An afternoon full of surprises.
[[Continued from here.]]
Faith: I brush hair behind an ear. I really couldn't take much more of this sulky mood from Harris. Sex wasn't everything to him, was it? 'Cause I surely wouldn't have done anything if it was. We stopped in from of Buffy's apartment door. I raised my hand to knock against the wood.
Xander: We walked in silence the rest of the way back to the complex and when we got to Buffy's apartment, I just stood behind Faith, hands in my pockets, and my gaze lowered.
Buffy: Tired of waiting around, I decided it was time to do some investigating, see why it was taking Xander so long to bring Faith back from the bus station. I walked to the front door, and opened it. "Oh, hey. Get lost?" I asked.
Faith: "Yeah, somethin' like that," I replied, moving into the apartment once she opened the door - makin' myself at home.
Xander: Following Faith inside I just glanced up at Buffy, sighing softly. "We made a...pit stop. We're here now though," and that's all that matters, right?"
Buffy: "Sure, c'mon in.." I muttered as Faith came inside. I shut the door behind them. "So, I take it the trip was fine?" I questioned, trying my best to stay cordial.
Faith: "Yep. Nice bus ride." I shrugged, sitting down on the nearby couch.
Xander: Crossing my arms I leaned in the doorframe of the living room. "Right so...down to business..." I started, hoping I could get out of here soon and tend to my 'wounds'.
Buffy: "Good, glad you uh, made it in one piece." I took a seat on the floor in front of the couch. "Xander, you okay?" I couldn't help but get the feeling something was wrong. I mean, I knew he just spent time with Faith, which was enough to make anyone a little off, but this seemed different.
Faith: Great, was he gonna brag or something? Sulk more to Buffy with the puppy dog look? He'd been really gettin' on my nerves. I shifted in the couch seat.
Xander: "Huh?" I said, looking up at Buffy. Shaking my head, I shrugged. "Nah...I'm cool. Just still tired and out of it, I guess. No worries." Ok, many worries, but that's way beside the point. This was a business meeting, not like...yeah. So, to business.
Buffy: "Okay..." I said, raising an eyebrow. I wasn't going to pry. "Well, I haven't talked to Giles yet... actually I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone besides Xander, about this. You'll probably want to be the one to tell everyone anyway."
Faith: "About the dreams that may or may not be real?" I asked. Okay, the thought of tellin' a bunch of people who pretty much hated me on a coupla levels even terrified me a bit.
Xander: Dreams or not, this particular discussion had nothing to do with me and it was a big slayer thing. So no need in me staying here and being all awkward. Letting out a deep breath I waved half assed. "Well, I think I need to sleep, I'll catch you both later." Leaving, before they could respond, I retreated to my fortress of solitude...er...my apartment.
Faith: I let out a sort of breath as Xander left. Well, that let out a lot of awkward air. The only thing I now had to awkwardly deal with was B and me pretendin' to be friends.
Buffy: "Uh, okay." I commented as he left. Turning my attention to Faith, I forced myself to look at her, without glaring. Talking to her on the phone was bad enough, but in person, it was a completely different feeling. "Well, with how you sounded last night, I'd say the dreams are probably pretty real."
Faith:: I gave a sort of sigh. With the whole 'tryin' to be my friend' thing that she had done last night... the whole 'put the past behind us' ... I was sure she'd been joking. "Yeah, maybe. You're the one with the dreams that come true."
Buffy: I wasn't sure what she wanted me to say. Or maybe that was me not being sure of what to say. "Well, I can hope that yours aren't going to come true... but in our lives, how often does that happen?" I added a soft laugh. "Hey, can I get you anything? Water? Tea? Fifth of vodka?" Adding a laugh towards the end, to show my joke.
Faith: Right, joke, though a fifth of vodka actually sounded nice about now. Between the confusion of dreams that could come true, a group of people who hated my guts, and sex with a man that took it too seriously, vodka was sounding like the answer. I let out a hard breath, still tasting cigarettes in my mouth. "Not really thirsty," I replied.
Buffy: "Okay... no problem." So much for trying to be a good hostess. "Do you have any idea where you're going to stay while you're here?" One nice thing about being in the apartment, rather than the house in Sunnydale? There wasn't really extra room here.
Faith: "Was thinking about findin' some hotel nearby," I shrugged. "Didn't really think I'd be stayin' long, you know." I was already itchin' to go somewhere else.
Buffy: "Yeah... I didn't really figure you would be. Best to be prepared though, if this is as bad as it could be... well I know you hate to hear it, but you could be here longer than expected. And if that's the case, you're going to need someplace cheaper than a hotel." She didn't need to know that I was trying to help her.
Faith: "You have an idea?" I asked. I couldn't help the edge of attitude in my voice. "Not as if the council lept to provide for a reformed renegade."
Buffy: Bitter much? "Actually, I might." I matched the edge in her voice. "I can guarentee, you're not going to like it though."
Faith: I ran a hand through my hair already exhausted. "Yeah?" I asked, raising an eyebrow after a moment. So I'd tae anything I could get.
Buffy: "Well, Willow has an extra room. And I'm sure if I talk to her, it won't be a problem for you to stay there while we're working stuff out.." I twinge of hope tainting my tone. I leaned back on my hands, studying her cautiously.
Faith: I looked at her dumbfoundedly, "You think she's gonna agree to that?"
Buffy: "No, I don't think she's gonna agree to that, I know she'll want to do the right thing." Okay, it might take some sweet talking, but I'm pretty sure I can get through to her.
Faith: I took a sip from the left over Pepsi that Xander had bought me. "Right, until she finds out that I slept with her best friend," I murmered.
Buffy: I raised an eyebrow. Was she still stuck on that? "Uh, Faith... I think she already knows... after all, it was yea..." I stopped mid-sentence, putting it all together. "You... are you kidding me?" My eyes grew wider. No way. Practical joke. Any second, Xander is going to run in, and yell 'Gotcha!' ... right?
Faith: Right, joke. Wasn't supposed to say that aloud. I sort of managed to crack a smile. "God, B, you take things way too seriously."
Buffy: I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but I couldn't. The pieces added up. They were late. Xander was acting all weird. "No, you're serious, aren't you? That's why... you two... oh god."
Faith: I tensed up again. Why did I have to open my mouth? I rolled my eyes and went to take another sip of the Pepsi, but found it empty. "Um..." I started.
Buffy: I stood up, and walked into the kitchen. Breathe Buffy, Breathe. "You don't have to answer, it's fine. None of my business anyway. You two are adults." I called back to the living room. After a minute I emerged with a bottle of water. Unable to make eye contact, I sat down in a chair, and focused on my bottle. "She won't have to know, unless you feel the need to tell her. I won't say anything."
Faith: I don't think I've ever felt this humiliated. My face was even turning a little red. "Yeah, okay."
Buffy: I sat there, trying my hardest to bite my tongue, but I knew it wasn't going to happen. "Faith, why do you always do this to him? What, you couldn't get any in Boston, so you just thought 'hey, let's take advantage of Xander!'?" It was easy to look at her now, but keeping the look of disgust off my face was a different story.
Faith: Right. Just like that she assumed it was me. I rolled my eyes and sat back. "Actually, he put the moves on me. Not like you'd believe me anyway..." I muttered.
Buffy: "So you just thought you'd go ahead and accept? That might be okay if you actually had feelings for him." I snapped. "You know Xander... you think he wouldn't get emotionally attached again? Not that I could tell you why, but you know he will." I almost felt bad, but not quite. Leave it to Faith to be in town for less than 24 hours and cause problems.
Faith: "You know what? I didn't really think about it in the moment. What happened to not being your business anyway?" I asked. "I didn't ask for anything, and personally, he should know better." Know better than to get messed up with a girl like me.
Buffy: As much as I hated to admit it. She was right. Xander did know better. And it's not like he cut me any slack when he found out about Spike and me. "You're right." I said quietly. "I'm sorry, it's not my business. If he wants to screw things up even worse, that's his business. Just because I'm pissed at him, it's wrong to take it out on you."
Faith: "Should probably watch him too," I murmured softly, concerned in my own way. I tossed her the packet of smokes he'd been smokin'. "He's been pickin' up some nasty habits, including being a general pain in the ass."
Buffy: I catch the pack of cigarettes quickly, and look at them momentarily. "Oh, he is so dead" I shoved the pack in my pocket. " I think I'll be keeping those." How was it that Faith knew more about the things Xander does than I do?
Faith: "Uh-huh." I replied, shuffling my feet. So, let him suffer the concequences.
Buffy: "I still don't know why, Faith." I sighed. "Why you had to do it?" I shook my head. "Whatever, we have to deal with these dreams."
Faith: Right, like sleeping with Xander was all my fault? Thanks a lot, B. He was just bein' like any guy: takin' what he wanted. "Right, the dreams."
Buffy: I shifted in the chair, contemplating. "I wonder if I should tell Giles you're in town before bombarding him with you." I paused. "Nah, it'll be funny to see his reaction."
Faith: I let out a short laugh, "You're scaring Giles with me now?"
Buffy: "Gotta have some sort of fun, if you're going to be Ms. Serious Hardass the entire time." I retorted.
Faith: I rolled my eyes again at that, "Look who's talkin'."
Buffy: "Oh, I'm sorry if I don't find the idea of you screwing my friends funny." No matter what I did, Faith was going to think I was some uptight non-fun having person. It was almost pointless to argue with her on that point.
Faith: "Like I said before... all I wanted to do is come here - wait, no, I didn't even want to come here... I told you about the dreams. I didn't want to do anything else." I replied.
Buffy: "So you just wanted to tell me, and then what? Hope that when the Master does come, he kills you too?" I snapped. "C'mon Faith, we all know you wouldn't just want to tell me about them. You wouldn't even call unless you were seriously wigged."
Faith: I pressed my lips hard together. No, I didn't have a death wish - not anymore. "It's all just a stupid dream. My dreams do not come true."
Buffy: "Ever heard the expression, 'there's a first time for everything?'" I was begining to get frusterated. What was I going to have to do, to make her realize this is actually a serious situation.
Faith: "Look, I already told you about it..." I said quietly. "What am I supposed to do?" I'm not like you, B... not one bit. I don't do the hero thing.
Buffy: "Maybe act like you care? I mean, if I care, and I'm not even the one being drained in the dream... I think you should care." Not to mention, I don't think if he were to ever come back, I'd be off the hook.
Faith: "I do care!" I replied, too sharply. "I called."
Buffy: "Which is good..." I told her quietly. "The first step... or something. And I think the next step... is to find Giles, and talk to him about this."
Faith: "This isn't a 12 step thing is it?" i asked.
Buffy: "For you..." I grinned. "It might be." Being open with people was never her strong suit.
Faith: Resist the urge to curse. Really resist it. "Fuck,"I muttered.
Buffy: "You'll get through it..." I encouraged, still grinning. "And if you need me, I'll be right here." Lightly teasing.
Faith: "You live to torture me, don't you?" I asked.
Buffy: "Only half the time." I responded. "C'mon, it won't be that bad. And hey, no death wish anymore... aww, our Faith is growing up!"
Faith: I sent a hard look, "Shut up."
Buffy: I put my hands up, gestering peace. "And what was that about me the serious one?" I tried and tried. I really don't think I was ever going to get through to her.
Faith: "It's not really that funny, is it?" I asked. So, maybe I was more serious. It was for the better.
Buffy: "I can't win with you, Faith." I sigh. "If I joke with you about things, you get pissed. If I were to tell you, 'hey, it really seems like you've grown up some, and i'm proud of you' you'd get pissed and think I'm being condescending or you'd tell me that you don't need me to care. So what do you want me to do?"
Faith: "I don't know. I'm not used to the whole... you trying to be my friend sort of thing." I replied.
Buffy: "Aren't you tired of being my enemy?" I asked, bluntly.
Faith: "Yeah," I sighed. "Beyond tired."
Buffy: "So am I. You think I like being your enemy? Do you think it's fun for me to think I have to watch my back whenever you're around? I hate it." I admitted. I guess I was growing up a bit more than I thought.
Faith: "I've been trying, B." I replied quietly.
Buffy: "Well, now we're both trying. Who knows. Maybe we'll never get along... but I don't think we've ever given the possibilty a chance." I replied.
Faith: "Yeah, probably not." I agreed.
Buffy: "You realize, you can trust me, right? Like, while you're here?" I questioned.
Faith: Yeah, I trust you won't gut me at least, I replied silently. "I went to Boston to see my mom." I admitted. I wasn't even sure why i told her that, but it sort of came out.
Buffy: I blinked hard a couple of times. Amazed at what she just said. "Did you see her?" I asked softly?
Faith: "Yeah, in a way." I tried to shrug passively. Saw her grave.
Buffy: I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "In a way? Like... you saw her in a store..." I asked hopefully. Somehow I knew that wasn't the case though.
Faith: I shook my head, my forehead creasing. "She died before I was called."
Buffy: I quickly racked my brain, trying to remember if she had already told me that. I didn't think she had though. "I'm sorry, Faith.." I cringed. I could sympathize, truly sympathize.
Faith: "It's okay," I said quickly, shaking my head. I knew she'd gone through something similar. "I never said it, but... I'm sorry about Joyce." I said, looking up, truly sympathetic.
Buffy: I looked at her, and managed a small smile. I could tell she meant it, and that meant a lot. "Thank you..." I looked down for a minute, before looking up and trying to tone things down a little bit, for both of our sakes. "Looks like we have two pieces of common ground, huh?"
Faith: I cracked a small smile, "Guess we do."
Buffy: "If you ever want to... you know.." I stopped before finishing. I think she would get the point, not that I think Faith would ever really want to talk to me, about...stuff.
Faith: "Yeah, thanks." I said softly. I probably wouldn't take her up on the offer, but it meant something.
Buffy: "So.." I started as I stood up, stretching. "I'm not sure if Giles is home, or what... but we should probably find him soon, huh?"
Faith: "Step two," I gave a grin.
Buffy: I chuckled a little "Yeah, but I'll try to make it as painless as possible."
Faith: I brush hair behind an ear. I really couldn't take much more of this sulky mood from Harris. Sex wasn't everything to him, was it? 'Cause I surely wouldn't have done anything if it was. We stopped in from of Buffy's apartment door. I raised my hand to knock against the wood.
Xander: We walked in silence the rest of the way back to the complex and when we got to Buffy's apartment, I just stood behind Faith, hands in my pockets, and my gaze lowered.
Buffy: Tired of waiting around, I decided it was time to do some investigating, see why it was taking Xander so long to bring Faith back from the bus station. I walked to the front door, and opened it. "Oh, hey. Get lost?" I asked.
Faith: "Yeah, somethin' like that," I replied, moving into the apartment once she opened the door - makin' myself at home.
Xander: Following Faith inside I just glanced up at Buffy, sighing softly. "We made a...pit stop. We're here now though," and that's all that matters, right?"
Buffy: "Sure, c'mon in.." I muttered as Faith came inside. I shut the door behind them. "So, I take it the trip was fine?" I questioned, trying my best to stay cordial.
Faith: "Yep. Nice bus ride." I shrugged, sitting down on the nearby couch.
Xander: Crossing my arms I leaned in the doorframe of the living room. "Right so...down to business..." I started, hoping I could get out of here soon and tend to my 'wounds'.
Buffy: "Good, glad you uh, made it in one piece." I took a seat on the floor in front of the couch. "Xander, you okay?" I couldn't help but get the feeling something was wrong. I mean, I knew he just spent time with Faith, which was enough to make anyone a little off, but this seemed different.
Faith: Great, was he gonna brag or something? Sulk more to Buffy with the puppy dog look? He'd been really gettin' on my nerves. I shifted in the couch seat.
Xander: "Huh?" I said, looking up at Buffy. Shaking my head, I shrugged. "Nah...I'm cool. Just still tired and out of it, I guess. No worries." Ok, many worries, but that's way beside the point. This was a business meeting, not like...yeah. So, to business.
Buffy: "Okay..." I said, raising an eyebrow. I wasn't going to pry. "Well, I haven't talked to Giles yet... actually I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone besides Xander, about this. You'll probably want to be the one to tell everyone anyway."
Faith: "About the dreams that may or may not be real?" I asked. Okay, the thought of tellin' a bunch of people who pretty much hated me on a coupla levels even terrified me a bit.
Xander: Dreams or not, this particular discussion had nothing to do with me and it was a big slayer thing. So no need in me staying here and being all awkward. Letting out a deep breath I waved half assed. "Well, I think I need to sleep, I'll catch you both later." Leaving, before they could respond, I retreated to my fortress of solitude...er...my apartment.
Faith: I let out a sort of breath as Xander left. Well, that let out a lot of awkward air. The only thing I now had to awkwardly deal with was B and me pretendin' to be friends.
Buffy: "Uh, okay." I commented as he left. Turning my attention to Faith, I forced myself to look at her, without glaring. Talking to her on the phone was bad enough, but in person, it was a completely different feeling. "Well, with how you sounded last night, I'd say the dreams are probably pretty real."
Faith:: I gave a sort of sigh. With the whole 'tryin' to be my friend' thing that she had done last night... the whole 'put the past behind us' ... I was sure she'd been joking. "Yeah, maybe. You're the one with the dreams that come true."
Buffy: I wasn't sure what she wanted me to say. Or maybe that was me not being sure of what to say. "Well, I can hope that yours aren't going to come true... but in our lives, how often does that happen?" I added a soft laugh. "Hey, can I get you anything? Water? Tea? Fifth of vodka?" Adding a laugh towards the end, to show my joke.
Faith: Right, joke, though a fifth of vodka actually sounded nice about now. Between the confusion of dreams that could come true, a group of people who hated my guts, and sex with a man that took it too seriously, vodka was sounding like the answer. I let out a hard breath, still tasting cigarettes in my mouth. "Not really thirsty," I replied.
Buffy: "Okay... no problem." So much for trying to be a good hostess. "Do you have any idea where you're going to stay while you're here?" One nice thing about being in the apartment, rather than the house in Sunnydale? There wasn't really extra room here.
Faith: "Was thinking about findin' some hotel nearby," I shrugged. "Didn't really think I'd be stayin' long, you know." I was already itchin' to go somewhere else.
Buffy: "Yeah... I didn't really figure you would be. Best to be prepared though, if this is as bad as it could be... well I know you hate to hear it, but you could be here longer than expected. And if that's the case, you're going to need someplace cheaper than a hotel." She didn't need to know that I was trying to help her.
Faith: "You have an idea?" I asked. I couldn't help the edge of attitude in my voice. "Not as if the council lept to provide for a reformed renegade."
Buffy: Bitter much? "Actually, I might." I matched the edge in her voice. "I can guarentee, you're not going to like it though."
Faith: I ran a hand through my hair already exhausted. "Yeah?" I asked, raising an eyebrow after a moment. So I'd tae anything I could get.
Buffy: "Well, Willow has an extra room. And I'm sure if I talk to her, it won't be a problem for you to stay there while we're working stuff out.." I twinge of hope tainting my tone. I leaned back on my hands, studying her cautiously.
Faith: I looked at her dumbfoundedly, "You think she's gonna agree to that?"
Buffy: "No, I don't think she's gonna agree to that, I know she'll want to do the right thing." Okay, it might take some sweet talking, but I'm pretty sure I can get through to her.
Faith: I took a sip from the left over Pepsi that Xander had bought me. "Right, until she finds out that I slept with her best friend," I murmered.
Buffy: I raised an eyebrow. Was she still stuck on that? "Uh, Faith... I think she already knows... after all, it was yea..." I stopped mid-sentence, putting it all together. "You... are you kidding me?" My eyes grew wider. No way. Practical joke. Any second, Xander is going to run in, and yell 'Gotcha!' ... right?
Faith: Right, joke. Wasn't supposed to say that aloud. I sort of managed to crack a smile. "God, B, you take things way too seriously."
Buffy: I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but I couldn't. The pieces added up. They were late. Xander was acting all weird. "No, you're serious, aren't you? That's why... you two... oh god."
Faith: I tensed up again. Why did I have to open my mouth? I rolled my eyes and went to take another sip of the Pepsi, but found it empty. "Um..." I started.
Buffy: I stood up, and walked into the kitchen. Breathe Buffy, Breathe. "You don't have to answer, it's fine. None of my business anyway. You two are adults." I called back to the living room. After a minute I emerged with a bottle of water. Unable to make eye contact, I sat down in a chair, and focused on my bottle. "She won't have to know, unless you feel the need to tell her. I won't say anything."
Faith: I don't think I've ever felt this humiliated. My face was even turning a little red. "Yeah, okay."
Buffy: I sat there, trying my hardest to bite my tongue, but I knew it wasn't going to happen. "Faith, why do you always do this to him? What, you couldn't get any in Boston, so you just thought 'hey, let's take advantage of Xander!'?" It was easy to look at her now, but keeping the look of disgust off my face was a different story.
Faith: Right. Just like that she assumed it was me. I rolled my eyes and sat back. "Actually, he put the moves on me. Not like you'd believe me anyway..." I muttered.
Buffy: "So you just thought you'd go ahead and accept? That might be okay if you actually had feelings for him." I snapped. "You know Xander... you think he wouldn't get emotionally attached again? Not that I could tell you why, but you know he will." I almost felt bad, but not quite. Leave it to Faith to be in town for less than 24 hours and cause problems.
Faith: "You know what? I didn't really think about it in the moment. What happened to not being your business anyway?" I asked. "I didn't ask for anything, and personally, he should know better." Know better than to get messed up with a girl like me.
Buffy: As much as I hated to admit it. She was right. Xander did know better. And it's not like he cut me any slack when he found out about Spike and me. "You're right." I said quietly. "I'm sorry, it's not my business. If he wants to screw things up even worse, that's his business. Just because I'm pissed at him, it's wrong to take it out on you."
Faith: "Should probably watch him too," I murmured softly, concerned in my own way. I tossed her the packet of smokes he'd been smokin'. "He's been pickin' up some nasty habits, including being a general pain in the ass."
Buffy: I catch the pack of cigarettes quickly, and look at them momentarily. "Oh, he is so dead" I shoved the pack in my pocket. " I think I'll be keeping those." How was it that Faith knew more about the things Xander does than I do?
Faith: "Uh-huh." I replied, shuffling my feet. So, let him suffer the concequences.
Buffy: "I still don't know why, Faith." I sighed. "Why you had to do it?" I shook my head. "Whatever, we have to deal with these dreams."
Faith: Right, like sleeping with Xander was all my fault? Thanks a lot, B. He was just bein' like any guy: takin' what he wanted. "Right, the dreams."
Buffy: I shifted in the chair, contemplating. "I wonder if I should tell Giles you're in town before bombarding him with you." I paused. "Nah, it'll be funny to see his reaction."
Faith: I let out a short laugh, "You're scaring Giles with me now?"
Buffy: "Gotta have some sort of fun, if you're going to be Ms. Serious Hardass the entire time." I retorted.
Faith: I rolled my eyes again at that, "Look who's talkin'."
Buffy: "Oh, I'm sorry if I don't find the idea of you screwing my friends funny." No matter what I did, Faith was going to think I was some uptight non-fun having person. It was almost pointless to argue with her on that point.
Faith: "Like I said before... all I wanted to do is come here - wait, no, I didn't even want to come here... I told you about the dreams. I didn't want to do anything else." I replied.
Buffy: "So you just wanted to tell me, and then what? Hope that when the Master does come, he kills you too?" I snapped. "C'mon Faith, we all know you wouldn't just want to tell me about them. You wouldn't even call unless you were seriously wigged."
Faith: I pressed my lips hard together. No, I didn't have a death wish - not anymore. "It's all just a stupid dream. My dreams do not come true."
Buffy: "Ever heard the expression, 'there's a first time for everything?'" I was begining to get frusterated. What was I going to have to do, to make her realize this is actually a serious situation.
Faith: "Look, I already told you about it..." I said quietly. "What am I supposed to do?" I'm not like you, B... not one bit. I don't do the hero thing.
Buffy: "Maybe act like you care? I mean, if I care, and I'm not even the one being drained in the dream... I think you should care." Not to mention, I don't think if he were to ever come back, I'd be off the hook.
Faith: "I do care!" I replied, too sharply. "I called."
Buffy: "Which is good..." I told her quietly. "The first step... or something. And I think the next step... is to find Giles, and talk to him about this."
Faith: "This isn't a 12 step thing is it?" i asked.
Buffy: "For you..." I grinned. "It might be." Being open with people was never her strong suit.
Faith: Resist the urge to curse. Really resist it. "Fuck,"I muttered.
Buffy: "You'll get through it..." I encouraged, still grinning. "And if you need me, I'll be right here." Lightly teasing.
Faith: "You live to torture me, don't you?" I asked.
Buffy: "Only half the time." I responded. "C'mon, it won't be that bad. And hey, no death wish anymore... aww, our Faith is growing up!"
Faith: I sent a hard look, "Shut up."
Buffy: I put my hands up, gestering peace. "And what was that about me the serious one?" I tried and tried. I really don't think I was ever going to get through to her.
Faith: "It's not really that funny, is it?" I asked. So, maybe I was more serious. It was for the better.
Buffy: "I can't win with you, Faith." I sigh. "If I joke with you about things, you get pissed. If I were to tell you, 'hey, it really seems like you've grown up some, and i'm proud of you' you'd get pissed and think I'm being condescending or you'd tell me that you don't need me to care. So what do you want me to do?"
Faith: "I don't know. I'm not used to the whole... you trying to be my friend sort of thing." I replied.
Buffy: "Aren't you tired of being my enemy?" I asked, bluntly.
Faith: "Yeah," I sighed. "Beyond tired."
Buffy: "So am I. You think I like being your enemy? Do you think it's fun for me to think I have to watch my back whenever you're around? I hate it." I admitted. I guess I was growing up a bit more than I thought.
Faith: "I've been trying, B." I replied quietly.
Buffy: "Well, now we're both trying. Who knows. Maybe we'll never get along... but I don't think we've ever given the possibilty a chance." I replied.
Faith: "Yeah, probably not." I agreed.
Buffy: "You realize, you can trust me, right? Like, while you're here?" I questioned.
Faith: Yeah, I trust you won't gut me at least, I replied silently. "I went to Boston to see my mom." I admitted. I wasn't even sure why i told her that, but it sort of came out.
Buffy: I blinked hard a couple of times. Amazed at what she just said. "Did you see her?" I asked softly?
Faith: "Yeah, in a way." I tried to shrug passively. Saw her grave.
Buffy: I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "In a way? Like... you saw her in a store..." I asked hopefully. Somehow I knew that wasn't the case though.
Faith: I shook my head, my forehead creasing. "She died before I was called."
Buffy: I quickly racked my brain, trying to remember if she had already told me that. I didn't think she had though. "I'm sorry, Faith.." I cringed. I could sympathize, truly sympathize.
Faith: "It's okay," I said quickly, shaking my head. I knew she'd gone through something similar. "I never said it, but... I'm sorry about Joyce." I said, looking up, truly sympathetic.
Buffy: I looked at her, and managed a small smile. I could tell she meant it, and that meant a lot. "Thank you..." I looked down for a minute, before looking up and trying to tone things down a little bit, for both of our sakes. "Looks like we have two pieces of common ground, huh?"
Faith: I cracked a small smile, "Guess we do."
Buffy: "If you ever want to... you know.." I stopped before finishing. I think she would get the point, not that I think Faith would ever really want to talk to me, about...stuff.
Faith: "Yeah, thanks." I said softly. I probably wouldn't take her up on the offer, but it meant something.
Buffy: "So.." I started as I stood up, stretching. "I'm not sure if Giles is home, or what... but we should probably find him soon, huh?"
Faith: "Step two," I gave a grin.
Buffy: I chuckled a little "Yeah, but I'll try to make it as painless as possible."