Note: This is an AU. It starts a few years after season 4. Riley stays in
Sunnydale, but the whole him being a vamp snack still happened(for the sole
purpose of me being able to have Xander call him "Pin Cushion" or some such
thing). The body switching did not happen but Faith did attempt to screw up
peoples lives. More to come as follows in my sinister brain.
Watching the scenery go by, Faith sighed. Over the last three weeks so much had happened. She had been released from prison for good behavior and had joined Angel Investigations. During that time she had tried to fit in with Wesley and Cordelia. For their parts, they had returned the effort. The problem was that there had been too much blood spilled, figuratively speaking. After talking with Angel, they had both agreed that a change of location might be the best thing. A place she could start over, a place where no one knew the crimes she had committed. And, a place without the Scooby Gang. A day didn't go by that either Buffy or Willow didn't take time out of their `busy' schedules to call Faith and remind her what a screw-up she was. And when she had called Giles to tell him how sorry she was, he had hung up on her. Suprisingly, Xander had been a saint. Not only now but before. While she had been in prison, he would come up to L.A to visit her. He told her that he understood that she had latched on to a father figure, much like he had with Giles. He also told her that, if she was willing, he would Like to be her friend. She had jumped at the chance. He had even volunteered to take time off and drive her somewhere. He told her that all a person needs sometimes is a little push to start on the right path Which was why they were on there way to Texas. She figured that Texas was far enough from California to start anew. Through all the twists and turns of her life, Faith always held a great love for heat. Turning to Xander, Faith said for the thousandth time "Thanks again Xand. I can't believe that you would be so nice to me after all I did to you."
"Faith, I told you before, it's no problem. You needed help and I'm always willing to help."
Faith smiled.
"Everyone should have a friend like you."
Xander looked sarcastically pained.
"I know. Yet few are exposed to the utter brilliance that is me."
Laughing, Faith slugged Xander in the shoulder.
"You are one of a kind. Thankfully."
And the rest of the trip was filled with much laughter and mirth.
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"It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive...."
While K's Choice's "Addict" played over the system, Faith danced on the stage. While she moved her body to the music, her mind was elsewhere. When she opened her top to reveal her breasts, her mind was on how the more things change the more they stayed the same.
After arriving in a little town near Dallas, she had immediately sought out an apartment. She still had some money in the account that Wilkins had set up for her. She found a place cheap. All it had was a bed and a bathroom, but it was close to the library. Unknown to everyone, Faith had a great love of books. Unfortunately, finding a job was not as easy. Having no marketable skills(slaying is not exactly a plus on resumes), she had gone with what she knew.
Stripping. Which was why she was dancing at the Crazy Ass. It was a relatively upscale club but it was still a strip joint. However, at least that was all she did. No more sleeping around. Faith was trying to turn her life around. By pulling her own weight she felt like she was improving her life. The dancing was only temporary. Maybe she'd take her G.E.D and take some college courses.
As her set finished, Faith left the stage. Going to the back, she held her head high.
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As Faith left the Crazy Ass a shadow followed her from the roofs of the neighboring buildings. He knew she sensed him but she could never find him. Ian was good at staying hidden. Every night when her shift was over he would follow her to make sure she got home safely. He had been doing so for the past few weeks. Ever since he had first seen her.
After rescuing Susie he had decided to see the country on foot. It was his way of unwinding. He would walk the land, mingle with the people, and forget that he was trained to kill. He might return to being a hunter of evil when his nightmares went away again. Though, maybe not.
He had been in the Crazy Ass talking business with a potential client. As he got up to leave he had decided that he really needed to retire from taking contracts from people he didn't know and trust. People in the underworld really sucked. As he was walking out he looked at the stage. What he saw made him, Ian MacCloud, former assassin and one of the most feared beings in the underworld, walk straight into a wall. After shaking himself his eyes returned to the stage. From that point until she disappeared he barely blinked.
She was so beautiful, so lithe, so graceful. And so vulnerable. He had seen it in her eyes. While she was probably younger than his 27 years she had the eyes of someone like him. Someone who had seen far too much of what the world was really like. He had met other girls like her. Abused at some point by people she should be able to trust, probably preyed upon by anyone who saw her vulnerability, they turned in upon themselves, not believing those that put their hand out will not hurt them.
But there was something different about this girl. So far she had taken what life had thrown at her and had not been beaten by it. Hurt yes, handicapped maybe, but never beaten. This one might not even know how to give up. All anyone ever wants is to feel safe. It is one of the most basic needs. If safety is torn away at an early age it can take a great deal of effort to
restore it in adulthood. Ian had a feeling that this one may be worth it. He couldn't explain why, but he had almost a need to protect this girl. He had learned a while ago to trust his hunches.
When he saw her enter her door, he turned around to return to his own room. He grinned. Soon, the raven haired girl would feel safe again. Even if he had to kill everyone who had hurt her, she would be happy.
Watching the scenery go by, Faith sighed. Over the last three weeks so much had happened. She had been released from prison for good behavior and had joined Angel Investigations. During that time she had tried to fit in with Wesley and Cordelia. For their parts, they had returned the effort. The problem was that there had been too much blood spilled, figuratively speaking. After talking with Angel, they had both agreed that a change of location might be the best thing. A place she could start over, a place where no one knew the crimes she had committed. And, a place without the Scooby Gang. A day didn't go by that either Buffy or Willow didn't take time out of their `busy' schedules to call Faith and remind her what a screw-up she was. And when she had called Giles to tell him how sorry she was, he had hung up on her. Suprisingly, Xander had been a saint. Not only now but before. While she had been in prison, he would come up to L.A to visit her. He told her that he understood that she had latched on to a father figure, much like he had with Giles. He also told her that, if she was willing, he would Like to be her friend. She had jumped at the chance. He had even volunteered to take time off and drive her somewhere. He told her that all a person needs sometimes is a little push to start on the right path Which was why they were on there way to Texas. She figured that Texas was far enough from California to start anew. Through all the twists and turns of her life, Faith always held a great love for heat. Turning to Xander, Faith said for the thousandth time "Thanks again Xand. I can't believe that you would be so nice to me after all I did to you."
"Faith, I told you before, it's no problem. You needed help and I'm always willing to help."
Faith smiled.
"Everyone should have a friend like you."
Xander looked sarcastically pained.
"I know. Yet few are exposed to the utter brilliance that is me."
Laughing, Faith slugged Xander in the shoulder.
"You are one of a kind. Thankfully."
And the rest of the trip was filled with much laughter and mirth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
"It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive...."
While K's Choice's "Addict" played over the system, Faith danced on the stage. While she moved her body to the music, her mind was elsewhere. When she opened her top to reveal her breasts, her mind was on how the more things change the more they stayed the same.
After arriving in a little town near Dallas, she had immediately sought out an apartment. She still had some money in the account that Wilkins had set up for her. She found a place cheap. All it had was a bed and a bathroom, but it was close to the library. Unknown to everyone, Faith had a great love of books. Unfortunately, finding a job was not as easy. Having no marketable skills(slaying is not exactly a plus on resumes), she had gone with what she knew.
Stripping. Which was why she was dancing at the Crazy Ass. It was a relatively upscale club but it was still a strip joint. However, at least that was all she did. No more sleeping around. Faith was trying to turn her life around. By pulling her own weight she felt like she was improving her life. The dancing was only temporary. Maybe she'd take her G.E.D and take some college courses.
As her set finished, Faith left the stage. Going to the back, she held her head high.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
As Faith left the Crazy Ass a shadow followed her from the roofs of the neighboring buildings. He knew she sensed him but she could never find him. Ian was good at staying hidden. Every night when her shift was over he would follow her to make sure she got home safely. He had been doing so for the past few weeks. Ever since he had first seen her.
After rescuing Susie he had decided to see the country on foot. It was his way of unwinding. He would walk the land, mingle with the people, and forget that he was trained to kill. He might return to being a hunter of evil when his nightmares went away again. Though, maybe not.
He had been in the Crazy Ass talking business with a potential client. As he got up to leave he had decided that he really needed to retire from taking contracts from people he didn't know and trust. People in the underworld really sucked. As he was walking out he looked at the stage. What he saw made him, Ian MacCloud, former assassin and one of the most feared beings in the underworld, walk straight into a wall. After shaking himself his eyes returned to the stage. From that point until she disappeared he barely blinked.
She was so beautiful, so lithe, so graceful. And so vulnerable. He had seen it in her eyes. While she was probably younger than his 27 years she had the eyes of someone like him. Someone who had seen far too much of what the world was really like. He had met other girls like her. Abused at some point by people she should be able to trust, probably preyed upon by anyone who saw her vulnerability, they turned in upon themselves, not believing those that put their hand out will not hurt them.
But there was something different about this girl. So far she had taken what life had thrown at her and had not been beaten by it. Hurt yes, handicapped maybe, but never beaten. This one might not even know how to give up. All anyone ever wants is to feel safe. It is one of the most basic needs. If safety is torn away at an early age it can take a great deal of effort to
restore it in adulthood. Ian had a feeling that this one may be worth it. He couldn't explain why, but he had almost a need to protect this girl. He had learned a while ago to trust his hunches.
When he saw her enter her door, he turned around to return to his own room. He grinned. Soon, the raven haired girl would feel safe again. Even if he had to kill everyone who had hurt her, she would be happy.