I decided to add two chapters, to make up for the last couple days. And what with all the reviews, I think you guys deserve it. Just keep them coming. I love getting feedback.
Narrative
She's got to be in here.
Kennedy had been into 4 different bars already. She was getting cold and extremely irritated. But she resolutely went on, following her senses, trying to reach out for her superior Slayer. She stepped into the bar and in five minutes stepped right back out.
So she was here 10 minutes ago. Damn. Where the fuck is she?
Sighing, she kept walking. She wished she was in more comfortable clothes than her dancing attire. It was all about impressing her girlfriend, but now she was pissed off at her. What right did any of the Scooby Gang have to throw things into Faith's face like that? It didn't make any sense to her. She'd heard about the things the Rogue Slayer had done and at first she had been angry and upset, ready to fight her for all her mistakes. But after she'd met her, she realized something.
She's just like me.
It was a bit of a shock, really. To meet the "big, bad Faith" and instead of an evil, malicious woman, she saw only someone who'd been through enough of life as it was. Kennedy was almost as good of a reader as Faith was, and immediately felt the vibes of hard living.
It wasn't a pretense that Faith put up. She was harsh, raw, and completely real. It scared most of the other Potentials, but only drew Kennedy in. She was shocked and angered by the way their trainers treated their newest ally. Suspicious glares, excluded meetings, forced assignments...like she was some kind of untrained, wild dog that should've been put down years ago.
She asked about it nonchalantly to Willow, and felt a twinge of resentment when she got her answer.
"Oh, Ken. It's just...we don't really trust that she's not evil still. We all have to watch ourselves around her."
"So you just don't trust her?"
"Well...well. Yea, basically."
"So why'd you ask her to come?"
"We need all the help we can get."
"Oh."
"Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering. She seems pretty cool, and most of you guys kind of...treat her weird."
"Well she deserves it."
"But she's done a lot for us. Helped us out a lot..."
"Doesn't make up for the things she's done. At all."
"So where does forgiveness come in?"
"It doesn't."
She left it off. She didn't want to risk seriously freaking out on Willow. The anger had started then. It was pity at first, and now it reached full-fledged rage at the people who couldn't forgive Faith when she had been nothing but good to them. Especially to the girls. To the Potentials. She'd taken the time to know them, to train with them, to learn their names and who they were as people. She knew that they were human, and not just tools. She took them out to club and dance and have fun. She was honest with them, and knew the score. And Buffy was surprised? What an idiot.
She didn't care. She was gonna find Faith, and let her know at least one person gave a shit. Even if it meant wandering around L.A. at night in club clothes.
Kennedy's POV
Uh. Tingle tingle tingle. Something is tickling at my senses, and I just happen to know it isn't Faith. Damnit. These things always happen. 2 vamps. Okay, I think I can handle this on my own. I'm starting to feel good. This is what Faith meant when she said Slaying's just a way to let loose. I relax my muscles and get into fighting stance while they circle me, eyeing me slowly.
"Dangerous time to be out and alone." One of them growls. I roll my eyes. Males, human beings or not, just do not know how to do the "menacing thing" without saying something as cliche as that. At least the other one stays silent.
"Well I'm not alone anymore, now am I?" I say sarcastically. He lunges. I block his punch and palm strike up his nose bridge.
Crack.
Oh yea. This is what I'm talking about. As he falls back, I turn for the other one. But all I see is a cloud of dust. I hear another poof, and I turn back around and there she is, stake already being put away. As I'm thinking I should get one of my own, I feel kinda bummed. I wanted some kills of my own. I was in the mood for it, but oh well.
"You should learn how to track people more carefully." She says, taking a drag on a Marlboro. She curls her upper lip in a bit of a snarl; she's a Camels fan, but I guess that's all she's got at the moment. She holds out the pack, offering me one. I take it. Might as well.
"What do you mean? I found you, didn't I?" I reply casually as we both take a seat against a fence. Yep. These clothes are fucked.
"Or did I find you? For a second I thought it was Buffy, but something screamed, 'I-don't-have-a-stick-up-my-ass'. Plus, you and me, we've got similar enough energy to be able to tell." She's laughing and I can smell liquor on her breath. Hmm. Seems sober enough, but maybe she just holds her alcohol real well. Makes me want some.
"Yea. That's so not my style. I'm not particularly fond of having things shoved up my ass." I regret it as soon as I say it. Her eyebrows goes up and she winks at me.
"Well shit, I guess I'll have to let Red know about that little sex tip. How much you think it's worth?" She chuckles when I throw a pebble at her head.
"Fuck you." I say giggling.
"Yes, please." Her dimples show and I feel like we're closer than we were before. There's no serious conversation. Just two people talking, joking, relaxed. No distrust, and no need to impress.
"So what'd you follow after me for?" She throws the butt of her cigarette away and takes another one out. I don't blame her. Chain-smoking helps calm the nerves when things are ridiculously stressful. As it is for her 24/7, it seems.
"I don't know. The way they were treating you pissed me off. Had a thought in my head that I would find you and bring you back. Something like that." I mutter. I take my fourth drag. Blegh. I can see why she doesn't like the brand. Too dry. I throw it away. She looks thoughtfully into the dark.
"Yea. I don't mind so much anymore. A drink or two helps lighten the mood. I think it's about time to run, anyways." I frown. I didn't want her to leave.
"I don't want you to leave."
"I know." She saw the frown, I guess.
"It's always Buffy, Buffy, Buffy! Everyone treats her like she's god, and treats you like shit. How can you stand it?" Blowing the perfect smoke ring, she tilts her head to look at me. Her hair falls a little over her face.
"I don't know, Ken. When I first got to Sunnydale, it wasn't so big of a deal. I grew up being treated like shit. Normal, you know? The only reason I noticed at all was cause of my first Watcher, man. She was so good to me. It was different. With the Scoobies, it was the same deal again. Just stick around til you're needed...then there was the Mayor." Her voice choked but she swallowed it down.
"Good old Boss..." Her voice has a slight tremor. I pretend I don't hear it.
I'd heard the story. And I heard even more about it tonight, when we all felt her heart cry out for the man that she adored. The father she'd never had. I don't blame her at all. I'd probably have done the same thing, actually. It isn't fair that she got all the rough deals. And that the rest of them didn't, but expected her to be like them. It isn't fair that she's been working so hard to make up for her mistakes, and is never forgiven. And all the while, Buffy makes a mistake and it's completely forgiven the minute she does one right thing. Faith's made mistakes. But she's done so many other good things, that it doesn't make sense at all.
It isn't fair. It just isn't.
"No, it's not fair. But I live with it. I have to." She murmurs, as if she'd read my mind. Well. Not as if. I think she did.
"No you don't, look at all the good things you've done! You've reformed, and you've helped us so much-"
"Fuck it, Kennedy! I'm a killer! I've killed and nobody trusts me! And of course not! Why would anybody trust me?!" She's gritting her teeth so hard I'm afraid her jaw will break. I say nothing, and neither does she. I feel her guilt. Her remorse. I'm angry again. Of course she's feeling this way. How could she not? Nobody's given her the chance to be forgiven. Nobody's helping her get the weight off her shoulders. At least, not the people who can help her. I sigh, frustrated.
"I trust you, Faith." I say suddenly. She says nothing.
"I trust you more than I'd trust anybody else in the group." Her eyes are closed, but she asks.
"Even more than Red?" I know she's expecting me to eat my words. But I shake my head, even if she can't see.
"I'm gonna state the obvious and tell you that I love her. But you're someone I'd trust everything with. And sometimes, I can't do that with Willow." And I mean it. There are just some things you can't share with your partners. Besides, I know she trusts Buffy way more than she does me. I think I'm allowed to have a confidant of my own.
"Thanks, Ken. You're a good kid." Her voice is low and hoarse. I don't like being called a kid, because I'm not, but I know what she means, and it doesn't bother me. I put my hand on her knee, and the corner of her lips lift up slightly. She slides over and lets me lean my head on her shoulders. Friendship. I hope she knows now that she's got me to back her up, through the hard times. I wonder what she's thinking about, and I wonder if she's gonna leave.
I yawn, I'm so damn tired. It must be worse for her, I think. She crosses her legs and motions for me to lie down. I protest. She needs more sleep than I do. After a good 5 minutes of quarreling, she snaps.
"Kennedy, stop arguing and get some fucking sleep. I'll wake you up when I'm done thinking." I grumble noisily but I'm grateful for the pillow. I'm already half asleep when I feel her moving.
"Stupid kid. Fucking negative degrees outside and not even wearing a damn jacket." I feel the warmth of her jacket engulf me and I want to thank her, but I'm gone before I can say a word.