Discoveries
by Hanki
Rating: PG-13
Notes: It’s set sometime in the third season although just imagine that Angel
never came back from hell and that none of the events of “Bad Girls” have happened.
Feedback: Always appreciated.
Tonight was the night. She was finally going to tell Buffy how she felt, strangely enough she didn’t feel remotely nervous. Faith had made a special effort. Well, as much of a special effort as you could make while living on your own in a run down motel room with no money. She was wearing her best leather pants and a so-dark-it-was-almost-black purple, low cut tank top. She’d tried to clean her boots and was quite pleased with the result.
Faith grabbed her leather jacket from where it lay on her bed and shoved a couple of stakes into her pockets. She took one last look around the room to check she hadn’t forgotten anything and, satisfied, left the room.
Buffy hurried down the stairs when she heard the knock at the door, she pulled it open to reveal Faith leaning casually against the door frame.
“Hey girlfriend,” the younger slayer said and stepped inside.
“Hey Faith,” Buffy couldn’t help but stare as she crossed the threshold, she looked exceedingly hot tonight. From her clothes to her hair – which, Buffy noticed, has been noticeably tamed, she looked great and Buffy couldn’t stop staring. And something about the way she said girlfriend tugged at Buffy’s heartstrings.
“So B, what’s the… why are you staring at me?” Faith asked, Buffy thought she sounded half jokey, as if she knew full well what the reason was.
“Uh… I wasn’t,” Buffy stammered, “I… uh… like your top.” She quickly turned away and grabbed her coat from the banister. She called back into the house, “Mom, I’m going!” and they exited the house.
"So where we heading? Cemetery?" Faith asked, now she was beginning to worry about how to tell Buffy that she loved her.
Buffy nodded, seemingly oblivious to the other Slayer’s turbulent thoughts, “Restfield is closest, wanna hit there first?”
“Sure,” Faith agreed and they headed for the cemetery.
They walked on in silence for a while before they reached the gates and entered. Surely enough, they were promptly attacked by two newly born vampires. The Slayers went into action. Faith made short work of her overweight bloodsucker and rushed to help Buffy. Buffy kicked the vamp forward and he landed dead on target on Faith’s stake, just as he turned to dust he kicked out and sent Faith flying forward. She hit Buffy and the two landed on the floor. Faith was on top of Buffy, she stared down into her eyes. She couldn’t move she was paralysed by the wanting she was beginning to feel. Here she was with Buffy, on top of Buffy, make that. It was now or never. Ever so slowly, she reached a hand down to cup the side of Buffy’s face and Buffy leaned into the touch. Faith stared into the other Slayer’s eyes and she almost thought she recognised some of her feelings in the other girl’s eyes. Slowly she leaned down, she was going to kiss her. Buffy raised her face to meet Faith’s and Faith couldn’t believe it. Their lips were an inch apart when Faith suddenly leapt to her feet.
“Jeez B! And you say Slaying doesn’t make you hungry and horny!” Faith cried, resorting to her usual bravado. She was scared that Buffy was only going to kiss her because of the hungry and horny principle and she didn’t want that. If something was going to happen with the other girl she wanted it to be because they both shared something special, not out of post battle lust.
“Faith, I-I though…” Buffy began, she looked hurt and confused and Faith couldn’t bare to look at her.
She turned away, “It doesn’t matter. I’m going,” Faith couldn’t stop herself walking away just like she had done all her life. It shocked her to think how much she has changed in the past couple of months. Whatever happened to the get some and get gone way of life?
Buffy didn’t know what had just happened but she knew the truth now – she loved Faith. She had tried to kid herself into believing it was just some kind of Slayer bond but now she knew just how much she wanted Faith. It wasn’t any post battle yearning either, she really wanted Faith and had done since the day they met. She thought Faith wanted her too but she wasn’t too sure. Buffy was scared, she had never fallen for a girl before and she didn’t quite know what to do or expect.
Faith headed for the Bronze. It had almost become some kind of sanctuary for the dark haired Slayer. She could lose herself in the strangely hypnotic beats of the music and forget about the troubles that plagued her.
She walked the familiar streets until she heard the somewhat comforting beats of the music and spotted the sign proclaiming ‘The Bronze’ up ahead. She entered and immediately blended into the music. She began to dance, instantly a few guys began to dance around her but she ignored them. There was only one person she was interested in dancing with and Faith doubted Buffy would speak to her even if she was here.
Faith continued dancing and lost herself in the rhythm but unfortunately she couldn’t lose her thoughts.
Buffy had patrolled a little more but she couldn’t push the images of Faith from her mind. The blonde haired Slayer knew where Faith would have gone – The Bronze. Faith always danced out her troubles there. Buffy decided to go, if only to clear her head with some dancing if Faith wasn’t there.
She got to The Bronze quickly – no vamps decided to attack her and for that at least she was grateful. Buffy pushed her was past the crowd around the door and immediately spotted Faith. She was surrounded by a group of guys although she didn’t seem to be dancing with anyone. Buffy’s heart leapt slightly when she realised this.
Suddenly the song changed to a much slower, more romantic song and Buffy watched Faith stop dancing. Despite the guys desperate attempts to gain her attention, Faith wasn’t dancing, she just stood on the dancefloor, seemingly unaware of what to do with herself.
Buffy made a snap decision in that second and began to push her way through the dancing couples.
Faith saw her coming but she couldn’t make herself move. She wanted to know what Buffy wanted. The blonde haired Slayer came to a stop and stared at Faith for a moment. Neither knew what to do. Finally Buffy opened her arms and held them out to Faith, she slipped into them without a moments hesitation.
They swayed to the music and Buffy felt Faith lay her head on Buffy’s shoulder. She felt Faith’s arms around her and knew that this was right and that Faith wanted it too. Buffy placed a gentle kiss on Faith’s neck and then whispered in her ear, “I love you. I’m sorry if that scares you but it’s the truth.”
Faith swallowed, was this all for real? Buffy was holding her, really holding her how Faith had always dreamed and now she was telling her it was real and somehow Faith knew it was. This was the most real thing she had ever experienced and all she had to do was speak the truth. “I… I love you too, Buffy.” Shit, I’m going soft, she thought as she realised she was almost crying. How could one girl have this effect on her?
“You didn’t call me B,” Buffy mused somewhere by Faith’s ear.
“Don’t get used to it, B,” Faith stressed the last syllable slightly and Buffy grinned.
The two girls pulled back to look at each other as the song ended, their arms were still around each other but their faces were now an inch apart. The look on Buffy’s face would live with Faith forever. It was so full of open love and wonder at the new discovery of each other. Faith realised that she was probably wearing a similar expression, Buffy was the only person who she would ever drop her walls for.
Something was still worrying Faith, “B… when I almost kissed you before, I only stopped because I thought you were only with me because of the hungry and horny thing and I didn’t want that.”
“You’ve changed Faith, and besides if I was feeling that it only helped me realise something that’s been there all along,” Buffy replied and leaned in to kiss the girl she loved.
This time Faith didn’t resist and their lips met eagerly. The kiss was short but conveyed a thousand meanings. Buffy kissed her way down Faith’s face and neck until she reached her shoulder where she rested her head. She felt Faith’s hand on the back of her neck and Faith’s head leaning on hers. Buffy and Faith stayed close all night, revelling in the new feelings and closeness. It was a long time before either moved, they didn’t want to break the perfect moment they were sharing.