A/N: This chapter makes direct reference to (and paraphrases from) season 3, episode 5 "Homecoming." So thank you to David Greenwalt for a beautiful base for exploring a more Faith-centric version of events! And thanks in advance to everyone who reads this :D Leave a review too, if you'd like.
Faith was wailing on a Carnyss demon. Or some kind of demon anyway. The point was more that she was punching him repeatedly in the face, whatever type of demon he was. She paused to crack her knuckles and stretch her neck. Then she smashed her fist into his nose, which, delightfully, broke.
"Faith," Diana sighed. "If you would kill him now, I would be much obliged."
Faith glanced back at her bespectacled watcher, who clutched the bridge of her nose and then threw Faith an axe. Faith caught it and decapitated the demon.
"We will need to burn him to make sure he does not resurrect himself." Diana said.
"I'm on it boss," Faith replied. She smiled as she plucked her zippo from the tight front pocket of her jeans.
Diana chuckled at Faith indulgently and said, "I think we'll need to move him first. This alleyway is less than ideal."
"Right," Faith looked at the corpse. "I'll take the body and you get the head."
"Delightful," Diana said. She picked up the head and tucked it under her arm. "Would you like to come over afterwards? I was thinking I would make you some of those mashed potatoes you like."
Faith's cheeks pinked with pleasure as she slung the body over her shoulder. "Sure thing boss."
Faith looks up, pulling herself out of that dangerously happy memory. Diana is dead. Faith is still in Sunnydale, in her motel room. At least Kakistos is dead now too.
Shit. Buffy needs to get there soon so they can dust some vampires already. Ms. Perfect is already late. Or probably is. Faith doesn't have a watch or a clock but she is getting majorly antsy.
A girl can only wait so long, she thinks as she stands up. She strides across the room and swipes her stake from the dresser by the door. She doesn't need to look in the mirror first, because she already knows how she looks (hot).
As she pulls open her door, Buffy materializes, with her hand poised to knock.
"Sorry I'm late," Buffy says. "Oz drama. Major werewolf-age tonight."
"Fur boy needed extra handlers or what?"
"Something like that. But he's been thoroughly tranqed. So let's go."
"Alright B. You're lucky I waited for you."
"Yeah yeah. I'd patrol alone… But as a team we're actually of the good." Buffy crinkles her little nose, in something like surprise or disgust. She stares Faith in the eyes. Always straight on like that. Faith smirks and swooshes past Buffy onto the landing. Her shoulder brushes across Buffy's chest and Faith feels a little thrill where their skin touches.
"Let's kill us some vamps B."
Buffy smiles and rolls her eyes. She keeps pace with Faith as they walk down the rotting and crooked stairs of the motel. "Did I mention I'm running for homecoming queen?"
Faith snorts. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Yeah. Do I have your vote? I'm not fully sure whether you go to Sunnydale high or not, but hey, I'm looking for all the votes I can right now. I am willing to bribe you."
"Whoa. Yeah, I really do not go to Sunnydale. Remember that problem with authority thing? I dropped out of school ages ago. But hey, you can have my vote anyway."
"I brought a cupcake, chocolate. It's the bribe."
"Thanks B. But let's slay first, eat later."
They walk to the graveyard in comfortable silence, Faith unable to erase her smirk. Homecoming queen. This badass vampire slayer has some odd priorities. But Buffy's quirks are helping bring Faith out of her funk, away from oppressively wonderful Diana memories, that are so acutely painful because she knows exactly what she's lost. No offence to Giles. Diana was just…
Whoa. So much for the funk lifting.
It's the middle of the night and the sky is dark, but the stars are bright. The graveyard looks too quiet. Faith really badly needs something to kill.
It doesn't take too long. After all, this is Sunnyhell.
A vamp lunges out from behind a crypt, his hands out in a caricaturish way. Like he is a cartoon monster lunging at them. Speaking of cartoon, Faith can't understand how one town can have so many creepy crypts. Damn. But killing, right, vampire killing starts now.
Faith relaxes into her fighting stance, stake in right fist. She watches Buffy in her peripheral vision. Faith hangs back a moment as Buffy swings forward with a haymaker to the vampire's head. Buffy is physically tiny, shorter than Faith, with a delicate face. Watching her throw beasts across the cemetery is a little bit miraculous.
The vampire stumbles backwards, clutching his head. He growls and charges them. Faith charges back. They collide and Faith's knee knocks the wind out of him. Buffy is behind her, so close Faith can feel Buffy's warm breath on her neck for a moment. And then Buffy is in front, pouncing on the chest of the vampire, pushing him fully onto the ground. As almost always, Buffy's stake has somehow fallen in the shuffle. Faith tosses her own to Buffy, who catches it one handed and dusts the guy. It's both smooth and and mischievous.
"Thanks F," Buffy says, gently mocking.
She throws the stake back to Faith and they continue to wander. After dusting a few more vamps they decide to head in.
"Hungry and horny B?"
"Well, I could go for a yoghurt."
Faith grins and gives Buffy a somewhat lascivious sidelong glance.
"I'll see you on the limo ride to homecoming, B. I am still your date right?"
"Well yes, we are still both going stag… Together. But I'll probably be crowned queen and all."
"Yeah I get it, see you homecoming. I'll take my cupcake now." Faith winks as Buffy extracts a cupcake from a tupperware in her nonchalantly slung backpack. She places it in Faith's upturned hands and they part. Faith looks over her shoulder at Buffy. Faith enjoys this feeling, of not being alone.
It's homecoming. Faith is wearing a dress. She taps her hipbones where her belt loops usually are. The dress feels a bit… dressy? At least she just implied to Scott Hope's date that he was riddled with venereal disease. Because he broke up with Buffy like two days ago. Who does he think he is? Especially when Buffy kicks such an impressive amount of ass…
Now, Faith is waiting for Buffy, and feeling almost uncomfortably like one of the Scoobies. She and Willow and Xander decided to reunite Cordelia and Buffy through a shared limo ride. But why did she help? Their whole feud is totally boring. She hasn't decided if Scooby-dom is worthwhile yet.
So she's regretting the dress, their plot, the dance, because Homecoming is egregiously lame and Buffy's not even here. Faith leans against a rickety punch table, trying to make her sulky pose look somewhat cool and brooding.
She yawns as she surveys the room. Willow and Xander are awkwardly avoiding each other as Willow watches Oz play and Xander stumbles aimlessly. Now he's stumbling her way.
"Cordelia and Buffy are sure taking a while, hey?" he says, his eyes strangely furtive.
"Yeah, whatever," Faith scowls.
"Yeah, probably just fighting it out."
Faith nods. The air stinks of teenage sweat and Xander is even more awkward than usual.
"I hope they arrive soon, so I can see my girlfriend. Cordelia. Who is also my date."
"Uh yeah, I am aware lover boy. Thanks for the update." Faith quirks her eyebrow at him. He's definitely bugging. But Faith kinda doesn't care.
"Well… good talk." he says and gives Faith a shoulder punch. He quickly withdraws his fist, claps his hands together and walks off.
Faith shakes her head. She decides to slide into the crowd and get her dance on. She finds a studly enough guy swaying on the sidelines. His eyes are hazel and his hair is dirty blond.
"Dance with me." she says, pulling on his hand.
"Yeah, alright," he says, stumbling after her. His palm is kind of sweaty and he gives off shy guy vibes. He'll do though. She turns around and sticks her butt in the direction of his crotch, slowly gyrating to the melodies of Dingoes Ate my Baby. He timidly moves behind her and with her. Their bodies almost touch but never actually do.
The music is loud but she still hears the gym doors opening.
She jumps away from the guy and peers at the door.
"Thanks for the dance," she says, giving him an exaggerated wink. She sees Buffy's blonde head bobbing towards her. Faith weaves through the crowd to find her fellow slayer.
Buffy has dirt smeared all over her face and looks perfectly disheveled. Cordelia is behind her, her hair askew, dress mud splashed.
"Whoa B. You and Cordy didn't do that to each other… did you?" Faith asks, as she approaches Buffy through the crowd.
"Long story," Buffy says.
"A bunch of uggo monsters thought I was you and they were having a slay the slayer fest." Cordelia says, flicking her hair off her nose.
"Ok, not that long." Buffy rolls her eyes.
"Shit B, I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you."
"It's alright, Cordy and I did inadvertently bond." Buffy nods, Cordelia already on her way to Xander. "And we're also not dead, which is a plus."
Buffy perks up. They're about to announce homecoming queen. Reluctantly, Faith slides her eyes from Buffy's face to the stage and the announcement.
And then Buffy's face crumples in that way a heartbroken kid's does when they lose their ice cream.
There are two homecoming queens and neither of them are Buffy. Or Cordelia.
Faith wants to laugh because it's totally stupid, but Buffy's pain stops the laugh from bubbling out. Buffy totally cares about this stupid shit… And, as it turns out, Faith cares that Buffy cares. Faith claps Buffy on the back.
"Hey B," Faith says, smiling. "You ready to show this homecoming who's boss?"
Buffy gives Faith a small smile, a defeated shrug.
"Why not?"
Faith swings around to face Buffy and they start dancing. Buffy looks stupid pretty with dirt smudged cheeks.
"So what the hell is Slayer fest?" Faith yells over the music.
"I don't think I wanna talk about it. Can we just dance? And maybe do that stud thing, that finding and using a couple studs thing you mentioned the other day?"
Faith laughs. Listening is not Faith's strong suit. The seduction of studs is. So this works out.
"You know we can."
Buffy says something that looks like "huh?" but Faith can't hear. Buffy steps closer to Faith, and Faith steps closer to Buffy.
Faith puts her mouth by Buffy's ear.
"I'm ready if you are."
Buffy blushes a bit.
"I don't know if I meant it. Maybe Cordy and I should just go home and accept our crushing defeat."
Faith looks around and sees Cordelia walking their way and giving Buffy a look that is both commiserating and furious.
"What was that?!" Cordelia yells.
"Misery?" says Buffy.
Faith takes a step back. She's not a part of this. Even though she wants to be. Cordelia and Buffy are bonding, hard. But then Cordelia is out the door, she barely broke stride to talk to Buffy. Faith gets it, they both need to cope, with losing… homecoming queen? Okay, maybe she doesn't get it.
"I think I need to get out of here," Buffy yells into Faith's ear.
Faith walks alongside Buffy, grabs her jacket off a chair on the way out.
"Want to go to the Bronze?" Faith asks.
"I was thinking I'd just head home."
"You sure? What about stud-using? You don't want to do some slaying, maybe?"
"Maybe…"
Faith gives Buffy some time to formulate, as they walk together. The night is warm and young. Faith certainly won't be going home, but she hopes Buffy won't either.
"Okay. Let's go to the Bronze… It's gonna be dead though, too many people at homecoming." Buffy says.
"The deader the better. Or, what I mean is we bring the party. The party is where we are. And we are five-by-five." Faith nods. It all makes sense, or enough sense.
"Thanks Faith."
This makes Faith smile. Buffy is warming, softening to her. Faith knows Buffy didn't like her at first. This change is good. Because Faith likes Buffy.
They walk in silence, arms swinging, almost touching. Faith gulps in the night air and lifts her palms up. She is ready to party.
At the Bronze they grab sodas (Buffy's is diet) and sit in a corner, surveying. It is pretty empty. The music that comes over the speakers is good, and echoes off unoccupied walls.
"Wanna dance?" Faith asks.
They deposit their drinks and Faith takes Buffy's hand, leads her onto the floor. Arms raised above her head, Faith shimmies close to Buffy. Buffy mimics the movement till they're nose to nose. The feeling becomes magnetic for Faith, she wants closer. She leans in, breathes in Buffy.
Buffy laughs nervously, spins around. Spell broken. Distance between them regained. Faith looks Buffy up and down and sighs. There is something about Buffy.
They dance for a few more minutes before a couple of the scattered men at the Bronze approach them. Faith is almost offended… A couple minutes is an awful long time to dick around when you see babes like her and Buffy. Still, she turns and grabs the blonder guy by his collar. She grins at Buffy. Buffy looks her guy up and down, his dark brown hair and moderate swagger seem to be enticing enough because Buffy starts to dance with him. Faith watches her, Buffy's abandon, the way she throws her head back. She must be really bummed about this homecoming thing…
Faith smiles at her guy, leans in close to him. He smells nice, earthy. He runs his hands up and down her hips, sways with her. Faith spins herself and her guy around and around so that she can make sure Buffy continues to be okay. So far, so good. Every time she spins, Buffy smiles at her. They are in it together. In on it. The stud-using game. And the studs seem more than happy about it. The next time Faith spins round, she sees Buffy talking to her guy. Asking his name, Faith thinks.
She hears him say "Peter." Realizes she should probably ask her guy the same.
Faith stares at the guy. He's kinda pretty.
"I'm Faith," she says, sashaying closer. She leans her back onto his chest, rests her head by his neck, awaiting his name.
"Eli," he murmurs. His voice is husky. Neither of them feel a need to say more. They dance closer and closer, his arms wrapping her up. It's comforting and close. Buffy and Peter are much more chaste. There is always a ruler's distance between the two, like they're being monitored by a prudish school principal. It makes Faith smile. Buffy is so innocent compared to the people Faith grew up around. Innocent seems like a worthwhile way to be, for the first time. I mean, Faith has no need for it, but she likes it on Buffy. It's charming.
For a minute, Faith turns to look at Eli. He smiles at her, with two prominent dimples. He must be in his twenties, much older than her, but he has a youthfulness that she relates to. For a second she wants to kiss him, but then the second passes.
His hands stray to her butt, she lifts them back up to her waist. She leans away from him and stares into his eyes. Smirks, in a sexy way. Then she wriggles around so she's facing Buffy again.
"Wanna finish those drinks?" Buffy asks her, under the music.
Faith looks back at Eli.
"Thanks for the dance pal. Catch you later, alright?" She walks away, smiling at Eli. Eli returns the smile, a bit bewildered by his sudden abandonment. Faith still sees some hope in his face.
Buffy and Peter clasp hands, not quite a handshake, but close enough to make Faith snort.
"Faith… Thanks. I'm feeling like… slayer-girl again. At least, I'm not feeling like homecoming-reject-girl."
"Good. You know high school is pretty stupid. Perspective's good."
They arrive at their seats and clink plastic cups together.
"You've been pretty good to me tonight. In return, I extend an olive branch and ask, do you have any more alligator wrestling stories?"
Faith laughs so hard that soda shoots out her nose. It's incredibly uncomfortable.
"You mean naked alligator wrastling? I just had the one. But I have a bunch of other stories to make you blush."
"Oh my. Why did I think this was smart?"
"Don't ask me… But it's started now… Would you like to hear about the time I defeated five vampires, also in the buff?"
"Why are you always naked?" Buffy asks, smiling, but hiding the smile behind her cup.
"That's a long story, B."
They both start giggling, Buffy puts a hand over her mouth and doubles over. Faith smacks the table. Their amusement spills out their nostrils, fills the space around them with gaiety. It's so good to laugh with Buffy, even if Faith is mostly laughing at herself. But then she gets it, she's not laughing at herself, she's laughing at the two of them, at her own audaciousness, and Buffy's reserve. It's a sign of them beginning to understand one another.
And on that note, their night ends. Buffy stands up and heads for the door, pulling at Faith's sleeve.
Buffy is yawning, pulling her beautiful dress up above her heels.
Faith finally realizes what a ludicrous pair they are, in their homecoming clothes, Buffy covered in dirt. Faith laughs again. A good night.
"You good to get home on your own?" Buffy asks.
Faith laughs. "Yeah B. I'm five-by-five."
"Alright F." Buffy says. "See you tomorrow for patrol?"
"Hell yeah you will."