PART 12
A couple of days went by smoothly. Not big beastie. No arguments or orders from Giles or Joyce. No Faith-arguments, no Angel-almost-kissing though there was a slight touching as they did Tai-chi together, but overall, Buffy was quite glad seeing as she had so much difficulty to keep her life, her mind and her heart under control since the two had come back.
She was at the bronze with Willow and Oz, Cordelia and Xander were on their own, movie time. Buffy wondered why her best friends were acting so weirdly lately. The day before it was Willow who declined a Scooby fun at the Bronze and today it was Xander. She could hardly have them together these days.
She was scouting around the room, she hadn't seen Faith in two days and admitted she was... wondering about her.
“What are you thinking about Buffy?”
“Me?”
“Well, I don't think anyone else in the world is named that way.”
“Why? What's wrong with Buffy?”
“Nothing, it's just... not very usual.” Willow tried to make up.
“That's because... I'm unique.”
“And we're all very glad your mother didn't have twins B.”
“Faith hey!”
Willow's brows slightly rose at Buffy's sudden smile.
“Hi,” She told her very low.
“Hey Red. Oz.”
“Come sit with us.” The werewolf offered. Buffy was already making room beside her.
“No thanks.”
##Huh? Why? ##
“I'm with some friends.”
##Friends?##
“Friends? You have friends? I mean err,”
Faith slightly smiled, “Yeah I do. Well, that's not the 'Scooby gang kinda friend’, but still, hung out with them a couple of times.”
Buffy looked where Faith just glanced, she saw 3 boys and one girl in their early twenties.
“Where did you meet them?”
“A party.”
“When?”
Willow frowned at Buffy's questioning.
“About two weeks ago. Why?”
“No, just curious you know. Maybe you could introduce them to us.”
“You know they’re students, one's already working actually, you wouldn't get along I think.”
“Can't know till we try.”
“We're not staying anyway. Going to a frat party.”
“Frat party? I heard some nasty things about frat parties, you know. You really shouldn't go.” ##God dammit what is wrong with me tonight?##
“I think Faith can handle herself Buffy.” Oz said with a smile.
“Yes Buffy, if Faith wants to go there, that's her problem, I mean, her life.” Willow corrected.
##Like I could make her stay anyway. But I haven't seen her in a while and... ## Buffy shook her head.
“Yeah, no I was just saying you know. Have fun and be careful.”
“I'm so glad I have your benediction Buffy.” Faith sarcastically told her before winking at her, “Maybe I'll see you later, on patrol, unless you're already in bed. You have school tomorrow. Good night.”
##Did she just flout me? ##
Faith left with a teasing glance at Buffy though.
Willow sighed in relief, “Why did you ask her to bring them here?”
“I thought it would have been great to meet her friends, that's all.”
“They’re students, and they are her friends. It's not like she was really part of the gang, you know.”
“What do you mean Will, she is.” ##She is. I did everything I could for that. We're friends now. I can't let Will say things like that.##
“She's your friend Buffy. She just hangs out with you, never with us. If she could hang with any of us without that bored look on her face AND with actual talking to us, then I'll say she's part of the group and then it would be relevant to meet her friends. But that's not the case. She's interested in you, only.”
##Me. Just me.##
Buffy seemed thoughtful for a long while.
##I can't say Willow's wrong. God did I not realize? But it doesn't mean we're not friends, right? Even if we see each other only when we're, well, just together, she and I. Damn I didn't even realize I haven't brought any of the gang on patrol since she's here. Every time I know we're gonna patrol with her I always find a reason. I didn't do it on purpose I swear. I don't even realize what I'm doing anymore. But maybe I did it unconsciously because she's not around much during the days and we needed to catch up, or develop our friendship. And maybe, unconsciously I know that's she's not fond of Scooby times and that's why I, still unconsciously, drove the others away from patrol. Yes, it must be that?##
“What?”
“Huh?”
“You said it must be that?”
##Damn, just like in NYC, talking my thoughts out loud. She does that to me.##
“Buffy?”
“Err, no I'm just... getting a headache.”
“Oh. Do you have something for it?”
“No, but I think I'm gonna go for a quick patrol and then back home.”
“Oh, ok.” Willow looked disappointed.
“I'll see you tomorrow.”
“Ok, good night, Buffy.”
“Night.”
~~
Buffy was wandering in Crestwood cemetery, waving her stake nonchalantly when she heard a racket. She started running and arrived at the entrance of a cave. There was a fight in it. She tightened the grip on her stake and opened the door. She was thrown against a wall and was face to face with Faith, stake raised.
“Oh. Buffy.” Faith released her grip on the blonde slayer who slightly rubbed her shoulder blade.
“Sorry about that.”
“T's ok. You didn't hit me this time. And I didn't get staked either. That's a major bonus.”
“Glad you take it so well.”
##I'm actually surprised myself by the cheering in my tone. Why does the fact that she's NOT with her SO CALLED friends make me so happy?... I'm probably just good moody. ##
Faith looked slightly embarrassed, “So, err, you went on patrol earlier.”
“I'm not the only one. What did you do of your friends?”
“Oh err, I wasn't in the mood for frat party tonight. There's another one soon, I'll go then.”
Buffy couldn't help the smile from her face, and the teasing gaze.
“What? It's true. Wanted to patrol that's all.”
“Come on Faith, were these really your friends or did you just borrow them?”
“Like I can't make friends? I'm full of friends; I'm very sociable... sometimes.” Faith trailed off and soon the smile on her lips matched Buffy's. They slightly laughed then Faith looked more serious.
“Ok, they're not really friends, you know me. But I did hang out with them a couple of times though. Mostly with the two brunette boys.” She said, raising her brows explicitly.
“Ok, and that's more than I wanted to know.” ##Hey, how come I’m still smiling? I didn't flinch that much when she said that. Maybe it’s really ok now. I’m over that. She teased, she joked, and it's ok. Maybe we're finally adjusting to each other, with how we are now. Maybe we can really be friends after all.##
Buffy kept smiling, “So patrol together, you in?”
Faith gave her a wicked grin, “Sure girlfriend.”
They both slightly froze for a short while; she hadn't called her that since NY. They gave each other a slight glance but none of them commented and they went out of the cave.
They patrolled for a good part of the night. They had a great time and talked a little about NY, mostly about Sarah who was living with her friend Jude now. Buffy was glad that Faith was still in slight contact with her even if, as usually, Faith didn’t dwell on the memory talk.
“I guess we should go home now.”
“No school tomorrow. Think I'm gonna...” Buffy hesitated, “I'm gonna drop by the mansion.”
Faith nodded as she looked in front of her.
“How is he?”
##I can't read her. I don't know if it's just a polite asking, if it has a further motive or if she really wanna know.##
“He's much better now.”
“Did you two talk about.... you two?”
Buffy slightly looked in front of her then back at the brunette who smiled, “Sorry, guess it's not my business.”
“It is, I mean, I told you everything there was to know. We're not together anymore and don't plan on going back together. You can trust me Faith. I told you about him because I didn't want to have any secrets. I want you to know that... you can trust me.”
Faith gave her a shy smile.
##I can't believe how important her trust is to me. It is so hard to get her to open up to me now. Every time she does it's like she's scared of doing so. I don't want her to feel that way.##
“Do you... do you want to come... with me, see him?”
Faith looked surprised, “Err, well, you'd take me? I mean, you'd really want me there.”
##Actually no. That's gonna be Hell to have them at the same place but if that’s what it takes.##
“I have nothing to hide and I want you to believe that.”
Faith smiled, “I do.”
Buffy returned the smile. A slight bowl clenched her stomach now though.
She exhaled deeply, “Well, let's go then.”
“No.”
“No? But I thought...”
“Honestly Buffy, I don't really want to see him. But it's nice that you asked.”
They smiled at each other.
Faith looked at the sky, “So I guess you're safe for the night, girlfriend. Try and stay that way.” Faith winked at her and took off.
##Why do I keep looking her walking away? And why do I like it so little that she's actually walking away. When we slay together, when we patrol we managed to get close again. I feel it. And she opens up. Even if just a little... that's always something.##
Giles went with them on patrol the next day. Far less fun as they discreetly told each other.
They were fighting against two vampires that they turned into dust at the same time. They gave each other a high five.
“Synchronized slaying.” Buffy smiled proudly.
“New Olympic category?”
“Whadya think Giles?”
“Sloppy.”
Giles took his gaze off his cup of coffee to see who had just spoken. The slayers did the same, giving suspicious looks at the woman standing a few feet from them.
“You telegraph punches, leave blind sides open and, huh, for a school-night slaying, takes entirely too much time. Which one of you is Faith?”
The slayers’ gaze slightly darkened.
“Depends, who the Hell are you?”
“Gwendolyn Post, Mrs. Your new watcher.”
##Why do I feel like I already don't like this woman? Well, Faith doesn't look particularly thrilled either. She's good with us. She doesn't need a new watcher. We've got Giles. Can I just tell her to go back?##
“That's great but I don't need a new watcher. Giles is here.”
##That's what I was saying.##
“The council sent me for a very specific reason, I'm here to watch you closely and report... on the entire situation here.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Giles asked, Buffy swore she could hear a slight hint of 'Ripper' hiding in his voice.
“Word has it that you've become a little too 'American'.”
“Me?”
“Him?”
“And Faith needs a watcher anyway.”
“Look I'm telling you I don't need a watcher. No offence lady. I just have this problem with authority figures. They end up kind of dead.”
Gwendolyn walked closer to her, “Duly noted. And fortunately, it's not up to you. Now follow me.” She ordered dryly.
“You don't seem to get it Mary Poppins I-”
“Faith. If the council feels that there needs to have closer observation then we will, all, of course cooperate.” He said, trying his best to hide his already obvious disdain for the woman.
Faith sighed; she looked at Buffy who raised her eyebrows in sympathetic annoyance.
“Why do we have to go? We were patrolling here.”
“Buffy has classes; I believe her patrol is over. Yours isn't. You don't have school so from now on your patrols will be set to fit both of your schedules. Buffy covers the first part of the night, and you the second.”
##God dammit can I hit her already? We're never gonna see each other now?##
Buffy glanced at Giles in a -say something- way.
“We'll see about rescheduling the girls’ entire planning tomorrow. And there’s need for two slayers at a time quite often. It's the hellmouth here.”
##Yes exactly. Go Giles!##
“I'm well aware of this Mister Giles. And precisely, we're going to need the slayers at full strength here very soon. But we'll talk about this in the morning. I believe your slayer has other duties and she could use some rest. These last punches...” Gwendolyn slightly raised her brows. Giles furrowed his brow but gave Buffy a -don't say anything- glance.
Faith sighed.
“Faith. Playtime is over. Show me what YOU've got... Let's go.”
Faith slightly smirked and sighed, “Fuck.” She muttered and followed her.
“Giles. I think it’s official; I don't like her.”
“Well, she sure is... Alright, you should probably go home now.” Giles seemed slightly irritated. Understandable. Buffy was not -slightly- irritated.
##I need comfort. And now I can't even go finish the night with Faith. I mean hunting with Faith. That woman pissed me off. I need to cool down. Alright, let's go to the mansion. What? Tai-chi. That's soothing. That's the only reason. I really need to relax. Like I could ask anyone else for tai-chi moves? See, I'm trapped; he's the only one to know them. Alright, convinced Buffy? Yes I am. Let's go.##
