Chapter 14: The True Slayer
Ext: Cemetery
Buffy stood at the entrance to the tomb, looking out into the dark cemetery, scanning the shadows for any sign of the dark Slayer. A twinge of annoyance but mostly concern crept in when she couldn't see Faith or sense her presence, worried that she might have taken off. To be honest, I didn't really give her a reason to stay after my appalling behavior down in that tomb. Buffy thought to herself, sighing, exasperated.
"How could I have just discounted her like that? Buffy muttered to herself, "I mean, she saved my life down there, but when it comes to the crunch I just go and ignore the fact that she is chosen, she is a Slayer, just like I am." Regret for how she treated the brunette weighs heavily.
Hearing a noise in the trees Buffy tightens her grip on the scythe as she scans the area. The shadows playing tricks on her mind. Seeing a small red glow, the tip of a cigarette, her hold on the scythe loosens as she relaxes a bit, "Faith." She calls gently as she heads towards the orange glow. She is able to make out the silhouette of a figure standing under the tree. The familiar buzz letting her know it's a vampire. She raises the scythe, ready to fight, when Spike emerges from the shadows.
"Nope." Says the blonde vampire as he takes a drag on the cigarette before tossing it to the ground and crushing it with his boot.
"Spike." Buffy says, struggling to hide her disappointment, "What are you doing out here?"
"I thought you might need my help." Spike says bitterly, "But clearly I am not needed anymore." He mutters sulkily before turning to leave.
"What? Wait, Spike, I do need you, I can't fight the First without you." Buffy calls after the retreating vampire. He turns to face her, the moonlight highlighting the bruises on his face. Evidence of his recent altercation with Faith.
"You're just saying that to make me stay." Spike says sulkily.
"I mean it." Buffy interjected, "I need a warrior of your caliber to help us win this fight."
"So, where's tall, dark and forehead?" Spike asked.
Buffy rolls her eyes at Spike, "I don't have time for your jealous vampire crap tonight." She glares at the blonde vampire, "I need to find Faith."
Buffy notices the expression on Spike's face darken at the mention of the dark Slayer's name.
"Did you see her leave the tomb?" Buffy asks the vampire, ignoring his visceral response to the mention of Faith's name.
Spike stares at her for a while, "Can't say that I noticed her." He mutters.
Buffy glares at him, "Oh come on, Spike, you hate her guts, I don't believe for one second that you wouldn't notice her."
Spike looks at Buffy sulkily before finally conceding, "Fine." He breaths out, "She headed towards the exit." He gestures in the general direction, "She looked pissed off," a small smirk gracing his face for the first time since they had started the conversation, "Trouble in paradise." He asked hopefully.
Buffy spins to face him, "What? How do you…" she glares at Spike, 'Oh…" the realization dawns on her, "the porch kiss."
"Bingo." Spike mutters grumpily, lighting another cigarette.
Getting tired of the interaction with the jealous vampire, Buffy starts heading towards the cemetery exit.
"See you back at the house later?" she calls over her shoulder.
"Maybe." He mutters, "Got some stuff to do." He turns on his heels and heads in the opposite direction. The First, in Buffy's form, walking beside him, continuing to poison his mind against Faith.
Ext: Sunnydale Streets
Faith paused on the sidewalk just outside the entrance to the cemetery. She had intended to wait for Buffy outside of the tomb however her emotions got the better of her and she had angrily stormed across the grass towards the exit. The dark glower on her face enough to warn off any vampires who might have decided to have a go at the dark Slayer. You think you matter and you think you are part of something and you get dumped it's like the whole world is moving but you're stuck like those animals in the tar pit it's like you just keep sinking a little deeper every day and nobody even sees.
She lit a cigarette and took a long drag, staring back into the darkness of the cemetery. She could feel her connection with Buffy getting stronger. Finally finished getting all nostalgic with Angel I guess. Faith mused, sensing Buffy was not underground in the tomb anymore.
She was about to take another drag on her cigarette but paused. She stared for a while at the smoldering end before dropping it to the sidewalk and crushing it with her boot, "B hates these things." She muttered to herself, pausing and rolling her eyes when she realized what she had done.
She ran a hand through her hair, frustrated, "Aarrgghh, you drive me crazy!" she murmured under her breath, scowling into the darkness in the general direction of the tomb.
She knew Buffy would be worried that she was not there waiting for her. She hesitated briefly, a part of her screaming to wait for the blonde, to talk to her, tell her how hurt she was. Don't stuff this up, Lehane. Don't run. The longing to hold Buffy in her arms passed as her defensive walls went back up. She turned away from the cemetery and headed down the main street. She didn't pay attention to where she was going; she just needed to get away from the cemetery, away from Buffy. She needed time to think.
Ext: Cemetery
Buffy walked slowly towards the exit of the cemetery. She was kicking herself for yet again pushing the dark Slayer away, but she was also annoyed that Faith had turned straight to her old ways and chosen to run again rather than face Buffy to talk through their issues. Put yourself in her shoes. Buffy paused, her anger with Faith easing. She realized that she put the dark Slayer in a situation where the only way she knew how to deal was to bail.
Buffy paused and closed her eyes, steadying her breathing, calming her emotions, trying to feel her connection with the brunette. A small smile crossed her face when she felt the familiar tingle of her Slayer bond with Faith. She exited the cemetery and headed in the direction that she was certain the dark Slayer took.
Ext: Boat Docks
Faith was sitting perched on a shipping container, looking out to sea, the inky blackness of the ocean and sky drawing her in. Her chest felt tight, the conflicting emotions from being back in this place. It was here she finally chose to work with the Mayor all those years ago. If you can trust us, Faith, it can all change. You don't have to disappear into the darkness. Faith scoffed at the darkness, Angel's words weighing heavily on her.
She snapped back to reality when she felt her bond with Buffy strengthening as the other slayer drew closer. Faith closed her eyes to bask in the feeling of the blonde's presence and sighed resignedly; she knew Buffy would find her eventually. So predictable, Faithy.
Buffy saw a hunched figure in the distance, sitting on a shipping container, her back turned to the blonde. She paused, a memory flashed before her; Mr Trick turning to dust and Faith standing there, stake still hoisted in the air. To be honest, back then, Buffy wasn't sure Faith wasn't going to jam the stake into her chest, the vampire just a distraction from her real target. They had stared hard at each other before Faith had silently extended her hand to help Buffy up off the crates.
The blonde smiled and walked cautiously towards the brunette. She didn't know what type of mood she was in and she last thing she wanted was for them to return to their old ways and start fighting. Buffy clambered up the stack of containers and gingerly made her way over to Faith. The brunette didn't acknowledge her, but Buffy knew there was no way Faith could ignore the tingle of their Slayer connection.
The blonde paused briefly when she was a few meters away from the other Slayer. Faith looked so forlorn, sitting hunched over, staring into the blackness. Buffy moved closer to her and sat beside her, her leg brushing past the brunette's hand, clenching the edge of the container as if her life depended on it. Her knuckles white. Buffy could see the broody expression on Faith's face.
"Hey." Buffy says softly.
Faith doesn't turn to acknowledge her, "Hey." She says softly.
Well that's something. Buffy mused, she wasn't expecting any acknowledgement.
She placed a hand tentatively on Faith's clenched hand, half expecting the brunette to react and lash out. You're not alive. You're just running. Afraid to feel. Afraid to be touched. Faith scowls slightly but doesn't react. Buffy grows bolder and she strengthens her grip on the dark Slayer's hand.
"I'm sorry." She says simply, glancing at Faith out of the corner of her eye. The brunette's shoulders visibly sag.
"You deserved better from me, Faith." Buffy continues, "You…" she pauses, not sure what else to say.
Faith sighs and glances at the blonde Slayer, "It's ok." She murmurs sadly.
"No, it's not." Buffy says quickly, "I am so so sorry that I just discounted you like that."
"Really, B." Faith rolls her eyes at the groveling blonde, "I get it, it's 5 by 5." She mutters while grabbing a cigarette from her pocket. She starts to light it out of habit. Pausing she thinks better of it and discards the unused fag, flicking it into the darkness.
Buffy raised an eyebrow questioningly at the brunette but has the sense to keep her mouth shut. Faith stops clenching the side of the container and slowly twists her hand and gently intertwines her fingers with the other Slayer. She continues to stare out at the darkness, inhaling deeply, relishing the salty smell of the air mixed with engine grease from the ships.
"I've never given you a reason to rely on me in the past, so I get why you don't." Buffy could hear the sadness in Faith's tone.
She gently squeezed Faith's hand. She knows she messed up, but she also knows that Faith is going to give her a chance to make it up to her. She reaches into her pocket with her free hand and pulls out the amulet that Angel gave her. She lifts her opposite hand; Faith's hand still firmly clasped in it, and she opens it, placing the amulet in Faith's palm.
"This rightfully belongs to you." She says, smiling at Faith's confused expression. The brunette stares at the amulet in her hand, her brow furrowed.
"It belongs to the Slayer." Buffy continues.
Faith clenches her hand briefly around the amulet, she is drawn to it, can feel the power it possesses. She relaxes her grip and gazes into the blonde's hazel eyes, "So it should be yours then, I am hardly a champion." She tries to pass it back to Buffy but the blonde refuses and gently pushes the amulet back towards Faith.
"You are the true slayer, Faith." Buffy states, "I died, then Kendra was called, then she died, and you were called."
"Err, yeah, B, I know the history of how I was called." Faith raised an eyebrow at the blonde.
"Please, let me finish."
Buffy continues, ignoring Faith's confused expression, "The Slayer line does not run through me anymore, it's like the old woman said, I am an anomaly."
Pausing she looks out into the darkness, listening to the water lap against the hull of the ships that were docked, "When I died to close the portal that Dawn's blood opened, no new Slayer was called."
She turned towards the younger slayer and looked deeply into Faith's brown eyes, "You are the true Slayer, Faith, the line runs with you." She stares more intently at the dark slayer, "I believe in you!"
Squeezing Faith's hand shut over the amulet she leans in to kiss the brunette. A gentle, lingering kiss. The intense emotions Faith felt were close to overwhelming. She was almost relieved when Buffy reluctantly broke off the kiss.
"We should let the others know the good news about Caleb." The blonde jumped off the container, turned and smiled at the brunette, encouraging her to follow.
Faith smiled at Buffy and lithely jumped off the container. They started walking home, side by side, a comfortable silence between them. Buffy tentatively took Faith's hand in her own, she felt the brunette tense a little but was relieved when the dark Slayer didn't yank her hand free but instead relaxed her posture and walked hand in hand with the blonde back home. Trauma teaches you to close your heart and armor up. Healing teaches you to open your heart and boundary up.
Int: Summer's Residence
As the Slayers approached Revello drive, Buffy was surprised when Faith didn't let go of her hand. She smiled to herself; it was a small gesture from Faith, but it meant the world to her. As they enter the house Dawn was waiting by the front door ready to pounce, a real miffed expression on her face. Buffy was surprised to see her sister, she'd given Xander instructions to take her far away from the impending apocalypse, to keep her safe. Dawn's arms were folded across her chest as she glared at the Slayers, then she kicked Buffy in the shin.
"Ow!" Buffy exclaimed.
Faith just watched the exchange between the sisters with amusement.
"Dumbass!" Dawn exclaimed as she walked into the dining room where Xander, Anya, Giles and Willow are watching the exchange from a safe distance.
Buffy stared pointedly at Xander, frowning at him in exasperation.
"Don't look at me." He exclaimed, holding a cold compress to his head, "This is a Summers' thing, it's all very violent."
Buffy looked back to Dawn, "If you get killed, I'm telling." She huffed, walking into the dining room. Faith followed behind her, both Slayers collapsing into chairs, fatigue from their recent epic battle with Caleb catching up with them.
"Uh, Dawnie, please grab a first aid kit." Willow asked the teenager, taking in the bleeding and beaten appearance of the two Slayers. She raised an eyebrow questioningly at Buffy, "Did you find out anything about the scythe?"
Buffy smiled at her best friend, "It slices, dices, and makes julienne preacher."
"Caleb!" Giles exclaimed, taking in the appearance of the Slayers with a concerned expression.
"Faith cut him in half."
"It was a team effort." Faith piped in, "I couldn't have done it without ya, B." she said, turning to smile at the blonde.
"All right!" Willow exclaimed.
"He had that coming." Anya chimed in.
"Hey, party in my eye socket and everyone's invited." Xander exclaimed excitedly, stopping when he noticed everyone staring at him bewildered, "Sometimes I shouldn't say words." He muttered, slouching embarrassed further down into his seat.
Faith relaxed further into her chair, Dawn and Willow set to work patching her and Buffy up. She smiled to herself, listening to and enjoying the exuberant banter around her. She felt like she could maybe, finally, be a part of the gang. They all seem to have accepted her back into the fold. She paused and frowned to herself; she knew she still had to atone for her past misdeeds and earn back the trust of the scoobies, but for the first time ever she felt that maybe she really could.
"You're deep in thought." Willow raised an eye at the Slayer, gently cleaning the blood away from a deep gash on Faith's head.
Faith hissed as the antiseptic stings the wound, "Just enjoying the company." she smiled at the witch. They share a bond; both having faced the darkness deep within. They are well on their way to becoming friends, something Faith never thought in a million years would ever be possible after she threatened to kill the red head. She smiled gratefully at Willow, "Thank you." She whispered under her breathe.
Willow paused her first-aiding, "It is good to have you with us, Faith." She says warmly, giving the dark slayer's uninjured shoulder an encouraging squeeze, "Just, ah, maybe, well, you don't need to take so much punishment to atone for your past. Stop holding back! Slayer healing does not make you invincible, you are still human." Willow raised an eyebrow at the broody slayer. Faith snaps her head up at the witch. The red head is just smiling, a no nonsense; I'm on to you, expression.
Ext: Summers' Residence Porch
"I thought I might find you here." Buffy says casually, taking a seat next to Faith on the swing seat.
Faith hands Buffy a beer, "Yep." She murmurs, taking another swig from the half empty bottle she was nursing.
Buffy takes a sip and then places the bottle on the table, "You all patched up." Buffy asks, making small talk, but taking the opportunity to investigate the gash on the dark Slayer's head. A large bruise is forming on her left cheek and her lower lip is split. Buffy's eyes linger on Faith's lips.
"Yeah, Red patched me up real good." Faith murmurs, taking another sip of her beer.
"You and Willow seem to be getting on very well." Buffy continues to inspect Faith's battle wounds, she was inspecting her bruised and battered hands, absently caressing the left one.
Faith glanced at Buffy quizzically, taking another sip of her beer, "Yeah, we have some common ground." She pulls her hand out of Buffy's grasp, gently but firmly, "They will heal, B." she gestures to her face and holds her hand up. She's still brooding over what Willow said to her.
"I know, but I still worry about you." Buffy said, edging closer to the brunette, "You haven't completely healed from being blown up and all the other battles you've endured recently and now your bruises have bruises." Buffy is worried that Faith keeps throwing herself into these dangerous battles, little regard for her own safety or the outcome, because she feels it is some sort of penance to atone for her past misdeeds. Sometimes, I think you let yourself get hit on purpose! She ponders this but decides not to bring it up with the dark slayer, yet!
Faith sighs and gingerly leans back into the chair, enjoying the warmth of their Slayer connection, "Yeah, well." She yawns, "That's the gig." Her eyelids are suddenly very heavy, sleep threatening to overcome her. She turns to the blonde, "It has been a very long day, I am beat." She downs the rest of her drink and stands, stretching all of her limbs, hearing tendons crack.
Buffy admires the dark Slayer's form as she stretches before her, unable to tear her eyes away from Faith. God she's gorgeous.
"See something you like, B." Faith asks, humour in her tone. Buffy blushes, caught red handed checking the dark Slayer out.
"Indeed I do." She responds, grinning at the stunned look on the brunette's face.
Faith looks at Buffy warily before smiling and holding out a hand to help the blonde out of the chair. They both head back inside, relaxed, at ease with each other. That is until they stop at the bottom of the staircase and Faith pauses awkwardly.
"Well, ah, good night, B, see ya in the morning." She leans in to kiss the blonde and then turns, about to head into the lounge when she is stopped in her tracks, Buffy grabbing her hand.
"Stay with me."
Faith hesitates; Buffy can see the walls starting to come up. But she can also see the desire in the brunette's dark eyes.
"It's ok, Faith, I just don't want to sleep alone, I promise to behave myself," she trails off and smirks, "Mostly." She mutters under her breath.
Faith was torn, she loved Buffy with all of her heart, but she didn't want to wreck things between them by moving too fast. She looked into the blonde's eyes; getting lost in them, unable to resist her request. She allowed Buffy to lead her up the stairs and into her bedroom. She was feeling all kinds of awkward as she stood in the blonde Slayers bedroom. What the hell! She runs her hand through her hair nervously.
Int: Buffy's Bedroom
Buffy gestured to her bed, "Please, sit." Faith looked awkwardly at the blonde. But Buffy just rolled her eyes, "Come on, we literally just had a heart to heart followed by a kiss-fest in here last night when you were still recovering from one of your recent coma-episodes."
Faith snickered slightly and moved to go and perch on the edge of the bed.
"I just need to have a shower, wash all the blood and grime off." Buffy gestured to herself, "Won't be long, just relax, make yourself comfortable."
Faith nodded, suppressing a slight chuckle at the notion that she'd be able relax in Buffy's bedroom. She heard the flow of water from the shower and took the opportunity to more closely investigate the blonde's room. She picked up the framed photo on the bedside table; Willow, Xander, Buffy, Giles, the original Scooby gang. A pang of regret tugged at her heart; how different things could have been if she'd been part of the gang back then. She sighed resignedly; there were faults on both sides, sure, but ultimately she, Faith, had chosen the darker path.
Her train of thought was broken with the appearance of the blonde Slayer, wrapped only in a towel, steam from the bathroom surrounding her, standing in front of the brunette. Sheepishly she placed the photo back on the bedside table.
"I, ah, was…"
Buffy smiled and grabbed Faith's hand, pulling her up off the bed and directed her into the bathroom, "Toothpaste, spare tooth brush, towel." She left Faith to it in the bathroom and went to crawl into bed.
Faith stared at herself in the mirror, she looked tired, ragged, terrified. What the hell are you doing? She looked down at her bruised and torn knuckles, white from clenching the edge of the washbasin. Faith struggled to regain her composure, everything within her was screaming at her to run, to leave before she fucked everything up with Buffy. She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves before stepping into the warm stream of water from the shower. Dirt and grime mingled with blood swirled in the water before draining away.
Faith stood under the stream for a good 5 minutes, enjoying the feel of the small jets of water. Deciding she'd delayed the inevitable for long enough she shut off the water, grabbed the towel and wrapped it around herself. Clutching the basin desperately she stared at herself again in the mirror. A multitude of bruises and wounds scattered all over her body. Surface wounds, they'd all heal in time. It was the deeper wounds she wasn't so sure about; and she wasn't only thinking about the physical ones. She let out a long breathe, unaware she'd be holding it in. She pondered Willow's words earlier, admittedly there was some truth to them. I am holding back. But I can't let myself become that out of control person again. She mused, worried that if she allowed the slayer out in full force she would not be able to control her. Turning back to the dark side scared her more than dying.
"You all good in there?" Buffy checking in broke her out of her deep thoughts.
Don't fuck this up. She thought to herself before exiting the bathroom. Buffy was already snuggled in bed; she smiled at Faith warmly as the brunette shut the bathroom door behind her.
"All good?" the blonde asked, pushing back the duvet cover, gesturing for Faith to join her.
Relief welled deep in the brunette when she saw Buffy was clothed. Is that sushi on her pajamas? Faith chuckled and shook her head. She noted Buffy had set aside a tank top and shorts for her.
"I usually sleep naked." Faith quipped, desperate to break the awkwardness.
Buffy snickered, "Well, feel free." She smirked at the dark Slayer, enjoying the reaction from her.
Faith could feel herself blushing so, turning the light out, she dropped the towel, put the clothes on and crawled into bed with Buffy. She lay on her back stiffly, nerves getting the better of her. Good one, Lehane! She mused to herself. For someone who is so confident with their sexuality you are being a right wuss. She shook her head and chuckled a little, this whole situation so far from what she could have ever dreamt.
"You ok." Buffy asked, hearing the small chuckle.
"Yeah." Faith said, turning to face the blonde. She could just make out her features in the darkness, "I was just musing at how insane this situation would have seemed to us even a few months ago."
"I know." Buffy leaned in to kiss Faith, gently at first but the kiss became more urgent, more needy.
Faith was the first to break apart, panting, she rolled over on to her back, "B," she started, internally kicking herself for what she was about to say, "I am not ready to take this any further," she could sense the disappointment in the blonde, "not yet anyway." She finished, hearing a relieved sigh leave Buffy's lips.
"Please don't bolt." Buffy said, gently caressing the brunette's cheek. Worried Faith's defensive walls were close to going up.
"Nope." Faith reassured the blonde, "I just don't want to fuck this up, I care too much about you, so I think we should take it slow."
Relieved Buffy snuggled into the brunette and placed her arm over her stomach possessively, "That is fine by me." She murmured, closing her heavy eyelids, enjoying the feeling of being close to the dark Slayer.
Faith lay there for what seemed like ages, thinking, enjoying the feeling of the blonde snuggled up against her. She finally dozed off, falling into a deep sleep, exhaustion taking over.
A few hours passed. Buffy stirred and rolled over, gently removing her arm from Faith's waist, not wanting to disturb the brunette. She sat up and stared at Faith. She looked so young, so innocent, when she was asleep. A knot of concern tightened in her chest when she took in the extent of the bruises and other injuries that covered the younger Slayer. The blonde gently brushed a stray piece of hair away from Faith's face and leaned in to kiss her forehead. Rest up. Let that Slayer healing do its thing. The brunette stirred but didn't wake up.
Buffy climbed slowly out of the bed and paced gently to the window. She stared out at the night sky, thinking.
"Pretty, ain't it." The voice startled her, but she regained her composure and continued to look out the window.
"You're not him." She scowled at the First in Caleb's form standing off to her side.
"No, you Slayers killed him right and proper. Terrible loss. This man was my good right arm. 'Course, it don't pain me too much. Don't need an arm. Got an army."
Buffy turned to face him, "An army of vampires. However will we fight…"
The First interrupted her, "Every day our numbers swell. But then you do have an army of your own. Some thirty-odd pimply-faced girls, don't know the pointy end of a stake." He looked at her, concern on his face, "Maybe I should call this off."
Buffy ignored his sarcasm, "Have you ever considered a cool name? I mean, since you're incorporeal and basically powerless. How about "The Taunter?" Strikes fear in the heart…"
"I will overrun this Earth. And when my army outnumbers the humans on this Earth, the scales will tip, and I will be made flesh."
Buffy glowered at him, "Talk on. I am not afraid of you."
Caleb rolled his eyes at her, "Then why aren't you asleep in your lover's arms." He looked over at Faith, sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the exchange that was happening just meters away from her, "She can't help you. Nor your friends, certainly not your wanna-slay brigade. None of those girlies will ever know real power unless she's dead." His chin jutted towards the sleeping Slayer, "You know the drill." The first morphed into Buffy's form, "Into every generation, a slayer is born. One girl in all the world. She alone will have the strength and skill to— There's that word again. What you are. How you'll die. Alone."
He paused and eyed Buffy up, "Where's your snappy comeback?"
"I am not alone." Buffy snapped, "In case you've forgotten, Faith wiped the floor with your right-hand man."
Faith muttered in her sleep and sat up with a start, confused as to where she was, she started to panic but relaxed when she saw the blonde standing near the window. Buffy turned to look at her and the First disappeared.
"Weird dream?" she asked the brunette, walking towards her.
"Yeah, no, what?" Faith frowned, "Is something wrong, B?" She asked, changing the topic away from herself.
"No." Buffy paused, "Actually yeah. I just realized something." She walked over to her bed and sat down, looking into Faith's eyes, "Something that really never occurred to me before." She leant in for a quick kiss, "We're going to win."