Chapter Six
Buffy's nostrils were the first part of her to stir…then her ears. Those Slayer senses were a curse and an advantage. She thanked the Powers for giving them to her, for waking her up to this. She heard the moan again, knew Faith was trying to be quiet and not disturb her…what a sound! Buffy opened her eyes and blinked, focusing on Faith; her head thrown back, white throat exposed.
God, I want to kiss her there, taste her skin - devour her. I can't be having vampiric thoughts about her neck. We're Slayers, that would just be wrong! Still, she has a lovely throat. Maybe I could just nibble.
But she wasn't interested in Faith's throat any longer because her eyes glanced to the place between two bent knees where Faith's hand was working furiously. Then Buffy looked to her face wanting to see Faith's reaction to what she was doing to herself. Buffy lay on her side for a couple of minutes transfixed, curious and turned on by the sight of Faith touching herself.
She's getting close.
“Faith. Come over here; let me finish you off. You should have woken me if you were horny. Your turn after all. ”
But Faith hadn't taken in anything past her own name when her eyes had sprung open, her head had jerked upright and she'd seen B, lying there - watching her. Faith immediately turned away and started zipping up. Within 2 steps she was at the sink rinsing her hands. “Faith, come here. I wanted to suck those fingers. Hmm, maybe I'll find another way to taste you.” Buffy's smile was frisky and mischievous. That was her job. Since when did B talk dirty?
“Nah B, it's cool. I'm five by five.”
Apart from being entirely humiliated. How long was she watching? I didn't know she was looking. What did she see that I didn't intend?
“Yeah, but you didn't finish didn't…you know.”
“B, it's cool!” Faith was immediately bristling, her usual distrustful self. Cuddly Faith hadn't lasted long.
It's not like I expect her to be all heart shaped cookies and valentines' bears. I like Faith's Faithness; she's dangerous with just the right amount of scary, dark, beautiful…exactly my type. I want to feel her; I want her close to me, in me again. But it's Faith. What am I doing?
Faith's mood and whole demeanour could turn on a dime. She softened visibly.
I'm such an idiot. Leaving B in bed to wake up alone, going all nasty on her as soon as she wakes up.
“Oh God B, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pull an Angel on you.” Faith knew she'd hurt Buffy many times and deeply, yet she'd still vehemently protect her fellow Slayer from anyone who ever had or would cross her.
Buffy was surprised and kind of moved that Faith remembered her past and actually cared. What was going on? “Yeah or a Parker.”
“Parker?”
“Just this one-night-perfect-boyfriend I had when college started.”
“What happened?”
“Pretended to be Mr. `Sensitive long-term relationship potential' guy. He bailed in the morning to date every girl on campus.”
“I keep tellin' ya B, guys are scum, they'll screw you over first chance they get.”
Buffy smirked. Faith raised her eyebrows in that way that made Buffy ache a little. “What B?”
“Well, you're not exactly a shining example of all things monogamy. Look at you and Xander.”
Here it comes. “Look I'm sorry I screwed over one of your bestest buds, I know you and Xan-man and Red and the whole Scooby gang are all like surgically joined at the hip.” Buffy shrugged and Faith saw something in her eyes she didn't recognize, but continued, “I was a young Slayer pumped up on frustration and hornies after not getting my stake in. It's not like he had such a bad time.”
“That I believe!”
Faith grinned, “I've got wicked skills.”
“So you keep saying.” Buffy smiled at her, “Come over here Faith.”
Faith felt tentative but masked it with her trademark swagger as she went over and sat on the edge of her bed. Buffy knelt next to her. “Hey, when did I put on shorts?”
“I decided to help out; you weren't doing so good with coherence or dressing yourself. How's your ass?”
“It's ok.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Not so much.” Buffy looked at her, a little teasingly; “Well, a tiny bit but in a good wholesome `my fellow Slayer beat and fucked me `til I was non-verbal' kind of a way.”
Faith smiled and raised her eyebrows again; “Can I see?” Buffy blushed. “It's a bit late for modesty now B. Lie down.”
Hearing Faith command her to do something made Buffy aware of her body beneath the shorts. They were roomy and she could feel the material move against her skin as she did as she was told; lying down and turning over onto her stomach. She kicked her feet playfully at Faith until she felt her boxers being pulled slowly down over her backside, where Faith let them rest on her thighs. “How does it look?”
“Like cute Slayer butt. You've got some faint marks from my hand.” Faith lightly traced the imprint with her fingers. The warm ripples of pleasure lapped at Buffy, gentler reminders of the waves which had pounded her earlier. “But the real doozy is this big red welt on your right cheek.” Buffy giggled as Faith leant over and nipped at it. But her giggle turned to moaning as Faith's hands wandered over her ass and around to the front of her thighs, with her fingers creeping ever upwards. Within seconds though, Buffy had grabbed Faith's hands away, pulled up her own shorts and jumped on Faith, pinning her to the mattress by her wrists. “Think you're the butch now do you B?” Faith's words were irreverent but Buffy saw something in her eyes she didn't recognize, not even from stabbing her don't think about that now, but it seemed like fear. She let go of Faith's wrists and sat up on her waist.
“I want to touch you.”
“I told ya, I'm cool.”
Buffy rolled her eyes; sarcastic. “Yeah I know, five by five.”
Faith sat up so that Buffy slid down a little and was now straddling her lap. She started running her hands up Buffy's sides making her wriggle ticklishly. “I could tie you to this bed B, and torture you in ways you never imagined.”
Buffy's resolve to be on top was dwindling fast, “What would you do?” she asked, her eyes narrowed, hooded by lashes. She hoped she could still be alluring in flannel shorts.
“All sorts of things, I'd tie you up so tight you'd never be able to escape even with Slayer strength.”
“Mmm Hmm…I mean, you think? I'd so escape.”
Faith rolled her eyes. “Then I'd rip all clothes off ya…with the sharpest knife I could find.”
“Uh…” Faith with a knife was hot but came with a slew of disturbing memories. Buffy focused on the hotness.
“And leave you lyin' there naked for a while. Maybe I'd go have a drink, flip through a magazine or two while you lay there all naked and exposed. Then I might lick your nipple.”
“Mmm. Which one?”
“Then I might start hurting you, just a little.” Faith twisted one of Buffy's nipples. “I might drip hot candle wax along your belly, maybe going dangerously low, maybe just threatening to…”
The belt and my hand are blunt pain. The knife could be sharp. The wax is hot. What could I do to her that's cold? Screaming at B covers loud - plus, fun for me. Oh God, I did this to Wes. He's just some clueless rich boy who pissed me off and now I can never make it right. Don't think about that now.
“Faith?” There was a slight pleading tone in B's voice.
“Yes.”
“You know when you and Angel tied me up and you were threatening to torture me? And you listed all those things you were going to do to me?”
Oh God, why is she bringing this up?
“Um, I could never admit this to you before but when you were listing all those things I got so…” Buffy blushed, “…wet.”
“I know B. That's why I was flirtin' with ya. If Soul Boy hadn't been cramping my style I might've fucked you then and there…wanted to.”
Buffy gasped. “I just felt so powerless in those chains and you…”
“BULLSHIT B!” Faith roughly tossed Buffy off her lap as she got up. She'd moved from flirtatious to enraged within a single moment; “You psyched me! You and Angel, the only people who…who…”
“Who what?”
Faith swallowed taking the moment to brace herself, the way she did before leaping into a hoard of vampires who were dust before even realizing they were being attacked. “Screwed me over!”
Buffy's voice was gentle, concerned; “That's not what you were going to say. I know you'd been `screwed over' by people way before us.” Buffy walked over, trying to reach out, to touch and comfort her. The worry she used to routinely feel for Faith was reawakened along with her own frustration. She'd been an idiot to bring up Angel and the chains. It all felt so distant now. But not for Faith.
We can be so close; like maybe we're almost at the point of working things out. Then Faith snaps over something or nothing and all the good between us instantly unravels.
“What would you know about it? Tell me B! If you're such an expert on my fucked up life, tell me. You don't think you screwed me over? You think just `cos I'm all tough and in prison and had a messed up life that it didn't matter what you did? What YOU did Buffy. You don't know.”
Buffy spoke quietly, looking Faith directly in the eye, “Tell me Faith.”
The other Slayer stopped mid shout and stared at her, trying to gage if she was serious.
“Tell me what I did to you, make me understand. Explain it to me. This may not happen again…ever, but I'm going to be quiet.”
Faith quirked her eyebrow suspiciously.
“You get to say everything you ever wanted to tell me, shout everything you've wanted to scream, explain everything you ever wanted me to know.”
“You're serious? For real?”
Buffy nodded. “For real.”
“No jokin'?”
“Faith, talk to me.”
Why is B doin' this? Is she for real? If she's actually gonna keep that mouth of hers shut for more than two minutes maybe I can make her see what she's done. She doesn't get it. She never got it. What the hell is she doin' now?
Buffy had taken out her cell phone of all things. She spoke quietly into it, tucked between ear and shoulder as she spread the blanket on the floor. After muttering a few more words into her phone, she closed it before lobbing it onto the bed.
Faith looked at her quizzically.
“Just buying us more time if we need it.”
“We'll starve if no one comes back sometime soon.”
Buffy, tried to take Faith's hand but settled for leading her by the wrist over to the blanket. Before joining her, Buffy retrieved her bag, which she dropped in front of Faith. “Taken care of.” Buffy sat down beside her, “Go ahead.”
Faith was emptying out the bag; confused, incredulous and a little amused; “You came to visit me in prison to bring me a picnic B?”
“Well, unless you haven't noticed, I've been trying to take care of all your basic needs.”
Faith shook her head, but couldn't help her half grin as she opened a large package of cold chicken; “Damn! I never figured you for being such a domestic little Slayer B.”
Buffy sniggered, “Believe me, I'm not. Tara made it for me. She seemed confused when I requested different food; she doesn't know they're your favourites.”
“Tara?” Faith thought for a moment. “Oh, Red's girl toy?”
“I think they prefer the term life-partner. But yeah they all live at my Mom's house now, they took care of Dawn when I was…well anyway, I hope the food's ok.” Faith was tearing into a chicken leg looking like she was pretty much in heaven. No, not heaven. But somewhere happy where there was lots of food.
“You sure none of the Scoobies tried ta poison me?” Faith asked through joyful mouthfuls of potato salad and mini pretzels.
Buffy wondered how Faith was surviving in prison when food was so important to her. Institutional meals were never a good thing and Buffy had only had to eat them for two weeks of her life. Maybe she should have been sending food parcels. Buffy shook her head, confused at her thoughts. “They don't know where I am. I just told them I was going on a Slayer quest.”
“Did they know that this `quest' was about you getting fucked and thrashed by the bad Slayer?”
Buffy squirmed a bit, “I don't tell my friends everything.”
“Oh yeah? Since when?”
B's got that look again. What is it? Has someone died? Someone else gone evil? That'd be cool; I might not look so bad. Bet it was Xander, maybe he got bit and B's come here to butter me up `cos she can't bear to kill him herself. Evil Xander. That'd be a trip, can't really see it. More likely Red messin' with the witchy mojo. Damn, this food's good. She must want something.
“Why did you come here B?”
Buffy's voice was barely more than a whisper, “I told you.”
“Yeah, `cos you have `questions' or whatever. Come on B, what gives? Spill.”
“I…I thought you were gonna talk, tell me how mad you are, how much you hate me. One time offer.”
Faith's forehead wrinkled as she decided which road to go down. “I don't hate you B. Well, maybe sometimes, but not for real, ya know?”
“No, not really.”
“I tell you what; I'll do this whole talkin' thing. You stay quiet right? I just get to say whatever I want without you screamin' at me, calling me evil or holding a knife to my throat. It's gonna be harsh B. Think you can handle it?”
Buffy nodded; serious.
“But if I do this, then when I'm done, when I've said everythin' I've got to say, you tell me what's up. I mean for real this time. The whole deal, whatever it is that's goin' on with you, why you're here, why you're `little Ms Kink' all of a sudden, why you squirm every time I mention your friends,” Buffy reacted on cue. “I'm serious B. If I do this whole talkin' sharin' thing then so do you. Somethin's up.” Faith looked Buffy directly in the eyes; “So B, are you in?”
Buffy swallowed, she felt exposed. But the likelihood of this actually working, of Faith being able to vent all of her anger without this visit ending in extreme violence of some kind was pretty slim. Chances were she'd never have to tell her secrets so she decided to ignore the anxiety prickling across her shoulders.
Death, bliss, wood, earth, grave, tombstone, friends, betrayal, life, hell. Don't think about it.
“Ok Faith,” she forced a small smile, “I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Emotionally speaking - obviously, because I didn't mean the other thing. Not even thinking about the other thing. Not one little bit.”
So B's still thinkin' about it huh? How come I'm still so wet? Damn this body. Maybe I should've just let her do me, prob'ly woulda been easier than whatever this talkin' thing is and then I wouldn't have this itch still needing scratching. She looks so cute when she gets all flustered and embarrassed. Ok, stop with the lusting.
What the hell am I gonna tell her? I can't tell B. Not the stuff from when I was a kid. And not my Watcher…oh God, why do I let myself think about that? I should never have let her get this close. Man, I want her close! I can't, I'll get screwed over. It always ends the same.
Buffy's voice intruded on Faith's thoughts; “You're up.”
There was utter silence, Faith had even stopped chewing. For the first time that night she'd really felt they were the only people on the wing. Faith hadn't heard quiet in years. Would've been nice except there was so much noise filling the air in the cell. Her pre-Sunnydale past, B's recent past (whatever was up there), the big huge unspoken everything between them.
“I'm offering you the floor and now you're speechless?”
Faith took a long swig from the Pepsi can. “You couldn't bring beer?”
“Considering our history, I thought it might be best not to add alcohol to the mix.”
“I dunno why we do it.” Faith was uncharacteristically pensive. “Trying to kill each other I mean. It's not why I came to find you in the beginning. My Watcher Ms Hessop…Madam Yoda, she didn't think she was better than you, like G man and Wes. But she was always telling me about the incredible Buffy Summers. Buffy who'd saved the world, the only Slayer to work with a team.” Faith watched Buffy's reaction as she said that part. “The Slayer who went to high school right over a Hellmouth, this 16 year old girl who defeated the Master single-handed.” Buffy tried to say something. “I have the floor here B.”
Buffy actually zipped her lip.
“I wasn't jealous then, I was…impressed. So when Madam Yoda, you know, left to flutter her wings and play a harp in the clouds or whatever…” Faith felt Buffy tense beside her. “If that bothers ya B, then I don' think you wanna hear the rest of what I'm gonna say.” Buffy didn't relax. “Well, when she got bit, I knew there was only one person who stood a chance against…” Faith couldn't say the words.
“The kissing toast vamp.”
“I was outta there, hitched some rides over to Sunny-D to meet this world renowned Slayer. Plus, I'd seen a picture of you so I knew you were a babe. I thought it'd be cool with two of us. We'd hang and maybe if I was near you he'd stay away, stop pursuing and tormentin' me. When you found out - and I know I didn't' tell ya right off the bat - you didn't think about it, you just got me moving when they were chasing us. You didn't even hesitate for a second or yell at me for getting you into all kinds of trouble. You stood up for me, you fuckin' protected me B. You were the first person who could, had the strength to. `Cos like when I was a kid I couldn't defend myself, I was too little an' all. And then when you're the Slayer, well ya haveta make sure everyone else is ok, `cos you're the strongest. You're the protector.”
“I know” Buffy said quietly. For a moment she wondered if that was what had drawn her to Angel. The fact that he was the only guy with a hope in hell…well actually he probably didn't have a hope in hell, but he was the only one with even the potential to protect her. And overpower her. She thought about Faith pinning her to the wall.
Focus!
Faith continued. “But in like half an hour you dust this vamp that's been like a plague on my existence, who…did what he did.”
“Faith, if you remember, it was you who made the toast vamp you know, toast, the good dusty kind.”
“Yeah and with a big fuck off stake too.” Faith enjoyed the memory for a moment. “But I never coulda staked him if you weren't there B. Anyway, whatever. My point was that I wasn't jealous in the beginning. I was just buzzed, for the chance to hang with another Slayer, cause some havoc, maybe have a friend or whatever.” Buffy nodded. “But you screwed me B. You lied. I thought it was Slayers together all the way, that we had some kinda bond or something, but you didn't trust me. You wouldn't talk to me about what had happened with Angel. You never even told me he was back.”
Buffy had a hundred responses, things she wanted to say, to reassure Faith, to shout at Faith. She didn't say any of them. It was weird thinking about all this stuff again. After death she felt marooned from the past. The things that used to burn her, couldn't reach her now. Buffy didn't care. She wished it mattered to her. It mattered to Faith, so she kept listening.
