A/N:  I’ve played around with S2 canon here guys.

Two Slayers 4B

Faith watched as her Watcher stepped forward, the kinky bastard had nerve she had to give him that.  “We’re not your enemies,” he said.  “My companions and I represent the Watchers’ Council -.”

A quarrel thudded into the ground between the feet of her Watcher, silencing him.  A tall, brown-haired kid maybe a couple of years her senior with a decent build and hard but good-looking features, began climbing down the ramp-way above them.  “We’re aware of who you are,” the boy stated.  “Question is where the hell you’ve been for the past eighteen months?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Mr. Trick, you had some experience of the Slayer Faith back in Boston I believe?”

Trick swallowed nervously as he glanced around the hall.  In theory, he was second only in power to the vampire by his side, he was one hundred and sixty years old to Angelus’ 240, no other vamp here was more than a century old.  In theory.

But no vampire he’d ever met could match the combination of Giles’ magical skills, fighting ability, demonology knowledge, and organisational flair.  And no vampire could match the turned Slayer for ferocity in battle – not even his now deceased 1,000 year old sire.  Finally he nodded.  “I do sir.”

 

“Excellent,” Trick wasn’t fooled for one second by Giles’ genial-seeming smile.  “Then why don’t you tell me about her?”

“Yeah, sure.”  Trick paused for a second to get his thoughts together.  “Me and Big K had held down Boston before since the Second World War, sweet as anything.  Then in May ’98, she was called.  K had taken down five Slayers before her and I’d seen him kill two, but she was different, wilder-.”

“But not as good as my Buffy,” Giles commented, his hand sliding up the mini-skirted blonde’s leg. 

”No, of-course not.”  Trick swallowed.  Damn these guys were crazier than a bagful of monkeys.  What had he got himself into?  “The big guy lost a ton of vampires fighting her, she was real tough, but eventually we caught her and her Watcher.  By this time, the boss was real pissed, so he took his time torturing the girl’s Watcher.  Knives, hammers, acid, cattle-prods, blow-torches, whips, boiling water, ice, - she took days to die and the girl was made to watch it all.  When the Watcher died, K decided to tell the girl what he’d got planned for her, but the girl snapped, went loco, broke her chains, killed about ten vamps and the boss.  She’s one scary bitch.”

 

“But you escaped,” Giles commented.  Trick nodded.  “And when you fled, you came here?” he nodded again.  “And you began working for the Mayor.  But when we took over and dealt with dear Dickie Wilkins, you came over to our side, correct?” he nodded for a third time.  The English vampire shook his head.  “Two bosses deserted in their hour of need, how dreadfully remiss of you.”  Suddenly the former Watcher’s eyes gleamed golden.  “Don’t go for a third.  Otherwise,” Giles glanced at the blonde stood beside him, “Buffy will have a new toy to play with.  And she’s so eager to see how much it takes to break a vampire.  Understand?”  Too frightened to speak, he nodded.  “Good, now get out of my sight.”

As he left, his elbow was grabbed by Angelus.  “Come with me,” the older vampire ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.

                                                *                                  *                                  *

Zabuto stepped forward, his heart racing.  He realised that these youths must be the resistance, and the youth before him, the now near-legendary Alexander Harris.  “Mr. Harris-.”

“Call me Alex,” the teen growled.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Nobody calls me Mr. Harris, Mr. Harris is my father and the town drunk.  My friends call me Xander, but they’re mostly dead, thanks to the fucking Council.  You can call me Alex,” his blood chilled as the boy raised his pistol crossbow and pointed at his chest.  “Now talk.  And fast.”

Zabuto swallowed, from the youth’s tone and expression he was on the edge, months of leading a losing battle against the creatures of the night forcing him to the edge.  “Alex, why don’t you tell me what’s been going on here?”

The youth raised an eyebrow.  “What makes you think you’re in any position to ask any questions.”

 

Sensing Kendra tense beside him, he placed a calming hand on her shoulder.  He was surprised to see the Bostonian Slayer stay calm – although perhaps her reputed days on the street had taught her the value of picking your fights.  “Alex, as our host surely you’d do us the courtesy of filling us in on what’s been going on.  After all, as guests we can hardly be expected to know which places to avoid?”

The boy smiled unwillingly.  “You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that.  Okay, this is how it all started-.”

 

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Damn those blithering idiots!”

Xander watched in concern when his surrogate father flung his phone off the desk and into the wall.  After a second he’d gathered enough courage to speak.  “What’s up G-M, Giles?”

Giles looked up from his glowering at the desk, suddenly aware of his presence.  “Oh Xander, I’m sorry you saw,” the Englishman’s glance dropped to the smashed phone, “that.  Most unseemly.“

“Not a problem,” he’d seen, experienced, far worse at his own home.  “What the problem Giles?”

“I rang the Council, requesting the assistance of Kendra.”

Xander half-smiled, he remembered the dark-skinned beauty’s first visit, he wouldn’t mind seeing her again.  “When she’s coming?”

“She isn’t.”

 

“What?” Xander couldn’t believe it.  “But didn’t you explain about Buffy not being able to kill Ang-,” his voice trailed off at Giles’ guilty look.  “You didn’t!  Why not?”

“Because if I told them, we’d more than likely get a visit from the Council Wet-works team.”

“Good, it’s not been raining much this-,” Xander shut up as soldier boy’s memories kicked in.  “They wouldn’t!”

“They would,” Giles retorted.  “The question is-.”

The Watcher was interrupted from a shout from the outer library.  “Giles!  Giles!”

“Oh bloody hell,” Giles muttered, “you’d think it was a pigging rock concert and not a library.  Shall we?”

 

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Zabuto exchanged a troubled look with Kendra.  “We never told of your request, Alex.”  If he remembered correctly it had been about the time his Slayer had been captured by a group of zombies and they’d magically killed her in preparation for a ritual that would have resulted in a Slayer-Zombie.  He’d magically disrupted the ceremony, resulting in Kendra being called back to life but that had been enough to call forth Faith.

The youth looked nonplussed.  “Oh.”  After a second he continued.  “Anyway-.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

He followed the Watcher out into the library to see Willow and Buffy stood in the centre of the library floor, their faces excited as they poured over the sheets of paper before them.  Xander shook his head in puzzlement.  He’d never seen Buffy that animated over schoolwork before. 

At their entrance, Buffy looked up, her cheeks glowing.  “Willow’s found it!  The spell to give Angel his soul back!”

Xander looked at Giles’ paling face.  Realising the Watcher was too stunned to react, he let out a shout.  “Oh no way!”  he half-snarled.  “There is no fucking way that bastard is getting his soul back!  After all he did to us!  To Giles!”

“Xander,” Giles’ voice was strained but with that note of steel Xander knew the Englishman only used when he was determined to get his way.  “In the inner office now.”

Sighing slightly, he allowed the Watcher to herd him into the small room.  “G-Man, you can’t agree with this!”

“Xander,” the Englishman sighed wearily before slumping onto the edge of his desk, looking much older than his early-forties.  “Of course not-.”

”Well then, tell her!” Xander interrupted.

”Xander,” the librarian’s voice firmed some more.  “We have to, and I hate to use a yank term, ‘play the percentages’.”  The Englishman sighed at his puzzled expression.  “Xander, we both accepted that Buffy isn’t up to dealing with Angelus.”  He nodded unwillingly.  “This acts as our safety net, if she can’t handle Angelus we can ensoul him.  Problem solved.”

“But Miss Cale-.”

“Was trying to ensoul Angelus when she was killed,” Giles interrupted.  “Please, for me.”

 

“And if they succeed?” Xander asked.  “What about Angel?”

Giles’ face tightened.  “We deal with him when that comes.  Regardless of what Buffy thinks it will be made clear that he is most unwelcome in Sunnydale.”

“But we don’t say anything until afterwards?” Giles nodded.  Xander nodded, it wasn’t what he wanted completely but it would do.  “That’s the sort of plan I can get behind.”  At least he’d never have to see that cold-hearted bastard again. 

 

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Oh look at the Slayer’s loyal little sheep.”

Xander’s blood chilled at Dru’s all-too familiar tone.  Exchanging a shocked look with Giles, he leapt to his feet and drew his stake.  “Hi Dru, long time no see,” he tried but failed to put a jaunty note into his voice.  “Come to take me up and that offer of a coffee date?” he added without much hope.

Dru’s giggle reminded him just how looney tunes she was.  “Oh sweet little kitten with his love spells, made me feel oh soppy he did.”  His heart sank when the insane vampire vamped out.  “Made Daddy so angry with me.”  Dru turned to the half a dozen vampires behind her.  “Don’t kill them, Daddy wants to play.”

Xander looked at Giles and then Oz, both men nodded.  Giles glanced over his shoulder at Cordy and Willow.  “Run!” the Englishman bellowed.  “We’ll hold them off!”

“Get them!”

The vampires charged forward at Drusilla’s screech.  Xander leapt forward to meet the first, feinting with his left before slamming the stake into his opponent’s chest.  Even as the vampire exploded in dust, Xander’s world exploded in pain as something impossibly powerful crashed into his forehead.  The last thing he heard as his knees buckled and he crashed onto the ground was Drusilla’s mocking laughter.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Oh shit,” Xander groaned as he forced his eyes to open as far they could.  His heart sank at the figure stood over him.  “Oh shit,” he repeated his earlier curse.

“Hello Xander,” Angelus beamed down at him.  “It’s always an ordeal to hear from you.  I hope you’ve enjoyed the past day’s activities.” 

Xander winced as he remembered the periodic beatings.  “The dancing girls weren’t the best and the refreshments -.”

 

He was interrupted by Angelus’ rich laughter.  “Always the comedian Xander, I like that about you I really do.  If you weren’t so irritating I’d keep you around, sort of as a court jester.  But,” the Irish vampire sighed.  “The one thing both Angel and I agree on.  The only actually, is you have to go.  You see I never intended for Acathla to rise, it was all a trap you fell so neatly into.  Giles I turned for his brains and Buffy for her fighting skills.  When I get my hands on Cordy,” Angel beamed.  “Well I’m afraid Buffy’s going to have to learn how to share.  Willow, as long as she passes a test, will be very handy, what with her magical ability.  Girl has serious potential.  But you,” Angelus shook his head.  “I’m afraid you’re a liability.”

“But,” the vampire stepped back, “Liam was always a sporting man, one for a wager.  And I suppose in that respect I’ve never changed.  My boys and I are going to leave once my new childe,” Xander followed Angelus’ gaze to a small body in the corner, “rises.  If you can kill my new fledging, no vampire will be able to touch you until tomorrow night.  A whole day’s head start.”

Xander hid a smile, he’d killed more than a few fledgings in the past two years, he could handle this.  He watched as the Master vampire moved to the room’s doorway.  “Do I get a stake?”

Angelus casually tossed him one before smiling.  “You sure do Xan,” the vampire mocked.  “Oh and good luck with,” the demon turned towards the now wakening vampire, “Willow.”

Xander’s heart froze as he looked over to see his best friend’s undead body rising.  Scrambling to his feet, he raised his stake in a trembling hand.  “Will,” he croaked.

He wasn’t dumb, he knew that this wasn’t his friend, this was a demon, but to see the vampire advancing on him , wearing the face of his buddy since kindergarten. 

Just like Jesse.

That thought hit him like a sledge-hammer, shocking him to a stillness that wasn’t ended until the red-headed vampire crashed a fist into his jaw, flinging him backwards into the wall.  Dazed, he could only watch as the vampire shot out an arm, grabbed him by the neck and flung him to the other side of the small room.  “Blood.”

Xander realised with a jolt that the demon was so insane with blood-lust, she didn’t even recognise him.  His senses slowly returning, he looked around for his stake.  His heart sunk as he caught sight of it at the other side of the room. 

Suddenly Willow began to turn towards the doorway behind her, her mouth opening in shock and then she exploded into dust.  “Let’s get out of her Dweeb Boy!”

His mouth dropped open at the sight of Cordelia stood in the doorway.  “How?”

His friend’s eyes shadowed.  “Two vampires at the back of the library.  I staked mine, Willow didn’t.  By the time I realised she’d been grabbed it was too late, I came back.  Saw them bring you here, waited until they left.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“And since May ’97, sixteen damn months ago!” Xander’s tone was low and the glint in his eyes, dangerous.  “I’ve been running what resistance I could, trying to keep things under control.  And finally the Council deign to join us.  We’re so honoured.”

Zabuto chose to ignore the boy’s sarcastic tone, judging his anger as warranted.  “How do you manage to keep this organisation going?”

“Dumb luck,” the youth growled, his eyes bitter.  “You heard of Ethan Rayne?”  Zabuto nodded, Rayne and Giles had been 1^st years together at the Watcher’s Academy, both had gone off the rails, Rayne had never returned to their side.  “Guy did a spell Halloween ’97, turned me into some sort of special forces soldier for a while.  After the possession wore off I lost the skills but I’ve still got the memories and experience of tactics and strategy.” 

Zabuto blinked, what the boy said was impressive.  There were few men twice his age who could have achieved what the young man had done.  “You have done well,” he praised.

The young man shrugged.  “We’ve had a few lucky breaks, their attention hasn’t been wholly on us.  Before she was turned Buffy killed Dru and Spike, thinning Angelus’ family of master vampires for us, Dracula came and tried to over-run them, he failed,” Zabuto nodded, he heard of the war, Dracula proclaiming his right as oldest living vampire and being killed by Buffy.  “Then there was the Mayor who turned out to be some sort of demon-worshipper.  They crucified him on the face of the town clock.  And then there was Giles’ coup-.”

 

“Yes how did that come about?” Zabuto glanced at the Englishman by his side.  There was something about the younger Watcher that made his skin crawl.  There were rumours about his father, Roger Whnydham-Pryce, and having met the son he believed every one of them.  He suspected, he glanced at the east coast Slayer and shook his head, none of his business.

“We think,” a short youth replied, “that Giles did a black arts ritual that reversed the Sire-Childe link, making him in charge of the most powerful vampire, Buffy, and supplanting Angelus as leader.”

Zabuto smiled unwillingly.  One had to admire Giles’ genius.  Suddenly another girl, a striking brunette with a Hollywood starlet’s looks and poise, let out a shout.  “That’s not true at all, you see it was different where I came from.  Buffy was in LA with Willow, Angel had his soul back, Kendra and Faith were sisters living with Giles.”  Zabuto’s brow furrowed, what was the girl blathering on about?  ”Then I made a wish to this new girl in my class, Anya and everything changed.”

Anya, Zabuto’s heart dropped, she couldn’t be.  Suddenly, the windows exploded and the time for thinking was over.

FIC: Two Slayers (4C/?)

Mr. Trick shook his head.  He didn’t like Angelus’ plan, no not at all.  “Giles wouldn’t appr-, argh!”

A thudding blow to the jaw sent him to his knees.  “Giles and his pet bitch aren’t here,” Angelus growled dangerously from overhead.  “I am.  Bear that in mind.  He brings two Slayers to my town to fuel some black arts ritual to make him even more powerful.”  The Irish vampire shook his head.  “Isn’t going to happen.”

Trick stared up in frustration at his elder.  Didn’t the stupid bastard understand that if Giles’ scheme worked all over those closest to the former Watcher would grow powerful and influential by extension.  Realising that any attempt to reason with Angelus would only further infuriate the insane vampire he nodded dutifully.  “Very well.”

Angelus’ features broke out into a beaming smile that wasn’t reflected in his dead eyes.  “Excellent,” the Irish vampire boomed as he pulled him to his feet, “we’ll make a hell of a team you and me, just like Spike and I did before those damn gypsies got involved.  Which reminds me,” Angelus’ shark-like smile widened.  “Ever been to Romania?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith’s face screwed up in confusion as she listened to the tall brunette babble on.  God she hated her type, always thinking that a hang-nail was the greatest tragedy in the world’s history.  Faith giggled, she just bet discovering about vamps had made Miss. Little Rich Bitch shit in her expensive panties. 

Her amusement died with the sound of the door exploding behind her.  Her heart dropped as she spun round to face the two figures entering, all but oblivious to the sound of the warehouse’s windows shattering around her.  She didn’t recognise the good-looking stud, but the man beside him, she did, remembered his hands on her body, his whispered promises of what he was going to do to her once his Master had finished, remembered him holding the only person she’d ever loved as his Master had killed her.

“TRICK!” her scream echoing in her ears, she leapt forward, her stake seeming to leap in her hand.  It was long past time for this bastard to die.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Trick swallowed as he saw death racing towards him in the otherwise enticing form of the Boston Slayer.  He still remembered the bewitching swathe she’d cut through the East Coast’s vampire population, and he was a planner not a fighter.  Steeling himself, he thrust a right hook at the brunette head only for her to block it on her shoulder.  Undeterred, he moved into a sweeping kick that the Slayer easily somersaulted over.  

Realising she was now behind him, he spun to face her, only to catch a crunching right to the jaw.  “You killed Jan!” the Slayer screamed, her face contorted in a homicidal rage that reminded him of just-risen minions. 

“And she tasted great,” he taunted, hoping to provoke a mistake, an opening.  He screamed in agony when the Slayer drove her knee up hard into his groin, the pain causing him to double up. 

“BASTARD!” the Bostonian slammed a left into the side of his head, the force almost knocking him off his feet.  He forced himself to straighten – right into a side heel kick to the face that knocked him on his ass.  Even as he looked up at his attacker, she plunged her stake in his chest.

“Ah -.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Shit.”

Faith looked at the pile of ashes that had once been her tormenter’s right-hand man, a face that had haunted her nightmares for months.  To her surprise she didn’t feel any elation at her nemesis’ demise, only an empty feeling.  She glanced around the battle, her eyes narrowing when she saw her predecessor being beaten by Trick’s companion from earlier, the vampire that could only be Angelus.  “Fuck!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Kendra,” Angelus beamed down at the beautiful girl before him.  Here was an opportunity.  Maybe if he turned her, he’d have a Slayer-Vampire to rival Buffy, someone to build an opposing force around.  Here was a real chance.  “It’s good to see you, how you’ve been, well I hope?”

 

The girl glared up at him.  “I always told Buffy you were a mistake,” she spat.

Angelus’ smile widened.  “Ah that sexy accent,” he almost-purred.  “I never told you what a turn-on it was did I?”  Taking advantage of the Slayer’s look of revulsion, he slammed a right into her face, staggering her backwards.

Anxious to use his advantage, he charged forward, only for Kendra to slide beneath his follow-up left hook and thrust her stake at his heart, the blow coming close enough to actually tear a hole through his shirt.  “Ah lass,” he drawled as he backhanded the Slayer away from him, “you’ll be ripping my best shirt.”

To her credit, Kendra charged back into attack, jumping into a spin kick that he just managed to duck under before landing a right hook in the girl’s stomach.  The girl grunted and fell like a stone to the ground.  A grin on his face, Angelus went for a stomp to the face, comforting himself that any damage done to the dusky-toned beauty would be healed once she’d been turned. 

Kendra’s hands shot up, grabbed his foot and twisted, sending a jolt of pain shooting through his leg and him tumbling to the ground.  Both he and his opponent reached their feet at the same time.  He grunted slightly when the Slayer thrust her stake, catching him in the left shoulder.  Ignoring the pain he snatched at the Slayer’s wrist and twisted, grinning slightly at her pained gasp and the sight of the Slayer’s stake clattering to the ground.  Still holding onto her wrist, he ignored her other fist slamming into his side to headbutt in her face, shattering her nose.  The Slayer let out a groan before falling to her knees, her other hand finally released.

Seeing the Slayer’s hand lunge towards her stake, he kicked the weapon out of reach before crashing the point of his boot into her chin, knocking her onto her back.  “Ah, my fourth Slayer, I wonder if knowing you will make you taste just the sweeter?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Cordelia stared around the battleground, anixious for an opening, an unprotected back she could shove her stake into.  “Cordy.”

She jumped at a voice by her ear and spun round to face the speaker.  Her heart returned to something approaching its normal cadence as she recognised the speaker.  “Damn it Scott!” she squawked.  “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

Scott Hope half-grinned.  “Sorry Cor.”  The boy’s face turned serious.  “Xander told me that if trouble started I was to grab you and get the hell out of.  Go to the fall-back camp.”

“I’m not leaving -.”

“Please,” Scott’s eyes were pleading, yet at the same time commanding, “it’s what the boss wants.”

Cordelia felt her will-power wilt.  “Fine, which way?”

Scott nodded with his head to the warehouse offices towards the back of the building.  “Through here.”

“Okay,” she hurried after the youth, then stopped when she realised her companion’s face wasn’t reflected in the grimy office windows, “oh god,” she croaked.  She turned to run only for her high heel to snap under her, sending her to the ground.  She felt an improbably strong hand grab her pony-tail, jerking her head back and then a searing pain in her neck.  Then nothing.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hey asshole!”

Angelus’ half-turned head was met by a thudding right that knocked him back a step.  Ignoring the pain roaring through his jaw, he grinned at the sultry brunette before him.  “Why, you must be Faith,” he purred.  Not taking his eyes off the raven-haired warrior before him, he wiped away the blood trickling from his.  “Trick told me all about you.  Never quite mentioned how beautiful you are.  Um,” he licked his lips slowly, “do you taste as good as you look?”

The teen’s eyes filled with a fury that made him all tingly.  “You’ll,” she launched a side heel kick at him that he slapped away before leaping into a spinning backfist that exploded against his forehead, “never find out.”

Angelus looked around him and scowled.  His attack hadn’t worked as well as he’d hoped, not only was Harris still alive, he should have killed that little bastard when he had the chance, but both of the Slayers were relatively unharmed thus ruining his hopes of ending Giles’ little scheme.  Worse still, all his minions were rapidly being wiped out.

Deciding a strategic withdrawal was in order, he bowed mockingly at the Slayer.  “It’s been fun Faith but I had a prior appointment.”  The brunette started towards him, he waggled a scolding finger at her before nodding towards a groaning Kendra.  “You wouldn’t leave your sister Slayer unprotected would you?  Why any vampire hoping to make a name for themselves could snack on her.”

Faith glared helplessly at him.  “This isn’t over!”

“Oh,” he winked, “a second date.  I can hardly wait.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Cursing, Faith dropped to her knee beside her fellow Slayer, relieved to see that despite the blood covering her counterpart’s face, the injuries were superficial and already healing.  “Thank you,” Kendra slurred.

“Um, five by five,” Faith shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable.  No-one had ever thanked her for helping them before, she didn’t know how to react to it.  “You going to be -.”

 

“Noo!”

Faith’s head snapped towards the back of the warehouse.  That sounded like the Xander guy.  “Shall we?”

She turned to find her sister Slayer struggling to her feet.  “Yeah.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Zabuto looked down on the youth holding his girl-friend’s corpse, a feeling of profound sadness enveloping his being.  This boy had seen, suffered so much.  As had all his companions.  And maybe, his brow furrowed in thought, maybe it simply wasn’t necessary.  “Miss,” he grabbed the Wicca from before.  “What’s your name?”

He had to repeat his question three times before the young girl broke from watching her leader.  “A…Amy.”

He smiled.  “Tell me Amy, what do you know about Vengeance Demons?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith listened to the two Watchers and the resistance’s two witches while all the time observing the sobbing man holding the girl’s body.   “He really loved her,” she muttered.  A hot, burning anger built up like a volcano inside her.  Love was precious, like the way Jan had cared for her, some fucking demon didn’t get to take it away and laugh about it, that was wrong.  She turned to Kendra.  “Let’s get Angelus,” she whispered.

Kendra looked shocked.  “We can’t leave without -.”

”They’re busy,” she interrupted.  “We kill a big fish like Angelus and they won’t give a shit,” Faith reasoned before adding a jibe.  “You’re not scared are ya?”

Kendra fell neatly into her trap.  “Of course not!” she hissed back, bristling at the very idea.

Faith nodded her approval.  “In that case, let’s jet.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles looked up, something disturbing his senses.  After a second he had it, Angelus had dared to attack his prizes.  Snarling to himself, he slapped his bed partner’s naked ass.  “Buffy, get up.”

The tiny blonde growled a protest.  “What is it Giles?”

“That bloody Paddy,” he snarled, “has tried to attack my Slayers.”

“Oh,” immediately Buffy rose and began to dress, her every movement sensual, “what do you want me to do?”

Giles considered the question for a moment.  He had tolerated Angelus because as a new Master Vampire it gave him serious kudos having the likes of the notorious Scourge of Europe under his control.  But now he’d overstepped the mark one too many times.  “Kill him.”

Buffy nodded.  “And the Slayers?”

Giles sighed, noting the mad gleam in his love’s eyes.  “I need them alive Buffy,” the blonde nodded and turned to leave.  “Buffy,” she turned back to him.  He threw the corpse they’d had their fun with tonight.  “Throw Harmony out with the other trash.”

Giles morphed into his demonic face as his second-in-command left.  “Why can’t anything be simple?” While researching the ritual he’d used to reverse the childe-sire link he’d found another, even more interesting, ceremony, one that had been used in 3300 BC. to allow a vampire black mage to remove the barrier of invitation protecting people’s homes, meaning that the vampire in question and any vampire who swore fealty to him could come and go as they wished.  He didn’t have the power to complete such a spell, but with the blood of two Slayers fuelling him, maybe just maybe.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Angelus seethed as he made his way through Sunnydale’s darkened streets, he wanted something, anything, to kill, but the night’s other denizens wisely gave him a wide berth.   Getting that close to killing a Slayer but failing was like spending all night stalking a girl only to find you were drinking the blood of a junkie.  “Damn bitches -.”

Suddenly something smashed into his jaw, knocking him into a wall.  “Pretty mouth like that won’t get you many dates.”  Shaking his head clear, he walked into the centre of the alley, glaring at the raven-haired temptress stood before him, just the sort of girl his father had told him would be the death of him.  He chuckled – well dear old dad had been right about that, the death of him and all his village.   “What’s so damn funny?”

He laughed at the girl’s demand.  “I was just thinking my mouth might not be pretty but when you don’t care if the girl under you is wriggling or not, it doesn’t much matter.”

The sultry beauty’s face creased in disgust.  “You sick fuck!”

“What?” he arched an eyebrow.  “Don’t you like it kinky?”

“How about a little 2 on 1?” an accented voice asked from behind.

His back exploded in agony, knocking him down to one knee.  He glanced over his shoulder to see Kendra staring mockingly at him.  Oh shit, two Slayers one of him, this couldn’t end well.

Surging to his feet, he flicked out a back heel kick only for Kendra to sway away from the attack, grab his ankle and throw him face-first into the wall.  Even as he struggled to his feet, he was confronted by Faith, her blows knocking him back to the ground.  “Fuck,” exclaimed the brunette, “this is fu-, aw shit!”

Taking advantage of the respite his kick to the girl’s pelvic area had garnered him, he started back to his feet, grabbed the wheezing Slayer by her pony-tail, and flung her to the ground.  Turning to face the Jamaican, he smiled maliciously.  “In my day, a pretty little thing like you knew her place, on her knees servicing her master.”

Chuckling slightly at the girl’s enraged expression, these bitches were so easy to manipulate – all you needed to know was the right buttons to press, he dodged a sloppy right, grabbing the wrist and pulling the girl onto a knifehand to the throat before sweeping her legs from beneath her.  He went for a stomp to Kendra’s head only for the girl’s companion to sweep his legs from beneath him from behind.  Hitting the ground on his knees, he started instantly to rise, conscious that for him being on the ground was death. 

His eyes widened when Kendra’s hands shot out from beside him to grab him around the collar.  “Going somewhere?”  Try as he might, he couldn’t get lose.  He screamed as he felt a stake enter his back.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“You five by five?” Faith eyed her fellow Slayer speculatively as she helped her to her feet.  After a fight she was always buzzing, looking to get laid, but she somehow suspected Kendra was too vanilla to help her with that.  Besides, she shuddered inwardly, Wes didn’t like others touch ‘his’ property.

“I am fine thank you Faith,” Kendra’s smile caused butterflies in her stomach.  Maybe there was a chance -.

“Oh look, two pretty Slayers in a row.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Where are Faith and Kendra?”

Zabuto looked from left to right.  “Oh bugger, I was so engrossed in research I didn’t notice, where have those girls gone?”

Wesley looked at his fellow Watcher with barely hidden disdain.  It looked like he was just like that stupid bugger who’d started all this, Rupert Giles, a liberal who didn’t know how to keep a wilful little bitch in line.  As his father had always said, a child needs discipline, and a Slayer with her powers needed more than normal.  Well Zabuto might be prepared to let his Slayer run wild but he was a Whyndham-Pryce with all that entailed.  “I’ll cast a locater spell and go look for them,” he volunteered, his tone even.

”Ah good man.”  Zabuto nodded.  “I’ll keep researching Anyanka.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith glanced at Kendra.  “Buffy?”  Kendra nodded, her heart breaking at seeing her friend like this.  “That case, let’s put her out of her misery.”

Instantly her companion bounded forward, shooting out into a spinning kick.  Buffy giggled before catching the leg at the foot and knee, and flinging Faith into the wall.  Instantly Kendra leapt into the attack, throwing a flurry of punches that the diminutive vampire easily dodged before dropping her with a stunning left to the head.  Suddenly Buffy giggled, her left leg shooting backwards to catch Faith on the jaw, knocking her back down.  “Naughty naughty Slayer shouldn’t cheat.”

Kendra tried for a leg-sweep, but her adversary cleared her sweeping leg before kicking her in the chest, the blow hitting her with the force of a cannon ball.  Wheezing for her breath, she was helpless as Buffy lowered her face to her neck.  “Giles wants you alive, but just a little taste.”

Suddenly, an explosion boomed out.  The vampire screamed and staggered.  Kendra looked up to see a furious looking Wesley stood at the end of an alley holding a shotgun.  “Grab her,” Wes glanced at a stunned Faith, “and come here!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Faith,” her Watcher turned to her as Kendra ran into the resistance headquarters, “you’ve been a naughty girl.”

Faith swallowed as she looked at her Watcher, hating the hungry look she saw in his eyes.  When he looked like that she knew she was going to get hurt bad.  “Thanks Wes-.”

“In the back,” her Watcher’s voice trembled with desire, “now.”

For a second she thought of defying her Watcher but she knew what happened to Slayers who disobeyed the Council.   “Sure Wes,” she whispered.  Oh god, what was he going to do to her?

Two Slayers (4D/?)

“Wes-.”

“Belt up,” instantly she quietened.  “You know something Faith, my father told me that Slayers are like spirited horses that required a firm hand-,” she felt the Watcher’s hand gripping her around the jaw, lifting her head up, “to train them.  Haven’t I been good to you?  Allowed you to wear your slapper’s clothes?  Fed you, kept a roof over your worthless head?”

Faith swallowed.  “You’ve been real good to me-.”

”Shut up!” the Englishman glared at her.  “And how do you re-pay me?  By disobeying me again.  I can see I’ve been far too lax.  Put your hands behind your back.”  After a second she obeyed and shuddered at the feel of him cuffing her hands.  She moaned as he covered her eyes with a blindfold, oh god this was going to be bad.

“Please Wes, I’ve learnt my lesson,” Faith begged, her lips drying with fear.

“Little girls should learn to take their medicine,” she whimpered deep in her throat as she felt her belt being unfastened and her trousers drop around her ankles.  A second later, she gagged as an oily rag was shoved in her mouth. “Wouldn’t want anyone to hear your screams would we?”

For a few seconds she could hear the man walking around her, stalking her.  Then she heard his voice in her ear, felt his hot breath on her neck and his callused hands stroking her hair with a tenderness that was obscene given the circumstances.  “This is for your own good Faith, I don’t enjoy this,” the husky note of desire in Wes’ voice gave lie to his words, “but a trained Slayer is a long-lived Slayer.”

She whimpered at the sound of something cracking through the air and winced at the feel of her leather belt slapping into the back of her bare legs.  Five strokes later the attack ended.  Faith sighed in relief.  Maybe he was going to take pity on her.  Maybe he realised she had the best of intention-.

A scream would have erupted from her mouth but for the rag stuffed there when a fist collided into her ribs.  She realised through her waves of pain that Wesley must have put on his brass knuckles because no human punch could hurt her that much.  She struggled to stay upright, conscious that going to ground would make her a too tempting target for her Watcher’s steel toed boots.  She groaned when the buckle of her belt whipped into her chest, driving precious air from her lungs.  She tried to beg him to stop, he liked it when she did that, but her words were muffled by the rag. 

Suddenly she heard something whipping through the air and blacked out for a second as a searing pain ripped through her upper back, knocking her to the dusty floor.  Through the air roaring through her ears she heard Wesley’s disapproving tones.  “Weak Faith, weak.  If you can’t take a little discipline how can you expect to stand against the creatures of the night?” the Watcher tutted before grabbing her by her pony-tail and yanking her to her feet.  “Now let’s do this again, and this time stay on your feet.”

Conscious of the blood trickling down her back and legs and panicked that the Englishman was going to continue until she was dead, she attempted to force her cuffs loose, but found her beaten and battered body not up to the task.  In the distance she heard the office door swing open.  “What’s all this?”  Faith felt her stomach hollow, oh god, that was the resistance leader, Wes had invited him to join in too.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander’s eyes rolled back as he listened to the older Watcher and his group’s two mages discuss this Vengeance demon.  He didn’t care about demons, he cared about Cordy, his eyes misted over as he remembered cradling her broken body in his arms.  He cared about wiping every last vampire from the face of the earth.

He looked around, puzzled, where had that other Slayer, Faith that was her name, gone with her Watcher.  Maybe they were planning more direct action.  Finding himself cheering at the thought, he looked around but couldn’t see either of them in the groups scattered throughout the warehouse floor.  “Perhaps they’re checking out the armoury,” he muttered.  Grabbing his pistol crossbow for safety, he hurried to the back of the warehouse.  The first three offices were empty, but the fourth…. 

Bile rose in his throat as he stepped over the threshold to see the brunette Slayer, cuffed, blindfolded, and gagged, stood with her pants round her ankles, and her blood dripping onto the filthy ground.  “What’s all this?”  His guts churned as he noticed the leather belt and the blood-speckled bike chain and brass knuckles.

“This is Council business,” the younger Watcher stepped towards him.  “Faith took a stupid reckless decision and as such has to be disciplined.”  The Watcher smiled.  “You can join in if you want.”

Disgust and rage filled him.  Before he knew it he’d hit the Englishman full in the face, knocking him to his knees.  “Giles would never have done this!” he roared before kneeing the knelt Watcher in his face, knocking him on his back.  In an instant he was on him, pounding the older man’s face into a bloody mask, rage blinding him to the Englishman’s increasingly weak attempts at retaliation.  Finally he grabbed Wesley’s skull and twisted, snapping his neck.

For the longest time he stared at the body.  He’d killed a human once before – Ethan Rayne had come to town, planning to try and team up with his old running buddy but Xander had got to him first.  He hoped he never stopped getting that sick feeling in his stomach from killing a fellow human being, even scum like Wes and Ethan.

Suddenly he became aware of a muffled sobbing behind him.  Remembering the Slayer, he hurried over to her.  Bile rose in his throat as he surveyed the damage Wesley had done, a cold rage built up inside him, suddenly he wished he’d taken more time over killing the bastard.

Crouching over the girl, he pulled the rag from her mouth.  “Please Wes,” she gasped.  “I’ll be good, I know it was stupid running after Angelus.  I’m sorry, I’ll do as I’m told-”

 

“Hush,” he placed a gentle finger across the Slayer’s babbling mouth.  “He’s not going to hurt you again.  I’ve killed him.”

“Noo!” Faith began to thrash wildly.  “The Council will kill me.”

“Calm down,” he placed his hands on the Slayer’s shoulders.  “No-body’s going to kill you.  I won’t let them.” 

Releasing his grip on the Bostonian’s shoulders he pulled her blindfold off.  “Promise?” she asked, her voice child-like.

”I promise,” Xander pulled the girl’s pants up and fastened them.  “Faith, where’s the cuff keys?”

“He has them.”

“Okay,” he pulled the girl up into a sitting position.  “Why did you let him hit you?”

“I..it started six weeks after he became my Watcher.  I seduced him ‘cause I figured if we were screwing he’d be easier on me for training, patrolling, and shit.  Then one night I went out partying even though he told me to stay in.  When I got in the next morning we had an argument, I told him we weren’t exclusive, I could go with who the hell I liked.  He told me to get stripped and get in the meat locker for six hours-.”

“And you obeyed him?” Xander’s blood had chilled.

”H..he said if I disobeyed his training methods then he’d tell the Council he’d got a rogue Slayer and then they’d kill me,” which was probably true, judging from the Watcher Diaries he’d read.  Faith’s eyes filled with tears.  “From that moment, if I said or did the slightest thing he’d beat me, make me do real disgusting shit.  If you protect me from the Council I’ll do anything you want -.”

“Faith, I’ll protect you because you deserve it, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want.  Except patrol, okay?” the brunette nodded.  The cuffs came off.  “Listen I’ll take you into my quarters, you can have a wash, get changed into some of Cordy’s,” his heart caught at the mention of his girlfriend, “clothes.  Okay?”

“Why are you helping me?”

“Because,” Xander paused for a second, there were a dozen different reasons but in the end he went for the simplest.  “Because Giles would never have treated Buffy like that.”  Brushing aside the Slayer’s protests, he lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the room, ignoring the mutters his reappearance gained.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Good lord,” Zabuto’s mouth dropped open as he saw Xander walking towards him, a thunderous look on his face and the crying second Slayer cradled protectively in his arms.  “What happened to her?”

“Kendra,” the American ignored him to speak to his Slayer.  “Faith saved your life earlier didn’t she?” his Slayer nodded meekly, her eyes filled with horror at her fellow warrior’s beaten state.  “So you owe her, right?” Kendra began to turn him for guidance.  “I want your answer, not his!”

 

“I owe her,” Kendra whispered.

”Good,” Xander nodded his approval.  “Now,” the young resistance leader lowered his precious cargo into Kendra’s arms.  “It’s time for you to pay your debt, okay?” the Slayer nodded hesitantly.  “I want you to take her into my quarters – Aura,” the young man nodded to a pretty girl, “will show you the way.  Wash her, clean her wounds, help her dress, and protect from everybody.  Okay?”

“Xander,” the whimper came from the east coast Slayer.  “I want you to look after me.”

“Faith, you’ll be fin-, five by five,” the man tousled the Bostonian’s hair.  “I’ve got some business to attend to and then we’ll start about getting you settled in okay?”  After a moment the girl nodded.  “Good girl.”

Once the two Slayers had disappeared with their guide, Zabuto turned to the young man.  “Xander what’s happened to her?  Where’s her -.”

His words were cut off when the youth grabbed him by the throat and bent him back over the table he’d been studying at.  A half-second later there was a switchblade to his throat.  “Xander-.”

”Back off Amy!” Xander’s gaze didn’t move from his face.  “I’ll tell you what happened.  I walked in on a cuffed Faith being beaten by Wesley with a bike chain, brass knuckles, and a leather belt.  Tell me, is Wesley or Giles the exception?”

Somehow Zabuto knew that his continued existence depended on the sincerity of his answer.  “H…he beat her?”

“You’re telling me you didn’t know?” the pressure from the knife against his throat didn’t move an inch, but the young man’s eyes changed from homicidal to merely suspicious.

“Given the reputation of his father for bullying perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised,” he evaded.  Admitting he’d had his suspicions appeared to be a really good way of getting his throat cut. 

“And do the Council approve?” still the knife didn’t budge.

”Of treating potentials or Slayers like that,” Zabuto was horrified at the suggestion.  “No of course not!”  While few in the Council approved of Rupert’s mollycoddling of Miss Summers, an opinion more than borne out given recent Sunnydale occurrences in his own estimation, brutality towards the girls was considered spirit-breaking and counter-productive, not to mention downright distasteful.

“If Wesley’s father was considered such a lousy bastard why was his son given Faith’s care?” the youth demanded.

“Roger Whyndham-Pryce is a man of considerable power in the Council, a former Field Watcher of some distinction.”  Zabuto realised he’d started to sweat.  He considered shouting for Kendra, but Xander would have slit his throat before she even made it into the room.  “With Faith having lost her first Watcher and not even being a potential of long-standing before that, there weren’t a lot of takers for the position of her field Watcher.  Of those, Wesley had the most Council support.”

The young man’s nose curled up in disgust.  “Damn politics,” Zabuto was relieved when the knife moved from his neck but didn’t attempt to rise.  “Well from now on Faith stays here.  She’s now the Slayer of Sunnydale, my group and I will-.”

 

“I’m afraid Faith’s whereabouts aren’t up-.”

 

His words trailed off when the young man again pressed his blade to his throat.  “I don’t think you’re listening,” the youth growled.  “Your Council had their chance to look after her.  They fucked up.  They’re not getting another chance to brutalise her.  I’ve got two powerful witches, a hundred fighters under my control, most of the remaining cops, and a good part of the community provides intel.  After this is over, any one from the Council comes into my town and I’ll send them home to merry old England in a body-bag!  Am I making myself clear?”

 Zabuto swallowed.  “Crystal,” he croaked.

“Good,” the resistance leader stepped back.  “Are the others here?”

”Excuse me,” Zabuto asked.  “The others?”

“Like I said this is our HQ,” the Scooby founder glanced around, “but there are six other resistance cells scattered through the city, doing patrols, collecting intelligence.  With the deaths of Trick and especially Angelus we’ve weakened Giles’ forces.  We out-number them four to one, we’ve got a chance.”

“But you can’t!” Zabuto cried. 

”Really?” Xander’s eyes bored into him.  “Tell me why?”

“Because that Anya Cordelia was talking about making a wish to before her death was really Anyanka, a Vengence demon.”  Seeing the youngster’s mouth open, he hurried on.  “She grants wishes.  Maybe where Cordelia came from everything was better, Giles and Buffy were never turned, Cordelia wasn’t killed, Faith’s first Watcher never died,” although quite how Kendra and her were sisters bewildered him.  Perhaps he’d never been assigned her as a Watcher.

“And this helps us how?”

Noting Xander’s tone had lost much of its hostility, Zabuto breathed a little easier.  “If we summons her here and destroy her amulet, her power source, then the world will return to how it was.”

 

Xander nodded slowly.  “How do we know it’s any better?”

Zabuto looked around.  “It has to be.”

The resistance leader stared at him.  “What do you need?”

”The assistance of your two mages would be sufficient.”

“Fine,” Xander nodded.  “Percy!” the young man continued to look at him, his gaze unflinching.

“Yes boss?”

“We’re going to war, but I want you to pick eight men, real trust-worthy, to stay  behind and guard him.  He tries to leave with Faith, kill him.”

“Xan-.”

“You might be telling the truth,” Xander stepped towards him.  “I really don’t know.  But I’m not risking a young girl’s happiness on a Watcher’s word.  Do your spell.  But betray me or hurt any of my friends, and that includes Faith, kill yourself, it’ll go easier on you in the long run.”  The youth turned to the crowd around him.  “Tonight we reclaim Sunnydale!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles looked up, sensing the approach of an army.  He scowled.  With the death of Angelus it appeared the humans had grown bold.  “Dress dear,” he stroked his resident Slayer\Sadist\Slut’s golden hair.  “We have company.”  Silly humans, they’d have to be taught their place in the food-chain.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Zabuto looked down at the pentagram.  It seemed the summonsing symbol was correctly executed.  “Are we ready?” he smiled at the two nervous mages.  “You’ll do fine,” he soothed.  Anything had to be better than this place.  Anything.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

The Bronze’s double-doors crashed open as a 4*4 flew through them.  In an instant, ten vampires were on the vehicle.  A half-second later the car exploded in flames, incinerating the vampires.  “Amazing what you can do with remote technology,” Xander stepped into the doorway flanked by a score of his best soldiers, his heart thundering.  Months of planning, building his team, setbacks, and tragedies hinged on this.  Angelus’ death gave them an opening.

He looked up to the second floor at the sound of clapping.  “Xander, my dear boy,” Giles walked into view, the sight of his surrogate father’s demonic face making his stomach clench.  “As innovative as ever, why I remember your plan for defeating the Judge, ah,” the vampire king sighed.  “I’m sorry it came to this.”  Suddenly the former Watcher broke out into laughter.  “Who am I kidding?  I love this!  Kill them all!”

Glass cascaded down as the skylights were shattered by a dozen rappellers flying down, crossbows in hand as they started to decimate the shocked vampires.  At the same moment, both the back service entrance and fire exits flew open, the vampire sentries dealt with, as Xander’s recruits flooded the club and battle began.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Zabuto swallowed as Anyanka appeared.  “The world, change it back,” he commanded.  Oh bollocks, he gave up a shining career as an interior decorator to become a Watcher?  What had he been thinking?

“A man dares summon me?” Knocking aside the two guards nearest him, and laughing at the pentagram, the demon lunged for him, her hand grabbing him around the throat, steel-hard fingers crushing the flesh. 

As soon as the demon was close enough, he grabbed the amulet around her neck, tore it off and threw it to Jonathan.  “Break it!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles watched with concern as Xander cut his way through his vampires, the boy’s skills had improved in the past year.  “Buffy dear,” he purred.  “Be a dear and kill Xander for me.”

“Can I turn him?”

 

Giles paused in thought for a second.  Turning the resistance’s leader against them, there was a sort of delicious irony behind that.  And the boy had potential, his ingenuity, and bravery proved that.  “You know I could never deny you anything,” he murmured.  His words were rewarded with a filthily passionate kiss and then the Slayer-Vampire leapt into the melee below.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hello Xander, miss me?”

His blood chilled as Buffy charged towards him, leaving severed limbs and screaming bodies in her wake.  “I miss Buffy, not you!” His sword-swing was coat by the blonde at the wrist, his shoulder wrenched out of the socket a half-second later.  He grinned defiantly at the vampire as she forced him onto his knees.  “You know what’s funny?” he demanded.  “This world, apparently none of this is real.”

The vampire looked confused.  “What do you -.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I’m sorry about this,” Faith said as she patted her sis on the back.  God she hated playing nursemaid. ‘Cept when she’d played dress-up back in the day, she was lousy at the damn thing.  “But I thought you deserved to know.”

“You’re sure about this?” god she hated the hurt look on Kendra’s face, her sis was the best.  She just wished Cordy was a fucking demon so she could decapitate her and use her skull as a place ornament.

“Girl, if there’s one thing I know it’s when a girl’s putting the moves on.  She was all over him like a cheap suit.”

“But why?” Kendra looked bewildered.  “Have I said something to offend her?”

Aw fuck, her sis was such an innocent.  “This ain’t you girl, it’s all on her,” she consoled her big sis.  “Not your fault, Cordy’s a bitch from way back.  Remember all those stories Xan and Jon told us about her back in the day?”  Kendra nodded.  “But I  told her what’s what and what’ll happen to her if she even looks at X wrong, she knows what’ll happen.”

“S..she only did it because she’s lonely.”

Faith looked up at Tara stood in the doorway.  She hadn’t noticed the Wicca entering.  “If she’s lonely she should get a dog, seeing as she’s acting like a bitch in heat.”

“I..it wouldn’t happen if we involved her more in Slaying.” Tara’s face darkened.  “W..what you did to her was wrong, abusing your power like that.  You shoul-”

Faith bristled.  ”What about what-.”

”I WAS TALKING!” Faith jumped when Tara shouted at her.  Tara never shouted, Tara went all quiet when other people shouted.  “You acted like a bully and you should apologise.”

Faith snorted.  “Like that’s going to happ-.”

She gulped at the look in Tara’s eyes.  “B…bullies aren’t nice people,” her friend scolded.  “Are you a nice person, Faith?”

She looked down at the floor.  “Yeah,” she muttered.

“G…good, then that’s settled.”  Tara nodded.  “Tomorrow’s Saturday and Cordelia will be working with you in the shop.  I think you should apologise for attacking her and ask her to join you in your workouts.”

“No way,” she gulped when Tara raised an eyebrow.  “Ah, what I was going to say that sounds like a really good idea.”  Fuck, when Tara get so scary?

“E..excellent,” Tara beamed.  “I’m getting some cocoa, do either of you want some?”  Both Slayers shook their heads.  “Night then.”  The wicca walked out.

After a minute, Faith managed to close her gaping mouth.  “Fuck Ken,” she shook her head.  “Remind me never to piss off Tar again.” 

Kendra nodded, her face ashen-grey.  “I think that’s wise.”

FIC:  Two Slayers (5/?)

“You’re going away for a whole weekend?  Without me?”  Faith couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Jonathan gulped.  “Well, there’s this autograph signing in San Diego-.”

Faith’s eyes rolled.  “So this is a Sci-Fi geek convention, someone from Star Trek or some such shit?” Jonathan shook his head.  “Who then?” feet shuffling uncomfortably her boyfriend told her.  Faith exploded.  “HER!  AGAIN!  I let you have her poster on the wall and now you want to go to a freakin’ autograph session?  Nerd much!”

Jonathan shrugged.  “I’ve liked her for years.  She was kinda my first crus-”

“Oh great, just great! You’ve got a living breathing American honey and you wanna hook up with some foreign chick!”

“It’s not like that.  I just really like her acting.”

“Her acting? Sure!”  Faith snorted.  “One hit film, Jonny.  And that was an Arnie vehicle!”

Now it was Jonathan’s turn to roll his eyes back.  “Besides she’s actually American, her name is actually a blend of Albanian and Dan-.”

“Guess what! Don’t care!” Faith bellowed and leapt to her feet.  “Well screw you Johnno!  I had this wicked night planned, me you, the back of the movies, but you can go to hell now!”  Charging to his dorm room door, she swung it open and charged out.  It would be a long time before he got the use of her lips again!

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Jonathan stared at the open door.  “Well that went well.”  He sighed before looking up at the poster above his bed.  “She doesn’t understand the love we share Eliza.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Eliza Duckshoot!” God, she was so pissed.  After years of being a dateless dork, Jonathan had finally scored with an uber-babe and still the ass was drooling after some Hollywood bitch.  And she bet all her publicity photographs were doctored to make her look better - like some plastic Hollywood doll could compare with her!  Well, if Jonathan wanted to drool after some uptight cow that was five by five by her, she was going to have some fun and how!

She was still fuming when she reached the campus bar.  Shoving the door open, she strode in as if she owned the place, ‘cause ten seconds after smiling at the right guys she would.  It wasn’t a bad place she supposed, not plush or nothing but several leagues up from the drug dens she’d spent her early teens hanging in.  She stopped as she recognised the barman.  “Aw fuck!” Summonsing her courage, she forced a confident expression and strode up to the bar.  “Yo!  Xan!  Beer!”

Her friend’s face fell as he turned towards her.  “Faith, you can’t come in here, you’re too youn-.”

”Xman,” Faith forced a patient note.  “I’ve been drinking since I was ten.  Now either you serve me or I head up to the Fish Tank?”  She smiled challengingly.  “What’s it gonna be?”

Xander looked at her, his eyes pleading.  For a moment Faith felt bad about the position she’d put her friend in and was about to go home.  Then Xander sighed.  “Fine.  What to you want?”

“Black Frost looks good.”  Faith cursed as she reached into her wallet.  She only had what was left of her allowance, twelve bucks, on her.  Hardly enough for her to get a buzz on, even before being Called she could sink six – eight bottles without feeling it much, as a Slayer she could take three times that.  “Damn it,” she muttered.

“Can I buy you a drink beautiful?”

She looked up into the eyes of a good-looking brown-haired guy maybe 3 – 4 years her senior.  “Why sure handsome,” she purred.  “Black Frost’s my drink.  What’s your handle?”

The man smiled.  “Parker, you?”

“Faith.”

“Damn it Faith,” Xander grabbed her arm as she made to follow the youth to the table him and his friends were frequenting.  “Parker Ahams is one of the biggest sleazes on campus,” her friend warned.

Faith winked.  “’Preciate your concern X, but I’ve been handling assholes like him since I hit puberty, I can handle him.”

“If you need -.”

 

“I’ll be fine,” she smiled to show her confidence although inwardly she fumed.  Fuck, you’d think she was thirteen year old going out on her first date not a street-hardened Boston southie.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander stared at his friend’s back as she slinked her way over to the table with Parker and his buddies, his heart sinking.  “Great, just great,” he muttered.  First day on the job and Faith had to turn up, putting him in one hell of a position.  If he didn’t let her drink here, he knew she was more than capable of following through on her threat to go down to the Fish Tank and there was no way he was letting that happen.  But on the other hand, if Giles found out he’d allowed Faith to drink….

Xander shuddered at the thought.  Somehow he doubted there’d be enough left for an autopsy.  “My life officially sucks.”

“How’s that Black Frost going?”

He turned to see his boss stood behind him and nodded.  “Just fine Jack,” he replied with a sickly smile.  “They’re drinking it like extremely thirsty fishes.”

The man beamed.  “That’s great.  I’ll be in the back if there’s any trouble.”

 

Trouble? Xander winced.  With Faith in the place that was almost guaranteed.  “Now where’s the number for The Green Berets?” he muttered.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith grimaced as Parker tried another of his lines on her.  Please, she’d heard crap like this for years and had stopped being conned by this bs years ago.  Any girl who fell for an idiot like this was just asking to be used in her opinion.  If he decided buying a couple of drinks gave him privileges later, well she’d soon convince him otherwise.  Hiding her distaste at her company, she took another sip of her beer.  At least the booze was good.  That was something.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander ground his teeth together as he approached the table where Faith and her companions were sat.  It had been a slow night, probably because people had walked in, seen Faith and her friends making asses of themselves and left.  “Look guys, it’s nearly closing time,” his voice trailed off when Parker sprang to his feet and turned, revealing a cavemanish face.  “Oh crap.”

“More beer!” he ducked beneath Parker’s first right hook, slammed home a left body shot that had little apparent effect, and caught a jolting uppercut to the jaw that lifted him off his feet and sent him crashing to the floor.  Xander attempted to shake his head clear of the stars circling him, guy hit like he carried a tire-iron in his fists.  “More beer!” the man growled.

“No!” Suddenly Faith was between him and the changed man, slamming a haymaker into the man’s jaw, knocking him backwards.  “Not hurt friend.” 

Xander’s words of thanks died on his lips when the Slayer turned to him and he saw whatever had effected Parker had clearly also effected her.  “Guess the beer’s off then.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith glared at the other members of her tribe until she was satisfied they wouldn’t try anything before turning to her friend.  Crouching down, she looked into his eyes and smiled.  “Friend smell good.”

The boy gulped.  “You think, ‘cause I’m thinking I need a shower oh right about now?”

“Um,” she nuzzled her head into man’s chest.  “Man nice to touch.”

“Uh Faith, not that this isn’t enjoyable but,” she smiled at the way the man wriggled beneath her, it felt good, “we both have significant others.”

She looked up, confused.  “Not want Faith?”  She’d just rescued pretty boy and he didn’t want her?  Maybe not nice after all.  She pouted.  “Boy not wanna be friends?”

“Oh boy,” the youth muttered before raising his voice.  “Remember Jonathan?”

”Jon-at-han,” she repeated slowly.  “Jon-at-han mate?”  She smiled as she remembered a short boy with shy eyes and a brave heart.

“Well I was going for boyfriend but mate would do, yeah,” the man who she was hugging confirmed.

Faith beamed.  “Find mate!”  Jumping up, she leapt through a bar window, ignoring the man’s shouts for her to stay.  Mate’s cuddles were the best.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander groaned as he clambered to his feet, ignoring the ache in his jaw.  In his wildest dreams he hadn’t thought things could go this bad.  Relieved that the other cave-dwellers had apparently also left, he stumbled to the back to phone Giles – wouldn’t that be a fun call.

And stopped as he saw Jack pouring some portion or other into the Black Frost kegs.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith smiled as she made her way down the dormitory corridor.  “Nice boy,” she cooed.  “Wicked fun.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“You idiot!” Giles glared at Xander.  “How bloody irresponsible!”

The youth had at least the grace to look ashamed.  “Jack hates students he was drugging the booze, other-.”

“I don’t bloody care!” Giles exploded.  “Faith is a minor!  If the place had been raided with her record she could have ended up in Juvenile Hall!  All the work she’s put into straightening herself out, getting back on track, would have been wasted!  I expected better of you Xander!”

“Giles,” Kendra interrupted. “What are we going to do?”

After shooting Xander a final scowl he turned to his other daughter.  “Cordelia, Tara, and I will go to Jonathan’s to see if Faith’s there.  You and him,” he gestured towards Xander with a nod, “will go and try and track down the others.”

“But what if you -,” Xander paled as he turned to him.  “Never mind.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Jonathan looked up as the door to the dorm room he shared with Xander flew open.  Instantly he sprang up and grabbed his stake.  And dropped it a second later as he recognised the figure stood in the doorway – at least he thought he did.  “F….Faith?”

Faith beamed.  “Jon-at-han.”  Faith blushed, his wild girlfriend actually blushed.  “Jon-at-han smell good and taste nice.  Girl want Jon-at-han.” 

He swallowed as his girl-friend began to undress.  If Faith didn’t kill him if he struggled then Kendra or Giles would when they found them.  “Help,” he croaked.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I am very angry with you Xander,” Kendra informed her boyfriend.  “Faith could have been hurt.  Why did you allow her to drink?”

Xander groaned.  Et tu Kendra?  “She said if I didn’t let her drink, she’d have gone to The Fish Tank and they serve kids as young as fourteen in there, drugs too, real low-lifes in there too.  At least at the bar I could keep an eye on her,” he sighed. “That was the theory anyway.  And now, Faith’s missing and Giles wants to cut me into little pieces.”

Kendra squeezed his arm.  “Faith placed you in a very difficult situation.  I am sure that once Giles realises it that you will be forgiven.”

“Yeah,” Xander grimaced.  If everyone was okay.  Otherwise….. 

“Look!” Kendra pointed in the distance.  “There they are!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Faith, I think you’re under some sort of spell,” Jonathan reddened as his girl-friend’s lace panties hit the floor.  Correction he didn’t have to worry about Kendra or Giles killing him, Faith was going to rip him to pieces when she came out of this.  “You don’t want to do this.”  He moved to the other side of his bed, all too conscious that Faith could leap over it in a single bound. 

Which she promptly did.  He gulped as Faith’s face darkened.  “Jon-at-han not like Faith?” she asked, her doe-like eyes hurt.  “Jon-at-han not think me pretty?”

“Ah, uh,” Jonathan swallowed.  Oh boy, reasoning with Faith at the best of times was difficult, but now.  “It’s not that Faith, you’re beautiful but-.”

“No but,” he was cut by Faith pushing him down on the bed.  “Faith wants mate now!”  Suddenly Faith’s eyes dimmed, she half-turned to the door and then fell on top of him.  Jonathan looked over Faith’s shoulder to see Giles, Tara, and Cordelia stood in the doorway.

“Oh good lord,” Giles reddened.

Tara on the other hand was staring at his girl-friend’s ass as if mesmerised while a tranquiliser gun brandishing Cordelia was beaming proudly.  “Well shooting Faith with a tranq worked for me.”  The cheerleader wrinkled her nose.  “And what was with the ‘You Jane, me Tarzan act’ anyhow?”  Cordelia’s beam widened.  “Say Giles, can we lock her in your basement until the drug wears off?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Kendra’s right hand thudded into Parker’s jaw, knocking the last of the cave-dwellers back towards him.  Xander immediately brought the baton Giles had given him up and smacked into the back of Ahams’ head, and watched with satisfaction as the sleaze dropped to the floor.  “Ah,” he muttered.  “That felt good.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Jonathan looked up at the knock on his door.  “Come in!”

“Hi Johnny,” Faith walked in, a sheepish expression on her face.  “Giles says I was pretty uncontrollable last night but you didn’t take advantage or nothing.”  His girl-friend’s face turned impish.  “Guy must have a hell of a lot of self-control.”  Faith sighed.  “I’m wicked sorry for storming off last night and for nearly attacking you.  If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you?”

Jonathan opened his mouth to say it wasn’t necessary.  Then an evil idea germinated.  “Yeah there is actually.”  He quickly explained.

Faith paled.  “No way Johnny,” the Bostonian pleaded, using the same doe-eyes that the cave-dweller had the previous night.  “Oh please.”

He shook his head resolutely.  “There’s an item restriction,” he explained.  “If we both go, we can get twice the stuff.”

After a second Faith pouted and nodded.  “Fine!” she agreed grumpily.  “But after this we’re even!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Who do you want me to make the poster out to?”

“To Jonathan, All My Love.”

 

Eliza looked up and squinted at the striking leather-clad brunette stood fidgeting in front of her desk.  This girl was interesting, a world apart from the usual crowd she got at her autograph signings.  She smiled, it was her philosophy to be nice to everyone until they gave you a reason not to.  “He your boyfriend?” she asked as she passed the poster back.

The glare the girl gave her as she snatched the poster back was molten-hot.  “Yeah!” she snarled, dropping a twenty on the desk between them.  “MY boyfriend!  Thanks!”

Eliza blinked as the girl stormed out of the memorabilia store.  She met the strangest people.

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