"…But I think maroon is a perfectly acceptable colour! Besides it's not like everyone has her complexion! Say, people with lighter tones might be swamped by, you know, the lack of reds, it might… um… make them look, say, non-reddish, non-alive and I think there's really-"
I'm guessing here but we've been walking for about twelve, maybe thirteen, minutes and she started talking after we got onto the main road which means… about eleven minutes of talking? Ten at best?
"…So of course I'm going to help her cos, - hello! - Best friend! But really, I don't have a clue what to say! I know, I know, she's my best friend… It's so awkward though… how do I tell her the truth? Do I rip the band-aid off or sugarcoat it? Sugary stuff is good right? Everyone loves the sugar… But then again, band-aid rippage is of the plus, that's what everyone says, right? I don't… I don't get it though, cos it hurts. But is short big pain better than-"
It's not like she even has anything to say. Actually, fair dues to the girl, I probably couldn't keep up a mindless, one-sided conversation for two minutes let alone ten!
"… Which I'm totally not! I don't get it- I'm not freakish. I'm not. Seriously. It's not like I've got horns, or- or- a tail! God, I do not need that in my life! Do you think my mom would notice? Parents can be pretty blind right? But that's only the 'blind when they want to be' kind cos, my mom? Font of all Buffy knowledge. Nothing gets by her. Sure, when I was hiding the slayage she kind of possibly thought I was some teenage, drug dealing, mafia boss who liked to burn down school gyms- which, by the way, was-"
I thought it was kind of sweet when she started up- just trying to fill the awkward silence, ya know? And I'm not gonna complain about gettin' to watch her babble on with that cute little look on her face. She's tryin' so hard I kinda feel bad for her… but ten minutes is just…
"You ever try just listening to silence, B?"
Well that stopped her… 'Cept now she just looks like someone kicked her puppy. Ok, not 'someone'- me. Great, now she's gonna pout and flounce off. God, she's so fucking-
"I didn't- I was just-"
Ok, take that back. The girl's tryin'. She just doesn't like quiet. It's probably one of those things you get accustomed to and she's never… alone… or somethin'.
She's biting her lip like she's gonna cry, checking round for her best escape route. Go on, Faith. Make the poor kid feel better- that's a joke actually, that 'kid' is about a year and a half older than me…
"Tryin' ta fill the silence. I get it."
"Yeah." She sighs and attempts to pull all the loose hair off her face.
"Sometimes silence is nice, ya know, soothing." What the hell?! 'Soothing'?! Good one, Faith. Bonus points for being an ass.
"Right." Ah well, she liked it. She flashes me that little, half-smile thing she does. "Sorry." Aw, sweet!
"I's ok." So, back to silent walking. I do actually quite like quiet, volume on full or just plain off. I'm an all or nothing kinda girl, I guess. When I was little my mom used to tape over the volume control on our old radio. I s'pose she got a little sick of being woken at six in the morning by Ella Fitzgerald and saxophones on full.
"Mm-!" Oh shit! B! I totally forgot about that stupid crate. She's leanin' against this lamppost, holdin' her side. Faith, you spaz! You should have checked her out before we went anywhere… huh, checkin' B out…
"Uh. Faith?" Oh right, stop laughing you dumb fuck and help the poor girl!
She takes this sharp little breath as I lift her top and, man, I'm not surprised- that is going to be one wicked bruise by tomorrow. All purple and shit thanks to slayer healing. "Sorry." And I am, she may be a bit of a stuck-up, goody-two-shoes sometimes but I'd kill anything that tried to hurt her (and I do… just give me some time on the Angel guy).
"Me too," Huh? "About… earlier. I slapped you, remember? And… um… the Angel and the bat thing." She's wincing as she traces my face with her eyes. I haven't been near a mirror yet but by the throbbing and slight wet feeling I'm guessing huge bruise and split skin… what kind of bad-ass vampire keeps a baseball bat to hand? Seriously now; Respect. Angel. Never to be used in same sentence.
"I's ok. I was kinda… um… not being totally… uh… not thinking straight… at the time." (…Or ever. I'm as straight as straight as a straight thing… bent in half! Geez, I crack myself up sometimes! Ok, not so much) Shit! She is gonna KILL me when she sees Xander.
"I know." Or not. (Am I really the crazy one here?) She's giving me a funny look, kinda cute. "So… Xander…?!" She giggles at my look. Yeah, I look stupid when I wrinkle my nose- not even I can be hot 100 of the time! I try to keep it an even 99. For… karma purposes. Obviously.
"So I wasn't thinking! How was I supposed to know he hadn't popped his cherry?!" (Ok, he told me. But I was horny! And he has a heartbeat. So I'm one up on Blondie!) She laughs some more.
"Whatever you say."
"Hey! Heat of the moment! H and H- we weren't near food so…" A good nudge and wink is all it takes to distract her long enough to pick her up.
"He- what! What are you-?" If she struggles anymore I might have to just drop her.
"B! Twist like that once more and you can have a concussion to add to that beautiful array of bruises around your middle!" She settles down and wraps her arms around my neck. That coat may be butt-ugly but it's damn soft. She pouts a bit and puts her head on my shoulder. She's so light… I should get her to eat more…
"Why are you doing this?" Because I'm trying as hard as I can to think about anything other than the last 48 hours and having you this close to me usually causes my brain to shut-down.
"'Cos you pretending not to be in pain is pissing me off. 'Sides, if I don't I'll never get home!" She laughs then winces.
"Stop making with the funny. Hurts" She really is adorable sometimes.
"Sorry Princess, I'll be extra depressing just for you…" dramatic pause, "So, what do you think of this 'death-guarenteed-before-you're-20' slayer gig?" She raises her head to glare at me and smack my shoulder.
"Do you mind?! This is Miss. Older-Slayer-less-that-two-years-left, you're talking to!" She narrows her eyes. "Besides, you'll probably party yourself to death before then!"
"Aw, do you really think so? You're so sweet!" She smiles and snuggles closer to me again before popping her head back up.
"My house!" She jumps down, winces and grabs the tree to steady herself.
"Yep, genius, this is your home. You live here with your mother, name of Joyce. You're Buffy, it's 1999 and… I'm now going this way" Man I have a smart mouth, some times I don't even have to think, just let it run… "Anything else?" I know she's got her tongue pointed at me even if I'm walking away. It's a shame we got here, I was enjoying stealing free cuddles. Yes I like it! Who doesn't?!
"Yes actually." What? Oh right, 'anything else'. Stupid question. She probably wants me to go see Giles. Confess for real this time. How, about, no?
"Look, B, I d-"
"Stay with me."… Well that was a bit… "Stay here with me. For tonight or… longer…" She smiles nervously at me but to be honest I'm a little too shocked to be thinkin' about how damn lovable she is.
"What about your-"
"Mom? Gee, mom loves you! I don't know what you did to her at Christmas but she just adores you!" Ha, 'did to her'…
"Well, I could tell you…" A wiggle of my eyebrows and my best leer…
"Ew! Gross Faith!" Score! That's Buffy Blush no.6™! And yes, I do have a chart. Once got up to 9… Don't think anyone's ever got temporary blindness from the sight of my naked breasts before. Kinda flattering. "Get in the house before you scare some small children." At one in the morning? Sure, B, sure. "Oh shut up. I know there aren't any around!" She tries to keep the angry look but a little giggle escapes. "If you come in now I'll heat you up some of mom's apple pie."
"How could a girl refuse that offer (?!)" No seriously. I haven't eaten in three days.
"I've still got some of your clothes here… I, um, picked them up while you were uh… chained up… at Angel's." Oh yeah. Hey, that's a point…
"Buffy…?"
"Don't even ask, don't even think, it never happened!" She smiles and shoves me into the house, rolling her eyes.
