ABC's of Christmas, Slayer Style
2. C is for Choir
Buffy snuck another glance around the cathedral, taking in her surroundings with something approaching fascination. She had never really attended church growing up, let alone a Catholic service, so all of this was new and slightly strange to her. The Rosary and blessings, the rituals and communion, the intensity of those around her… all in a large building lavishly decorated with stained glass windows and Corinthian architecture, its pulpit adorned with garland and poinsettias for the Christmas season.
She couldn't believe that she was where she was right now, fumbling her way through a Catholic Christmas service…but moreover, she couldn't believe that it was Faith who had insisted on them going.
Buffy had had no idea that Faith had been exposed to religion of any kind as a child, let alone Catholicism… but then, given her name, maybe it shouldn't have been such a shock. Still, for Faith to abruptly announce that she not only had attended church on and off as a kid, when her mother was sober enough to think to take her, but had also apparently possessed enough sentimentality- for she still proclaimed herself to be a devout atheist- to want to return now for Christmas…that, Buffy found astonishing. Faith, of all people, a closet sentimentalist…a closet Catholic…
Of course, Faith had not /said/ it was sentimentality that was her reason for wanting to return on this particular day…she hadn't said any reason at all, in fact. When Buffy had pressed her, expressing her incredulity, Faith had grown incredibly defensive, so she had backed off quickly. But it was obviously important for her to go, so she had done so, trying to hide the amusement and incredulity it still gave her.
And now she had been here with Faith for the past hour or so, and she seemed to be taking it pretty seriously. Buffy copied Faith's movements with crossing herself as best as she could, knowing she looked stupid and like the fake she obviously was. But what was she supposed to do, stand there with her arms at her sides? And hey, Faith was a phony too, if she was really the atheist she claimed to be…
The sermon had ended about ten minutes ago, and Buffy had found her mind drifting during it. It was much more interesting to look around at the other people, subtly, of course…and to look at Faith. She still couldn't believe the intensity of Faith's expression, the serious concentration in her eyes…man, considering everything she knew about the younger woman, and their current more-than-sisterly relationship, who would have thought she'd ever drag her into a Catholic church?
A choir had come out when the sermon ended, and they were on their third song now, one that Buffy had never heard before. Again she glanced over at Faith in the seat beside her, attempting to judge her reaction…and for far from the first time that evening, she was amazed.
Faith was crying…her eyes fixated on the singing figures before her, she was crying, tears slowly making their way down her cheeks. She didn't attempt to wipe them or stop them…she just sat there, letting them fall, and for once did not try to hide them.
Buffy had no idea what had caused them, what thoughts must be running through her head…all she knew was that her heart was squeezing with love and sympathy for her, and that it really didn't matter anymore whether she understood. All she cared about was letting her know that she was there, that she would not ask or push her.
Deliberately not looking at Faith, keeping her eyes trained on the singers as well, Buffy took her hand, wrapping her fingers around it and squeezing gently. Within a few moments she felt Faith squeeze back, and they sat with fingers intertwined, allowing the choir's voices to echo around them.