I still don't own anything except Celeste. Sorry this one took a little longer but this weekend was very VERY busy! Hope you like it!
Discoveries
Faith froze as Celeste opened the door, greeting the person on the other side warmly. Faith did not even hear the words they exchanged as she sat there, unsure of herself. How could she react to him? Last time she had seen him, she had been working against him, trying to kill him. What would he think of her?
Oz walked in, his eyes resting on Faith almost immediately. She looked away, squirming uncomfortably on the coach. She never could read him. She could tell what everyone else felt except for him. He was a mystery to her.
No, I have to be strong, self-confident. Faith though, reprimanding herself for her weakness. I have to be able to meet his eyes calmly and confidently.
She looked up, meeting his eyes squarely. She pushed all of her doubts away, giving off the air that she was not to be messed with.
"Hey Faith," Oz said as he sat down in a chair, reaching for a bowl in front of him. Pulling out a piece of candy, he raised an eyebrow at Faith. "Chocolate?"
"W-what?" Faith asked, stuttering slightly. Damn it! She cursed, hoping he missed her brief stutter.
He paid no attention to it. "Do you want some chocolate? They're actually really good. Rumor has it that Celeste makes them herself."
"Flatterer," Celeste called out, laughing as she sat down on the chair opposite from Oz. She turned to Faith, a wry smile on her face. "Be careful with this one. He may look innocent on the outside but he's a beast inside."
"Well, in all technicality, that's true," Oz said calmly. "Being up with the werewolf and all."
Celeste shook her head. "One of these days you're going to drive me crazy."
Faith shifted uncomfortably, not used to the easy laughter that flowed between the two. Celeste noticed it immediately and turned to look at her Slayer. "Do you and Oz want to patrol tonight, so you can get reacquainted with the towns 'hot spots'? With the increase in vampire activity, it is best that you start patrolling as soon as possible."
Faith started nodding but stopped suddenly as she heard everything. "Wait, take Wolfboy out on patrol with me? I patrol alone. I don't have time to watch out for other people while I'm fighting."
"Faith, Oz is more than capable of taking care of himself. He's been patrolling for the last couple of weeks while we waited for the final clearance from you," Celeste explained patiently.
Faith looked at him in surprise. He can handle the vamps by himself? Shit, I sure missed a lot while I was in jail.
She didn't let her surprise show though, once again putting her guard back up. "Fine. He can patrol with me. But if he gets himself killed, don't come crying to me about it."
Faith stood up abruptly, hitting the table lightly with her leg. She paid no head to it though as she looked around. "Have a decent place to work out in this place? 'Cause talking like this really isn't my thing."
Celeste nodded. "Yeah, we had an area for you to train all set up in the basement. Just go down the hall and at the very end is door to the basement. There should be plenty for you to do there."
Faith nodded, briskly walking down the hall. "Thanks Cel," she called as she opened the door to the basement and went down, closing the door sharply behind her.
Celeste sighed, turning to Oz. "How do you think it went?"
"I think it went well," he said. "On the plus, she seems completely sane."
"Oz," Celeste scolded softly, "I know you may remember her as slightly…off, but she has changed. From the moment she let herself be put in prison, she has been on the road to recovery. Slayers aren't supposed to be in enclosed places like that for long. They need to be out, doing their work. One reason that I know she really wanted to change was that she lasted in there so long. Other Slayers like her would have gone insane if they weren't serious."
Oz leaned forward, staring at Celeste. "I know. I can tell. She's doesn't have that lost look in her eyes anymore. She even smells different, which is kind of odd."
Celeste smiled. "I think that's the most you've ever said to me while still being serious."
"You need to help her, Oz. She has a connection with you that I can't have with her. You were there for some of her worst moments. And yet, you're not treating her like she's a disease. You're treating her like a human being, which is what she needs right now."
Oz nodded, though he said nothing. For a moment silence passed between, a comfortable silence that passes between two people who both need time to think about situations. Suddenly, a scream shot through the air. Oz and Celeste looked at each other for a moment before the single word passed through her lips.
"Faith."
Both took off running down the hall, hurrying down the basement stairs. Celeste got to the bottom first, looking around wildly for her Slayer. Fear passed through her as Faith was nowhere to be seen. Oz tapped her lightly on the shoulder and indicted for her to follow him. She did so, not questioning him in the slightest. He motioned towards the darkened corner of the room and Celeste walked forward. There, sitting in the shadows, her arms curled tightly around her legs, was Faith.
"Faith," Celeste whispered softly, crouching down in front of her. Faith said nothing, instead staring lifelessly passed Celeste. Celeste laid her hand softly on Faith's shoulder. Faith jumped, suddenly coming back to the present. Her eyes welled with tears, not even caring that she was opening herself up to another person.
"It just appeared," Faith whispered. "I didn't do it. I didn't want it! It just appeared and she was here. And it was just like my dream."
"What appeared Faith? Who was here?" Celeste asked. Faith just shook her head, looking away from her Watcher. Celeste gently pushed her head back up. "Please tell me, Faith. Please trust me."
Faith was silent for a moment before pointing towards the punching bag on the other side of the room. Celeste glanced over for a moment and watched as Oz slowly picked a jagged knife off the ground. He stared at it for a moment, his face passive.
"I was training and suddenly, she was there," Faith whispered hoarsely. "She smiled at me, a cold, twisted smile, before pulling out the knife. The same damn knife. I thought that thing was gone. Shit, I didn't want to see it again – I couldn't see it again."
"And then she attacked me. I didn't even think – I just defended myself. She kept trying to stab me, screaming at me, telling me I was useless. And then…then I pushed her back and…I grabbed it."
Tears were streaming down her cheek as Faith stared at the knife. "I stabbed her. I fuckin' stabbed her. But she didn't die. She just laughed. She told me that's just how I was. A murderer. A killer. That's all I am – that's who I am."
Words were forgotten as she sobbed, pulling her legs tighter to her chest. Celeste pulled her forward, hugging her. Faith gave into the hug, sobbing against her shoulder. All of her pain, all of her fears were released as she cried.
As her sobs slowly began to subside, she started to pull away, to close herself. But Celeste kept a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Faith, listen to me. That is not who you are. You are a strong, emotional woman who lost control. You made mistakes but you're willing to fix them. Do you know have brave that is? Do you know how very few people do that? You have to remember who you are – not what you did."
"I don't know who I am," Faith admitted quietly, staring down at the ground. "I don't remember that girl anymore. And I don't think I can."
"We'll help you," Oz said unexpectedly, causing both to jump up and look at him. "I know what it's like, to not know who you are. I've been through it. I lost a person that I love because of it. But you can find who you are. It'll be hard but you can do it."
"Thank you," Faith said a small smile on her face. "Thank you Oz."
He nodded. "Hey, no problem."
Celeste smiled at both of them, slowly standing up. "Do you want to train some more Faith? Or do you want to take a break?"
"I want to train more," Faith said, slowly getting up on slightly shaking legs. "It's been so fuckin' long since I could work out like this. Don't wanna miss some chance just because of some bad dreams."
"It's not dreams, Faith," Celeste said seriously. "That's the Hellmouth at work. It's trying to scare you away, trying to destroy you. You have to be careful."
"It takes more than just a few visions to destroy me."
Celeste nodded and Faith started walking back over to the punching bag before freezing. She turned around, confusion on her face. "Wait – Oz is going out with me tonight? To patrol?"
"Yes," Celeste said, surprised by the sudden question.
"But there's a full moon. Isn't he going to go all WolfBoy on me?"
Celeste and Oz shared a smile before turning back to Faith. "Sounds like we have a story for you."