Hear No Evil

Sorry for the wait. I guess that's what happens when you decide to write chapter six before chapter five. Ah, well, they're both written now; so a two-chapter update! Le yay! Ahem. Onwards.

Chapter Five

Faith was curled up on B's bed, watching the bright afternoon sun fading to evening. The thoughts weren't as bad here, pretty much as far from the center of town as you could get in a small place like Sunnydale. Now all she could hear was the roar of crashing waves, like she had seashells pressed to her ears. It didn't hurt so bad--her head ached in a dull, pounding way. Evonceonce in a while the power of the minds around hers would grow, or she'd forget to try and block them out, and then--then, she wanted to scream and scream and scream, anything to push aside that endless ebb and flow of every fucking word everyone in the whole goddamn county was thinking.

Faith haken ken up when Giles had helped her stumble up the stairs and into B's room. It was weird trying to sleep here, in a room all pastel and frilly, knowing it was all B's stuff around her. It was sort of like being inside her thoughts, but not; like understanding everything about her and not able to figure out whether she wanted to know that much.

Mostly she was thinking about B's last thought.

I love you.

Every once and a while she'd feel or hear it again, like a memory, or like B's mind repeating it far away--she didn't know which--and she'd curl tighter around B's stuffed pig. Since when? The night everything had gone bad--that night, she'd seen it, maybe, but she'd ignored it because she figured there was no way it could be true. But B had told Red, obviously, and that made it way more real. Even if Red didn't approve, B was still thinking it.

And the feel of her mind when she thought it--

Downstairs, the murmur of Giles and Joyce's thoughts grew and faded in time with their conversation. Giles' mind was ordered, restrained, with occasional wild blooms of embarrassment or awkwardness that came whenever he remembered that Faith knew he and Joyce had knocked s. s. Joyce was in a flurry of anxiety, wondering what she could do. Her thoughts felt like she was wringing her hands together over and over again. And sometimes she, too, would think about Giles and how he'd--

Whoa. Go G-man.

Faith raised her head when she felt B's mind getting closer. On the top of her thoughts was how she'd left Angel, the look in his eyes when she'd said it was over...

Oh, fuck.

This was serious, if B was dumping Angel over it. B was wondering if Oz and Xander had found the killer yet, or if Willow had found a cure, but mostly she was thinking about Faith--and her mind was practically blushing, knowing that Faith was hearing every word of it.

The front door opened, and Buffy said hello to her mom and Giles. They all came trooping up the stairs, hesitating outside the door, as if she wouldn't know they were out there.

"You guys coming in or what?" she finally called.

B opened the door, sticking her head around it like she wanted permission to come in to her own room. Even her thoughts were apologetic.

"Listen, I'm okay," Faith said. "You aren't going to break me."

The image that sprang to lin Bin B's mind at those words was pretty flattering, if anatomically difficult to achieve without stretching first.

"Whoa, B," Faith said. She grinned and pushed herself up in the bed, but didn't say anything more, because if B's face got any redder, her head would probably explode. Plus, as long as she was keeping Giles' and Joyce's secrets, she didn't need to go around blabbing what a dirty mind B had.

"How are you feeling, Faith?" Joyce asked, folding her arms and peering at Faith. She looks the same as ever. I wish she would let us do more for her. She doesn't need to stay in that ratty motel.

"Not so hot," Faith said, choosing to let it slide that Joyce thought she was still living in her fleabag room. Looked like B hadn't been keeping the updates coming about her going over to the Mayor. She tapped her forehead. "It's getting kinda crowded in here."

"I'm returning to the library to help Willow research the problem," Giles said. "You've given us an accurate description of the demons in question, as well as where and when the incident occurred. I'm afraid that it's mostly a matter of time, now." I hope.

"Yeah, well, that whole serial killer thing is probably more important," Faith said. "Don't let Xander screw it up."

"Oz will keep an eye on him," B said. And it's not more important.

"That's sweet of you, B, but it's like Spock said. Good of the many and all that."

Giles and Joyce exchanged a glance, the kind that adults figured you shouldn't understand, but that quite clearly said, We're never going to understand them. They left the room, and soon after, Giles' car started up and drove away. Joyce started puttering around the kitchen, cleaning things that didn't need to be cleaned, and fretting.

B sat in a chair next to the bed and stared at the carpet like she'd never seen anything so fascinating in her life. I wonder what she's thinking. I wonder if it hurts too badly? Should I go away? I bet it's not much fun listening to me think. I'm babbling in my head. I want to hold her hand...hell, I want to do more than that...bad thoughts! Why isn't she saying anything? What if we can't find a cure? What if someone blows up the school tomorrow? Is that my tee shirt she's wearing?

Faith sighed. "So, this sucks, huh?"

"I can go if you want," B answered, too quickly.

"That's not what I meant." Faith picked at some imaginary lint on the bedspread. "Just--it's complicated."

B looked up but didn't say anything. Like that would make a difference. What's that supposed to mean?

"Giles said that thoughts can't lie," Faith said. "So I know you mean it."

"Yeah...well..." Buffy shrugged. I didn't want you to know, you're all get some and get gone, and now this...I'm sorry.

Faith winced. "Since when?"

"I don't know." Since we killed Kakistos together and you cried and we went and ate Denny's until we dropped...you sat across the table from me and looked so confident after everything that had happened to you. And I didn't know it then, or I didn't want to, but when we went sng tng together and told Will and Xander that we were just good friends--and you put your arm around me--I knew.

"Oh." Faith hesitated. "If you were the one who had this goddamn aspect thing, I guess you'd know how I feel. But, shit, B, even I don't know right now. Two days ago the Boss--the Mayor--could have said to mess you up and I wouldn't have argued. But that was just--I was so fucked up about Alan, and I know I have to deal with it. Somehow.” Buffy nodded. I'm sorry I blamed you for that...we were together in it, I shouldn't have let you be alone afterwards. "But you-yyou like me, in a more-than-friends way? You want me?

"Yeah," Faith said, her voice ragged and husky. B wanted her, and it turned her on like nobody's business, but B was still worried that she'd up and leave before tomorrow if they made love. "I won't go," she said. "I promised you."

I believe you. B reached out, hesitantly, then took her hand, brushing her fingertips over Faith's palm. She makes me feel all shivery...

As soon as B touched her, Faith felt her thoughts go crystal clear. All the other voices faded away, and with them, some of the pain. B was nervous, excited, but mostly Faith felt the want you twas was lust and love and happiness and who the hell knew what all, all of of squashed together in her mind. It was like she and Buffy were the same person, almost, because they were both together and she could feel what B wanted and

She's so beautiful

she wanted it too, because

what it would be like to kiss her? Her lips are so sexy, it's not fair<\n
s\n
she'd been thinking these thoughts for about as long as she could remember, and now they were doubling and redoubling in her head and B was

so wet just from holding her hand

fucking hot.

"Wow," Faith said, her breath coming in gasps. "Oh, God, really?"

B's blush was answer enough. Her eyes darkened, and she licked her lips, moving her fingertips in swirling shivery patterns up and down Faith's forearm. Please, Faith...

Faith grabbed her hand and gave a Slayer-strength yank, and suddenly B was

on top of her, yay! She's so soft. Got to get these blankets out of the way--I want to touch her--please don't let Mom hear, bee eee eew, and oh, is that her hand? Yes...she's

pushing up B's shirt and getting it out of the way. Faith scrabbled out from under the covers even though she's not wearing pants. She twisted B around, getting on top, sucking her nipples through the lace of her bra. B felt it

Yes, that's so good, please don't stop

all the way down between her thighs, like Faith's mouth on her breast was connected straight to her clit, and Faith whimpered against B's skin because she was feeling it double, once as the press of B's knee into her crotch, next as the wonderment in B's mind as she bit her lip to keep from yelling

oh fuck Faith!

Faith grinned that B would say in her head what would never pass those cherry-gloss lips. She unhooked the bra and flung it away, ran her hands over B's breasts, feeling the uneven hitch of B's breath. B got a hand behind her head and pulled her down for

the most amazing kiss I've ever felt, God she's good. Tastes like cigarettes and toothpaste. Mmm, get that shirt off her, quick, I want her, want

to suck on Faith's lower lip. B caught it in a playful bite, her hands shoving at the skin-tight tee Faith had taken from one of her drawers. Faith grunted but broke the kiss long enough to pull the shirt over her head, smiling at B's

Wow...

appreciation. B grinned babyyou don't know how long I've wanted to look without getting caught, you were always looking to see if anyone was checking you out.

"Because I figured you were," Faith said, and was surprised at the sound of her own voice. B lifted her hands and ran her fingers lightly over her breasts. She

can't believe I'm doing this, but just look at her, she's

going crazy wanting more. Faith moved closer, kissing B again, working her hands down to unzip B's pants. She pushed one hand down the front of her panties to feel the slick heat, curling her fingers to press the heel of her palm into

oh GOD

the exact right place. B whimpered into her mouth, bucking her hips, her jeans rasping against the back of Faith's hand, and

right there, oh right there...

moving her hands down to Faith's hips to return the favour. Faith twisted to let her closer, the frantic sound of B's thoughts making her give up any idea of this being slow or romantic because

got you now. Feel that? Is that good? I hope I'm doing this right, you're so tight, oh, there--there--

"Yes...B--" Faith let her head drop and squeezed her eyes shut. She rubbed her hand up and down the front of B's pants, pinching her clit and teasing the top of her hole. She was feeling only B's fingers buried densidnside her and B's mind writhing farther and farther away from thought until all that was left was

Faith oh god yes please please harder ah--FAITH--

and there were no thoughts, none, she was empty and flying but she could feel B flying with her and she clenched down on B's fingers and at the same time B's mind stuttered to a halt and there was nothing, and it was good

so good

and she was nearly ripped out of her skull with pleasure. She kissed B and B was

kissing her

and they came back together. B's mind was still trembling with aftershocks, little nerve-bundles firing randomly, and she was tired and warm and happy and she

love you, Faith

and Faith knew it was true, it was all true.

"I love you too," she said, dropping a kiss into the hair at B's temple.

B's mind filled with a sort of wild joy, and Faith hugged her tight. She fell asleep in B's arms and dreamed of drowning in an ocean of thoughts.



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