Chapter 2: Dramatic Name for Second Chapter
Faith’s POV:
We hung out all day. And all things considered, we had a good time.
And maybe it was just me, but it didn’t feel awkward. You know, not like it usually does when your best friend confesses a love for you other than platonic. I was really grateful for that.
Anyway, we ate and by the time we were done, Sunnyhell had gotten a whole lot darker and it was time for me to get to work.
I could feel my whole body starting to buzz. Mike, on the other hand, was exhausted but desperately trying to stifle his yawns. He failed miserably though.
I notice he’s not walking beside me anymore and turn around.
“Um. The cemetery’s that way, Faith. See that arrow over there with the word ‘Restfield Cemetery’ painted on it?” He speaks slowly, as if explaining something to a small child.
I am less than amused.
“Mikey, you can barely walk. You need some sleep, and that’s why we’re going straight. See that sign over there with-.. Okay so there isn’t a motel sign here but the motel’s over there and that’s where we’re headed.” I nod my head to that direction.
He just stands there. Pouting. Most of the guys I know wouldn’t be caught dead pouting but to Mike it is a well-honed weapon. One he doesn’t use often but when he does, he hits the bulls-eye. Every fucking time.
Not this time though. We’re talking life and death here.
“No, seriously Mike. I can’t take you patrolling.” I’m about to continue walking but he doesn’t move an inch.
“Aww, c’mon Faith, I just wanna see one little vamp. I wanna see you beat it up.” He has a subtle way of kissing my ass.
“Fine. Five minutes. If we don’t meet a vamp or anything by then, we’re heading back.” I try to keep a straight face but his grin is so wide it might just split his face.
Four minutes later, the grin is nowhere to be seen.
“Dude. So this is why there’s only supposed to be one Slayer. What’s the point if there are no slayees?” Mike grumbles.
I shrug and check my watch.
“Time’s up, we’re outta here.” I grab his arm and walk towards the gates.
“Wait, what’s that?” He struggles to break free but he’s got no chance in hell.
“What’s what?” I let him go and peer at where his finger is pointing.
“Somethin was moving back there.” He looks at me expectantly. “Slaying time?”
I shake my head.
“No. It’s time for some investigating. Stay close and be quiet.” I crouch and sneak towards the bushes Mike pointed out. He mirrors my actions and I nod approvingly.
Suddenly something jumps out of the bushes and runs. And shit, this thing can run. I can keep up, but barely.
The vamp apparently wants to go to the abandoned mansion but fuck me if I’ll let it.
I crank the speed up a notch and I can feel my muscles protesting under the strain they’re in. I push down the pain and I’m nearing the vamp.
With a huge amount of strength and effort I jump and land on the vamp’s back.
It yelps.
No, really. A yelp. A girly yelp.
We fall on the grass. I’m on top of the vamp, which by now I have identified as a female. I grab its wrists and hold it behind its back.
“You’re pretty fast, babe.” I grin. But I’m faster.
“Fai geh off me!” Huh?
I jump up startled. B?
“B?” I ask.
She looks up at me from the ground, her hair all messed up and she seems a little embarrassed.
“Faith.” She stands up and brushes herself off.
What the hell is she doing here? And what the hell was she doing sneaking around in bushes? And why the fuck was she running?
I cock my eyebrow at her, confused.
“Uh... Good going Faith.” She smiles nervously.
“Huh?” Yeah, I guess I’m not that articulate when I’m confused.
“I was trying to sneak up on you to uh... test your reflexes.”
Oh, well that’s convincing.
She laughs a little.
“Hehe...Well done. You know, cuz you caught me and stuff. Heh.”
... Right. Well... whatever you say, B.
“Sure, whatever you say, B.” I say sceptically. I help her up.
“Damn.. Faith. I need to get me some of that Slayer speed.” Mike has caught up and he’s completely out of breath.
I slap him on the back while he coughs.
“Yeah, it’s pretty fierce, huh?”
Buffy’s looking everywhere but at me. She seems incredibly uncomfortable.
“Unless this is a vamp, which I doubt, what with the conversing with it and everything, are you gonna introduce us?” Mike seems to have more control over his lungs now.
“Oh. Right. Mike, this is Buffy. Buffy, Mike.” I’m glad it’s dark cuz I can feel a little blush forming on my cheeks.
Mike holds out his hand and B accepts, still smiling nervously.
“Oh, the other slayer. Nice to meet ya, Buffy.” His smile is genuine and do I detect a hint of amusement there?
“Uh, yeah, nice to meet you too...uh...Mike.”
Jeez, what’s up with B?
Everything’s quiet for an unbearable total of ten seconds.
“So...” Mike begins.
“So...” Buffy repeats.
“So.” I state.
What? Some weird shit is going on here.
“So I’ll let you two talk while I uh... Go stand over there.” Mike says.
“No!” Buffy and me almost shout.
What the fuck?
“I mean... It’s not safe. Right, Faith?” She looks at my arm. Um. Okay. Aren’t people usually supposed to look at your face when they talk to you? I’m pretty sure I read that somewhere.
“Right. With the non-safety.” I nod to myself. You know, since no one’s even looking at me.
Mike and B are just kinda looking at each other weirdly. I don’t like it. It’s confusing and strange and fucking annoying.
“Uh... I hate to break it to you Slayer folk, but there’s absolutely diddly squat of danger here right now. Unless I stumble over a gravestone, I’m basically safe.” The guy’s got a point. But I still feel like punching him.
I don’t wanna be alone with B right now. It feels awkward and I don’t know why and I’m getting real pissed off.
“How ‘bout I go look around in that big-ass mansion? Vamps can’t get in houses without getting invited, right?”
I nod hesitantly. I look at B for confirmation.
“Er... Yes, that would be uh... correct. It’s abandoned but Will put a spell on it. Um. Yeah, but uh... It’s very old. And um. Maybe... uh... Okay.” She’s a wreck.
Mike smiles.
“Okay then. I’ll be over there.” He walks away and god I want to punch him.
We watch him enter the mansion and the silence is overwhelming.
“Look, Faith, about this morning...”
Oh! This morning! Fuck that’s a relief!
That’s why she’s being weird! Cuz she feels embarrassed about this morning. Shit, you cannot believe how relieved I am right now.
“... I don’t know what came over me. I just... I feel so lost sometimes. But I’m glad you were there and... Thank you.”
She’s so sweet. But she looks so sad. I reach out and brush her cheek with my thumb.
“Hey, it’s no problem, B. Any time.” I feel my body heating up.
When I touched her face, she shivered. And it was perfectly clear in her eyes that the shiver was not unpleasant to her.
Suddenly, we find ourselves standing toe to toe. I don’t know who moved. All I know is that she smells real good.
But then I look in her eyes and I panic.
I take a faltering step back. My legs screaming at me to run away.
“I...” can’t speak.
She’s hurt and I can’t take the pain in her eyes. I need to get out of here.
“I have to go.” I manage to choke out.
She looks at the ground and forces a smile.
“Okay.” She whispers.
I quickly walk away. What’s going on?
And then I feel it. Vampires. A lot of them. I see a shadow on the first floor of the mansion so I don’t have to worry about Mike right now.
I turn around to face the woods. And they come pouring out. There’s eight of them in total.
I grin.
“Well, boys, you’ve come just in time.” I say it with a confidence I don’t feel. I hope B didn’t take off yet.
One of the vamps turns to dust and I see her standing triumphantly to my left.
“Slayers!” The leader growls and they all attack at the same time.
I jump out of the way of a vamp trying to tackle me and kick him hard in the ribs. I hear them crack but have no time to smile when another vamp jumps me from the back and I duck.
The two vampires jump up while another one kicks me. I fall on my back and roll out of the way as one of them tries to punch me. I kick his legs out from under him and stake him in one smooth move. Once I’m back on my feet again I glance at the mansion. What I see throws me completely and three vamps jump on me mercilessly.
No.
I roar and throw punches anywhere I can. Quickly I’ve staked another and pushed back the other two.
I’m about to run to Mike’s rescue but the two vampires I pushed back grab me.
“Noo!” I scream. I claw at them and one falls on the ground, clutching his bleeding face.
“Mike!” I scream again, staking my two vampire swiftly.
B dusts her remaining vamp.
“Faith?”
Buffy’s POV:
It’s dark by the time the movie marathon’s done and I feel a little better. I thank Willow for being Support Girl and walk purposefully towards the mansion.
I fiddle with the ring Angel gave me but my thoughts keep wandering to Faith. Would she give something like this to her girlfriend?
Looking up, I see that I’m standing in front of the mansion. This is what I have to do.
I enter the building and silently walk through the rooms and hallways. I’m going through all the memories I have of this place and Angel.
I sigh and place the ring on the floor of his living room.
“Goodbye, Angel.” I whisper.
Exiting the mansion, I was surprised to find tears in my eyes.
Angel was a huge part of my life and although Faith closed it for me unconsciously, it saddens me to know that this time I’m choosing to close it for myself.
It isn’t a cold night, but I wrap my arms around myself anyway. I need some major comforting right now. But I have no one to go to. How do I tell anyone what I’m feeling? What I feel for Faith?
I shake my head. I can feel a head-ache coming.
As I’m walking broodily through the cemetery, I hear voices. One male, one female.
I can’t help the smile that forms naturally on my lips as I hear the deep husky voice of Faith.
For some reason, I’m crouching down and sneaking towards some bushes.
“Dude. So this is why there’s only supposed to be one Slayer. What’s the point if there are no slayees?” I hear the guy saying.
I push a branch out of the way and I see the guy who was holding her yesterday.
Faith looks at her watch.
“Time’s up, we’re outta here.” She grabs his arm and turns to leave. I shift positions so I can follow them.
And no, I still don’t know exactly why I’m following them.
“Wait, what’s that?”
Uh oh.
Um. Okay.
Shit shit shit. What now?
“What’s what?” Faith lets him go and I’m panicking.
Damn it.
“Somethin was moving back there. Slaying time?”
I should really be making a hasty exit now. Faith whispers something and I really have to get going.
I jump up and start running.
Please don’t let her catch me, please don’t let her catch me, please don’t let her catch me.
It is my mantra, and I’m praying to anyone up there that she won’t catch me.
So it comes as no surprise when she catches me.
“Oomph!” We both fall to the ground, her straddling my butt, holding my wrists from behind.
“You’re pretty fast, babe.” She says and I’m turning a deep shade of red. Oh my god. Ok, embarrassment later, breathing first.
“Fai geh off me!” I feel her body tense and she jumps off me.
“B?” I turn on my back and look at her.
She looks really confused.
Um. Okay, what now?
“Faith.” Me smart.
She cocks an eyebrow at me and I need to say something. Apparently, saying her name isn’t enough an explanation for her.
“Uh... Good going Faith.” I try to smile.
“Huh?”
“I was trying to sneak up on you to uh... test your reflexes.” I explain.
I doubt she buys it so I laugh a little.
“Hehe...Well done. You know, cuz you caught me and stuff. Heh.”
You know what? I should stop talking. Just shut up. Not make any sounds with my mouth.
“Sure, whatever you say, B.” She holds out her hand and helps me up.
“Damn.. Faith. I need to get me some of that Slayer speed.” The guy from before is half running half stumbling.
Faith slaps him on the back and smiles as he tries to catch his breath.
“Yeah, it’s pretty fierce, huh?”
I so don’t want to see this.
“Unless this is a vamp, which I doubt, what with the conversing with it and everything, are you gonna introduce us?” The guy looks from me to Faith and I manage to give him a little smile.
“Oh. Right. Mike, this is Buffy. Buffy, Mike.”
So his name’s Mike. I don’t like him.
He holds out his hand and I accept. We shake our hands slowly.
“Oh, the other slayer. Nice to meet ya, Buffy.” He says.
The other slayer?
Woah. I’ve never been referred to as ‘the other slayer’. I was always THE slayer. And... Faith was ‘the other’ Slayer.
I guess with him, it’s the other way around. Faith’s The Slayer. And I’m the other slayer.
It feels weird.
“Uh, yeah, nice to meet you too...uh...Mike.” So has anyone seen my brain? Cuz I seem to have lost it.
There’s an uncomfortable silence.
“So...” Mike begins.
“So...” I repeat. My brain. Someone? Anyone?
“So.” Faith states slowly.
She looks really freaked.
“So I’ll let you two talk while I uh... Go stand over there.” Mike says.
“No!” Faith and I shout.
I know why I don’t want to be alone with Faith, but what’s her excuse?
“I mean... It’s not safe. Right, Faith?” I can’t look her in the eye so I look at her arm. I’m such an idiot.
I must’ve really freaked her out this morning.
“Right. With the non-safety.” She agrees.
I look at Mike and he’s looking right back at me. He seems to be contemplating something. But then he looks at Faith.
“Uh... I hate to break it to you Slayer folk, but there’s absolutely diddly squat of danger here right now. Unless I stumble over a gravestone, I’m basically safe.” He says.
It is a slow night. But.. I just don’t want to have to do this right now.
“How ‘bout I go look around in that big-ass mansion? Vamps can’t get in houses without getting invited, right?”
Faith nods and looks at me.
“Er... Yes, that would be uh... correct. It’s abandoned but Will put a spell on it. Um. Yeah, but uh... It’s very old. And um. Maybe... uh... Okay.” I really should go to my English class more often. Maybe it’ll help.
Mike smiles.
“Okay then. I’ll be over there.” He walks away and god Faith looks like she wants to do some major damage on him.
She hates me.
It’s quiet again and I decide to start.
“Look, Faith, about this morning...I don’t know what came over me. I just... I feel so lost sometimes. But I’m glad you were there and... Thank you.”
There’s a look of surprise in her eyes. She smiles at me sweetly and brushes my cheek with her thumb.
Cue the shivers.
“Hey, it’s no problem, B. Any time.” She says.
God I love her.
I love her. Oh my god.
I subconsciously take a step forward and I’m surprised to see she does the same.
She’s so close to me, I can feel her warmth and if I listen carefully, I bet I can hear her heartbeat. Would it be beating as fast as mine?
But then she steps back and she looks like a trapped animal.
What happened?
“I...” She starts.
I can’t help feeling rejected. The warmth that I was bathing in is taken from me as she backs up a bit more.
“I have to go.”
She doesn’t want to be with me.
I look at the grass because I know I’ll start crying if I look her in the eye.
And then she’ll feel bad and I don’t want her to feel bad. So I smile.
“Okay.” I wanted it to sound reassuring but it came out a broken whisper.
I can’t help but watch as she walks away. I don’t understand.
Aything.
I don’t understand the way I feel.
I don’t understand what’s going on between her and Mike.
I don’t understand what’s going on between us.
I don’t understand her.
I just don’t understand.
Vampires. Eight of them. In the woods. Thank god for slayer senses.
Faith.
I run in the direction Faith left and find her standing defiantly in front of the vampires. I sneak up behind a vamp in the back and stab him.
The leader looks at us perplexed for a few seconds but then decides to do a little suicide mission anyway.
“Slayers!” He growls and the vamps attack us.
The vamps split up in two groups and I have four of them trying to encircle me. I’m rather impatient though and deliver a roundhouse kick that knocks two vamps off their feet. As they get up, I stake one and I’m about to stake the other when one of the other vamps jumps me.
We roll around the ground for a while until I’m wrestling with a cloud of dust.
Suddenly I hear Faith roar. She’s prone to expressing herself vocally but this wasn’t a roar of triumph or annoyance.
This was a roar of pain and desperation.
As I’m trading blows with my two remaining vamps I see Faith fighting like a wild animal, desperate to get away.
What the fuck? She never backs down from a fight.
I’m reminded to concentrate when a fist connects with my face. I duck and sweep the bitch off her feet and dust her.
“Noo!” I hear Faith scream. I’m starting to get scared. What would make her act like this?
Mike.
“Mike!” My suspicion’s confirmed.
After exchanging blows with my last opponent, I see a flash of black heading towards the mansion.
I stake my vamp.
“Faith?”
I look up at the mansion and gasp. There’s moonlight pouring through all the windows except one. The light’s blocked by two figures.
One is hanging out the broken window, blood pouring out of a gaping wound. The other is completely ravaging the limp body.
Oh my god.
I rush to the mansion. Faith’s already inside and I hear a heart-breaking wail quickly followed by fierce growls.
Finally in the mansion, I climb up the stairs and collapse.
I can’t believe what I see.
Angel.
Angel is crouched naked on the floor like a rabid dog. His face is covered with blood and his eyes are wild.
Faith is standing unmoving in the shadows.
What...How? This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.
Faith takes an eerily calm step forward and into the light. She’s gripping her stake tightly.
I have to stop this.
Angel growls at her threateningly and she attacks. He jumps towards her. They crash in each other mid jump.
“Faith, Angel, stop!” I yell.
Angel snaps his head towards me and in the moment of distraction, receives a bone-crushing fist to the side of his face. He utters an animalistic howl and crawls quickly in a corner, his own blood mixing with Mikes on his face.
Faith takes a step towards him but I grab her shoulder.
“Faith, stop! That’s Angel.” I look at her pleadingly. What I see in her eyes chills me to the bone.
They seem so empty.
She looks at Angel shivering in the corner, then at Mike’s maimed and lifeless body. She looks at Angel again and then at me.
You know the zillion titanium walls I told you about? They’re all raised now.
“I...” I start. But she’s already out the door.
“I’m sorry.” I say to myself.
I want to follow her, comfort her. But Angel’s here. He’s back and there’s something terribly wrong with him.
I stand there for a while. What do I do?
Hesitantly I walk towards Angel but stop a few feet away. He’s pulled his knees to his chest and rocking back and forth.
“Angel?” I ask.
He looks up at me and something changes in his eyes. It’s like he woke up.
“B-...Buffy?” I kneel in front of him and nod slowly.
Suddenly I find myself in his arms. His body is shaking and he sobs in my chest.
I force my arms to wrap themselves around him.
I briefly wonder what happened to Angel but somehow my main concern is Faith.
And immediately, I feel bad about it. I gently stroke his damp hair.
“Shh, it’s okay Angel. It’s alright. I’m here, you’ll be okay.” His sobs die down but the shivering stays.
I need Giles. He’ll know what to do. But I can’t just leave Angel here.
He’s back. He’s really back. I thought I’d be happier.
Maybe it’s because he maimed and killed someone who was obviously the world to Faith.
Maybe.
God, why am I making lame jokes? This is terrible. What do I do?
What do I do?
Okay, don’t panic. There’s a nearly unrecognisable human corpse in the room, you’re holding a vampire with a soul who you killed but came back somehow. Does he really have a soul?
He killed Mike.
Yes, he has a soul. I saw it in his eyes. I’m holding Angel. Not Angelus.
Then why did he kill Mike?
He just came back from whatever dimension he was in, he could’ve been in hell for all I know and he was confused. He didn’t know what he was doing.
Are you sure?
No.
Where’s Faith?
I don’t know.
Don’t you want to go after her?
Yes, I do but I can’t. Shut up. Let me think.
You are thinking.
No I’m arguing with you, which is me, so I’m arguing with myself. Now shut up.
So do I shut up or do you? Or do we both shut up?
I’m going insane. I need to concentrate. What I don’t need, is to be having pointless arguments with myself because this is too much to handle.
I can handle this.
I need to think. Think.
I check my watch. 1am. I’ve been here for hours. I have to do something.
“Angel?” No answer.
“Angel?” I say a little louder.
His eyes are closed and he’s whimpering in his sleep. Okay.
He’s sleeping, I need to call Giles. He’ll know what to do. I’ll call Giles. Yeah.
“Okay, Angel, I’m just gonna be gone for like five minutes. I’ll be right back so don’t panic. I’ll be right back. I just have to talk to Giles.” I don’t know why I’m talking to him since he’s sleeping but I don’t know anything these days.
I gently untangle myself from him and jog out the mansion towards the payphone. I put in a few coins and notice at the last moment that I’ve dialled Faiths motel room number.
I let it ring fifteen times before I hang up and call Giles instead.
“Hello?” He sounds sleepy. Duh. 1am.
“Giles, it’s Buffy, I need your help. Right now.”
“Buffy, what’s wrong? Are you hurt? Joyce said you haven’t been home all day. Where are you?”
“Giles, you have to get to the mansion. Now.” I nervously glance at the looming form of the building.
“Mansion? Angel’s mansion? Buffy, what’s going on?” How the hell do I say this?
“Angel’s back.” I guess that’s one way.
I hear him gasp over the line and some other noise, like he dropped something. Can’t blame the guy.
“I- What... Has he hurt you?”
“No, Giles, he has his soul but he’s messed up and sick and you have to get here.”
“Give me ten minutes.” I let out a relieved breath.
“Okay. Bye Giles.” I hang up and jog back to the mansion to find Angel still sleeping naked in the corner.
I have to cover him up with something. He’s still shaking. I find some blankets in the next room and pull them over him.
Next thing I know I’ve collapsed on the floor, leaning against the wall.
This is so messed up.
