Miss Summers Goes to Washington

[twoslayers]

This is the first part of a long story I posted on AO3. I'll keep posting it a chapter at a time if its well received since bite sized chunks seem to be more popular here. There will be some edits to remove the more erotic scenes. This chapter only required a couple of minor tweaks, but some chapters will be edited heavily. With the edits, this should meet the PG-13 rating. You can always read the original versions on AO3 if desired.

This story is very AU. All characters are considerably older, and Faith is older than Buffy. As we start Faith is about 30, Buffy, Tara, Cordelia are all somewhere around 25. Pairings are primarily Buffy/Faith and Buffy/Tara, and other pairings come into it later.

So, Chapter 1: Two Slayers in the Capitol

Buffy smoothed her skirt nervously as she sat in the waiting room outside Congresswoman Faith Lehane’s office. She had spent hours agonizing over her outfit, wanting to strike the perfect balance between professional and approachable. Hours also researching the Congresswoman, her political interests, committee assignments, hobbies. The click of heels on marble interrupted her thoughts as she looked up at an attractive brunette striding purposefully into the room.

"Buffy Summers?" the woman asked, extending a hand. "I'm Faith Lehane. Come on in."

Buffy stood, clasping Faith's hand in what she hoped was a firm but not overpowering handshake. As she followed Faith into the office, she couldn't help but notice the Congresswoman's impeccably tailored pantsuit and confident demeanor. Buffy took a deep breath, reminding herself that she was more than qualified for this position. Still, as Faith gestured for her to take a seat, Buffy felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach. She perched on the edge of the chair, back straight, hands clasped in her lap.

Faith settled into her own seat behind an imposing mahogany desk, her dark eyes appraising Buffy with an intensity that was both thrilling and unnerving.

"So, Miss Summers," Faith began, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Your resume is quite impressive. But tell me, why do you want to work for me specifically?"

Buffy swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had rehearsed her answer to this question countless times, but now, face-to-face with the charismatic Congresswoman, her carefully prepared words seemed to evaporate.

"Well," Buffy started, her voice coming out slightly higher than usual, "I've always admired your dedication to social justice and your ability to effect real change in the world…”

Faith looked bored. “Yeah that’s sweet and everything, but what can you offer me Buffy. Personally.” Faith’s eyebrows rose suggestively.

Buffy felt her cheeks flush, caught off guard by Faith's sudden shift in tone. She hesitated, unsure how to respond to the Congresswoman's suggestive implication.

"I... I'm not sure I understand what you mean," Buffy stammered, her professional demeanor slipping.

Faith leaned forward, her elbows on the desk. "Come on, Buffy. You're a smart girl. I've done my research on you too. I know about your... special skills." A suggestive smile from Faith.

Buffy's eyes widened as she realized what Faith was implying. Her ‘special skills’ - her Slayer abilities. How did Faith know about that? Buffy's mind raced, trying to decide how to respond.

"I'm not sure what you've heard, Congresswoman, but I can assure you my qualifications are strictly professional," Buffy said carefully.

Faith chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "No need to be coy, B. Let's just say I have some experience with Slayers myself." She winked.

Buffy tensed, her Slayer senses suddenly on high alert. There was more to this Congresswoman than met the eye. "You're..." Buffy started.

"A Slayer? Guilty as charged," Faith finished with a smirk. "Though I prefer to channel my talents into politics these days. I always wanted to talk to another slayer, compare notes. For instance do you notice how slaying gets you hungry and horny”, asked Faith playfully.

Buffy felt her face grow hot at Faith's provocative question. This was definitely not how she had expected the job interview to go. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure how to respond.

"I... um... that's not really..." Buffy stammered.

Faith leaned in closer, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh come on, Buffy. Don't tell me you've never felt that rush after a good slay. The adrenaline pumping, every nerve on fire…" Faith had become quite animated as she talked and her voice was becoming more intense.

Buffy swallowed hard, memories of post-patrol energy surges flashing through her mind. But she pushed those thoughts aside, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground.

"Look, Congresswoman, I came here to discuss the policy analyst position," Buffy said firmly. "If that's not what this interview is actually about, then I think we're done here."

“Oh relax B. Just saying, if you really want the job, maybe you can help me out from time to time.”

Buffy stood up abruptly, her cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment. "I'm not interested in that kind of arrangement, Congresswoman. I thought this was a legitimate job opportunity, not... whatever this is."

Faith eyed Buffy up and down. “How badly do you want this job Buffy?”

Buffy's eyes narrowed, her embarrassment shifting to anger. "Not that badly," she said firmly. "I came here for a professional opportunity, not to be propositioned. This interview is over."

She turned on her heel and strode towards the door, her hand reaching for the doorknob. But before she could turn it, she felt a rush of air behind her. Faith had moved with preternatural speed, pressing her palm against the door to keep it closed. Faith looked at Buffy with the eyes of a predator.

"Not so fast, B," Faith purred, her breath hot on Buffy's neck. "You can't just walk away from this opportunity."

Buffy's Slayer instincts kicked into high gear. She spun around, using her supernatural strength to push Faith back. "I can and I will," she said, her voice steely. "Whatever game you're playing, I'm not interested."

Faith's eyes flashed dangerously. "Oh, but I think you are. You feel it too, don't you? That connection between us slayers?"

Buffy's heart raced, torn between fight or flight. "The only connection I feel right now is my fist connecting with your face if you don't back off," she warned.

Faith laughed, a low, throaty sound. "Now that's the Buffy Summers I want to know. Fiery, passionate. But this is D.C., Buffy. And I’m a member of Congress. And I have powerful friends And your a nobody. And I always get what I want.”

Buffy felt a surge of anger and indignation at Faith's words. Without hesitation, she grabbed Faith's arm and twisted it behind her back, slamming the Congresswoman against the wall.

"I don't care who you are or what powerful friends you have," Buffy hissed in Faith's ear. "No one gets to threaten or coerce me like that. Ever."

Faith struggled against Buffy's grip but couldn't break free. "You're making a big mistake," she snarled.

"No, you made the mistake," Buffy retorted. She released Faith and stepped back, fists clenched at her sides. "I'm leaving now. And if you or any of your 'powerful friends' try to come after me, you'll regret it."

With that, Buffy yanked open the door and stormed out of the office, leaving a shocked and angered Faith behind.

Faith called to her secretary. “Cordelia, find out everything you can about Buffy Summers. She will be mine, one way or another.”

Cordelia Chase appeared in the doorway, arching a perfectly manicured eyebrow at her boss. "Everything okay in here? I heard some commotion."

Faith straightened her suit jacket, a dark look in her eyes. "Just fine. That Summers girl has more fire than I expected. I like a challenge."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Another one of your 'special' candidates? You know, one of these days someone's going to catch on to your... unconventional hiring practices."

"That's why I pay you the big bucks, Cordy," Faith smirked. "To make sure that doesn't happen. Now, get me everything you can on Buffy Summers. School records, police reports, the works. I want to know what makes her tick."

As Cordelia left to start digging, Faith stared out the window at the Capitol dome in the distance. "Another slayer in D.C. This could get interesting”.

Buffy stormed out of the Capitol building, her mind reeling from the encounter with Faith. She couldn't believe how quickly the interview had spiraled out of control. As she walked briskly down the street, she pulled out her phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Giles? It's Buffy. We have a problem," she said as soon as he picked up. "Remember that job interview I had today? Turns out the Congresswoman is a Slayer. And not the friendly kind."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Good Lord," Giles finally responded. "Are you alright, Buffy?"

"I'm fine," Buffy assured him. "But this Faith character... she's dangerous, Giles. She tried to... well, let's just say her intentions weren't exactly professional."

"I see," Giles said gravely. “She tried to harm you?”

“No. She, uh…wanted me.”

“Oh”. Giles paused, cleaning his glasses, “We should tell him, you know.”

“I know. I wish we didn’t have to.”

“He has a right to know, Buffy”

“I know Giles. Send him a message.”

As Buffy hung up the call and walked towards a nearby coffee shop, she realized with a chill that she probably had not heard the last of Congresswoman Faith Lehane.

 

[twoslayers]

Not sure if anyone is reading, if not give it a try, over 1,000 readers on AO3 can't be wrong.

Chapter 2: Hail to the Chief

The President had just finished reading the latest report. The lengthy document explained the rise of corruption in Congress and suggested groups behind it with sinister agendas. He sighed as he threw the report down on the desk. The extent of the corruption was greater than he had previously been led to believe and involved several significant players. But in most cases, there was not enough evidence to take action against them. He stood, looking out the window deep in thought, grateful for the thousandth time for the special glass that he had had secretly installed.

There was a knock at the door and the President’s Chief of Staff, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce walked in holding an iPad and looking nervous.

“Mr President?”, no response, “Angel? We’ve had a message from an old friend through the usual channels. Its urgent”, the former watcher said walking towards the window and handing the President the tablet.

Angel turned from the window, his brow furrowed as he took the iPad from Wesley. His eyes scanned the message quickly, then widened in surprise.

"Buffy," he murmured, almost to himself. Then, louder, "She's here in D.C.?"

Wesley nodded. "It appears so, sir. And it seems she's had a rather... unpleasant encounter with Congresswoman Faith Lehane."

Angel's jaw clenched at the mention of Faith's name. He had been keeping tabs on the rogue Slayer-turned-politician for a while now, suspecting she was involved in the growing culture of graft and sleaze that he was trying to root out. But he had never imagined she would cross paths with Buffy, not even knowing that his former lover was seeking a political career.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice tense.

Wesley cleared his throat awkwardly. "According to Mr. Giles' message, Congresswoman Lehane made sexual advances towards Buffy during a job interview. She seemed to have recognized Buffy as a Slayer and tried to use that to her advantage."

Angel's grip on the iPad tightened and the device broke apart in his hands. He had always known that Faith was dangerous, but he never thought she would stoop so low.

"Where is Buffy now?" he asked, his mind already racing with plans on how to handle the situation.

"At a coffee shop nearby," Wesley replied. "I can send someone to bring her in..."

"No," Angel interrupted, shaking his head firmly. "I'll go talk to her myself."

Wesley looked skeptical. "Sir, with all due respect, I don't think it's a good idea for you to be seen with her publicly. It could damage your reputation."

"I don't care about my reputation," Angel said dismissively as he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "Buffy is in danger and I need to make sure she's alright."

Wesley stood in his path. “Angel, you have you understand the limits of your new role. The President of the United States can not just breeze into a public venue without getting a lot of attention in the media. We should handle this more discreetly. And I think I know just the person for the job.”

Angel paused, his hand on the doorknob. He knew Wesley was right, but the thought of Buffy in danger made it hard for him to think rationally. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"Alright," he said finally, turning back to face Wesley. "Who do you have in mind?"

Wesley smiled slightly. "I believe it's time we brought in our secret weapon. Someone who can move freely without drawing attention, someone with connections to both the supernatural world and the political sphere."

Angel's eyes widened in realization. "You mean..."

"Yes," Wesley nodded. "It's time to call in Congresswoman Willow Rosenberg."

Angel couldn't help but smile. Willow had been working behind the scenes helping administration for some time now, using her magical abilities and tech skills to gather intelligence and keep tabs on supernatural threats, whilst benefiting from her position as the recently elected Congresswoman for the California 24th to monitor the situation on the Hill. If anyone could help Buffy…

Angel nodded, his tension easing slightly. "You're right. Willow is perfect for this. She can approach Buffy without raising suspicion and she knows how to handle supernatural threats."

Wesley was already tapping away on his phone. "I'll contact her immediately. In the meantime, I suggest we look into Faith's recent activities. If she's bold enough to proposition a fellow Slayer during a job interview, who knows what else she might be up to."

"Agreed," Angel said, moving back to his desk. "Pull everything we have on Faith's voting record, her financial statements, her known associates. I want to know every move she's made in the last six months.”

Wesley nodded and gathered up the broken parts of his tablet before he headed for the door. Vampire strength was tough on technology, he mentally reflected.

As Wesley left to make all the necessary arrangements, Angel sat heavily in his chair, his mind racing. Buffy was here in D.C., and in danger. Faith was clearly up to something nefarious. And now was the time to find out what. And in the process, maybe they could find out just who it is pulling the strings in the background and what their agenda is. Because Faith’s conduct in office was clearly just the tip of a very large iceberg.

As Wesley coordinated with Willow, Angel stood and started to pace up and down his office, his mind racing. He couldn't shake the feeling that Faith's encounter with Buffy was more than just a coincidence. There had to be a larger plan at work.

His suspicions were confirmed when Wesley returned a little while later, looking grave. "Sir, I've found something concerning in Faith's recent activities. It seems she's been meeting regularly with a group of influential politicians and lobbyists. They've been very careful to keep these meetings off the books."

Angel's eyes narrowed. "Any idea what they're discussing?"

Wesley shook his head. "Nothing concrete, but there are whispers of a new bill being drafted. Something that could have serious implications for both the human and supernatural worlds. And one of the lobbyists is an old friend. A former employee of a certain law firm of which we are acquainted.”

Angel felt a sense of dread at the words even as he spoke them. “Lilah Morgan.”

Wesley nodded grimly. "Precisely. It seems Lilah has reinvented herself as a high-powered lobbyist, and she's been seen frequenting Faith's office."

Angel's fist clenched. "Wolfram & Hart. I should have known they'd find a way to worm their way back into power. But what could they be planning?"

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. A secret service agent ushered in Willow Rosenberg, who was looking concerned. "Hey guys," she said, her voice low. "I got your message. What's the emergency?"

Not many people could have gotten away with being so informal with the President. Angel and Wesley between them quickly filled Willow in on the situation with Buffy and Faith. Willow's eyes widened as she listened.

"Oh Goddess," she breathed. "Poor Buffy. But don't worry, I'll find her and make sure she's safe.”

“Do Willow, but there’s more to this than just Buffy’s safety. We need to know exactly what Faith is involved with and we’re only getting so far in our own cautious investigations. Without evidence, my hands are tied. I need someone on the Hill looking into the whole situation. Discreetly. Your magical abilities and computer skills combined with your position in Congress make you ideal for that assignment.”

Willow nodded, her expression turning serious. "I'm on it. I'll use my position to start poking around, see what I can dig up on Faith and her associates. And I'll make sure Buffy's safe in the meantime."

"Be careful, Willow," Angel warned. "If Wolfram & Hart is involved, this could be more dangerous than we realize."

"Don't worry about me," Willow said with a small smile. "I can handle myself. Plus, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that even they won't see coming."

As Willow left to begin her mission, Angel turned back to Wesley. "We need to be prepared for anything. If Faith and Wolfram & Hart are working together on some kind of legislation, it could have far-reaching consequences."

“This isn’t just ordinary corporate lobbying” Angel replied. “Anything could be going on. This time the apocalypse could be brought about through the machinery of government.”

Wesley nodded gravely. "Indeed. The thought of Wolfram & Hart manipulating our government from within is deeply troubling. We'll need to proceed with extreme caution."

"Agreed," Angel said, his expression grim. "Keep me updated on any developments. And Wesley... make sure we have contingency plans in place. If this situation escalates, we may need to take drastic action."

As Wesley left to carry out his orders, Angel turned to look out the window once more. The weight of his responsibilities as President had never felt heavier. He thought of Buffy, out there somewhere in the city, unaware of the dangerous web she had stumbled into. And of Faith, a fellow Slayer who had strayed so far from her calling.

"What are you up to, Faith?" he murmured to himself. "And how far are you willing to go?"