Chapter 45

Out of The Bag

As we wait at the Espresso Pump for our coffee order, I realise this is the first time in our… whatever this has been… that I have seen Faith outside in daylight. No, not in an "ugly lights" kinda way, because, and forgive the cheesy squeezy here but, to me Faith is literally the single most gorgeous human being I have ever laid eyes on, and I do mean that literally, uh… shit, where was I? Oh yeah, I mean, we had been lost in a secret, hidden together in a semi darkness, a trapped space. So looking at her in the open daylight, felt like the roof being torn off. Like there was a future possible for us.

She is looking around in that way she does, constantly moving even at rest, all nervous energy and fire. But yeah, she notices me looking. A perfect little brow peaks in amusement.

"Shut up." I say, "You know I am into you." Her lip peels back in a smile, and that adorable dimple appears that instantly makes me want to kiss her. And it is my turn to look away, feeling my cheeks coloring. Faith collects the order and hands me a mercifully huge coffee, and we make our way back out onto the street. I gesture to the bent up table that has been taped off as we pass.

"S' where I got called." I say. She smirks and sips her drink. I expect her to reply with her own story, but she just remains silent. I thought secrets between us were bad now. I guess some habits die hard, they need work.

"So where we headin'? The library?"

"Ah that's a big no. That blew up to a bajillion little pieces along with…." I stop and clear my throat. "The school. We're heading for Giles place." Yeah. We both need to work on it. Still, I feel Faith's hand slide into mine and give it a firm, nervous little squeeze. She has a sad little smile.

"Actually Faith, there is something you should know. You said… you told me that you fell in love with a straight girl. And I take it that was Buffy, right?" I receive something between a nod and a shrug by way of reply.

"Well, truth is she was just deep in denial about her sexuality. And, I guess it is an understatement that she didn't handle it well."

"You knew about us? She told you?"

"Actually, no. It was kinda pivotal to the scoobies all expl… all falling out. The secrets. She was dating this girl and keeping it secret."

"That would be me."

"Actually, that would be Tara. Tara, being the secret girlfriend who came after you. Tara, who you are probably about to meet in a few minutes."

"Aight. Thanks for the heads up." Faith says, her face emotionless. Which I now read as hurting. I squeeze her hand and feel hers tighten around mine. I watch her scrunch her brow in thought.

"They know about us?" She says after a few yards of silence.

"Yes. I mean, I told them we kinda got involved during our time together. Though, I don't know to what extent we are an 'us'. Are we an 'us'?"

"Dunno. Where you at on that?"

"Thought I have been pretty clear on what I want." I sigh. "You're the wildcard in this equation. Miss 'get some, get gone.'"

Faith smiles and then says "You know I am full of shit, right?"

"Okay. Not an answer."

"Well, what do you think? I told you that rule was with guys." I stop, and Faith does to, turning to me, hand still clasped in mine.

"That also kind of… you know… it's not an answer, I guess. Considering, what I am. Or was. Or… uh..." I huff the hair from my face and squint back the girl standing in the sunlight.

"I left Abigail back in Boston. You left Xander?"

"Back in loserdom. A thousand miles, thattaway" I gesture behind me as best as I can with the coffee cup. "Never going back." And that was true. Sure, being Lexi also meant being a Slayer, it meant pain and fighting, and a shorter life. But it also meant feeling more alive and easy in my own skin than ever before. And yeah, Xander was behind me. He was my past self, and regardless of gender, I have grown far from who I was.

"Well then. You have your answer, girlfriend." She grins, and leans in to give me a coffee flavored kiss.

The Cordelia that opens the door to Gile's apartment isn't a version of Cordelia I have ever seen before. She wears no makeup, her bobbed curly hair is mussed, her face wearing all the hallmarks of insomnia.

"You saw it too?" She says, her voice fragile and crackly.

"Oh yeah." I say. Her eyes dart over my shoulder to where Faith is hanging back. Cordelia gives an awkward little smile and nods.

"Hey Queen C. Long time, no see."

"Yeah, well that worked for me." Cordy says. "But if you are through being all miss evil slutbomb, I can definitely say I am pleased to see you."

"No promises on the latter." Faith says. "But the former is definitely open to negotiation."

The door is opened wide and Cordelia steps aside. I try to give my most encouraging look to Faith, which she seems to appreciate as she straightens her back, lifts her head and instantly appears to be cool and collected. I give her a grin and taking her hand, step inside.

The gang are all here. Mostly. Willow is hunched over her laptop on the dining table, dressed in a crimson long sleeved top and rust orange skirt. Giles is sitting next to her, pouring over a pile of open books… not ancient tomes, but modern red legers. He is wearing a hurriedly put on pale blue shirt, the buttons not quite lined up with the correct holes. I glimpse a flash of bright blue in the kitchenette, which is obviously Tara. The only absentee Scoobie being Anya.

A moment after I enter, the room stops and all gazes fall on Faith. I feel her hand squeeze down on mine. I trace the pad of my thumb across the back hers, a gentle reminder that I am there.

"Somebody order a back up Slayer?" She says.

"It's good to see you Faith. Do come in." Giles stands, a little cautiously, as one might move when trying not to spook an animal. "Good morning Lexi."

"Hey."

Willow's glare isn't something I have seen on her face before. It's piercing, focused, predatory. Her lips are curled slightly and her nose wrinkles like a growl. I can feel the wolf inside her moving. It gives me serious hyena spirit vibes, and that does not sit well on my empty stomach.

"Red." Faith says, that wall and moat firmly in place. They glare at each other, neither giving an inch. I am note entirely sure stepping between them is a good idea.

"Hey, hi." Tara appears beside us, hair freshly dyed blue. She is wearing a light purple top that hangs off one shoulder, purple striped woollen arm warmers and a vibrant, deep blue skirt. Clutched to her chest is a small black and grey kitten with a white patch on it's nose. Tara offers her free hand to Faith. "I'm Tara. You must be Faith. I-i-t's good to finally meet you."

Faith cautiously takes the witches hand and they shake. Then she notices the kitten, and her face softens. Faith extends a finger to touch her, but pauses, uncertain.

"Oh, this is Miss Kitty Fantastico." Tara smiles. "Go on, you can hold her. She actually likes being held. We're lucky." As the kitten is placed into Faith's arms, she looks genuinely terrified.

"She's adorable." Faith coos. The kitten places her paw on Faith's nose and Tara and I laugh.

"Oz needs us." Willow snaps. "So if you could quit messing around with that stinking little furball and help that would be just peachy."

"Yes, well, I think we could all do with some breakfast. Lexi, would you be so kind as to go on a food run whilst I talk to Faith, that would be extremely helpful."

I look at Faith, wanting to offer her an out, but she sucks in a breath and nods. The kitten is kissed and handed back to Tara.

"Well, okay then G Man. Let's do this."


I am walking down the main street clutching four bags of food and trying to juggle a fifth when the chills hit my spine and I get the urge to duck away.

I find myself in that clothing shop, the leather heavy one with the boarded up window. I am confused by my own actions, unsure of what exactly I saw that got my heckles up.

I glance back out the window onto the street. A young, muscular man stands on the corner opposite, tight grey T-shirt and sharply pressed tan pants. At first, I am uncertain why I found a glimpse of him to be chilling, but as I look around I notice another boy across the street from him standing in a similar fashion. They are scouring the people, looking for someone. And as I look, I realise I know the boy. It is that Riley guy. The one Joyce thought Buffy was dating. He raises his hand to his ear and mutters something. Is that an ear piece? Who the hell is this guy?

"Hi. Welcome to Sadie's House of Darkness. Can I help you, miss?" A sweet girly voice says. I turn to see a pale blonde girl with blonde corkscrew curls, red lips and a choker. I glance around at the store, then back out to the former frat boys.

"Uh, yes. Uhm… I have been kind of wanting a change of wardrobe, yunno, like a major one. But… I am a little nervous."

"I completely understand, don't worry, I am here to help."

"Thanks, uh..." I glance at her name tag "Chanterelle." I look over my shoulder as Riley passes by the window, a frustrated look on his face. I turn my back and lead the girl deeper into the shop.


One black low cut tight black top (for tips, natch) and equally form hugging maroon leather pants later and the coast is clear. Still, I take the back alleys and check my six all the way back to Giles'.

"So I think I figured out who our black masked soldiers are." I say, coming through from the kitchen.

"The Lowell House fraternity." Giles says, turning around one of the red ledgers spread out on the kitchen table, I can see clearly that they are school records. "Willow figured it out from Corelia's description from her vision."

"I thought of it before, but the records I checked were digital." Willow says. "They had been hacked. Tara suggested we checked the hard copies of the university files to be sure."

"I… I… broke in l-last night and stole them." Tara says, rather proudly.

"Way to go Tare." Faith says. She is standing behind the table where everyone else is sat, leaning against the back of the couch.

"I-it was super scary. Quite a rush, though." Tara grins at Faith. Willow clears her throat.

"They all appear out of nowhere. So I dug further and it turns out, the entire building was derelict since it was purchased several years before."

"Lemme guess" I say. "US Millitary." Willow looks surprised. I tap my skull. "G.I. Jane upgrade from Ethan Rayne. All their gear was standard military issue. Shipping crates, codes, hard cases. Everything."

"A secret military research base under Sunny U?" Tara says, shaking her head. "That was definately not in the brochure."

"The implications of this are frankly, chilling. The house had mystical defenses, wards of protection, of demon repulsion. And we know they are experimenting on poor Oz."

"Militarized magic. Werewolf soldiers." Cordelia says, she lets out a long huff. "more migranes."

"What we saw was more like Frankenstein, yo." Faith says. "Like, a whole bunch of demons put together."

"The fools don't know the terrible forces they are messing with." Giles says soberly.

"They are out there in the streets, looking for someone." I say. "My guess is they didn't come to my place looking for Faith. I was at the house the night of the accident, sure, but… the FBI saw me get called. I wrecked a table and ran off. They knew about the weird stuff going on, Marcy Ross, Pete. What if they know about Slayers?."

"You are certain you were not followed here?"

"Yes. Certain. Ninety percent certain. High eighties." I say.

"Well, they sure as hell know what I can do." Faith said. "I wasn't exactly subtle."

A thumping on the ceiling draws our attention upwards.

"Can I stake him already?" I mutter.

"Dude up there says he got information." Faith says, her head cocked to one side. I hear the muffled words through the plaster, and the rattle of metal. "Ain't one to judge, but you got some guy chained up in a tub, Giles?"

I sigh, and make my way to the stairs.