“It finally comes down to this then B? It’s such a damn shame to think what could have been, you know, you me and all this wicked mojo. Come on B, we could be made, we don’t need to do this.”
With one final clap of thunder the heavens opened soaking the pair. The rain fell so hard that the rebounding drops cast a glow around their bodies.“You know you’re right for once Faith,” The brunette snarled at Buffy as the two continued to circle each other looking for a minute opening. “It doesn’t have to end here; it doesn’t have to be like this.” Buffy was gripping onto the blade handle so hard her knuckles were white.
“So, what you planning to do with that B? You wouldn’t want to hurt little ol’ me now would you?” Buffy’s emotionless face remained constant. “Oh I get it, you’re finally gonna get rid of me huh. Stealing your thunder B? Still bugged cos you’re not the only ‘chosen one’ any more. You know you should really get over that,”Faith had hit a nerve, Buffy sliced out with the sharpened blade. “I knew it! You can’t handle not being the centre of attention can you! Admit it B, it gets to you, it eats you up inside.”
Faith curled her lip up baring her teeth to the older slayer; in that moment Buffy landed a swift and powerful backhand upon the brunette’s cheek with her free hand.“There it is!! That little bit of darkness in you, that tiny element that makes us the same.” She rubbed her cheek with her hand still staring down at the older woman. The rain was relentless; their hair matted to their faces as the wind mercilessly froze their hardened bodies.
“I will never be like you Faith, you gave up. You let it all go. You had friends, we, were your friends, we were there for you, Giles was,” Faith cut her off.“Oh for fucks sake Buffy! Don’t give me that bull. Friends? If they are such good friends where are they now? They certainly aren’t up here making sure that the ‘chosen one’ doesn’t get scratched by big bad ol’ Faithy. Give me a break.”
Buffy swung aimlessly at her again, but to no avail. “Tsk tsk Buffy Anne Summers letting her emotion get in the way of the target. You should know better, you’re never gonna land a punch like that,” Faith pouted her lips to look like a child that was threatening to cry, it was Buffy’s turn to bare her teeth.“Well come on baby, take your shot, here I am.” Faith stood arms down, no guards. The air fell silent once more apart from the battering of the falling rain. Buffy lunged, just like Faith knew she would; Buffy’s arm was caught before the blade could make purchase in the perfect skin of her opponent.
Faith had caught her wrist, she tightened her grip making the blonde wince; she brought the arm to her knee and proceeded to smash the two together until Buffy caved and dropped the knife. Faith had her; she held her wrist while their other hands were cuffed.“That’s what I love about you B,” She drawled out “That killer instinct.” Buffy forced her face away as Faith brought her closer, “Those primal triggers, everything that just takes us back to that old philosophy, ‘kill or be killed’ Man its wicked hot B.”
She curled her lip once more, baring her teeth in that animalistic display. She craned her neck to deeply inhale,“The rain washes away any of that perfume you were wearing, and in its wake? That pure adrenaline inducing essence that is the kill. See, I can smell it on you B, you want to hurt me. You want it so bad. That darkness in you, it’s going to waste. Why don’t you do something with it, ditch dead boy and I’ll show you what you are truly missing.” Faith carnally dragged her tongue up Buffy’s bare neck; she wriggled and strained against the taller girls grasp.
“Faith let me go; I’ve had enough of this. You want a real fight; I’ll give it to you.” Faith smiled into the murky green eyes of her attacker.“Fair is fair, and on that note.” Faith pushed Buffy away and grasped for her knife on the floor, raising it high she brought it down and through the chain before Buffy could stop her. They were separate once again.
“Alright, bring it on B!”The blonde leapt towards her for the fight. The two tumbled and struck out at each other; their grunts and cries of pain were drowned by the continuous down fall above them. Faith struck out and levelled Buffy sending her sprawling to the ground. Before the blonde could return to the fight Faith had brought it to her, she looked up at the darker slayer and braced herself for an onslaught while she was vulnerable.
Instead of attacking Faith descended on the prone Buffy pinning her body to the floor. Faith gently pushed back the soaked blonde hair matted to her face, she lifted the sullen face with her hand.“Alright Faith, enough let me up so we can end this. Or are you just gonna finish me right here,” She stared back up into the blackened eyes of her once friend and ally.
“Don’t make me hurt you B cos I really don’t wanna. I’m offering you the chance of a lifetime here. We can live like royalty, no more problems, no more worries. We can just reach out and take it B, this entire town. It’s ready for some real leadership.” Buffy scoffed and turned her face away.“That’s just it though Faith, he has to win for that to happen. I can’t stand back and let that evil man go ahead with this. Too many people are going to get hurt, including you.” Faith recoiled and backhanded the blonde’s face splitting the small perfect lips.
“There, look what you went and made me do B.” She reached down and made Buffy face her. “I can take care of myself. I only have your best interests in mind here sweet heart.”She tore her head from the darker girls grasp though she was still pinned to the floor. “Don’t be like this Buffy, where’s my girl gone? Where’s the Buffy that I know and love gone, where’s my baby gone?” She leant down and forced Buffy’s lips to her own, she could feel her trying to resist and move away. She brought up her hands to stop her moving. She pulled away leaving the older woman panting for needed oxygen.
“Faith, I’m not your girl, I never was and never will be. Now either fight me or kill me, make up your mind and stop all of this bull.” Faith leant back fighting the urge to slam Buffy’s head against the wall.“You just don’t get it do you?” She raised her hands to her temples, “You cannot even begin to understand. You think you have it all worked out, you think you can just come up here and do this to me?” Her stern eyes fell down to the darkened green of her old friend.
The surprise on the blondes face was unmistakable as she saw what looked like tears welling in Faith’s eyes. She watched the younger girl breath deeply, fighting the salty drops back. The threatening tears were soon gone but her eyes still held the glossy sheen. Faith raised herself from Buffy, but dragging her along in the process.“Fine, have it your way B. You always do so why should tonight be any exception” Forcing Buffy to her feet Faith began her onslaught, beating the smaller woman down.
“You never understood me Buffy,” She kicked out at the blonde’s head, knocking her to the right.“What was there to understand Faith, you got in to deep and now you’re running scared. Just like a little girl.” She dodged the flying projectile that was Faith’s body.
“All this time you just pitied me, you were never there for me. You didn’t even want to know me.” Buffy landed a fist to her face bruising the still tender lips of the younger woman.“You shut yourself out Faith; you did that on your own. We tried to reach you but you wouldn’t let us in.” Faith swung out at her and missed, she cursed with every failed attack.
“I had to! I had to get away, you never got it did you. The pain you caused me everyday.” The blonde stood puzzled but still holding her guard, Faith walked backwards still facing her. Her arms lay at her sides as she screamed through the rain.“Buffy, I loved you, so much. Every time I saw you it felt like I’d been sucker punched.” Buffy’s eyes opened and her guard lowered. She tried to walk towards the brunette, but something held her back.
“I can’t keep doing this B; I can’t keep following you around like some love sick kitten. I just can’t do this any more.” Faith made her way to the stunned Buffy. She took her face in her cold hands and brought her lips to hers.They just stood there for that infinite moment, together. Too many emotions and choices filling their minds, both to lost to react.
Faith had Buffy forced up against the wall, both their bodies met with the rise and fall of each desperate breath. The darker woman nuzzled against the smaller’s neck. Warm tears fell from their eyes, both of pain and loss, Faith backed up and away from Buffy’s listless body.“Don’t think that I don’t know why you’re here B. You only came here to try and save dead boy,” Buffy’s eyes fell from Faith’s. “I’ve had enough of this fucking around; I thought we had something you know. Something that was just for us, together. But I get it now, it’s always been about him and it always will be won’t it. I thought I meant something to you B,” She stepped away from her facing down to the soaked vermin infested streets.
Buffy reached out to her, “Faith, you know I care about you. But he needs me right now, he’s dying Faith.” Faith spun on her heels, Buffy felt the venom in her voice.“But what if it was me B, what if? Would you be here right now, looking for the antidote? Could you honestly look inside yourself and say yes?” The blonde, crestfallen and cornered looked to the ground.
I didn’t think so. See, we never had anything. You can’t tell me you cared. Look at me Buffy!” Faith lunged and smacked her to the ground.“You will look at me when I’m speaking to you Damnnit!” Buffy raised her head and held back the guilty sobs caught in her throat.
“Don’t make me do this Buffy; we don’t have to keep doing this. Damn you Buffy, look at me. I loved you, I looked to you and I looked out for you. You want to throw that all away on some long dead playboy, well go ahead. Make you’re choice Buffy, me, or him”And that’s when she felt it, the cold but scolding burn. That searing pain in her heart equalled only by the emptiness in her soul. It was in that moment, their eyes met with understanding and forgiveness. It was in that moment, that solitary second they both fell. But only one cried out, only one felt the cold, though both felt the sickening pain of their hearts shattering like a million shards of glass.