Chapter Three: Foolish Games
Buffy was waiting patiently across the hall from the class Scott is currently attending. She was surprised that she had such a good time the night before. Of course she had her raven-hair counterpart to thank for that. Faith had flat out refused to let her sit around brooding. By ten o'clock Buffy felt like she had laughed more in the few hours of dancing and hanging out with her friends then she had since turning seventeen. Not worrying about her vampire lover showing up to kill everyone she was with probably had a lot to with the amount of fun she had.
Then Faith had to go and open her mouth during patrol. Trying to get her to talk about Angel. As if Faith had any idea what she was going through. Like Faith would know what it was like to love, to trust some so completely only to have them turn on you. To betray you on every conceivable level.
"Hey you," Scott says startling the blond slayer as he steps up next to her. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts she hadn't even heard the bell ring.
Buffy smiles softly at Scott. "Hey," she replies pleasantly after a moment.
Scott returns her smile, "I had a really good time last night."
"So did I."
Scott's grin widens to a slight smile with her words. "Good enough to do it again? Tonight?" He inquires hopefully.
Buffy delights inwardly at the note of desperation in his voice. "Same time? Same Place?" She asks lightly grazing her fingers over his left arm. She was hoping to keep their meetings in a group setting for the time being. She liked him enough but she wasn't really up to being alone with him for long periods of time.
"That'd be good," he answers excitedly. He leans forward gently kissing her soft lips.
At the end of the hall she spots Giles patiently waiting for her. Patiently, she muses to herself, might be too strong of a word. He was British so nearly everything he did seemed to be done patiently. She eases back slowly ending the chaste kiss, "that would be really, really good," she responds demurely. Before he can answer she turns away striding down the hall a small spring in her step as she faintly whistles some cheerful song.
"You seem to be in a rather good spirits. Considering our earlier conversation," he comments dryly as she gets close enough so he wouldn't be overheard by anyone listening to them.
"What can I say? I aced my English make up. Scott likes me, likes me. We're having another clandestine rendezvous at The Bronze tonight." Glancing at Giles she continues in her cheerful little girl voice, "you're about to pass along some insightful piece of information on wacky girl's mental instability handed down from her watcher. What don't I have to be happy about?"
"Quite a lot actually," Giles replies with a heavy voice.
" Didn't have anything encouraging to say?"
He takes a deep breath, "she didn't have anything to say. Hasn't for some time now. She was found murdered some time ago."
Buffy didn't even realize she was heading home until she had pushed open the front door of her house. The only thought on her mind was that Faith had lied to her. For some reason it hurt almost as much as when she realized Xander had lied to her before her last fight with Angelus. At least with Xander she could fool herself into believing he was doing what he thought was best for her at the time. She knew it wasn't the case but as long as nobody said anything about it she wouldn't have to deal with it.
Faith on the other hand was a slayer. She was possibly the closest Buffy was ever going to get to having a sister, and she felt the raven-hair girl should have trusted her enough to tell her what had happened. Then again, Buffy thought, you haven't been all that big with sharing things either. That's different, she snarls at herself. The only reason she could think of as to why Faith hadn't told her about her watcher was that she had killed her.
She quickly scans the living room even though she already knows Faith has moved herself upstairs, to her bedroom, to sleep the rest of the day away. She bounds silently up the stairs taking them three at a time. She slows as she nears her door, her sensitive ears pick up the sound of soft whimpering cries, almost pleas for mercy coming from beyond the door.
Timidly, almost fearfully, she pushes open the door to her room. Her eyes adjust rapidly to the pale light streaming in through the blinds. Buffy's eyes widen as they graze over Faith's tanned, toned, supple, yet firm, completely nude and totally uncovered body. The blankets having been thrown aside while the young brunette tossed and turned during her fitful slumber.
Faith's face scrunches up, a look of terror settling onto her features. "No," she whimpers softly turning away from Buffy. She curls herself protectively into a little ball. Her knees pulling up to her chest as her arms wrap themselves over her head. "Please. Don't." She whines out slowly like nails being scratched slowly over a chalkboard. The sound causes Buffy to cringe internally.
She steps forward intent on covering Faith before waking her. As she draws closer she slows her progress while her eyes travel the length and breadth of the younger girls back. There were tiny scars criss-crossing her entire back. Intermixed with the slashing scars were dark circular marks.
Buffy frowns at the sight knowing whatever caused those marks had to have come from before she had been called as a slayer. The only wound she had that scared instead of healing was the bite on her neck from the master. Everything else faded within a couple days at most. The marks on Faiths back were so old and faded she didn't know if anybody besides her would even be able to see them
Buffy quickly pulls the blanket as well as the thick quilt up over Faith covering her. "Leave… Alone. Don't. Please, god don't… Stop," Faith groans and growls as she begins thrashing on the bed. Buffy doesn't know exactly what Faith is dreaming about. She has an idea as to what the nightmare is about and she can feel her anger rising at the person who could do such a thing to a young child.
Sitting on the edge of the bed she firmly grabs Faith by the shoulders and shakes the younger girl. Faith's eyes snap open instantly, a mixture of fear and confusion pass through them rapidly. Frantically she searches the unknown room looking for anything familiar. Her eyes lock on Buffy, her golden sister, and for the first time she can remember she feels safe. Completely safe where nothing is ever going to be able to hurt her ever again.
Unconcerned by her nudity she launches herself at Buffy. She latches onto the older girl as if she is the only real thing left in the entire universe. She buries her face in the crook of Buffy's neck while her arms wrap around the tiny slayer squeezing her as hard as she can. She sobs uncontrollably, mumbling unintelligible words to softly to actually be heard.
At first Buffy is thrown by Faith's sudden action. She quickly realizes it's not the attack she had been half expecting. She slides her arms around the younger girl knowing Faith needs to feel as much physical contact as possible right now. Her right arm gently rubs large circles along her bare back, while her left hand soothingly strokes her soft, luxuriant black tresses. All the while she whispers comforting words to the distraught teenager.
Buffy has know idea how long the two of them sat on her bed simply holding each other. It might have been minutes, it could have been hours. All Buffy could offer the quivering girl at the moment was the comfort she so desperately needed. The soft flesh that was quieting under her gentle touch.
Faith shifts her head, turning into the silken flesh of Buffy's neck. Parting her lips slightly she gently presses them to Buffy's smooth skin. Planting feather light kisses along Buffy's neck she quickly finds her pulse point. Once there she nips tenderly for a moment before she begins suckling at the heated flesh.
Buffy couldn't believe what was happening. Couldn't believe Faith was kissing her. She couldn't believe she was enjoying the younger girl's touch so much. The fire that was being stoked deep within her. She knew she should stop this before things slipped even more out of control, but she had no desire to anything other then enjoy the feeling Faith was creating inside of her.
Pulling back a bare fraction of an inch she softly blows on the wetted patch of skin causing goose-bumps to pebble before she moves back in. The kisses she place the second time are firmer, more fierce as she becomes more sure of herself. Encouraged even more as Buffy's once comforting touch becomes firmer, more demanding as the blondes nails dig into her sensitive back. She trails a string of wet kisses along her neck to just below her ear where she again nibbles on Buffy's flesh.
Hearing Buffy whimper lowly she licks slowly along the bottom edge of her earlobe before blowing gently on the tender flesh. Her light fingers find the straps to the backless halter-top as she sucks Buffy's earlobe between her lips, lightly grazing the soft flesh with her teeth. Pressing Faith's body closer to her own Buffy groans at the brunette's gentle ministrations as her body arches forward.
Buffy can feel her body heat up, responding instinctively to Faith's skillful touch. She can feel it as she begins to lose herself to these feelings, the passion and desire that rage just below the surface of her skin. It's been so long since she's felt anything like this wildfire burning along her flesh. She's more then willing to give herself over to Faith as the young girl slowly, sensuously kisses her way along Buffy's jaw line. From her ear to her chin. She knows if she returns Faith's kiss, even for an instant, she'll be lost. Consumed by a flood of pent up wants, desires, and needs she's kept damned since the night Angel had lost his soul.
"Faith," Buffy barely manages to say. She had been trying to sound confident, in control but the word came out as a just audible whimper as Faith's fingertips deftly graze along Buffy's sensitive, overheated skin. They skillfully trace the gentle slope of the older girl's firm breast as her she lightly sink her teeth into Buffy's chin.
"Um," Faith responds distractedly as Buffy's hand lovingly cups the side of her face gently moving her back a fraction of an inch.
Buffy tilts her head slightly so her forehead rest lightly against Faith's. "What," she begins breathlessly but stops in order to take in a good lungfull of air. "What're you doing?" She finally manages to asks while trying to slow her frantically racing heart.
Faith lips quirk into a light grin as she stares into Buffy's emerald green eyes. "Something you'll love," she replies cockily. Leaning forward she tries to capture Buffy's invitingly lush lips. The older girl's strong hand resting against her chin halts Faith's progress keeping her from her goal.
"Why?" Buffy breathes out heavily.
Faith looks at Buffy. Her confusion clearly etched in her features as well as her eyes. She didn't understand what Buffy meant by why. This was the only thing people had ever wanted from her. It was normally the only way she had to pay for anything. On those few occasions when somebody had been kind to her it was the only way she had of saying, "thank you." She didn't know how but the words escaped her lips before she was able to stop them.
She tries to move in again. To finish what she had started. To find the release she so desperately needs. Plus it's the only way she has of showing Buffy just how much even this small respite from the constant running means to her. Then she sees something she's never seen before. The longing, the desire, all the pent up passion that had been in Buffy's eyes a moment before were gone. They simply vanished as if they had never been there. In their place Faith sees what she can only describe sadness, or maybe disappointment, or regret.
Buffy's hand gently, but forcefully tilts Faith's head down slightly as the older girl leans forward. She was having a hard time believing someone would offer up their body as a way of expressing their gratitude. "Thank you," she whispers before softly kissing Faith on her forehead.
Her mind races as she tries to understand the events that had just transpired. Was Buffy actually turning her down. Did she find her unattractive, ugly maybe. Was she doing something wrong. Wasn't she pleasing. Buffy had been responding until the very end when she had just stopped for some reason.
Suddenly she becomes aware of Buffy trembling softly as something moist, wet, and warm slides through her hair. It takes Faith a moment to realize that Buffy is crying. For whatever reason Buffy was beginning to cry, to shake uncontrollably as soft sobs rack her body.
Faith had no idea what to do. She had never been in this position before, physically comforting somebody. Giving emotional support to someone in need had never been a big when she was growing up. Her watcher was no help in that department either. She was great when it came to bandaging wounds but that was about as far as their relationship went. So Faith did the only thing she could think of doing. She clung to Buffy as hard as the older girl had a few minutes ago when their roles had been reversed and it was Buffy comforting her.
Joyce knocks softly on the door to Buffy's room wanting to give her daughter as much freedom as she possibly could. They both needed to rebuild the trust that had been broken when Joyce found out about her daughter's special calling just before Buffy had ran away. She normally wasn't home this soon after school, but Faith might still be in. The young girl had been up until the early hours of the morning watching old cartoons. Buffy had told Faith the other night that she could use her room to sleep while she was at school.
Joyce was glad the two were getting along so well with each. She had spent most of the day trying to think of a way to convince Faith to stay in Sunnydale. It would be safer for both if they were in the same town sharing the slayer duties. Going on patrol with each other and more or less just keeping the other safe.
Being as silent as possible she pushes the door checking to see if Faith is awake, and possibly seeing if she was hungry. She smiles faintly remembering just how much the raven-hair girl had put away the night before. Buffy had only eaten about half as much as the younger girl and Joyce had thought that was more then most men could eat. From what the two girls had told her it all to do with their slayer metabolisms.
She takes two quite steps into the room and stops dead in her tracks. Thought stopping nearly a fraction of a second before motion. She stares at the bed open mouth as her eyes continue to send the image in front of her to her mind. Her brain on the other hand continues in it's refusal to process the image her eyes keep sending it.
Faith was lying on her back, her left leg hung over the side of the bed, her foot resting on the floor. The only problem Joyce had with that was the fact the only thing covering the young girl nude body was her own partially clad daughter. That and the position they were lying in. Faith's left hand held Buffy's right jean covered thigh between her legs. The fingers of her left hand were nestled smugly inside the waist of Buffy's pants with her palm resting on the small of her back.
Buffy lies partially on her left side, partially on her stomach, but mostly on Faith. Her head rested just above Faith's chest with Faith's chin lying against the top of Buffy's blonde scalp. Her bare breast were pressed firmly into the top of Faith's taut abdomen. Her right arm was wrapped tightly around the younger girl's waist just above her hip. Faith's right leg was pinned hard between both of Buffy's legs.
Joyce slowly backs out of the room silently pulling the door close. As the door clicks shut she lets out the breath that she hadn't even realized she was holding. There were things that she needed to be doing. The house needed a good cleaning, she muses silently. Basement to attic, floors hadn't been scrubbed in ages. The walls looked like they could do with a new coat of paint, maybe put up wallpaper. Then there are things that need to be cooked. She stops halfway to the stairs to look back at Buffy's room. She didn't remember taking the two or three steps she had. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut she wonders aloud, "when did Buffy become a lesbian?"
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Foolish Games - Jewel
You took your coat off, and stood in the rain
You were always crazy like that
And I watched from my window
always felt I was outside looking in on you
You were always the mysterious one
with dark eyes and careless hair
You were fashionably sensitive, but too cool to care
You stood in my doorway, with nothing to say
besides some comment on the weather
Well in case you failed to notice
In case you failed to see
this is my heart bleeding before you
this is me down on my knees
These foolish games are tearing me apart
And your thoughtless words are breaking my heart
You're breaking my heart
You were always brilliant in the morning
Smoking your cigarettes, and talking over coffee
Your philosophies on art, Baroque moved you
You loved Mozart and you'd speak of your loved ones
As I clumsily strummed my guitar
You teach me of honest things
Things that are daring things that are clean
things that knew what an honest dollar did mean
I hid my soiled hands behind my back
Somewhere along the line I must have gone off-track with you
Well excuse me, think I've mistakened you for somebody else
somebody who gave a damn
somebody more like myself
These foolish games are tearing me
Tearing me, tearing me apart
And your thoughtless words are breaking my heart
You're breaking my heart
You took your coat off and stood in the rain
you were always crazy like that