Part 10
Faith's POV
I wake up, unused to having arms around me as I sleep. B's curled up against my back, a small smile on her face. I take a look round, Star and Laddie are still zonked, but there's a few more moments of sunlight. They should be coming to any minute.
Even as I think this B stirs behind me.
I wriggle round to face her fully, trying to neither use my hands or squash hers, which are still looped around me.
"Hey," she says in a lazy voice that just oozes sexiness.
"Hey yourself. How are you feeling?"
"Good, for once. It's nice not to be bothered by the light. I'm feeling quite strong. But forget that, how are you?"
"Itchy." I respond. "Don't get burned, it sucks."
"We've probably got time if you want to take a cool shower."
I probably need one after being so close to B for so long. "It might help."
"Faith?" She strokes my face again, and I immediately abandon thoughts of moving.
"Yeah?" My voice wobbles embarrassingly.
"I… uh…" she bites her lip as if trying to work out how to say something.
I lightly run a finger over her cheekbone. "Yeah?"
She leans closer to me, our faces are only an inch apart, her fingers restlessly roam across my face.
"I…" her voice is nothing more than a throaty whisper.
I move a fraction closer.
"What time is it?" Star's voice breaks the moment, and B and I leap apart.
I shoot her a mildly hairy eyeball and head for the shower, my head and heart pounding from the closeness of B.
Buffy's POV
I glare at Star and she, understandably, looks confused. She doesn't realise she burst in and destroyed possibly the most exciting moment in my life. I was definitely about to kiss Faith.
I've never felt so intensely excited, scared and exhilarated in my life. Sex with Angel never made me feel this intense. I'm not saying that moment was better than sex with Angel, then again, I'm not saying it's not, I'm just saying the intensity of the feeling was far greater.
How on earth did I manage to ignore how much I love her? And for so long?
Even now I'm smiling. I hear the rush of the shower, and faintly I can hear Faith humming that song from Armageddon.
The shower stops. "B!" She calls through the door.
"Yeah?"
"Can I borrow you for a second?"
For a lifetime, Faith. "Sure."
I enter the bathroom and Faith is wearing nothing but a towel. The thought makes me blush. "What can I do for you?" I ask.
She then blushes and hides her face in her hair. "Um, bandages. Can you put them back on for me?"
"Sure." I'm feeling very warm, and it has nothing to do with the cloudy condensation in here.
Faith takes a seat on the edge of the tub and I kneel in front of her. Will you marry me? Pops into my head.
"Gonna propose?" Faith asks.
I giggle, wondering if she could read my mind. She joins in, and again I think how good it sounds, she should definitely do it more often.
"Did you put that antiseptic cream on?"
Faith rolls her eyes at me.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot. You're too hard to need cream and painkillers." I say, as I reach into the cabinet for the cream. It kinda looks like Vaseline with pink flecks. "Pretty cream." I tell her.
"Fine." She holds out her hands to me. "Cream me."
I flash her a look and we both crack up again.
I start on her hands, rubbing the cream in gently, making sure that I miss nothing and that I don't put too much pressure on the scars and blisters that are marring the most beautiful hands I've ever seen. More so because these scars are because of me. She injured herself for me.
Faith lets out a slow shaky breath.
"Did I hurt you?" I quickly question.
"No… feels nice, cold." Her voice sounds hazy, like she's not quite here.
I look at her hands again, they're shaking. But so are mine. I'm finding it hard to breathe, my heart is pounding so hard. I reach for the bandages, trying to stop my hands shaking.
I start at her wrist and begin to loop the bandage around, one finger holding the padding between the blisters and the bandage in place. She was so lucky, she had so much petrol that had rubbed off onto her, and she's alive. Being a Slayer must have helped, I can see that some of her is already healing, but knowing Faith it's pure determination that's making her heal so fast.
"All done." I trail a finger down her arm, it's still slightly damp from the shower. I'm reluctant to leave. "Anything else I can do? Dry your hair?" Dry your hair?
"I'm fine, B." She give me a lovely smile. "But thanks."
I exit the bathroom and find Laddie and Star staring at me. "Bandages." I explain.
"I didn't know you were involved." Star says.
I consider telling her that we're not. But don't want to. I'm quite happy having people think that Faith's my lover.
"I mean, I saw you with Marko, and Faith was… I mean, I thought Faith…" She trails off and bows her head so she's hidden by her brown curls.
Faith hit on Star? I didn't think Star was her type, I didn't even think Star was. My gaydar sucks. I mean, I missed Willow despite all the obvious signs and the way she used to go all blushy when she talked about Tara.
No, actually, I deliberately ignored it. I saw it coming, I just didn't want to. If my best friend could be gay and it be ok, then so could I, and like the coward I was, I didn't want to be. I was already strange enough with the Slayer thing, I didn't want anything else to make me different.
God, I was such a baby. I'll never regret coming to Santa Carla, no matter what. At least I finally know, and not only accept, but embrace the fact that I love Faith.
Besides, I'm not the only Slayer.
I'm not even the only gay Slayer.
Faith's POV
I'm still shaking as I get dressed. I'm scared to think it, but I might actually get what I want. B was shaking too as she bandaged my hands, there's something in the air between us. I'm not just imagining it this time. I hope anyway.
No, I can't be. There's too many signs, the hugs, the touching, the small kisses that just aren't necessary between people who are just friends and that moment before Star woke up. I'm beginning to think that I didn't imagine that 'love you' earlier today.
And I'm shaking like a girl on her first date. I'm scared. I'm terrified. I was in lust with her when my Watcher first told me about her, I fell in love with her a couple of moments after meeting her. Because for so long I've wanted her, and that was my only plan, now I might get her my life plans are destroyed.
I never thought I might actually get her. I'm scared of the darkness inside of me, I'm scared of hurting her, physically, emotionally, whatever. I've nearly wrecked her life so many times, just think of the damage I could do if she loves me. Before I merely pissed her off, this time I could kill her.
Ok, deep breath. One thing at a time. We get B back to a fully fledged human, then I sort out my love life.
I strut out of the bathroom, tip B a wink and send a vague grin in the direction of Star and Laddie. "C'mon Ladies, and Gent. Let's go find Marko."
We park the van and head down to the Boardwalk. Star and Laddie are bouncing with excitement. "What?" I ask.
"It's the first time we've come down here without the Boys." She replies happily. "We're getting our first taste of freedom." Star squeezes my arm. "Thank you."
B possessively takes my hand. I flash her a look. She crinkles her eyebrows at me, the smiles. Jealous, B? I wonder. I squeeze her hand, then remember the burns. I let out a strangled squeak, and decide it would be less painful to put my arm around her shoulders.
"I'm sorry!" She looks horrified. "I forgot."
"It's ok. I forgot too."
She loops her arm around my waist and we continue walking.
Buffy's POV
The Frog brothers are deeply unimpressed with our timekeeping skills. We promised to be here just before sundown, and we're over an hour late. Faith's making apologies and Star and Laddie are looking round excitedly, like kids at Christmas. They've probably been on this Boardwalk every night of their lives for the last two months or so, but they're acting as if everything is brand new to them.
I'm just standing here, enjoying the sensation of Faith's arm around me, deeply proud of the fact people are mistaking us for a couple.
I move my hand a little and let my fingers tickle her hip, I remember that's she's got a bee tattooed on that hip and smile some more. She flashes me a quick grin and turns back to the Frogs.
"So, does anyone have any idea where we might find Marko?" She asks. "Star, you've been in the gang the longest, any thoughts?"
She shakes her head regretfully, "They never told me anything, because I wasn't one of them."
"Oh well, it's dark, I'm guessing he'll be out feeding to build up his strength."
"He might be at the cave." I say suddenly. "We're dim. We should have waited at the cave for him to come back."
"Urgh!" Faith smacks the side of her head, then moans as her hand reminds her it's been burnt very recently. "I'll go. I'll drive up there and see if he's lurking."
"I'm going with you." I pipe up instantly.
"There's no need, B."
"Remember in the hospital, I said I wasn't going to let you out of my sight. I'm not going back on it."
"We're coming too." Star agrees. "We know the cave better than you."
"It's not necessary, we're Slayers." Faith points out, then turns on the Frogs. "Please don't say you're coming too."
"We'll keep an eye on the Boardwalk." Alan replies, eyeing her warily. I'm guessing he's learnt not to disagree with Faith when she makes her mind up.
"You should stay with us." Edgar tells Star and Laddie. I guess both Frogs got a lesson from Faith.
Star looks imploringly at Faith but she shakes her head. "Me and B have been doing this for years. Why don't you and Laddie go enjoy yourselves?"
The look on Star's face is half dismay, half relief.
"Looks like it's just you and me girlfriend." I say, using my new favourite Faith-ism.
"That's just the way I like it." She tells me as we start back to the van.