It wasn't hard to guess why Joyce had left, Buffy wasn't exactly quiet... Thinking about it made Faith start rewinding everything in her head and she just had to smile. After a few minutes she caught herself acting like a total goof and it spooked her out more than all the vampires and demons combined. Being sappy and all la-la-la-la was so out of character for Faith, but she couldn't help it. Buffy started bringing it out of her somehow, she was just such a cutie and Faith kind of wanted to spoil her, make her happy...
Happiness wasn't something Faith was really familiar with, but Buffy had an ability to make her happy without even trying and Faith loved her for it. When her coffee was done she took a cup and went outside to have a smoke. Even though she wasn't a heavy smoker, after fucking Buffy cigarette was the best thing. The only thing that tasted better was Buffy herself... God, that taste... Faith wandered away a little again and inhaled a deep drag.
Meeting the new stuffy English Watcher wasn't exactly the best way to spend the afternoon, but Faith figured some things just had to be done. Maybe it wouldn't suck that bad. Giles was also a stuffy British guy, but Faith kind of liked him. He was a really nice man, Faith thought, he was more a father to her and Buffy than their own fathers had been. Maybe this 'Princess Margaret' will turn out to be cool...
"Faith?"-she heard Buffy call her and she put out the cigarette, put her coffee cup in the sink and went upstairs.
"Thought you'd be in the land of dreams a little longer than 20 minutes!"-Faith said when she got to Buffy, who wrapped herself in a towel and was ready to go take a shower.
Buffy kissed her gently and said: "Sleeping is a waste of time... I have so much to do..."
"You do?"-Faith asked, feeling a bit silly cause she didn't think there was anything to do until they had to meet Giles and the new Watcher.
"We have to go meet Giles and find out about these vamps and the Mayor and what the hell is going on there exactly. I was thinking I could ask Angel if he had any info, but I don't wanna bother him. He's probably still upset with me..."
Buffy looked a bit sad when she mentioned Angel and Faith didn't like it really. She understood he was a big part of Buffy's life, the first guy she slept with and all... Pretty special, right? Even though Buffy picked her over Angel, he still bugged her. First of all, he was a vampire. It meant she didn't trust him as far as Giles could throw him. Yeah, he had a soul, but hey, that pesky little curse made it so easy for the soul to go bye bye. Buffy could do it so easily...
Faith didn't like where her mind was going, she didn't like it at all... A rational part of her kept telling her she had to stop turning into a jealous freak every time Angel got mentioned. She liked it or not, he was fighting a good fight and sooner or later his path would cross with Buffy's. Besides, Sunnydale wasn't exactly big...
Buffy noticed the change in Faith when she mentioned Angel so she asked: "What's up, grumpy?"
"I'm not grumpy."
"Yes you are. You're frowning, clutching your fists and I could swear I heard you mumble something a few times. Faith, if you're all bad moody cause I mentioned Angel, you really don't have to be. I chose you."
Faith had to admit it made sense and it was nice to actually hear it, but she still couldn't just get over it and stop worrying about Angel. He was a blood sucking fiend, a cunning monster underneath that angelic mask of his. Just the fact that Buffy liked and loved that creature enough to sleep with him made her skin crawl.
"I'm five by five, B."-Faith said shortly, not wanting to get in a discussion about it all.
"Faith, would you stop being like this?"-Buffy asked, a little unnerved now.
"I'm not being like anything. Just go take a shower so we can go out."
"Fine."-Buffy said and stormed off, hoping Faith would cool down in the next 20 minutes. She honestly couldn't understand what on earth Faith was jealous and mad about. Angel meant a lot to her, Buffy had to admit, and she hoped they would be mature enough to stay friends. He was a great guy, he helped her countless times... Now that they weren't dating anymore she didn't have to worry about him going all evil again. After all, she was the only one who could make him happy enough for him to lose his soul. It really sucked, Buffy thought it was the most unfair thing that ever happened to anyone. She just wanted to have a loving boyfriend, wanted to forget about the mess that was constantly her world, but nooo... It was too much to ask, obviously.
Now she finally had a normal relationship with Faith, finally experienced and felt things she really thought she never would... She didn't wanna lose it all because of stupid jealousy.
Faith climbed on the window sill and lit another cigarette. She decided to drop the Angel thing and just hoped she wouldn't bump into him somewhere.
When she heard Buffy coming back from the shower, Faith hopped off the sill and said: "Hey there."
"Hey. You still grumpy?"
"Nah I'm five by five as long as I'm in bed with you every night. If that changes, I'll be extremely grumpy..."
Buffy smiled and kissed her, making purring sounds, and she whispered: "You make my world explode, Faith, and I really want it to stay that way... Next time you get all grumpy I'll kick you out of the bed and make you sleep on the floor with Mr. Gordo. No, wait, I'll keep Mr. Gordo. You'll take a random stuffed animal."
"You're so evil..."-Faith whispered, stared into Buffy's eyes and pulled her into a kiss.
"Don't give me that look..."-Buffy said and Faith asked, innocently: "What look?"
"You're putting a thrall on me, it's a 'let's go to bed' look! And you know I can't do it now... So, let's go..."-Buffy pulled away from Faith's arms and ran downstairs before Faith managed to keep her there.
Faith rolled her eyes and warned Buffy to lock the door and leave the key as Joyce had instructed.
"Book club."-Buffy muttered when she read the note on the fridge. "The last time I met a woman from mom's book club she was possessed by an evil mask and tried to kill us all."
"Damn, B."
"Oh it's nothing! There was a zombie cat named Patches!"
Buffy said it like it was not strange at all, like she just said 'Good morning' or something, while locking the door and placing the key underneath the carpet, and didn't even see the curious look Faith gave her.
"A zombie cat? Really? And you named it?"
"Well, Oz named it, but yeah... a zombie cat. Not a fun creature. Also, very stinky."
Buffy walked away, but Faith needed a few seconds to process what she'd just heard. Then she ran to catch up with Buffy, who was walking so fast.
"Damn, B you really are anxious to see the Watchers today."
"I have no more time to waste, Faith... Something is brewing, and it's not good. I almost died, Faith. If you hadn't found me..."-Buffy's voice trembled a little and for the first time, Faith could really see how scared Buffy was. The Blonde Slayer was all about control, she liked to know the enemy, find their weakness and slay them. She wasn't used to being a victim, a lady in distress who needed saving. She wanted to be on top of things at all times. This stupid vampire made her weak. Faith was with her and it made things a bit easier to handle, but now, as she was walking towards the library, she worried she wouldn't be strong enough to beat this demon Mayor was gonna turn into.
"Buffy, hey... We're gonna beat this thing. We're the Chosen Two, we can do anything! I see you're scared, but I've got your back. I would never let anyone hurt you."
"I'm five by..."
"B, stop it. You don't always have to carry the whole burden on your shoulders, I'm here to share it now. We're gonna make it. You know why? Cause we're big bad Slayers, two chicks in the whole world with power to fight the forces of darkness. Besides, we're wicked hot!"
Buffy had to smile when Faith said that and she kissed her gently and whispered: "Thank you. You really know how to make me feel better..."
"Of course, B. You're my girl."
Buffy caught her hand, feeling safe and loved, and it gave her power and will to carry on and win the fight against the Big Bad.
They finally arrived to the library and scared the beejesus out of their Watchers when they burst in and let the door slam behind them.
Wesley stood up immediately, trying to be faster than Giles. "Buffy... Hi. And, you must be Faith. I'm..."
"B, you didn't say he was cute!"-Faith interrupted and caused the shy Watcher to blush like a 14 year old girl.
"Erm... Wesley Wyndam Pryce. You can call me..."
"Wes. Sure! I see we'll all get along!"-Faith grinned and Wesley got even more confused and started cleaning his glasses, totally copying Giles's favorite activity when he was nervous.
"I was thinking Mr. Pryce, but Wes... it's good also."
Wes was seriously getting on Buffy's nerves, she wasn't there for chit chat, she needed info on how to kill the demon and stop him from destroying the world. Faith looked so amused and carefree, Buffy couldn't understand how she could be so relaxed.
"So, Giles, got any info? How do I stop this Mayor guy?"
"We. How do WE stop him?"-Faith corrected her, and Buffy nodded, impatiently and asked: "Can you phone Willow and Xander? We should all be working together. Oz and Cordy will be helpful too. Remember that girl who was a Vengeance demon? Maybe she knows something helpful about the Ascention. She's over 1000 years old!"
"Anyanka... That's a good idea..."-Giles agreed and Wes' eyes almost popped out of his sockets. He asked: "An ex Vengeance demon goes to school here? That's... fascinating. I'd be rather pleased if I could talk to her."
"I'm going to find her. Faith, stay here, call Will and Xander and try to work things out. I won't be long."
Buffy ran out, so impatient suddenly. She couldn't believe she hadn't remembered to talk to Anya about it sooner. They weren't exactly friends, but Anya was nice enough to say hi at school. She hanged out mostly with Harmony, who used to be Cordy's best friend before Cordelia started dating Xander, and she thought that Anya must be like the most patient person in the world to put up with Harmony's stupidity. That girl was cute, but seriously stupid and superficial, Buffy thought.
She sprinted towards Anya's place, feeling like her heart would burst out of her chest. She had a good feeling about this thing.
Faith wasn't happy Buffy left without her, but she still listened to her and called Xander and Willow. They were both happy to help with research, they started feeling Buffy didn't need them as much now that she had Faith. They promised to take Oz and Cordy and be there as soon as possible.
Reading was never Faith's favorite activity, she always preferred some action, so she frowned a little while going through a huge, dusty old book with a leather cover that had a scary demonic face on it. Faith thought she never wanted to come across that demon. It was fuckin' disgusting.
"Why don't you two book worms read and let me play with weaponry? I'm not good at this..."
"Faith, there's something I want you to do, actually..."-Giles said and looked at her, all serious. It made Faith feel little tingles, she'd never seen him THAT serious before.
"Shoot."-she said shortly, trying to hide how worried she was.
"I've got 2 plane tickets to Central America for tomorrow morning..."
"You're going for a trip? Got a girl, Giles?"
"No, I'm not going anywhere. You are. You and Wesley."