Walking Into Darkness (BTVS, W/F) (Part 5/?)

["Melissa Levine" <xander_willow@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Walking into Darkness (5/?)
Author: Melissa
Rating: R
Summery: Season 3, Faith bumps into Willow, or is it the other way around?
Notes: This is an AU where Oz never existed, he doesn't fit in my story.
Pairing: W/F
Disclaimer: They're not mine I never claimed they were either, Joss rules,
don't sue me.

Part 5
Both girls jumped apart and Willow tumbled onto the ground. She stood up a
little flustered and had no idea why she and Faith had jumped apart. The
phone rang again and she remembered, she rushed over to answer it. Before
lifting the receiver Willow took a deep composing breath, and answered the
phone. "Hello?… Oh hi Buffy…"I called her already, right? "No, no I'm
fine…" Oh, she just wants to know why I wasn't in class. "I wasn't feeling
well… I didn't go to the nurse…" Why is she asking so many questions?
Willow looked around, where is Faith? "Because I know I didn't have a
fever, so I just left… I'm fine now, I think I just needed some fresh air…"
Hurry up Buffy, I was to get off the phone. "NO, I mean, no, you don't have
to come over, really I'm good, I'll see you tomorrow… Yes I'm sure… Ok, see
you tomorrow, bye Buffy."

Willow hung up the phone and wandered out of the room. "Faith, where are
you?" Willow was still unsure as to why Faith had left the room in the
first place.

While Willow was on the phone…

Faith crept out of the room after the near kiss; she didn't want Red to feel
uncomfortable talking with her in the room. She heard the redhead say hello
to Buffy and started to feel awkward herself. What am I doing? I shouldn't
be here, not only am I starting to having feelings for this girl, but I'm
putting her in danger. Vampires are always hunting me down, I have to
patrol at all hours of the night, and she's going to want to come with me.
I just know I can't say no to her. Faith started down the stairs and for
the door when she heard Willow called to her. "I'm down here Red." She
called back up, now why did I do that? I was almost out of here.

"What are you doing down here?" Willow asked as she came down the stairs.
It looks like she was leaving, she even has her bag with her, why would she
leave? Did I do something? "Going somewhere?"

"Oh, yeah, I thought about it and I really don't want to put you out. I'm
feeling a lot better too, I could make it to the motel in no time and give
you a call when I get there." Faith was trying to convince herself that she
didn't need to say, and trying to prove to her heart that she didn't want to
stay. I can still leave, if she touches me I won't be able to, but right
now I could leave.

Willow reached out and grabbed Faith's arm tugging her up the stairs. "I
told you before, you're not going anywhere, you will stay at least for
tonight, I would feel awful if something were to happen to you." Ok, she
was trying to leave, but she didn't put up too big of a fight, so it must
have been a fleeting guilt over "using me" for a place.

As they reached Faith's room Willow told Faith to sit on the bed so she
could help her with her pants, "oh that's all right Red I can get those."
Willow looked up into the Brunette's eyes and decided that would be best.
"Willow, about earlier, I, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to take advantage of
you." Red, you need to believe me.

"What are you talking about Faith? You haven't done anything wrong." Is
she talking about that "near kiss" earlier? That wasn't a big deal nothing
happened, right? Willow fidgeted and went to put Faith's bag in the guest
closet. When she turned around she wouldn't meet Faith's eyes.

She knows what I'm talking about or she would meet my eyes. Why is she
fighting this? She must know how I feel. "Willow, look at me, what's
wrong?" There was a certain pleading tone in the Brunette's voice that even
she didn't recognize. When did I start begging for any girl's attention?
This is certainly new.

"I'm going to clean those cuts on your face, hold on I'll get a warm
washcloth." Willow left the room and Faith started to go over everything
that had happened that evening in her head.

We met, and went for mochas, decided to go to the Bronze. I got jumped, she
offered her place, helped me with my shirt, and we almost kissed… Faith
thought about that, she had been wondering all day what it would feel like
to kiss the Redhead, but hadn't had the chance. Finally she had had the
chance and it looked like Willow had wanted it too, but the phone rang and
destroyed the moment, leaving Red a mess of nerves. We have to get that
mood back, I know she's into me too, she just doesn't want to admit it yet.
I can fix that. Soon Willow came back with a bowl of warm soapy water and a
couple face clothes.

"Ready?" At Faith's nod Willow began cleans Faith's facial wounds. "This
may sting a bit over the deeper cuts," Willow whispered while going over a
gash in Faith's eyebrow. "Most of these are already healed, you're going to
have to tell me your secret." She heals like Buffy.

"I really don't know, I've just always healed quickly." She smells so good,
and she's very gentle with me. It's like she's done this before. I wonder
if she sees a lot of wounded people living in a town with vampires. Faith
shuddered as one of Willow's hands ran over her face, checking for any
hidden scrapes.

"Did I hurt you?" The Redhead quickly pulled back her hands and stood.
Faith shook her head and Red gathered the dry washcloth and wiped off the
little drops of water on Faith's face. "There you go, good as new, those
cuts look like they should be healed by tomorrow morning. How are your ribs
doing?" Willow's fingers absently brushed over the bruised area of Faith's
chest.

Faith silently gasped, does she have any idea what she's doing to me? The
Brunette looked up into the Redhead's eyes. Nope, I really don't think she
does. "They're feeling a lot better, oh Red, do you have anything to eat in
this house? I'm starved."

Willow jerked her hand away from Faith's chest, "uh yeah, I'll go find
something." What were you doing Willow? You practically felt her up.
Willow got up and quickly left the room. She went downstairs and entered
the kitchen. What do I have to eat? Willow opened the fridge and saw only
a few apples, some leftover pasta and a couple slices of cheese. I really
need to get to the store this is ridiculous. Especially with Xander and
Buffy always over, they never stop eating. The Redhead walked back over to
the stairs, "we have some leftover pasta, and a few apples, how does that
sound?" Willow was practically shouting to make sure Faith would hear her.

"Sounds good to me," Faith spoke softly from directly behind Willow. Red
jumped about a foot before spinning on her heel.

"You scared me to death. When, why, what are you doing down here? I was
just in the kitchen, and you would like something to eat. I'm going to go
heat up that pasta." Willow didn't know why she was babbling, but it
probably had something to do with her being scared to death. She walked back
into the kitchen. Willow placed the pasta in the microwave and started it.
"This should only take a few minutes. What would you like to drink?"

Faith had come downstairs to make things easier on Willow, but felt awful
when she so obviously frightened Red. That's it Faith, terrify her on top
of making her uncomfortable, you're really scoring points here, NOT.

Soon the two girls sat down to eat their bowls of pasta and an apple each.
They ate in silence each thinking about how their lives were getting more
and more complicated. "Is this enough? I don't know what you've had to eat
today." Willow felt like she should be cooking Faith a 10-course meal at
the rate she was eating, but she just didn't have any food to give her. She
eats like Buffy after slaying. I wonder if she's had anything to eat in
weeks…

"This is just great, I was starving." Faith took a big bite of her apple
just after speaking. This is the best food I've had in months and I just
inhaled it. I must look like a pig, oh who cares any more. I obviously
made her uncomfortable. A loud crash from outside startled Faith from her
thoughts. What was that?!

"What was that?!" Red spoke as she leapt out of her chair and ran to look
out the window. Oh no, not now.
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