Live The Question

[sevendeadlyfun]

Pairing: Various (Faith/Willow this chapter)

Rating: NC-17 Overall (R this chapter)

Warnings: language, tiny bit of femslash (and I do mean tiny)

A/N: Whistler explains, the gang reacts...moving the plot forward...

“What do you mean, restoration?” Faith’s belligerent tones rang out over Spike and Angel’s inarticulate sounds of shock.

“Lemme tell you a little story, doll, “ Whistler began, starting to pace lazily around the lobby. “Started a long time ago, like most stories, right? Nothing ever takes place two weeks ago Thursday. It’s always a long, long time ago.”

“Skip the bullshit,” Faith spat. “What the hell are you planning to do to the Slayers?”

Whistler continued, “A group of men got together and decided that they were tired of being demon bait. So they stuffed some power inside a girl and sent her out to do their fighting. Pretty chicken, yeah? But, it happened and the Slayer was born. Into every generation and all that. Until you guys came along and screwed the pooch.”

“I d-don’t understand, “ Willow stammered. “H-how did I…we screw up? We needed to unleash the essence of the Slayer in order to defeat the First.”

“Nah,” Whistler shook his head in denial. “You didn’t, because you didn’t defeat The First. You closed a Hellmouth. Big difference. The First Evil ain’t going anywhere, sweet pea. It’s everywhere, everyone.”

“So what? Bunch of Slayers and that’s your apocalypse? Mate, I’ve been around for the end o’ the world a few times, and it doesn’t usually involve perky teenage girls, “ Spike scoffed. “Well, okay it does but not as the bad guys…”

“I didn’t say the Slayers were the bad guys. I said they were a threat to the balance. Why do you suppose there’s only one Slayer, “ Whistler demanded in exasperation. "If those old farts made one, they could have made more. There’s only one because that’s balance. The world revolves on certain principles. Gravity, inertia, and balance. You tip the balance and the world spins out of whack. This many Slayers? You’re talking a type of ugly that even the Powers couldn’t set right.”

“So, we what? Take out all the Slayers,” Faith threw in, face dark with fury. “Gotta tell you, your chances of making it out of here are dropping by the second. No way am I gonna hurt any Slayers. Not my scene, not anymore.”

“Jeez, what is it with you guys? Are your ears just for decoration or what? I said restoration, not destruction. Some of these girls, they shoulda never been Slayers. Like your bestest girl Dana, right Spike? If the power had passed on like normal that little fruitcake never woulda been a Slayer, “ Whistler expanded, his expression pleading. “This isn’t about destroying Slayers; it’s about saving them. These girls are it, if the line isn’t restored. Once all these Slayers’ die, there won’t be anymore.”

“Why not,” Xander asked, curious. “I mean, if there aren’t any Slayers left, then the line is restored, right?”

“No,” Whistler groaned. “They passed out the power, like candy at a birthday party. They set it free, and so no new Slayers get called as these ones die. The power doesn’t move on, and it won’t move on even when the last Slayer dies. That’s how the balance got screwed. Right now, you got too many Slayers. Soon, you won’t have any. Are you getting the visual now? Too much good or too much evil, it doesn’t matter. What matters is the balance.”

“So how do we fix it, “ Angel interjected. “I’m with Faith. I won’t kill Slayers, and I don’t see any other way to release their power.”

“Score another dense point for the Mick, “ Whistler muttered. “If I knew how to do it, I wouldn’t be here. I do know that killing them won’t restore the line. So please, for the love of Pete, stop saying that, all right? No. Killing. Slayers.”

“What happens to me,” Faith asked, tense. “If we manage to set free this power. Will I still be a Slayer?”

‘Don’t know, “ Whistler shrugged. “I would guess so, since you got all chosen the regular way. But, I suppose it depends on how you manage to do this. You might lose the calling, kiddo. Can you live with that?”

Faith shrugged, “Maybe. Do I have a choice?”

“Yeah, “ Whistler answered in all seriousness, meeting Faith’s eyes. “You can do nothing and watch the Slayer line vanish from the Earth.”

“I’m going for not really an option, “ Xander offered. “Sorry Faith, but the future Slayer line seems more important to me.”

“It would,” Faith returned bitterly. “It’s not like you’d lose anything.”

“Hey,” Xander shot back. “I lost plenty fighting the good fight. Friends, lovers, my eye. So don’t stand there and bitch about what you might lose. Or isn’t it about the good fight? Is it just about you?”

“Xander, that’s enough,” Angel stepped up, holding out a hand.

“No, Angel, I really think it isn’t, “ Xander replied scornfully. “I watched Buffy die twice fighting the good fight. Losing your Slayer cool? That’s peanuts in comparison.”

“He’s right, “ Spike added abruptly. “Gotta step up on the boy’s side here, Angel. This isn’t about us; it’s about twenty years from now, some fool walking down a dark street with no girl there to save’em. You do your own brand o’reasoning here, but I’m in. The good fight,” he nodded to Xander.

Oz nodded slowly, and said, “In.”
Willow looked around and raised her hand, silently adding her assent.

“That’s one champion, one seer, one witch, and a dashingly handsome pirate,” Whistler tallied. “I was hoping for a full house, but I’ll take what I can get.”

“I’ll do it, “ Angel said suddenly. Staring at Spike, he added, “Maybe I can figure out how to be a good man again.”

Spike’s eyes sparkled in satisfaction, but all he said was, “Stranger things’ve happened, pet.”

Faith groaned, and walked away. She moved out into the courtyard, winding her way around the foliage, trying to clear her mind. How the hell could she do this? How the hell could she not do this?

“Aagh!” She shouted, staring at the sky.

“Faith?” A soft voice came trailed out of her scream and Faith whirled around, fists ready.

Willow waved timidly, and Faith relaxed. She turned away from the witch and continued to stare up at the bright blue sky. Maybe if she looked long enough, the answers would pop out of the clouds.

“We need you, Faith,” Willow said, coming up behind Faith. “My dream…Tara told me I had to have faith. I think…maybe she meant you. This. That without you, it wouldn’t succeed.”

Willow’s breath tickled the back of Faith’s neck, stirring up mixed emotions in the dark Slayer. She felt crowded, unsure, and yet safer than she had in years. Faith hugged herself tightly, trying to contain the feelings that threatened to leak out of her. Willow, sensing Faith’s unease, stepped closer. She wrapped her arms around the brunette, and held on. Red and blue hair trailed over Faith’s shoulder, softly caressing her cheek.

Faith huffed, setting the strands dancing. It was strange, this sense of power and peace. It was what she’d hoped to find in Angel’s arms and hadn’t. He excited her, made her Slayer sense tingle and roil. But, she wasn’t this comfortable in his arms.

“I can’t say I know what you feel, what with the non-Slayerness here. But, I know that you’re a good person,” Willow whispered. “We aren’t…we haven’t been all buddy-buddy in the past. I’d like us to be…friends, Faith. Whatever this restoration is, we’ll face it together. All of us.”

All of us, together. That sounded nice, Faith thought dreamily. Included, wanted, needed. For herself, not just for her Slayer mojo. Friends…

Faith turned to face Willow, and returned the other girl’s hug. Brushing a finger over Willow’s face, Faith smiled. Willow didn’t flinch or pull away, but leaned in closer.

“You aren’t afraid,” Faith noted.

“Not anymore,” Willow replied softly. “I’ve spent too much time being afraid. Of you, of me, of what I might do or who I might lose. Now, things are different.”

“Why,” Faith demanded quietly, fingers still tracing the outlines of Willow’s face.

“I think its Illyria. There are pieces inside me that aren’t mine. They aren’t…I’m still me, “ Willow said hastily. “But, I’m me and more and the fear just isn’t important now. I feel…feel strong now. Like, I don’t have to be afraid because I can handle whatever comes along.”

“Yeah, “ Faith agreed. “I know what you mean.”

Faith’s lips brushed lightly against Willow’s, and they lingered there. Nothing demanding or intrusive, just the simple comfort of a kiss. The two girls stood there, transfixed by the sensations running through them. A moment later, the kiss ended and they walked back into the hotel, arm in arm.

“So, do I have to chant,” Faith asked casually. “Cause really, I hate chanting.”

“Welcome to the party,” Whistler smiled. “As for the chanting, like I said before, I got no idea how you guys are gonna pull this off.”

Spike snorted dismissively, “Save the world, mate? That’s the easy part.”

“Yeah,” Whistler eyed him askance.

“Yeah,” Angel put in. “He’s right. That is the easy part. Informing Giles that we’re taking away all his Slayers? That’s going to be the rough bit.”

Oz smiled thoughtfully and said, “Passenger pigeons.”

Whistler left amidst the general groaning that sally brought forth. He figured that he’d just given them an impossible mission, why stick around and wait for reality to set in. On the other hand, he’d seen these kids in action and he wouldn’t bet against them. Strolling away from the Hyperion, Whistler walked into a waiting portal and vanished.