Gladiatrix

Title: Gladiatrix Rating PG-13/R ******************************************* Part 4 Tara found herself rushing to class the next morning. She'd spent the night before listening to Willow, Buffy, and Xander railing against Faith. Tara suspected that what they disguised as hate was a deep hurt caused by the other slayer's betrayal. Giles had been unusually quiet. When Tara looked at him, she could see concern and guilt on his face. For a short time Faith had been his responsibility. He'd failed to see her spiraling out of control. For a brief moment, his eyes had met Tara's. She offered a smile. He returned it before glancing away. She dodged the other students hurrying to class, zig-zagging her way along the campus. She didn't see a bulky male student in her path until it was too late. The two of them collided; Tara stumbled, her back pack slipping from her shoulders. "Excuse you!" he snapped, not slowing down. Without thinking Tara grabbed the back pack with her injured hand. She gasped as a sharp pain raced up her arm. Unable to curl her fingers around the bag, she let it fall to the ground. Tara bent to retrieve it. She pulled up short when she heard a commotion in front of her. "Hey, let me go!" a male voice demanded. The other students slowed as they watched the scene. Tara's eyes widened in surprise. "Faith?" she whispered. The dark slayer had the boy who'd bumped into Tara, by his ear. She pulled him behind her, not stopping until they reached Tara. Faith glanced at Tara, still bent down, then back at the boy. "Apologize," Faith croaked out, her voice raspy from sleep. The boy glared back at Faith. "It was her fault. If she was looking where she was going, she wouldn't have run into me." Faith twisted the appendage. "That's not how I saw it." She stepped into the boy's personal space. "Now apologize-----before I give you something to be sorry for," the brunette warned. "Faith!" Tara called out. She waited for Faith to look at her. "I'm okay. You can let him go." Dark eyes slid over Tara's face. Faith noticed she looked tired. No doubt up late listening to B and the others reminiscing about the past. The male student continued struggling, trying to pull away. As he tugged, Faith released him without warning. He fell backward, landing on his ass. He stood up and straightened out his clothes, lifting his back pack onto his shoulder. He smirked at Faith. "You two ever need some meat to go between your love sandwich, look me up. I'm in Jefferson Hall." Faith flicked her dark hair out of her eyes "No, thanks. Mine's bigger than yours," Faith responded. He turned beat red as the students milling around started laughing. Faith walked up to Tara, dismissing the boy. She bent down and picked up Tara's back pack, placing it on her own shoulder. She reached out and took Tara's injured hand. "You changed the bandages." Faith nodded in approval. "Good." She licked her lips, remembering Cordy's description of her last vision. //"The bed you were in was surrounded by sheer drapes. I could see you lying in the middle withTara behind you." Cordelia's voice hitched. Faith felt her stomach muscles tighten. "I mean, your head was down but your backside was in the air. Oh God." Cordy whispered. "Did I mention Tara was behind you?" the former debutante asked. She let out a nervous laugh. "I don't need to spell out what Tara was doing, do I?" Faith didn't answer. She could hear Cordelia's breathing increase on the other end of the phone. "It was so quiet. All I could hear were soft wet sounds, and you calling her name." // Tara looked down at Faith's hand holding hers. The slayer hadn't moved in several seconds. The warmth from Faith's high body temperature seeped through Tara's bandages causing her hand to tingle. "Faith?" Tara uttered. Faith looked up an unreadable expression on her face. She blinked several times, then released Tara's hand. "Are you okay?" Tara asked. "Five by five," Faith answered. She gazed at Tara. The witch could tell she was searching for something. "Everything alright between you and Willow?" Faith asked. The question surprised Tara. She then remembered the conversation she'd had with Faith before Buffy and Willow showed up. "I love Willow, but she doesn't dictate who my friends are. I promised I'd help you, and I intend to keep that promise." Faith broke eye contact. "I just don't wanna come between you and Willow." She shrugged, hoping Tara would let it go. Tara smiled. "This is the second time in two days you've come to my rescue." The blonde slipped an arm between Faith's and started walking. "How can I repay you?" Faith glanced sideways at Tara. "Let me come to your 11:00AM class with you?" Tara raised an eyebrow. "Human sexuality?" she asked the smirking brunette."Yeah," Faith answered. "I wanna know what they're teaching you in that class. Who knows, maybe I can learn a few things, too." ******************************************* Tara bit her bottom lip to stifle her laughter. "I bet he was older than Methuselah. He'd need triple trifocals to find a woman's G spot," Faith said. The brunette had been less than impressed with the Human Sexuality professor. She'd interrupted his lecture several times asking, in Tara's opinion, legitimate questions. "How can he say there's no such thing as a G spot?" Faith asked in outrage. "Just because he's never hit it doesn't make it fiction." Tara placed a hand over her mouth. Her body shook with quiet laughter. "He couldn't even answer me when I asked him what proof he had it didn't exists." Faith finally glanced at Tara. The blonde was sitting on the ground with her skirt tucked underneath her. Faith was laid out on the grass next to her. A large oak tree shaded them from the afternoon sun. "It's not funny. He should be reported for spreading lies. Isn't that against school rules or something?" Tara continued to laugh. She pointed at Faith. "You should see your face. It's priceless." Faith glared at Tara. The blonde took one look at Faith and started laughing even harder. "Don't come running to me when you need help finding the G spot." Tara immediately sobered up. One side of her lips curled into a smile. "Who said I needed any help finding Willow's G spot?" Tara asked. Faith couldn't help but stare. Tara's coy behavior was a contrast to her last statement. Faith admitted to herself she found the pretty witch intriguing. "Who said I was offering to help find Willow's?" Faith countered. Her husky voice taking on a seductive tone. A rosy blush tinged Tara's cheeks. "I-I s-should be going." Faith knew she'd crossed the line when she heard Tara's stutter return. Faith quickly got to her feet. She stood in front of Tara blocking her path. To Faith's dismay Tara was looking down. "I had Cordy look up something after she got me your class schedule," Faith said "She researched anything supernatural about a key." Tara continued to look down. "When Satan rebelled against God, there was a war between heaven and hell. Satan and his followers lost and were banished from heaven. Their punishment was eternal suffering in the fires of hell. Their only way out is to open the gates of hell. The key is a mystical object made up of magic that opens the gateway from one dimension to another." Faith paused to take a breath. "Glory needs the key to open the gates of hell." Tara nodded her head. Faith took a cautious step towards her. "Earlier you said you would keep your promise to me. That you would be my friend." Faith waited for Tara to answer. "Yes," Tara whispered. "I meant what I told you, too. That I'd protect you, not only from your father but Glory." Faith lifted Tara's chin with a finger. her piercing gaze holding Tara's. "Are you the key? I heard you tell Buffy that Glory thought you were. But you never said you weren't." Tara opened her mouth to speak. "You can tell me the truth," Faith urged. The slayer's unexpected appearance this morning suddenly made sense. "You're here to protect me, aren't you?" Tara asked. Faith dropped her hand. She stared intently at Tara waiting for an answer. "I'm not the key, Faith, but thank you for trying to keep me safe." Faith pulled a piece of paper out of her front pocket. "This is where I'm staying and my cell number. Call me if anything comes up." Tara took the information. She glanced at the paper then at Faith. "Staying there must bring back bad memories," Tara commented. "I got kicked outta the motel yesterday and needed a place to crash." Faith hunched her shoulders. "Figured it was as good as any place else." Tara didn't think staying in the apartment where she almost died was good for Faith. "I-I've got an extra bed in my dorm room and no room mate. You can stay with me." Faith was touched by the offer. "W-we would have to set some boundaries, but you're more than welcome to stay," Tara said. "I'm sure Willow likes to snuggle up with her tare-bear at night," Faith teased. "I'll leave you two love birds alone." Faith winked to cover her discomfort. She didn't want to think about Tara and Willow alone in the dorm room. "If you change your mind, I'm sure you'll be able to find me," Tara stated. Faith's back stiffened. The brunette lowered her head, eyes scanning the campus. Tara took a deep breath. "It's Willow," Tara informed Faith. She'd felt the familiar presence at the same time Faith's slayer senses went off. "Why is Red setting off my demon radar?" Faith asked. Tara's gaze landed behind Faith. Willow's slender form came into view. "Because she thinks dark magic can save us from Glory." Tara pulled her eyes away from her lover. "But who will save Willow from herself?" Faith frowned in confusion. Tara shook her head trying to rid her mind of morbid thoughts. "Her intentions are good; it's her methods she and I need to discuss," Tara said. Faith knew there was more to Tara's cryptic response but now wasn't the time to discuss it. "Tell B and the gang I'll be seeing em' around." She took a step then hesitated. "Maybe I'll stop by tomorrow and walk you to class." She smirked at Tara. "I think I need to keep an eye on you. You stay into way to much trouble." Faith started walking backwards. "Tara!" Willow screamed. The walking turned into a slight jog. "See you soon Tara." The blonde watched Faith disappear among the throng of students.