A Night Off
by Nikita
Rating: R
Disclaimer: The Characters belong to the great and powerful Joss.
Author's Notes: A big thank you to everyone who has sent me feedback, it
is much appreciated. I have total writer's block and this is an
attempt to cure myself. It's set post S5 and Buffy and Faith are
both in Sunnydale and everyone is getting along.
Feedback: Please!
Faith stood and stared out of the window, looking over the streets of the town. She watched the residents of Sunnydale walking through the dark streets. They were aware of the danger that was constantly around them, they must be, but they trusted in the slayers to keep them safe. Just her, a fucked up kid who could barely take care of herself, and the blonde girl who was presently rummaging through her closet trying to find an outfit suitable for Bronzing. Faith shook her head and sighed. The pressure of fighting the good fight wasn't getting any easier. Vampires, demons, asshole motel owners, none of them would take a break just because they had a party planned. But Buffy had other ideas. She wanted to make tonight `special'.
Yup, `special'. That's what she had said. Apparently she felt Faith deserved a birthday party. Faith groaned inwardly, regretting that she had ever let the date slip in their conversation the previous day. She turned around and watched Buffy pulling clothes out of her closet and throwing them around the room. Faith smiled slightly, hell, the blonde was cute when she was flustered.
"B...." Faith grinned, ducking as a pair of combats whizzed past her head. "What's the big? It's just the Bronze."
Buffy pouted. "I said `special' and that's what it's gonna be." She muttered, pulling out a dress.
Faith shook her head. "It's enough that you even arranged this. You don't have to go over the top."
Buffy turned around. "Just because my birthdays are days for big painful evil, doesn't mean yours have to be."
Why break the habit of a lifetime? Faith thought to herself. She shook her head. "I'm gonna go get changed, OK?"
Buffy nodded. "Meet us at The Bronze at eight." Faith nodded and headed out the door, grinning as she heard a yelled "And don't be late!" As she left.
Faith wandered back to the motel, sneaking through the shadows as she drew nearer, hoping to avoid the owner and therefore paying him. She unlocked her door and began to strip off.
An hour and a half to look good enough for B. She groaned. She looked through her clothes and groaned some more. Usually, she wouldn't care. Leather trousers and a tank top suited her fine, but B.... after the effort she was making....
She jumped in the shower leaned against the tiles. A year ago, she wouldn't have believed that Buffy would ever do something like this. Or that the rest of the Scoobies would bother to turn up, but a year can change a lot of things. Buffy was alive and well, apparently over Angel, and Faith was something close to being happy. Close, but not totally.
Because a year can change a lot of things, she thought as she got out of the shower and picked up a picture of Buffy. She traced her fingers over the blonde's face. A lot, but not everything.
She shook her head and started on the search for clothes again.
At 7.50 pm, Faith stood nervously outside the Bronze, kicking herself for being early. She spotted a vampire taking a girl around the back and grinned. Just what she needed to take the edge off. Faith followed them quietly, and then grabbed the vampire from behind, throwing him down and staking him swiftly. She was mildly disappointed at the lack of effort needed. She helped the girl up, who squeaked at her and ran away.
Faith sighed. "No problem." She looked at her watch. 7.56pm. "Close enough."
Faith walked moodily into the Bronze. She felt guilty. It wasn't that she didn't like partying, obviously, but her birthdays always made her feel kinda down. And that vamp was boring. And Buffy...........
My God.
Faith's jaw literally dropped when she saw Buffy. She assumed the rest of the gang were there, but she couldn't bring herself to look away from her fellow slayer long enough to be sure.
Buffy was standing in front of her, hair tumbling over her shoulders, strapless navy dress, looking simply amazing.... and her face, beautiful as ever.... Faith did a double take as she realised that Buffy was looking at her with much the same expression on her face as Faith had on hers.
"Uhhh...." Was all the words Faith could form.
"You look amazing." Buffy said, regaining her composure. She was surprised, not that Faith looked great, she always did, but that she was actually wearing.... a dress. Black, of course, and kind of slutty.... but still a dress.
Faith motioned to Buffy. "You.... wow...."
Buffy smiled. "Happy birthday." She put her arms around the brunette and hugged her tightly.
Faith hugged her back, nervously. She didn't usually go in for this sort of thing, but still, it felt damn good.
Their embrace was only broken when the rest of the gang, tired of waiting, descended on the birthday slayer and bestowed well wishes on her.
Faith just grinned goofily at them all.
This wasn't turning to be such a bad birthday after all, Faith thought to herself. She was watching Buffy, as Xander and Willow were telling old stories and jokes, and Giles was trying to get Anya off the subject of money for one night at least. Which he did, only to have her start on her other favourite topic: sex. Faith grinned and shook her head . When she looked back up, she noticed Buffy staring at her, a slight smile on her face. Faith faltered for a second, before returning her gaze. After all, holding a stare was one of her specialities.
And so she did. They were oblivious to the conversation around them, seeing only each other. Faith could feel herself getting hotter and hotter just looking at the blonde, almost disbelieving what she was sure she could see in her eyes. Desire, passion.... love?
Xander grinned, noticing the two slayers gazing at each other. He had seen this coming. He motioned to the rest of the gang, who one by one, slipped away.
Left alone, Buffy reached across the table and took Faith's hand. "Dance with me?" She whispered. Faith nodded and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor.
Buffy took her in her arms and smiled. "Happy birthday?" She asked.
Faith smiled down at her. "It keeps getting better." She replied softly, stroking the blonde's hair.
"And I still haven't given you my present." Buffy said.
Faith raised an eyebrow at the mischievous tone in Buffy's voice. The blonde smiled at her.
"Do you want it?" She whispered, her eyes making more of the question than her voice.
Faith brushed the hair out of the blonde's face and hoped the question meant what she thought it did. "More than anything." She replied, realising she was holding her breath.
Buffy held her tighter. "I love you." She whispered, loudly enough for only a slayer to hear. Buffy pulled Faith towards her and kissed her, gently, and then stronger as her confidence and desire grew simultaneously.
When they parted, Faith had tears in her eyes. "I love you B." She said, gulping them back.
Buffy smiled and held her close. "Happy Birthday." She said happily.