FIC: Revelations(Part 11 of the 'Who Am I?' Series

REVELATIONS (OR - STEER YOU AROUND THE CURVES)

The Bronze was a place of raging hormones. That was a fact nobody would deny. But this particular night, the hormone levels were just the slightest bit higher than normal. Anyone who was watching would say the levels were more like astronomically higher, and depending on the varying reactions of the onlookers, they'd probably be right. They didn't make it obvious they were looking, but the people their gazes were fixed on, knew.

And they didn't give a damn.

The girls, who were the center of everyone's attention, didn't stop from one dance to the next. They just kept going, like they were performing a never-ending ballet. And a highly provocative one at that. Blonde matched brown, neither leading nor succumbing. Both very independent, very equal partners in what they were doing. Yes, partners. That's what they were. Moving beat for beat in synchronized motions. All they lived for was the moment. An infinite stretch of time that ended only when they said so.

As a new song began, without thinking, they changed their pattern to keep with the tempo. It's pulsing beat signified that it was a quickly paced song, but slow enough for the girls to still maintain the sensual, intimate, closeness of their gyrations, which they weren't about to give up. The blonde raised her arms above her head, which were met by the delicate, yet firm pair of hands belonging to her companion.

"Last one, B." Faith whispered.

"Let's go out with a bang then." Buffy said, raw passion in her voice.

"I love you."

"I know."

Faith guided Buffy's arms behind her neck, and Buffy held on as the vocals began.

This is our game and we have control,

We make the moves and we make the rules,

But maybe we're just being fooled

In a sea of chance we wound up together

Never really questioned where we found ourselves

Never really wondered about forever

Buffy pushed back into Faith as the dark-haired slayer slid her hands down Buffy's arms, and continued down her body, each hand moving slowly down the blonde's sides. When Faith felt that she reached the waist, she brought her arms around the front, her hands meeting and fingers interlocking. She pulled Buffy back, further into her.

Are we just pawns moving at life's pace?

Under the illusion that this is our race?

Is the struggle really worth the reward at the end?

Faith closed her eyes as she felt Buffy's hands run through her hair. The petite slayer was able to reach her hands over Faith's head, and lay her hands atop hers. Faith bent her head, smelling Buffy's hair, her skin, inhaling the scent. She brought her lips to the soft flesh just below her ear, and nipped. She had a small grin as she heard Buffy's intake of breath.

Before you came my foundations were solid,

Limits tested and boundaries set,

Other side and I had never met

You appeared and reality distorted,

The game's rules were aborted,

Got to see beyond my sphere

Buffy began to turn to face her, and Faith widened her arms just enough. Body brushed against body, their hips never slowing once. They began to move a few steps, and people cleared a path. In an unexpected move that caught Buffy off-guard for a second, Faith released her loose hold, and began to circle Buffy closely, eyes locked on hers.

Are we just pawns moving at life's pace?

Under the illusion that this is our race?

Is the struggle really worth the reward at the end?

Faith wasn't getting off that easy. Buffy matched her movements, and stopped Faith in the middle of a step. She reached for hand, took it, and pulled Faith to her. She pecked at Faith's Harlet-covered bottom lip, and grinned. She brought her knee between Faith's legs, and then the Bostonian took her turn and wrapped her arms around Buffy's neck as they continued to dance.

It's not good to be too bad and bad to be too good,

Separate we can't find that even ground,

Maybe together we could

Don't know when you became my lifeline,

From the walls I let confine,

But we're the game's key players now

The song was slowing now, and so were they.

"Jesus…" Faith exhaled.

"Think we were entertaining enough?"

"I know I was satisfied."

"Were you?"

They separated slowly, hands losing contact at the last possible second. And then in a bold move, not caring who was around, Faith captured Buffy's mouth with hers. Buffy, shocked as she was, couldn't deny her partner this. Couldn't deny herself this. It only lasted all but three seconds, but time was a relative thing. And it confirmed to the both of them that they were still in reality.

We are one in the sea

Are we just pawns moving at life's pace?

Under the illusion that this is our race?

Is the struggle really worth the reward at the end?

The song over, they stared at the people who had been watching. The two of them dared anyone to say a word. No one did. As they moved back over to their table, the noise level resumed its normal volume, and time moved forward once again.

***

Back at the table, Willow and Tara were trying to get their jaws to work again. The phrase "you're face will get stuck that way" was becoming less and less of an old wives' tale by the second. Watching Buffy and Faith, among other things, made them feel a little guilty. Even though they allowed the whole Bronze to view them. What the slayers did, they couldn't think of an appropriate term, seemed very personal.

Willow stared down at her soda, and then up at Tara.

"Soda doesn't seem like the best idea right now." Tara nodded in agreement. "How's water sound?"

"Good...throat's a little dry…"

Willow began to get up. "Yeah…I'll make sure it's cold."

"To cool down."

"Right. Cause it's hot in here." They both looked around nervously, and then Willow walked over to the bar.

Tara looked up as Buffy and Faith approached the table, and despite her previous embarrassment, had to crack a small smile. It was obvious the girls had enjoyed themselves. Faith sat on the empty stool, and Buffy sat on her knee. She could see the love, but they weren't the kind of couple that went out of their way to show people they were in love.

Well, under normal circumstances. Which was anywhere but dance floors.

They seemed so comfortable with their relationship. People's opinions, gazes, didn't seem to affect them. Tara guessed it was because they didn't really have time to worry about what people thought. And they didn't seem like the type of people to care anyhow. She wished she and Willow could do that. Well, their relationship wasn't very clearly defined at the moment, so Tara supposed she was jumping the gun a little bit.

"I've…uh…never seen anything like that before." Tara said slowly.

"Did we look really stupid or something?" Buffy asked.

"I think she means…" Faith whispered Buffy the rest.

"Oh." Buffy blushed, and then grinned. "I don't think anybody in here has."

"You and Will should get those plevis' movin'." Faith said.

"Well…I uh…I don't think so." Tara said, face red.

"Why not? Don't tell me she's still being -"

"Sssh!" Buddy shushed Faith as Willow came back with four water bottles.

The redhead handed the three of them each a bottle, and sat down on her stool. As much as they tried to hide it, she knew what they all wanted her to do. It had been about a week since she and Faith had had their talk, and she hadn't been able to work up the guts to just flat out kiss Tara. She wanted there to be a moment, a right time. But if she didn't think of Tara in a romantic way, there would be no need for a "right moment" in the first place. She was so confused.

"Do you two have any energy left?" Willow asked.

Buffy took a swig of her water. "We're the real-life Energizer Bunnies. Only…without the fir. And the drums."

"Where do you come up with these analogies? Are you in the special class on campus or something?" Faith asked.

"I can't believe you knew 'analogy' was a word. Let alone use it appropriately in a sentence." Buffy retorted.

"Touché." Faith conceded.

Willow and Tara exchanged glances as they watched the exchange of jibes. The glance turned into a look, the look turned into a gaze, and the gaze became a staring contest. But nobody was going to win. When they mutually broke off eye contact, they saw their friends staring at them with knowing smiles.

Buffy moved off of Faith, and they both looked at the girls, rather focused glints in their eyes. The wiccans were scared, too scared to move. Buffy got behind Willow, and Faith got behind Tara.

"This for your own good ladies." Faith said. "Coulda done it the easy way, but you just had to let it drag. Time to get things on track."

"Buffy?" Willow asked.

"Trust me, Will. We just wanna see you happy." Buffy said, holding her friend by the shoulders.

"What are you talking ab -" Tara started, but got cut off as Faith gave her a little nudge.

But a little nudge from a slayer was like a decent shove from a 'normal' person, so Tara lost her balance and fell forward off the stool. Willow caught her before she hit the ground, and she smiled at the redhead. Buffy moved away from Willow, and all Tara could hear was the other witch's breathing.

For Willow, as she still grasped Tara's arms, she felt a sensation shoot through her body. The blonde's smile, her eyes, her soft voice, it all hit her like a freight train. And even though they ended up in their current position rather unceremoniously, and it wasn't the most private place in the world, this was the moment.

The time when everything finally made sense to her. She felt it when they first met, and whenever they were together. She recognized the love she had let stay hidden, and now it just wanted to explode out. But she couldn't. Not here. Not in the Bronze. Not...

"Damn it, Red. Kiss her already." Faith said.

"You…you…don't…have -" Tara said, not believing this was happening.

"Only one way to find out, right?" Willow asked in a hushed tone.

Willow leaned down and kissed Tara's lips softly, tentatively, not sure what to expect. Tara's mouth parted, her breath mixing with Willow's. This continued into short, soft kisses along the contours of each other's mouths.

"I…um…guys…you might wanna…" Buffy urged gently, looking toward the entrance.

"Wrap it up." Faith said more forcefully.

But by the time they did, it was too late.

"Huh? What…" Willow trailed off as she went wide-eyed.

"Look, it's the X-Man and his girl." Faith said.

"Hey." Xander said slowly.

Anya simply smirked. "What'd we miss?"

***

"Let's play Who Wants to Be a Millionaire!" Regis' voice projected from the TV.

Giles enjoyed the American version much better than the one he had seen on his infrequent trips to London. The contestants in the show overseas were always nervous, shy and fidgety from what he saw. But in the American version, the contestants told you their life story. It was rather amusing. Plus it was more fun to yell it them if they got it wrong.

"What band has a member who is most recognizable by the size of his lips?

"Is it:

"A: The Beatles?

"B: The Monkees

"C: The Backstreet Boys

"Or D: The Rolling Stones?"

Even though the contestant was a computer programmer from California with a pocket protector, he had to know the answer. Everyone knew the answer. It was so obvious.

"Hmmm…I was thinking Steven Tyler…but Aerosmith's not up there…and I remember the Monkees…their lips all seemed pretty regular…I never was really into the Beatles craze…and…" The contestant rambled on.

"Come on! Pillock! It's the hundred dollar question for God's sake!" Giles said trying to repress his rage.

"I've never…I mean I hear the Stones a lot on the radio…"

"Oh they allow radios in the cubicles?" Regis joked, deadpan.

"I'm going to have to ask the audience."

The phone began to ring. "Ask the audience? Bloody moron. Never heard of Mick Jagger, have you? Americans."

As Giles picked up the phone, he heard Regis speak again.

"There you go. One hundred percent of the audience thinks D is the right answer. I don't think we've ever had unanimous agreement on this show before."

"I'll have to go with D as my final answer then."

"You better. There's no chance in hell you're getting up to -" Giles started, but then got cut off by Olivia's frantic voice on the other end of the line. "Olivia? What's the matter?"

"I came home from a friend's flat about thirty minutes ago and…"

"Yes?"

"There were men from that Council you told me about at my door. They just left."

Giles paled. "What did they want?"

"They asked me questions about a Faith person. And I remembered her from when I was over there last and I guess they must have followed me…I told them she was staying with you. I didn't think much of it until I overheard them say…"

He slid his glasses off his face and closed his eyes. "It's not your fault. I should have informed you better."

"I'm the one who didn't want to know about slayers and hellmouths…what did I do, Ripper?"

"Nothing. It'll be fine. Now did they say when they might arrive here?"

"Tomorrow night I think. Your time."

"Thank you. I'll call you as soon as I can." He hung up. "They don't know when to give up."

Faith and Buffy had to come by. Faith lived there after all. He just hoped it was sooner rather than later.

***

"Ah…what do you say we go for a walk?" Buffy asked, trying to find some way to break the tension. "As much as I like public displays, I think we've all given the Bronze enough of a show tonight."

"Agreed." Faith said, but still shot a suggestive leer Buffy's way for good measure.

"Yeah…good idea." Willow and Tara said quickly, standing up.

The four girls led the way out, getting as far ahead of Xander and Anya as possible. Xander followed with his ex-demon girlfriend, staying silent all the way out the door.

"Oh yeah. We missed something big." Anya said, pleased with her previous deduction.

The silence was creepy. They walked along the sidewalk, leaving the bad side of town, and nobody spoke. It was like waiting for a bomb to tick down its seconds before it exploded. You knew it was going to happen, but you also knew you wouldn't be ready for it. They all risked looks in Xander's direction to see how far away he was from blowing up. There was a vein protruding from his forehead, but that's all they could make out.

On autopilot, they all seemed to be moving in the direction of Giles' house. They walked down Main Street, looking at the various stores, afraid to say a word. Past the Expresso Pump, past April Fools, the quiet was killing them. Xander looked at Willow and Tara out of the corner of his eye, and then focused in front of him once again.

"So have you interlocked yet or what?" Anya asked, frustrated.

"Depends on your definition." Faith remarked, as Buffy tried to glare at her.

Now Xander stopped walking, and faced the slayers. He had only seen Willow and Tara. And as if that wasn't…bad enough…now the other two were…

"You too?" He asked in a low tone.

"Yeah. We've all been infected by an evil lesbian succubus, and we're all under a freaky spell that's overpowered us with lesbian vibes." Buffy deadpanned.

Xander actually looked relieved for a second. Until Anya slapped him on the arm.

"It's called sarcasm. Even I know that."

"Why?" He asked now, his relief faded.

"Think he could have picked a more complicated question?" Faith asked.

"Well, we said we'd do it together, right Will?" Buffy asked her friend. "That is…if you guys are…"

Willow forgot about Xander for the moment, and looked at Tara. "I think we are. We are, right?"

Tara nodded repeatedly; still unable to believe she had kissed Willow.

"Okay. Will somebody please explain what the hell is going on?" Xander asked.

"Better question. Why the hell are we even bothering to get his approval?" Faith asked.

"Is that what we're trying to do?" Willow asked. She couldn't really focus.

"Spike." Buffy said quickly.

"And the award for 'Making an already awkward situation even more confusing' goes to…" Xander trailed off.

"No. Spike. Coming out of the liquor store."

Faith looked to where Buffy was pointing. The Xander conversation was going nowhere fast. She needed a distraction.

"Wanna go play?" Faith questioned her slaying partner.

Buffy looked at Xander. She wasn't quite ready to discuss the whole thing. Especially not on the street. She looked at Faith, and the brown-haired slayer handed her a stake. "Let's do it."

Xander choked as the slayers went to surprise the blonde vampire.

***

Two commandos moved along the alleys, keeping tabs on the two slayers. They watched the stealthy movements of the girls, as they sneaked closer to what appeared to be Hostile Seventeen. There was no love lost between the Initiative members and their targets that was for sure. They had started the deterioration of the well-oiled machine that was their job, and the threats had to be dealt with.

The two men were not in any real authoritative position, they were just the stooges, but they made sure Graham and the higher ups knew their feelings on ‘the Slayer Matter’. They had their orders, and were simply waiting to execute their part of the operation. The vampire was not a variable they had anticipated, however. Jackson was calling the shots on this mission, and figured he had better call the base for instructions.

"Sir, the targets are moving to intercept Hostile Seventeen. Should we alter the plan to compensate for him?"

Graham’s voice crackled through Jackson’s headset. "Deactivating his implant was a mistake. If you can take him without compromising the main objective, do it. Use your best judgement."

"The way things look now, the slayers may get hold of him."

"Then drive them all to the team. It’ll be good field exercise for the new asset."

"Copy that. Jackson out."

***

Spike didn’t have time to react as Buffy and Faith shoved him up against a building. Miraculously, he still managed to hold onto the brown paper bag, which held his newly purchased bottle of vodka. When Buffy realized that they were still in plain view of passersby, they dragged him around the corner and into an alley.

Faith applied pressure to his neck with her forearm.

"Hiya, Billy."

Buffy snatched the bag from his hand. "Tsk, tsk, Spike. This stuff’ll eat away at your liver, you know. And then it’ll kill ya." She tossed it to the ground, and the bottle shattered inside the bag. "If you weren’t already technically dead, that is."

"Aww, come on. I haven’t tried to kill you bitches for a week and a half." Buffy slugged him, and his head hit the wall.

"Hey, he’s right, B. So whatcha been doing with yourself? Besides getting trashed off your ass."

"Making friends." He said.

"That’s…okay what’s the deal? Who’s the friend?" Buffy asked.

"Like I’d tell you. And don’t threaten me with that ‘we’ll dust you’ line. You’re gonna do it anyway. I’ve got nothing to gain."

"All right. We’ll just kill you then." Faith said, looking to Buffy for confirmation.

Buffy pulled back her stake.

"Wait!" Spike yelled.

"You wanna spill now?" Faith asked.

"No…it's just…isn't that two of those soldier boys looking this way?"

The slayers turned their heads, and there were indeed two soldiers looking their way. As soon as they saw that they had been spotted, the men ran off.

"There's something not right about this…" Buffy trailed off.

"Well, let's go say hello. We'll just bring 'Mr. Black Wedding' with us." Faith said, easing the force she was applying on Spike a little. "If there's trouble, we can use him as a shield."

"You know, my new friend has also been helping me get back into shape." Spike said, pushing Faith back, and then connecting with her jaw.

He made it past Buffy, but the blonde was quickly on him, tackling him to the ground. "Need a little more work." Buffy said, pinning his arms behind him.

Faith recovered and started walking down the other end of the alley where they had seen the commandos. "I'll follow 'em. Just catch up." She started to speed up.

Before Buffy could object, Faith was already going at a good pace.

"Let's go."

"Do I have a choice?" Spike asked.

"Shut up."

***

Faith ran and ran, following the commandos into "Three Graves Cemetery" as she dubbed it. She called it that in all seriousness because there were three graves where the deceased had actually stayed in their final resting places. They all happened to be children too. She heard that they had died from mysterious blood loss that, shockingly, showed her that vampires did have some standards when it came to turning their victims.

That really wasn't her biggest concern at the moment, however. She had lost sight of the man she pursued into the place. She had to hand it to them, though, because when the Initiative guys wanted to hide, they could hide. And she didn't really want to admit it to herself, but she had a feeling chasing after them had been a bad idea.

Scanning the graves, her eyes rested on a mausoleum. She could see a silouhette in the moonlight. Whoever it was, they were standing in the entryway, and if this was a trap, she wasn't going to go into a dark, dank space and wait to be ambushed.

"Show yourself. I've got places to be."

The person stepped forward slowly, and met Faith halfway. When she got a good look, she gasped. The man was in normal commando fatigues, looked normal, though bigger.

"Riley?"

"Where have you got to go?"

"You're dead."

"Am I?"

"Getting shot through the heart usually qualifies you as dead in my book." She started to back away as he got closer.

"You're Faith."

"Thanks for clearing that up."

"If I remember, yes…I was gone, and you had a hand in it."

"You can't be a vamp…" Riley reached out his hand, and a stiletto shot from his wrist. "Holy shit." Faith whispered.

That's when she heard Buffy and Spike coming running up behind her.

"Faith…what…" Buffy saw Riley, and she stiffened. "What the hell…"

Spike noticed the stiletto before Buffy did. "Meet the new and improved model. He looks less thrown together than the other one."

"Oh my God…"

That's when a full team of commandos stood up from behind graves, dropped from trees, and formed a circle around Buffy, Faith, Spike and Riley. They pointed their weapons at the slayers and the vampire, and Riley, receiving orders, began to advance.