Fic: Simple Choices...NC-17 Buffy/Willow (29/?)

["Chris" <elizabethrex1@xxxxxxxxx>]

Disclaimer: All things Buffy belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and 
lots of people in expensive suits. I'm not making any money here, 
just trying to create a happier Buffyverse for my favorite characters.
Spoilers: General spoilers for S5, starting with "The I in Team." Eh, 
who am I kidding? This is really AU now.
A/N: Thanks to Ivy for pre-reading and Zigpal and Lilly for the beta. 
There would be no writing without you guys. 


Pushing open the kitchen door, Buffy looked at Faith. "What the hell 
happened to you?" Faith was sweat soaked, dirty, and battered.

Faith looked at her, one eyebrow climbing. "Hi, B. You look good. 
You're welcome for getting the troops out of the way so X-man and 
Graham could get back with the info." 

"Oops. Sorry, Faith." Buffy relaxed. Faith couldn't be badly hurt if 
she was this cocky. "Thanks for letting Xander and Graham come back 
with the info." She waited a beat then added, "Want to explain the `I 
just got my ass kicked' look?"

"I ran into your ex." Hand on her side, Faith stretched and 
winced. "Boy's wicked fast and has a hell of a punch. Remind me not 
to make fun of the Marine commercials anymore."

Something didn't make sense. "You ran into Riley?" Buffy asked. No 
way could Riley do that kind of damage. They'd patrolled and sparred 
enough. He'd never even laid a hand on Buffy unless she'd let him.

"Big beefy guy who freaked when you kissed Red at the Bronze?" Faith 
commented.

"That's him." Buffy didn't look at anyone except Faith. She and 
Willow may have outed themselves earlier, but they hadn't made any 
announcements about how long their strange relationship had been 
going on.

She'd forgotten one thing, though.

Xander's head shot up. "Buffy kissed Willow? When? And why wasn't I 
there?"

"Xander!" Anya's shrill voice interrupted. "You are with me. That 
means you should not be enjoying thoughts of other women. Besides, if 
Buffy kisses Willow, they wouldn't want you there. That makes them 
lesbians."

Willow's giggles broke the pained silence. "Actually, Anya," she 
said, stepping around Buffy and taking a seat on a stool, "Buffy and 
I would be considered bisexual." 

If Buffy hadn't been so embarrassed, she might have marveled at 
Willow's sudden self-possession. 

Before Anya could reply, Willow went on, addressing Faith, "Do you 
think it was all the time in the coma that let Riley get to you?"

Faith shook her head immediately. "No. Once Blondie did her magic, 
I've been back to normal. He got me even with the Slayer running 
things."

The words rang hollowly in Buffy's ears. No. This couldn't be 
happening. Not again. Springing across the kitchen, she snatched the 
folder on Adam and the other monster from the table. Ignoring the 
people crowding the kitchen, Buffy peered at the diagram of the 
Professor's other creation. Nothing. "Tara, were there any notes on 
testing? Maybe responses to drugs or battle simulations?" she 
demanded, giving up on the file.

"Y-Yes. How di-did you know?" Tara stuttered, shrinking back from 
Buffy's sudden aggression.

"Damn it, why me?" Buffy shouted, slamming the file onto the 
table. "I mean, I may be a Slayer, but that doesn't mean I'm some 
kind of demon magnet, right?" She turned to Willow. "Angel, Ford, 
Riley. I swear, if you turn into an evil demon, I'm going celibate."

***

Fighting a laugh, Willow stared at Buffy. The hazel eyes were dark 
and shadowed, her soft lips pursed. Whatever had Buffy making vows of 
celibacy, it wasn't at all funny. "Um?'k. I promise not to go Evil, 
Buffy." Running Buffy's actions through her mind, Willow tried to put 
the pieces together. 

Graham beat her to the punch. "Why do you think Ry's a demon?" he 
asked, voice angry. "He was on those drugs, just like the rest of us. 
He didn't have a choice about what he did."

Buffy spun to face Graham. "You were there when the Professor did all 
those tests. How many times did Riley, did any of you, even get close 
to me in a fight?"

Eyes wide, Willow realized what Buffy was thinking ? Riley was 
Professor Walsh's newest hybrid. She took a step toward Buffy as 
Graham responded to Buffy's strident question.

"None." The word was quiet, reluctantly drawn from Graham. "That 
doesn't mean-"

"You're right. It doesn't mean anything." Willow watched Buffy scan 
the room. Her girlfriend had everyone's attention. "I could be 
wrong." Buffy's lips twisted bitterly. "I'd like to be wrong. I just 
don't think I am."

Giles broke the tense silence when he walked over and retrieved the 
file Buffy had thrown onto the counter. "Right or wrong, it doesn't 
change our plan." He looked expectantly at Buffy.

Willow saw Buffy frown in confusion. "Remember?the plan," she 
enunciated for Buffy's benefit, flicking her glance toward Tara and 
Faith.

"The plan," Buffy mimicked. The wheels were turning, and Willow 
waited for Buffy to make the connection. "Oh!" Cheeks pink, Buffy 
looked at Tara. "That plan."

***

Faith watched the byplay with irritation. If they had a plan, why the 
hell were they hanging out in the kitchen? "You gonna fill me in on 
this plan, B? Or did you want to move here permanently?"

Buffy's blush was unexpected ? as was the almost fearful look she 
shot Tara.

"B?" Faith gripped the edge of the table. "We're going after Adam, 
right? That's what the plan's for?" 

"Yes, it is." It wasn't Buffy who answered. Tara smiled slightly, 
blonde hair creeping forward to obscure part of her face. "Why don't 
I tell you about that while I take a look at those ribs?"

Eyes bouncing between a strangely silent Buffy and Tara, Faith 
considered that. "Nah." She was a Slayer. She'd heal. The thing with 
Adam was more important than getting Tara to magically heal some cuts 
and a few bruised ribs.

"You need to be completely healed if you and Buffy are going after 
Adam." Faith looked up at Joyce, leaning against the counter by the 
sink. "Let Tara take care of you," Joyce continued. She was smiling, 
but Faith didn't get the impression her words were a suggestion. 

"Mrs. S-" she started to object. It was just some bruises.

"Please, Faith," Joyce pleaded. 

Squirming under the piercing hazel stare, Faith tried one last 
time. "Waste of fucking time, if ya' ask me."

One blonde eyebrow rose.

Faith clamped her lips shut, head nodding almost automatically.

"Thank you, honey." Joyce's smile was far gentler this time. "Why 
don't you and Tara use one of the bedrooms while the rest of the gang 
talks strategy?" 

"You're welcome," Faith muttered. She followed Tara out of the 
kitchen. "Blondie, what's really going on? B ain't calling the cops 
on me, is she?" It was the only reason she'd found for the strange 
way the Scoobies had acted.

Tara turned, blue eyes wide with horror. "Goddess, no!" She took 
Faith's hand and pulled her down the hall, talking the entire 
way. "Buffy's been pr-pretty wound up today from the S-Slayer and the 
way we ha-have to go after Adam." 

"What's B's Slayer got to do with anything? I thought Red got those 
drugs out of Buffy's system?" Faith dug in her heels, halting their 
progress in the hallway. "Spill, Blondie. I ain't taking another step 
until you help me understand."

Dropping Faith's hand, Tara turned. She was bright red as she stared 
into Faith's eyes resolutely. "I'll tell you."

Faith snorted. Yeah, right. 

She didn't expect the fiery blue eyes that glared up at her. "I said 
I would tell you. I will. Just?" Tara's rare show of aggression faded 
away, replaced by a bright blush. "?not out here."

"Whatever, Blondie." Faith pushed past her and into the first 
bedroom. She was too tired to argue. "Just make it fast, would you? 
If we're going after Adam, I don't want to be the last one out the 
door." Dropping onto the bed, Faith lay back, letting her legs and 
feet hang off the edge. "What's the plan that has you and B all 
redfaced?"

Tara didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked to the opposite 
side of the bed by Faith's head, gently touching her temples. "Relax, 
Faith," she said softly. "I need you to relax and lower your shields."

"You gonna do the healing now?" Faith asked, already sinking into a 
trance state. Tara's temple massage had her almost boneless. Warmth 
tingled under her skin.

She heard Tara's slow, deliberate breaths and the bed dipped as Tara 
knelt next to her. The fingers trailed away from her temples, 
stroking softly down her face to her neck. 

It felt so good, Faith didn't question the action. When Tara's lips 
followed the path of her fingers, though, relaxation disappeared. 
Faith sat up abruptly. "What the fuck's going on, Blondie?" she 
demanded. Eyes snapping open, she glared at Tara.

Deep blue eyes glittered in the dim room. "I'm trying to explain the 
plan, Faith." 

"The plan includes you coming on to me?" Faith chuckled. "Never saw 
that coming." She scooted to the end of the bed. "Never mind about 
the ribs, T. They feel better." Maybe Tara had gotten to them before 
she made her moves.

"Faith." Tara's voice reached out, stopping Faith before she stood. 

The warmth was back; the tingling beneath her skin grew.

"I promised to explain the plan. Why won't you let me explain?" Tara 
asked. 




Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                      --'Choices'

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