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Everything Is Different Now	By : Declan Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Buffy/Faith Views: 7517 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy The Vampire Slayer Television Series. Joss Whedon does. This is done for simple fun, I'm not making any money from this.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Picking Up The Pieces 3 (Rest In Peace)

Willow shivered in the cool evening air as he walked back to Giles’ house. She hadn’t wanted to leave Tara, but having found what she needed to keep Faith in line she felt that it was her duty to tell the group.
Her mind lingered, as it so often did, on the time she spent with the other witch. Tara’s shy smile, her sweet nature and the way she looked at Willow all made the redhead feel like she hadn’t felt since Oz went away. In a way Willow never even considered that she would feel about anybody really, never mind another girl.
And it felt so natural to think that way. There was hesitation yes, and some nervousness, but that was all to do with external things, like her friends finding out. What would they think of her?
It’s not like Willow had ever brought up that sort of thing in conversation with Buffy, so how would the blonde girl feel?
Dating a vampire was unusual, sure, but in a world as weird and supernatural as the one Buffy was in, it made a sort of sense she rationalised.
But somebody who was the same gender as you? That was a whole different sort of unusual, one that was of the real world, with its own complexities and emotions. What if her friends couldn’t deal?
Willow sighed and hugged herself tighter. It was something she didn’t have to worry about today; she could put it off for a while, think about something else.
Faith.
Willow furrowed her brow in annoyance. Faith, with her easy confidence and knowing smirks and shallow charm was back in Buffy’s life, causing trouble again.
And Buffy was still trying to give Faith another chance, even after the dark-haired slayer had turned her back on Buffy, had framed her for murder, had betrayed her and joined up with dark forces. Because why? Nobody had been okay with her killing a guy?
Faith had been a slayer; something somewhere had given her real power, just like that. She hadn’t found it, or earned it, or deserved it as it turned out. Faith had had the power to do good, to help people, and instead she’d squandered it because she was selfish and stupid.
But Buffy was neither of those things so she mistakenly thought she could help. Even Xander still had confused feelings about the other slayer (he always had a weakness for slayers) but Willow didn’t... not anymore. She knew, ever since Faith had climbed all over her best friend just because she could, ever since Faith punched her and held a knife to her throat, Willow had looked into those eyes and seen nothing but cruelty.
Faith didn’t deserve any second chances. And now Willow had a couple of spells that would see that Faith wouldn’t make any more trouble. The first one was a nausea spell that Tara had found, a simple disruption spell that messed with all the liquids in a person’s head simultaneously. All Willow had to do was set fire to a greased bit of tallow that Tara had prepared, say a simple incantation and then blow out the flame. The smell of the smoke would make Faith feel all five-by-bleugh.
But the second spell was a lot nastier, and Willow had found it by looking through some of Amy’s old notes about her mom. The Bloodstone Vengeance spell was what Amy’s mom had used against Buffy and Willow remembered that it had been potent enough to lay Buffy at death’s door. And all Willow needed was something personal of Faith’s, some hair or a piece of clothing would do, and then Willow could cast the spell. If Faith tried anything...or looked like she was about to, she’d get what was coming to her and Willow could take her down once and for all; Buffy wouldn’t have to worry anymore.
Feeling a little more satisfied – at least Willow had some problems she could actually fix with magic – she arrived outside Giles’ apartment and opened the door.
She decided that she wouldn’t tell Buffy about the second spell, it would just end up worrying her. Willow would keep hold of it... just in case.

*~~*

Buffy leapt backwards as contorted barbs slashed at her face. She hopped up off the ground so her butt hit the lip of the sarcophagus, and rolled sideways onto her hip to avoid a bony-spined forearm. The demon’s limb smashed the stone rim so hard that rock dust exploded from the impact. Buffy shot out a leg to kick the side of its goat-like muzzle and knocked its head to the side, but she had to pivot back hard on her tailbone to avoid her leg being grabbed or sliced to ribbons in return.
Buffy tucked and rolled backwards over the top of the tomb, brushing past the corpse there to drop off the other side to the ground. Kurenos was much faster than before and he’d learned from their last encounter; no outstretched arms, no lumbering turns, he was quick and lithe and always pushed towards Buffy trying to gouge at her with any of his bony spurs.
She had done her best to keep her distance and look for an opening, but even so, she suffered from a couple of cuts to her forearms, a gash on one shoulder and a small puncture in her foot from an ill-timed kick.
Buffy wondered how long she could keep this up.
Ignoring the dull ache of fatigue, she stepped back and readied her axe again, but had to duck frantically as the demon snarled and threw the entire top of a sarcophagi through the air at her. Buffy dropped prone as whirling stone lid whipped just over her head and crashed against the far wall, dashing into pieces upon impact and knocking holes in the cavities beneath.
Kurenos leapt over the tomb and sprang onto Buffy, twisted cloven feet landing either side of her body as he brought his talons down on her.
It was his first mistake. It had been a clumsy pounce and Buffy was ready for it. She blocked his arms just above her head with the shaft of her axe and forced them up above her. Then she kicked her legs up and wide, a move that was more gymnast-with-a shade-of-cheerleader than slayer, to impact the demon in the back of both knees. The demon faltered instantly as he lost his footing, overbalanced by the weight of his body being too far forward, and was unable to bring his arms to bear down against Buffy.
Grimacing at the intense weight pressing against her shoulders, Buffy focussed and brought her knees up to her chest, blasting them upwards straight into the demon’s face and snapping his jaw up and his head to the side. The whole of his body followed, lurching to one side and tipping over to fall on the ground to her left, stunned.
Adjusting her grip on the handle of her axe, Buffy swung it one-handed so it struck Kurenos square in the back, its heavy head punching deep between shoulder blades. The demon shuddered and howled in pain. Immediately it reared up, almost tearing the axe from Buffy’s grip and staggered backwards against the far wall, its goat-like legs kicking lumps of stone to one side as it thumped heavily amongst broken reliquaries.
Buffy quickly flipped up to her feet as Kurenos lurched towards the corner of the vault, and only then did she notice that the far corner of the floor there had been broken through to create a jagged hole, presumably for Kurenos to lay undisturbed in the tunnels beneath during the day.
She saw the demon stagger in the direction of the hole, looking to make a retreat so she rushed to block his path.
That was her mistake.
Buffy saw the blur of motion from her right only a moment before a large chunk of masonry clipped her high up in the shoulder. It hit her with such force that she spun down on one knee and dropped her axe, the stone fragment ricocheting off the wall behind her.
Buffy cried out, her arm flaring in pain at the force of the blow, even as Kurenos’ talons surged forward to grab her round the neck. He picked her and threw her round to slam her against the cold stone walls and then flung her back so she slammed against a pillar. He tore at her again and Buffy had to desperately duck to avoid sharp spurs ripping into her face. Kurenos’ arm smashed through the column as Buffy dived away from him. She rolling and came up far enough away to avoid the bony hooks of his thighs as the creature spun round in a wide arc, his hissing laboured breathing seeming to fill the dusty room.
The demon came at her again, great scything actions of his arms leaving her dodging back further away from her lost weapon. Soon, Buffy’s back foot scraped the edge of the broken floor that lay in the corner; she swayed at the edge and quickly scanned for a way past the demon’s reach.
Kurenos slowed his approach as he realised that he had her cornered, his luminous eyes seemed to flicker over her as he sized her up. He snarled dryly and brought his twisted torso forward, spreading his shoulders and lowering his horns as he brought his claws down so low that they scraped the dusty stone flags. He was preparing to run at Buffy and drive her over the edge.
Buffy squatted and searched in the gloom for something, anything that could help. Her fingers brushed against and then closed around a chunk of broken rock and brought it up behind her back. It wasn’t much but it was something.
Kurenos charged, his coiled legs and body thrusting forward as he tried to spear Buffy with his antlers. Buffy turned and leapt over the broken hole, sprang off the wall opposite and then spun back with her improvised weapon in her fist. She slammed the stone against the side of the demon’s head just in time to knock its spikes away from her, avoiding being impaled.
She landed close to the monster and tried to scramble underneath its long gait to get behind it, but Kurenos seized her arm.
Buffy felt the familiar cold burning engulf her arm, and the tingling numbness that followed spiralled up her body in an instant. She cried out in pain even as she pulled back and tried to yank herself free of the grip. She swung her piece of rock again, so hard that it broke in two against the demon’s knee. Kurenos’ fingers loosened enough for her to pull herself from his grip, but a moment later he punched a spiked forearm against her shoulder and rammed her to her knees, using his immense height and strength to pin her in place. Buffy felt the hot sting of the blow and the feel of the bony hooks in her skin dissolve into a liquid tingle that spread up and across her neck. She braced herself, mashed her hands into fists and prepared to try and break free before the demon’s aura drained any more of her life.
In desperation Buffy let her left side fall and threw up her right arm, slamming her forearm hard into sinewy throat. She felt a shudder pass through the demon; it rocked forward on its haunches and quaked at the impact of the blow.
But not Buffy’s blow.
Kurenos swayed on the spot for a moment, before both he and Buffy simultaneously looked down and noticed the two inches of steel blade of a knife protruding from his chest. Then there was the distinctive sound of a crossbow being fired and the demon shuddered under another impact. The tip of a bolt suddenly jutted from the hollow of the demon’s furred neck.
“Time to change dance partners, lumpy. She’s been hoggin’ ya all to herself for too long.”
Buffy recognised Faith’s voice and she managed to break from the demon’s weakening grip. She ducked to one side to see Faith skip down the steps, her remaining knife in one hand, and the shoulder bag in the other. Faith leapt the last few feet to the ground and landed in a crouch as Kurenos turned, animalistic features twisted into a pained snarl. The dark-haired girl slid the bag across the floor towards Buffy and readied her large dagger; her eyes seemed to shine with anticipation.
Buffy managed to move quickly to grab the axe off the floor and swung round to face the emaciated monster, even as Faith closed the distance from the other side.
The demon surged forward, perhaps thinking that Buffy was too injured to remain a threat for long so he could concentrate on the new slayer. Buffy took advantage of the inattention and flanked the demon even as he lashed out at Faith.
The dark slayer seemed fresh and strong and all the quicker for it. She ran forward, bobbed under a raking claw and struck in close with her knife, slicing the sharp blade through its gangrenous, translucent underbelly and ducking back from the arching spray of ooze that followed. Faith avoided another razor talon, knocking it away with her forearm, and then stabbed the demon twice, jabbing her blade beneath its ribs with quick, brutal thrusts before springing to the left, bouncing off the wall and using one of the holes there to jump high to hack her knife at Kurenos’ head.
Kurenos was bringing up his arm to ward her off when Buffy chopped her axe into the back of his leg. He roared, twisting in pain just as Faith’s dagger found its mark in his neck. The blade struck deep and Faith held on, knees braced against the demon’s shuddering torso as Buffy struck again, the axe impacting higher this time. Buffy saw a few bone hooks on the demon’s upper body tear at Faith’s thighs as she pushed in close against the goat-shaped monster, digging her knife out only to plunge it into the creatures chest where its heart would be.
Buffy chopped her weapon at Kurenos’ right side, cleaving the latticework of bone just beneath the skin and splitting the rancid organs beneath.
Faith gritted her teeth: she rammed and twisted her blade in the demon’s torso, one hand breaking off to punch the goat-monster in the face, her knuckles ramming against eye socket. Kurenos’ roar became high pitched as it tottered weakly backwards, bluish energy flickering in its throat and one clawed hand wrapped around Faith’s shoulder, digging and scratching at the flesh there.
Faith shrugged off the weakening grip as she tore her knife up and loose and then jumped back off the demon, pushing away with her feet even as Buffy’s last blow cleaved the demon’s leg off above the knee. Kurenos fell back, his lower body slamming into the ground and the rest of him disappearing into the opening in the floor. The lower half of him soon followed, flipping up and out of sight to crash into the inky darkness below.
Faith stood up and flipped her hair back before cautiously approaching the hole. She was limping slightly even as she tucked her stained knife inside her jacket. “Where’d this come from?” she muttered.
Buffy tried to catch her breath as she bent and rested the axe against the ground. “He had his... minion things make it I think, or maybe he did it. Like a hidey-hole or something.”
Faith peered warily into the dark pit. “Where does it go?”
“There are tunnels and underground caves all over this town.” Buffy squirmed a little as she started to feel the stings of her injuries. “Is he moving down there at all?”
Faith narrowed her eyes. “Not much, flailing his arms about some, tryin’ to find somethin’ t’heal himself with maybe?” Faith shook her head, “He ain’t going anywhere fast without that.” She nodded at the severed leg that still lay where it fell.
Buffy nodded in tired relief. “Good.”
She picked up the shoulder bag, unzipped it and pulled out the can of kerosene. She felt the full can slosh with pungent liquid; it should be plenty to finish the job.
Faith watched impassively as Buffy approached the hole, and looked down. She saw the demon writhing on a broken pile of coffins and wooden struts, the type of things used in mining, all piled underneath the fissure so that the dead could climb in and out when needed.
It also served as fuel for a convenient pyre.
Buffy uncapped the container, wrinkling her nose at the acrid stink, and tipped it so a long stream of the clear liquid poured out and down. She heard it glug out and splash on the structure below as she upended it. After a minute it was empty and she cast the container down into the dark as well.
As she fished in the shoulder bag for the matches she’d taken back at the house she saw Faith remove a lighter from her pocket. With a deft flick a small flame appeared.
Faith smirked. “You want to do the honours or should I?”
Buffy gestured at the pit. “Be my guest.”
Faith flipped the lighter into the air. It turned end over end and then dropped out of sight. Moments later there was the distinct sound of the air catching fire; the chamber was bathed with flickering tongues of light as flames spilled up like they were trying to escape the hole.
Kurenos made no sound, though Buffy could see something thrashing amidst the burning wood and smoke.
‘Silent as the grave. Thank God.’
Buffy rubbed the back of her neck, glad the numbness was swiftly passing but she could’ve done without all the scratchy wounds. Still, maybe a bubble bath would be just the thing to medicate herself with.
She smiled at that as she glanced over at Faith; the other girl stared into the fire with a dejected look on her face, maybe planning to revert to type now that the fighting was over.
Buffy wasn’t going to have that: these bridges were gettin’ built. “Thank you, Faith. That thing really had me on the back foot for a while there. You showing up when you did, it was very timely. What with your deadly aim and everything.”
Faith seemed to snap her gaze away from the flickering flame. “Uh, yeah. Whatever.” She shrugged as her expression hardened.
Buffy pretended to look thoughtful as she tilted her head at the conflagration below. “So, d’you bring any marshmallows?”
Faith wrinkled her nose and then, almost in spite of herself, her lips curled into a smirk. “You’re wicked gross, B.”
Buffy shrugged lightly as she smiled. “It’s just my mood. Comes with the hacking apart of demons.”
Faith shook her head at that and then seemed to decide something. “Woulda got here sooner but I ran into a bit of trouble in my travels. That Adam guy was out doin’ some damage.”
Buffy gaped in surprise. “God... Faith, a-are you alright? Did he hurt you?” Buffy tried and failed to hide the tremor of concern in her voice. She took a step towards the other girl and reached out as if to touch her.
Faith waved her off with a flicker of annoyance. “’S cool. He was way more interested in the zombie things chasin’ me. Ended up tearin’ into them instead. I left ‘em both to have at it and came back here.” She shook her head ruefully, “Was in a tight spot there for a sec.”
Buffy failed to keep the mild reproach out of her voice. “As plans go it was really risky, Faith.”
Faith shrugged and smiled again. “Well, they’re toast and we’re still here so it couldn’t have been too bad right?”
Buffy laughed at that. “I guess I can’t argue with that. Still, I’ll feel better after I submerge myself in a bath until I prune.” She sighed, “Let’s get out of here.”
Faith nodded and turned towards the stairs. “Me, I’m gonna need feedin’ again. All that running my ass off made me hungry.”
Buffy nodded in agreement as she followed Faith up the stairs. “Not to mention the slaying.”
Faith stopped on the stairs and looked over her shoulder at Buffy. “That guy? He weren’t so tough; I knew you were getting way too cosy when it comes to slayin’.” Faith smirked and leaned against the wall. “Lost your edge.”
Buffy scowled in mock outrage. “No way. Actually it was me who softened him up for you. You get... maybe an assist, but it was eighty percent me.”
Faith raised a sceptical eyebrow. “Eighty? As in the chick that just saved your ass gets a measly twenty percent.”
Buffy smiled teasingly as she stepped past Faith on the stairs. “Maybe twenty-five. That’s like, a quarter of an actual slay, Faith. You should be very proud.”
“Better take that back”, the dark haired girl grouched good-naturedly behind her.
Buffy twirled her axe playfully at the top of the stairs. “I think it shows a lot of grace to be able to recognise the valuable quarter of support that you gave me.” Buffy stepped out into the night, taking in a lungful of fresh, un-dusty air. She immediately felt better. “Really, you should be very grateful.”
Faith’s voice was close behind her. “In that case, lemme show you some gratitude.”
Buffy turned just enough to see Faith as she stepped closer and slammed a fist into the face.
Buffy flew face forward onto the grass, stunned by the sudden blow. She shook her head and blinked away stars before looking back to see Faith draw her knife.
The dark slayer smiled slyly. “And that’s just for starters.”
- 13
- 14
- 15
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Everything Is Different Now