A/N: Hey, so thanks to everybody who reviewed and encouraged me to continue. Here's where I went with it and I hope you like it. Sorry the chapters aren't very long. I just end it where I think it feels right...and when I get tired. grins Thanks also to those who said I've written the characters well. I haven't actually seen hardly any of season three, but I've read episode summaries and things of the like. I'm currently waiting for the torrent downloads to hurry the hell up! Anyway, I digress. Story time...
Chapter 2 - In Too Deep
"Don't forget, I always get the last laugh."
Faith shook her head trying to clear her thoughts.
It had been two weeks since that fateful game of spin the bottle but the feeling of Buffy's lips against hers still burned. Her hand tingled, remembering how the blonde Slayer had so casually grabbed her hand and led her up the stairs. Her mind still screamed at her for feeling let down when Buffy's hand slipped from hers, grabbing the car keys off the table - and her heart still ached from watching Buffy slip out the door without the smallest glance back.
Two weeks.
Two weeks of nightly patrol without so much as a word spoken about "the kiss".
Two weeks and Faith had begun to wonder if she hadn't in fact made it up.
An owl hooted from above her, and she glanced up at the black night sky. The tombstone she was leaning against was making her back ache and she reached up to rub her neck tiredly. She thought about pacing...maybe...but she would rather lose an easy fight than lose the damn good pose she'd taken up while waiting for her other half to finish rounds. She wondered idly if she should go look for Buffy, maybe something had happened? Maybe Buffy was tired of the stolen glances and casual touches, that weren't quite so casual. Maybe, Faith sighed to herself, she should give it up. Who was she kidding? Buffy was a mans woman, a beef cake side dish, straight as spaghetti. "Until you heat it up," Faith thought, chuckling quietly.
A twig snapped nearby and Faith's mouth twitched into a small smile. "About time Slayer."
"Come on B, give us a kiss."
Buffy tightened her grip on the stake as she finished up her rounds.
Two weeks.
It had been two weeks since she'd been talked into that silly game. That silly game, with it's silly kissing, and silly hand holding...which hadn't actually been all that silly or part of the game. "But isn't that what it always is?" She thought to herself. "Isn't it always a game when it comes to Faith?" She sighed, realizing...she wasn't so sure anymore. She wasn't so sure about a lot of things, but...she knew she didn't have to pretend when she was around Faith. She didn't have to be "The Almighty Slayer", she didn't have to be "Perfect Little Buffy", she could just...be.
"Ha...B." She laughed lightly. "If that isn't ironic."
An owl hooted nearby, shaking her from her thoughts.
She rounded the last crypt, slowing her pace when she caught a glimpse of leather shining in the moonlight. A smile crept onto her lips as she watched her counterpart rub the back of her neck wearily. That position couldn't have been comfortable. "Stubborn slayer."
She quieted her footsteps as she attempted to sneak up on the younger slayer. She felt a small branch underfoot and before she had time to shift her weight she felt, more than heard, it snap. She cursed herself silently then chanced a glance at Faith. The slayer hadn't moved an inch, save for the tug of a smile on her moonlit features. Buffy sighed and straightened up making her way over to where Faith was perched against the grave.
"You're losin' your touch, B." Faith drawled through the semi-darkness.
"That's not what you said last night." Buffy replied, her innocent smile betraying her words. Faith laughed, knowing that if she went any further the blonde would be blushing up a storm, retreating back home, quicker than you could say, "Staked ya."
"All clear?" Buffy asked, coming up to lean against the tombstone.
Faith spread out her hands and looked around, pointing out the lack of vampires or demons. "Five by five." She said smoothly, finally letting her guard down before sliding to the ground to sit. Buffy followed her lead, leaning against the stone. It was cool to the touch and sent a shiver through her. Faith glanced at her, her eyebrows furrowed, "You cold, B?"
Buffy nodded, "A little." Faith had no response, other than scooting a few inches closer so that their shoulders were touching, offering what little heat she could. A few silent minutes later Buffy shifted. "We should probably get back, before the others start to worry." Faith nodded and leapt gracefully to her feet. She turned back to Buffy, offering her hand, which the blonde slayer instantly accepted. Faith pulled her up and put a hand to her waist to steady her, even so Buffy stumbled into her. Faith chuckled as Buffy ducked her head in embarrassment.
"Sorry." She mumbled against Faith's hand which was still clasped in hers, hovering between their wildly beating hearts. She glanced up into the dark slayers eyes. The world seemed to melt away as she held Faith's gaze, their faces mere inches apart. Each felt the other's warm breath on their lips, and each fought the rising urge to taste those lips, just once more.
But Faith had always been better at keeping her emotions in check. She swallowed heavily realizing Buffy was gently leaning into her. She tried to regain normal speech, but her voice came out sounding husky and deep. "B...what are we doing?"
Buffy never broke her gaze as she answered.
"I don't know...but I think I'm in too far to stop." Her eyes fluttered shut as their lips finally met and her knees went weak. She felt Faith's strong arms around her, holding her up and even though she was standing defenseless, unprepared in the heat of a very passionate kiss in the middle of a cemetery...she was safe.