Fic: Subterfuge (27/?)

[inell@xxxxxxx]

Title: Subterfuge
Author: Inell
Email: Inell@xxxxxxx
Disclaimer: Joss owns them all
Distribution: My site, Kiss or Kill, 
http://members.fortunecity.com/kissorkill Anyone that has permission, take. 
Otherwise, just ask.
Rating: R
Pairing: Willow/Buffy
To anyone reading


SUBTERFUGE (27/?)


"What?" Buffy looked at Willow in disbelief, shaking her head slightly. "No 
way. It couldn't have been. You said it was some random girl."


"I lied," Willow admitted with guilt flashing in her green eyes. "I was going 
to tell you and then we had that fight and the next day it didn't seem 
important."


"It didn't seem important?" Buffy laughed a bit hysterically, "Willow, you 
had coffee with the demon bitch that is after Dawn and me and you didn't 
think it was important that I knew?"


"I didn't think about it," Willow said, knowing how stupid it sounded now but 
knowing that it had made sense to her at the time. "Buffy, I thought it was 
just coffee. I didn't know all this would happen or I would have told you. I 
never meant to lie."


"Well, you did," Buffy said sharply, her arms moving to wrap themselves 
around her as she glared at Willow, "All of what? You just said that you 
didn't know that all of this would happen. What is all of this?"


"Glory has been stalking me since that night," Willow whispered, wishing she 
could look away from Buffy's accusing eyes but unable to break the contact.


"Stalking you how?" Buffy asked quietly, her anger mixing with fear.


"Following me, watching me, she cornered me in an alley the other night and 
um, she touched me," Willow felt a blush crossing her face as she spoke. 


"Touched you?" Buffy stared at Willow as she asked, "You had sex with her?"


"No," Willow denied, "she touched me, Buffy. And she threatened me as she 
did, telling me that she'd kill you if I didn't go with her. She warned me to 
stay away from you. Last night, the roses, it was her. She poisoned them so 
you'd get sick and I could see that she was serious."


"It was poison?" Buffy shook her head, "She's been doing this for nearly a 
month? And you're just now telling me? Why, Willow? Why lie about it? Do you 
want her? Do you want to be with her? Why did she come after me?"


"No, I don't want her!" Willow said, "How could you even suggest that? I 
never wanted this. I wanted to help you. I never planned on her meeting me or 
wanting me or any of it. I hate it! I hate being so scared, of knowing that 
she has the power and ability to hurt the one person that I love so much. She 
scares me to death, Buffy. I didn't tell you because I thought she'd get 
tired of it, get bored. That she was playing a game. I never thought it would 
go this far. I know I should have told you that first night, but I didn't. I 
can't go back and change that. I never wanted anyone to get hurt."


"Well, they did," Buffy said with anger. "I was poisoned, Willow. You knew 
and you didn't say a word. I could have died! I thought it was just some 
illness, some silly little virus, and you agreed with me. You didn't tell me 
the truth! Do you know how much that hurts? You've put me *and* Dawn in 
danger by not being honest. What if Dawn had found the flowers? She's not a 
slayer, Willow. It might have killed her while it only made me slightly sick. 
You obviously never thought about that! I just can't believe you've been 
dealing with that for weeks and you never told me. I just can't understand!"


Willow felt tears sliding down her cheeks as she struggled to find the words, 
knowing nothing would make it all better. The slayer's eyes were accusing and 
angry and hurt. She finally looked away, not able to say her next words when 
looking at Buffy, "I'm sorry. You're right. About everything. I was stupid 
and dishonest. I didn't think she'd see it, you know?"


"See what?" Buffy asked, wishing she had a demon to kill. She had never felt 
so angry or betrayed, honestly hurt even more than after Angel lost his soul, 
Willow having made the decision to deceive her, to put her and Dawn at risk. 


"That I love you," Willow whispered, looking up as the tears fell from her 
eyes. "She went after you because she knew that I was in love with you. She 
sees you as competition in this fucked up game of hers. I know that you hate 
me, and I can't blame you. I never thought she'd come after you, that you or 
Dawn would be in danger. I thought I could handle her alone. I didn't want 
you to know how badly I'd messed up. I've lost you anyway."


"You love me?" Buffy whispered, seeing the truth flickering in Willow's green 
eyes. She should feel happiness at those words, seeing the depth of emotion. 
But, she was still reeling from the news that Glory was after Willow, angry 
that she hadn't been told. Anger far outweighed her happiness at the moment. 
She stood up quickly, her hand running through her hair as she said, "I need 
to think. I need some time."


"I understand," Willow looked at the floor.


Buffy looked at Willow, studied her for a moment before moving her hand to 
the redhead's chin. She lifted it until she was looking into teary green 
eyes. She spoke forcefully, "Don't leave. I'll be back soon. I just need to 
be alone, to think. Be here when I get back, so we can talk."


"Okay," Willow said softly, not sure what was running through the slayer's 
mind.


"Promise me, Willow. I need to know you'll be here," Buffy said, her own love 
for Willow overriding the anger and fear for a few moments.


"I promise," Willow whispered, knowing that she would do anything for Buffy.


"Stop crying," Buffy scolded softly, her thumb brushing away a tear as she 
sighed, "I don't hate you, Willow. I could never hate you. You haven't lost 
me. I just need to absorb everything, to think."


"You don't?" Willow felt relieved as she accepted Buffy's words as truth. She 
gave a small smile as she said, "I'll be here, waiting for you."


"I know," Buffy smiled slightly before dropping her hand and moving towards 
the door, not at all sure where she was going, but knowing she needed to get 
away so she could process everything.