Xander

"Sure thing, Buff."

Like always, he agrees without a question.

It is his puppy-dog loyalty and compassion that - they believe - is the reason for his agreement.

He'd be too ashamed to admit that it's only because he has other things on his mind.

One other thing.

One other person.

Maybe two, but only because he somehow got someone else involved in his misery.

He wonders if he likes it better that way.

Flashback

The door opens.

"H-hey, Faith! Just here to talk. You know, cause you look like you've been down and thought you could use a friend...or something."

He doesn't know why he's here.

The last time he tried this it ended not so well.

But then again, he's here for a different reason now.

He doesn't have anyone to save this time around.

Only himself.

(Faith figured they all just have some sort of hero complex and decided to take it out on a spin...on her. Or pretend to, at least.)

"Well I've been better, but come on in."

She's nicer.

Friendlier.

Definitely less hostile.

"Nice place."

It's so bare, so empty, it makes him want to fidget.

"Better than most places." She's speaking from experience.

Then he looks her shyly in the eyes and she must see something she's seen before because she pulls him in passive aggressively and kisses him.

"I want orgasms. Lots of them. Now." Anya (Faith) demands in a low voice, and he suddenly feels her there.

The clothes are quickly but gently removed; the sex isn't vanilla, but there is no kink.

Anya (Faith) loves him until the dawn breaks, because he needs it so much.

It becomes Xander's never-ending closure.

"An..." He moans.

But she says nothing.

The ex-vengeance demon (Slayer) only kisses him deeper and show him her undying need for orgasms.

And when he's the one on top, he leans in to whisper the special little secrets they shared.

(All the secrets that sometimes made Faith want to be sick and cry. All the secrets she would never share with anyone.)

Xander promises her the world.

Anya (Faith) promises him her loyalty.

(Because at least that wasn't a lie.)

"Did you know...?" He asks in fear.

"I knew. I know." She murmurs back.

"She..."

And Anya (Faith) pauses.

"...I...always loved you."

And once he falls asleep he lets her lay her head against his arm and he lies on his side to look into her eyes, seeing only light.

When the spell is broken, he half waits for her to toss him from the window.

What he doesn't realize at first is that Anya (Faith) will never throw him out holding his clothes.

Because Anya (Faith) is who she is.