Work Text:
In some ways? This was a relief.
To not have any more responsibility? To not have to worry about her “friends” or Giles or Dawn or any of the potential slayers?
It was a relief.
But then why did she feel a hollowness in the pit of her stomach?
Buffy went down the street, feeling numb as she moved.
Tara who had not been present during Buffy’s eviction from her own house, had arrived, after the long sleep she’d had, after using her magic to save the others, and came downstairs, finding the house in disarray, everyone appearing awkward and concerned.
Tara asked where Buffy was.
And that was when Fait explained.
Tara stared at Willow, who appeared guilty, leaning against Kennedy as she did.
Tara and Willow hadn’t been together for some time now, but Tara still couldn’t believe that Willow would do something like this.
Faith said, nodding towards the door, “Come on, we should go find her.”
Tara smiled at Faith, feeling unimaginable relief at Faith’s suggestion.
The witch and the slayer were about to leave the house, when Willow piped up, “Wait! Why? We agreed that she should leave.”
“No, you all agreed,” Faith said, “I didn’t want her to leave. Anyway, I’m not a leader, Red. If you wanna kick B out of her own house, and find a new leader, it’s not gonna be me. It can’t be me.”
She turned and went through the door, Tara following her.
“Faith, Tara-“ Giles began, but Tara looked over to him and said quietly, “Buffy does everything she can for all of you, and you throw her out. And you, Giles, you want her to take responsibility, and when she does, that’s too much for you. Just what do all of you want from her?”
Giles, Xander, Willow, Anya-all of them, appeared disturbed at Tara’s question, and Tara turned and followed Faith out of the house.
Dawn went to the door and called after them. “Tara!” She yelled, shocked that Tara was actually willingly leaving.
Tara sucked in a breath, trying to ignore how her chest hurt at the thought of Dawn feeling like she was being abandoned.
But if Dawn was old enough that she felt she could evict Buffy? Then she was old enough to handle this.
Tara walked alongside Faith, looking to her and Faith gave Tara a smirk.
“Let’s go find our girl,” she said, earning a small grin from the witch.
The two slayers and the witch had known for a while what the feelings were that were growing between them.
When Willow had almost destroyed the world, after Tara had been shot, but Willow had pulled out the bullet, but too broken and paranoid by that point to listen to anyone-save for Xander, even Tara, and Willow had gone off to England with Giles to recuperate, Tara’s bond with Buffy had grown even more, and when Faith had come along, someone who Buffy also had a strong connection with, the three of them had found themselves in somewhat of a bind, of whether or not they should be together.
It was made all the stronger, when Spike gave them his blessing, before that vicious tool of The First, Caleb, staked him.
And well, now it looked like the decision was made for the three of them.
Too bad it would leave Giles, Willow, Xander, Dawn, Anya, Kennedy and the others without a leader.
But then, this was their own fault, wasn’t it?
Faith and Tara walked together, hand in hand, as they went to find the other woman that they loved.
They could do this. They could bring down The First, and make a life for themselves afterwards.
And well, if Giles, Willow, Xander, Dawn, Anya and the potentials didn’t want to be a part of it? That was their choice.