So, midterms are taking a good chunk out of my writing time, and I'm going home for Christmas break after that, so this may be my last update for a while. Though, I am shooting for a Christmas Day update as a present :) Seriously, though, if you've stuck with me this far, I appreciate it very much. Again, please review and give constructive criticism! Tell me what you likeor dislike! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!
Chapter 3: Night"Okay, switch seats. Kennedy, now we're East and West."
"C'mon, Willow, this is seriously the stupidest game I've ever played. Why are we doing this anyway?"
"Because it's a time-honored tradition that we play bridge after we play Go-Fish on Saturday nights. And because Xander and Andrew need two people to partner up with." Even though I'm dozing lazily on the couch, I can almost see Ken's eyes roll.
"Speaking of partners-" Buffy grabs my arm and quickly drags me to the kitchen before I can finish.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Don't push the guy out of the closet yet, Faith. Give it time." she says, exasperated.
I peer over her shoulder and see Andrew sucking on the last juice box, staring at his cards like he wants to burn them into oblivion. With difficulty, I suppress a snicker. Too late.
Buffy notices. I grin at her as she sighs and rubs the heels of her hands against her eyes in defeat.
"C'mon, let's go. Before you burst a vein."
The night air is clean and nippy, chilly enough to make me zip up my old leather jacket. Thankfully, clouds shroud the moon tonight, so the streetlamps are the only things that light the path. Thank the gods, Cleveland has some damn good graveyards. Plenty of morgues and secret hideouts too. One of the perks of being a big city.
"So, where to today?" Damnit. My voice sounds squeaky, like it always does when I'm around B.
"I was thinking that place beside the old department store. Someone found a body there last night. And if there's one, there's bound to be others."
"Fine by me." And the conversation well runs dry yet again. Nice going, Faith.
I don't know why this feels so fucking awkward. Usually we talk and laugh together when we're on patrol. But today she seems muted, cordoned off from the world. Even the Slayer buzz is out of whack. She's staring at her feet, looking but not seeing the road ahead of us. Something is definitely wrong. Was it me? Did I say something? Do something? I'm about to go insane from wondering when she suddenly twirls around.
"Look out!" Fuck it! I duck instinctively and narrowly miss a rusty axe aimed for my neck. Sliding the stake from my jacket, I slam it into the vamp's heart, coughing as a cloud of dust surrounds us.
"Thanks, B. I owe you one."
She nods and goes back to contemplating the asphalt. I let the agonizing silence linger for a few seconds more, then I give in.
"Okay, B, something's up. What's wrong?" She jumps at the sound of my voice. When she finally looks me full on in the eyes, I can see pain reflected in her normally cheery baby blues. I wanna wrap my arms around her and kiss her forehead so badly, like Red would do, but I have to settle for putting a hand on her shoulder. Unfortunately, I accidently knock her back a few steps. Fucking Slayer strength. Hey, I'm not used to this comforting thing.
"S-sorry." I don't fucking believe this. The one time that Buffy actually needs me to be…non-Faithlike, I screw it up. I want to kick my own ass all over the city.
Oh, thank the gods, she's smiling. I don't really know why, but I smile back, basking in the glow of her happiness like a fucking little kid. Faith, you are well and truly whipped.
"I'm the one who should be sorry, Faith. Just a long day, I guess. Race you to the graveyard!" She runs off before I can say anything. I grin wickedly and head after her. Hell yeah, a Slayer race; quite possibly the most high-inducing sport on the planet. The thrill of running through the darkened night, side by side with B, heightens the tingle to the point where my body is humming with it, pulsing in time to my breathing. Through the blur of trees and buildings, I can see her face from the corner of my eye. She's feeling it too, and she gives me that smile that always makes my insides turn to jelly. As the graveyard approaches, she vaults the fence one step ahead of me. Oh, that was a low blow, B.
"I so totally let you win." Hey, I still got my pride. Somewhat.
"Of course you did." Buffy rolls her eyes. Of course, I have to make up a comeback, because duh, I'm Faith. And just like that, we're okay again. It's so easy to talk to her, even if it's something stupid like who won a race or what kind of socks Red knits all of us for holidays. And then there's the slaying, the dusting, the panting, the sweating, and the fucking.
Okay, I was kidding about the last part.
But as the night winds down to a close and our daily (or nightly) rounds are done, we head down to the 24-hour diner that has come to expect us and proceed to clean them clear out of food.
"But see, Dawn treats me like a sister too." I say with my mouth full, ketchup dripping from my mouth to fall on the fake granite tabletop. Buffy doesn't seem to mind.
"And what do I treat her like? A water buffalo?"
"Nah. I'm just like the cool aunt or something. The one who doesn't have to take the day-by-day stress. I don't know how in hell you manage it." She just shrugs and finishes off her third burger.
"So how's your new protégé? Claire, was it?"
"Yeah, she's a fucking machine. Been here half a day, already got some of the others quaking in their shiny, glittery, fashionably disgusting boots." I make a face, though it's hard to through a mouthful of French fries.
B laughs. I LOVE that. Being able to make her laugh, even when I'm not even trying to. Talking to her about all the things that she can't talk about with the others, being myself without the tough girl persona with her. If I was a cat, I'd be purring right about now.
Faith, you just gave a whole new meaning to the term "pussy-whipped." Heh.
"What time is it?" I glance at the clock. 12:47.
"Time to head back. Promised Giles I'd get to bed before one." B stands up, throws her napkin into the mountain of dirty ones on the table, and lays the obligatory tip on the table, even though we weren't served. Hell, we usually use up about five bucks worth of ketchup and napkins every time we come here after a Slaying.
The night has gotten colder, and B shivers when the wind picks up. I slip the jacket from my shoulders and toss it over hers. I'm more than repaid when she smiles and leans in closer to me, until our hips are touching ever so gently.
So, the hungries have been tamed. Now, about the hornies…..
We approach the house. B fishes out the key from under the doormat and we sneak back in. You can almost hear the snoring from upstairs, and I make a silent groan. No way in hell are we ever gonna get to sleep tonight.
Suddenly, I'm aware of exactly how close B is to me. In the darkness, all I can see are her eyes, drawing me in until I'm drowning in her pools of blue. She leans in slightly and my mind shortwires, the once-pleasant tingle through my body becoming an electric shock.
Oh God, Oh dear God.
Then, with the slightest puff of a breath that makes my skin tremble, she whispers slowly in my ear.
"Thank you." Every cell in my body is vibrating, and I swear I'm about to hyperventilate.
With that, she slowly slips off my jacket and holds it out to me, which I take numbly. Then she smiles again and slowly walks up the stairs. I gaze after her long after I hear her door close with a click.
I fall back onto the couch, grinning stupidly up at the ceiling. I'm still holding the jacket in my hands, and I hold it up to my nose.
Her scent, the irresistible smell of green grass and strawberry fields in the sun, lingers on the worn leather. I breathe in as much of it as I can, trying to memorize the smell of her.
When I finally fall asleep, I've got my nose in the jacket and a smile on my face.
P.S. If you caught the reference, message it to me and you will enter my book of awesome people :)
