Title: Watcher
Rating: PG 13
Relationships: X\F B\A
Story: Action\Adventure
Feedback: In lieu of a Faithbot yeah.
E-Mail: KeithWrestle@Yahoo.Co.uk
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters just worship at their altar.
Watcher 1 - Direction Change
The figure watched from the shadows as the raven-haired girl hurried out of the motel, her rucksack slung over her slender shoulder. He had to stop her, couldn't let her leave, but how? He had to get her somewhere she couldn't avoid him. A smile flickered across his face. He knew just the place. Turning, he raced back into the shadows. He'd have to hurry, she was way faster than him.
* * *
Tears blinding her, the girl ran into the shadowy alley. It wasn't her fault, he shouldn't have been there - what an idiot. Typical, just when things start going just a little better for her - when was she going to catch a break? Suddenly she slowed at the sound of a footstep in front of her. "Who's there?" For the first time in a long while her voice shook with fear.
"Me." A tall, dark-haired youth stepped out of the shadows.
The girl's shoulders slumped in relief. She could handle him. "Get out of the way," she warned, her voice calm again.
"No, you're not leaving."
The brunette's eyes hardened. "Who's going to stop me?"
"I am."
Even in the darkness, she could see the nervousness in the man's eyes and sense his fear. Not that that would stop him, she knew him too well to ever think that simple fear would ever prevent him from doing what he thought was right. Her voice grew hysterical. "Get out of the way or I'll -," her words trailed off as she realised what she'd been about to say.
"Kill me?" The man shook his head. "You wouldn't."
"Why not?" she demanded, the tears starting to fall. "I've murdered!"
The boy shook his head again. "No you haven't. What happened tonight was a lousy, stinking accident, a tragedy, nothing more." The man hesitated. "I'll help you, we all will. That's what friends do."
"You're not my friend!" she screamed, if she couldn't back him off with threats maybe insults would work better. "You're just a one night stand. And a crap one!"
The man winced at her words but didn't retreat. ""So you don't like me. Your choice. Mine to like you." He swallowed. "You're not going anywhere unless you beat me into unconsciousness and you know leaving me in these streets at night is a death sentence. You're not cold-blooded."
She smiled coldly. "Get out of my way geek. I can smell your fear."
The youth laughed, it was a sound carrying very little humour but plenty of fear. "That's not fear you smell Faith, that's my underwear." The half- smile left the man's face. "But if you want to run away, you have to go through me."
"Please," Faith begged. Why did he have to make things so damn hard? It was better for everybody this way, she was just in the way here. So what if he had a crush on her?
"No."
"Fine." Finally her patience snapped. She dropped her bag. "You were warned tough guy."
Darting forward she slid under the man's left jab to land a crunching hook to the area beneath his armpit. Even as her adversary let out an anguished grunt, he slammed an elbow into the side of her head, knocking her sideways into the alley's cold brick wall. The man attempted to follow up with a kick to the small of her back but she spun away from the manoeuvre, avoiding it easily.
"Hitting a lady, I thought you were a gentlemen?" She jibed as she watched her opponent. She'd thought her first attack would end the fight. She'd have to up it a gear.
The man winked at her. "But you're no lady."
"That's just rude!" She attacked again, snapping out a heel-kick aimed at the man's knee only for her rival to catch the blow with on his mid-thigh with a pained grimace. As the man stumbled in retreat, she followed up with a left hook to the jaw that her rival just managed to sway away from before being caught in the stomach by her powerfully delivered body shot that sent him down on one knee.
Her eyes widened as the youth climbed slowly back to his feet. "Stay down," she pleaded. Why did he have to be such a hard ass?
"Can't do that." The man shook his head. "You need someone to beat your issues out on - looks like I've been nominated."
"Girl's gotta lot of issues," the girl surged forward and lashed out with a chest kick. To her amazement, the man slid inside her attack, hooked her round her upper thigh and threw her into the air. Taken by surprise that her adversary knew such a move, she was unable to react with her usual agility and instead of landing with her usual upright grace, she landed on her side, the impact momentarily driving the air from her lungs. "Damn it!" she howled as she sprang to her feet. "Now I'm pissed!"
"Oh shit." The man weaved away from her first three punches, her anger clouding her aim, but the fourth collided with his forehead, causing the man's eyes to glaze over and her fifth smashed into his nose, triggering an explosion of blood from his left nostril. The man attempted to pull away but she was merciless, connecting with a trio of blindingly fast kicks to his side and throwing one to his head that he somehow managed to duck under before shooting an elbow that hit her in the chest.
"Strange way to try and cop a feel Xand," the girl chuckled as she broke off her attack. "You got some nice moves though - been taking lessons?"
"Aikido, judo." The man's breath was coming in ragged breaths and his expression was dazed. It wouldn't be much longer.
"Doesn't matter," she shook her head. "You know this can only end in one way."
"Bring it."
The girl shook her head in grudging admiration. No one had ever said he lacked guts, brains maybe. Moving forward, she feinted with a left which the man glided under only to walk straight into a pair of quick rights to his cheek. Groaning in pain, the youth staggered backwards but somehow kept his balance. "Please, just give it up," she whispered. She didn't want to have to hurt him anymore but she had to get away.
Instead the man counter-attacked, rushing in with a left hook that she caught on her shoulder before knocking his guard away and slamming a knee into his groin. The man let out a croak and slumped to the ground.
"Well Xand, it's been fun." Despite her lightly delivered comment, the brunette felt only guilt and sadness as she stared down at the crumpled body lying at her feet. What had happened earlier had been an accident, but this - she'd just beaten the shit out of a guy who'd done nothing but try and be her friend, to pierce the armour of mistrust she'd built around her.
Shaking away her feelings, she didn't do guilt she reminded herself, Faith sauntered back to her rucksack and picked it up before striding past the crumpled body. And stopping. She walked back to the body and crouched down. "Damn it," she whispered.
What he'd said was right. Leaving him here in the alley would be like signing his death warrant. She allowed her fingers to lightly stroke his battered face, battered by her. She could leave him here, either he'd get lucky and live, or he'd die. If he died nobody would know her part in it. Except her, she'd know she'd killed one of the few people to ever try and help her, to be her friend. Despite the way she'd sometimes treated him.
The brunette glanced around. She could hide him in a dumper. No. The beasts that stalked the streets would sense him and if they found him and realised who's friend he was. She shuddered, refusing to finish the awful thought. Finally she sighed in defeat. Damn him for getting involved. If he'd just kept his nose out, she'd be. Running just like she always did when things got tough.
"Time to face the music Faith," she muttered as she gently lifted the prone man off the ground, cradling him in her arms. "Come on X-Man, you're going to become the only guy to get a second invite to my room."
* * *
The brunette tenderly placed her burden down on the motel room bed before stepping back to inspect what she'd done. His own blows had done little effect on her but even though she'd only been going at quarter speed she'd really messed him up.
His forehead and face were horribly bruised, while his nose looked to be broken and all because of her. "Damn it Xand, why do you have to play Mr. Noble?" Steeling herself for the damage, she eased him out of his jacket and shirt. She shuddered at what she'd done, the man's entire torso was covered in bruises. "God Xand, I'm sorry."
Biting her lip to prevent from crying, the Slayer rummaged through her bag for her medicine box and pulled out some bandages. She set about bandaging the youth's torso, muttering heartfelt apologises as she did so, stopping only to occasionally wipe at her eyes. After she'd finished with his ribs she quickly cleaned the dried blood from the boy's face before easing him under the sheets of her bed.
Faith stepped away from the bed and inspected the body sleeping on it. A small smile tugged at her lips. Even with all the bruises he looked so peaceful lying there.
After placing a pillow on the floor, Faith hesitated. Tonight of all nights she didn't want to be alone. And even fit, Xander would never try anything he wasn't the sort. Her decision made, the Slayer quickly stripped and slid into bed beside the boy. On impulse she leaned over and lightly kissed him on the cheek. "Night Xand," she whispered before turning off the bedside lamp. After a few seconds she pulled one of the man's arms around her shoulders and draped her own across his waist.
Rating: PG 13
Relationships: X\F B\A
Story: Action\Adventure
Feedback: In lieu of a Faithbot yeah.
E-Mail: KeithWrestle@Yahoo.Co.uk
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters just worship at their altar.
Watcher 1 - Direction Change
The figure watched from the shadows as the raven-haired girl hurried out of the motel, her rucksack slung over her slender shoulder. He had to stop her, couldn't let her leave, but how? He had to get her somewhere she couldn't avoid him. A smile flickered across his face. He knew just the place. Turning, he raced back into the shadows. He'd have to hurry, she was way faster than him.
* * *
Tears blinding her, the girl ran into the shadowy alley. It wasn't her fault, he shouldn't have been there - what an idiot. Typical, just when things start going just a little better for her - when was she going to catch a break? Suddenly she slowed at the sound of a footstep in front of her. "Who's there?" For the first time in a long while her voice shook with fear.
"Me." A tall, dark-haired youth stepped out of the shadows.
The girl's shoulders slumped in relief. She could handle him. "Get out of the way," she warned, her voice calm again.
"No, you're not leaving."
The brunette's eyes hardened. "Who's going to stop me?"
"I am."
Even in the darkness, she could see the nervousness in the man's eyes and sense his fear. Not that that would stop him, she knew him too well to ever think that simple fear would ever prevent him from doing what he thought was right. Her voice grew hysterical. "Get out of the way or I'll -," her words trailed off as she realised what she'd been about to say.
"Kill me?" The man shook his head. "You wouldn't."
"Why not?" she demanded, the tears starting to fall. "I've murdered!"
The boy shook his head again. "No you haven't. What happened tonight was a lousy, stinking accident, a tragedy, nothing more." The man hesitated. "I'll help you, we all will. That's what friends do."
"You're not my friend!" she screamed, if she couldn't back him off with threats maybe insults would work better. "You're just a one night stand. And a crap one!"
The man winced at her words but didn't retreat. ""So you don't like me. Your choice. Mine to like you." He swallowed. "You're not going anywhere unless you beat me into unconsciousness and you know leaving me in these streets at night is a death sentence. You're not cold-blooded."
She smiled coldly. "Get out of my way geek. I can smell your fear."
The youth laughed, it was a sound carrying very little humour but plenty of fear. "That's not fear you smell Faith, that's my underwear." The half- smile left the man's face. "But if you want to run away, you have to go through me."
"Please," Faith begged. Why did he have to make things so damn hard? It was better for everybody this way, she was just in the way here. So what if he had a crush on her?
"No."
"Fine." Finally her patience snapped. She dropped her bag. "You were warned tough guy."
Darting forward she slid under the man's left jab to land a crunching hook to the area beneath his armpit. Even as her adversary let out an anguished grunt, he slammed an elbow into the side of her head, knocking her sideways into the alley's cold brick wall. The man attempted to follow up with a kick to the small of her back but she spun away from the manoeuvre, avoiding it easily.
"Hitting a lady, I thought you were a gentlemen?" She jibed as she watched her opponent. She'd thought her first attack would end the fight. She'd have to up it a gear.
The man winked at her. "But you're no lady."
"That's just rude!" She attacked again, snapping out a heel-kick aimed at the man's knee only for her rival to catch the blow with on his mid-thigh with a pained grimace. As the man stumbled in retreat, she followed up with a left hook to the jaw that her rival just managed to sway away from before being caught in the stomach by her powerfully delivered body shot that sent him down on one knee.
Her eyes widened as the youth climbed slowly back to his feet. "Stay down," she pleaded. Why did he have to be such a hard ass?
"Can't do that." The man shook his head. "You need someone to beat your issues out on - looks like I've been nominated."
"Girl's gotta lot of issues," the girl surged forward and lashed out with a chest kick. To her amazement, the man slid inside her attack, hooked her round her upper thigh and threw her into the air. Taken by surprise that her adversary knew such a move, she was unable to react with her usual agility and instead of landing with her usual upright grace, she landed on her side, the impact momentarily driving the air from her lungs. "Damn it!" she howled as she sprang to her feet. "Now I'm pissed!"
"Oh shit." The man weaved away from her first three punches, her anger clouding her aim, but the fourth collided with his forehead, causing the man's eyes to glaze over and her fifth smashed into his nose, triggering an explosion of blood from his left nostril. The man attempted to pull away but she was merciless, connecting with a trio of blindingly fast kicks to his side and throwing one to his head that he somehow managed to duck under before shooting an elbow that hit her in the chest.
"Strange way to try and cop a feel Xand," the girl chuckled as she broke off her attack. "You got some nice moves though - been taking lessons?"
"Aikido, judo." The man's breath was coming in ragged breaths and his expression was dazed. It wouldn't be much longer.
"Doesn't matter," she shook her head. "You know this can only end in one way."
"Bring it."
The girl shook her head in grudging admiration. No one had ever said he lacked guts, brains maybe. Moving forward, she feinted with a left which the man glided under only to walk straight into a pair of quick rights to his cheek. Groaning in pain, the youth staggered backwards but somehow kept his balance. "Please, just give it up," she whispered. She didn't want to have to hurt him anymore but she had to get away.
Instead the man counter-attacked, rushing in with a left hook that she caught on her shoulder before knocking his guard away and slamming a knee into his groin. The man let out a croak and slumped to the ground.
"Well Xand, it's been fun." Despite her lightly delivered comment, the brunette felt only guilt and sadness as she stared down at the crumpled body lying at her feet. What had happened earlier had been an accident, but this - she'd just beaten the shit out of a guy who'd done nothing but try and be her friend, to pierce the armour of mistrust she'd built around her.
Shaking away her feelings, she didn't do guilt she reminded herself, Faith sauntered back to her rucksack and picked it up before striding past the crumpled body. And stopping. She walked back to the body and crouched down. "Damn it," she whispered.
What he'd said was right. Leaving him here in the alley would be like signing his death warrant. She allowed her fingers to lightly stroke his battered face, battered by her. She could leave him here, either he'd get lucky and live, or he'd die. If he died nobody would know her part in it. Except her, she'd know she'd killed one of the few people to ever try and help her, to be her friend. Despite the way she'd sometimes treated him.
The brunette glanced around. She could hide him in a dumper. No. The beasts that stalked the streets would sense him and if they found him and realised who's friend he was. She shuddered, refusing to finish the awful thought. Finally she sighed in defeat. Damn him for getting involved. If he'd just kept his nose out, she'd be. Running just like she always did when things got tough.
"Time to face the music Faith," she muttered as she gently lifted the prone man off the ground, cradling him in her arms. "Come on X-Man, you're going to become the only guy to get a second invite to my room."
* * *
The brunette tenderly placed her burden down on the motel room bed before stepping back to inspect what she'd done. His own blows had done little effect on her but even though she'd only been going at quarter speed she'd really messed him up.
His forehead and face were horribly bruised, while his nose looked to be broken and all because of her. "Damn it Xand, why do you have to play Mr. Noble?" Steeling herself for the damage, she eased him out of his jacket and shirt. She shuddered at what she'd done, the man's entire torso was covered in bruises. "God Xand, I'm sorry."
Biting her lip to prevent from crying, the Slayer rummaged through her bag for her medicine box and pulled out some bandages. She set about bandaging the youth's torso, muttering heartfelt apologises as she did so, stopping only to occasionally wipe at her eyes. After she'd finished with his ribs she quickly cleaned the dried blood from the boy's face before easing him under the sheets of her bed.
Faith stepped away from the bed and inspected the body sleeping on it. A small smile tugged at her lips. Even with all the bruises he looked so peaceful lying there.
After placing a pillow on the floor, Faith hesitated. Tonight of all nights she didn't want to be alone. And even fit, Xander would never try anything he wasn't the sort. Her decision made, the Slayer quickly stripped and slid into bed beside the boy. On impulse she leaned over and lightly kissed him on the cheek. "Night Xand," she whispered before turning off the bedside lamp. After a few seconds she pulled one of the man's arms around her shoulders and draped her own across his waist.