Shared Destiny
Author: Norwalker
Part 9 of ?
Summary: Faith asks, in Enemies, " Everybody asks why can't you be more like Buffy. But does anyone ask why Buffy can't be more like me?" So, what if , after season 3, Buffy became more like Faith?
Rating/ Category: Rated R Romance/Angst
Spoilers: Possible season 3 and after spoilers.
Time Line: Departs after season 3
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon , Mutant Enemy and Fox own them.
Warnings: Dark fiction. Character Death happens, please be aware of this. Strong language, sexual situations between members of the same sex. Violence. Possible racial/ethnic slurs that the author in no way supports or shares.
"SPIKE!" Buffy practically spit out the word. Her face reflected her disgust.
"Well, well slayer. I see you're still handy with the pointy wooden objects" Spike mocks, gently pushing the point of the stake away from his chest." Glad to see you're vacation hasn't slowed you up any".
"Vacation?" Buffy repeats, annoyed. She'd love to give Spike a vacation…perhaps an all expense paid trip inside a Hoover bag." How do you figure prison as a 'vacation' Spike?"
" Free room and board? Sunshine, exercise in the yard, learn a hobby" Spike ridicules her," What's not to like? Ok, the sex might have been a little limited in choice, but considering who you're hanging with these days, that might not be a problem?"
" Oh, please, please" Buffy says, tersely," Just give me a reason to stake you!" She pauses, as if thinking, " Wait. What reason? Me slayer, you vampire. Good enough for me!" She brings the stake back to his chest, and pushes…lightly, enough to hurt, but not to dust.
" Bloody hell! Watch it with that thing!" Spike growls, grabbing the stake from Buffy," I could stake you right back! Might actually make this evening worth it" He points the stake at Buffy's throat, as if to shove it in. He screams, holding his head. " Dammit!" He bends over in pain.
Buffy sits there smirking at him. She calmly recovers the stake from Spike. She grabs the collar of his duster, and lifts him up.
"What's wrong, Spike? Guilty conscience?" Buffy mocks, gloating over his apparent weakness.
"What's wrong are those bleeding pillocks that did this to me. Stupid soldier boys hit me with some kind of tasers, next thing I know I wake up in some underground bunker. I escaped. I figured it had something to do with you. Not seeing you around anywhere, I went after the witch." Spike grumbles.
Buffy's face hardens. " You went after Willow?!" She puts the stake back at Spike's chest. "Please tell me you tried to attack her. Go ahead, tell me. Please let me put you out of my misery!" She threatens him with the stake.
Spike shoves the stake away from himself, again," Nothing came of it, obviously!" Spike complains, " Tried to attack her, and my head felt like it was going to explode. God, that was awful" He mutters, as he hears Buffy laughing." What's so bloody funny?"
" So… Spike had a visit to the vets, and now he can't chase cars with the other puppies?" Buffy laughs, totally loving this." Poor Spike! Guess we'll have to call you William the Gummy now, huh, toothless?" She stops when she sees Spike grinning a little grin at her. " What?"" Well, luv" Spike says, calmly, " I might be toothless, but they aren't". He points over her shoulder
Buffy whirls around, and sees three rather large vampires approaching. She drops into fighting mode…then notices her stake is missing. Damn! Spike taps her on the shoulder.
"Forget this, pet?" He hands her the stake. She gives him a look, and turns back to the three vamps.
" Hey, slayer" The leader of the group calls out, " I heard you were back in town".
"So, you boys are the welcoming committee then? Gee… how nice. Throwing me a party like this" Buffy mocks, " I hope one of you remembered to bring chips. A party just isn't a party without the crunch!"
She launches herself into the lead vampire. Spike just hangs back, amused, watching the fun. Buffy kicks him straight on, in the solar plexus. He doubles over. She brings her knee up, smashing him in the face. She brings the stake around and stakes him through his back. Dust.
The second vampire hits her from the side, knocking her away and off balance. He comes at her, but she recovers, and grabs him, shoving him down on the ground. Grunting a little, he shoves himself back up, and turns to face her.
"Gee… you boys have been working out!" Buffy says, derisively, " I'm flattered". She does a head over heels kick, connecting her foot to his jaw, knocking him off balance.
Spike, feeling left out and bored, says to himself," Oh, hell" and joins the fray, taking on the third vampire. He gives the vamp a roundhouse punch to the jaw, then a haymaker. The vamp goes flying back into the tomb.
" Hey! HEY!" The vamp says, confused. " What's your problem? You're one of us!"
" No, mate" Spike says, shoving the vamp down with his foot, staking him. " No matter how stupid I get, I'd never be one of you!" He grins as the vampire dusts.
Buffy gives her vamp a combo punch-kick, knocking him on his butt. He springs up, grabs her and throws her over his shoulder. She lands on her back, with an "OOOOF" escaping her. He jumps on her for the kill, but she brings up the stake at the last moment, and he vaporizes. She gets up, brushing herself off. She whirled her stake and holstered it in her belt like a gunfighter.
"Well, that was bleedin' fun!" Spike says, grinning He makes as if to pat her shoulder, but she blocks his arm. " Hey, what's that about?" He whines, surprised.
" We're not friends, Spike" Buffy says, growling," only reason I haven't staked you yet is because Will told me you were taking up the slack in Sunny D while I was away. Otherwise, you'd just be another pile on the grass".
"Talk about your gratitude" Spike carps, put out.
"Gratitude? What? I'm supposed to be grateful because you dusted a vamp?" Buffy says, amazed," you threatened me and my friends what? 10 times or more? And now I'm supposed to get all sloppy grateful? Please!" Buffy rolls her eyes in disbelief and disgust." The only thing keeping you from inhabiting a Hoover bag right now is that you might have information I could use."
"Information? Well, that'll cost you, pet" Spike says, attitude changing.
"Cost me?" Buffy asks, a small evil grin forming on her face," You want me to give you something for the information?"
"Well…yes" Spike says," After all a bloke has to make a living, ya know".
" Alright then" Buffy smiles.(I don't think I want to be on the other end of that smile). She walks over to Spike, grabs the back of his head with one hand, and punches him in the nose with the other.
" What the bloody hell was that for?" Spike groans, grabbing his nose.
" I don't have time for this, Spike" Buffy growls, " If you don't tell me what I want to know" Buffy pulls out the stake, "I'll give you this" She jabs him in the chest with the stake.
" Sod off, slayer" Spike snarls," I'm not telling you…." Buffy interrupts him with another nose punch.
"DAMMIT TO BLOODY HELL STOP THAT!" Spike roars, grabbing his nose again.
Buffy hits him again." I told you, I don't have time to play games. Talk, or stake?" Up comes the stake.
"All right, all right, just don't hit me in the nose again!" Spike whines, " What is your problem, slayer?"
" Right now, you're my problem, Spike" Buffy says," Tell me what you know about the Dark Lord"
" Why should I tell you anything?" Spike says, being obstinate . Buffy raises the stake and gives him a look like he has one second left to answer. He continues." All right, all right" Spike says, covering his nose again." Something bad is coming down. Real bad."
"Well, that's illuminating, Spike" Buffy says. She makes like she's going to hit him again. He backs up.
"Dammit, slayer, let me finish" Spike complains, " It's evidently some really old evil. Some God or something. Plans on opening the hellmouth, he does".
" So not helping here, Spike. You've told me nothing I don't already know!" Buffy advances on him with the stake.
" Don't get your knickers in a twist." Spike says, backing just out of range," This is something really bad. Demons are leaving town left and right." Spike's face grows serious, " Demons that never move from their nests, once they've nested, are moving out. This is really bad, slayer!".
"What else Spike?" Buffy says, growing irritated.
" Just that, whatever it is can't live in this world by itself. It needs a human host" Spike continues, " Talk underground it's picked someone powerful to be its host body. It has some sort of cult going, called the cabal. Evidently they have a lot of pull in Sunnyhell… some kind big wig group." Spike muses," Money, influence, some are supposed to be in the local government, pulling strings. Frankly, some say they're the ones behind you're little…troubles. They seem to like that part of the deal", Spike grins. He sees the slayer's face, and puts up his hands, " Not me, slayer. Frankly I don't give a rat's arse one way or another. I'm pretty sure this cabal group has somehow made it possible for Dark boy to get his body, and is greasing the wheels so he can return."
Buffy makes a disgusted noise, " Well, that was totally useless. You've told me nothing new".
"Look, Buffy" Spike says, seriously, "Whatever this thing is, it's bad. I think you might be out of your league on this one, pet" Spike sees her expression, and shakes his head, " Fine. Do whatever, slayer. You're life. Thing is, I heard something else, might help".
Buffy is silent, just giving him a disparaging look.
" I'm just trying to help here, slayer. No skin of my nose" He starts to turn, but is stopped by Buffy's grip on his shoulder He sees her fist raised, ready to hit him again. He grabs her fist, and holds it." You can hit me all you want, slayer, that's not going to help you against this guy. He's major bad mojo. He has bad-assed powers that I don't even like to think about." He stops, chin thrust out, thinking, " Here's the deal. There's talk he has some weaknesses. Something called the Eye of Isis is supposed to block his powers, or something. Also, there's something called the sword of Horus. According to legend, its what was used to kill him in the first place".
"Why so helpful all of a sudden, Spike?" Buffy says, suspiciously.
" Believe me slayer, it's not because I like you" Spike says, rubbing his finger along his nose." Frankly, these apocalypse types are a bunch of bleeding buggers. They come here, make their messes, and the rest of us are left holding the bag. Seeing as the world hasn't ended yet, they never succeed. Just make it harder for the rest of us. So, I don't owe them squat, and hey, if you kill them, and they manage to kill you, two birds with one stake, I say".
Buffy rolls her eyes.
"All right, all right. The truth? I like this crappy world of yours. It's got telly, I love Passions , it's got soccer, Plenty of blood…well, these days, pig's blood, but hey, beggars and all that rot… for a bit there I was pissed off with it all because I didn't have anything I could kill…you're soldier boys took care of that. But hey, found I can slaughter demons, no pain. Bloody lot of slobs and snobs, anyway, so it's all good for me. But then, some bugger with some apocalyptic vision comes along, wanting to mess up a good thing. Frankly, I don't need that. I've got it good here, and I don't need some idiot coming along and messing it up" Spike nods his head slightly, as if something else occurred to him. " Oh, yeah. If I ever get this chip in my head out, I still owe you a go 'round. Bloody hell hard to do that if the world's ended, isn't it?"
Buffy gives him with a disgusted look, and makes a disparaging noise, as if he's not even worth anymore of her time. She turns away, waving her hand at him as if to dismiss him.
"Just you wait, slayer" Spike says, his voice threatening in tone, " I'm gonna get this chip out, and we're gonna have that little dance. I'm gonna ….."
Buffy returns, and stands glaring at him. " What? You're gonna do what?" She doesn't wait, she just gives him another punch in the nose, laughs at him, and walks off. She calls back over her shoulder." Idiot. I know you vamps have extra sensitive hearing, but slayers aren't deaf, either. At least wait til I'm out of earshot before making you're impotent threats." She turns the corner and disappears.
Spike, humiliated once again, stands rubbing his nose.
" Sodding, stupid bitch!" He grumbles.
He slinks off into the night.
Buffy, despite her bravado with Spike, is worried.
Something's really wrong here. She pumped Spike for information for a reason. Not because she figured he knew anything she didn't already know (though, that Eye of Isis and Sword of Horus might be important). No, she wanted to check up on Willow's story.
Something about Will hadn't added up quite right with Buffy. Buffy had known Willow for years, but something made her slayer sense tingle about her today. That story about Giles? Just didn't buy it. It was so not Willow to say that kind of thing. Not that way , anyway. As if Giles were some kind of creep. The inflections, the way she said it… just didn't sit right. At no time did Buffy get the impression that Willow was really concerned about Giles. It was more like she was talking about a stranger. And she knew Willow, the Willow she knew, wouldn't treat Giles that way.
And Spike. Pathological, creepy and just plain repulsive? Yes. But, he confirmed Giles' story, and he had no reason to lie. Spike has no love of Giles, and visa versa. If anything he'd be the first to say that Giles was a doddering fool. But he didn't. That bugged her too.
No, Willow lied to her. But why? What reason does she have? Why would she want to discredit Giles? Make out like he was on the edge of a breakdown? Something Spike said about The Dark Lord…Set…whatever his name is… " It picked someone powerful to be its host body…". Well, yeah…some rich dude with lots of influence…or … ?
Buffy felt a little chill go through her heart. She didn't like what she was thinking. Not one little bit. She had to get home now, and call Giles. It just couldn't be. It couldn't. But, what if it was?
They had a problem.
A big problem.
Willow felt a sharp pain pass through her head, and she looked up.
Where the hell was she? She looked around, and appeared to be in a class. History 440, by looks of it. But how'd she get here? She couldn't remember. She couldn't remember what day it was, or what time it was. It was afternoon, Tuesday or Thursday… she knew that because of the class. But how…when did she get here? What was he talking about?
Willow was scared. Scared so bad you wanted to run and hide and pull the covers over you scared. This…whatever it was… was happening more often now. Too often. Ever since she lost the headaches… this'd been happening. She'd black out, and stay that way. She didn't know if it was minutes, hours or days that passed. She always woke up in a new, strange place. One time she woke up, and Tara was making love to her… and she didn't remember even getting into bed… or seeing Tara that day. Or anything about that day.
What the hell is happening to me? Willow thought, panicked. I can't remember anything clearly. I black out all the time. God, what am I doing while I'm blacked out? She looked at her blouse. It was red. The last time she remembers, she was wearing a green pullover sweater. When was that? What day? What's going on, what's happening to me?
Calm, Willow, stay calm. Willow looks over and sees Tara sitting next to her. Tara is looking at her, a strange, worried look on her face. She starts to say something to Tara, but stops. What can I say that doesn't sound crazy? Like I'm ready for the rubber room? It's crazy, I know it's crazy. But, something is happening to me!
Something's inside here with me. Something dark, evil. I can feel it. But, what's it doing? What's it want? Why me? She looks around, and starts to get scared again. Things are taking on a glow… just like they do before she goes out again. Quick, she has to do something quickly. She takes her notebook, and tears out a page. Writing quickly, she takes the page and slips it into Tara's purse.
Everything is getting brighter, and it's all…..
And she's gone again.
" You've got to tell him, B!" Faith says decisively. " You owe him that".
After talking with Spike , Buffy had returned home. Faith was already there. At first things were tense between them…both were still upset over what had happened that morning. For the longest time neither girl spoke to the other, they just kept out of each other's way. Finally, both wound up in the living room.
Both being stubborn to a fault, neither left. They sat, Faith on the couch, Buffy in the chair, pretending the other wasn't there. The silence deepened, and this went on for awhile, until finally Faith, exasperated, broke the silence.
"Ok, B, what is it? Something's buggin' you, and you're just sittin' there starin' out into space. What is it?" Faith asks
Buffy turns to Faith. She really needs to talk to somebody. Somebody she can trust. If nothing else, she can trust Faith.
"Faith, can we call a truce? Something's not right, something's eating at me, and I need… I need you're thoughts" Buffy says, truthfully enough.
Faith thinks about it for a minute, then says," Ok, truce. For now, anyway. What's up?"
Buffy briefly explains her 'chat' with Spike, and her other suspicions. Faith sits listening, and then speaks.
" You've got to tell him, B!" Faith says decisively. " You owe him that".
"But, what if I'm wrong, Faith?" Buffy says, her voice not so certain." I mean, I haven't really seen Will, except briefly, in the last 3 years or more. People change. I changed" Buffy says, her tone quite, reflective, " What if she changed too? What if what she said is true? That Giles has gone schizoid? He…he might get violent"
"B! This is Giles we're talkin' about" Faith says," He's not exactly the over the top take no prisoners type!".
"Not now…er…I mean… not when I knew him…when he was my watcher. But when he was younger, our ages, he was totally different. Wore leather, got into some bad magic. Hung with a rough crowd." Buffy replies, her confusion evident.
" G? You're shittin' me, right?" Faith says, not buying it," G was born in tweeds, I swear!".
" Faith , you were off on one of your famous " Walkabouts" when Sunnydale had the band candy incident. Giles ate that candy. He was totally different…nothing like the Giles we know".
" Pfffft. Every adult was acting nuts, that's what I heard" Faith says, dismissing Buffy's "proof".
Buffy fills in Faith on Giles's past. About Ethan Rayne, the black magic group they hung with, the demon Eyghon. Faith's eyes go wide. She'd never known Giles to be…like that. She shook her head, not really comprehending.
" God, it's always the quiet ones, aint it?" Faith says, her voice a little awed. Faith thinks about it, and then continues, " But that doesn't matter, B. That's still not the Giles you and I know. G…just isn't that guy anymore! You said it yourself, people change!".
" But what if he's having a breakdown, Faith? What if he's reverting to his younger, more violent self?" Buffy asks, concerned.
" Sorry, B. Just not buying it. I'm more inclined to believe Red lied to you" Faith says.
" You're hardly an objective judge about that, Faith. You never liked Willow" Buffy says, defensively." You've given her a hard time almost as long as you've known her!"
" That's not the deal here, B. That other? It just isn't right. It sounds nuts!" Faith says, "C'mon, think B. Giles? Drinking? Making up apocalypses? Assaulting young blonde girls, playing kinky sex games? Well, ok, he's a guy, the last might be true!" Buffy makes a face. Faith chuckles, " Kidding , B. But c'mon, listen to it. It just sounds nuts!"
Buffy couldn't argue. If Faith had come to her with a story like that, she'd buckle the straight-jacket on Faith herself!
"But…but she's never lied to me" Buffy says, forcefully." Willow's never lied to me!"
" B," Faith says, gently, " You said it yourself. People change."
At that moment, there's a knock at the front door. The chosen two look at each other, as if asking " who the hell could that be?". Buffy gets up, and answers the door.
A young woman, blonde, a little older than Buffy, is standing at the door. She looks nervous and concerned.
" Tara? Willow's … friend, right?" Buffy asks. She's only met her briefly, and hasn't socialized with her hardly at all.
"Y-Y-Yes. I'm T-Tara. Y-Y-You're Buffy, r-right?" Tara stutters, nervously. She's still not sure she's doing the right thing coming here.
Yes, that's right" Buffy says. " God, sorry. Do you want to come in?" Buffy moves to let Tara come in.
"Th-thanks, y-yes" Tara says, coming into the house. She sees Faith, and gets a little nervous.
" That's ok. That's Faith. She won't bite…" Buffy says, trying to put Tara at her ease. She seems so nervous." You won't bite, will you Faith?" Buffy teases.
"That's right, B" Faith says, mockingly. She gets up and walks towards the front door, " Scare the girl. Hi, sweetie" Faith smiles, " I'm Faith. I'm the sane one". She gives Buffy a look.
"She's also a pathological liar" Buffy quips. Tara looks at both of them like they've lost their minds.
"I-I'm sorry, I s-shouldn't have c-come" Tara says, turning to go. Faith stops her gently.
" Tara? That's your name, right?" Faith asks , gently. Tara nods, " Tara, please. We're sorry. We do this all the time. We… well, at least, I didn't mean to upset you." Buffy gives her a look.
" Tara, please come in, sweetie" Buffy says, " We'll be good."
"Thank y-y-you, B-Buffy" Tara says, still nervous." I wouldn't b-bother you but I'm w-worried about Willow" Tara says.
Buffy and Faith look at each other. This is just too creepy for words. They lead Tara into the living room, where she sits on the couch, next to Faith.
"You're always welcome here, Tara." Buffy says, " No need to apologize." She shifts gears, " You said you were worried about Willow?"
Tara sits on the couch, her face worried. She looks like she's trying to come to a decision on whether to tell these two about her fears.
Faith turns to Tara." Tara? It's ok. Buffy's an old friend of Willow's" Faith says, with Tara nodding agreement, " And, I promise, anything you say here … is in confidence. We won't say anything to Willow about it!" Faith looks at Buffy, who nods agreement.
"I'm w-worried about her" Tara says, deciding to trust them." She's changed… a lot… too much".
"Changed?" Buffy asks, exchanging a glance with Faith." How, changed?"
" I…it's hard to explain" Tara, building confidence, seems to lose her stutter," It's little things. Like… well… she used to be afraid of frogs…"
" Yes, I know that" Buffy says, smiling, " She used to have bad dreams about frogs!" Tara looks at her with a strange expression on her face. Buffy blushes. " She told me about it!"
"And… our kitten, Ms. Kitty Fantastico? She used to love Willow. She'd jump on her and play and everything. Now, she won't get near her. And… no, this sounds crazy…I know it does…"
" Go on, Tara" Faith encourages." It's ok"
" Did Will tell you anything about me, Tara?" Buffy asks.
" Only that you're the Slayer" Tara says, ingenuously. A little grin tugs at Buffy's face.
" Ok, then you know I'm used to weird" Buffy says, smiling.
" Well… her aura's all wrong" Tara says. Buffy looks at Tara , the puzzlement clear on her face.
" You know everyone has auras, right?" Tara asks, and both slayers nod. She continues, " Ok well, each person's aura is unique, but usually it has a predominant color that indicates a deep character trait. Blue is courage, Green is faithfulness and honesty, Purple is power, yellow is physical energy, etc? Get it?" The slayers look a little confused.
" Ok, for instance, Faith has a yellow aura with strong purple and green parts to it. Yours is similar, Buffy, but you have more blue tones, and also some orange, indicating a conflict. Do you have an internal conflict, Buffy?" Tara asks, her brow furled.
Buffy looks down. Faith looks at Tara , impressed.
"Nothing big" Buffy says…lying just a little, " But…what about Willow?" She asks, changing the subject. She doesn't want to go there right now.
" Willow's Aura used to be green and blue, with purple shot through it" Tara says, quietly, " But it's changed…"
"Changed, how?" Faith says, a believer now.
"It's gone dark, very dark" Tara says, her voice upset," Almost black…with a lot of red shot through it".
"What does that mean?" Buffy asks, concerned. It didn't sound good.
" Red stands for evil. Black stands for death" Tara says, visibly upset.
The two slayers look at each other, both clearly floored by this information. Evil, and death.
"And there's more" Tara says, quietly." Yesterday, in history. I was sitting next to her. Her aura was black and red…and then, briefly, it went blue/ green. It startled me..." Tara continues, " Then it went back to black and red. But, later, I went through my purse, looking for something, and found this". She hands the folded sheet of paper to Buffy and Faith.
They open it up, and read the message inside:
TaraSomething's wrong with me. Something's happening to me. Help me, please!
Both slayers are nervous now. Anxious and nervous.
Faith speaks up." Tara? Buffy and I were talking about Willow when you came. Buffy sensed something wrong with her too." Tara looks at Buffy, a look of relief on her face. Buffy smiles reassuringly at Tara.
"Tara?" Faith continues. " We need to tell Mr. Giles about this. Is that ok?"
Tara nods. Willow's in trouble, and needs all the help she can get.
Buffy gets up and heads for the phone. Her expression is beyond anxious and worried. She's scared.
What she feared was true. What Tara showed them, and told them, confirmed it.
They knew who Set's vessel was now. She was scared. He'd chosen well.
A very powerful witch was under his control.
She picks up the phone, and dialed Giles.
To be continued.