was silenced by Faith. "Don't answer that B... Not yet anyway." A solitary kiss, and Faith entwined Buffy's fingers with her own. They walked back to the motel, sharing a comfortable silence.
Cordelia pinched her nose, attempting to alleviate the beginnings of a migraine. Despite the subtle strummings of the guitar based band, her head was starting to throb like a bastard.
"Buffy...." Xander shook his head in disbelief.
"and Faith.." Willow finished, her expression uncomprehending.
Cordelia stared at the two through bleary eyes, glancing at Giles who nursed a lukewarm cup of tea. His response was to blush profusely.
"So....Buffy's really gay then?" Willow looked at Cordelia for confirmation.
Cordelia clutched her head in her hands and sighed. "No, actually, I made it all up. Buffy's really on a 'discover yourself' retreat in the Andes, and Faith's gone to Idaho to cultivate wheat."
"...retreat?" Xander echoed, his confusion intensifying.
"Fucking RETARDS!" Cordelia grabbed her handbag and stormed out of the Bronze, leaving a perplexed scooby gang staring after her.