Switcheroony
by alicorn
Chapter 4
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Buffy, found herself gazing at Willow as she and Xander danced, from her spot at their table. Wondering just how Oz could have walked out on her Will. She was an incredible sweet woman, a fantastic loyal friend, shoulder to cry on and pocket fun genius. Imagining Willow the size of a pocket dictionary made her smile and Willow chose that moment to look her way and flash her a smile in response. Buffy's chest glowed with pride.
She was enjoying a floaty, thank the goddesses for Willowy goodness, my life's a good life, feeling, but it was squashed, when she recognised the face that moved into her line of sight as Faith. Leaning across the table Faith smiled knowingly, as she blocked her view of the dance floor.
"Hey B, still checking out Red I see. What 's holding you back?" She asked with a leer. "Don't get what you see in her, myself."
"So, not asking. What are you doing here Faith. Gotta wish to die much?" Buffy said, shooting Faith a steely gaze. "Didn't I make it clear at our last meeting, that you should stay away from me."
"I'm on a job for Angel, but I thought I'd just do some catching up. Touching base, with my home girl. No hug for your long lost?" She replied carelessly. Changing tack and the tone of her voice she continued. "So seriously, how you doing B? Scooby's look on a well deserved break. How's Giles?"
Buffy found herself suddenly very alert, Faith being chummy set her teeth on edge and her spider senses tingling. "Yeh, right. What's with the noticing others all of a sudden?"
"B, you wanna learn to lay back girlfriend, go with the flow." Faith threw her shoulders back and spread her arms, in a couldn't care less gesture. "Chill."
"If I go with my flow, your gonna be lying flat on your back pretty damn soon." Replied Buffy through clenched teeth. This was getting unfunny real quick. Faith was making her nervous
"Hey babe, whatever." She replied leaning forward to smirk at Buffy. "Not really here to push your button's, fun though that is. I have something to pass on from Cordy." With that she perched on the stool to the left of Buffy. Faith's brazen confidence in the fact that Buffy would not act on her instincts and punch her out, until she knew why Angel was involved, grated on the Slayers for different reasons. "You may wanna call in the Buffettes."
As ever was the case, Willow and Xander appeared, just as she thought of them. "Buff?" Xander asked, his eyes loaded with one question, what's up?
Buffy replied by moving her eyes, to indicate that they sit. Xander took this as a sign to partially relax. Buffy's explanation was brief. "Faith has a message from Cordy." With that Xander sat opposite Faith and waited.
"So why not a call?" asked Willow, as she chose the stool opposite Buffy. "I mean, how do we know they sent you?"
"It's more of a hand delivery item." Faith interjected. When no one was bated, she added. "Okay. Angel said to tell Buffy that this is 'from the one freaky thing in your freaky world that makes sense'. Look really not wanting to be here B, but Vision girl said it had to be done now, must be handed over to you two, by midnight." Everyone checked their watch it was ten to. "Dead Boy is otherwise engaged, something to do with...aw hell who cares. Angel said I had to do the delivery, protect it till it got to you. Got it?.... not wanting to be here clear, so back off with the attitude. Just tell me, are you taking delivery?" Faith waited for a response, Buffy said nothing, whilst Xander and Willow just continued to stare at Faith, taking that as backing off, Faith waited.
Xander piped up. "So hand it over."
"Sorry stud." Faith said looking at Xander. "Cordy said I had to give this to Willow and Buffy, I was to tell you girlies that..... The goddess said........ Hold on I need a mo, lot to remember. Gouchi girl wouldn't let me write it down. So hang five."
After several minutes of Faith staring at the table in silence, Buffy was loosing it. "Faith? Midnight!"
"Chill." Faith paused again. "Okay, I think I got it."
"A choice says the Goddess,
Give into nothing but temptation
Let inner passions light a fire.
Flowing in the heart of a maiden,
Now arising without the dawn,
To find a home and free desire.
Walk in the shoes of another
The fate of two souls entwined
Or secrets that burden and fester.
For Luna will turn her back
Until the hidden truth is seen,
Returning to fix them forever.
Only then will there be release.
Or bind the lies like the first,
Unrequited soul mates left to die.
For if she withers from her roots
And a single season be forgotten,
Such lives will weep and cry."
Finishing Faith slowly extracted a globe from her jacket.
Buffy and Willow immediately, ignored the really bizarre fact that they had just heard faith reciting poetry, as they both became mesmerised, by the soft yellow and amber light that emanated from the globe. They were drawn to it and both reached for the globe, as Faith placed it on the table and removed her own hand.
Willows hand touched it first and she smiled at Buffy, who was also reaching forward her hand. When Buffy touched the Globe, a surge of power shot between them and knocked Xander from his stool. From the floor he heard Faith say, "Job done, I'm outta here." Scrambling to his feet, he saw her exit stage left, looking back at Buffy and Willow he saw that they were out of it, heads resting on the table, hands still out stretched, but between them, no globe!
Torn between chasing Faith and a possible, no make that almost certain thrashing, he decided that calling Giles and staying with the girls was probably the right thing to do.