CHAPTER FIVE
Bam! Bam Bam! Bam! Bam Bam BAM!!!
The bag wasn’t singing, the bag was crying out for help, shouting to the rooftops for an assist, but there was no one around except Faith, and she wasn’t handing out any mercy at the moment. She was dealing with her issues in a healthy manner, a manner that suited herself and those around her best, and one that she had learned over many a hard fought night.
She was past working up a good sweat, a cleansing lather, a dripping exhaustion. She had passed all of those quite some time ago and was now doing her best to reach a Slayer tired, the kind of tired that wouldn’t even let her think, let alone feel. She wanted the escape that came with that kind of weariness - at least she thought she did, but as the time plodded along she began to wonder if it wasn’t just a habit, a knee-jerk reaction that didn’t come anywhere close to her real wants and desires.
Because every time she hit the bag with her fists she remembered where her hands had been. How they’d been held down with just a verbal request, a softly whispered “please” that had held her still as if she were in the world’s strongest vise.
She remembered when her hands had been set free, where they had gone, what they had done, what they’d been allowed to touch. Her workout slowed, then stopped as the images took her over. The moans, the sighs, the intense feelings that no one else had ever come close to making her feel and that were still burning inside every part of her even though they’d last been experienced hours ago.
Every time her foot smashed into the bag, she remembered her legs wrapped around a slim waist, her ankles locked together as she lost all rational thought, unable to resist begging for it never to end. She’d tried to hold it in, but she couldn’t, not when she was where she’d always wanted to be, not when she could happily die and never regret a thing.
She’d ended up blurting out almost everything and then later when the heat of passion had cooled, she’d still whispered it, babbling on like she routinely pleaded for love all the time. It was embarrassing and it made her feel vulnerable, but the answer she received was immediate and only served to pull her in closer.
First there had been the blinding smile, then the bone shaking kiss, and then the words of love whispered with a confidence and naturalness that had Faith believing in them despite everything inside of her screaming out that only a fool would ever trust in those words.
But there was nothing else she could do, Buffy was with her, giving Faith everything she was and holding nothing back, and Faith felt herself swirling and spinning as she fell deeper and deeper into the passion that belonged only to them. Buffy had been right, the secret was out, and there was no fooling either of them that it was any other way: they were in love.
Faith stood lost in thought in front of the bag that still swayed slowly, the faint clinking of the chain doing nothing to anchor her to the moment.
“I love you, Faith, more than I ever knew it was possible to love anyone. You are so beautiful…and you taste…Mmmm…God, you taste so good…”
Faith could do nothing except lie there, her body seeming to ignite wherever Buffy’s lips and tongue and hands touched. She kissed her way down Faith’s body so slowly it was agonizing, tantalizing, it was every other “izing” ever known to man or woman or any combination thereof, and Faith reached out for her, eager to return the pleasure and take back some of the control she was so easily surrendering.
“Please, Faith…let me do this.”
Faith laid her arms down, unable to deny such a simple request. Buffy smiled and began leisurely exploring every inch of Faith in great detail. She made a purring noise as she went, and that sound alone had Faith out of her mind in mere seconds. It didn’t stop until Buffy reached her destination, looking up at Faith with a sexy innocence that made Faith moan and squirm at just the sight of it.
“I’ve never done this before, Faith, you’re my first. I might not be great at it this time, but I am going to be wildly enthusiastic. I’ve been dying to do it since I woke up this morning, so you might wanna settle in. I’m going to be here quite awhile.”
Faith couldn’t help but smile as well as get about fifty times wetter.
“I’m settled, B.”
“Good. All comments and suggestions are welcome.”
And that was the start of everything.
There was one tentative little swipe, and then Buffy was a part of her. Faith came time after time, and although Buffy would slow and sometimes even stop, her head stayed where it was, resting contentedly until it was time to start again. Faith couldn’t have offered any tips if her life had depended on it.
A few times she’d managed to rise up, staring down in rapturous disbelief at the blond head between her legs. It wasn’t just “some” blond head like it had always been before; no, this time there was no need for any pretense. The blond head delivering such ecstasy to her was the one all the others had been mere stand-ins for, the one Faith had been dreaming of for years.
It went on forever before Buffy finally eased her way back up Faith’s quivering body, examining everything in great detail again as she did.
“God, Faith, you’re beautiful. So beautiful it’s hard to believe even though I’m seeing it…up close and personal.”
Faith had a reply spring quickly to mind. It was clever and it was funny, it was the best thing anyone had ever said in any conversation ever, but before she could answer, Buffy’s tongue delicately rolled around her nipple. Still Faith tried to speak, but then Buffy’s mouth closed all warm and wet as her tongue kept doing its thing and before she could say a word, Faith was coming again.
There was something so different about Buffy and the way she touched Faith. She was rough and aggressive for sure when she needed to be, but there was always an underlying softness, a gentleness that Faith had never known with anyone else. It was girly and it was loving, and Faith couldn’t get enough of it.
Buffy treated her as if she was something precious, something to be worshipped and treasured and even though that was a totally unfamiliar situation for Faith, she found that with Buffy she had no problem just going with it. Faith wanted to stay right where she was and bask forever, and somehow that already seemed like a reasonable request and one that was easily attainable.
They had made love well into the night and Faith had ended up falling blissfully asleep, although truth be told it was a lot closer to passing out than drifting off. But it didn’t matter, not really. Her body felt boneless, her heart felt full and satisfied, and the warmth of Buffy’s love covered her with a heat that made her past drowsy. A thought flitted its way briefly across her mind, a thought that she needed to get up and go, but it left almost the moment it arrived.
‘Get up and go’? Was she out of her fucking mind? She was never leaving, not ever. She was going to stay in the thoroughly rumpled bed with the thoroughly amazing woman, and she was going to be the most thoroughly happy idiot the world had ever seen.
She passed out lying on her stomach, her leg and arm hanging slightly off the bed as Buffy snuggled up to her, her own arm and leg sprawled across Faith, her head resting on her back. Her lips rained kisses along Faith skin, and she laughed low and sexy again when she found the extra sensitive spot in the small of Faith’s back.
“Mmm…that’s gonna come in handy somewhere down the line.”
She made Faith jump again as she ran her finger lightly along the spot:
“B……”
“Shhh, go to sleep now, baby. There’s plenty of time.”
And with that Faith was gone, out like a light, sleeping like a log, three sheets to the wind on hot sex and love.
It was the best sleep she’d ever had, and when she awoke three hours later, it was to find them both in the same position. She tried to move slowly, the last thing she wanted was to wake Buffy, but when she rolled over her partner protested immediately, complete with a pouting bottom lip and a Slayer strength that held Faith right where she was.
“No, you can’t leave. I’m all warm and happy.”
“Not leavin’. Just wanna hold you is all.”
Buffy’s eyes closed, her pout gone as a slow smile eased its way onto her face.
“Oh, you can do that.”
She nestled into Faith’s arms, laying her head just above her breast.
“You feel good.”
“You too, B. Now shhh, go back to sleep.”
“No leaving?”
“I got issues, Buffy, but I’m not stupid. Not gonna go anywhere, promise.”
Buffy laughed, already falling back asleep:
“I love you.”
Faith was spared from having to respond because Buffy was already asleep. Besides, what would she have said?
“I know.”
“Ditto.”
“Me too.”
“Yeah.”
She knew she was going to have to get better at it, but for now she buried her face in the golden hair that smelled like flowers and let her arms tighten around the best thing in the whole wide world. She could feel every inch of her skin, every spot where Buffy was touching her and it felt great. The leg flung over her, the arm wrapped around her, the hand entwined in her hair, it should have all felt confining, yet instead it just felt safe.
“Okay, so what’s going to happen here?”
The unexpected voice startled Faith and she reflexively struck the bag as she turned her attention to the intruder.
“Oh…hi.”
“Hi.”
Satsu walked all the way into the room, closing the door behind her:
“So is this okay or am I going to get the shit beaten out of me again?”
“Depends. You the one who ate the last of the pizza? Girls on watch last night were pretty pissed.”
“It wasn’t me, I stayed in my room all night.”
“Guess you’re safe then.”
Faith turned back to the bag, doing her best to look calm even though she felt nervous and uncomfortable. Satsu jumped up to sit on the horse, seemingly composed as she watched Faith work.
Several minutes passed before Satsu interrupted:
“Wow, you’re almost as good as Buffy.”
“Yeah, and it’s that ‘almost’ usually almost gets me killed.”
Faith began unwrapping her hands:
“Room’s yours. Ain’t doin’ shit for me anyways.”
Faith opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. She drained most of it, then tipped it in a quasi-salute to Satsu as she turned to go.
“Faith, could I talk to you?”
The sigh was audible, but Faith stopped:
“Ya gotta?”
“Yes.”
Faith turned to face her:
“Want another apology? Probably owe ya, so…”
“No, the first one did the trick, but um…I need to say some stuff.”
“To me?”
“Yeah.”
Faith grabbed a metal folding chair, dragged it over in front of Satsu and sat down. She again presented the perfect picture of “calm”, but inside everything was churning.
Satsu seemed to be gathering her thoughts, her head down as she stared at the floor. Faith took the time to really look at her and she could see she was hot and cute and sweet, but there was also an underlying strength to her, a maturity and sense of self Faith only wished she herself possessed.
“I love Buffy.”
The declaration seemed to boom out in the silence of the room and Faith tried her best not to react in any way. She knew she wasn’t successful as she felt herself flinch, but she covered up the jerky motion by raising the bottle to her lips. It was a pretty smooth move, but she doubted Satsu was fooled in the slightest.
“I’ve never loved anyone like I love her, I probably never will. She’s Buffy, you know?”
“…Yeah, I know.”
“I figured you would. And here’s the thing: she made it clear right up front that she didn’t love me and never would.”
“She musta felt somethin’. She slept with ya.”
Satsu’s laugh sounded more sad than anything:
“Only because I went after her. I caught her on a lonely night and she still tried to push me away. She told me it was just a one time thing, that it could never be anything more than that.”
Faith didn’t want to hear the details, but as she considered standing up and leaving, she told herself to stay put and listen.
“It was beautiful, everything I’d imagined and more, but I knew a big part of her wasn’t with me and I knew right then she was never going to love me. I didn’t care, I still don’t. I’d be with Buffy on whatever terms she decided on, there’s no way I’d ever turn her away.”
Satsu stared off, her gaze directed towards the window, but Faith knew she wasn’t seeing a thing. She turned back after a couple of minutes and picked up the thread:
“So my big plan was to keep making love to her until I finally won her over. Until then, I’d just be grateful for whatever she gave me and I’d keep hoping that one day she’d learn to feel for me just a bit of what I feel for her. That would have been enough for me, Faith, anything from her would be enough, you know?”
The bottle in Faith’s hand cracked, dripping water over her fingers and onto the floor. She threw it in the direction of the trashcan but missed. The thud was loud and they both watched the bottle rolling around in an irregular pattern on the floor, spilling its contents as it went.
“Why the big share here?”
“Because I want her to be happy. I want that more than anything.”
Faith could see she meant it, could see the love and concern that was driving Satsu to face her again.
“Okay, I get it. Not tryin’ to be a bitch, but what’s your point?”
“I’ve known Buffy for a while now. We’ve become good friends and she’s talked to me about all kinds of things.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, Buffy never said one word about you. Think about that, Faith…not one word, not ever.”
She could tell that meant something to Satsu, but as far as Faith could see it was just the same old, same old. Buffy probably never even thought about her once in the…
“I knew who you were of course, and I thought it was weird she had nothing at all to say about you. So I asked the Slayers who were with you guys in Sunnydale and they told me the story of what went on between you and Buffy. How you fought the whole time, but when the big showdown came, you guys seemed to rely on each other. I just figured it was Slayer stuff.”
“Was. Me and B got about as ugly a history you can get, so who knows what it’s all…”
“Don’t lie, I know what it’s about. All she sees is you, just like all I see is her. Buffy loves you.”
Faith kept her face neutral when everything inside of her wanted to leap to her feet with a huge grin and shoot rainbows, butterflies and fairies out her ass.
“Do you love her?”
“Look Satsu, that’s kinda personal and…”
“When you came to the infirmary, you said I could take a couple of shots if I wanted to. Okay then, this is how I’m taking them.”
Faith stood up and walked back over to the bag.
“Rather you just punched me in the face, but…”
She lightly tapped the bag, then laughed ruefully.
“…I guess this is what I get for bein’ a crazy bitch.”
“Looks like. So, Faith, do you love her?”
“…Yeah, I do. I always have.”
Satsu looked relieved and happy and sad all at once.
“Okay then, from here on out it’s mostly your business.”
“Mostly?”
“Well, you do what you’re gonna, but I swear to every god and higher power there is: if you hurt her, I’ll kill you. I know I can’t take you in a fair fight, so I’ll wait for my chance and when it comes, I’ll slit your throat from behind.”
Faith couldn’t help but smile and Satsu misunderstood:
“Don’t fucking test me. My grandfather was a ninja and he taught me everything he knew. I’ll stand still in the shadows and when my chance comes, you’ll be gasping for air and dead before you know it.”
“Not doubting you, Satsu. Just likin’ the fuck outta ya.”
Satsu hopped down from her seat on the horse:
“You’re kind of okay too. Do you think maybe we could spar a little? I feel kind of tight from my down time, and I wouldn’t mind a few pointers from you.”
Faith’s smile became a grin, just like that:
“Yeah, sparring sounds good.”
Satsu took off her jacket as Faith stood looking her up and down:
“So we’re goin’ how much less than full steam?”
Satsu stretched and winced:
“Well, I am still feeling the ‘beat down’ you gave me.”
“Okay, no more trips to the doc, gotcha.”
Satsu laughed:
“Not for me anyway.”
Faith’s laughter echoed off the walls:
“Whoa! Got us a live one here.”
“Yep. And definitely ready to kick your ass.”
“Hey, Satsu?”
“Yeah?”
“Your grandfather was a ninja? For real?”
“Nah, we’re from Michigan. He was a snowplow driver. I just thought it’d scare you.”
Faith grinned as she crouched slightly, her hands held at the ready:
“Mission accomplished.”
Buffy sat in the conference room looking over some last minute revisions in the watch schedule. She had a perfectly good office of her own in which she was supposed to do things like look over the last minute revisions in the watch schedule, but she never used it, much preferring the spacious and sunny conference room. The giant picture windows overlooked the prettiest part of the castle’s grounds and no matter what she was doing, Buffy could always relax when she got a look at the stunning view, complete with babbling brook.
She was leaning back in her chair with her feet resting comfortably on the table, and there was a huge smile on her face as she took in the lush scenery. She didn’t think she’d managed to stop smiling since the morning after her first night with Faith, and she doubted she was going to be stopping any time soon. Even doing the boring work her position required wasn’t nearly as bad as it normally was, or she suspected it wouldn’t be if she ever decided to do it.
The last couple of days had been like a dream and she could not believe the difference a handful of hours had made…well, that and the resolution of a denial that had lasted years. And also the hottest sex anyone had ever had, she couldn’t forget that…she absolutely could not forget that. As if.
A potential apocalypse was brewing, her Scythe was gone, and yet Buffy felt light and free. Love was a good thing, the best, and being in love with Faith was even better than the best. It was the best of the best, the absolute zenith of the best. If the best had a limit, this best would be…
Her love struck mental ramblings were interrupted by Willow’s abrupt and totally unexpected entrance:
“Buffy!”
If she hadn’t been a Slayer, Buffy would have been on her butt. As it was, she had to leap awkwardly from her falling chair to avoid tumbling to the floor with it.
“Willow, no teleporting inside!”
“Buffy, I’ve got it! The location of the Scythe!”
“What?!”
Buffy gestured at the table and Willow quickly spread out a map:
“The good news is that they’re not far. Kind of a combination of my limiting spell and that whole ‘hide in plain sight’ philosophy. They’re less than twenty miles from here.”
“That’s great news! So where are they?”
“I don’t know that yet, not exactly, but I will soon. They have a powerful cloaking spell going, but now that we have a more centralized location, the Coven and I are joining forces to break through it. We’ll know by tonight.”
“Can’t we find out any faster?”
Willow looked up from the map:
“We could, but if we don’t do this carefully, they’re going to know that we know. If we just go a little slower, we can prevent them from realizing we’ve broken through.”
“Well, I’m all for keeping the element of surprise. We need to call a meeting, say at five?””
“Perfect, that’ll give me time to tie up loose ends and set-up for tonight’s spell breaking party.”
“Is that what you kids are calling it these days?”
“Just us really cool ones.”
Buffy laughed as she delivered a big hug:
“Good work, Will. And fast too.”
“Yep, I’m pretty big with the proud. I wasn’t sure I could do it this quick, but turns out I had some extra incentive since getting dropped through the ceiling isn’t high on my list of ‘Things Called Fun’.”
Buffy picked up her chair and sat back down:
“I wasn’t too crazy about it either. Getting outted like that was not exactly all ‘After School Specialish’.”
“Maybe not, but certain aspects of it were kinda fun. I mean, the panicked look on your face alone…”
Buffy’s left eyebrow raised as her eyes narrowed:
“Yep, these guys are due for some serious Slayer/Wicca butt kicking.”
“That’s better. Nice save.”
Willow grinned as she sat down next to her and began reading and skimming over the sheaf of papers she held. Buffy went back to staring out the window at the green rambling grounds, her smile firmly back in place. A few minutes of comfortable silence went by and then Willow’s curiosity took over:
“Okay, spill it.”
“What?”
“Please Buffy, you’re sitting there grinning like a nut and you’ve been downright giddy every time I’ve seen you over the last two days. What’s going on and don’t tell me ‘nothing’.”
Buffy turned to face her:
“Let’s just say it’s been a good couple of days…scratch that, a great couple of days.”
Willow was clearly shocked:
“With Satsu? But I thought that was over weeks ago. Did you guys…”
“No! That’s definitely over. The kind of over that was over before it even started, you know?”
Willow was puzzled, her mind working furiously:
“That’s what I thought. Okay then, what is it?”
“It’s…Faith and I finally settled things.”
The disappointment was impossible for Willow to hide:
“Hey, good for you guys, Buff. I guess good for all of us really, since whenever the two of you fight everybody’s in danger. It must have felt great to…”
“We slept together.”
Willow began sorting her notes into piles as she only half listened:
“Uh-huh. That must have been a doozy of a talk if you guys just crashed after. It’s cool though that you felt comfortable enough to…”
“Will, the other kind of ‘slept together’.”
The papers fluttered around the table, some even escaping to the floor:
“What?! Like in a sex way?! You and Faith sexed?”
Buffy laughed:
“Is that what the cool kids are calling it these days?”
“You had sex with Faith?”
“Yes, we’ve sexed numerous times and will sex many more, as many as I can work in.”
Her smile was bigger as she leaned back and Willow leaned forward, her all-important notes totally forgotten:
“Okay, you need to stop with the coy and give me the details! Exactly how did this happen?”
“Well, first she beat up Satsu and…”
“Why?”
“Because she found out that we’d slept together and she got jealous.”
The stunned look on Willow’s face made Buffy wish she had a camera.
“And this knowledge made her kill Satsu?”
“Will, there was no actual murder. She picked a fight, it got out of control, but then she stopped. When I showed up, she insulted me and went to her room. I took Satsu to the infirmary then tracked Faith down.”
“Gee, a girl leaves for a few hours to gather some supplies and it’s all: ‘Oh, boy’!”
“’Oh, boy’ is right. So we had this horrible fight and then it just happened.”
Willow was shaking her head as if that would help her understand what was being said to her:
“You jumped Faith?”
“Uh…no. She got all…all forceful with me and…then she just sort of took me. I fought her at first, it was Faith, you know? But it wasn’t long before she made me admit that I wanted her.”
“Oh, boy…I need to sit down for a sec.”
“You are down, Will.”
“Oh, yeah. That happens a lot, doesn’t it?”
They sat in silence until Willow began giggling:
“Wow, Buffy, when you go gay, you really go gay!”
Buffy was nothing but smiles:
“I know, I’m like a wild woman! But the thing with Satsu was…well, I don’t know what that was. Like I said she’s wonderful, but I just don’t feel that way about her.”
“And I’m assuming that’s not the case with the ‘Original Bad Girl’ herself? Because based on the whole sexual tension thing since you guys met, coupled with your newfound willingness to be all bi-curious…”
“No more with the ‘bi-curious’ here, Will. I am completely a one-woman woman now, and that is final. No going back, no experimenting, no nothing but Faith, 24/7.”
“Okay, that’s great, but let me play ‘Devil’s Advocate’ for a minute.”
Buffy leaned back in her chair, her feet again resting on the tabletop:
“’Devil’ away…or should that be ‘advocate’ away?”
Willow’s expression was nothing but serious:
“Doesn’t matter. Buffy, this is Faith we’re talking about. What makes you think, I mean, she’s all “get some, get gone’, and I know she’s been getting and coming back, but…”
“I know who she is, Will.”
“Okay, and don’t take this the wrong way, but what makes you think that Faith’s…Buffy, you’d be a great catch for anyone, for sure. You’re sexy, pretty, funny, smart, brave, a wildly exciting woman, and anyone would be happy to be intimate with you.”
Willow flushed red, but she kept going:
“Except not me though, but just because we’re friends. I mean, I only thought about you like that one time in high school when you wore that white dress with the red…”
“Will…”
“Oh no, wait. There was that other time on that picnic and Xander was making you laugh and the sun was shining on your hair and you were using that new conditioner they don’t even make anymore…”
“Willow!”
She jumped in her seat and blushed an even deeper red.
“Sorry, I know I’m babbling with the impure ‘best friends’ thoughts. But you are pretty hot and I’d have to be dead not to notice.”
“I get it, okay. Although I don’t like the sound of ‘pretty’ hot. How come I’m not just ‘hot’? What’s keeping me in just the ‘pretty’ hot category? Is it my nose or is it because…Scratch that, what are you trying to say about Faith?”
“All I’m saying is that I’m worried you’re getting all gung ho about this really fast, and Faith isn’t exactly the poster girl for monogamy, no matter how great the sex is.”
Buffy’s smile said it all:
“Okay, yes, in one way it’s like a whirlwind, but in another…Will, this has been coming for years now. We’ve been dancing around how we feel about each other since we met and I guess we both finally got tired of it, you know?”
“I get that, Buffy, really I do. It’s just tough to wrap my head around Faith in a relationship. She’s so…so ‘Faith’.”
Buffy’s smile never even faltered:
“Yes she is, and she keeps coming back. She’s still a little nervous and uncomfortable, but she’s getting better with it. She’s in love with me, Will, and she’s edging closer to admitting it with actual words.”
“……So, you and Faith.”
“Yep, me and Faith.”
“Zoinks.”
“’Zoinks says it all, I think.”
The look on Willow’s face told Buffy what was coming next:
“Alright Buff, so as your best friend tell me…”
Willow leaned forward, then looked both ways before finishing her question in a near whisper:
“…what’s it like with her?”
Buffy just grinned, her whole face lighting up.
“No. No way, Buffy, can you do that! Details are required, at least general ones.”
“Alright, okay. Well, you know all of those times she shot her mouth off?”
“Uh-huh?”
“She was selling herself short…way, way, way short. Really short, like midget short.”
“Oh, Goddess. Is that even possible?”
Buffy’s face scrunched up as she tried to think of just the right words to convey what a fantastic lover Faith was.
“It’s insanely wonderful. She just seems to know what I need, what I want. And no matter what she does, there’s this…She’s so loving, Will. Underneath it all I can feel it. She loves me, more than anyone ever has, and I can feel it every time she touches me.”
Willow stood up and gave Buffy a hug, kissing her on the cheek as she pulled back with a mischievous grin:
“Sex good, then?”
“Sex great, then.”
“Then it’s full speed ahead on the ‘Faith’ train.”
“Double Slayer full speed ahead.”
Willow laughed, amused even more than she could say:
“I’d better spread the word that everybody needs to batten down the hatches.”
“I’d say you’re exaggerating, but after that first night her room looked like we’d taken out a nest of Kevlar demons.”
Willow responded in song:
“Buffy’s in l-ove…Buffy’s in l-ove…”
“Yes, I am. I’m in love so much I don’t know how I kept it in all these years.”
Willow rolled her eyes:
“Uh, Buff? You kinda didn’t. You guys have been like two little kids who keep hitting each other because you’ve got a crush. Of course the downside’s that you both hit a heckuva a lot harder than regular kids.”
“Yeah, we haven’t exactly been careful with each other, have we?”
“No, but then I’ll bet that’s part of the appeal. You challenge each other, and if you could just control it a little bit it could be a good thing.”
Buffy was nodding in agreement, her face looking nothing but determined:
“Well, we’re going to have to figure it out because we’re doing this relationship. I want her, she wants me, it’s way past time to see where that can take us.”
Willow gathered up her papers:
“No argument here. You’re wildly happy, and I’m always all for that. She’s one lucky girl, our Faith is.”
“Thanks, Will. I know we’re just getting back to where we should be and…”
“Hey, that’s behind us now. Besides, keeping hot lesbian true love sex from me? That’s never going to be the way to make things better. Vicarious smoochies are definitely needed until I get some of my own again.”
“No word from Ken yet?”
Willow pushed her chair under the table and headed for the door, talking as she went:
“She’s coming back for the fight, but I think it’s over between us.”
“Are you sure, Willow?”
“No, but almost. At least on my end.”
“Hey wait, don’t go. Let’s talk about it.”
“I can’t right now, I’m expecting a call from Marion and I’ve got a million things to get ready for tonight.”
Buffy did not look happy with her answer:
“Hello, best friends here again. We’re patching things up, and if I’m not mistaken, talking about relationships is a big part of…”
“I know, I know. Later, I promise. The first chance I get I’ll…”
Her attention was caught by someone down the hall:
“Or maybe the first chance you get.”
“What’s that mean?”
The raspy, sexy voice Buffy heard next cleared things up immediately:
“Hey, Red.”
“Hi, Faith. You’re sure looking chipper.”
“Yeah, been a weird coupla days. I anywhere near the conference room?”
“So near, you’re on fire.”
Buffy could hear the tension in Faith’s voice as she tried to answer casually:
“Glad to hear it. Andy’s fucked up directions were kinda leadin’ me up my own ass. So, just B in there?”
“Yep. She supposed to be working, but she’s really just staring out the window with a dreamy smile on her face.”
Buffy almost laughed out loud at Willow’s blatant assist. In another situation she might have been irritated, but not in this one. In this one she was all, “Go, Will!”
“Yeah? She say what she was ‘dreamin’ about?”
“Why, no. Is there something going on?”
Faith’s amusement was obvious in every word:
“Ya know, Willow, much as I’d like to keep standin’ here playing with you…”
‘You’d rather play with Buffy?”
Buffy could not believe that Willow Rosenberg had just said that, and said it so sexily. Apparently Faith couldn’t believe it either, and her laughter rang out, followed closely by an admiring:
“Fuck me.”
Willow moved away from the door and began heading down the hall:
“Oh, I’ve thought about it, but Buffy’s my best friend, you know? So, no.”
“You’re a real piece a work, Red.”
“That’s what all the girls say. Bye, Buffy!”
And then Willow was gone, leaving Buffy looking expectantly at the doorway. It took a while, but then Faith came walking in, shaking her head.
“That girl’s…”
“‘A piece a work’ if I heard right.”
Faith smiled:
“Ya heard right. So guess you spilled the beans to her.”
“Yep, just about as fast as I could spill them. Is that okay?”
Faith headed over to look out the picture window:
“Sure, she’s your best friend. Tough to keep a secret from everyone.”
Buffy answered immediately, not wanting there to be any misunderstanding:
“We’re not a secret, Faith. Everyone’s going to know just as soon as you’re okay with telling them.”
“Me?”
“Yes, if it’d been up to me, I’d have announced it the morning after.”
Faith turned and walked over to sit across the table from Buffy:
“Moving kinda fast, don’t ya think?”
“No, I think five plus years is more than slow enough. Besides, I don’t care. I’m in love with you and I’m not wasting any more time.”
“Damn, got that stubborn look you always get when ya mean business.”
Buffy smiled at her:
“That’s because I do mean business. So I’m guessing you wanted to talk to me?”
“Nope, just takin’ a tour of the castle and was dying to see the conference room again.”
“Funny. Want a drink?”
“Sure, whatcha got?”
Buffy went over and opened the refrigerator. She leaned down slightly as she peered inside:
“Let’s see…We’ve got Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, water, root beer, and hands on my breasts.”
Faith began kissing her neck as her hands worked their magic:
“Mmm…you feel good, B. All soft and firm, and these are hard.”
The last word was punctuated by a quick squeeze of Buffy’s erect nipples.
“Yes, well getting fondled by you seems to make me…”
“It makes you wet and it makes you mine.”
“Yes.”
“Wish I’d shut the door when I came in.”
“And I wish we were in my private office.”
With a last kiss and a bite that was sure to leave a mark, no matter how briefly on a Slayer, Faith reluctantly stepped back and sat back down.
“Root beer works for me.”
Buffy took a second to compose herself, then reached in for a can of root beer and a Diet Coke. She handed Faith her drink, then pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. She held the unopened soda against her forehead:
“I seem to be a little hot and bothered.”
Faith took a big sip before answering:
“Just a ‘little’? Need to change that soon as possible.”
“I’m looking forward to that. So what did you want to talk to me about?”
Faith took another sip, then another:
“Figured we oughta talk about us, ya know, ‘stead of talking to everybody else.”
That sounds good.”
Buffy popped open her can, only to have it fizz out onto the table and her shirt front. Faith just stared at her:
“Okay, ya did that on purpose.”
“I did not! You saw I never shook it!”
“Look, all I know is your tits are on display and there’s no way I can think about anything else.”
“I’ll cover up. Here, give me your top.”
“Funny, B.”
Buffy walked over to the closet and rummaged around:
“Aha!”
She emerged triumphantly with an old towel that looked worn but not dirty.
“Am I a problem solver or what?”
“Yeah, that’ll do the trick. Or could just screw the talk and head back to your room.”
“Normally I’d be all for that, but I think we should talk.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“…”
“…”
“Faith?”
“Yeah?”
“I thought you were going to start.”
Faith smiled just enough to display her dimples:
“Thought I was gonna too.”
Buffy reached out to hold her hand:
“You don’t have to be nervous, it’s just me.”
“Yeah, well that’s sorta the trouble.”
Then the silence was back, but Buffy didn’t push. She just sat there, her fingers entwined with Faith’s as they waited.
“Just gonna say it and let the shit fall where it falls.”
“Okay.”
“I want this, B, more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. No way did I expect what happened to happen, but as hard as it is to wrap my head around it, I want it so bad.”
“I know, Faith. I want it just as much as you do.”
Faith untangled their hands and started to stand, then made herself stay seated:
“Maybe. I doubt it, but maybe ya do. Doesn’t really matter, as long as you want it enough.”
“Enough?”
“Enough to put up with me. B, I’m gonna try really hard, but I’m freaking. I’ve never been in a relationship, never been in…never felt this way about anybody else. I’ve spent so long hiding how I feel about you, denying it, I just don’t know what to do, ya know?”
Faith stood up then and began pacing:
“That’s why I kept saying all of that shit to you, which I’m sorry for.”
“It’s okay, Faith, I understand.”
The speed of her pacing picked up:
“No, it’s not okay. I wanna do this right, like normal people do, but the thing is I don’t think I can. I’ve spent my life not putting myself out there about anything, ‘specially not somethin’ this big, and I just keep thinking how you deserve somebody normal who can handle stuff better.”
“Faith…”
“And that’s not me, it’s not ever gonna be me, and the worst thing is that the biggest part of me doesn’t give a shit that I’m being a selfish bitch. All it wants is you, so much that I can’t walk away like I know I oughta. I’ve been dreaming ‘bout this for years, B, and I can’t just turn my back on it. I know I should, I know I’m scum for…”
Buffy pulled her down onto her lap as she stomped by, kissing her near panic into silence.
“You listen to me, Faith Lehane: I don’t want normal. I’ve had normal and I don’t like it. What I want is you, in all your selfish glory. Stop worrying about the ‘right’ way to do this, there is no right way. There’s just ‘our’ way, and that’s going to be just perfect for us. I know this is new for you, that’s okay, there’s a lot that’s new for me too. All that means is that there’s plenty of newness to go around, so we’ll figure it out together. It’s going to be fine, Faith, I promise.”
They said nothing for a few minutes, each content to stay right where they were. Faith finally lifted her head and began trying to stand up:
“Guess I oughta get off your lap. Somebody could come in any second.”
Buffy’s arms tightened:
“Let them.”
Faith laughed softly, but she still kept moving:
“Can’t be all wimpy in front of everybody, B. Bad enough I keep doin’ it with you.”
Buffy kissed the top of her head and let her go:
“I guess it’s lucky for you that I’m crazy about the wimpy side and the tough girl side too.”
Faith stood looking down at her:
“Thinkin’ you’re just plain crazy, but whatever. Kinda stuck with you.”
“Yes, you are.”
Buffy stood, tossing the towel onto the table:
“And I propose we talk some more in my room.”
“Could be a good idea.”
“We’ve only got a couple of hours though. Will’s got a lead on the Scythe and we’re meeting at 5:00.”
“Bet we can express ourselves a lot in two hours.”
“Plus we can always ‘talk’ again after the meeting…you know, if some things get left unsaid.”
Faith’s grin was pure sex:
“Can guarantee ya I got lots to say.”
“Really? Then we’d better get started right away.”
“Lead the way, Slayer.”
Buffy’s answering smile made promises of its own:
My pleasure.”
“It’s gonna be.”
They set off at a brisk walk that quickly became a jog, then a run as they raced down the various halls to Buffy’s suite. When they finally made it inside with the door securely locked behind them, they had an hour and fifty-six minutes to talk things over.
