The Paladin Project 16 - It Started With A Kiss
"I've had enough of waiting. It's time we hit the First good and hard."
"Xander," Giles spoke up, "I appreciate your impatience but translating arcane languages is a laborious process and cannot -."
"I know that G-Man," Xander interrupted, "but no matter what we do on patrol the numbers of Ubers are increasing. We have to knock the First back on its ugly ass."
Giles opened his mouth to retort but Angel beat the Watcher to the punch. "What do you suggest?"
"I agree with Buffy there's something valuable in the vineyard-."
"As I recall you were quite vociferous in your disdain for Buffy's strategy to raid the vineyard."
Xander took a second to translate Giles speak into proper English before replying. "I thought her plan sucked but she could be right about something being at the vineyard that the First values. What we need is a proper plan."
"Hate to break it to you Xand but there is no way I'm dressing as an Avon lady to act as a decoy."
"Damn another of my fantasies gone," Xander winked at a grinning Faith. He was glad that their relationship was back on a more even keel but hated himself for the way he'd allowed himself to be manipulated into hurting her. "I'll just have to stick to the nurse and cheerleader ones."
"Yes quite," Giles looked like he couldn't have any less interest in the turn the conversation had taken. "And the plan?"
"A small team, myself, Faith, Angel, Blade, and Draven break into the building. Not a full-frontal attack just an infiltration."
"That's it?" O'Neill broke in, his expression incredulous. "That's your great plan?"
"Marshall's hacked into city hall computers and got the vineyard blueprints, there's a couple of entrances we can use." Xander grinned. "Just be grateful I'm not a soldier Pops. With my flair for tactical genius I'd soon be your superior."
"Indeed," Teal'c nodded.
"Hey!"
"He has a point sir," a straight-faced Carter broke in.
O'Neill let out a long-suffering sigh before shooting both Carter and Teal'c glares. "Teal'c, how could you develop a sense of humour right now?"
"Who says he has?" Giles put in. "After all as Major Carter said, Xander does have a point. The U.S. army are adequate, but they're not exactly British."
* * *
"You seem pre-occupied Wesley."
The Englishman started at her entrance and looked up from the notes he'd been examining. "Oh hello Lad-, Lara," the Watcher corrected. "I was a million miles away."
"Perhaps not a million," she softly corrected. "Perhaps just at a vineyard a few miles away."
Her fellow demon-hunter smiled self-consciously. "You have me," he admitted with a nod. "I was thinking about Angel and the others."
"Rather more about Faith I suspect," Lara took a breath, she couldn't believe how nervous Wesley made her. "You have strong feelings for her."
Her heart dropped as her suspicions were confirmed by the Englishman's nod. "Yes I do. When I first came to Sunnydale she was so wild, high-spirited, and full of energy. As her Watcher I should have harnessed those attributes and helped her fulfil her potential. Instead I pushed her into the clutches of a dark arts mage." The Watcher's eyes shadowed. "My lack of understanding cost her eight months in a coma, and three years in prison. My tenure as Faith's Watcher is my greatest failure. I'd give my life without a second thought if it would repair some of the damage my stupidity caused her."
For a second Lara just stood staring at the Englishman, rocked by the intensity in his words. "You really feel accountable for her don't you?"
"I was her Watcher Lara," Wesley replied, his face etched with weariness and sorrow. "And I failed her terribly."
"Faith has to claim some responsibility for what happened," Lara countered.
"Does she?" Wesley shook his head. "I wish I could see it that way but she was an ill-educated child from a nightmarish background with a power she didn't understand just attempting to do the right thing, trying to prove everybody who'd told her she was worthless wrong. I should have followed Mr. Giles' example with Miss Summers, been her friend and counsellor. Instead I treated her as little more than a tool."
Lara decided a change in subject was in order. "But your feelings towards her are parental but nothing more?"
"Well I'm hardly old enough to be her parent," the Englishman huffed, good lord he was so cute when he did that, "but yes."
"Good," taking a breath she stepped forward, cupped the man's face in her hands and lowered his face to his, pressing her lips to his, gently at first but slowly increasing the pressure even as she stroked his neck. At first the shocked Watcher tensed but then relaxed into the kiss, his arms wrapping around her waist, stroking at her lower back. Lara slid her tongue into the man's eagerly waiting mouth, stabbing teasingly at his tongue before wrapping her own around his. After pulling away she smiled at the bemused man. "That wasn't too bad at all."
"Miss, Lady, Lara!" Wesley spluttered. "That was hardly proper!"
"Why not?" her even tone masked her inner nervousness.
"You're a Croft, a member of one of the most renowned and esteemed families in England. While I'm merely a -."
"I hate to break to you Toto, but we're not in Kansas anymore Toto," she retorted, "and even if we were I've never cared about status. I care about a man's heart and mind, two areas in which you give me no cause for complaint. The only question Mr. Whyndham-Pryce," she reached out to caress the bemused man's cheek. "Is how you feel about me?"
Wesley's mouth opened and shut three times before he finally spoke, a slight grin parting his lips. "I'm not quite sure Lady Croft," the Englishman paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'll have to experience another kiss before I come to a firm decision."
"Oh well, in that case," Lara stepped towards the rogue demon hunter and smiled. "I'll have to make this one really special."
"I can hardly wait."
* * *
Xander stared at the building a few hundred feet away and shuddered. Somehow, in some way the building gave off an almost tangible aura of pure evil, chilling in its intensity. And he was going to walk in there with no idea of what lay in wait. "Harris, I swear you're an idiot," he muttered.
"I'd say that was the majority view."
He glanced at the lithe figure beside him. "Who made you my morale officer Faith?"
The Slayer grinned. "That's what I do best raising guy's morale," the brunette winked. "Amongst other things."
Xander shook his head. "Yeah I remember."
"What do you think's inside?" Faith's voice had turned serious.
"Haven't got a clue," he admitted.
"So we're going into a place where we've already got our asses kicked with no idea what we're looking for?"
"Yep." Xander confirmed.
"Just checking." The Bostonian shook her head. "Jeez Xand -."
"In my experience vampires, demons, whatever are pretty stupid. If they've got a power source or a weakness they like to keep it close, makes them feel more secure."
"I guess," Faith still sounded less than convinced. "But last time we tried anything we got our asses kick-."
"Correction," he interrupted. "Last time Buffy tried anything you got your asses kicked. Piss-poor preparation equals piss-poor performance. I'm surprised you and Giles let her lead you into such an obvious trap."
"Hey!" now the Slayer sounded defensive. "It wasn't like she listened to anybody other than Bleach-Job and maybe Red when she wanted her ego stroked."
"Fair nuff," Xand rose from his crouched position, "so we ready?"
"Not quite."
Noting the nervousness in his companion's voice he turned to face her. "What's up Fa-."
He was surprised when the raven-haired beauty snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him towards her, lowering his head to hers. "Relax Xan," the Slayer muttered. "Just go with it." The woman's right hand began stroking his neck and running her other hand through his hair. He felt the girl's lips press against his, gently at first but gradually cranking up the intensity.
After a few shocked seconds he started to get into it, wrapping his arms around the girl's tiny waist he pulled her against him, loving the feel of her soft curves against him and savouring her scent in his hyena-enhanced nostrils. The Bostonian slowly slid her wonderfully moist tongue across the length of his bottom lip before turning his attention to the top one. Next she eased her tongue into his mouth, lightly stroking his tongue against hers. That accomplished the brunette pulled away, an almost frightened look on her face. "Faith I-."
"No Xand," the east coast Slayer shook her head before placing a trembling finger across his open mouth, "don't say anything. I know you don't feel the same way I do, and that's five by five. I just wanted to kiss you one last time, show ya I could be gentle that I wasn't all just lust and passion." The Slayer's voice shook slightly as she hurried past him. "We gonna kick the First's ass or what?"
Xander stared at the brunette's shapely behind for a moment before shaking his head clear. "Oh great, just great," he muttered. Not only was he leading a small army of warriors against the evil that predated all other evil, a reformed murderess who'd once tried to kill him was now crazy about him. And after that kiss. He shook his head again. "Stick to the demon- hunting, it's simpler. Less hazardous too."
"I've had enough of waiting. It's time we hit the First good and hard."
"Xander," Giles spoke up, "I appreciate your impatience but translating arcane languages is a laborious process and cannot -."
"I know that G-Man," Xander interrupted, "but no matter what we do on patrol the numbers of Ubers are increasing. We have to knock the First back on its ugly ass."
Giles opened his mouth to retort but Angel beat the Watcher to the punch. "What do you suggest?"
"I agree with Buffy there's something valuable in the vineyard-."
"As I recall you were quite vociferous in your disdain for Buffy's strategy to raid the vineyard."
Xander took a second to translate Giles speak into proper English before replying. "I thought her plan sucked but she could be right about something being at the vineyard that the First values. What we need is a proper plan."
"Hate to break it to you Xand but there is no way I'm dressing as an Avon lady to act as a decoy."
"Damn another of my fantasies gone," Xander winked at a grinning Faith. He was glad that their relationship was back on a more even keel but hated himself for the way he'd allowed himself to be manipulated into hurting her. "I'll just have to stick to the nurse and cheerleader ones."
"Yes quite," Giles looked like he couldn't have any less interest in the turn the conversation had taken. "And the plan?"
"A small team, myself, Faith, Angel, Blade, and Draven break into the building. Not a full-frontal attack just an infiltration."
"That's it?" O'Neill broke in, his expression incredulous. "That's your great plan?"
"Marshall's hacked into city hall computers and got the vineyard blueprints, there's a couple of entrances we can use." Xander grinned. "Just be grateful I'm not a soldier Pops. With my flair for tactical genius I'd soon be your superior."
"Indeed," Teal'c nodded.
"Hey!"
"He has a point sir," a straight-faced Carter broke in.
O'Neill let out a long-suffering sigh before shooting both Carter and Teal'c glares. "Teal'c, how could you develop a sense of humour right now?"
"Who says he has?" Giles put in. "After all as Major Carter said, Xander does have a point. The U.S. army are adequate, but they're not exactly British."
* * *
"You seem pre-occupied Wesley."
The Englishman started at her entrance and looked up from the notes he'd been examining. "Oh hello Lad-, Lara," the Watcher corrected. "I was a million miles away."
"Perhaps not a million," she softly corrected. "Perhaps just at a vineyard a few miles away."
Her fellow demon-hunter smiled self-consciously. "You have me," he admitted with a nod. "I was thinking about Angel and the others."
"Rather more about Faith I suspect," Lara took a breath, she couldn't believe how nervous Wesley made her. "You have strong feelings for her."
Her heart dropped as her suspicions were confirmed by the Englishman's nod. "Yes I do. When I first came to Sunnydale she was so wild, high-spirited, and full of energy. As her Watcher I should have harnessed those attributes and helped her fulfil her potential. Instead I pushed her into the clutches of a dark arts mage." The Watcher's eyes shadowed. "My lack of understanding cost her eight months in a coma, and three years in prison. My tenure as Faith's Watcher is my greatest failure. I'd give my life without a second thought if it would repair some of the damage my stupidity caused her."
For a second Lara just stood staring at the Englishman, rocked by the intensity in his words. "You really feel accountable for her don't you?"
"I was her Watcher Lara," Wesley replied, his face etched with weariness and sorrow. "And I failed her terribly."
"Faith has to claim some responsibility for what happened," Lara countered.
"Does she?" Wesley shook his head. "I wish I could see it that way but she was an ill-educated child from a nightmarish background with a power she didn't understand just attempting to do the right thing, trying to prove everybody who'd told her she was worthless wrong. I should have followed Mr. Giles' example with Miss Summers, been her friend and counsellor. Instead I treated her as little more than a tool."
Lara decided a change in subject was in order. "But your feelings towards her are parental but nothing more?"
"Well I'm hardly old enough to be her parent," the Englishman huffed, good lord he was so cute when he did that, "but yes."
"Good," taking a breath she stepped forward, cupped the man's face in her hands and lowered his face to his, pressing her lips to his, gently at first but slowly increasing the pressure even as she stroked his neck. At first the shocked Watcher tensed but then relaxed into the kiss, his arms wrapping around her waist, stroking at her lower back. Lara slid her tongue into the man's eagerly waiting mouth, stabbing teasingly at his tongue before wrapping her own around his. After pulling away she smiled at the bemused man. "That wasn't too bad at all."
"Miss, Lady, Lara!" Wesley spluttered. "That was hardly proper!"
"Why not?" her even tone masked her inner nervousness.
"You're a Croft, a member of one of the most renowned and esteemed families in England. While I'm merely a -."
"I hate to break to you Toto, but we're not in Kansas anymore Toto," she retorted, "and even if we were I've never cared about status. I care about a man's heart and mind, two areas in which you give me no cause for complaint. The only question Mr. Whyndham-Pryce," she reached out to caress the bemused man's cheek. "Is how you feel about me?"
Wesley's mouth opened and shut three times before he finally spoke, a slight grin parting his lips. "I'm not quite sure Lady Croft," the Englishman paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'll have to experience another kiss before I come to a firm decision."
"Oh well, in that case," Lara stepped towards the rogue demon hunter and smiled. "I'll have to make this one really special."
"I can hardly wait."
* * *
Xander stared at the building a few hundred feet away and shuddered. Somehow, in some way the building gave off an almost tangible aura of pure evil, chilling in its intensity. And he was going to walk in there with no idea of what lay in wait. "Harris, I swear you're an idiot," he muttered.
"I'd say that was the majority view."
He glanced at the lithe figure beside him. "Who made you my morale officer Faith?"
The Slayer grinned. "That's what I do best raising guy's morale," the brunette winked. "Amongst other things."
Xander shook his head. "Yeah I remember."
"What do you think's inside?" Faith's voice had turned serious.
"Haven't got a clue," he admitted.
"So we're going into a place where we've already got our asses kicked with no idea what we're looking for?"
"Yep." Xander confirmed.
"Just checking." The Bostonian shook her head. "Jeez Xand -."
"In my experience vampires, demons, whatever are pretty stupid. If they've got a power source or a weakness they like to keep it close, makes them feel more secure."
"I guess," Faith still sounded less than convinced. "But last time we tried anything we got our asses kick-."
"Correction," he interrupted. "Last time Buffy tried anything you got your asses kicked. Piss-poor preparation equals piss-poor performance. I'm surprised you and Giles let her lead you into such an obvious trap."
"Hey!" now the Slayer sounded defensive. "It wasn't like she listened to anybody other than Bleach-Job and maybe Red when she wanted her ego stroked."
"Fair nuff," Xand rose from his crouched position, "so we ready?"
"Not quite."
Noting the nervousness in his companion's voice he turned to face her. "What's up Fa-."
He was surprised when the raven-haired beauty snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him towards her, lowering his head to hers. "Relax Xan," the Slayer muttered. "Just go with it." The woman's right hand began stroking his neck and running her other hand through his hair. He felt the girl's lips press against his, gently at first but gradually cranking up the intensity.
After a few shocked seconds he started to get into it, wrapping his arms around the girl's tiny waist he pulled her against him, loving the feel of her soft curves against him and savouring her scent in his hyena-enhanced nostrils. The Bostonian slowly slid her wonderfully moist tongue across the length of his bottom lip before turning his attention to the top one. Next she eased her tongue into his mouth, lightly stroking his tongue against hers. That accomplished the brunette pulled away, an almost frightened look on her face. "Faith I-."
"No Xand," the east coast Slayer shook her head before placing a trembling finger across his open mouth, "don't say anything. I know you don't feel the same way I do, and that's five by five. I just wanted to kiss you one last time, show ya I could be gentle that I wasn't all just lust and passion." The Slayer's voice shook slightly as she hurried past him. "We gonna kick the First's ass or what?"
Xander stared at the brunette's shapely behind for a moment before shaking his head clear. "Oh great, just great," he muttered. Not only was he leading a small army of warriors against the evil that predated all other evil, a reformed murderess who'd once tried to kill him was now crazy about him. And after that kiss. He shook his head again. "Stick to the demon- hunting, it's simpler. Less hazardous too."
