CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HUNGRY AND…
Buffy staked the last of the seven vampires who attacked them, assuming that they would be easy pickings. Faith brushed herself off and looked at Buffy, both of them panting slightly. They'd ended up outside the Bronze and the music was calling to both of the Slayers. They walked in and weaved their way through the crowd, spotting the Scoobies seated on the couches on the far side of the room.
"Hey guys," Buffy greeted them enthusiastically, offering the last seat to Faith and then perching herself on the arm of the chair, her hand resting close to Faith's shoulders, her finger barely touching the other girls skin.
The Scoobies returned the greeting in some form or another to both Buffy and Faith, all of them realising that this was the happiest they'd seen their friend in a while.
"Any vamp action tonight?" Willow asked.
"A few," Buffy replied. "The world is now a safer place."
Willow smiled looked towards Faith.
"So, what did you think of Sunnydale?"
"You know for a place that's got the word sunny in it's name, you've got far too many graveyards," Faith replied.
Willow wasn't quite sure what to make of the new Scooby member, and chose to not respond at all, except to nod in agreement.
A waitress walked to the table and deposited a basket of six muffins on the table. The Scoobies nodded their thanks and each reached for one, Faith biting into hers ravenously. She looked at Buffy and felt the need to see the blonde girl blush.
"Isn't it crazy how slayin' makes you hungry and horny?"
Buffy looked at Faith incredulously, her cheeks suddenly flaming bright red. Faith grinned and winked at her, loving the startled look that had come over Buffy. The Scoobies all looked at Buffy in shock, waiting for her reply. They weren't sure whether they wanted her to agree or disagree.
Buffy was silent for too long, and Willow found herself incredibly curious of the answer.
"Is that true?" the redhead asked quietly.
Buffy fumbled for an answer. "Uh…well…I mean, it's…it's not like that…"
"I'm just teasin' B," Faith said, knowing that Buffy was having trouble answering. She stood suddenly and grabbed Buffy's hand. "C'mon, we're gonna dance."
Buffy barely had time to drop her muffin back into the basket before being dragged onto the dance floor.
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Buffy knew the instant Faith led her by the hand onto the dance floor that this would be different from dancing at The Helix. Here they would dance in front of the Scoobies and Buffy was very aware of that. Somehow the thought didn't bother her though – she was just so thrilled that things between herself and Faith were on the up. For the first time, the thought of her and Faith being her and Faith rested comfortably in Buffy's mind.
The music, as always, bought the sister-Slayers together. It was the kind that built and built in intensity – much like her relationship with Faith, Buffy thought wryly. Both girls harnessed the beat and shaped their bodies to it like tuned instruments.
At first they danced a little apart, not automatically presuming the same closeness they had achieved in Boston. Buffy watched Faith dance. There was no denying it, every part of her was beautiful and somehow aggressively charming. From her olive skin to her confidence, there was nothing about Faith that Buffy didn't find all at once insanely attractive…even her hands. Faith's hands were buttery smooth, like the rest of her, and hadn't become hardened with the Slaying. Buffy could remember a time when she told Willow that fixation on insignificant details was a major crush sign and Buffy knew she had gone far beyond that.
Buffy wondered if Faith looked at her that way too. She wasn't sure if the attraction between them was just emotional, the connection of an intense friendship. She knew what she felt and it was definitely more than an intangible psychological tie…there were certain stirrings that Faith inspired. Although it freaked Buffy out somewhat, it didn't make her so afraid as to run.
Fifteen minutes or so had passed, and both girls looked up at the same moment. They grinned and moved closer. There was something happening here that both were happy to jump into with both feet. Now there was no escaping, or even a desire to do so.
Buffy slid one hand around Faith's waist, and when she felt Faith bend into her touch she slid her other hand around to rest in the small of her back. Something fluttered in her stomach and her breathing became a little faster. Faith's wide smile broadened and she reciprocated Buffy's move by locking her arms around Buffy's neck. They danced stomach to stomach, chest to chest, soft skin on soft skin.
Willow and Xander traded looks. Xander his "what-the-?" face to Willow who just shrugged and bit her lip in surprise. Neither one said anything but instead trained their attention back to the dance floor where the Slayers now danced body to body.
Buffy raised the courage to look in Faith's eyes. That was such a simple thing to do, but it was excruciatingly hard. Non-verbal communication was a powerful thing and as Buffy brushed a lock of hair once again from Faith's cheek she almost lost her nerve to hold Faith's gaze. The brunette slayer didn't falter for a second. Just as Buffy went to look away, Faith lifted her hand to hold Buffy's chin level, so that their eyes still met. For some exhilarating reason she felt fearless in the blonde Slayer's arms and she wouldn't allow Buffy to take the easy way out by averting her eyes.
Their foreheads once again dipped to meet, and Buffy sighed as emotions battled in her mind.
Faith knew what she wanted to ask. Although she felt unflinchingly brave in the present, she knew what she would do and say now would affect their future. She wanted to get it right.
"B?"
"Yeah?" Buffy replied. It was suitably casual, and the words didn't come out all strangled like she was sure they would.
"Can I ask you something?" Faith said, attempting to breathe at least a little. She was sure that emergency CPR wasn't a turn-on, and tried to remember that Buffy was probably just as nervous about what was going to happen as she was.
Faith took a deep breath and summoned her courage. For a Slayer, who went around being all brave-like on near permanent basis, something so simple should be easy. It was just words. Just words.
"Can I kiss you?" Faith allowed herself to breath out. There, it was said, but now she had to wait for a response which she realised may be even harder.
Buffy knew instinctively the moment Faith had said her name that this was what she was going to ask. She'd known, but she still hadn't been fully prepared for how good it would feel to hear Faith say it aloud. All the clichés came true and she felt something good and overwhelming rise in her chest as she tried to regain normal thought.
Moments passed and they continued to sway together. By now, Faith had broken Buffy's gaze out of the pure sheer agony that she felt still looking into them as Buffy deliberated. She chose instead to focus on her lips, and fought her instinctive self, that screamed for her to kiss her without a reply. No. She wanted Buffy to decide and she wanted it to be mutual. Faith didn't think she could stand the aftermath if Buffy didn't act wholeheartedly. To hear the words it was a mistake would be too cruel, and would shatter the bliss that had been building between them.
"There's just so much at stake, Faith…" Buffy murmured softly. Instantly she realized her unintentional pun and giggled.
Faith laughed, glad for the tension relief. "Really, no punning while we're dancing, girl. Save it for the vamps."
Buffy grinned. The joke hadn't done a thing to distract either girl from the matter at hand but it had relaxed them a little. Faith tentatively raised her hand from where it rested on Buffy's hip to the blonde girl's jawline, tracing her finger over her cheek and resting her palm there.
Buffy inhaled deeply, closed her eyes and decided what she wanted. And it was Faith.
Buffy knew that saying yes wouldn't suffice so she lifted one hand, stroked Faith's hair once and gently brushed her lips against Faith's. Faith's eyes closed and she brought a hand up to tangle in Buffy's hair, slowly increasing the pressure of the kiss.
Faith couldn't believe that this one kiss from Buffy was affecting her more deeply than every other sexual encounter she had ever had in the last few years. She'd never felt this close to someone before, and they were barely touching. A wildly random thought flitted through her mind and she wondered what sort of emotional response would be evoked if and when they made love.
Faith pulled back, much to Buffy's dismay. The blonde opened her eyes and saw the slightly glazed over look on Faith's face. She was just grateful that Faith's retreat hadn't been as rejection, merely a chance for the other girl to catch her breath. Their foreheads touched again and Faith could only think of two words to sum up what had just happened.
"Holy shit."
Buffy smiled and pressed a gentle nipping kiss to Faith's lips. "I'll second that."
Faith was completely breathless. Anyone would think she'd never kissed someone before. In a way, it was as though she was experiencing it for the first time, because Buffy was mind-blowingly different to anyone she'd ever kissed before. Her mouth was softer, and the way Buffy held her as she kissed her was neither possessive nor carnal. It may have been that for the first time there she was being touched in love rather than in lust.
Buffy had no desire to ruin this moment with any more words. There was only one thing she wanted to do.
She leaned forwards, one hand at the nape of Faith's neck, gently pulling her mouth towards her own. Faith closed her eyes and slowly savoured the feeling of lips and tongues exploring, her chest rising and falling more and more quickly. Her mouth curved into a smile, breaking the deep kiss, and she gently bit Buffy's lower lip.
Buffy moved her lips across from Faith's mouth and across her cheek, planting small kisses on the way. She slowly kissed Faith's neck, lingering there as the dark-haired slayer arched her back and leaned her head to the side to give Buffy better access. She smiled at the irony as Buffy bit her neck, sucking gently at the skin and leaving a dark bloom. A Slayer, most happily bitten.
Back at the Scooby table, the Gang just looked at each other, their mouths agape. Cordelia was the one to break their stunned silence.
"So when did Buffy get gay?"
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Awww, the kiss. Finally. Took 15 bloody chapters, but there you have it. ;) Feedback is greatly appreciated (yes, that was a hint by the way…)
S&K.
(Shameless plug, go read A Witch's Family in the BTVS Crossovers section…lalala)
K.