1.01 Life's Short

Fade In:
Hotel Room - Same Night

“God I gotta shower,” Faith said as she walked in the room and dusted the vamp dust off her tight top.

“Maybe we should bring a vacuum on patrol with us,” Buffy suggested as she put away their stakes in her black duffel bag.

Faith gave her a look that implied she was stupid. “Yeah B, and where would we fit that?”

“I was just kidding.”

“Yeah well anyway, least vamp dusts better than blood.” Faith took off her shirt and discarded it to the floor.

Buffy raised an eyebrow and then blushed when Faith started taking off her bra, “Faith! Faith do NOT get undressed in here. I completely and utterly forbid that!”

Faith unhooked it but left her arm in front of her chest so it didn’t fall to the ground and expose anything, “Your such a prude, B. We’re both girls, I’ve got everything you got.” She smirked, “Except more of them.”

“My breasts are a perfect size thank you very much, I don’t fall out of my tops like *some* people,” Buffy replied and glared at her.

“Who said anything about your breasts, B? But now that you mention it they *are* kinda small.”

“They are NOT! I’d like you to know men happen to like them.” Buffy looked down at her chest.

“Reality check, men like ALL breasts. They don’t know the difference. But women...” Faith threw her bra to the ground and ran her fingers over her hard nipples. “Women like something they can grab onto, suck, lick, taste...” Faith smiles seductively at Buffy. “Women are also natural critiques, they know what’s good. And honey, MINE are good.”

Buffy looked away once she caught a glimpse of Faiths breasts and says to her, looking at the wall, “Quite full of yourself, huh?”

“I call it confidence.”

“Yeah well don’t tell me Miss I’m-apparently-now-gay, that you wouldn’t do me if you had the chance. I see the way you look at me.”

Faith quirked an eyebrow, “Now who’s full of themself?”

“Didn’t answer my question.” Faith could see Buffy smiling a little as she said it.

“Wasn’t a question, B. It was a statement.”

“Your avoiding the `statement` then.” Buffy looked like she had it all figured out.

“Fine, I’ll answer yours if you answer mine. TRUTHFULLY.” Faith took off her pants and wasn’t wearing any underwear so she now stood there, completely naked.

Buffy heard rustling movement, “Faith I swear if you just took off your pants I’m going to beat on you.”

“Have to look at me first, Twinkie. Now, about my offer?” Faith smirked again and sat on the bed.

“Fine. Now tell me.”

“Yeah B, if I had the chance to do you I’d fuck you three ways to Sunday and have you screaming my name as you come around my fingers.”

Buffy blushed a deep shade of red and muttered, “I just had to ask, didn’t I? Dammit Buffy, always gotta ask.”

“Kay B, my turn. Have you ever thought of another girl in a more than friendly way?”

“No!” Buffy turned around, horrified that she would even ask that but then blushes even redder as she sees Faith totally nude and turns back around just as quickly.

Faith laughed, “You’re such a liar!”

“I am not!”

“You even *sound* like your lying. Not to mention everyone is curious once and awhile.” Faith picked up a pack of smokes off the bedside table and lit one up.

“Faith don’t you dare smoke in here!”

“Get over it. Now tell me the truth.”

Buffy paused for a very long time, and Faiths smile got wider.

“Well...” Buffy began. “I guess I have a couple times... but its not like I’d EVER do it!”

Faith took a drag and then laughed a little as she exhaled. “IT, huh? So it was sex.”

“I...um... no, well... you see I...”

“Save it, B. I caught ya. And you caught me, so we’re even. Now I’m gonna go shower if you don’t mind.” Faith got up and went in the bathroom, leaving a very flustered Buffy behind.

Buffy just kind of stared at the wall, her face still red as she played with her hands. “Oh god, dirty thoughts, bad dirty thoughts, BAD,” she muttered. “I gotta call Giles. Giles calling is now.”

Buffy sat down on the bed and picked up the phone off its cradle, and dialed the number Giles gave her. She waited until she heard a click, and a familiar voice answered. “Hello?”

“Hey Giles, its me.”

“Buffy, nice to hear from you.”

Buffy got up and started pacing with the phone, “Look, we found a girl already. Kinda on accident, but still.”


“That’s splendid, did you inform her of her destiny?”

“Yeah, and Faith almost punched me for using the word `destiny`. Is there another speech to give?” Buffy twirled the phone cord with her finger.

“The speech isn’t the important thing, Buffy.”

“I know, I know. Speaking of important things, what about that whole house thing, for us and the girls?”

“I’m getting it all straight right now actually. In a couple days we should have it all settled. Willow, Kennedy, and Xander are going to stop by to help you fix the place up, and Willow will try to `feel out,` so to speak, other girls for you to find.”

“Gotta have Mr. Fix-it along,” Buffy smiled. “Do you know what he’s going to do, now that this is all over? He said he hadn’t decided when I last talked to him, but I’m hoping he’ll stick around...”

“You never know, Xander’s very fond of you, but he’s suffered a great loss. The death of a loved one can make people distant, as you know.”

Buffy sighed, “I know. I wish we didn’t lose Anya.”

“Death is an inevitable part of battle.”

“Yeah, I know that too. I gave that whole speech to Faith once.”

“Gave me what speech?” Faith asked as she exited the bathroom, towel drying her hair.

Buffy waved her off as Giles continued to talk. “Well then I don’t have to remind you, do I?”

“Guess not. Well, thanks Giles. Have everybody call us when they get down here.”

“Will do. Bye Buffy.” He hung up.

Buffy put down the phone and sat down on the bed.

“So what’s going on?” Faith asked.

“They’re still looking for a house, and when they find one Willow, Kennedy, and Xander are going to come down to help us fix it up.”

“Cool. Well, showers all yours,” Faith moved out of the way of the door and Buffy got up.

“Thanks.”

Cut to:
In an abandoned building - Same Night

“Hey, Jess, wake up. Come on wake up,” Sam said as she tapped her friend Jess’s face. The ground around her was scattered with needles and a bag of coke was to her left next to another guy. She looked at him, “Tony, she wont wake up!”

“She’s fine,” he said as he smoked a blunt. “She’ll wake up eventually.”

“She is not fine. Heroin addicts are never FINE.” She glared at him and continued to shake the unconscious girl.

“Just chill ‘aight? She woke up last time didn’t she?” He looked at her like he was getting bored with the conversation.

“Yeah but there’s just so many times she can take before her body shuts down, Tony. Don’t be so naive.”

“I’m not naive, I just know I’m right. She’ll be fine. What we have to worry about now if our next meal. Its your turn to steal some money.” He pointed at her.

“I know, I know. And I’ll get it, don’t worry about it. Right now we still have some McDonalds left over. The dollar menu is like our best friend right now.” She picked up some cold french fries and handed them to him.

He waved them away, “I’m not hungry now. I was just saying.”

She shrugged and put them down. “Alright, well, they’re here when you need them. I’m gonna go bum a smoke off of someone, I’ll be right back.” She got up and headed out the door.

Cut to:
Hotel Room - Morning

“Ugghhh,” Faith groaned and rolled over, swatting at Buffy.

“Faith, really, time to get up.” Buffy shook her again but Faith pretended to have fallen back asleep. Buffy frowned and then took the blankets and stripped them off of her, leaving her naked.

“Ahh!” Buffy screamed as her hands flew to her eyes. “God Faith while your with me you have to wear clothes to bed! I think I’ve broken my eyes, I’ve seen WAY too much of you in the past two days.”

Faith covered her eyes with her arms, “Its too bright.”


“And your too not clothed, now get up and put something on.” Buffy flicked the blanket at her while still not looking in her direction, fearful of getting another look.

“I’m up, I’m up...” Faith groaned as she got up. She stretched and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and squinted as the sun shone in her face. “I hate the morning.”

“Well they finish serving breakfast downstairs in a half an hour so I thought I’d get you up. Free breakfast is better then a not free one.” She started pushing Faith towards the bathroom, while still trying to not look at her.

“Its not free, B. They include the cost in the bill and just call it free. Its called a— Hey!” Faith swatted Buffys hands away after one accidently brushed her breast. “Trying to cop a feel now? All ya had to do was ask.”

Buffy blushed, “Dammit Faith just go take a shower now, okay?”

“Wanna join me?” Faith leered at her.

“And to that an extreme NO.” Buffy pushed her the rest of the way and slammed the door closed. “Shes so damn hard to live with,” she muttered.

Cut to:
Street - Morning

“Tree! Tree! Tree! Tree!” Faith called out as she saw each tree.

“Faith what are you doing? Stop it,” Buffy said as she and Faith walked down the street. People were staring at Faith as she called out.

“Didn’t you ever see that movie, B? That bear one?”

“Apparently not.”

“God, you gotta brush up on your animated movies, girlie.” She looked at another tree, “Tree!” She then stopped and looked at Buffy, “Well, that’s not exactly how the movie goes. They were playing `I see something` and trees were the only thing around. And...” Buffy was looking at her like she was crazy. “Don’t look at me like that!”

“I wasn’t looking at you like anything, Faith. Except maybe in annoyance because you took too long of a shower and we missed the breakfast, and now we have to find some place else to eat and oh yeah, now your calling out woodland scenery very loudly.” Buffy gave her a look.

“You really are no fun, you know. You gotta loosen up. We’re outta danger remember?” Faith skipped a few steps ahead of Buffy and then jumped to turn around to look at her, and started walking backwards in time with how Buffy was walking.

“Do you ever run out of energy?”

“Nope,” Faith smirked and started jumping up and down in place.

“Can you try to?” Buffy pleaded. “Your way too much for me to handle. Its called being CALM. Its too early for you to be... bouncing.”

“Don’t wanna see my boobs jiggle, huh? Oh well, your loss.” She stopped bouncing up and down. “Sorry B, I’m just hyper. I don’t know why.”

“Well then you aren’t getting coffee,” Buffy said as she stopped outside a café.

“You aint my mom, I’ll get what I damn well please.”

“Please Faith, can you stop being argumentative for like, an hour? It’d be nice if we could talk without arguing for once.” Buffy gave her the puppy dog eyes without even meaning too.

“You do it too, ya know. Its not all me. Its just how we are.” Faith paused and looked at her, “And for God’s sake stop looking at me like that!”

“Like what?”

“Like a sad homeless puppy.”

Buffy frowned, “I do not look like that.”

“Whatever you say. Now come on, coffee time.” Faith shooed Buffy into the café and followed behind her.

The café was dimly lit, with tables and a section of just pillows to sit on. There were a few people in there, and they were all talking quietly. Faith and Buffy crossed the room to the counter and a woman looked up, “Can I help you?”

Buffy looked at the list of coffees and replied, “A medium french vanilla, cream and two sugars.” She looked at Faith.

“Medium regular, black and sugar.” She looked at the selection of pastries and such that were in a glass case underneath the counter. “And two scones, three donuts, a apple turnover and a raspberry turnover.”

Buffy raised her eyebrows and coughed, “Pig.”

Faith shot her a look but for once didn’t comment about it. The lady gathered the things and handed them to the two girls and they found a table.

Buffy warmed her hands around the cup and looked at Faiths food. “Isn’t it a little early for H&H? We didn’t even slay yet.”

“This isn’t H&H, B. This is breakfast.” Faith said as she started shoveling down her food, taking sips of coffee in between.

“Wanna breathe between bites there, Slayer?” Buffy giggled.

“I’m hungry. You try going twelve hours without food.”

“Faith you were sleeping for ten of those twelve hours,” Buffy rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee.

“So? Still twelve hours whatever way you look at it.” Faith picked up her apple turnover and ate it in two bites.

Buffy shook her head and sighed.

Fade Out