A/N: Angel didn't take over Wolfram & Hart in this fandom.
Vampsdread 4
Ethan Rayne threw his book to the floor and kicked it across the threadbare carpet. "It has to be somewhere!" he fumed as he searched through his cluttered desk. For five years he'd watched as his old companion Ripper had risen in power while he'd been forced to toil in obscurity, hiding from the U.S. government. Not anymore, in just a few days he would have a very suitable revenge.
His eyes lightened as he spied a pocket-sized red book. 'Curses Through The Ages'. "Just the bloody thing!" Snatching up the book he began rifling through its yellowed papers, a grin spreading across his face. He glanced up at the shelves stacked across the damp wall, his eyes searching for the required ingredients, grabbing a couple of packets and a bottle he threw them into a glass flask creating a bubbling, greyish gas with a pungent stench that filled the room. "That should do it," he muttered before hastily drawing a drawing a pentagram in yellow chalk on the floor. Finally finished he started reading out an incantation in a pre-human language.
He'd barely finished when a shimmering pulsing red portal opened up and a trio of figures strode through into his living room. His face paled. "Oh bloody hell. That wasn't supposed to happen."
The mage's eyes bulged when the largest of the three figures raced forward and grabbed him around the throat. He opened his mouth to grovel and plea for his lives but his words were cut off when his attacker reached out a scaled hand and tore his head off.
* * *
Faith stretched sinuously before staring at the man snoozing on the chair beside her bed. Damn she bet sitting in that chair all night would be murder on a guy's back but Xander wouldn't have dreamed trying to use that as an excuse to get in bed with her. "Still acting the gent after all these years, Xman?" she muttered with a smile before reaching across and gently shaking the man's shoulder, "hi Xand."
After a few seconds the man's eye flickered open and he smiled crookedly. "Morning Faith."
"You often drool onto your collar Xand?" she asked with a grin.
"Only when I'm sleeping in a room with you Faith."
Faith's eyes widened in delight. "Smooth Xand, very smooth. Don't remember you being so James Bond back in the day, more Austin Powers."
"Do I make you horny baby?"
Faith roared with laughter. "Hate to burst your bubble, not hardly XMan!"
Xander sighed theatrically. "I'm crushed."
"You packing for the flight to England?" she asked hopefully.
She was disappointed when Xander's face tightened and paled. "I can't Faith," his voice shook slightly.
Hating the pain in her friend's face she reached out and squeezed his arm. "Why Xand? They all miss you like crazy."
Her friend turned away from her. "I know Faith, but there's a part of me that's scared."
"Scared, that doesn't sound like the Xander Harris I know," she replied softly.
"That Xander Harris died in the ruins of Sunnydale."
The man started to rise but she blocked his way. "Xander honey, you can't bottle things up. Talk to me."
"No Faith," Xander shook his head, "now get out of my way."
She began to shake her head but the man rose and attempted to push past her. Reacting instinctively, she snatched at his arm, grabbing at his wrist and twisting, sending the man falling onto the bed. Instantly she was on top of him pinning him to the bed, a grin on her face. "Come on Xand, talk."
"Or what? Will you try and strangle me again?"
Faith felt the air leave her lungs at the man's coldly delivered words. All at once she was back in that grimy hotel room, a room not unlike the room they were in now, crouching over Xander, taunting him about his helplessness even as she got off on his fear. "Fine," she got to her shaky feet, her stomach hollowing out in pain, "you don't want to talk, you don't have to." Turning she made for the bathroom, her face carefully held blank to avoid her hurt from showing.
"Damn it," she heard Xander mutter, felt his hand on her shoulder spinning her round to face his remorseful expression. "Faith I'm sorry. It freaked me out when you jumped on me. Please, if you'll just sit down I'll tell you."
"I understand you not trusting me, it's not like I ever gave you a reason to," Faith glanced towards the room's muddy grey carpet.
"I do trust you," Xander swallowed, "if I didn't I wouldn't tell you what I did. I wouldn't dare."
Faith looked up. This sounded interesting. "Okay," she followed the man back to the bed and sat down.
After a few seconds Xander began to speak. "Last night, before we met, I'd just come back from destroying a demon brothel."
Her mouth dropped open as she made the connection. "The slavery ring on TV?"
Her companion nodded. "The owner was a human. I stuck a knife in his groin and dragged it up to his stomach, then shot him in his elbows and knees before blowing his brains out, just after sending a twelve year girl he was selling to a demon out of the room."
Faith forced back the urge to puke. "I'm not gonna lie to you, that's pretty heavy shit Xand. But you've got to remember that kid and all the other girls you saved. Courts wouldn't have done shit with him, some slimly law firm like Wolfram & Hart would have -." Her voice trailed off. "Xand, it wasn't you?"
"Who bombed Wolfram & Hart? Yeah, I heard about them trying to assassinate Cordy, I knew Deadboy would protect her but not go after them directly. I don't have his scruples." Her friend stared at the wall opposite. "I've killed plenty of human scum over the past few years - warlocks, corrupt lawyers, drug dealers, assassins, that sort of thing. I think I've done the right thing, but I never thought I'd be confronted by any of you again," Xander turned towards her, pain written large across his face, "I've always tried to do what I believed in but I'm scared of seeing the disgust in Buff and Will's faces, disappointment in G-Man's, and Dawn being frightened of me."
"Xand that's just dumb. They forgave me and I killed innocents, all they want is their Xman back. They still love you," Faith bit her bottom lip, just saying the word made her nervous, afraid of being laughed at, "we all do."
Xander seemed to miss her admission. "Maybe," the man shook his head, "but I'm not the joker they remember. I've changed. Faith, they might hate me."
"Never happen," Faith replied. She smiled slightly as an idea occurred to her, maybe by talking about them she could tempt him into coming back. "I suppose you want to know how everybody's doing?"
Xander nodded. "That'd be good."
"G's the head of the Council now. He's doing a wicked job too. Changed the training, made the Watcher-Slayer relationship more informal than the old shit, plus each Slayer gets a Wicca, and a fighter to back 'em up. Slayers are lasting way longer."
"Wicca and fighter?" a smile flickered across Xander's face. "Sounds familiar."
"Yeah," Faith grinned in reply, "just a shame there's a shortage of werewolves, cheerleaders, and psychos. B runs the potential training now. Been retired from active Slaying for two years now. Red runs the Occult Research Division, oh, and she's got a three year old daughter, Alexandria."
"So she's swapped back to guys again?" despite his jokey tone Faith saw Xander furtively wipe at his eyes at the mention of Alexandria.
"No, she used some sort of fertility spell, don't ask, don't know don't wanna. She's still with Kennedy," Faith was unable to keep the disdain out of her voice.
"You don't like her?"
"First birthday after you disappeared Red was upset and had an argument with Kennedy. I was walking past her when I heard her talking to a potential, saying she didn't know what the big deal was over that loser Harris. I lost it and kicked her ass around three floors of Watcher Keep 'til B arrived and stopped me. When I told her what Ken had been saying, B took over laying the smack down. Then G turned up, stopped us, found out what Ken had said. Man, for a stuffy English guy he can swear. I was taking notes!"
"I always thought Kennedy was uppity, I tried to like her for Willow but, probably something to do with being born into money. What about the Dawnster?"
"Pip's a Watcher In Training."
"What!" Xander eyes widened in shock. "And Buff let her!"
"Pip's got a mind of her own, Xand. You probably know about Wes being the head of Watcher West," at her friend's nod she continued, "Red's managed to anchor Angel's soul permanently so he's five by five, still running the agency fighting the good fight. Queen C got hitched to Angel's best bud Gunn."
"And what about you Faith? Way I heard it Slayers can retire when they hit 24, and you'll be what 25-26 now?"
She shrugged uncomfortably and glanced down at the floor. "Slaying's the only thing that makes me special."
The man's hands gently gripped her face, pulling her up to look into his one eye. That's crap Faith. There's plenty that's special about you - your heart, sense of humour, and bravery for starters."
She smiled at the praise. "Thanks Xand." "No problem. What about you, you and the principal still getting pelvic?"
"N..no. We broke up twenty months ago," and three weeks and two days but who's counting? Unwilling to allow Xander to see the pain on her face she glanced away.
"He hurt you?"
Her head snapped round at Xander's growl. Her blood froze at the primal fury in his eye. God, she licked her lips nervously, Xand had turned into a seriously scary guy. Reaching out tentatively she took her companion's hand. "Wood hurt me? No, we just wanted diff stuff. He wanted me to retire and start a family but," Faith paused, "I knew I'd be crap at it."
Her friend's face relaxed. "Gotta side with Wood on this one, Faith. You'd make a great mom, after your's you know what to do, you've got a good heart and plenty of love to give. Buff and Dawnie would love being aunts and I can just see G-Man with a brood of grand-kids. Any chance you can get back together?"
"No," she shook her head, it still hurt to talk about it. "He got engaged six months ago to a Watcher, she's three months pregnant now."
Her friend hugged her. "His loss Faith," he whispered in her ear, "I bet the queue's round the block for you."
Faith smiled at the compliment. "Only trouble is nobody matches up to the guys I hang with. Girl's got high standards now."
"And that's what you deserve. Say I've got an idea - Andrew. If anyone can turn him hetro it's you," her friend chuckled and stood, "so you want go spar?"
She smiled brightly. "Sounds like a plan Xand." Boytoy you're going to pay for that remark, she silently vowed.
* * *
Xander's breath caught as the Slayer walked through the gym door dressed only in a matching black sports bra and cotton shorts. All activity in the busy gym stopped as every male and most females turned towards her. He watched as she brushed aside a couple of advances while making her way through the free weights area and onto the practice mats. He shook his head in admiration. "You still know how to make an entrance."
"Why thank you kind sah," the brunette purred as she took up position opposite him. The Slayer winked at him. "See anything you like?"
"Oh yeah." God he'd forgotten how beautiful she was. He grimaced as he noted the gathering crowd, drawn by his companion's looks and magnetism. Great, a mob to watch his humiliation. "Ready?"
Faith smiled crookedly. "Don't hold back."
"Oh I won't." Racing forward he feinted with a drop of his left shoulder before delivering a right palm strike to his adversary's chest. Faith grunted slightly before unleashing a kick at his ribs that he caught at the ankle. Before the brunette had chance to pull loose, he swept away her grounded foot, sending her plummeting to the ground only for Faith to somehow twist in mid-air and land on her feet eliciting a round of scattered applause from their onlookers.
"Seems like somebody got some fans," Xander commented.
Faith shrugged. "What's a girl to do? Wherever I go crowds follow."
"Yeah you're like the fifth Beatle." He lunged forward, striking with a right cross as he did so. The Slayer grabbed his arm at the wrist and jerked, pulling him toward her. He allowed himself to be propelled towards the Slayer, waiting until he was in range before snapping out a left hook that exploded against the brunette's right temple staggering her and forcing her to release her grip on his arm. Immediately he followed up with a right hook that the brunette slid beneath before hooking him in the ribs.
Xander grunted as the air left his lungs and he stumbled backwards. "Memo to self, avoid being hit by a Slayer," he muttered. God, he'd forgotten how strong one of them was.
"That left hook was pretty smooth Xand," Faith praised as she stalked him. "How about a little wager?"
He pushed aside the crowd's excited mutterings to concentrate on his adversary, watching her eyes for any narrowing that would indicate an attack. "What do you have in mind?"
"Loser buys dinner at restaurant of winner's choice," Faith chuckled, "I don't fancy eating at Wendy's Whoppers."
"You know me so well," he arched an eyebrow, "but after this I doubt I'll be in any condition for dinner tonight."
"Who said anything about tonight?"
"Why not then?" Stepping forward he flicked out a left heel kick to the knee which Faith effortlessly sidestepped only to walk into the right elbow to the side of her head. Her smile still firmly in place, she retaliated with a pair of lightning-fast body shots that had him groaning and retreating just out of reach of the brunette's follow-up right cross.
After a second he managed to straighten. A deathly hush had fallen over the crowd. "Any time you wanna call it quits X-Man," the Slayer offered.
Ignoring the pain he forced a grin. "Quits? I've not even warmed up yet. Bring it on."
"You crazy bastard," Faith shrugged, "I've always been known as accommodating." The Slayer surged towards him but he sidestepped at the last second, leaving a foot behind. As Faith tripped and stumbled he spun around, driving a kick into her hamstring. The brunette screamed in surprise and fell to the mat, but before he had chance to put her in some sort of choke-hold she was up and moving although slower than before. "Dirty fighting Xand?"
"Whatever works." Sidestepping another charge he tried for another elbow to the head only to catch one of his own to the armpit. Ignoring the pain shooting through his arm and shoulder he spun around to face the Slayer only to be met by a trio of flickering left jabs that bloodied his mouth. Sensing the fight was slipping beyond him he fired out a desperate right cross that Faith swayed away from before grabbing his arm at the wrist and elbow and throwing him to the ground. His body screaming in protest, he rolled back to his feet.
"Xand."
He cut off his rival's worried plea with a shake of his head. The Slayer muttered something under her breath. He grinned, still pissing off the women in his life, it was almost like old times.
This time he attacked first. Covering the space separating them in a couple of strides he slammed a forearm into the bridge of Faith's nose, following it up with a knee to her mid-section and an elbow to the back of the neck as she doubled up from the knee. The brunette fell to the mats but instantly rolled back to her feet, spinning round to face him, an incredulous expression on her bloodied face. "You broke my dose!"
He shrugged, his casualness hiding his worry at the pissed expression on the brunette's face, she looked really hacked off. "Told you it wasn't over."
"Soon will be," the Slayer sprang forward but he leapt forward, meeting her with an UFC style takedown around the waist, hooking her and flinging her to the mat, hoping to pin her there with his greater weight and superior leverage. He instantly realised it was a bad idea when the Slayer's palms shot out, slamming into his shoulders with bruising force and throwing him to a crunching landing on the far end of the mats. With a groan he staggered back to his feet. "That was a real stupid idea Xand," Faith shook her head.
"Forgot how strong you -," his voice trailed off when Faith sprang into a drop kick, leading with her right leg. Eyes widening he ducked beneath the lead foot only for the follow-up knee tucked in beneath to slam into his forehead with concussing force. He hit the mats ass-first, his vision blurred and body aching, he pulled himself back upright.
"Oh for fuck's sake."
He forced a grin. "Not getting sentimental in your old age Faith?" Darting forward, he feinted with a hook before slamming a right chop into the brunette's neck that bounced off with devastatingly little apparent effect before sweeping her legs from beneath her, sending the Slayer tumbling.
His grin faded when the woman executed a flawless backwards somersault to land upright. Her feet had barely touched the ground when she leapt into the air and into a spin kick that crunched into the side of his head, sending him back down onto the back. Groaning he rolling back onto his feet and started to rise. "Xand, I give up, you win, just let this -." Suddenly the world darkened and he crashed back to the ground.
Vampsdread 4
Ethan Rayne threw his book to the floor and kicked it across the threadbare carpet. "It has to be somewhere!" he fumed as he searched through his cluttered desk. For five years he'd watched as his old companion Ripper had risen in power while he'd been forced to toil in obscurity, hiding from the U.S. government. Not anymore, in just a few days he would have a very suitable revenge.
His eyes lightened as he spied a pocket-sized red book. 'Curses Through The Ages'. "Just the bloody thing!" Snatching up the book he began rifling through its yellowed papers, a grin spreading across his face. He glanced up at the shelves stacked across the damp wall, his eyes searching for the required ingredients, grabbing a couple of packets and a bottle he threw them into a glass flask creating a bubbling, greyish gas with a pungent stench that filled the room. "That should do it," he muttered before hastily drawing a drawing a pentagram in yellow chalk on the floor. Finally finished he started reading out an incantation in a pre-human language.
He'd barely finished when a shimmering pulsing red portal opened up and a trio of figures strode through into his living room. His face paled. "Oh bloody hell. That wasn't supposed to happen."
The mage's eyes bulged when the largest of the three figures raced forward and grabbed him around the throat. He opened his mouth to grovel and plea for his lives but his words were cut off when his attacker reached out a scaled hand and tore his head off.
* * *
Faith stretched sinuously before staring at the man snoozing on the chair beside her bed. Damn she bet sitting in that chair all night would be murder on a guy's back but Xander wouldn't have dreamed trying to use that as an excuse to get in bed with her. "Still acting the gent after all these years, Xman?" she muttered with a smile before reaching across and gently shaking the man's shoulder, "hi Xand."
After a few seconds the man's eye flickered open and he smiled crookedly. "Morning Faith."
"You often drool onto your collar Xand?" she asked with a grin.
"Only when I'm sleeping in a room with you Faith."
Faith's eyes widened in delight. "Smooth Xand, very smooth. Don't remember you being so James Bond back in the day, more Austin Powers."
"Do I make you horny baby?"
Faith roared with laughter. "Hate to burst your bubble, not hardly XMan!"
Xander sighed theatrically. "I'm crushed."
"You packing for the flight to England?" she asked hopefully.
She was disappointed when Xander's face tightened and paled. "I can't Faith," his voice shook slightly.
Hating the pain in her friend's face she reached out and squeezed his arm. "Why Xand? They all miss you like crazy."
Her friend turned away from her. "I know Faith, but there's a part of me that's scared."
"Scared, that doesn't sound like the Xander Harris I know," she replied softly.
"That Xander Harris died in the ruins of Sunnydale."
The man started to rise but she blocked his way. "Xander honey, you can't bottle things up. Talk to me."
"No Faith," Xander shook his head, "now get out of my way."
She began to shake her head but the man rose and attempted to push past her. Reacting instinctively, she snatched at his arm, grabbing at his wrist and twisting, sending the man falling onto the bed. Instantly she was on top of him pinning him to the bed, a grin on her face. "Come on Xand, talk."
"Or what? Will you try and strangle me again?"
Faith felt the air leave her lungs at the man's coldly delivered words. All at once she was back in that grimy hotel room, a room not unlike the room they were in now, crouching over Xander, taunting him about his helplessness even as she got off on his fear. "Fine," she got to her shaky feet, her stomach hollowing out in pain, "you don't want to talk, you don't have to." Turning she made for the bathroom, her face carefully held blank to avoid her hurt from showing.
"Damn it," she heard Xander mutter, felt his hand on her shoulder spinning her round to face his remorseful expression. "Faith I'm sorry. It freaked me out when you jumped on me. Please, if you'll just sit down I'll tell you."
"I understand you not trusting me, it's not like I ever gave you a reason to," Faith glanced towards the room's muddy grey carpet.
"I do trust you," Xander swallowed, "if I didn't I wouldn't tell you what I did. I wouldn't dare."
Faith looked up. This sounded interesting. "Okay," she followed the man back to the bed and sat down.
After a few seconds Xander began to speak. "Last night, before we met, I'd just come back from destroying a demon brothel."
Her mouth dropped open as she made the connection. "The slavery ring on TV?"
Her companion nodded. "The owner was a human. I stuck a knife in his groin and dragged it up to his stomach, then shot him in his elbows and knees before blowing his brains out, just after sending a twelve year girl he was selling to a demon out of the room."
Faith forced back the urge to puke. "I'm not gonna lie to you, that's pretty heavy shit Xand. But you've got to remember that kid and all the other girls you saved. Courts wouldn't have done shit with him, some slimly law firm like Wolfram & Hart would have -." Her voice trailed off. "Xand, it wasn't you?"
"Who bombed Wolfram & Hart? Yeah, I heard about them trying to assassinate Cordy, I knew Deadboy would protect her but not go after them directly. I don't have his scruples." Her friend stared at the wall opposite. "I've killed plenty of human scum over the past few years - warlocks, corrupt lawyers, drug dealers, assassins, that sort of thing. I think I've done the right thing, but I never thought I'd be confronted by any of you again," Xander turned towards her, pain written large across his face, "I've always tried to do what I believed in but I'm scared of seeing the disgust in Buff and Will's faces, disappointment in G-Man's, and Dawn being frightened of me."
"Xand that's just dumb. They forgave me and I killed innocents, all they want is their Xman back. They still love you," Faith bit her bottom lip, just saying the word made her nervous, afraid of being laughed at, "we all do."
Xander seemed to miss her admission. "Maybe," the man shook his head, "but I'm not the joker they remember. I've changed. Faith, they might hate me."
"Never happen," Faith replied. She smiled slightly as an idea occurred to her, maybe by talking about them she could tempt him into coming back. "I suppose you want to know how everybody's doing?"
Xander nodded. "That'd be good."
"G's the head of the Council now. He's doing a wicked job too. Changed the training, made the Watcher-Slayer relationship more informal than the old shit, plus each Slayer gets a Wicca, and a fighter to back 'em up. Slayers are lasting way longer."
"Wicca and fighter?" a smile flickered across Xander's face. "Sounds familiar."
"Yeah," Faith grinned in reply, "just a shame there's a shortage of werewolves, cheerleaders, and psychos. B runs the potential training now. Been retired from active Slaying for two years now. Red runs the Occult Research Division, oh, and she's got a three year old daughter, Alexandria."
"So she's swapped back to guys again?" despite his jokey tone Faith saw Xander furtively wipe at his eyes at the mention of Alexandria.
"No, she used some sort of fertility spell, don't ask, don't know don't wanna. She's still with Kennedy," Faith was unable to keep the disdain out of her voice.
"You don't like her?"
"First birthday after you disappeared Red was upset and had an argument with Kennedy. I was walking past her when I heard her talking to a potential, saying she didn't know what the big deal was over that loser Harris. I lost it and kicked her ass around three floors of Watcher Keep 'til B arrived and stopped me. When I told her what Ken had been saying, B took over laying the smack down. Then G turned up, stopped us, found out what Ken had said. Man, for a stuffy English guy he can swear. I was taking notes!"
"I always thought Kennedy was uppity, I tried to like her for Willow but, probably something to do with being born into money. What about the Dawnster?"
"Pip's a Watcher In Training."
"What!" Xander eyes widened in shock. "And Buff let her!"
"Pip's got a mind of her own, Xand. You probably know about Wes being the head of Watcher West," at her friend's nod she continued, "Red's managed to anchor Angel's soul permanently so he's five by five, still running the agency fighting the good fight. Queen C got hitched to Angel's best bud Gunn."
"And what about you Faith? Way I heard it Slayers can retire when they hit 24, and you'll be what 25-26 now?"
She shrugged uncomfortably and glanced down at the floor. "Slaying's the only thing that makes me special."
The man's hands gently gripped her face, pulling her up to look into his one eye. That's crap Faith. There's plenty that's special about you - your heart, sense of humour, and bravery for starters."
She smiled at the praise. "Thanks Xand." "No problem. What about you, you and the principal still getting pelvic?"
"N..no. We broke up twenty months ago," and three weeks and two days but who's counting? Unwilling to allow Xander to see the pain on her face she glanced away.
"He hurt you?"
Her head snapped round at Xander's growl. Her blood froze at the primal fury in his eye. God, she licked her lips nervously, Xand had turned into a seriously scary guy. Reaching out tentatively she took her companion's hand. "Wood hurt me? No, we just wanted diff stuff. He wanted me to retire and start a family but," Faith paused, "I knew I'd be crap at it."
Her friend's face relaxed. "Gotta side with Wood on this one, Faith. You'd make a great mom, after your's you know what to do, you've got a good heart and plenty of love to give. Buff and Dawnie would love being aunts and I can just see G-Man with a brood of grand-kids. Any chance you can get back together?"
"No," she shook her head, it still hurt to talk about it. "He got engaged six months ago to a Watcher, she's three months pregnant now."
Her friend hugged her. "His loss Faith," he whispered in her ear, "I bet the queue's round the block for you."
Faith smiled at the compliment. "Only trouble is nobody matches up to the guys I hang with. Girl's got high standards now."
"And that's what you deserve. Say I've got an idea - Andrew. If anyone can turn him hetro it's you," her friend chuckled and stood, "so you want go spar?"
She smiled brightly. "Sounds like a plan Xand." Boytoy you're going to pay for that remark, she silently vowed.
* * *
Xander's breath caught as the Slayer walked through the gym door dressed only in a matching black sports bra and cotton shorts. All activity in the busy gym stopped as every male and most females turned towards her. He watched as she brushed aside a couple of advances while making her way through the free weights area and onto the practice mats. He shook his head in admiration. "You still know how to make an entrance."
"Why thank you kind sah," the brunette purred as she took up position opposite him. The Slayer winked at him. "See anything you like?"
"Oh yeah." God he'd forgotten how beautiful she was. He grimaced as he noted the gathering crowd, drawn by his companion's looks and magnetism. Great, a mob to watch his humiliation. "Ready?"
Faith smiled crookedly. "Don't hold back."
"Oh I won't." Racing forward he feinted with a drop of his left shoulder before delivering a right palm strike to his adversary's chest. Faith grunted slightly before unleashing a kick at his ribs that he caught at the ankle. Before the brunette had chance to pull loose, he swept away her grounded foot, sending her plummeting to the ground only for Faith to somehow twist in mid-air and land on her feet eliciting a round of scattered applause from their onlookers.
"Seems like somebody got some fans," Xander commented.
Faith shrugged. "What's a girl to do? Wherever I go crowds follow."
"Yeah you're like the fifth Beatle." He lunged forward, striking with a right cross as he did so. The Slayer grabbed his arm at the wrist and jerked, pulling him toward her. He allowed himself to be propelled towards the Slayer, waiting until he was in range before snapping out a left hook that exploded against the brunette's right temple staggering her and forcing her to release her grip on his arm. Immediately he followed up with a right hook that the brunette slid beneath before hooking him in the ribs.
Xander grunted as the air left his lungs and he stumbled backwards. "Memo to self, avoid being hit by a Slayer," he muttered. God, he'd forgotten how strong one of them was.
"That left hook was pretty smooth Xand," Faith praised as she stalked him. "How about a little wager?"
He pushed aside the crowd's excited mutterings to concentrate on his adversary, watching her eyes for any narrowing that would indicate an attack. "What do you have in mind?"
"Loser buys dinner at restaurant of winner's choice," Faith chuckled, "I don't fancy eating at Wendy's Whoppers."
"You know me so well," he arched an eyebrow, "but after this I doubt I'll be in any condition for dinner tonight."
"Who said anything about tonight?"
"Why not then?" Stepping forward he flicked out a left heel kick to the knee which Faith effortlessly sidestepped only to walk into the right elbow to the side of her head. Her smile still firmly in place, she retaliated with a pair of lightning-fast body shots that had him groaning and retreating just out of reach of the brunette's follow-up right cross.
After a second he managed to straighten. A deathly hush had fallen over the crowd. "Any time you wanna call it quits X-Man," the Slayer offered.
Ignoring the pain he forced a grin. "Quits? I've not even warmed up yet. Bring it on."
"You crazy bastard," Faith shrugged, "I've always been known as accommodating." The Slayer surged towards him but he sidestepped at the last second, leaving a foot behind. As Faith tripped and stumbled he spun around, driving a kick into her hamstring. The brunette screamed in surprise and fell to the mat, but before he had chance to put her in some sort of choke-hold she was up and moving although slower than before. "Dirty fighting Xand?"
"Whatever works." Sidestepping another charge he tried for another elbow to the head only to catch one of his own to the armpit. Ignoring the pain shooting through his arm and shoulder he spun around to face the Slayer only to be met by a trio of flickering left jabs that bloodied his mouth. Sensing the fight was slipping beyond him he fired out a desperate right cross that Faith swayed away from before grabbing his arm at the wrist and elbow and throwing him to the ground. His body screaming in protest, he rolled back to his feet.
"Xand."
He cut off his rival's worried plea with a shake of his head. The Slayer muttered something under her breath. He grinned, still pissing off the women in his life, it was almost like old times.
This time he attacked first. Covering the space separating them in a couple of strides he slammed a forearm into the bridge of Faith's nose, following it up with a knee to her mid-section and an elbow to the back of the neck as she doubled up from the knee. The brunette fell to the mats but instantly rolled back to her feet, spinning round to face him, an incredulous expression on her bloodied face. "You broke my dose!"
He shrugged, his casualness hiding his worry at the pissed expression on the brunette's face, she looked really hacked off. "Told you it wasn't over."
"Soon will be," the Slayer sprang forward but he leapt forward, meeting her with an UFC style takedown around the waist, hooking her and flinging her to the mat, hoping to pin her there with his greater weight and superior leverage. He instantly realised it was a bad idea when the Slayer's palms shot out, slamming into his shoulders with bruising force and throwing him to a crunching landing on the far end of the mats. With a groan he staggered back to his feet. "That was a real stupid idea Xand," Faith shook her head.
"Forgot how strong you -," his voice trailed off when Faith sprang into a drop kick, leading with her right leg. Eyes widening he ducked beneath the lead foot only for the follow-up knee tucked in beneath to slam into his forehead with concussing force. He hit the mats ass-first, his vision blurred and body aching, he pulled himself back upright.
"Oh for fuck's sake."
He forced a grin. "Not getting sentimental in your old age Faith?" Darting forward, he feinted with a hook before slamming a right chop into the brunette's neck that bounced off with devastatingly little apparent effect before sweeping her legs from beneath her, sending the Slayer tumbling.
His grin faded when the woman executed a flawless backwards somersault to land upright. Her feet had barely touched the ground when she leapt into the air and into a spin kick that crunched into the side of his head, sending him back down onto the back. Groaning he rolling back onto his feet and started to rise. "Xand, I give up, you win, just let this -." Suddenly the world darkened and he crashed back to the ground.