Simple Choices
by rebelrsr
Chapter 31
[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.
"You don't think it's that simple, do you?" Graham had recovered his confidence. "Maybe there is a secret entrance. It's not going to be on the blueprints labeled 'Frankenstein's Lab.'"
Willow never even glanced up. "Good thing I'm smart enough not to be looking for that.
Biting back a laugh at the sarcasm in that comment, Buffy tried asking, "How are you going to find the entrance then?"
Impatient green eyes peered over the computer screen. "First, I actually have to have time to look for the information."
"Sorry." With a grimace, Buffy dropped onto a chair and watched her girlfriend type madly. That didn't help. She couldn't tell what Willow was doing. Scooting closer, she rested her chin on Willow's shoulder. Much, much better. Buffy still didn't have a clue what Willow was doing, but the contact and the light floral perfume Willow wore got rid of the lingering aggression from earlier.
***
Willow sighed soundlessly when Buffy leaned against her. Expecting a new barrage of questions when Buffy couldn't understand the code she was entering, Willow was surprised at the silence. Sparing a glance from the screen, she grinned. Buffy looked almost asleep. Eyes partially closed, breathing slow and even, Buffy simply drifted.
Taking advantage of the quiet moment, Willow went back to work.
Eventually, the gang resumed talking. No one, however, interrupted her. Ignoring the ebb and flow of voices and the clatter of plates from lunch, Willow kept her focus on finding a way into the Initiative's files. She'd done it once. She could do it again.
Her concentration was so complete, Willow jumped when Buffy spoke softly into her ear, "Hey, I think you need to take a break."
"What?" Sitting back from the screen, Willow groaned. Goddess, she was stiff. "A break? I just got started. See?" She pointed at the time on the computer. "I've only been working..." Breaking off, she stared at the little numbers.
"Two hours, Will," Buffy finished for her. "Come on. Stand up, stretch, get something to eat."
No. She couldn't take a break. "I still haven't found a way in, Buffy. Unless we go back to the elevator idea, I need to keep working." Willow rolled her head before glaring determinedly at the screen. "It's there. I know it is." No way was she letting Buffy go after Adam without a solid plan.
Warm hands gripped her shoulders, kneading the tight muscles.
"That feels so good," Willow moaned. Her eyes slid closed, and her head fell back onto Buffy.
"I'm multitalented." Buffy kissed her cheek. "I can save the world in the morning and get rid of all those nasty knots in your back in the afternoon."
Zoning out, Willow let herself relax into Buffy's hands. That's when the quiet in the kitchen caught her attention. "Where is everyone?"
Buffy's hands tightened at the question before going back to their massage. "Faith and Tara are still...bonding."
Willow sensed her continued unease at that.
"Mom and Graham went on a grocery run. Everyone else is napping, I think." She pressed another kiss to Willow's cheek. "I don't understand why no one else enjoys Willow Watching the way I do."
Grinning faintly at the mock confusion in Buffy's voice, Willow slowly sat back up. "If they did, sweetie, we'd have to worry." She tilted her head, resting her cheek on the hands still on her shoulders. "I got in once, Buffy. I just need to find the right algorithm to break the encryption."
"OK." It was clear Buffy had no idea what she'd just said.
As she tried yet another algorithm, Willow searched for a simple explanation. "It's like...it's like doing a Rubik's Cube. Only, I don't have to get six faces of the same color. I have to find a pattern in the colors that fits in with the pattern that's already there."
Buffy's hands moved, her thumbs beginning a slow stroking motion up and down Willows's neck. "And that breaks in? Like finding the password?"
"Yes." Not really. It was just easier than trying to get more technical. "Once I get into the system, all I have to do is surf around until I find the blueprints." Willow nearly rolled her eyes at the oversimplification. She'd just compared breaking into Top Secret government computer files to a game cube.
The screen flashed.
"Damn," Willow griped.
"Still no good?" Buffy pressed closer.
The feel of Buffy against her helped only marginally with the frustration. "No. I've tried everything I can think of, Buffy. Every trick, every algorithm. Nothing's working." Clenching her hands over the keypad, Willow wanted to scream.
The screen flashed again, and a series of beeps sounded.
Willow leaned in, watching the sudden activity on the laptop. The algorithm she'd tried disappeared in a wave of pixilation "Buffy," she said intently, "get Giles and Xander."
***
Faith chuckled at the question. "Fuck, yeah. More fun." Her nipples ached from Tara's attentions. She gripped the blonde's wrists gently, holding them still. She had to make sure, give Tara one last out.
She never got the chance. "Faith, look at me," Tara insisted.
When Faith met Tara's blue eyes, she saw Tara's choice.
"Feel inside, sweetie. Feel the Slayer. Feel our bond." The words were soft, beguiling. Faith followed Tara's directions, letting the gentle voice pull her awareness toward the pulsing spot where the Slayer purred and stretched. "Look. I'm right there, too."
Faith smiled. No glowing vision of Tara showed up; that didn't mean the other girl wasn't there. A bright blue glow pulsed just behind the Slayer's flaming copper ball. As she watched, the light spread, wrapping around the Slayer and dimming the flaring energy.
*See? I'm right here*. This time, the voice was more feeling than sound.
Blinking, Faith lost hold of the inner vision. Riding a wave of pure emotion, she kissed Tara. There were no questions anymore.
***
Stroking Faith's sweat-damp hair, Tara smiled softly. "See, this was lots better than meditating."
"You're crazy, Blondie." Brown eyes peered up at her.
"Then we fit together pretty well, don't we?" Chuckling as the brown eyes rolled and a pair of dimples appeared, Tara levered herself into a seated position, back against the headboard. More seriously, she asked, "Are you good with what we did?"
Tara held her breath as Faith considered that. "I don't know about good, Blondie. I don't like feeling you got the raw end of the deal. I mean... you didn't get the full Faith the Dark Slayer story." Faith's eyes dulled, all the laughter gone.
Reacting instinctively, Tara smacked her shoulder. "Stop that."
"Ow! What the fuck was that for?" Faith's lower lip protruded provocatively.
"For the 'poor, pitiful me' routine. In case you missed it, she's gone." Tara relaxed her militant stance long enough to bend and kiss the spot she'd smacked. "She's not coming back, either, sweetie. I promise."
Faith wasn't ready to give up that quickly. "You can't know that, Tara."
Ah...her full name. Tara went back to stroking Faith's back. "Yes, I can. Remember what I showed you before? Now that we're completely bonded, I can help you control the Slayer."
"Yeah. OK." Faith moved away and climbed out of the bed.
Tara watched her dress, her expression closed off and sullen. Well, she hadn't expected miracles. "Did you want to see if the gang figured out how to kill Adam?" she asked, knowing Faith's commitment to her Calling. They'd finish the other conversation later.
Grimacing, Faith nodded. "Guess we have to go out sometime." Hands deep in her pockets, she spun and stared at the door. "First person that laughs, I'm gonna do a little damage."
"I may not have spent a lot of time with the gang, sweetie, but even I know they won't laugh." Tara got up and dressed, too. "Xander might ask for details or offer to take some pictures, though."