Sorry it took a while to update. I really don't have much time to write now, it sucks a lot. Anyway, I hope you'll like it. No Satsu in this chapter !
Make sure to leave a few words to tell me what you think :)
"I'm starving."
"When aren't you ?"
"Can't we just stop and eat something ? I didn't have any lunch."
"It's six p.m, can't you wait another hour ?"
"Well, do you want me to carry your bags or not ?"
Buffy smiled, a little annoyed, and turned to face her friend.
"You're such a child, Faith."
"You don't need to remind me that I'm younger than you, Grandma."
Faking to be offended, the blonde slayer poked the brunette in the ribs just hard enough to hurt a little.
"Ouch ! Hey watch it, you can't hit a child !"
"Well you can't hit an old lady either, so don't even try."
Buffy continued to walk, oblivious to the fact that Faith had stopped in front of a pastry shop. When she realized that she was alone, she looked back and chuckled at the sight of Faith almost drooling all over the sidewalk. Slowly, she walked back towards her and put a hand on the brunette's right shoulder.
"C'mon Faith, let's buy you something before you starve to death."
The smile on her fellow slayer's face was reward enough. The look they exchanged told Buffy all that she needed to know. There was no way she'd live her life without Faith in it from now on.
"Hello ?"
"It's Ken."
"What's up, brat ?"
"You tell me, moron."
Faith raised an eyebrow at the unexpected harshness of her friend's tone and turned away from Buffy who was watching her intently.
"Ken, what's wrong ?"
"I am your friend, Lehane, I am your fucking friend ! How could you not tell me ?"
"Okay, hold on a sec."
She apologized quietly to Buffy and pointed the door before leaving the apartment quickly.
"Okay, now talk, Kennedy."
"How could you not tell me that Buffy wasn't with Satsu anymore ?"
"Oh. I guess I forgot."
"I don't see your face, that doesn't mean I don't know you're lying !"
"Listen, seriously, I didn't think it was worth mentioning. They still have a lot to talk about."
"To hell with that ! This is your chance ! Why aren't you with her ?"
"Actually, I was until you called."
A silence followed her declaration. Then, Kennedy spoke again, her voice softer.
"Did I interrupt anything ?"
"No. We just came back from shopping. I was about to leave."
"You're not staying with her ?"
"Didn't you see me at your house every day and night this week ? No, I'm not staying. We agreed on taking things slowly."
Faith heard Kennedy's distinct scoff and frowned.
"What ?"
"Faith, really ? You guys have been taking things way too slow since the beginning ! I mean, you've known each other for more than 5 years !"
"And I spent three of them in jail, another one trying to kill her and her friends, and…"
"But she always wanted you, and you can't deny that you've been fighting the urge to pin her against a wall and have your way with her more than once. Besides…"
"Wow wow wow, I'm stopping you right here, Ken. All this belongs to the past. We are different now. I don't want our relationship to start on the wrong foot."
"Alright, your call. But don't try to shit me again. I want to know everything, understood ?"
"Yeah, I've got it."
"Good. Now go back to her and be over-flirty."
Faith chuckled and shook her head. Kennedy's bluntness was still the same after all these years.
"I'll see you later, Junior."
"You bet."
They both hung up, and the brunette slayer sighed before stepping back into Buffy's apartment. The blonde was nowhere in sight.
"Hum, B ?"
"In the bedroom !"
Faith swallowed hard, trying not to think about Kennedy's comments and the fact that she was joining Buffy in her bedroom.
"Hey. What's up with Kennedy ? Is she okay ?"
"Yeah she's… She wanted to know where I was."
"What is she, your mother ?"
"My mom never gave a shit about where I was or what I was doing. Guess that explains a lot."
Buffy smiled apologetically and shrugged. It was still hard to remember that hers and Faith's childhood had been nothing alike. Her fellow slayer never had a loving family or real friends.
"So anyway, whatcha doin' in your room, B ?"
"I wanted to try my new outfits."
"Oh. I guess I'll just leave you to…"
"No way ! You're staying."
"But… Why ?"
"I need a second opinion."
"You already tried them all at the mall !"
"Now it's different !"
Faith raised an eyebrow but sat down on the edge of the bed anyway. She was glad to spend some time with the blonde Slayer. She knew that taking things slow was the right choice, but it killed her to be away from Buffy all the time. She hadn't seen her in three days so she had to make up for the time lost.
"Alright, I'm staying."
"Good."
And just like that, Buffy started to remove her shirt. Before Faith could react, she was only wearing her black bra. The dark Slayer quickly looked down. She didn't want to torture herself with images of Buffy almost half naked in front of her.
"B ?"
"Yeah ?"
"Are you sure this is a good idea ?"
"Oh come on, Faith, don't tell me you've never seen a woman in a bra !"
"No, but none of them were you."
Buffy smiled sweetly and hastily put on a green top she had just bought.
"Okay you can look up now. What do you think ?"
"You're… as beautiful as ever."
And it was hard to resist, because their connection was strong and the tension around them only pulled them closer together. But they knew better than to give in.
"Thanks."
Faith stood up and motioned toward the door.
"I just remembered that I had to go see Xander today !"
"Isn't he away for the entire week ?"
"No ! I mean, he was, but he came back early and asked me to come over."
"Oh. Okay."
"I should go."
"Yeah."
Okay, maybe there was something stronger than them, because when they locked eyes, Buffy moved forward and raised her hand to caress Faith's left cheek.
"Faith…"
"B ?"
"Thank you for today. I had fun."
"Me too."
"Do you really have to leave ?"
"I… It's better if I do."
"Why ?" Buffy asked innocently.
"Cos if I don't, I'll do something we'll both regret."
"I'm not sure I'd regret it, Faith."
But the younger Slayer took the blonde's hand in hers and gently kissed it before replacing it down Buffy's side.
"I don't wanna wait, Faith. I wanna be with you."
"Let's just give it another week at least, okay ? Maybe you'll change your mind."
"You know I won't. I know what I want, and that is you."
Faith forced herself to step back. She had never expected the golden-haired Slayer to be so honest so fast. She was caught a bit off-guard.
"Well… If you don't need time, Buffy, then just give me some. I… This is so unbelievable, you know ? You, wanting me. After all these years of hoping that you'd notice me, that I'd have your attention, I finally do. And it's kinda freaking me out."
"Oh. I… I'm sorry."
"No, it's not… I don't want you to apologize for that, B. It's no one's fault. We were young, and I was lost and weak, and it would never have worked, so don't be sorry. I just mean that now that we're really considering being together as a… couple, we should take it slow."
"I understand. Okay. Just know that I'm here and I'm focusing on getting better, alright ?"
"Alright. And by the way… I want you too."
Buffy grinned and asked playfully :
"Does that mean I can have a kiss before you leave ?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess I can do that for you."
The dark Slayer licked her lips in anticipation and she walked toward the blonde with painfully slow movements. But when their mouths collided, it was anything but slow. The sparks ignited by the kiss were threatening to burn down the house and the fire quickly began to burn within both of them. Buffy was refusing to let go of Faith's hair and neck, and the brunette herself wasn't exactly willing to leave just now. Her hands were resting on Buffy's hips, and she could barely manage to keep them from travelling under the green top covering the Slayer's perfect body. They continued to kiss heavily for a few minutes. When Buffy let out a moan, Faith seemed to snap back to reality and she broke away quickly.
"Shit, I'm sorry, B…"
"What are you sorry for ? That's exactly what I want." She answered, trying to catch her breath.
"I know, and I can't give it to you now, that's why I'm sorry. I… I'll see you tomorrow."
And she practically ran out of the room, leaving a dumbfounded Buffy behind her.
Faith really needed a cigarette. She had given up the bad habit of smoking a while ago now, but the recent events made her crave some nicotine.
"Hey Ken."
"Oh hey, you're back ! Back early, which probably means…"
"I didn't have sex with Buffy, okay ?"
"Well, judging by your grumpy attitude, maybe you should've."
"Watch it, Ken, I'm not in the mood."
"C'mon, you're totally dying to do it with her !"
"But I can't !"
Kennedy sat down on a chair and let her elbows rest on the kitchen table. Faith was sitting across the table.
"Why ? Why can't you ? Obviously, it's not that you don't want it, so what is it ?"
"She's not herself."
"Uh ?"
"She… I can't get involve with her that way if she doesn't feel better."
"She looks better."
"It's been a week, Ken."
"But you're here now, and I can tell you that it changes everything."
"Do you realize what it means ?"
"That she loves you ?"
Faith sighed at the mention of the L word.
"No. It means she relies on me. What happens if I get bored and decide to skip town ? If I'm needed somewhere in the world ? If somehow I have to leave her ? I can't be with her because she's not herself. She needs to be strong again, to be independent first. Do you understand, Kennedy ?"
"Yeah… I guess I wasn't seeing things this way. It makes sense. But I still think that you being near is really helping her. After all, she's just afraid of being abandoned again. Trust me, the girl has some serious abandonment issues."
"Buffy has a lot of issues."
They laughed and Faith got up.
"Thanks Ken. I'm heading to Xan's. Told him I'd have a drink with him. Don't wait up, I'll be late. Which means you'll have the house for you and Red for the few next hours."
"Alright, make a lot of noise when you come back so that we know we have to… Y'know."
"I get the idea. See you !"
"Bye !"
Kennedy watched her friend leave the house and smiled. Then she shouted :
"Hey Will ? Looks like we have the place for ourselves for a while ! You upstairs ?"
I haven't begun to write next chapter yet. Maybe your reviews will motivate me and inspire me. I really hope so :)
Next chapter ASAP.
OTH-FOQ