Slayers

Buffy was awakened by a soft and deep kiss. She couldn’t help making a small noise of protest when Spike’s lips left hers after a few seconds.

“We’re there, luv,” he said simply.

They got out of the car and as he grabbed their bags she stretched, shaking the rest of sleep away. They walked to the front door of the Hyperion together, and Spike opened it for her with a bow. She smiled at the attention, before protesting loudly when he gave a little slap to her bottom as she walked by him. Giggling, they entered the hotel lobby, and Buffy called out:

“Hello? Anyone home? Angel? Steven?”

No answer came. Spike dropped the bags on the floor and walked toward Angel’s office. He came back shaking his head, but before he could say anything Angel was coming down the steps. He looked surprised at seeing them, as well as somber, even more than usually.

“Buffy. Spike. To what do I owe the surprise?”

“Hey, Angel. Can you put us up for a few days? We have some business to take care of here in LA.”

As she talked, Spike came back to Buffy’s side and casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Buffy had the sudden urge to roll her eyes at him, knowing very well he was doing that mostly to remind Angel that she was his now. As if the older vampire could forget.

The brunette, however, didn’t even twitch at the display.

“I guess that’s OK. Just give me a moment to… get a room ready.”

There had been a slight hesitation in his voice, and Buffy wondered what he had been about to say.

“Oh, by the way,” she commented as if it was only an afterthought, “did you know Faith has been released?”

Angel seemed startled as his eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened for a second. He had soon wiped the surprise from his face.

“I have heard,” he said slowly. “Is that why you’re in LA?”

Buffy tried to repress a satisfied smile. He had heard meant that he was in contact with Faith. Finding her might not be too difficult after all.

“The Council has an offer for her and I am their messenger. Do you know how I can contact her?”

For a little while, Angel just stared at her and Spike, his gaze going from one to the other before finally resting on Buffy. At last, he shook his head.

“I doubt she wants to have anything to do with you or the Council,” he said coldly. “I know you don’t believe it, but she has changed, and she doesn’t need anyone or anything reminding her of the past. Don’t expect any help from me.”

As she watched him, Buffy couldn’t help but think that there was something he wasn’t saying. Spike seemed to notice her frown and said lightly:

“Don’t worry, luv, we’ll find the bint even without Peaches. Just need to go look for her.”

At that moment, Buffy became aware of the girl walking down the staircase. Nothing to worry about, indeed. The search had been quick. She took just one step in her direction, freeing herself from Spike’s arm so that she could fight if needed. Then she forced herself to do the most difficult things of all. She smiled at Faith.

“We won’t need to look too far, it seems.”

Spike glanced at Buffy, noticing she was as tense as her voice had led him to suppose. Her arms were crossed below her breast, almost nonchalantly, but he knew that look. She was ready to fight, and expected an attack. Her eyes were on the brunette who was crossing the lobby towards them.

So, this was Faith? Spike studied the girl curiously; intrigued by the vibes he was getting from her. A Slayer, no doubt about that, but she was different from Buffy. He knew he had never met her, but at the same time, he could have sworn he had felt her presence before. The two Slayers just stared at each other, a few steps separating them, both visibly expecting a fight, but neither making the first move.

Angel stepped between the two of them, giving each a chastising glance as he said:

“Unless you want me to kick both your asses, I suggest you drop the tough girl act. No fighting here. Or anywhere else, for that matter. You’re adults, so behave like it. ”

If Buffy’s eyes had been stakes, there would have been a pile of ashes in front of her instead of Angel. The other Slayer’s reaction was to roll her eyes at the brunette, and shift her attention to Spike. He returned her gaze without wavering, wondering when he could have met her and why he didn’t remember her pretty face.

“Hey, lookie who we have here,” she said as her eyes roamed over him quite obviously. “William the Bloody. Still harmless, or did you get your fangs back, blondie?”

His eyes narrowed as he frowned in surprise, wondering how she knew. Still, it wasn’t like it had been a state secret or anything. For all he knew, the poof had told her.

“Step closer and we can test on you, ducks,” he replied with a snarl.

Two similarly irritated vampires turned murderous glares at him, both letting out an annoyed “Spike!” Buffy’s exasperation wasn’t lost on Faith, who gave her fellow Slayer a quick glance before looking back at Spike, grinning even more.

“So, I take it she has tried those Slayer muscles on you. Do you beg her to hurt you, blondie?”

At her words, Spike took a step back, feeling like he had just been slapped. He realized he was gaping at her and closed his mouth, trying to understand how she could know. Of course, he had been so captivated by the Slayer that night that someone could have stepped on his toes without him noticing.

“How do you…” he started, but was interrupted by Buffy, who was glaring at him even more dangerously. She was jealous, no doubt about that, though there was, in truth, nothing to be jealous about.

“You two know each other? Since when?”

“First time I’ve seen the bint, Slayer,” he replied quickly.

“Oh, William,” Faith said too sweetly, bringing a hand to her heart in mock outrage. “How could you forget? I am hurt, really. ”

Trying to ignore the brunette’s act, Spike pleaded with his eyes for Buffy to believe him. Before he could find anything to say, however, Faith was adding, amusement plain in her voice:

“Of course I looked a bit different at the time. A bit blonder. Much bitchier, too. ”

Spike was lost by now. But, judging by Buffy’s widening eyes, she understood exactly what Faith was talking about.

“You did him, too?” she spat angrily at the brunette. “Riley wasn’t enough, you had to throw yourself at the first willing vamp, too? You little…”

She looked ready to jump on the still smirking girl, and Spike felt he had to intervene and try to get a sense of what was going on.

“Hey there, pet,” he said softly, “calm down. I told you I’ve never met the girl. She’s just…”

“She was in my body,” Buffy said heatedly. “You wouldn’t have known the difference. Riley didn’t.”

And then it all clicked into place. Faith’s words, Buffy’s explanation, the vibes he knew without knowing, that surreal talk Buffy – no, Faith – had given him at the Bronze a few years back. He had never forgotten it, always wondering what had possessed her to act as she had that night. Now he knew. Faith had possessed her. He stood in front of his blonde Slayer and forced her to look at his face.

“Buffy, all she did was talk. Nothing but talk and tease. Nothing else.“

Hazel eyes bore into his, searching for the truth.

“One of my few regrets,” Faith said idly behind him, though her tone was clearly amused. “If I had done more than talk I might have had some nice memories to …”

“Faith, that’s enough!”

Surprisingly enough, Angel’s low growl quieted her instantly. Spike threw her a quick glance, finding that she was blushing brightly.