I'll probably get some serious hell for how this chapter ends, so let me just say right now - things won't end on a sad note! I'm not much of an angst writer, I'm a sap for happy endings (of all kinds :P) so just keep the faith..... GET IT??
And damn it Hazy, I worked hard on getting this done ASAP for ya, don't I get a freakin' prize? Be nice to your JC... :)
Uh oh... I think I hear Giles coming! Yup, there's footsteps coming closer, and he just opened the door to his office!
"Is everything alright?"
I quickly pulled my hands out of Faith's pants, allowing her to get them all buttoned up as the footsteps grew closer. I popped my head to the side, past the blankets, to look out at him. He jumped back in surprise.
"Everything's fine! I'm... we're, um, it's fine."
"Are you quite certain? I could swear I heard..." Faith walked over to my side, and he took notice of my... 'mark' on her. "Good lord, what happened to your neck??"
"It was nothin' you gotta worry 'bout." Faith mumbled, grabbing my hand and walking us out of the cage. I'm trying real hard not to blush, because I think he figured out what we were just doing.
"I'm.... Right... Well, I have more research to do, I should... ehm..." He stuttered, looking at his feet. He was just about to turn and walk away when suddenly the doors flew open and Willow came running in, looking ticked.
"You!" She shouted, pointing at Faith. "You... hussy!!"
"Come again?" Faith asked, looking back and forth between me and her with confusion. And a little bit of worry?
"You and Oz... and with Buffy... hussy!!!"
"Will, what are you talking about?? What about Oz?"
"Buffy, she and Oz! Together! I knew this would happen, I knew it!!"
"Woah, woah, calm down here, Red." Faith laughed, holding her hands up in defense. "Think you got your stories mixed up. I don't got nothin' to do with wolf boy, I'm B's girl, through and through."
"Oh don't give me that, you big... cheating person, you!"
"Will, calm down." I sighed, knowing there's no way she's right about this. After all, Faith has kind of been stuck with me from the moment we met, right? With what Giles said that means she can't really be with anyone else. So this can't be right. "What exactly did Oz say to you?"
"That he and some werewolf girl got together last night! So... hello? Werewolf girl right here!"
"Well it's bullshit, I never - wait, last night?"
"Yeah! He got out of his cage, and woke up in the woods with you!"
Now I know that it isn't Faith, so I'm feeling better about all of this. But still confused, because Oz was in his cage earlier, Faith let him out! Wait...
"Faith, you said you let Oz out of his cage this morning." I whispered. Willow just glared over at us, I think trying to figure out what I had just said.
"I did, dude was bangin' around and it woke me up." She frowned and kind of took a step back, looking at me all confused. "Wait, are you... You know that I never did nothin' with him, right?"
"Of course I do!" I must have said that a little too loud because she just backed up some more and is looking kinda sad, and it got everyone else's attention. "Faith, you know that I know you're telling the truth. I'm just... I don't know why Oz would leave, then come back in to lock himself in after waking up..."
"Fuck if I know either, but he did!"
"Oz was here this morning?" Willow asked, confused but still pretty angry.
"Yeah, fucker woke me up so I let him out and went back to sleep." She got all defensive then, crossing her arms and taking a step closer to my red headed friend. "And by the way, you're wicked stupid to think I'd be the one that would touch your guy, especially in wolf form. Not only does he stink too much like you, but I'm already into this whole fated destiny dealy with B."
"Your what, huh?"
"It's a long story, Will."
"She's my mate." Faith shrugged. I rolled my eyes.
"Apparently not that long."
"Your... huh? Mate? As in... like, the way that wolves mate?"
"I'm hoping you're not referring to the act itself." I flinched, not enjoying the mental image of me and Faith in her wolf form. She's certainly more sexually appealing when human.
"I just, no, I mean that... Buffy! Why didn't you tell me about this?? This is such a huge deal!"
Okay, now she just ran over and is hugging me. And now she's hugging Faith! Did I miss something important here, zone out and lose a chunk of memory? Because if not, this is way too confusing!
"Are you feeling okay, Will? Because if I remember correctly, you were just mad at us."
"Well that was before I knew the huge news! I didn't even know this was possible, for werewolves to be able to have mates like that! I mean, I knew it was possible, but I never heard of it actually happening. After all, Oz never.... Oh... Oz and I... he didn't..."
And now she's back to sad. Guess I don't blame her, after finding out that she clearly isn't Oz's mate. You know I never thought about it before, I know he always liked her and everything, but it was never the same with them as it is with me and Faith.
"So, you and wolf boy aren't meant to be." Faith shrugged. "Can't say it surprises me." I frowned and punched her in the arm - forgetting the way I already made it a punching bag earlier. "Fuck!! What the fuck is up with you and my fuckin' arm?!"
"I - I should just go, because, well, you've already got some of your own problems I guess... And I haven't really talked things over with Oz, I just, you know, made assumptions and came running over here to find you..." Willow stuttered, starting to back away to the doors.
"I'm fine. I can go, you guys can do that whole buddy-buddy bondin' crap."
"No!" I screeched, grabbing on to Faith before she could get too far. "I mean... Just, I'm not... I don't want you to go."
"Really, I should be talking with Oz anyways." Willow nodded, looking at us weird. "So i'll... i'll just go then."
"Tell me how it goes?"
"Sure." She waved, all but running out the doors. Once she was gone Faith looked me over apprehensively.
"Whatever, i'll just. Long as ya promise to leave my arm alone, 'cause it's already all bruised and shit."
"Sorry about that, I kept forgetting." I winced. Thankfully though, all she did was smile - and punch my shoulder really hard. "Hey!"
"Few more times and we'll be even." She grinned.
That night I decided to take Faith on patrol with me. Well... she kind of decided upon it, actually. It's another wolfy night and once the sun went down she hasn't kept her eyes off me for one second, just followed me as I grabbed some weapons and hit the woods.
"You're just following me because you're worried i'll run into Oz, aren't you?" I asked, smiling as she just barked back. Oz hadn't showed up to be locked in, so once the sun was down I knew I had to go look for him. "I can handle myself." That only earned a sort of snort in response, which tells me she doesn't buy it. "Hey! Chosen one here, remember? I can totally..." I was interrupted by a loud snarl then, which definitely didn't come from Faith. "... Okay, to be continued I guess."
I hid behind a tree, shushing my wolfy girlfriend as she let out a low growl. I know she's ticked at him, but getting us both killed by not having the upper hand isn't going to help things. She snorted at me again and ducked down, so at least she's obeying me even if she doesn't like it.
We didn't have to wait long. After a minute we could see Oz off in the distance, chasing after something. Or is it someone? I don't hear any screams yet, so it must not be - oh wait, yeah, there's the scream. We should probably stop him now.
"Hey, wolfie boy! Pick on someone your own size!" I shouted, causing him to stop and turn around to face me, giving the person he was chasing a chance to get away. I pulled the tranquilizer gun off my shoulder, thankful I thought to bring it with, and took aim as he ran over to us. I guess Faith didn't see that though, because now she's running over to take him on herself.
That girl drives me crazy!!
I tried to get in a shot before she reached him but it was of no use, they were both going so fast I didn't get the chance. They slammed into each other with a force so great, I swear you could hear it two towns over. I'm debating the best way to end the fight so I can just tranq Oz and get him to the library, but now I'm realizing I have no way to get him there. How stupid was this?? I can't drag an unconscious werewolf across town, somebody might notice! I'm such an idiot...
"Faith, stop!" I screamed, noticing there's now an awful lot of blood on the ground and I can't be sure which of them it's coming from. Why does she have to be so damn protective?! "Stop!! Let me tranq him, you two fighting isn't doing any good!"
I guess she can't hear me over the sounds of the fight, because she's totally not stopping. It looks like she's covered in scratches and teeth marks, and blood, so I think she's suffering most of the damage. I can't wait any longer, I need to take the shot whether she's in the way or not!
So I took aim, which was difficult because my hands are shaking so much, and got the first shot. I think it hit him, since he let out a weird howling noise, but I can't be sure. Either way it usually takes at least two to take him out, so I need to get him with another. He's not moving as much by this point so it's a little easier, but I still need to be sure I don't accidentally get Faith...
A-ha!! Two strikes and you're out, buddy!
I had to hold back a victory cheer when he collapsed to the ground, signaling my shots were dead on. I ran over to be sure - only to find Faith laying beside him, also not moving.
Uh-oh....