Buffy needed something short of a miracle to smile during this new apocalypse, but Dawn’s words just about did it. She was very much smiling now. One that spoke with warmth and admiration.
She was experiencing a revelation. Her Dawnie wasn’t a little girl anymore. No, she’d blossomed into this specimen of a woman Buffy always hoped she’d become. Beautiful, selfless, kind. And it took her all this time to realize.
Buffy reached out her hand and tucked a strand of hair behind Dawn’s ears, proud tears brimming in her eyes, “Let’s not let that be today, okay?”
Dawn could feel a smile blooming on her own face at the sight of Buffy’s. With impending doom constantly looming over their heads (but over her sister’s more than anyone else), it had been far too long since the youngest Summers had last seen that expression. She was beyond glad to see it, and proud to have been the one to finally coax it back out of hiding. Because no matter what, no matter how far they drifted, Summers women always knew each other best.
“Don’t worry, I’m not planning on it. But just remember this, Buffy: you’re not alone, okay? I’m always here for you now, no matter what - just like you’ve always been for me.”
❝I have seen Buffy on her bad days. I swear those two were meant to be. ❞ She shakes her head and laughs.
❝Well, apparently there’s some sort of demon cult over here. Kidnapping young girls, using them for who-knows-what… I could actually use a little re- search help. Me and books don’t get on.❞
“Maybe in another life– - in this one, they just always seem to bring out the worst in each other. Spike’s much better for Buffy now, believe it or not– - and Cordy was for Angel, too.”
She falls silent then, giving her words a moment to pass before continuing.
“Why do they always have to take young girls? Seriously, these demons need to change it up already. I can definitely help you with research, though; any idea on where to start?”
“Angel wanted some help from the Watchers Council and he figured that since Giles or Buffy won’t speak to him,that he’d send me as messenger girl and see if they’d deal with him through a liaison.” Lilah explained noting that the girl hadn’t given her name.
“Why should I believe that Angel and you really are on the same side? Last I heard, you were one of the bad guys trying to kill the whole L.A. gang.”
And, in some cases, succeeded. Technically, she hadn’t known any of them at all, but the sting of Cordelia’s death– - and even Wesley’s, to some degree– - came flaring back to life. Unless she could prove herself, Dawn wouldn’t be quick to believe this woman.
“And why does Angel need their help? Not enough connections left alive in L.A. to actually be of use?”
❝Struck out on my own. I mean, I love the guy, but the brooding can get to ya after a while, ya know? Now I go where the work takes me, and sometimes the work takes me nice places.❞
“Oh yeah, I totally know. You should see Buffy on her bad days. So, what kinda work do you have here? Maybe I - we - can help you out, or something.”
Oh yea, she was still a pint size Buffy, Faith thought as she noted the eye roll. The blonde had called her and asked her to “watch Dawn so she doesn’t get hurt,” so she said she would. Because one, she learned that saying no to the other slayer was a death wish and two, she had sort of missed Dawn. Just not her attitude.
“Hey…don’t remind me I’m so old, squirt. And your sis just wants to make sure you’re okay ‘cause ya know, she worriesabout you like an older sister is suppose to do. You shouldn’t even be in fights! I know you’re a baby watcher and all, but you should know by now how not to get your ass handed to you.”
“You’re not that old. Just Buffy’s age, which is… well, she is getting pretty close to thirty now, but– - - Ha! I knew Buffy was behind this!”
Her train of thought was easily derailed at Faith’s admittance. Honestly, no matter how old they got, Buffy never changed.
”It’s not like I have any superpowers to help me out like you guys do! I think I’ve been doing pretty good for a normal human being, actually. And expecting a Watcher to never fight is like expecting a Slayer to never research– - doable in theory, maybe, but kinda unrealistic in practice.”
“ my mother was big with unique fashions .. wearing things that reflect who you are… “
jewel radcliffe just wasn’t the type of girl that could be put into a chain retail store cliche.
“ it’s rather simple once you get the idea & hang of it, really. “
Her head tilts, bronze hair spilling over slim shoulders as she looks the other woman over once more. No matter what she says, nothing about that outfit seems easy to her.
“Really? It seems pretty hard to me. But then again, I’ve also had more experience stitching up wounds than dresses. Not exactly yourtypical girly stuff…”
She trails off then, teeth poking out to gnaw at a smooth bottom lip before she continues, tone effortlessly transi- tioning from childishly curious to hesitantly imploring.
“Would– - um, I mean, it’s totally cool if you don’t want to do this and say no– - but would you mind maybe showing me how to do that some time?”
“Nah. I volunteered,” she laughed, nudging the girl. “You been gettin’ into trouble lately, I hear. What’s going on, squirt?”
She rolled her eyes at Faith’s comment, but still can’t help but grin and nudge the shorter woman back. She didn’t quite believe that Buffy wasn’t behind this, but better to be shadowed by the cool Slayer than someone ridiculously overprotective, like… well, pretty much every other Scooby. Except Andrew. Maybe.
“Nothing’s ‘going on,’ Faith. I’m twenty-three; that’s a little too old to be getting into trouble like I did back in Sunnydale. Buffy just likes to think that if I come back with even a scratch from a fight, I had some sort of NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE or something.”
