It didn't take long before things got underway. Already, the resident witches were up and running, organising spell details.
"This is almost everything we need, guys." Willow gave an excited, high-pitched squeak as she sorted out each ingredient, under the watch of everyone else.
"I think there's like, two more things. Is that right?" She directed the query to Giles and Voirrey, who both nodded.
"We could probably try invading the Magic Box in Sunnydale, if you know, you're up for battling hordes of demons and big bads in the process," Xander said.
"Yeah. Might be tricky." Faith wasn't paying much attention to the conversation. She was, however, paying attention to Buffy, waiting for the blonde to inject her usual wit. Buffy remained silent, just listening, arms clasped around her knees, feet tapping on the grass.
"We can substitute the final herbs," Tara suggested. "They're similar in properties to what we have. I Don't think the Magic box is an option."
Once, twice, Faith caught Buffy's eye, noticing the blonde staring, then quickly glancing away when discovered. Ever since their stint in the cell, Faith felt more aware of Buffy, more attuned to their Slayer connection than before.
"It's a little risky, replacing them." Giles picked up a dried herb. "But you may be right. Perhaps this is the only option availiable to us now. The Slayers did have a close call with Rekhyt."
"Tell me about it." Buffy leant forward more, now part of the discussion. "Bull-man knew where we were. We thought our contacts had betrayed us. But they didn't. So he's somehow keeping track of us out there, without Willow's magic bubble thing."
"Hmmm." Voirrey pursed her lips in pensieve thought. "It makes sense. Perhaps he's keeping watch on all magical sources and supplies around the area. It's not a far stretch of the imagination to consider he doesn't want any last minute trickery."
"And I believe you won't get trickier than us," Giles replied, satisfied for some reason.
"So, that's it then? Substitute? Or let our brave Slayers out into the wild?" Xander drove forth the question.
"As long as you don't turn me into a frog, I'll say not being killed by bull-man and his minions of evil is always a good thing." Finishing the sentence, Buffy stood up. "I'm gonna wash. In that nice river-ditch we got." Her gaze lingered on Faith, much longer than usual. To Faith's way of looking at the world, the eyes spelled out the message: come fuck me. Faith had to remind herself that this was Buffy, a person in serious denial of anything out of the heterosexual spectrum, from what little information she had mined out of their conversations. Plus that invisible boring sounding boyfriend she had also complicated things. And then there was that other Faith. Yeah, starting anything with this girl could only lead to disaster later on.
If Buffy decided to take her, though, Faith didn't think she'd be able to resist. Or want to.
"Uh, yeah. Me too. Haven't had a chance in ages." Faith waved everyone goodbye, heading after Buffy into the woodland.
*** Buffy PoV ***
Out of sight of the others, Buffy smiled at Faith as she caught up, dodging an elbow nudge.
"Real subtle, B."
"Ha. Like you aren't obvious. They probably think we're screwing right now. You saw their expressions."
"Xander had wicked buggy eyes," Faith laughed. "Could always let them think that, too. The screwing thing. Was one smokin' hot glare you gave me." She wiggled her eyebrows, in that annoying way Buffy didn't want to admit she liked.
"Best not." Buffy dismissed the notion, also pretending to ignore the smoking hot statement, flattering as it sounded in Faith's husky tone. They reached the river bank, settling between external tree roots overhanging the sides. Some snaked into the flowing water.
"You alright, B?" Faith shrugged out of her dirtied jacket, catching the blonde's negative vibe.
"No. Not really. We have an impending apocalypse, I'm tired, I can't put on make-up or have a shower, I've been wearing the same clothes for two days, and what are you doing?"
Faith had been in the process of removing her black tank top. Without a bra, her whole upper body was bared for all to see. Or rather, Buffy. "Taking a dip. Wasn't joking 'bout the wash."
"I-" The words stuttered in Buffy's throat, "You-"
Faith wriggled out of her pants, then underwear, grinning devilishy. "'Sup?"
"My eyes!" Finally, Buffy looked away, her face scarlet. "At least give me some warning before you do that! Ah!"
Faith snickered, but made no effort to hide. She waded into the river, which reached only to the top of her thighs. Certainly not enough to cover any offending parts on display.
"Why do you do this to me ..." Buffy risked a peek through her fingers, snapping her eyes shut after.
"What's the problem? We're both women. Not like I got things you don't."
Reasonable when she said it, except Buffy didn't want to look. Well, she did, but she didn't. So confusing!
I'd totally look. She's hot, the Inner Slayer purred.
"Couldn't you at least have kept something on?"
A memory of their temporary imprisonment came to mind. Faith's mouth resting against her neck, the warmth sending bone-deep shudders of pleasure through her body. Don't think don't think don't think ...
Nope. The brain insisted in going into detail. It also added extra events as well, possibilities which concluded with both Slayers doing things. Lots of things. Enough to make any porn movie director proud.
"Why? Don't see the prob." The brunette continued being obstinate, unaware of how much inner turmoil she created. Or perhaps she was aware, and enjoyed watching the conflict. Either way ...
"Faith, I have a boyfriend." The words blurted out before Buffy's brain could register and stop them. Faith crouched and leant forward, until just the tips of her shoulders, neckline, and head stayed above surface. The roots of her hair slowly fanned out on the water.
"Uh, okay. And?"
"And I'm straight."
She saw the glimmer of suspicion dawn in Faith's eyes. "Again, and?" Faith waited impatiently for Buffy to continue. Buffy knew she couldn't go back now. Eyup. She was going to regret this for the rest of her life.
Well, you might die tomorrow, so it may not be that bad.
Thank you for your valued contribution.
"I have a boyfriend, and I'm straight. And ... I think I'm attracted to you. I keep imagining ... us. Together. A lot."
Faith's jaw hung open, more in an expression of amazement rather than surprise. Buffy nervously folded her arms. "Say something, please."
Faith ran a wet hand through her dark hair. "Uh, you 'think?'"
Buffy flushed, self conscious. "Yeah."
"Hmm." A sly, calculative smile crept up on the brunette's lips. "That ain't good enough." She crooked a finger. "Come here."
At those words, Buffy thought her eyes would pop out. "C-come over? To you? To very naked you? No thanks."
"Not gonna jump you." Faith dabbed a tongue at the cleft on her bottom lip. "Just wanna kiss you."
"K-k-k-kiss?" Buffy's heart rate almost tripled.
"Test. Gotta see if you're really attracted to me or not. Saying you 'think' ain't gonna cut it." She crooked her finger again. "Well?"
Buffy hesitated, torn between desires. No turning back. Riley didn't seem important to her, right at this moment. She was a bad, cheating girlfriend if she did this, however. But maybe nothing would come out of it. Maybe they'd kiss and decide that was that.
She could also refuse. Try and take it all back. Laugh it off. But seeing Faith, fully naked, crouched in the river and smirking expectantly crumbled the little resolve Buffy attempted. Taking a deep breath, she calmed and steeled herself.
"Give me a sec." One by one, Buffy started peeling off her clothes. She enjoyed the hunger light up in Faith's eyes. Thrilled in the attention. Left in just a red bra and black underwear, Buffy decided to end the strip show. She ventured forward, bare feet sinking into silt and sediment, caressed by cool waters. Ankle deep, knee deep, she approached Faith. The brunette smiled, but didn't move from her position, observing Buffy in an odd way - as if wondering if Buffy really intended to go ahead with this.
Buffy's limbs shook in excitement as she bent down, meeting Faith on the same level. Faith looked hot, primal, never glancing away. The brunette jabbed at her plump lips again, tongue briefly lingering in view.
"I'm so gonna regret this," Buffy whispered.
Faith shrugged. "Don't have to do anything you don't want." When the mischievous smirk jumped again onto her mouth however, Buffy couldn't take it anymore. Grabbing a good chunk of the brunette's hair, Buffy leaned in. Their lips touched. Buffy wasn't sure what to expect if they kissed, but she didn't anticipate a roiling surge of arousal to hit and render her near breathless. She intended to just kiss and pull away, leaving it chaste. Or did she? Faith's lips were soft and pliable, much larger than Buffy's. They tasted like salt. Water splashed vigorously around them as Faith rose slightly out the water to curve wet arms around Buffy. A sharp gasp escaped Faith's throat when Buffy tugged on her tangled hair. This prompted the kiss to deepen, their mouths opening. There was a tongue - hers or Faith's? - and suddenly the kiss soared up a few notches, becoming a battle of lips and tongue, and much less about control - if there ever had been.
A moan slid out of Buffy. She unhooked her fingers from Faith's tresses and let her hands roam, gliding across the brunette's unbelievably smooth skin, down to her hips, across the taut abdomen, then up, hesitating inches from the nipples. Faith didn't reject the touch, instead arching her back to make access for Buffy easier. Nothing felt wrong at the moment, except for the burning arousal, half triggered by whatever urges lay inside, and half from sexual deprival. Buffy wanted nothing more at this moment then to give in, melt to the impulse and the wonderful, unfamiliar yet familiar presence Faith offered. Their Connection crackled, zinging pleasurable energy back and forth like a tennis ball.
Clinging to some last, desperate form of self-control, Buffy tore her lips away from Faith, withdrawing her hands. It took every ounce of willpower.
"Wow," Buffy said.
Faith, disappointed from the tactical retreat, recovered enough to snap out a smug eyebrow rise and knowing grin. "No way a straight girl kisses like that." She tried not to laugh at Buffy's dazed expression.
"Wow," Buffy repeated. She touched her own bottom lip with a finger, crouched like a frog in the water. "Just ... wow."
Fait floated backwards, allowing the rush of water to drench her hair. "Gotta say, B, I'm impressed. Glad we talked. Got things out. Or in. Definitely tongue action there."
"Oh, God." Buffy sank down, disappearing beneath the river for a few seconds, before bursting out with a wheezing inhale. Droplets flew Faith's way. "I kissed a girl. I kissed a girl. I only went and kissed a girl."
"Yeah. Was kinda with you on that part." Faith was clearly wondering if Buffy happened to be breaking down. Buffy didn't really know herself. She wasn't aware if kisses could lead to mental problems. Maybe it explained why people became crazy in love. Love? Wait, no, she didn't love Faith. Most definitely not. No way in a million billion squillion years. Ever.
Ahh! Must stop thinking!
"No, no, no, no, no! You don't get it. I kissed a girl." Buffy sent another hand-wave of water in Faith's direction.
"Uh." Faith now looked seriously confused.
Finally, Buffy calmed down enough to look at Faith without anything imploding. "Thanks. So much. You've turned me gay. I hate you."
Delighted realisation lit Faith up. "Welcome. Glad to know I still got it." Faith blew a kiss. Buffy rolled her eyes, but laughed.
"I really hate you right now."
Faith winked. "I know."
*** Tara PoV ***
Tara rested her chin on Willow's shoulder, raising an eyebrow when Buffy and Faith made it back into their camp. Their auras glimmered strangely, enfused with traces of endorphins. The Slayers sat down, not too close, yet not too far apart, and seemed to studiously ignore each other. When they caught eye contact, they either let the moment hold, or quickly turned away. Tara wondered how more obvious they could make it before someone like Xander noticed. Voirrey squinted suspiciously at them as well. Giles appeared engrossed in making sure Willow didn't fumble the spell. Anya was ... well, Anya. Smiling to herself, Tara examined Willow selecting the last batch of herbal powders.
She hoped the replacements would do their job. If not, after suffering some interesting side effects later, they'd have to look elsewhere for the missing components. Considering the last trip nearly ended up with two Slayers less, Tara really didn't want things to head that way. Willow popped the last ingredient into the stirring bowl. She, Voirrey, Giles, and Tara began chanting in Sumerian. Tara wasn't a fan of spells with Sumerian roots. Most of them tended towards the dark side of magic, with the potential to corrupt minds with prolonged usage. The Sumerian spirits believed all forms of power should come with a cost. Not like the gentle Goddess.
They finished chanting and fell silent, waiting patiently for results.
"That's it?" Wrinkles erupted between Buffy's eyes.
"Yes," Voirrey replied, disappointment evident in her tone. Giles appeared equally crestfallen.
"Perhaps the substitute components were not enough to satisfy the conditions of that spell, after all."
Willow, the main conduit of the spell, didn't seem disappointed like the Watchers. Instead, she acted confused. Worried. "I don't understand. I felt the magic enter and leave. It had to have gone somewhere."
"Lame." Faith picked at her teeth. Buffy turned to face her, then stiffened. Tara became alert. Buffy's aura, normally enveloped in light blue and shimmers of gold, darkened in tone. Threads of black wove into the beautiful blue colour, smearing it with ugly, tar-like blotches. Alert turned to alarm when Tara witnessed the same effect occurring in Faith.
"What's going on?" Xander, sensing the change in atmosphere, looked between the Slayers and the spell casters. Anya's hand went to her mouth.
Tara flinched when Buffy jerked her head skywards, spitting out a piercing shriek, before toppling backwards, thrashing in some kind of internal agony.
Faith immediately tried administering calm on Buffy, faster than anyone else could react.
"No! What's happening?" Willow's voice came out choked. She clutched at Tara on the verge of tears. "We did everything right, didn't we?"
Total blackness consumed Buffy's light, radiating outward. Smoky tentacles curled around Faith's arm, invisible to everyone except for Tara. The tendrils latched onto Faith's skin. Then they pulsed, thickening like leeches growing fat on blood, as though ... yes, they were drawing from Faith, taking the corruption, gathering it all up in Buffy's body instead. Faith recovered her natural green and silver. Buffy's darkness fluctuated wildly, worsening, poisoning her insides.
"Get away!" Faith snapped at them, struggling to hold Buffy down. "Get away from her now!"
Voirrey caught her Slayer's eye. Another one of their insider looks passed, which Tara would have found cute about a minute ago.
"You heard her. Hurry!" Voirrey seized Xander and Anya by the elbows, encouraging them to budge. Giles scrambled away, his shoes scuffling the grass, and he held a hand out to Tara. she accepted, pulling Willow with her as they all backed off.
Buffy's screams degenerated into a deep inhuman snarling that vibrated out of her stomach. Spider-web veins bulged on her skin.
"Come on, Buffy! Control it!" Faith fought as best as she could, but Buffy's efforts far outmatched her in strength. Buffy easily broke free of the hold, and seized Faith by the throat. Another snarl burst out the blonde's throat. She lifted Faith as if the brunette weighed nothing, suspending her like a puppet in mid air. Faith's survival instincts kicked in. Fear quickened in Tara's heart.
Whatever the Sumerian spell was supposed to do, this didn't look ideal.
"We have to knock her out!" Voirrey searched around for something, her reaction triggered by the helpless struggles of Faith. Buffy brought Faith closer, her lips twitching rapidly as if whispering something. Faith cried out, either from the painful neck grip, or from something else.
Buffy jolted her arm away, causing Faith to fly, then roll, before thudding against a tree. She promptly curled partway around the roots, winded, stunned.
Buffy stared at them with empty eyes, smiling a terrible smile.
Willow took one, two hesitant steps, intending to reach her fallen friend. Faith by now had detatched herself from the tree, displaying red cheeks, and a face scrunched in pain. Buffy - or was it? - intensified her snarling, as if to warn Willow off.
"Can you hear us, Buffy?" Voirrey addressed the corrupt Slayer. The Watcher grasped a stick in her palms. "Are you there? Can you control whatever is happening to you?"
The snarl transformed into a distorted, mocking laugh. Buffy swung sideways, heading to Faith. Crouching by the brunette, she grasped her by throat again, dragging Faith up, and slamming her hard against the bark. Faith's hands wrapped around Buffy's, which were once again squeezing her neck. Blood trickled from the brunette's hairline.
Willow, no longer frozen by indecision, started chanting a spell. Tara recognised the mantra as a binding, albeit one they had never really used in action before, and quickly lent what little remained of her strength to Willow. Voirrey and Giles, also quick to realise Willow's aim, did the same. Xander and Anya turtled behind them.
Buffy squeezed hard, her fingers bloodless with the effort. Faith's eyes bulged. She gnashed out words. "Buffy! Stop! You're ... k-killing ..." Her voice broke. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Her hands slipped from Buffy's hold, hanging limp. Tara saw Faith's aura flicker, dimming, dying.
"Xander!"
A source of magic disappeared from Willow's attempted binding. Voirrey, following Xander, darted across the clearing, faster than Tara would have expected either of them to manage. Xander barrelled into Buffy. Both he and Buffy went down on the grass. Faith dropped like a stone, body crumpling on the ground. Voirrey at first reached out for Faith, then changed her mind, hurrying instead to Xander and Buffy. The blonde, screeching in fury, scratched at Xander, gouging red lines into his left arm. She gripped him tight, leaving him unable to pull free.
"For God's sake, you stupid woman!" Voirrey bellowed, slapping the Slayer. This enraged Buffy further, but also loosened her dangerous control over Xander. Xander yelped and rolled away. Tara closed her eyes when Buffy launched herself upright, picked up the Watcher and slammed her into the ground. Something cracked. Giles unpeeled himself from the spell, trying to assist the debacle of a situation, leaving Willow to effectively channel the whole thing alone.
Willow continued barking out the words. It took her four retrys until a funnel of blue light shot from her fingertips, zinging into Buffy, and rendering her motionless. The blonde, at an awkward angle, teetered, before hitting the ground, limbs splayed like a crab's. The last of Willow's power dissipated. Tara felt Willow's sensor barrier fade away, without anything to keep it running. Leaving them vulnerable to discovery.
Voirrey levered herself from the grass, crawling over to Faith. Every centimeter looked like it took the Watcher effort. Buffy snarled, dark eyes wide in mad fury. Xander carefully stepped around her, joining Voirrey and Giles to tend to Faith.
Faith came to, air whistling through her compressed throat as she inhaled.
"You're alright, dear, you're alright." Voirrey stroked Faith's hair, sounding on the verge of tears.
"Are you alright as well, Voirrey?" Giles examined the Watcher in concern.
Voirrey shook her head, eyes hooded, mouth narrowed. "I think I broke a couple of ribs. I'll look later."
" ... Ribs?" Faith's voice rasped, almost inaudible.
"Ssh, dear. It's alright."
Willow, Tara, and Anya, ventured over at last. Anya pointed at the unmoving form of Buffy. "We have a problem," she said.
"We do. What's up with Buffster?" Xander held Anya by the waist.
Giles readjusted his askew glasses, lips trembling. "I believe she isn't Buffy."
The Buffy thing's neck was taut with corded muscles in her efforts to break the binding.
Voirrey, still checking Faith over, winced. Breaking free for a moment, she inspected herself for damage. When she lifted up her top, it was clear from the distended stomach and impacted rib-cage that not only she had broken bones, but something else had ruptured. "Goodness," Voirrey said, faint. "I think I'm bleeding internally." She pressed a finger against her stomach, teeth biting hard into her bottom lip.
Faith, recovered enough to move without becoming dizzy and collapsing back down, panicked at the revelation. "V! V, you need a doctor."
"Possibly," Voirrey conceded. "We wouldn't happen to have anyone trained in any form of medical care?"
A grave expression scrawled over Giles' face. "If you're bleeding internally, we'll need an outlet to prevent blockage."
"P-perhaps." Voirrey clenched her teeth, finding it harder and harder to function with the pain.
"Are we all going to die?" Anya said, jittering on the spot. Tara bent by the fallen Watcher, probing as best as able for the extent of the injuries, how serious they were. She could do this with direct skin contact, but she was so anxious, so aware of Buffy's ominous aura pulsing in the background, that it took several tries to focus. Finally identifying each injury, with a nod to Giles and Voirrey, she scanned the area for something sharp.
"I-it's not too bad. Blood letting would help relive pressure on her organs. But it has to be treated now. Y-you should find something to cut her open." Turning to Xander, she reached out to touch his arm, checking for anything else. The scratches were pretty deep, shredding parts of the bicep muscle.
Over the fuss with Faith and the Watcher, Buffy remained stationary, heaving against her invisible bindings. She and Faith made eye contact. A curl came to her lips, like a taunt. Faith forced herself to leave the gathered party of friends, anger brewing within. Clenching a hand, she walked over to Buffy, and delivered a tremendous blow to the side of the blonde's head, rendering her unconscious. Then she walked back over to check up on her friends.
That took care of that, then. Faith scowled, a red cloud of discord settling in her aura as she folded her arms, settling back down.