She felt… strange. Breathless, almost, but something more than that. Like she had more adrenaline than oxygen in her blood. Slaying always made her feel better, more in control, but this was almost the opposite. She felt like she could do anything. Like she should do anything.
Faith was beside her, panting. Grinning. She always felt like this after a fight, or so she said. Buffy never had, not really, hadn't let herself, but now she could see why Faith dug it so much. Why she was always jonesing for another fight. Their eyes met and Faith's grin grew a little wider when she saw Buffy's.
Buffy still had the sword in her hand, the amulet in the other. She could smell the sewer, was sure the stench was settling in her skin and hair, but she watched the light glint off the sword and wondered, idly, if she could catch the vampires who'd run off. If they'd run far enough to think they were free and so slowed down, caught their breath, like rabbits who think the fox has given up for the night. If she could sneak up, watch them, run them through with their own weapons.
Faith was saying something about needing a shower, but Buffy was only half listening. It wasn't until Faith took her hand that was holding the amulet, lacing their fingers together so they were both holding it, that Buffy looked up at her again, really listened to what was happening.
"Yours or mine?"
They'd come so close before, not that either of them would really admit it. Buffy liked to think it was just because of the heat of the battle, and Faith was willing to let her believe that. For now. They'd embraced, glancing at lips that were so close and wondering what it would be like to touch, but they hadn't given in. Until now. Something was different about tonight, about the way they'd fought together, about the way they'd both given in to the urge to slay. Even now Buffy could feel an urge to hit something, to have the power of someone else's life in her hands, to know that only she could grant them the mercy of life. She wanted the control back.
It was Faith who made the first move. It was always Faith but that was because she embraced the fear, moved past it to see what was on the other side. There was always something new to try, some new experience she hadn't had yet, some new person she wanted to know inside and out. She kissed Buffy as she handed Faith a towel for her shower. That kiss tasted like nothing Faith knew, and when Buffy kissed her back something skipped in Faith's chest, something higher than the usual tightening in her lower gut. She lifted her hands to Buffy's hair, wanting to stop thinking again. Thinking always led her to places, to memories that she didn't want anymore.
Buffy wasn't sure if she'd fallen asleep somewhere. Faith kissing her so tenderly didn't quite feel real. She'd dreamed this already, though it had always been faster, harder, hotter, more urgent, as though there was a deadline. This kiss, the reality of Faith's lips against hers and Faith's hands on her skin, was gentler, slower, like a marathon and not a sprint. Like there was no goal beyond enjoyment. She pulled her head back slightly, thoughts blurry and barely coherent, one hand still holding the towel as the other held onto Faith's waist as her legs shook.
"One shower is better for the environment, right?"
