Disclaimer : Everyone knows who own Buffy and co ! Obviously, it's not me!
The story is the sixth episode in a series called 'Rocky path' and begins around one year after 'Chosen'
( I strongly recommand to read the 5 first episodes to understand that one)
You can check the series out on my website
Please let me know what you think.
And I'm still looking for beta-readers !
The motel room Faith and Tara were sharing that night was not really bigger than those they were used to share lately. A tiny bed, a dresser and a chair were the only furniture and only a small dirty window showed the outside.
But this room that seemed to be so much alike all the others had something more to both girls. Two things more to be precise. On one hand, the room got its own private bathroom which didn't happen that often and that Faith enjoyed and Tara even more than her.
But what was really a plus in that room was the TV. For once, they had TV.
And Faith was decided to make the most of it.
Sat on the side of the bed with her back against that wall, her legs stretched and her arms crossed over her chest, the dark-haired Slayer was laughing heartily as the TV played an episode of 'Friends'. Beside her, Tara was laying in the remaining space on the bed, balled up in the blankets, with her back turned to Faith.
A new burst of laughter from the Slayer made her turn around to her.
"Could you lower the volume please? I'd like to sleep" Tara asked with a bored look.
Faith didn't even consider to turn her head to her to answer and didn't move to the TV to do what she was asked.
"Relax Blondie" she said with her eyes glued to the screen. "I'm gonna patrol in a bit. You'll be able to sleep your fifteenth hour of the day soon"
Tara rose on her elbows and rolled her eyes.
"Like I can sleep when you're here"
This time Faith turned to her and laid an annoyed gaze on the blonde witch.
"Listen Blondie, YOU wanted to stick with me. I never asked for something like that. Then you'll have to bear me and my TV"
"I didn't want anything" Tara growled as she completely sat up.
It was Faith's turn to roll her eyes before she turned back to the TV.
"Yeah. Didn't change anything for that matter. As long as you're with me, just try to avoid to bore me"
"You could make an effort" protested Tara. "I'm not asking for something big I think"
"And I'm not asking anything from you" Faith growled. "I leave you the bed so that you can sleep while I get the floor and try to sleep when you finally decide to shup up. So for once we have a working TV in the room and that I can do something I like, I'll do it if you like it or not"
Tara stared at Faith for a few seconds and finally gave in as she curled up in the blankets again.
Faith smiled with satisfaction to see the blonde beat a retreat and her attention came back to the TV. The ending credits pointed the end of the episode just a few seconds later and Faith couldn't help to growl in disagreement.
She was getting ready to go out when a new episode started almost immediately after the previous one. Faith let escape a victory exclamation and jumped back without care on the bed.
"Perfect! Last one before patrolling!"
Tara turned again to her.
"My God! Can you ever act with care?" asked the blonde witch.
Faith considered the question for a second.
"No" she finally replied with a wide smirk.
Tara stared at her again then abruptly threw the blankets aside and got up.
"I can't take it anymore"
The witch gathered her things, laid on the dresser or the chair and started to dress under Faith's bewildered stare.
"What you're doing Blondie?" the Slayer asked.
"I'm leaving"
"You're leaving?"
"Yes" Tara confirmed and started to lace her boots.
Faith watched her doing so without moving, kinda tripped up by that reaction. To tell the truth, she wasn't used to see Tara react at all.
"Yeah, shove off. Leave me alone" she grumbled.
Then her attention came back to the screen in front of her even if Faith could help but cast discreet glances to Tara from time to time.
When the witch was done with her shoes, she got up from the chair and looked around her, seemingly searching things she should take with her. She didn't find anything more than her thin backpack. Tara threw it casually on her shoulder and headed to the door.
"Well, bye. And th-thank you for ever-everything you d-did"
She then put her hand on the doorknob and opened the room's door. But it abruptly closed before Tara half opened it. The witch turned around to see Faith standing beside her, her hand firmly pressed against the door frame.
"Okay, stop this now Blondie. Put your stuff back into place, you're staying here"
Tara frowned with a bored look but didn't move.
"I wanna leave" she said simply.
Faith rolled her eyes and didn't move either.
"You're not going anywhere. Look at you: you'd be a perfect night snack for even newly risen vampires. And I promised Buffy I'd get your ass back alive. So you'll stay here that you want it or not"
Tara stared at Faith for a moment with a resolute look on her face then finally got back to the bed where she sat down with her bag still on her shoulder.
"All right" she said. "I'm staying"
Faith was slightly taken aback by that quick surrender but chose to be delightedwith it.
"Good. And talking about vampires, time for me to kill some of them"
Saying this, Faith grabbed her own boots she slipped quickly on before throwing her jacket on her back and choosing some weapons. When she was ready, she looked at Tara who had not moved in the slightest.
"And you" She told her. "You're coming with me"
"What?" Tara asked with surprise.
"Don't think I'm stupid" Faith replied in a mocking tone. "I wouldn't want you to take off while I'm patrolling"
"I thought it was dangerous" Tara protested.
"We're not on the hellmouth here. You'll just have to stay close to me. And it will be safer than being outside all by yourself"
Seeing that Tara still wasn't moving, Faith grabbed her arm and put her effortlessly to her feet.
"And it's not open to debate"
