PART 5
##I knew I could do this. Here, at the bronze, with my friends AND my boyfriend. 2 days since Faith and I made our deal and no problems... Totally feasible I knew that.
Alright she’s not actually here with us tonight, and I haven’t really seen her these past two days but still, I knew we could do it. Ok am I making sense here? And besides, I did see her; Giles asked her to come to tell her about the council telling us that she could stay here under his watch till a new watcher comes. They’re gonna pay the motel’s bills as well. Good thing.
So I saw her... about 10 minutes and everything went well. She was... She looked well... And everything was... fine. Why am I still rambling about her while Scott is talking to me with his lovely smile? I gotta focus a little...##
“So, what do say? Movie tomorrow?”
“Well tomorrow I gotta patro, err, well, yes, but maybe the 5pm one cause I gotta... get home early tomorrow. Something my mom needs me to help her with.”
“Sure 5 is ok.”
##Good. Tomorrow’s the night before the full moon. I always prefer being on heavy patrol these 3 days. I’ll have to call her, to tag along. I mean, she doesn’t know about werewolves really, so I’ll fill in the blanks. Just doing my duty here as a responsible slayer...##
“Well, I think I’m gonna go home now.”
“Already? It’s barely 9. Don’t you want to stay here a little Buffy?”
##Check that he’s pouting. That’s a cute pout. Yeah, he’s cute.##
Buffy gave Scott a nice smile and sat closer to him, “Just for a little while then.”
He gave her a soft kiss on the lips.
~
“So, werewolves on the loose?”
“No.”
“Then, what’s the emergency?”
“Oh err no, no emergency. Just thought we would patrol. Seems you weren’t too much aware about werewolves the other day so, since it’s that time of the month you know...”
“So you suggested that we patrol most part of the night for the next three nights just to ‘fill my ignorance’? 5 minutes would have done that easily, you know.”
##Why does she wear that wicked smile? And why do I have to focus as to NOT blush? I’m just doing my job, that’s all.##
“Well, I just thought, in case something happens, we’d be ready but if you-“
“No it’s cool, I’m cool, I mean, I don’t mind. So, go ahead. I gotta tell you Red already tipped me on that. She was worried I might do some extra slaying time on her dog. Gotta tell you B. Boinking a werewolf’s pretty weird but you know what they say: the shyest ones; always the kinkiest.”
##And I’m blushing right now, blushing for Willow. I gotta say something, she’s my best friend after all.##
“Oz is really nice. The werewolf is only 3 nights a month, not that kinky and besides, I don’t think they... I mean, she would have told me, I mean, I think.”
Faith raised her eyebrows, “Well, they probably don’t with the way they react when we say something about it.”
“Err, Faith, when you say something about *it*, cause I don’t.”
“Yeah I noticed, when did you become so prude about it B? Can’t tell me you don’t like it so what is it?”
“I don’t think we should go on with that topic Faith.”
“Why? It’s behind us right? So we can.”
##I can’t discuss this with her. She knows me too well. Now she looks aside and she looks upset.##
“Faith it’s just... I don’t want to make you mad.”
“I’m not a baby ok?! Seems to me we had a deal, right? If you don’t talk to me because you think I can’t hear it then I don’t see what I’m doing here with you tonight. I’d better go home.”
“No Faith, stay, please. You’re right, it’s just, I’m a little uncomfortable talking about this now.”
“I’d gotten that, then again I gotta ask why? You weren’t like that. Or yes in fact you were uncomfortable talking about it but not doing it? So I guess you and Scott aren’t...”
“No, no, definitely not. I’m not ready for that.”
“I gotta say Buffy: huh? Not like you haven’t done it before?”
“That’s the thing. Alright yes, I liked it you know that but I... Honestly Faith, I don’t think we were ready. I think we were too young. I think this is something that should have come much later. We were 15 Faith. You were still 14 when we started. And we both know *sex* was a bit confusing in your mind at that time and me... you know what being a slayer does. I just think we got caught up a little. This was way too intense and too mature a relationship for our age. I know I wasn’t ready for something that big so maybe that’s why I handled it bad.”
“Oh, because we were too young right? Nothing to do with us both being girls and you not being able to face your father AND yourself with that then?”
Buffy gave her a look, “We’ve been over this Faith; you know it does, I’m not taking this back. But, I’m just saying we’ve been a little too fast. Teens don’t usually sleep together like that, so fast, so... often.” ##And now I’m blushing again.##
“Well you know what I think; we’re not every day teens, well we weren’t, cause we’re not teens anymore, but not the point. You were a slayer so to me, when it comes to unwinding, love and lust you are everything but a kid and this is how you are built. How we are built. I was a potential slayer, even if we didn’t know it then. I could feel that rush inside of me already. You know I could be just like you even at that time. I think the slayer linked us in a way that is not teenage friendship. I don’t think we did anything bad.”
“Not saying it was bad. Just saying we weren’t ready. At least I think I wasn’t, since I’m still not ready for that.”
“Then why did you sleep with Angel?”
Buffy froze and stopped walking.
“Thought I wouldn’t learn about him? You can hide from the lust but it will always find you.”
“It wasn’t lust.”
“What then? Cause boinking the undead B? Pretty gross.”
“I loved him. But even then I’m gonna say we probably made a mistake, well sure we did seeing how it turned out, but it wasn’t...”
“What? Because you waited about a year to fuck means that you were more ready than we were?”
“First I’m not saying this. Second would you stop using that word please? I’ve never fucked anyone.”
“It’s just a word Buffy.”
“It’s a word that does not define what I’ve done with both him and you. It’s an insult to what we’ve done.”
“Then what do you call what we did Buffy.”
“I’m not going over this with you again, Faith. This isn’t the deal.”
“Fine. Let’s talk about Angel then.”
“No, let’s not talk about Angel either. I’m sorry but... him and I are something private.”
“You really did love him.” Faith stated. Buffy looked aside. Faith smirked.
“I’m sure your father was thrilled about that one. I’m surprised you’re not locked up in a nut house already.”
Buffy kept looking aside.
“I see. He doesn’t even know. What is it with you and hiding things like ‘your life’?”
“I just... I don’t see him very often anymore. Haven’t seen him a lot over the last year.”
Faith saw the sad veil spread on Buffy’s face and didn’t add anything on the subject then.
“Ok, Scotty boy then. He’s cute. How long before you think you’re ready for some action with him?”
“I really don’t know. I’m really not thinking about this with him. You know, there’s not only sex in life, Faith.”
“Sure, there’s also heavy parties and slaying. And smoking pot, don’t forget pot. You’re a slayer, don’t tell me it doesn’t drive you crazy; the need, the rush. How do you do that?”
“You smoke pot?” Buffy shook her head, “Sorry, not the point, come on, I’m not just a slayer, I’m me. And me, well, I can do without it. It’s not a priority in my life.”
“I don’t know how you do. It has become a priority to me as well as slaying. Couldn’t do without it now.”
“That’s because we’re different; you made it a priority way before you became a slayer.”
##God I shouldn’t have said that.##
Buffy didn’t dare to turn around as Faith had stopped walking.
“I’m sorry.” She finally turned around.
Faith stared at her for a while then turned around.
“I’m sorry Faith. Faith?!”
##Dammit. Nice job Buffy.##
Buffy stared helplessly as the brunette left.
~The next day~
“So what’s the emergency today?” Faith’s tone was grave as she stared at Buffy.
“Oz ate someone.”
“He did not!” Willow said with an angry gaze at the cheerleader.
Faith frowned.
Xander got up, “Oz does not eat people. It's more werewolf play. You know, I bat you around a little bit, like a cat toy. I have harmless, wolf fun. Is it Oz's fault that, you know, side effect, people get cut to ribbons, and maybe then he'll take a little nibble and,” Willow looked hurt, “I'm not helping, am I?”
“No,” Giles said as he stepped in to look at the brunette slayer, “Oz may have got out of his cage last night.”
“Or maybe there's a, another werewolf roaming the woods.”
Faith gave the young man a quizzical glance.
“Perhaps. Perhaps it's something else entirely.”
Buffy looked at the couple, mostly at Willow, “It's okay. We'll work together, and we'll figure this out.”
“Yes. Um... Buffy. Uh, you, uh, you patrol the woods. Uh, the others, um, check out the morgue.”
“Right! We can see if it's a werewolf kill or not.” Willow glanced at Oz next to her, “But what about Oz?”
“Um... Well, I have some research materials at home I need to look up. This is why we asked you to come, Faith, to watch over him tonight.”
She nodded.
“Wow, a slayer just for me. Glad to see we’re not overreacting.”
He got up a little upset and went to his cage, feeling the sun setting already.
Willow looked sad but Xander put his arm on her shoulder, “It’s ok Will, we’ll prove it wasn’t him, don’t worry.”
The three got out of the library. Giles went into his office and the slayers remained standing in the room. Faith avoiding the blonde girl’s look.
“Faith. Faith?”
“What?!”
“Look I’m sorry.”
Buffy slightly looked at Oz who heard them. Giles got out of his office.
“Be careful tonight.”
“We will.” Buffy said and the watcher left.
“What are you doing, B?”
Buffy dragged Faith by the hand inside Giles’ office and closed the door behind them.
“How many times do I have to say it; I’m sorry for what I said.”
“I thought we should not bring the past like that?”
“Yes I know and that’s why I’m sorry, please don’t be mad.”
They both stared at each other, a little surprised as Buffy’s hand was on Faith’s cheek, automatic gesture, like she used to do when she got her upset. She removed her hand very fast.
##God dammit why is it still happening? Why do I always want to take her in my arms, to comfort her like that when she’s upset?##
Faith cleared her throat, “It’s cool. I’m cool. I’m over it.”
“Ok.”
“You should go patrol now.”
“It’s not really dark yet. I could... stay here for a while, I mean, if you want, to keep you company for a while.”
“Well, ok... If you really want...”
##Why do I smile like that? It’s weird, it’s like she always makes me feel like a child... In a good way though... And I love when she smiles like that too; I find her lost childish smile again. The one I was the only one to get. I love that it’s still only mine... Somehow.##
Later that night Buffy was patrolling through the woods, looking around and listening carefully. Suddenly she thought she heard something and raised her stake. A figure dashed by, Buffy saw it and started running after it through the bushes. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks when she saw it coming straight for her. She stared in disbelief as the man rushed to her and knocked her down as he ran by. Buffy steadied herself on the ground and looked up as he went. He stopped and looked back at her.
##Angel... No. No. Can’t be.##
He growled and snarled at her. There was blood around his mouth, but he had on his human face, not his vampire's. Buffy could only stare at him in complete surprise.
Angel kept growling at her and suddenly he charged her as she got up. She grabbed him and threw him to the ground, but also fell under his weight. Angel rolled to a stop and crawled quickly back to her before she could get back up. He lunged at her, and she used his momentum to flip him over herself and onto his back. She rose to one knee and punched him as he tried to regain his footing. He took the blow in the head, but just spun around and delivered a solid backhand punch to her face, which made her fall onto her back. He jumped on her again, but she used her leverage to send him onto his back once again. He twisted his body, reached over and punched her in the gut. She quickly rolled away and got to a standing position. She did a full spinning low hook kick, hitting him in the head as he tried to stand. He slumped down on all fours, and as he looked up at her she punched him solidly in the face, making him slump to the ground, badly beaten. After a few breaths he lost consciousness, and his body relaxed. Buffy was breathing hard as she looked down at him.
##I can’t believe this. It can’t be real. It can’t be him...##
She knelt. ##I can’t, ##
Buffy looked up at the sky, “What did I do to you?!”
##Faith... Now Angel...##
She stared at him then quickly stood up, whatever she decided; she had to do it fast.
