Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 29
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All things Buffy belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and lots of people in expensive suits. I'm not making any money here, just trying to create a happier Buffyverse for my favorite characters.
Spoilers: General spoilers for S5, starting with "The I in Team." Eh, who am I kidding? This is really AU now.
A/N: Thanks to Ivy for pre-reading and Zigpal and Lilly for the beta. There would be no writing without you guys.
Pushing open the kitchen door, Buffy looked at Faith. "What the hell happened to you?" Faith was sweat soaked, dirty, and battered.
Faith looked at her, one eyebrow climbing. "Hi, B. You look good. You're welcome for getting the troops out of the way so X-man and Graham could get back with the info."
"Oops. Sorry, Faith." Buffy relaxed. Faith couldn't be badly hurt if she was this cocky. "Thanks for letting Xander and Graham come back with the info." She waited a beat then added, "Want to explain the 'I just got my ass kicked' look?"
"I ran into your ex." Hand on her side, Faith stretched and winced. "Boy's wicked fast and has a hell of a punch. Remind me not to make fun of the Marine commercials anymore."
Something didn't make sense. "You ran into Riley?" Buffy asked. No way could Riley do that kind of damage. They'd patrolled and sparred enough. He'd never even laid a hand on Buffy unless she'd let him.
"Big beefy guy who freaked when you kissed Red at the Bronze?" Faith commented.
"That's him." Buffy didn't look at anyone except Faith. She and Willow may have outed themselves earlier, but they hadn't made any announcements about how long their strange relationship had been going on.
She'd forgotten one thing, though.
Xander's head shot up. "Buffy kissed Willow? When? And why wasn't I there?"
"Xander!" Anya's shrill voice interrupted. "You are with me. That means you should not be enjoying thoughts of other women. Besides, if Buffy kisses Willow, they wouldn't want you there. That makes them lesbians."
Willow's giggles broke the pained silence. "Actually, Anya," she said, stepping around Buffy and taking a seat on a stool, "Buffy and I would be considered bisexual."
If Buffy hadn't been so embarrassed, she might have marveled at Willow's sudden self-possession.
Before Anya could reply, Willow went on, addressing Faith, "Do you think it was all the time in the coma that let Riley get to you?"
Faith shook her head immediately. "No. Once Blondie did her magic, I've been back to normal. He got me even with the Slayer running things."
The words rang hollowly in Buffy's ears. No. This couldn't be happening. Not again. Springing across the kitchen, she snatched the folder on Adam and the other monster from the table. Ignoring the people crowding the kitchen, Buffy peered at the diagram of the Professor's other creation. Nothing. "Tara, were there any notes on testing? Maybe responses to drugs or battle simulations?" she demanded, giving up on the file.
"Y-Yes. How di-did you know?" Tara stuttered, shrinking back from Buffy's sudden aggression.
"Damn it, why me?" Buffy shouted, slamming the file onto the table. "I mean, I may be a Slayer, but that doesn't mean I'm some kind of demon magnet, right?" She turned to Willow. "Angel, Ford, Riley. I swear, if you turn into an evil demon, I'm going celibate."
***
Fighting a laugh, Willow stared at Buffy. The hazel eyes were dark and shadowed, her soft lips pursed. Whatever had Buffy making vows of celibacy, it wasn't at all funny. "Um...'k. I promise not to go Evil, Buffy." Running Buffy's actions through her mind, Willow tried to put the pieces together.
Graham beat her to the punch. "Why do you think Ry's a demon?" he asked, voice angry. "He was on those drugs, just like the rest of us. He didn't have a choice about what he did."
Buffy spun to face Graham. "You were there when the Professor did all those tests. How many times did Riley, did any of you, even get close to me in a fight?"
Eyes wide, Willow realized what Buffy was thinking — Riley was Professor Walsh's newest hybrid. She took a step toward Buffy as Graham responded to Buffy's strident question.
"None." The word was quiet, reluctantly drawn from Graham. "That doesn't mean-"
"You're right. It doesn't mean anything." Willow watched Buffy scan the room. Her girlfriend had everyone's attention. "I could be wrong." Buffy's lips twisted bitterly. "I'd like to be wrong. I just don't think I am."
Giles broke the tense silence when he walked over and retrieved the file Buffy had thrown onto the counter. "Right or wrong, it doesn't change our plan." He looked expectantly at Buffy.
Willow saw Buffy frown in confusion. "Remember...the plan," she enunciated for Buffy's benefit, flicking her glance toward Tara and Faith.
"The plan," Buffy mimicked. The wheels were turning, and Willow waited for Buffy to make the connection. "Oh!" Cheeks pink, Buffy looked at Tara. "That plan."
***
Faith watched the byplay with irritation. If they had a plan, why the hell were they hanging out in the kitchen? "You gonna fill me in on this plan, B? Or did you want to move here permanently?"
Buffy's blush was unexpected — as was the almost fearful look she shot Tara.
"B?" Faith gripped the edge of the table. "We're going after Adam, right? That's what the plan's for?"
"Yes, it is." It wasn't Buffy who answered. Tara smiled slightly, blonde hair creeping forward to obscure part of her face. "Why don't I tell you about that while I take a look at those ribs?"
Eyes bouncing between a strangely silent Buffy and Tara, Faith considered that. "Nah." She was a Slayer. She'd heal. The thing with Adam was more important than getting Tara to magically heal some cuts and a few bruised ribs.
"You need to be completely healed if you and Buffy are going after Adam." Faith looked up at Joyce, leaning against the counter by the sink. "Let Tara take care of you," Joyce continued. She was smiling, but Faith didn't get the impression her words were a suggestion.
"Mrs. S-" she started to object. It was just some bruises.
"Please, Faith," Joyce pleaded.
Squirming under the piercing hazel stare, Faith tried one last time. "Waste of fucking time, if ya' ask me."
One blonde eyebrow rose.
Faith clamped her lips shut, head nodding almost automatically.
"Thank you, honey." Joyce's smile was far gentler this time. "Why don't you and Tara use one of the bedrooms while the rest of the gang talks strategy?"
"You're welcome," Faith muttered. She followed Tara out of the kitchen. "Blondie, what's really going on? B ain't calling the cops on me, is she?" It was the only reason she'd found for the strange way the Scoobies had acted.
Tara turned, blue eyes wide with horror. "Goddess, no!" She took Faith's hand and pulled her down the hall, talking the entire way. "Buffy's been pr-pretty wound up today from the S-Slayer and the way we ha-have to go after Adam."
"What's B's Slayer got to do with anything? I thought Red got those drugs out of Buffy's system?" Faith dug in her heels, halting their progress in the hallway. "Spill, Blondie. I ain't taking another step until you help me understand."
Dropping Faith's hand, Tara turned. She was bright red as she stared into Faith's eyes resolutely. "I'll tell you."
Faith snorted. Yeah, right.
She didn't expect the fiery blue eyes that glared up at her. "I said I would tell you. I will. Just..." Tara's rare show of aggression faded away, replaced by a bright blush. "...not out here."
"Whatever, Blondie." Faith pushed past her and into the first bedroom. She was too tired to argue. "Just make it fast, would you? If we're going after Adam, I don't want to be the last one out the door." Dropping onto the bed, Faith lay back, letting her legs and feet hang off the edge. "What's the plan that has you and B all redfaced?"
Tara didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked to the opposite side of the bed by Faith's head, gently touching her temples. "Relax, Faith," she said softly. "I need you to relax and lower your shields."
"You gonna do the healing now?" Faith asked, already sinking into a trance state. Tara's temple massage had her almost boneless. Warmth tingled under her skin.
She heard Tara's slow, deliberate breaths and the bed dipped as Tara knelt next to her. The fingers trailed away from her temples, stroking softly down her face to her neck.
It felt so good, Faith didn't question the action. When Tara's lips followed the path of her fingers, though, relaxation disappeared. Faith sat up abruptly. "What the fuck's going on, Blondie?" she demanded. Eyes snapping open, she glared at Tara.
Deep blue eyes glittered in the dim room. "I'm trying to explain the plan, Faith."
"The plan includes you coming on to me?" Faith chuckled. "Never saw that coming." She scooted to the end of the bed. "Never mind about the ribs, T. They feel better." Maybe Tara had gotten to them before she made her moves.
"Faith." Tara's voice reached out, stopping Faith before she stood.
The warmth was back; the tingling beneath her skin grew.
"I promised to explain the plan. Why won't you let me explain?" Tara asked.