She’s Gone (13C/?)
“I love this place!” Xander crowed as he entered the bar. Everything about it was ten leagues up from the Bronze. The gorgeous cocktail waitresses, he slapped an especially well formed ass before shoving his way into the bar and grabbing a beer from one of the tables, a single glare sending the runt who’s drink it had been scurrying back into his seat. The decor was way classier too, the music system of a far superior quality, he bobbed his head in satisfaction to the beat, and the strobe lightning that was illuminating the dance floor.
“Speaking of which,” a predatory grin worked its way across Xander’s face as he inspected the dancers, looking for the lucky woman he was going to take into the back alley behind the club. Finally he found her, a five and a half foot tall Latino wearing a skin-tight black lycra dress that started mid-way up her long, muscular thighs, slid up a well-rounded ass built for grabbing, worked its way up her taut belly to end just above the nipples of two of the biggest tits he’d ever seen. The face wasn’t bad either, coal-black hair framed a cupid shaped face containing a pair of laughing chocolate brown eyes and heart-shaped ruby-red lips. “Um, baby,” he ran his tongue over his lips. “You make me all tingly.” His grin widening, he started across the dance floor, shoving patrons out of the way. Once he was behind the girl he reached out, grabbed her ass, and squeezed, running his fingers over the supple flesh. Um, it felt just as good as he thought it would. “How you doing babe?”
* * *
“Clem!” Faith hurried over to the demon, her heart pounding, now that she knew it wasn’t Xander, not really, she knew she had to protect him. “What trouble is Xand in?” she demanded. Noting the fear in the demon’s eyes, she stepped back and lowered her voice. “Sorry, just scared is all.”
“Yeah,” Clem smiled. Faith smiled back, Clem was such a sweetie, she couldn’t help but like a guy with such a kind smile. “I met up with Xander in Willy’s.”
“WHAT!” Clem stepped back, but this time she couldn’t control herself. “Tell me his name, which demon hurt Xander?” she grated.
”No demon hurt Xander,” Clem shook his head. “It was him doing the hurting, he
killed this vamp ‘Slick-Moves Stevens’, then set about bullying Willy, I tried
to talk to him,” Clem reddened and looked down at the ground. “He was pretty
insulting about you and threatened me.”
“It’s five by five,” she soothed the big lug with a friendly squeeze of the arm. “It’s not Xander’s fault, he’s under a spell.”
Clem nodded. “I thought so.”
“What happened next?”
“He shot the jukebox and walked out. I followed him, to make sure he was okay.”
“Thanks.”
“He’s my friend, I wouldn’t want him to get hurt,” Clem’s
blush deepened at her gratitude. “Anyway, I followed him to that club, ‘Tokyo
Jo’s,” Faith grimaced, damn she had hoped Xan was going to take her there. “He
hid his shotgun,” Clem passed her the gun in question, she quickly unloaded it.
“Behind a dumpster, then went in, after beating up the three bouncers. I
couldn’t go in, being a human bar and all, so I came to get you. Saw the light
on and took a chance.”
Faith blinked. But then she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. Xman had surived fighting vamps and assorted demons for over five years, he had to be tougher than average, throw in a complete lack of conscience, and he was probably a real bad ass. “Just great,” she muttered.
She looked up as G strode back in. “Tara’s on her way.”
“Without Dawn?”
Her Watcher nodded gravely. “I thought it best. She doesn’t need to see Xander in this condition.”
“Makes sense,” Faith agreed. None of them did. She turned to Clem. “Thanks for your help big guy.”
The demon beamed. “My pleasure Faith,” he shuffled his feet slightly. “Movie night Tuesday?”
“Who’s showing?”
“I was thinking Abbott & Costello?”
Faith grinned at her buddy. “In that case I’m there,” she gave the big guy a hug. “See you later Clem.” Giles chuckled as the demon left. “What’s so funny G?”
”I was just thinking that’s who you and Xander remind me of, Abbott & Costello.”
“Did remind you of,” she corrected. “G, what if the spell doesn’t work? What if he’s like that for good?”
The Englishman’s face sobered. “Faith, we’ve got plenty of time.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked It’ll be fine.”
“Promise?”
”I promise.”
Faith nodded, but what if he’d meant all those things he’d said and losing his conscience just made him more honest?
* * *
Rosa Rojos grinned as she felt her boyfriend’s hands on her ass, squeezing, touching. Her grin died when she tossed her hair back and looked up to see a stranger leering down at her. “Hey babe.”
“Get off!” She attempted to pull away only for the stranger to grab her round the waist and start to grind his crotch into her, his breath hot against her neck. Suddenly panicked she let out a scream. “BRIAN!”
* * *
“This is the place?” Giles looked doubtfully at the front of the glitzy club, it was seeing places like this that reminded him how much he missed the good old traditional British pub. “Oh how marvellous,” he muttered sarcastically. He’d thought the Bronze was bad, but this place made it seem the very model of refinement.
“Are we going in or what?” Beside him Faith was practically jumping on the spot with eagerness.
“Very well,” for his part he was far from looking forward to seeing the new ‘improved’ Xander. “Does this place,” he sniffed disdainfully at the club. “Have a dress restriction?”
“If I was you G,” Faith winked. “I’d be more worried about an age restriction.”
“Ha, bloody ha.”
“L..look,” Tara whispered, pointing a finger towards the club entrance.
“Oh bloody hell,” he muttered. Faith had said that Clem had seen Xander take apart the bouncers but to see all three of them loaded into an ambulance.
“Let’s go G,” suddenly all semblance of humour had left his Slayer’s face leaving behind a grim mask. “Somehow I don’t think getting in is going to be a problem anymore.”
“Indeed,” Giles somehow thought club security was now the least of his concerns.
* * *
“Hey, get off my girl.” Feeling the man’s hand on his left shoulder, Xander shot out his left elbow, the point of it colliding with the man’s face with a satisfying crunch. A grin on his face, Xander spun around, and drove his knee into the man’s groin. Grabbing hold of the crumpling man by his collar, he hastened his descent by slamming him face-first into a near-by table before allowing him to fall to the floor, blood pooling around him. Seeing the man’s friends approach he pushed back his overcoat and drew his automatic, stopping them dead in the tracks. “Chill your jets kids. Me and the senorita,” the girl moaned as he pressed the muzzle between her cleavage. “Are just going to have a little fun.”
“I don’t think so. Xander, let her go.”
He winced at the familiar, husky voice. “Damn it Faith!” realising he needed both hands, he shoved the girl away before turning to face the Slayer. “Hey baby! I told you not interested, I mean if you wanna go kinky, a little bondage maybe. But otherwise, no way, been there laid that. Time to move on. But hey,” he grinned before glancing around the packed bar. “A hot piece like you, I’m sure there’s plenty of takers. Hell you could make a couple of K tonight.”
He was pleased when the brunette flinched. “Xander, son-.”
He cut off the Englishman with a laugh. “Hey ladies! G-Man’s on the look for a new girl friend, he likes them young too. Been hanging with teen babes for years!” his grin widened at the Englishman’s thunderous expression before turning his attention onto Tara. “H..hello T..tara, w..where’s y..your g..girlfriend?” he laughed at her hurt expression. “But wait one of you is missing. Where’s Dawn? You’ve left her all alone?” he shook his head. “Naughty, a poor defenceless girl like that in this mean old town. Maybe I’ll just have to go round and see her, pop her cherry for her. Make a change, god knows the last two sluts I was with weren’t exactly chaste.”
“You go near Dawn,” Faith growled. “And there won’t be enough left to get a DNA sample.”
“Temper, temper Slayer.” He scolded. “Remember where that temper got you last time.”
“You’re under a spell Xander,” Faith’s face was tight with
tension. “Give me the gun.”
He grinned. “A Slayer, fucked one. Never fought one. Come take it.”
There was a flicker in the Bostonian’s eyes, a pain in his wrist, and then the gun dropped out of his wrist. He looked with disbelief at Tara. “ You bitch!”
The distraction gave Faith the chance to close the twenty feet separating them with a blur, driving a fist into his stomach. Instantly he doubled up, the booze he’d digested earlier spewing up to splatter onto the floor. A second later, he felt the Slayer’s iron-hard arm round against his neck. “Just chill X!”
“Fuck you!” he attempted to fall backwards, crush the brunette beneath her, but the Slayer retaliated by releasing her hold around his neck and kicking him in the hamstring, knocking him onto his hands and knees. Thinking quickly, he shot out an arm, grabbed her foot, and pulled, sending the Slayer crashing to the floor. “On your back again Faith?”
Eyes flashing, the Slayer leapt back up, just at the time he reached his feet. Grabbing hold of the beer bottle ‘Brian’ had dropped onto the floor, he swung the jagged end at the east coast native’s face. A grimace on her face, the Bostonian bent her knees slightly, allowing his attack to pass harmlessly above her head before grabbing his wrist and twisting.
Pain flared through his wrist. “SHIT!” Instantly he dropped the bottle. Before he had time to react the Slayer had changed her grip to around his collar and the seat of his pants. A second later, he was flying across the bar to collide into the bar counter and slump to the floor unconscious.
* * *
Nostrils flaring, Faith strode towards the crumpled body. Nobody, spoke to her like that, nobody! “Faith no!”
At her Watcher’s shout, Faith stopped and took a breath before nodding and shooting her Watcher a grateful look. “Let’s get him home.”
“You’re not taking that bastard anywhere! He put three of my boys in hospital!”
Faith looked up to see the head bouncer and four other bouncers charging through the crowd. “And I took him out,” she pointed out coldly. “You really think you can take me?” The head bouncer paled. Faith nodded. “Smart guy,” she praised before lifting Xander’s limp body over her shoulder. “Back to his place, G?”
She’s Gone (13D/?)
Dawn looked at her watch for what seemed the hundredth time. To her amazement the display said it was only twenty seconds since she’d last looked. “What’s taking them so long?” she groaned, she hated it when they cut her out of the loop like this. She cared about Xander too!
Her heart leapt at the sound of a key rattling in the front door. “About time!” she exulted. Jumping up she hurried into the hallway and stopped at the sight that greeted her, blood draining from her face.
“Hello Dawnie.”
“W…Willow.”
* * *
Willow shook her head, poor child she looked so pale, further proof, as if she needed it that they were neglecting her in favour of that hussy. “Come on,” she beckoned the girl towards her. “You’re moving in with Amy and I.”
“N…no,” Dawn shook her head. “This is my home.”
“Was your home,” Willow corrected, a note of steel entering her voice. “Do you think your mother would want you living in a house where you could be influenced by a low-class harlot like Faith? No,” she shook her head. “She’d want you away from such people. And so would Buffy.”
The teen stuck her hands in her pockets for a few seconds as if considering her words before pulling them out and nodding, emptying the contents of one pocket on the carpet. Willow tutted, such a slovenly child, Faith was a bad influence. “Okay,” Dawn replied in a small voice. “Just give me a minute to pack -.”
“No,” she said firmly. Did Dawn think she’d been born yesterday? She’d either leave a note or try and climb through the window, fall, and break her neck. Wilful child, she bet that was the hussy’s fault too. “The car’s waiting, go and get in it. Now.” After a second Dawn nodded immediately. Willow beamed before patting her on her head. “Good girl,” she praised. There was nothing to this parenting lark. Just use the carrot and stick approach.
* * *
“Get him inside before he wakes up,” Giles
“Gee, ya think?” Faith muttered as she carried his son in over her shoulder. “’Cause it was so much fun the first two times.”
Giles hid the urge to snap a sarcastic retort. Xander’s actions had been a strain on all of them but Faith most of all, he’d seen the pain in her eyes when he’d taunted her. “Very well,” his voice trailed off at the sight of the open door.
Faith was first to react. “Pip!” Unmindful of the dead weight she was carrying, the Slayer charged into the house, her shrill screams clearly audible to Giles and Tara.
He turned to the Wicca. “We’d best get in.”
As they passed over the threshold they were met by a worried-looking Faith coming down the stairs, her cargo still over her shoulder. “Dawn’s not here G! And I promised B I’d look after her,” the Slayer added in a whisper.
“Right,” Giles took a second to gather his thoughts. “The priority has to be healing Xander. Then once he’s on his feet we’ll turn our attention to finding who kidnap-.”
“It was Willow.”
Giles glanced behind him to see a pale Tara. “How can you be sure?”
“We gave this,” his eyes widened when the Wicca dropped a Wiccan charm bracelet in his hand. “To Dawn as a present. It was on the hall floor, she must have dropped it there as a sign.”
“X is on the couch G,” he looked up to see Faith coming out of the lounge. The east coast native slinked past him. “You get him healed up and meet me at Red’s place.”
“Faith!” he shouted in vain as the Bostonian strode out of the front door. “We need a plan!”
“G,” came back the reply. “I am the plan.”
* * *
“He’s coming round,” Xander heard a vaguely familiar voice in the distance.
“And his aura?” a different but also familiar voice.
”Back to normal.”
”As normal as Xander gets,” the male voice sighed. “Please go and get your
magical equipment Tara, I need some time alone with him.”
“Giles -.”
“Please Tara,” there was a hint of steel in the man’s polite tone.
The female sighed. “Remember it wasn’t his fault.”
With a groan, he opened his eyes to see a scholarly-looking man in his mid to late forties glaring at him. After a second he remembered the man’s name. “Giles-.”
“I understand you were under a spell,” his blood chilled at the older man’s tone. “But as a result of your actions, two lovely girls who’ve had truly terrible childhoods were hurt by a man they both love and respect,” Xander winced, the memories of his actions flooding back. “If you hurt either of them again,” the Watcher pushed his glasses up his nose. “I’ll ensure you rue the bloody day. Am I making myself clear?”
It took Xander a moment to find his voice. “Crystal,” he croaked.
”Excellent,” Giles stood as Tara re-entered. “Now let’s be off and rescue
Dawn.”
“Sure,” he paused in standing. “Wait? What’s happened to Dawn? And where’s Faith?”
* * *
Dawn swallowed nervously as she looked around the sparsely furnished room Willow had dragged her into. “This will be your room for the next few days, decide on the furniture you want and I’ll get it,” the wicca giggled. “You, Amy and I are going to have the best time here.”
Dawn took a breath and gathered her nerve up. “Willow, Giles will be worried.”
“Oh I’ll ring him in the morning,” Willow waved away her attempts at reasoning. “Tell him you’ve decided to live with me.”
Suddenly there was a crash and she heard Faith’s throaty voice shouting. “Dawn! You here kiddo?”
“Oh,” Dawn felt a chill run through her at the sudden black in Willow’s eyes. “Intruders.” Her sister’s best friend rose and hurried through into the hallway. After a second she followed her.
“Pip,” Faith’s eyes didn’t move from Willow. “Get your ass out of here and into the car, I’ll join you in a minute.”
“Stay where you are Dawnie.” The witch snapped. “You made quite a mess of our front door. I see a prison stay hasn’t improved your skanky manners,” Willow’s voice was soft yet somehow dangerous. “And I see you’re still as slow as ever. Ah well, I’ll have to take you in hand.”
Faith’s face whitened. “Dawn, get out of here.”
After a second, she started to push past Willow only to be lifted by a gust of wind and slammed face first into the wall, instantly she tried to pull away but an invisible something held her in place. She whimpered in shock as an unseen hand unfastened and pulled her belt out of her jeans, causing them to fall to her ankles, and began whipping her across her now bare legs. “Dawn, that was naughty,” Willow scolded. “I told you to stay where you were.”
“Leave her the fuck alone!” growled Faith.
“Naughty girls have to be disciplined,” Willow retorted, her taunting voice singsong. “Unless you think you can stop me?”
* * *
Faith’s heart missed a beat as she watched Dawn being beaten, flashing back to the dark days when it had been her mom beating her or some man or other in a dingy hotel room with a kink for hurting young girls, her eyes focused on the peeling wallpaper to cut out the pain. Nobody, not even Red was going to get away with hurting Pip. “I’m warning you Red,” she snarled. “Let her go now.”
Her liquid brown eyes were met by stone black ones. How the fuck did Red do that anyhow, change her eyes like that? Wicked powerful mojo that was for damn sure. “And be corrupted by you?” the Wicca sneered at her. “Not going to happen. I’m keeping her safe for Buffy, it’s my duty as her best friend. Unless you take her?”
“That’s how you want it,” Faith surged forward, intent on punching the witch into the middle of next week.
And was picked up by a wind thrown into the far wall. “Oh look,” she groaned as she pulled herself upright the Wicca advanced on her, her black eyes dancing. “The tough streetwalker’s not so tough anymore.”
“Fuck,” Faith forced herself ready for the red-head’s second attack. “That all you got Red, ‘cause I heard you were a bad-ass witch?”
The witch’s smile broadened. “Oh I can go up a few gears.”
Suddenly Faith was rocked by invisible, stone-hard, fists smashing into her from countless positions, bombarding her legs, arms, body, and torso. She took it for as long as she could but finally fell to her knees. “There you go Faith.” She looked up, barely able to see the grinning Wicca through her rapidly swelling eyes. Every part of her hurt, but what was worse was the sound of the belt still hitting a sobbing Dawn in the distance. “You finally know your place.” She winced as the Wicca grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her head back. “On your knees before your betters. Just think how easier things could have been if you’d learnt that lesson all those years ago.”
“Fuck you,” Faith gasped through bloodied lips.
Willow giggled. “Oh believe me we’ll get to that. After all, that’s all you’re good for.”
“Willow stop.”
At the sound of Tara’s voice, Willow’s concentration faltered and her eyes flickered back to their normal colour. “Tara?”
Taking her chance, Faith forced away the weariness to surge to her feet and slam a right uppercut into the Wicca’s jaw. Taken by surprise, the red-head was lifted up and flung across the hallway to land by the far wall. A grin on her face, Faith dragged herself across the room, using the wall to steady herself, her determination increasing at the sight of Dawn’s bruised legs. The bitch was going to pay.
Even as she reached her target, the sorceress began to raise her head. Instantly Faith kicked her in the head knocking her back down. Nobody got the better of her, nobody. After spitting blood on Willow’s unconscious body, she drew back her fist. It was past time to finish this.
Suddenly her arm was grabbed. Turning her head she saw looked into Giles’ stern face. “No Faith.”
“No?” her speech was slurred with pain by now, her gaze disbelieving. “Have you seen what she did to me? To Dawn?” she could still hear the girl sobbing despite Tara’s attempts to soothe her. “She has to pay!”
“Yes she does,” Giles agreed, his expression grave. “But not by your hand. You set yourself up as judge and jury once before and that didn’t end well did it?”
After a second Faith nodded. She didn’t want to be that girl anymore, she wanted, needed, to be better. “Fine,” she turned away from the crumpled wicca and flinched at her first sight of Xander standing by the doorway, looking at the carpet. What would he say? Would he insult her some more? Laugh at her injuries? Apologise?
“Faith I-.”
Deciding she couldn’t take this, she turned to Giles. “G I wanna stay over at yours tonight, make sure Pip’s five by five?” after a second her Watcher gave into her pleading eyes and nodded. “Thanks, I’ll drive myself back, see you there.”
“Faith,” Xander raised a hand but she brushed it away.
“Not now,” she ordered brusquely.
* * *
Ten hours after her beating at the hands of Willow and her bruises were already healing, thanks to her Slayer powers. Not like Dawn, Tar and G had taken shifts with her last night, watching her as she sobbed her eyes out. Faith stopped her Tai Chi, the exercise not having its usual calming effect. Every time she tried to focus she got alternating images of Willow and Xander’s faces, their expressions filled with hatred and contempt.
“Damn it!” she pulled away.
“I’m sorry.”
Faith looked up to see Xander stood under the tree to the left of the garden. “What for?” she tried to keep her voice steady, but heard its tremble. “Last night didn’t mean shit,” she lied. “Words are just words.”
Xander swallowed. “Still I’ve got an apology to make I intend to make it.” The Scooby’s lips quirked up in a smile. “If for no other reason I really don’t want Clem telling me off like he did ten minutes ago. ‘You should apologise to Faith. She’s got a good heart, why if she wasn’t so tight-skinned-’.”
Finally a giggle escaped. Her with Clem? ‘Cept for Xan and Angel, he was the best guy friend she’d ever had, but the thought of them together….. “So, let’s hear it then.”
“Okay,” Xander took a breath. “Everything I said last night, I only remember bits but that was bad enough. G-Man’s said the collective amnesia over this town should take care of any criminal charges, but that’s not the point is it? I hurt Clem, G-Man, Tara, and, most importantly, you. You trusted me with your darkest secrets and,” her friend’s face contorted with pain. “I threw them back in your face, used them like weapons. After all you’ve been through to be the strong, wonderful woman you are today shows what an amazing person you truly are and I hate myself more than you could ever imagine.” Xander paused for a second before reaching behind him to bring out a bunch of roses and a boxes of chocolates.
“You bought me flowers? And chocolates?” No guy had ever bought her flowers or chocolates before, a drink with a mickey in it to get her in the mood or paid for a room for them to get busy in maybe, but she wasn’t the sort of girl guys bought flowers for.
Xander shrugged, his expression uncomfortable. “It’s sort of customary when a guy apologises for being a dick.”
“Kiss me,” she whispered. He really cared. Didn’t he?
“Uh, but your face is all bruised.”
“Just do it.”
* * *
Willow glared through a gap in the fence, her eyes disbelieving. Had Xander learnt nothing from the last time he was with that slut? That bitch, coming to her town, taking her hero’s place, assaulting her in her home, and now stealing her Xander. Her eyes flickered black as Xander’s hands worked their way under Faith’s muscle vest. “You’ll pay missy, they’ll be a reckoning soon.”
FIC: She’s Gone (14A/?)
“That bitch!” Willow slammed the door behind her as she stormed into the house she shared with Amy and Rack. It had originally been just her and Amy’s, but Rack had insisted he move in, to better supervise their training. At first she’d refused, wariness of the mage’s motivations making her reluctant. But gradually she’d come to understand that Rack only wanted what was good for her, unlike Giles he didn’t try to hinder her learning out of petty-minded jealousy, he encouraged it, revelled in her achievements with her. Now, she and Amy shared everything with their mentor. He didn’t want some white-trash Slayer slut, he understood where true power lay, in magic, and, most of all, in her.
“Now dear,” Rack entered the hallway from the bedroom they all three shared. “What’s wrong?”
“That bitch!” she screamed, her red face testimony to her towering rage. “Xander’s too stupid to see her game but he’s just a toy to her! I won’t let her defile him again!”
Rack took a back step at her rage before swallowing and
taking her in his arms. “If you don’t calm down I can’t help you. Talk to me.”
“That bitch,” Willow’s breath was coming in gasps. “She’s doing it again, she’s stealing Xander away from me! Without me to guide me, lord knows what trouble he’ll get into!” Her eyes widened as a terrifying thought occurred. “They could end up as the 21st Century of Bonnie and Clyde! He’s too easily led, first by that Cordelia, then Faith, then Anya, and now back to Faith! That bitch has got to go!”
“I know Strawberry,” Rack murmured into her ear, the use of his nickname for her causing her to relax. “But a Slayer is no rival to take on lightly.”
”I could take her-.”
“I have seen your power and don’t doubt that you could, but,” Rack kissed her on the forehead. “Then your friends would know your part in her downfall and you don’t want that do you?”
Willow nodded reluctantly. “I guess that makes sense. But
what do I do?” she whined. “I have to look after Xander, he needs me to protect
him from that slut.”
“Don’t worry about that,” her guide kissed her on the forehead, his thumb working its way down her cheek. “I have a plan, but first,” she moaned deep in her throat as Rack slid his tongue into her mouth, the intruder swirling round for a minute before withdrawing. “Go into the other room and undress. Amy’s waiting.”
Willow nodded dutifully. Rack had taught her that sex had an important part to play in relaxing somebody before magic, getting them into the right mood.
* * *
Rack hid a grin as he watched the red-head hurry into the other room. Manipulating Strawberry was a risky business but one with great rewards. Unlike Amy she wasn’t already addicted to his buzzes and had a stronger mind and willpower so he’d had to work carefully, mindful that her power exceeded his and Amy’s combined by some six-fold at least. And her potential, ran much, much higher.
But despite her intelligence, Strawberry had her weaknesses, namely her arrogance and naivety, utilising them and playing on her insecurities he’d slowly been able to addict her to his power. And the side-benefits, he chuckled at the moans coming through the doorway. So, what if a Slayer had to die to drive her further into his grasp? Another could always be called.
* * *
“I was helping Dawn with her homew-,” Faith stopped at Xander’s chuckle. She cast him a suspicious glance. “What’s so damn funny?”
“I was just picturing the old you helping anyone with school,” her boy friend kissed her on the forehead. “I’m proud of all the changes you’ve made. But you and homework.” He chuckled again.
“Yeah,” Faith smiled ruefully. “Well B would do it if she was here.”
“Hey,” Xander squeezed her around the shoulders. “Stop that. You don’t have to compare yourself to Buffy, just be yourself. We all love you for you,” the founding Scooby kissed her on the forehead again. “Okay?”
Faith beamed at Xander’s declaration. Finally she had it all, all she’d ever
wanted but never dreamed she’d get, a loving boyfriend, a safe home, a respected
job, and friends who’d have her back in a throw-down. She raised an eyebrow.
“You think a peck on the forehead proves you love me?” she challenged. “Have
you learnt nothing?”
“I guess not,” she moaned deep in her throat as Xander pressed his lips to hers, working his tongue into her mouth with a skill the eager virgin she’d deflowered years ago wouldn’t have dreamed of. Anya might have been wicked weird, but she’d sure taught Xman some kick-ass moves.
“Damn it,” she pulled away at the sound of a hoarse rumble that gave new meaning to the phrase ‘heavy breathing’. She paled at what she saw. “Oh shit.”
The monster stood some twenty feet away was over seven feet tall with enough muscle on its grey frame to throw a Buick across town and long, rippling arms that ended in jagged claws. But as terrifying as its massive body was, it was its face that Faith was sure would haunt her nightmares. On top of the creature’s barn-door shoulders there sat a heap of writhing maggots. Its horror was completed by a wide mouth filled with painfully sharp teeth and a single glowing yellow eye stared balefully at them.
“I second that.” Xander gulped beside her. “What do we do?”
“Nothing,” Faith replied as she drew her sword. “I’m the Slayer, X.”
“Faith, I don’t run away from a battle. And I don’t leave you.”
Faith ground her teeth together, fear twisting her stomach. Dying herself she could just about handle, but the thought of getting Xan hurt or killed did something to her insides. “Damn it Xan, this isn’t just some vamp-.”
“Believe it or not,” Xander interrupted, his voice tight. “I don’t come on moonlight walks through Sunnydale’s graveyards because of its romance factor. I come to help-.”
All discussion was ended when the beast charged them, or more accurately her. Leaping into the air, Faith flowed into a spin-kick aimed at the monster’s head, ignoring the feeling of revulsion at having to touch the creature’s hideous head. “Oh fuck!” to her surprise and disgust her foot slid through the mass of maggots to come out the other side, the head instantly reforming afterwards. Of all the things she’d done or seen in her young but event-filled life that had to be the grossest.
Upon landing, she gathered her wits and surged forward, the point of her sword flashing into the area beneath the beast’s left armpit. Or at least it should, the sword simply bounced off its target. Faith blinked. “Oh crap.”
Before she had time to react she was flying through the air, propelled by a
casual backhand from the demon. She landed on top of a tomb, the impact both
winding her and cracking the burial place underneath her. She could only look
up helplessly as the gargantuan lumbered towards her. “Back off Godzilla.”
Faith’s heart stopped at the sight of her boyfriend between her and the demon.
“Get the fuck out of here Xander,” she ordered in a wheeze. Just a few seconds
more and she could – do what? Give X enough time to escape.
“Nope,” Xander replied before charging the demon. Her eyes widened when her housemate dived forward, his axe slicing a bloody, downward furrow across the beast’s chest. “What the hell?”
The next instance, a gnarled fist caught her boyfriend square on the temple, flinging into the air to land on the ground surrounding the tomb she’d landed on. Seeing their attacker start towards them again, Faith forced herself upright, hefted her sword and flung it javelin-like at the beast’s yellow eye. Once again she hit the target and once again the beast remained uninjured.
Forcing aside the cold ball of fear forming in her stomach, she leaned down, grabbed Xander by his collar, and dragged him to his feet. “Xan, let’s get the fuck out of Dod-, ah crap!” Registering the dazed look in her lover’s eyes, she lifted him over her shoulder with a grunt. “Note to self,” she muttered. “Introduce fat-ass to health food, only one of us has a Slayer metabolism.”
Turning she sprinted away from the creature, relieved that at least ‘Big ‘n’ Ugly’ wasn’t that fleet of foot. She cursed as she realised the monster was between them, their car, and their place. “Have to be G’s then,” she growled. As she ran, muscles straining at the effort, one thought nagged at her.
Just why had Xander been able to hurt it, but not her?
* * *
“It failed,” Willow fumed. All that effort for nothing!
“There’ll be other chances Strawberry,” Rack paled at her glare.
“And it nearly killed Xander!” she seethed. “I thought it was meant to be trained to only hunt the Slayer!”
“It is,” Rack hurriedly replied. “But he jumped in the way. If not for the way she’s brain-washed him..”
“Of course,” Willow nodded. This was all Faith’s fault, when she’d eliminated that mad bitch the others would realise who their leader should be.
* * *
Giles looked up as the front door crashed open to reveal a heavily-breathing Faith carrying a stunned Xander over her shoulder. “Good lord!” he rose quickly, his shout or, more likely, the house-shuddering impact of the door being flung open, bringing a concerned looking Tara and Dawn hurrying down the stairs.
“What’s up?” Dawn demanded.
“Big ugly fuc-,” Faith darted a look at Dawn, “fellow with a head made of maggots attacked us. I couldn’t do anything against him, but Xander could for some reason. ‘Least he could until the thing smacked him one on the head.”
Oh no, Giles had to resist the urge to take his glasses off and rub them. This was as the kids would put it, most definitely not of the good. Shaking himself he began to issue orders. “Faith, put Xander on the couch, Tara you whip up one of your herbal remedies to ease the swelling,” he winced at the nasty bruise forming on the side of Xander’s face, “Dawn go and get me,” he struggled for the title, “’Pre-Christian Vampire Myths From Across The World’ from my study.”
“Roger Watcher Boss!” the former Key saluted him before rushing off. He fancied it was a mocking gesture, but he could dream about actually getting some respect. Everybody should have dreams.
“G!” his Slayer spun him round to face her, her coal-black eyes burning through him. “You know what that was don’t you?”
“In a moment Faith,” he replied, his tone tight with the pressure. “Ah,” he smiled at his youngest charge as she hurried back in, book in hand. “Thank you Dawn, most efficient.” Two minutes later he cursed. “Oh bloody knackering bollocks! Bastard!”
He heard Faith swallow. “What’s the sitch G?”
Ignoring the Bostonian’s mangling of both his mother tongue and name, he explained.
* * *
“The oldest recorded civilisation is the Assyrians, some 9,000 years in the past,” Faith reeled at the figures the Watcher was sprouting. Fuck, growing up in Boston she hadn’t expected to live much past the age of twenty, being a Slayer had only shortened that. And G was talking about nine thousand years? “Faith?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“However there is evidence to suggest that the earliest civilisation flourished in what is known as South America some 15,000 years ago. The vampire king of this time, a dark arts sorcerer by the name of Malice grew tired of the continual line of Slayers challenging his reign and created a monster called the Malltac,” Giles paused significantly, “standing seven tall with a head of swarming maggots to destroy Slayers. Exceptionally strong and immune to injury by the Slayer, the beast was undefeatable in battle and killed over 300 Slayers,” Faith felt her stomach hollow, “in two centuries before he was banished by a mighty coven of sorcerers.”
”Well baby,” Faith licked her lips, “he’s back.” This was bad, real bad. “Can
we banish him again?”
“I’m afraid the exiling ritual has been lost. But don’t worry Faith,” Giles’ reassurance rang false. “I’m sure we’ll think out a way to defeat him.”
“Yeah, just like Xander did with the Judge, eh Xander?” Dawn encouraged.
Faith turned to her boyfriend for one of his goofy grins to lift her spirits like they always did. Instead she was confronted by an empty sofa. “What the fuck!”
She’s Gone (14B/?)
Xander hurriedly dialled his cell from memory, remembering the fruitless times he’d rang his ex in the months after she’d gone to ask for another chance. After a dozen rings the phone was picked up by the person he wanted to speak to the least but needed to the most. “Yeah Dea-,” he bit his lip, play nice. “Yeah it’s a pleasure to be speaking to you too. I need your help, well Faith does anyway. But you can’t tell her I’ve rung or she’ll kill me. Yes,” he groaned at the reply. When had Deadboy developed a sense of humour? He supposed you’d have to to work with Cordy. “That’s meant to be an incentive to keep quiet. I’ll be at the Crawford Mansion, yeah your old place. Thanks.” He hung up. Faith was going to skin him alive for this. If the demon didn’t kill him. “That’s what I like about you Harris, always looking on the bright side.”
* * *
“Faith! Calm down!” It was times like this, when confronted by a terrified Slayer who’d already killed in a very similar mood to this that Giles wished he’d done something rather safer for a living. Crash test dummy perhaps.
“Calm down!” the look Faith shot him was murderous even if her intentions weren’t. “Xander’s gone out there to do something heroically stupid and you don’t even care -.”
”SHUT THE BUGGER UP!” Giles roared. Satisfied the Slayer was shocked into
silence, he continued, his tone lower but no less angry. “Never, ever, suggest
I don’t care about any of your welfare again. Do I make myself clear?”
“Sorry,” Faith muttered.
Taking the half-hearted apology as all he’d get, he nodded brusquely. “Xander
is reckless at times but I believe he’s quite safe. The Malltac’s primary and
only food is Slayers. It will only kill humans if they get in the way of its
ultimate prey, namely you. I’m sure Xander will have a sideways plan to defeat
this monster rather than coming at it head on,” he turned to the Wicca. “Tara
can you produce a spell that will mask Faith’s essence from the Malltac? Only
until daybreak, being made by a vampire it can neither enter without invitation
or survive in daylight.” The Wicca nodded. “Thank you.”
“You just want us to sit tight and leave Xander out there?” Faith scowled.
”Faith, by tomorrow night, I’m sure Xander will be back with a fully functioning
plan to work with. Until then, the safest option is wait here.” He groaned as
he noticed something. His car-keys were missing, the bugger had taken his car.
* * *
“You’re sure they’ll come Xander?”
“I’m sure,” Xander nodded at Clem’s question. “Angel’s an obnoxious ass with the personality of cardboard but he’s always cared about Faith.” He smiled at his friend. As soon as he mentioned the threat to Faith, the floppy-eared demon had jumped into the car, declaring that ‘no-body was going to hurt his movie buddy’.
Hearing the sound of a car door opening, Xander peeked out of the window and sighed with relief as he recognised the tall, good-looking man hurrying towards the house, although not the two men and green-skinned demon accompanying him. “Lorne!” Clem rushed out to pick up the, Xander’s eyes widened, Armani-suited demon in a bear hug.
“Oh put me down you big Barry White look-alike!” the green-skinned demon giggled girlishly. Xander blinked. “I see you took my advice then?”
“I did,” Clem nodded enthusiastically. “And you were right!”
“Of course I was,” the other demon nodded. “You find I usually am.”
“What’s all this?” Xander asked, his head swimming with confusion.
“Lorne,” Clem pointed at the demon in case he was in any doubt as to who he was referring, “owns a LA. Club.” Xander raised an eyebrow, he knew that LA was weird, but this? “If you sing for Lorne he advises you on what to do for your future. He told me to come to Sunnydale to end my loneliness.”
“And it worked?”
Clem nodded at Lorne’s question. “Oh yeah, tons. Tara and Dawn are like my little sisters, Xander, Giles, and I play cards together once a fortnight. Although,” Clem pouted, “they won’t play kitty poker.” The saggy-skinned demon’s face brightened. “And on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons, Faith comes round and watches old movies with me!”
“Ah,” Lorne beamed, “another satisfied customer. Shall we Angelcakes?”
Angel shook himself. “Yeah.” Xander grinned, obviously the vampire was stunned at the thought of Faith and Clem being ‘popcorn pals’.
“Who are they?” Xander nodded towards Angel’s human companions as they hurried into the house without invitation, obviously Angel had continued paying rent on the place in case of emergencies. Which was disturbing.
“This is Gunn,” Angel nodded towards the shaven-headed African-American. “And this,” the Irish vampire nodded towards the white guy who looked like a dental commercial escapee, ”is Groo, the champion of his and Lorne’s home dimension. Cordelia got kidnapped and taken there. They made her queen -.”
“A dimension where Cordy was queen, stop it,” he shuddered theatrically. “Now that’s what I call a hell dimension.”
”Do not insult the princess!” the dimensional traveller started towards him but
Angel stepped into his path, muttering something indistinct into the man’s ear.
Princess? Xander raised an eyebrow, he bet Cordy loved him. After a second the
inter-dimensional champion nodded and stepped back.
“I assume you didn’t just invite us here just to insult me?”
“God no,” he shook his head. “That’s what phones are there for.” His face darkened, his heart beginning to clench with fear for his girl-friend. “You heard of the Malltac?”
Angel’s brow furrowed. Finally the Irish demon shook his head. “Heard the name, can’t place it though.”
“Short story, 15,000 years ago a vampire mage created the Malltac specifically to kill the Slayer. Its really strong, has quick arms,” Xander winced, his rapidly swelling face was testimony to that, “but most of all is invulnerable to attacks from a Slayer, they just bounce off it. At the time, mages banished it but the banishing ritual has disappeared. ”
“Sounds like a toughie to me Angelcakes,” Lorne commented.
Xander sniggered, that nickname was just so funny. “But others, non-Slayers,
can injure it. I did, but it beat the shit out of me.”
“Can’t be all bad then.” Angel smirked at him. “So you’re figuring somebody close to a Slayer’s speed and strength might have a chance?”
“Something like that, yeah,” he took a breath. “What do you think?”
“Could work,” Angel nodded. “Especially with Groo’s help, he’s almost my match. One thing, how do you plan to keep Faith from confronting this thing before us?”
* * *
“You want me to do what?” Giles whispered into the phone, deeply conscious of the Slayer in just the other room. “Are you insane? Faith will kill us both!”
“I’m not exactly leaping for joy about this either,” Xander replied, his strained tone showing the stress his surrogate son was under.
“Let’s get this straight,” Giles hissed. “You want me to use my Slayer as a lure in a trap. Then drug her, run off with her and leave you and Angel’s team to fight the Malltac? Do you realise how betrayed she’ll feel?”
“We’ll deal with Faith’s feelings afterwards,” Xander declared. “My concern is keeping her alive.”
“And mine,” Giles sighed. “You do realise our life-spans will be measured in seconds when she awakens?”
Xander chuckled. “Ah, she wouldn’t hurt her Cuddles.”
”Cuddles?” Giles shook his head. “Forget it, I don’t want to know.”
“But you’ll do it?” Xander’s tone had tightened again.
”I’ll do it,” he sighed.
* * *
“You really care about her don’t you?”
Xander looked over his shoulder at the vampire stood behind him as he hung up the phone. “Is this where I get the talk?”
“No talk,” Angel sat down beside him. “You don’t like me and that’s fine. I think you’re a childish buffoon, but I also know you’re loyal, brave, kind, and honest, just the sort of man that Faith’s always deserved but never had. I know you’ll look after her. Anything else,” the demon shrugged, “is down to you two.”
”You know,” Xander started haltingly. “Sometimes she’ll smile at me, not her
usual smirk, but something soft, tender, and I see the girl she should have
been, if she’d had a proper childhood, the one who didn’t think she needed this
armour of toughness to survive the world. And I get so mad….” his voice
trailed off. “Damn it Angel, we’ve only just found one another, I can’t lose
her.”
He was surprised when the vampire squeezed his shoulder. ”You’re not going to.”
* * *
Faith was frustrated and pissed, but more than that she was fucking scared. Xander hadn’t been seen all day. And G, she cast her Watcher a sideways glance as the two of them and Tara patrolled the shadowy graveyard, was way too calm about everything. The crafty old bastard was up to something and she wanted to know what.
And then there was the unshakeable feeling of being followed. She’d doubled-back twice but nothing. Still….. “Oh good lord.”
She swallowed as the Malltac appeared out of the shadows before them. “Hey G,
Slayers are like buses, they’ll be another one in a minute,” she joked even as
she thought about how much she wanted to live. Six months ago she couldn’t have
given a shit, but now… She didn’t want to lose everything she’d -.
A strong voice interrupted her thoughts. “We’ll take it from here Giles.”
Angel, but? Suddenly her mind went blank and she pitched face-first to the ground.
* * *
Xander grimaced as Giles caught his girl-friend, picked her up, and hurried away. Man, she was going to be pissed when she awoke. “I’ll take point,” Angel instructed. “Goo and Gunn flank me. The rest of you stay back.”
Without waiting to see if his orders were obeyed, the Irish demon leapt forward,
sword jabbing towards the Malltac’s gleaming eye only to be met by a thudding
right to the temple that sent him sailing through the air to land in a heap at
Xander’s feet. Xander grinned down at his one-time arch nemesis. “Told you he
could hit.”
“You were right,” Angel grimaced before rising.
As Xander watched the vampire leapt back at the demonic behemoth, ducking under the monster’s flailing arms to thrust his blade deep into the monster’s side while at the same time Groo slammed his blade into the beast’s right hip. The hulk screamed but didn’t go down, although its blood leaked onto the ground. It lashed out wildly, catching Angel on his shoulder but although the ensoulled vampire was knocked back a step he managed to keep his feet. Sensing a potential advantage, the monster lunged at the Irish demon but Groo tackled him, knocking them both to the ground, just beneath its flailing attack.
At that moment Gunn attempted to dip in beneath the creature’s guard. Unfortunately, the former gang-leader didn’t have the speed and reflexes of a demon and was caught with a back-hander that snapped his head back and knocked him to the ground. “Xander!”
”Got him!” Xander acknowledged the vampire’s bellow by dragging the stunned
African-American back from the fight. Noticing that the Malltac now had his
back to a near-by crypt, Xander hurriedly clambered on the resting place’s roof
and drew his sword. Angel looked up at him and nodded in understanding before
slamming a heel into the monster’s mid-section, knocking it back the step Xander
needed for the monster to be right where he wanted it. Instantly his sword
flashed out, tearing through the massive demon’s neck. “Ugh gross!” Any
feeling of victory Xander might have had dissipated instantly when he was
showered by flying maggots. “Ah crap.”
“So,” he looked down to see a grinning Angel looking up at him. “Willy’s to celebrate?”
Xander thought for a second, drinking with Deadboy or going home to face a furious Faith? It wasn’t even a choice. “I’d love to!” He sighed. “I’d better ring the missus first.”
* * *
“It failed! You said it would kill her!”
”Calm down Strawberry,” Rack counselled. “There’s other things we can do.”
* * *
”The Nullifier’s ready General.”
“And it’s been tested?”
His subordinate nodded. “Yes sir. We tested it on a trio of human wiccas, a mage, and a empath, it took their power completely, any human within a 100 miles of it loses any magic they posses.”
“Excellent,” he beamed. The Slayer would just be a helpless little girl, back in her rightful place, prey for his kind. “In that case, tell the troops to ready themselves. We march on the Hellmouth!”
FIC: She’s Gone (15A/?)
“Faith, I did it for your own goo-.”
He took a step back as his girl-friend’s eyes flashed dangerously. Faith shook her head, the motion causing her hair to bounce in what under other circumstances would have been a delightful manner around her face. “I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you Xander. My mom used to say that to me when she was beating my ass around our home; I never want to hear you say that again, you get me?”
Now Xander felt his own temper begin to smoulder. How dare she compare him to her mother? “I get you,” he replied through gritted teeth. This had been going on for a week, the few words they had exchanged had been stormy ones and he was getting damn sick of it.
Faith nodded. “Good,” she looked past him, as if he didn’t exist. “Yo G! I’m going to kick some demon ass, see ya later.”
”I’ll get my coat -.”
“Alone,” after a final glare, the Bostonian was out of the front door.
“Damn it,” Xander grabbed for his coat.
”Don’t son,” Xander looked down to see Giles had taken hold of his wrist. “Give
her some space.”
As stubborn as ever, he shook his head. “I need to explain.”
”Come through for a minute.” After a second he trudged through into the
lounge. “Sit down Xander.” Once he’d sat, Giles began to talk. “Faith was
brought up in an environment we can’t even imagine,” he began to protest, the
Watcher waved him to silence. “Yes I know your childhood was tough, far tougher
than any child should have to endure. But next to Faith…” the Englishman’s
voice trailed off for a second, his eyes growing anguished. “Faith was brought
up to believe she was less than nothing, to be used and abused as others
pleased. Unable to defend herself.” The former librarian paused. “And then
she found she was in fact special, out of millions she was chosen as the bearer
of a great power, something that meant she could defend herself, that she was
important.”
“That’s not the only reason she’s special!”
“No of course not son,” Giles sighed. “I feel we made a big mistake last week.”
“But she would have died otherwise!” Xander protested. He was angry at her now, but he couldn’t imagine facing life without ever hearing her whisper his name, feeling his lips on her neck, or seeing her smile.
Giles shook his head. “You were right to call in Angel and the others, but having me pull Faith out of the fight, that was an error, I should have realised.”
“She couldn’t fight that thing.”
“Xander,” Giles sighed. “By pulling Faith out of that fight we more or less said that we didn’t trust her to fight her own battles, that we thought she was useless, unable to defend herself.”
”That’s rubbish!”
“To us yes,” Giles nodded. “But to someone with Faith’s self-esteem and trust issues…. Faith has a great difficulty accepting help from anybody.” The Watcher patted him on the shoulder. “Faith is hurt by what she sees as your lack of trust,” Xander opened his mouth to protest. “I know son, I know. Give her time, she obviously cares for you very deeply otherwise she wouldn’t be so upset.” Xander looked down at the ground. Why was he such a screw-up? Cordelia, Anya, now Faith. Three, amazing, beautiful women had somehow seen something in him to care about, and each time he’d screwed it up. He was such an idiot.
“Come on,” he looked up at Giles’ gentle tone. “I know what will cheer you, let’s go and find some demons to kill.”
Xander smiled unwillingly. “But what about -.”
“Faith?” Giles shook his head. “I know where she’ll be patrolling. We can avoid her.”
”Great,” Xander rose. “I’ll get my axe.”
* * *
“The troops are in position?”
“Troops stand ready at the hospital, the police station, the media outlets, the port, and all the roads, sir. All we need is your command sir!”
“Excellent, deploy troops now. Once the Bronze is secured, we’ll power up the
Nullifier.”
* * *
Faith shook her head as she strode through the town, eschewing her usual sexy swagger for a more business-like stride, her face set in a thin, determined line. “Bastard,” she muttered, unshed tears burning her eyes. Who the fuck did he think he was anyway? No-one owned her, she wasn’t a fucking toy for him to play with. She’d really thought he was different. “Bastard,” she repeated, her voice breaking slightly.
She stopped when she saw six uniformed demons harassing a couple of teenagers, uniformed? That was different, she’d never seen them in uniforms before. Wicked weird. She chuckled as she drew her sword, her spirits rising. She bet they still died the same though. “Off with their heads.” She hurried across the street, sticking to the shadows so to sneak up on them unaware.
Finally she was behind them. “Hey guys.” Even as the demons turned towards her, her sword flashed out, decapitating the nearest in a shower of blood. “I’m Faith, who am I Slaying today?”
Instead of answering her politely asked question, the five remaining monsters charged her. She raised an eyebrow. “Momma not beat any manners into you?” she asked before launching herself into an Olympic standard somersault that carried her over the heads of the on-rushing monsters to land in a crouch beside the couple the demons had been accosting. She turned to the stunned teens. “What are you waiting for? An instruction manual? Scram!”
Shaking her head, she turned back to the demons. “Who’s next? Group thing or a little one on one?” She raised an eyebrow as all five charged her again. “So group it is then.” She blew them a kiss before raising her sword. “Please be gentle boys. I’ve only got out of the nunnery this morning.”
Chuckling to herself she propelled herself into the air, her two-footed dropkick cannoning into the face of the central demon lifting him off his feet and throwing him into a wire mesh fence some thirty feet away, his face a shattered mess. Upon landing in the centre of the demons, she swung her sword to her left decapitating another before back-flipping out of the way of another’s lunge at her. “Three down,” she smirked at the remaining trio. “Three to -,” her smile withered and disappeared. “What the fuck?”
* * *
Giles watched his surrogate son out of the corner of his eyes, worried at the younger man’s grim demeanour. He was so proud of the way the goofy teen had grown into a successful and respected young man, but his parents had implanted a deep darkness in the youth that meant sometimes he struggled with his moods.
And he worried for the continuation of Xander’s relationship with Faith. The two worked well together, the gorgeous brunette and his good-hearted son, they shared the same sense of humour, had the same sort of burning loyalty, and cared deeply for one another. He’d known long before the two had actually started their relationship that Faith had feelings for his son. Sometimes Xander would enter the shop and Faith’s eyes would brighten for a split-second until he called out Anya’s name and then they’d darken, not with rage, but with sadness and hurt.
Not that Xander had done anything to make Faith feel that the two had a future except treat her with a kindness that no man, apart from Angel, had ever done. Made her feel part of the family, included her in discussions, and outings that were nothing to do with Slaying.
Giles hid a sigh. Something he should have done as her Watcher the first time she was in Sunnydale. His stewardship of Faith the first time had been a complete and utter disaster, consumed with thoughts of Angel’s return and intimidated by her Ripper-like persona, he’d neglected her, contributing to her downfall. Sometimes, thoughts of the young girl he’d failed kept him awake at night, consumed with guilt. But this time was going to be different, Faith was going to be happy, and if that meant locking the pair of them in a vault until they’d worked out their differences then so be it. “Uh Giles?”
He glanced at his companion. “Yes Xander?”
“Since when,” Xander pointed to a quartet of demons heading towards them, “have the uglies come all tailored.”
”Oh bollcocks,” Giles felt the blood drain from his face. It couldn’t be. “Xander-.”
* * *
“Oh no!”
Dawn caught Tara as she stumbled, her friend’s face suddenly pale. “Tara what’s wrong?”
“M..my power, I can’t access it. Something’s blocking
me!” Fear was etched on the Wicca’s face. “We need to-.”
Her friend was interrupted by the sound of the front door splintering open. “Find the Wicca!”
Tara turned to her. “Get out, get help.” She began to shake her head. “Go!” Tara her away. “Find Faith and the others!”
Tears burning her eyes, Dawn slid out through the back window and down the tree that Angel had once used when he came courting her sister. “I’m sorry Tara.”
* * *
Faith looked up at the trio of demons circling her, her blood chilling at the hungry look in their eyes. Why did she feel so weak, why did the sword that she’d carried effortlessly for months now feel so heavy? Where was her speed and strength? What was happening to her?
Gathering her courage, she looked at the three monsters surrounding her. “Back off jackasses or you’ll get the same as they did. Get out of here, and call this a warning.”
For a second she thought her bluff had worked, that they’d bought it. Then a hard right smashed into her face, knocking her back a step into the wall behind her. “Ah the Slayer’s powers gone!” One of the demons gloated. “Now we get to party!”
Faith forced her fear down deep. She might not be a Slayer anymore but she’d always been a fighter and there was no way these bastards were getting her without a fight. She stabbed at one of the demons, the blade slicing through his shoulder, but before she had time to pull her blade back another demon grabbed her wrist and twisted. Pain shot through her arm, causing her weapon to clatter to the ground.
In an instant all three demons were on her, their kicks and punches forcing her to her knees, her body battered and bruised from the pounding. Her heart stopped at one of the monster’s taunts. “Never had a Slayer before boys, what about you?”
“Nope and she’s such a pretty little thing too.”
“No!” Panicked, she tried to rise but they knocked her down again, her head colliding with the ground, blood splattering the gravel beneath her.
”Oh a wriggler, I hope she’s a screamer too.”
* * *
Demons. Xander felt his blood begin to pound. Faith had once told him that the reason she was so into Slaying was that when she was in the fight all the bad stuff going on in her life was relegated to unimportant, all that mattered was the thrill of the kill. And he got that, as a kid when his parents had been getting heavy he’d immersed himself in the fight and had done the same when Buffy had died and Anya left. Maybe it wasn’t the perfect solution or even healthy, but it worked for him.
The demons noted their approach and hurried to meet them. Xander parried a sword thrust on his axe-head before countering with a swing that had his adversary backing away from him. Snarling ferally Xander pressed his advantage, feinting with another swing before reversing his arc and catching his adversary in the forehead with his axe shaft. The stunned demon was helpless to evade a decapitating swing.
Turning, Xander blocked a downward swing on his ax shaft before kicking his adversary in the balls and decapitating him too. Xand spun round to see that Giles was alright. He grinned as he saw his mentor heading towards him only to gasp when the Watcher’s eyes glazed over and he pitched forward. GILES!”