Reveal
by DawnBTVS
Chapter 24
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Mutant Enemy, Fox, Joss, etc.
Rating: PG-13 (think Buffy show for violence/subject matter/language)
Time Frame: December, End of 1st Week.
Pairings: G/J, B/W, X/W
A/N: Earth Science class to be specific sucks (esp. for an English Major). Also thanks for the support (reviews) and sticking with my sporadic schedule :)
Buffy pursed her lips and breathed softly down into her standard fare Mocha cappuccino, letting the beverage cool in her touch. Willow regarded Buffy quietly, taking a quick sip of her own doppelganger beverage copy. "Something bothering you? I think I heard two words from your mouth and they were merely drink recitation."
Buffy glanced up at the remark, getting a subtle shift from Willow that the redhead wanted some verbal response. Buffy knitted her eyebrows and stared at her drink. "Something's wrong with Faith."
"Is she evil?" Willow asked with concern already evident in her tone. The redhead and the brunette took an instant dislike to one another and Buffy was the mediator in the middle. Not the most thrilling spot for the blonde but right now, Buffy was willing to keep the two from snapping at each other if it meant saving the world.
"No," Buffy stated. The blonde shook her head and glanced at Willow, still mulling whatever the issue was in her head. "She's supposed to be the next Slayer in line, right?"
"Giles said as much," Willow confirmed.
"Giles is wrong." At Willow's skeptical expression, Buffy added, "That or Faith has an impressive way of spinning perception when she fights because she's slow. Not like you or Xander."
Willow arched an eyebrow and shot Buffy a challenging stare. Buffy grimaced. "You know what I mean, Will. Giles taped my training session once. And it was not as funny as it sounded and it's never seeing the light of day," Buffy remarked at Willow's slightly impish grin. "I kept an eye on Faith and Kendra as we were fighting a few easy vamps. Kendra kept up fine but Faith was different. Maybe it's nothing and most wouldn't even perceptibly pick up on it but I could've sworn she was a half second... off."
"Seconds are all that matter between life and death. Think Quentin lied?" Willow asked, taking another sip. Buffy smiled at the tiny mustache on Willow's lips. Buffy brought her finger up and slowly wiped the mustache away to Willow's soft blush.
Buffy took a sip of her own cappuccino. "Mustache. The way he came off, I wouldn't put it past him really. He's the head of the Council so I'm sure he knew about my brief death. Somebody was gonna replace me."
Willow shook her head, brushing back red hair that had fell across her eyes. "Nobody could replace you. I don't think that I'd be very happy being in love with a casket."
"It's plushy. Uh, Angel showed me the casket he had. A replica, actually. He said it was to remind him of how he was reborn."
Willow nodded her head, lowering her eyes to her cup as she sipped. Buffy glanced away, scolding herself for bringing him up again. Willow flashed her eyes at Buffy. "If it's not Faith, then how is she so good, and who's the real Slayer?"
"Said she trained with Quentin," Buffy remarked, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm sure they have the latest technology with those bags that measure the punch impact or whatever. That PSI thing. Kendra could be the next in line."
Willow frowned, her own eyebrows knitted now. "What if she isn't?"
"Well..." Buffy paused. She didn't like knowing there was a Slayer out there she didn't know was the one. "Let's hope she's one of the good guys."
"Good guys? Aren't Slayers inherently good, what with having to save the world and all?"
"Not that black and white, Willow. Quentin probably hates it but Giles' journals have accounts of a couple Slayers going against the grain. Both were killed off under undetermined circumstances."
Willow visibly shuddered. "Council?" Willow gently pushed her drink away, clearly finding this turn in conversation enough to kill any further appetite. Buffy reached out to take it, getting a nod of acceptance as Buffy pulled the drink next to her own.
"Probably. They have their mission, I have mine. Just so happens that I'm the instrument that their umbrella covers."
Willow leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her forearms. "Why's Faith here than? I mean, Kendra's here and could be the true Slayer... well, in title only 'cause you're still here and queen of the hill. Not that you need to be just Buffy unless you wanna be Buffy instead of formerly dead but alive Slayer, which sounds too hurtful and wordy..." Willow stopped, taking in a breath as Buffy watched amused.
"Don't worry. I'm not offended at not being The Slayer anymore. Kendra knows this is my territory and is smart enough to not encroach." Buffy took a deep sip, finishing off her drink. She set the drink down with a sigh and smiled at Willow's flourishing grin. "What?"
Willow didn't answer, instead swiftly jerking her hand towards Buffy's mouth before wiping an index finger across Buffy's upper lip. "Had a little smudge," Willow giggled. Buffy smirked.
"Thanks. Anyway, Angel's casing Faith for me and stop that, Will. We've been over this," Buffy scolded gently, staring at Willow as the redhead frowned.
"I'm still not satisfied with Wendy and I can't help that my jealous streak runs through the cracks in the streets," Willow whined quietly.
"Virgin last time I checked so you didn't lose out on that, Will."
Both of Willow's eyebrows shot up at the veracity of the quip while Buffy just calmly looked back, a small gleam in her eyes. "Good thing I've deflowered many a girl than," Willow returned, a gleam flashing in her own eyes.
"O-o-h," Buffy exclaimed. Buffy leaned forward, resting her chin in a mirrored position of Willow. The two were close enough to Eskimo kiss if either desired. "Is it my turn to become the jealous girlfriend or should I be grateful that I have such an expert at my disposal?"
Willow smiled at the proximity of the two. "We already did the courtship dance and I never did get to say thank you in proper terms."
"Must be one of those nuanced dating steps I missed. You know how I am with books and studying," Buffy whispered, inching closer but still keeping their lips apart although Buffy was quickly nearing her breaking point.
"Hands on can work," Willow hissed.
Buffy raised a hand, signaling for the waitress as she captured Willow's lips with her own briefly before breaking. "What about video?" Buffy asked, catching Willow's creeping blush. Buffy grinned. "What happened to my very own practitioner?"
Willow smiled softly. "She's plotting ways to make your morning shower cold but I also know how much you love embarrassing me."
"Your blush is what breaks the meter of cute."
Willow tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't know how you do this night after night," Willow mumbled, trying to hide her yawn from Buffy but not quite managing it. Buffy leaned back in her seat.
"Slayer internal clock. Waking up at six in the morning regardless of sleep time isn't as refreshing as I make it look."
Willow frowned. "I killed the mood," Willow stated apologetically. Buffy shook her head.
"Waking up Mom with a half unrobed redhead would be a nightmare greater than any mood snuffing."
Willow darted her eyes away, clearly finding that image horrifying. Buffy grimaced, glad to divert her own eyes to the waitress coming up to their table.
~~~BTVS~~~
Willow pressed herself against Buffy's arm, keeping her own arm linked with Buffy's. Buffy smiled at the affection, feeling Willow's head snuggle into the crook of her neck. The two continued walking, taking in the quiet. "Buffy?"
Buffy inhaled at the tone of Willow's voice. Willow sounded concerned. "What's on your mind?"
Willow grabbed Buffy's hand, the blonde stifling the shiver at the suddenly cold touch of skin on skin. "Jenny wants me to do the spell."
Buffy pursed her lips and shifted her head enough to meet Willow's eyes with her own, not surprised that the redhead was peering up at her. Buffy flashed back to Willow huddled on the stairs wrapped in a blanket, an absolute picture of freaked beyond calming. "Does Giles know?"
"Yes. I've been doing good with the control but Jenny and Giles are still puzzled over the..." Willow paused to get herself back, catching Buffy's frown at the tremble of her lips. "They still don't understand how I went all demon eyed."
"You're not a demon."
Willow smiled half heartedly. "Just the spells, right? What I did... what if I lose control again? What if I turn Jenny into a-a-a Jackal or something and get all nasty and horrible?"
Buffy tensed. "I'm at your side," Buffy demanded. "Whatever you're doing or gonna do, I want in the room. No way are you going through that alone."
"Tomorrow morning before classes. Jenny said that Faith and maybe Kendra would be there too," Willow whispered, letting loose a sigh.
Buffy swallowed, not particularly pleased at the idea that Faith would be in the same room as Willow when the redhead would be undergoing a repeat of a traumatic experience. The last thing Buffy needed was Willow attacking Faith... or vice versa. Willow rested her chin on Buffy's shoulder. "You don't like Faith," Buffy confirmed.
"She comes off as a bossy, pretentious, challenging jerk," Willow clarified. Buffy chuckled softly. "She's also trying to replace you and if your sense is anything to go by, than it's a rude way to overthrow you."
Buffy smiled softly, ducking her head so she was nose to nose with Willow. "Not liking Old Navy was the turning point, huh?"
Willow wasn't sure how they were still moving sideways, or forwards, or whatever the term was now in the position they were but Willow didn't care as she shook her head. "Old Navy was beyond the turning point. In the car she kept giving me this snide leer since you were in the front seat and then she'd glance at you with a grin, and then back at me with that same leer."
Buffy frowned. "We talking a suggestive, I like you kinda leer or I like her, um, me, leer?" Buffy asked, now genuinely puzzled. Willow arched an eyebrow.
"Does it matter?"
"No," Buffy hastily added. Willow's eyebrow remained arched. "Well, it determines if you get protective, hands off my girl Buffy or I get annoyed, snappy protective Willow."
Willow gave Buffy a bemused smile. "How about we both be protective? And in no way am I snappy. Overly jealous with under my breath comments are a possibility but snappy isn't within miles of my forte."
"Mmm," Buffy mused, "I think you inadvertently enter snappy. Around Faith."
Willow huffed. "She's earned my snappiness. Besides, if she's into me she has a lousy way of showing it. After all, you avoided me than dared me."
Buffy pulled her head back, her smile disappearing slightly as Willow frowned and pulled her chin off Buffy's shoulder in regret. "Avoidance wasn't intentional, Will. I needed to examine possibilities and see if I was willing to step past the line."
Willow nodded, noting that Buffy's hand had also broken their grip although their arms were still loosely linked. "You still dared. Technically, Xander but I was the focal point."
"I'm rash and impulsive at times. I kissed Angel after a night of running from demons and got a vamp face for my luck." Buffy gazed at Willow for a few seconds, internally pleased that Willow hadn't turned away at the mention of his name though the redhead still looked uneasy. "I may not be able to write 1,001 ways to your best same sex friend's heart after they tell you they love you, but I needed to know if there was more than a surface friendship. You felt things for me and hurting you at all with a half-hearted attempt only for me to go back to Angel would've been so much worse than just telling you no."
Willow ducked her eyes to her feet, taking in the truth of Buffy's words. "Sometimes I wonder. You and Angel were together for almost a year, Buffy. Not being anatomically correct aside, but should I be worried that it's all so... sudden?" Willow asked, glancing at Buffy. Buffy pursed her lips and stared back at Willow.
"You're worried this is another of my impulsive actions and that a month from now I'll be back with Angel?" Buffy asked, getting a reddened face as her answer. "I thought about us for hours and days and weeks, Willow. I don't think I can ever be as introspective about what I felt as I did while struggling with how to handle the situation. This wasn't some spur of the moment decision," Buffy stated, stepping back flush against the redhead so their sides were touching, heads turned towards one another. Buffy wrapped her hand back around Willow's. "If you really wanna know, Mr. Delgado iced it," Buffy commented with a wink.
Willow smiled briefly at Buffy's attempt to levity the situation before her face grew serious. "But Angel..." Willow started but Buffy quieted her with a stern shake of her head.
"Is Angel and he's supportive of us. He may not be clicking his heels in the town square but he likes you. Yes, there will always be that air of more than friends when we're around each other and that'll never go away, Will. You wanted me. I'm here," Buffy whispered, gazing intently into Willow's eyes. "I get that we're still doing the whole trust routine and it'll probably take months for us to get comfortable in the presence of certain people but when we're together... it's just us."
Willow nodded her head, not responding. "And Faith," Willow whispered under her breath as she turned to look ahead. Buffy glanced at Willow, catching the comment but the blonde stayed quiet as well, instead lapsing back into a silence that wasn't as comfortable as the start.
TBC