Chapter 4: Kal'mahin and a choice rejected.
Buffy had spent an entire week on the beach with Faith and had been loving every moment of it, the long days playing in the sun with her bikini clad lover and long nights of sensual love making which had expanded the boundaries of Buffys understanding concerning romance and lust more than anything had before. they stayed in a small beachfront motel made of finely chisseled white stone, the entire town was made of the same stone and technologically far more advanced than anything back home in Al-kufir. her and Faith had rode hoverbikes the day before last and shot holograms yesterdays of all kinds of shapes and sizes. right now she was watching Faith build a sandcastle from under her japanese style spiral umbrella, laying on a long soft beach towel.
She was wondering how could this day get any better and also how quickly she could slip Faith tight red bikini off and playfully bite her nipples. she was thinking under 5 seconds but she was hoping for 3. Faith looked gorgeous under the mid day sun, she even allowed Buffy to cover her all over with sun cream which was something Buffy was shocked they sold in the small general store until she realised that this was actually a tourist town and of course they would have sun protection if your under this hot sun everyday. Faith smiled and waved as she noticed Buffy was watching her rather than reading her book, Buffy returned the wave and shouted to her.
"Having fun baby!?" Buffy was only 9 or 10 feet from her but she was happy all the touristy beach goers were spread out far about them as they were alone together, she had found herself wanting that alot recently, to be alone with only 'her' Faith as company.
They had told everyone they knew they were going on holiday for two weeks and Rhino had confided in Buffy about his house project and how excited he was to get the repairs finished soon. Sina on the other hand was annoyed there were no bounties on the board but said she would find something to occupy her time the best she could. Buffy had even offered her to come with them much to Faiths chagrin but she refused instantly and just wished them a happy holiday before disapearing on her merry way.
"You could come and help me build this shitty thing B!" she playfully chided as she watched another shoddily constructed spire collapse in front of her eyes. "I prefer the view from over here" Buffy joked as Faith destroyed the sand castle in rage and started walking back over to their blanket out of the direct sunlight.
"Oh and look at that, the view came to me" Buffy giggled happily as Faith crawled under the shade and planted a chaste kiss on Buffys lips.
"Fuckin stupid thing refused to stay up, shitty sand!" Faith was annoyed and had given up with her building sand castle idea and decided to lay under the umbrella where she could escape the sun for a moment and maybe steal a kiss or two.
Of course her plans were ruined as she noticed Rhino and Sina walking down the beach and they had noticed them pretty quickly as she noticed the barbarian carrying a big metal box and Rhino some bears and a giant sun umbrella. "Holy shit, they both came..." Faith said to Buffy as she turned and noticed both of them making their way down the beach towards their umberella.
Buffy looked excited as she ran down the beach towards them and Sina even seemed happy from a distance as Rhino was forced to drop his beers and Sun blocking giant umberella and she jumped on the giant green Rhino and hugged him tight.
"What are you guys doin here! i thought you were both busy" Buffy bellowed as she almost crushed the poor man who had to cry uncle before she sprang back off him.
"Sorry bout that, super strength isn't always super fun" Buffy scratched the top of her head and joked it off before Sina interrupted their reunion with a piece of suprising information
"We're hunting a demon mage blondie" she cried happily as it was obvious the time off didn't do her any good while the slayers were both away at the beach.
"Oh... Faith won't like that..." Buffy thought out loud as Faith walked up behind her. "Won't like what B?" Faith asked as she looked her friends up and down suspicously. she knew them both being here meant trouble, they weren't exactly the sun kissed sand loving kind of people.
Her eyes went straight to the large metal block Sina was carrying over her shoulder and it struck her instantly. "Bounty board had a mark pop up eh! Sina i told you to go rest and have some fun! why couldn't you do that?" Faith gave her a disaproving look but the Barbarian knew it wasn't genuine.
"I love bounty hunting and this rock is gonna help us find a demon mage" Sina had a look of 'yh, that's right, i'm a genius' and Faith couldn't really argue with her dedication to the job. she sighed as the realisation dawned on her and Buffy at the same time.
"You want us to gear up don't you" Faith gave her an annoyed look and tone but softened as she saw the look on Rhinos face, it obviously wasn't his plan she realised, poor guy must of been roped into it somehow.
"Well yh... it's a 100k bounty and Faith... he aint wanted alive" Sina gave her a serious look. the brunettes brows furrowed at the realisation of what she was saying and Buffy questioned the look between the two.
"What does that mean? what did this guy do?" the petite blond in a tiny blue bikini asked as Sina waited for Faith to answer her as Rhino cracked open a large beer and began looking around at the sea birds flying over head. "it means he most likely either pissed of the wrong person or...
" Faith trailed off not wanting to say it. Buffy asked in a confused voice "Or what?" and that's when Sina interjected.
"Or when they are a real piece of work... this one happens to deal in trafficked children, for a myriad of disgusting reason like.." Faith shot her a stop speaking kinda look and she stopped speaking instantly.
Buffy realised that death only bounties were obviously the darker side of things in this dimension and turned to Faith. "lets gear up then, we got our guns here but everything else is back at the hotel". Buffy motioned over to where they had been sitting, they had hid the guns in their leather rucksacks along with a few other 'just in case' essentials. Faith looked over too Rhino and then Sina before deciding against it.
"That metal thing your carrying reacts when he gets in range?" and Sina told her exactly that and it was reacting to his unique magical essense since he was a rare type of demon who could hop dimensions. "The 100k isn't the only reward is it... he's a dimension hopper, this is big time Sina, we don't even know if he can be killed.
Buffy butted in as she stepped directly in between them, "Wait there are demons who can do that? is there any other information on him? habits, weaknesses... types of children he, hunts" Buffy almost threw up in her mouth at the realisation of what he probably did with those kids. Faith noticed and took an ice cold beer off Rhino who was happy to give her one and cracked it open "Here B, might take the edge off, just don't think about it too much" Faith watched Buffy down the thing and hand the beer back in 10 seconds flat, she seemed to enjoy the taste though as she took a second to compose herself.
"All we know is that he can hop dimensions once he sacrifices enough souls, the board said he was flagged in this area yesterday and we were given this heavy ass block to locate him. They said it vibrates and then flashes when your close." Sina felt it vibrate and the group suddenly froze. Rhino quickly dug in his pockets ans held out the bounty poster to give the Slayers a good look at the profile. it was a strange looking tiger demon who was atleast 6ft tall and dressed like a kung fu master from a cheesy karate movie, circa 70's Faith thought to herself as she began to commit his ugly tiger mug to memory.
Buffy was already off and Grabbed their rucksack and brought it back as they scanned the area with their eyes. Faith took both guns out and handed Buffy her C39 Mauser as Buffys eyes widened and thats when she saw him walking up on the promenade 400 yards away. the block began flashing and unfortunately for the group the tiger demon had great eyesight as he clocked them instantly and took off into the town at lightning speed.
"Sina, Stay here with Rhino and get drunk, we'll hunt the mark" and they Both took off with only their guns in hand and bounded across the sand with great speed.
"B, bets not on this time, shoot to kill and don't ask questions ok! we got kids to protect!" Faith was speaking plain and forceful as they ran bare footed on hot concrete and saw him dive 500 plus yards away into one of the many sidestreets that comprised the White stone town. the buildings themselves were all strange shapes and sized but always recognizable shapes.
Buffy and Faith pushed tourists and townsmen out of the way as they screamed 'Bounty hunting in progress, clear out!' and thankfully the majority of demons listened and even got their kids out of the way. as they turned into the same sidestreet and barely dodged a frenzy of high speed fireballs.
Buffy fired a flurry out impossibly loud bolts as Faith pushed her to the ground and took a fireball to the side and screamed in agony as she smashed into the stone pavement like a ton of bricks on a building site. One of Buffys bolts had managed to strike the demons legs and rip his entire left foot of and burn the newly formed stump, the howling scream was ear piercing as Buffy got up to make sure Faith was ok she screamed at Buffy.
"I'll heal fast, kill the beast B!" and she held her side in pain as she fired her 1911 at the beast who was hobbling away slowly down another side path. Buffy hesistated for a moment But Faith screamed "Quick! he's gettin away!" and she snapped out of it and took off after him whilst ignoring her own cuts and scrapes from hitting the street so hard.
She had managed to catch up with the demon just in time to see him slip into an open house door and she followed him closely but hesistated at the door as a massive fireball exploded out of the hole and she kept to the wall as a few residents fell to the floor and got out of the way as the bikini clad Bounty huntress Burst through the open door and fired at the petrified demon and blew his other leg and right arm clean off. he had instantly fallen to the floor and tried using his only arm left to crawl away but found himself trapped by the sofa and coffee table.
The tiger creature howled and begged for his life as Buffy closed in with her gun pointed straight into his large pink nose. "Please, let me go! i'll pay you! bounty hunters love money don't they" and as he offered a bribe Buffy cocked the hammer and started counting down from 3.
The fear on the creatures face was evident but Buffy knew what he was from the others and showed no mercy whatsoever. and of course just like the vamps and demons in Sunnydale he just had to begin begging for his life. "I have magical weapons, money, precious metals, even a dimensional portal to anywhere you'd like to go, Please don't kill me" the demon begged and pleaded as he cried in pain but Buffy didn't listen and she fired on one and his head exploded everywhere, across the walls of this family home, the marks orange blood had painted most walls and furniture with its disgustingly unbelievable amount of thick bloody spread.
Buffy searched the demon up and down and looked through his pockets and found the portal and money he was talking about even some oddly shaped and colored metal. she was thankful no one was seemingly home right now as their abode was completly wrecked thanks to the dead idiot in their living room. even the family photos were caked in this monsters disgustingly thick blood. Buffy found herself hoping the family knew a really good cleaning crew cause this stuff seemed like it was gonna stain pretty badly.
"A portal to anywhere..." Buffy held a small disc that was brimming with magical energy and thought about it for a moment before she heard Faith calling here name from a distance. she realised the moment she heard the girls voice there was only one course of action to take and she called out to Faith as loud as she could, threw the portal to the ground and blasted it with her thunderous Mauser.
The portal instantly dissapeared, leaving a large scorch mark in the cold stone floor. "Faith! i'm here! she screamed again and waited outside to find her quicker. as she waited her mind had started to question what she had just done, she had destroyed her only way to get home and she hadn't even considered any other option... she had only reacted in fear.
Buffy had sabotaged her only current path home and she didn't even care, in fact she felt like it was completly the right thing to do. the feeling increased the moment she saw Faith screaming her name down the road and holding her side which was burnt pink but healing quickly. Faith smiled wide as she got closer to her and that was the moment the truth struck the little blonde slayer like her Mauser had struck the tiger demon as he begged for his worthless life.
'I don't want to leave her... i love...' Buffy didn't finish the thought as Faith closed the gap and picked her fine bikini clad ass off her feet and held her close.
"I got him Faith... he's dead" she found comfort in the taller girls touch and Faith lut her down quickly as pain shot up her side and caused Buffy to panic and direct her to the wall and begin inspecting the burn but by now it was just a big pink splotch, a blemish on her skin and would probably be completly back to normal in 20 minutes or a little less.
"Fuck yo heal fast darling, i gotta keep my enchanted clothes on in bed" Buffy joked and caused Faith to chuckle a little as she held her side tight again with her free non gun wielding hand.
"If you wear full leather in our bed i'll kick your cute little butt from here to timbuktu" Faith said in jest as she manouvered herself to the open door to spy a headless tiger demon and a completly messed up, orange blood drenched living room and then noticed that Buffy was also covered in little orange blood fleck mainly up her right side. her shooting stance had led to being covered alot more on one side then the other.
"Lets pick the body up and get him to the local sheriffs office, the bounty office is in the back of the town if i remember correctly" Faith entered the house and noticed a scorch mark on the floor that she thought was probably from a missed shot. she would practice shooting more often with Buffy was her only thought before picking the demon up and firemans carrying him out into the mid day sun to the shock of the local onlookers.
"Sorry guys! we just caught a child killer, go back about your buisness. aint nothing to see here folks!" Buffy asked Faith if she needed any help but the girl joked that he was suprisingly light and Buffy looked at how many body parts he was missing and realised he actually probably was alot lighter now missing his big old tiger head.
She had offered to help several times but by the time they entered the Sheriffs office Faith was completly healed and cashing in Buffys catch. the sheriffs had sprung out of their chairs in fear as Faith had burst through the door carrying a corpse with missing limbs. it was funny how quickly they went back down and into their holsters the moment she smiled and proclaimed she was here to collect the 10k bounty.
The sheriff even took the body off her hands as she signed a bunch of paperwork with the bounty clerk, it was crazy how much the child trafficking bastard still bled and his neck stump was spitting onto the mosaic floor tiles. Faith handed the clerk his paperwork back and then received 10k in rupees as well as a well decorated wooden box of what the clerk said was a gift from the man who posted the bounty.
They both left the bounty office and decided to go back and inform Sina and Rhino of what had happened, Buffy also made it clear she was going to jump into the sea and wash 'this orange crap' off herself. Faith laughed along with the girl as they crossed the street and Faith made it clear she did prefer a 'wetter and far less orange Buffy' and offered to jump in with her as their friends split the cash.
"Really, aren't you scared they'll think we're 'gay' and win the bet at Jeans Saloon" Buffy playfully jabbed as she slapped Faiths well toned and supple butt cheek causing the girl to blush a deep crimson. "obviously you like the idea B, I'm just a more private girl" Faith looked around to make sure no one had seen Buffy slap her ass but a few people obviously had and it made her even redder as she met their judgemental gazes.
Faith sped up as Buffy giggled like a cheeky idiot. "Remind me baby, were you a private girl last night when i ate you out on the beach or when i rode your face." Buffy grinned as Faith turned and gave her annoyed look. "That doesn't count, the beach was empty and you... you tricked me into it" Faith whispered close to the petite blonde as to not let anyone eavesdrop on their flirtacious escapades.
Buffy pretended to act confused and Faith knew it. "tricked you? was that before or after you put you hand down my bikini, baby?". Buffys words had stumped the girl and she continued speed walking towards the beach which was quickly coming into view. Buffy was laughing hard as she easily kept pace with the girl and continuing on with her gentle ribbing of the embarrased Dark Slayer.
As they both reached the beach Buffy had sped off into the sea and really got some air as she dove into the water where as Faith walked over to Sina and Rhino with her face completly red and embarrased as she chucked them the rupees and the wooden box with an exasperated look forming on her face. "Damn you guys were gone for over an hour, how tough was he to kill?" Sina asked as Rhino chucked Faith a cold beer and she downed it in seconds flat.
"Buffy killed him, i'm gonna go try and drown her... if she starts winning jump in and save me" Faith shot down the beach straight towards the unsuspecting slayer as Sina and Rhino looked at eachother knowingly. "man, did you see how red her face was... i dont think i've ever seen her so annoyed and cute before" Rhino heartily chuckled as he cracked open another beer for himself and one for Sina who was enjoying watching the girls throwing eachother around in the water and laughing happily under the scorchingly hot Kal'Mahin sun.
Sina took a deep swig of her cold beer, "So ya changed your bet at Jeans right?" and Rhino gave the tall dark skinned barbarian a knowing look. "oh, yh i damn well did!" He sipped his drink and pointed to them both. "They're obviously into eachother are you crazy!" Faith was currently getting sprayed with sea water as Buffy was going ham on the girl and forcing her to shield herself from devastatingly playful attacks.
"We still gotta pretend like we don't know right?" Sina asked Rhino who was eating a huge slab of dark jerky outta nowhere, Sina assumed he must of hid it in his large pair of blue shorts. "Yh... she'll beat the crap outta us if we snitch and rightfully so" Rhino devoured the jerky and downed the last of his beer.
"It's nice though, we've known her over a year... and it feels like we've only just scratched the surface" the green monster kept watching them as Faith put Buffy in a loose headlock. "Never thought she liked cute ditzy blondes Rhino, always thought she was Asexual or sommin" Sina joked as Buffy got chucked into the water.
"You're just saying that cause she doesn't visit the brothel and keeps to herself, some people don't like prostitutes Sina!" Rhino scoffed at Sinas fake outrage as she pretended to be offended and began monolouging about how those boys and girls at Jeans were the corner stone of our society rather unconvincingly.
"Well anyway, she obviously has better things to do with herself... seems like she prefers romance rather than a good ol pump and dump" Rhino chuckled as Faith was now being thrown into the water and signalling for help to arrive.
"C'mon lets go play Sina" and they both opened another can and downed it before running to the ocean and joining in the holiday fun.
~~*
The whole gang had spent until nightime drinking and horsing around on the beach before they had gona to dinner and eaten more than their fill at an amazing seafood resturant that Sina had discovered as they were trying to decide where they should eat tonight. they had spent a good 320 rupees on food and drink before Buffy had announced she was tired and Faith followed suit minutes later. her team mates had said they had found seperate rooms for the night across town and would get a good nights sleep before heading back home to Al-Kufir early tommorow morning. Faith offered to see them both off But Sina said it'd be pointless and they would see the girls back at home in little over a week.
They decided to seperate the bounty as always and everyone got given 25k and they said there goodbyes as everyone dissapeared of to their respective hotels and Buffy waited for them both to be out of sight before she took Faiths hand in hers and took their rucksack off the table and walked to their room together under a pale bleeding moon. Faith had kissed her for the first time in hours and it set her mind at ease instantly as they enjoyed the soft sea breeze brush against their bare skin that was slowly becoming more bronzed every day they spent here on holiday.
"Man today was crazy... i blew a demons head off and got piledrived into the ocean By a barbarian who eats more than both of us combined" Buffy groaned as her muscles burned all over and Faith wasn't feeling much better herself.
"Hey atleast you didn't get tombstoned by Rhino... dude would make a mean pro wrestler!" Faith would actually pay good money to see Rhino wrestling earth wrestlers she realised. Buffy was greatful to see the hotel in sight as she couldn't wait to open the door to her room and not wake up till mid day and the best thing was that Faith had ordered a room with the biggest, softest bed you could imagine. Faith had completly emptied the mini bar after 3 days in and was thankful refilling it was alot cheaper than back on earth.
"I can't wait to get in bed, kiss you goodnight then wake up at mid day with you in my arms" Buffy told Faith as the climbed the hotel steps and she directed them to their room door as Buffy took the key out of their shared rucksack and prepared to open the lock.
"So domestic, maybe i should buy you some slippers and a pipe" Faith retorted but Buffy just scrunched up her face and told Faith that smoking was 'yucky' which although childish was quite cute in the taller Slayers eyes.
"Maybe, you could just make me breakfast in bed and tell me how pretty i am, now that sounds like domestic bliss" Buffy commented as she opened the door to their room and threw their rucksack inside with reckless abandon.
Faith passed the thresh hold and waited for the door to close close and lock behind them as she began to strip out of her bikini. "Well i could do that when we return home... i wouldn't want you burning down the kitchen with your lack luster cooking skills". Buffy scoffed in faux disgust.
"How can you say that... i made you pop tarts once after patrolling... you liked those" Buffy began to also strip but couldn't help going slowly to just take in and admire Faiths perfectly proportioned and toned body.
"B... they were burnt and crusty, i tolerated them because i have trouble saying no to cute blonde Slayers" Faith turned to the little slayer and gave her a juicy eyeful of her 'birthday suit' which caused Buffy to almost relexively lick her lips with her pretty little head filled with lustful ideas.
"Ok, scratch that, i have problems saying no to cute little dykes who like what they see" she flicked her tongue and bit her lip as she shot the girl a look which she knew would lead to everywhere good and sweaty.
Buffy on the other hand finished taking off her bikini and chucked it to the floor and made a display of the whole affair as she knew her dark wavy haired slayer loved a show.
"Maybe i am a cute little dyke... but we both know who made me that way don't we" she closed the gap and placed an accusatory finger between Faiths large plump, gravity defying breasts.
"I was obviously tricked... no bamboozled by a tall, mysterious overly gay Bostonian girl who tastes like strawberries and sends me to happy town at the drop of a hat" Buffy sweetly smiled as Faith pulled her thankfully alot closer to her naked form.
The next moment was unexpectedly quiet as Faith searched her eyes and blurted out something the petite Slayer had never expected to hear from the tough bounty hunting, demon slaying woman whose arms felt right to be encased within.
"I love you Buffy". the silence was deafening as she could hear nothing but the waves from the sea close by crashing into the shore. Faith was the first to speak again as Buffy was completly lost for words.
"It's ok... i'm not asking you for anything, i just want you to know, to make it clear" The slayer brought a hand to her chin and gently rubbed the tanned girls chin with grace. "I've always wanted to tell you... never thought i'd get this kind of chance you know".
Buffy was a storm of emotions behind her eyes and yet outwardly she was just still, she was like a deer in the headlights on a country road. Faith actually said it out loud and she was just standing in her arms with a dry throat and a dumb look on her face. internally she was doing flips and jumping for joy and she was panicking on how to respond and all she could come up with was a breathy and cracked voice.
"Say it again..." which elicited a charming giggle out of Faiths perfectly kissable lips.
"I love you Buffy, with everything that i am, I adore you" Faith punctuated her softest words with a kiss that could only be described as knee destroying as Buffy just melted into her arms.
"Is it wrong that i never want you to leave?" Faith asked and Buffy responded with a clear lack of panic to her soft californian voice.
"No, it's not" and kissed Faith again and gently guided her over to the large bed. they both entered the bed and assumed their fanourite spooning position which happened to make the smallee girl the bigger spoon which caused Faith to giggle at the irony of it all as she was a lot taller and muscular but loved being snuggled from behind by the cute blonde girl who drove her crazy. But as they laying bed together as opposite sized spoons Faith began to speak the momemt she got comfortable.
"You never have to say it back unless you mean it ok, i won't force you into anything B... and it's ok if you don't feel same, i just wanted you to know" Faith as the little spoon took to holding her hand over Buffys which was happily placed on her breast.
"Whe... what should i say then?" Asked Buffy as she began to knead Faiths breast, she licked and kissed the Slayers neck also and it sent pleasent vibrations all the way up and down her spine.
"Or should i just show you how i feel instead? I'm alot better with actions then words anyway" Buffy declared as she began to slip down Faiths back and happily position herself between Faiths legs.
"Because i'm going to make you say it again and again!" Buffy grinned as she locked eyes with the brunette.
"You better tell me you love me every day we spend together or i'll never forgive you" and Buffy eagerly went down on the girl with a ferocity they had both never felt or seen before.
The night was full of rough and delicate pleasures and feelings that bordered on insanely good and too wonderful to believe were real. and although Buffy had never said those words back in return, she had never needed to. Faith knew how she felt with every flick of her tongue and every caress of her soft lovingly playful hands.
They fell asleep in each others arms and above the covers as the night was way to warm to be covered by bedding, Faith had become the big spoon by the end of everything and was smiling in her sleep. she had never known she could feel this way before and it was overwhelming in so many ways, But she enjoyed it much more than anything she had ever experienced up until now in this life. and with Faith, she knew it was only going to get alot better as time went on.
~~*
The next week had flew by and was filled with tastes and pleasures they had both began to experience anew as their connection towards eachother grew deeper and more passionate. late dinners and sun kissed shores were exactly what Buffy had needed after all those years in Sunnydale hunting the creeps and the undead. But Faith had begun to glow and radiate calm feelings as they slept in a hammock together or played on the beach under the blazing sun.
She even stopped asking Buffy to put sunscreen on her body, she just accepted that Buffy wanted to and she also enjoyed it being done to her. Faith was softening bit by bit and with her over a year of alone time in this dimension she had become so much more mature and Buffy would be lying if she said she 'didn't' find that super attractive.
Buffy had come to terms with the fact she most certainly wasn't straight anymore, hell maybe she never was. Sex with angel was terrible, she didn't even know if it was good and she could barely remember the night they spent together anyway. But Faith was passionate and explored her every desire in ways that seemed to shock and please her all at the same time. everything they did together was meaningful and lleasurable in a thousand different ways. she had ckme to the conclusion that destroying the tiger demons portal was definetly the right thing to do, she didn't want to leave... she refused to let it end.
Alas she knew that no matter how long it took Faith was right, Willow would find her... it may be years for her and only days and moments for them. the idea of returning home filled her with a cold dread, to return to a place that made her feel miserable was soul crushingly depressing. the thought had struck her on the second to last day as they were sharing purple ice cream on the beach and Faith was reading a book under the umberella after they had spent way too long building a sand mermaid. Buffy had just layed on her side and watched her read and the fear struck her like a bolt of lightning, Faith had asked her if she was ok and all she could say was a quiet and almost whispered response.
"I never want this to end" and she was blindsided by a deep Faith kiss and ice cream then being smeared on her nose.
"Sorry B, our perfect holidays gotta end sometime" Faith went back to her book as Buffy cleaned the delicous ice cream from her nose with a few well placed fingers and licks.
"Then it's back to work eh! i hate to admit it but this bounty hunting gigs alot better than the slaying one back home" Buffy leaned back on the lengthy beach towel and decided to enjoy the peace while it lasted.
"Well if the Watchers council payed us per job or... even at all, maybe the Slayers would stay loyal or live past a year or two" Faith turned a page and heard Buffy agree with her as she rolled over and closed her eyes.
"Maybe they just need a little Faith, ya know to kiss and cuddle before bed" she smirked as she heard Faith place her bookmark inside her novel and close the book up and put it to the side.
"Is that your way of hinting that you wanna lay in my arms and make out a whole bunch?" Faith reclined back into the towel and Buffy made herself comfortable against the half naked brunette in a tiny black bikini. "wasn't really hinting at anything but i wont pass up a good time baby" she kissed her a whole lot before laying back down in her arms and just watching people around them enjoy the beach.
"They're gonna find me ya know... one day" Buffy said it a colder tone then usual but Faith felt unknowingly the same way as she did. "You'll remember the good and the bad times here B, and hell after a month of being back home you'll be all back to normal and happy again" Faith felt her chest tighten after she said it and rubbed her heart with her free arm.
"I don't think..." Buffy stuttered and then composed herself. "I'll drag you back to Sunnydale kicking and screaming if i have too Faith..." Buffy looked serious and sounded it too but Faith just Snickered in response.
"Don't hurt ya self trying B" Faith chuckled and Buffy turned around to look her in the eyes with a serious face she had never seen her make before. "You are mine Lehane... if they open a portal, you better be falling through it with me!" Buffy put her hand out and held face chin tenderly as she softened her gaze.
"Please don't leave me alone in Sunnydale again... it's nowhere worth being without you" Faith felt her heart ache even more as she realised what Buffy was really telling her in so many words.
"I love you too Buffy" and she kissed the top of the blondes forhead and she layed back down with her face looking upward, inspecting the light portruding through their spiralled umbrella. "If i can... if fate lets me... i'll go home with you".
"Is that because home is where the heart is?" Buffy playfully asked as she lay against Faiths chest and enjoyed the gentle breeze that swept across the beach. Faith smiled deep and saw the shadow of a large bird fly overhead as she replied.
"Well you are quite the charming little heart thief" Faith smiled as Buffy pretended to be a safe cracked and try to open her chest but joked about how 'bad her safe cracking skills were' and that she 'must of just left the door wide open for her' which had elicited a heavenly laugh from the brunette that Buffy really seemed to get a kick out of.
The last two days had been quiet and magical and as they stepped onto the train to go back home to Al-Kufir she had taken a picture with an odd looking polaroid camera type of device Faith had brought her the day before. she wanted to remember everything they had together. she had managed to convince a passer by to take a few picture of them against the backdrop of the ocean and the white stone structure that looked otherworldly compared to home. She even managed to get a particularly good one thanks to the stranger, one of her kissing Faith cutely and she had to admit when she sat down next to the dark slayer before the train pulled out of the station, the stranger was a damn fine photographer.
Buffy was looking through a few photos of them on the beach and at dinner, her new ones of them leaving and that paticularly good one of them kissing and realised she wanted to make an album of their moments together.
"What'dya think...? should i put your present to good use?" Buffy pointed to the camera at their side and then too the begining of her bran new collection and gave Faith her best puppy dog eyes.
"I'm gonna have to buy the refills arent i..." Faith sighed in defeat as she held a photo in her hand of the dinner last night, she was being fed a weird looking piece of fish by the little blonde slayer and she let a slight grin escape her tough features and that was when Buffy realised she had won and cheered.
The train had began moving and the ocean vista was stunning as it passed them by at increasing speed, Faith was leaning against the window as the sun managed to hit her at just the right moment and Faith found her self captured in the moment.
"Sorry... you just looked too perfect, had to snap a pic" Buffy grinned wide as the picture started to fall out of the machine and she would begin to wave it around in the air until the picture formed and she could inspect her handy work. Faith just continued looking out of the Window in their corner seat and found herself happy in the knowledge that she had brought something for the woman she loved that she was getting a kick out of.
Buffy shoved the new picture in Faiths face and she was forced to look at the melancholy image of herself and had to admit that Buffy really did have an eye for setting a scene, it made her look like she was thinking about something deep and meaningful. what she was actually thinking about was that back in Al-Kufir she hoped the sand worm season was over or she was gonna have to do gaurd duty again for the town like a few months ago. it only lasted 10 days but man some times those damn worms would get through the defences and wreck havoc, 12ft, 125 yard long creepy ass looking sand worms could really mess a town up. it was one of the reasons Rhino was spending the money to not only fix his house but reinforce the damn thing.
Buffy took the photo back in hand and asked Faith if there was anywhere to find photo albums and she had to think about it for a moment and then she remembered that directly off main street after a twist and turn there was a Habadasherry but she didn't think they would have photo albums. then again she didn't the odds and sodds shop owned by the cockroach demon at the ass end of town would have them either.
"Ummm... we'll have to shop around B, i have some ideas but they're not great" she twister her nose a tad and leaned back against the window.
"Well it's fine... maybe i could make one from stuff we find... never to late to learn some arts and crafts" Buffy said in a worryingly unsure tone in her voice. Faith was enjoying the view outside as she responded.
"Maybe we could just find a box to store them in? like a treasure box". Buffy began to put the photos all together in the order they were taken. "our memories, like treasures... oddly romantic don't ya think?". Faith originally snickered at the idea of her being romantic but came to realise rather quickly that was exactly the case and responded truthfully.
"Guess you just bring it out in me". and Buffy placed the photos and camera inside her leather jacket and leaned back against the hard train seats and began to watch the people enjoy or loathe their train ride.
Buffy was away in her own little world as she considered all the possible things she would be able to take pictures of in the future with Faith, all of the adventures they would have and all the wonderful things they would be able to experience together. she could capture their bountys with not only her fists but in the moment, maybe she could even pose over them like she was Mr, Olympia and convince Faith or Rhino to capture the moment for her.
Maybe she could even take more 'private' photos together, but as quickly as she thought about it she shaked the idea out of her head and thought against it. as sexy as the idea was she knew Faith would never go for it, but the idea really did start to get her motor revving.
"Buffy, when we get home i'm going to cook you something nice.." Faith said out of nowhere. Buffy had liked hearing it though, everytime Faith had cooked for her it was delicous and something either oddly familar or completly new.
"You spoil me too much Faith... or do you wanna fatten me up so you have a better chance of catching more bounties than me?" Buffy jovially asked and Faith pushed her playfully away. "So no Nuka Cola for you with dinner then, so rude..." Buffys face dropped as Faith made her realise she would love a Nuka Cola with dinner.
"I wanna try that glowing honey flavor...or that dark cherry... no, maybe the rocket raspberry one!" Buffy began listing off the flavors she had seen but hadn't had chance to try.
"Man, unfair Faith now i want a nuka... and we're not gonna be in town until atleast the dinner time rush".
Faith chuckled as she spied her wristwatch and realised it was barely 1 in the afternoon and they had hours to wait until she could suprise her with what she had planned for dinner and a Nuka Cola. "hmmm... maybe i should visit the saloon or the sugar boy for you, but man i dunno..." Faith began to screw around and pretend like shs was in the midst of a hard life changing decision.
Buffy on the other hand just turned her head and gave her the best 'hurt' face she could muster and Faith instantly buckled.
"Fine... but if you get a tummy ache, well i'll look after you obviously but..." Faith realised she didnt really have an ultimatum lined up and Buffy had quickly cottoned on.
"Didn't have anything there did ya!" her chesire cat grin made Faith cross her arms and huff and puff in annoyance.
"Shut up B!" Faith tuned back towards the window but Buffy proudly proclaimed "Honey'd kiss... that's what i want with dinner" and Faith sighed but let a slight chuckle escape her lips as she looked back at the cute blonde.
"And what if i drink it and kiss you after, will that count?" Faith asked and the blonde slayer took a few moments to think about it before answering.
"Sounds even better, a new flavor with the best I've ever tasted!" she grinned seductively as Faith gulped at how quickly she had flipped the script on her again. the dark slayer felt her cheeks flush red as she couldn't believe how freely Buffy had just said that she was the best flavour she ever tasted. the train ride home was going to be hard on the girl if Buffy was going to flirt the entire ride back home.