Author's note: Song is Away From Me by Evanescence. Buffy & Angel belong to Joss Whedon. I claim nothing! This is just for fun and entertainment.
I hold my breath as this life starts to take its toll,
I hide behind a smile as this perfect plan unfolds.
But oh, God, I feel I've been lied to
Lost all faith in the things I have achieved
And I
She'll never admit it, what she felt in that moment. She'll convince herself and everyone else that she had distrust already boiling up. Only, secretly, she knows the truth that she felt a bond, a familiarity.
Faith was training in Los Angeles, building up a growing discipline within her that kept her from going over the edge. On one of the darkest nights, Faith spent a few hours running the streets of Los Angeles, Spike and Buffy at her heels. They had decided to trail along to clock in some patrol time. Corner of Beverly Hills Blvd. and some other street, whose sign had long been stolen. That's when Faith felt the presence of strength and overwhelming power. She'll never tell that it wasn't a volatile or evil presence she felt. It was courageous and unattached, holding its own, grasping its life.
Faith paused beside the alley a moment, scanning the darkened pathway. Noticing nothing out of the ordinary, she started running again. Buffy followed suit, yet Spike took the time to glance down the alley after and came upon a limp form resting between two Dumpsters. His head cocked to the side as he gazed down upon the street urchin.
In his eyes, he viewed the filth laying in the trash as a beautiful vision. In his vampiric eyes, he saw something invisible to most, a soul, which couldn't have been possible her being what she was. Dirt and grease matted down hair that was so tainted it had no definite color. Blood and grime painted streaks on her fair skin and oozing gashes rode down her neck and arms.
Spike reached his strong arms down and gently hefted the girl into them. Something broke within him and he felt for her, a feeling only existent for one other person. Buffy.
"Buffy! Slayers! Halt the marathon for a bit. I think I found something."
Buffy and Faith were already pretty far, but they still managed to hear his calling. The two Slayers hauled it back, both glancing, grimacing at the girl limp in Spike's embrace. Spike's eyes darted back the way they had come, towards the direction where the Wolfram & Hart firm stood tall seemingly far in the dark horizon. The Slayers exchanged odd glances then headed off towards the firm, keeping at a slower rate for Spike to keep up.
Captain Peroxide couldn't help but stare at the bundle unconscious in his arms. Could he possibly know her somehow? He could see the things she'd done; yet he forgave her and knew nothing about her. What secrets lay within this child's mind?