Hey all, this is the second chapter of my story. It contains major spoilers for Season 5's Angel, though. Well, some of them, at least. J Had loads of fun writing this story, though I don't know how, exactly, it's gonna turn out. Please, please be so kind as to review and tell me what you think! I live for reviews!
Many, many thanks to my very first reviewer, Animegoddess177. Yeah, girl, Faith is the Slayer from Angel, and I agree, girl, too much Kenshin and Kaoru around! Haha I don't know if this will work, but at least it'll be a breath of fresh air. Faith and Kenshin would make a very cute couple, don't you think? And your story rocks. I'll definitely be dropping by and giving you a lo-ong review in your story!
This fic is dedicated to my buddy Astronema. I know you're strictly a LOTR fan, but still, this is for you anyway. Enjoy and tell me what you think and what you wanna see in the upcoming chapters! See you!
God, this place is like a freakin' tomb, Faith thought derisively as she made her way down the stairs. The Hyperion was silent, and the shadows thrown across it's floors made it seem unwelcoming. She glanced at what was supposed to be the receptionist's desk. It had definitely seen better days. In her mind's eye, she saw Angel perched on the desk while Wesley and Fred pored over several ominous looking books. Gunn would be near the weapons' closet, and Cordelia would most probably be attending to the calls. She opened her eyes, and she saw them, images of people they once were, and for a crazy nanosecond, she almost believed that it was real.
The slightest of breezes wafted in, snaking through the entire lobby, and Faith blinked. The lobby was empty.
For the millionth time, she wanted to get away from this place, but where could she go? She could only afford the cheapest of motels, and even so, no thank you. The last time she was in one, a centuries-old vampire creep almost busted her chops. And besides, all the important books were here, surprisingly left untouched. Faith would also need a big enough space for her to be able to train the new Slayers, so killing a bunch of birds with one stone and all that.
And speaking of the new Slayers…it was about time she went to find them. Giles had given her a list of names a couple of days ago--twelve in all--of who were most likely Slayers. Thankfully, he had also provided addresses.
The hardest thing now was to go up to them and tell them the legacy without looking like a kook, and in all honesty, it was something she didn't really know how to go about doing; she was never a people person.
Sitting down behind the receptionist's desk and propping her boots on the table casually, she took out the list she kept in her denim jacket. The list of girls' names jumped out at her, all unfamiliar and some of them strange. A couple of them even lived in the upscale Hollywood estates, which, for Faith, was pretty much amusing.
Imagine some prissy brat whining about her manicure after she stakes a vamp. She smirked down at the paper, bemused, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a small rectangle of paper lying on the floor below the desk. It was namecard-sized. Frowning slightly, she took her boots off the table and reached for it. It definitely was a namecard. Torn in a couple of places, but still.
Flipping it over, she saw the name 'Angel Investigations' written on it, followed by a drawing of what looked like a drowned rat at the side. Below it was a phone number and the address of the Hyperion. Tilting it slightly, Faith realized the drawing was an angel. Crap sketch, but still.
She stared at the card for a long moment, the memories flowing through her, as well as a pang of sadness. The first time she'd been in here, it had only been for a couple of minutes. Angelus was on the loose, and she had quickly gathered his friends on a search-and-rescue team.
Putting Angelus back in his cage had been the first actively good thing that she'd done, she had gone against the age-old Slayer instinct to kill vampires, letting her conscience guide her on this, and damn she had felt good. Of course, she'd been conked out and dangerously close to death at the time, but whatever. Then she'd gone on a mind trip thing with Angelus, witnessing Angel's early days--nights, to be specific--and finally understanding what his struggle had been about. To be truthful, he wasn't all that different from her. He was the only one who understood, who cared. Who pulled her back, once again, from the seductive lull of death.
Faith, get up! Are you listening?
Angel, I'm dying.
Yeah. It's a lot easier than redemption, huh?
I've rolled the bones. You for me.
I used to think that. That there'd be a point when I'd paid my dues. Faith, listen to me. You saw me drink. It doesn't get much lower than that. And I thought I could make up for it by disappearing.
I did my time.
Our time is never up, Faith.
We pay for everything.
It hurts.
I know. I know.
Get up! You have to get up now. Faith, you have to fight. I need you to fight. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Absently, the dark-haired Slayer toyed with the card, lost in her memories. Angel had set up the investigating firm to help the helpless more effectively, but now that he was gone…she frowned at the card again. Could she even do this? She couldn't even lead properly, much less run Angel Investigations. She knew she was better off beating the crap out of demons, but this was her city now, and she was alone. She had to call the shots; there was no other choice. And besides, in memory of Angel, who was the knight in shining armor and all. It'd be a waste to shut this down.
Especially since Angel Investigations was a good way to start things. It definitely wasn't the best, but screw that. She had sins to atone for, and she would do it. For the first time, she no longer doubted her legacy, no longer would she think that her calling had been an accident. She was meant to be here.
But the problem was, where, exactly, was she going to start?
She leapt to her feet in a flash as the doors to the hotel was thrown open--the sound of rain pounding against the pavement outside almost deafening in the silence of the lobby--and in came Spike.
"Well, well, what have we here?"
Faith stared at him, relaxing slightly nonetheless. "Spike? What are you doing here?"
Spike shrugged, looked the entire place over, and removed his trenchcoat. "Got caught in the bleeding rain. Came in for a bit of a shelter, that's all." He shrugged when no reply was forthcoming. "Also, this was the only place I could think of. Seems like you beat me to it, though. What are you doing here?"
Faith shrugged. "Putting Angel Investigations back into business."
The vampire looked disbelieving. "All by your lonesome?"
"Don't exactly see anyone else around here doin' it."
"You're supposed to be out there looking for demons to kill, not setting up the Ponce's fanclub, you know."
"Stuff it, Peroxide Boy. L.A.'s lost Angel, and now I'm the boss. Better to look for the newbies this way, too."
"Hey, just because you're a Slayer doesn't make automatically make you the guardian or something." Spike frowned. "There's still me."
Faith was about to shoot a scathing remark to that when the phone rang shrilly, making the both of them jump. The Slayer picked up the phone. "Yeah?"
Meanwhile, Spike had gotten bored and was walking around the lobby, inspecting the furniture. It was an interior designer's nightmare, to say the least. He was about to open a closet to see what was inside when he heard Faith put down the phone and get out of her seat.
"Who was it?" he asked idly.
"Baby demons in a basement." Faith, on her end, looked somewhat eager. "Throw me an axe. I'm going exterminating."
"Where the hell do I find an axe?"
She gestured to the closet he was standing in front of. "Open sesame."
He pulled the door open, and an astonishing array of weapons glinted dangerously up at him. Despite himself, he grinned. Oh yes, the Big Bad was back in business. He threw a particularly deadly looking axe at the Slayer, who caught it just as she was about to walk through the door, and took a scythe for himself.
She paused for a moment, then glanced over her shoulder. "You with?"
"Well, someone's gotta keep you out of trouble." He shrugged. "It's raining like hell outside."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. And we got a job to do, so come on."
We, huh? He thought, somewhat pleased. Nonetheless, he gestured towards the back doors. "We'll take my car. Can't afford to get these babies rusty."
She looked at him suspiciously. "You came in a car?"
"Yeah, so I didn't just drop by for shelter. Sue me." He shot back defensively. Faith simply shook her head and walked past him, passing him the address she'd scribbled down earlier.
"Hey," Spike suddenly said as they walked out together. "I've got an idea, why not let's call it Spike Investigations?"
"In your dreams."
"Why not?"
"'Cause you're a dumbass."
"Well, this check takes care of the bills for a couple of months. See the number of zeroes on this thing? Sweet deal." Faith said an hour later, pleased, as Spike started the car. She tossed the axe in the backseat, then slipped the piece of paper into her jacket.
"Hey, watch the upholstery! I don't need new breathing holes in my backseat." The vampire snapped irritably. Unlike the Slayer, he'd sustained a few cuts and bruises, which pissed him off to no end because it bloody hurt like hell. He supposed those demons had some kind of toxin in their claws.
Faith ignored him, already thinking about something else, something which had nagged insistently at the back of her mind ever since Spike dropped in. "Thought you were with Illyria."
Faith had only met Illyria for a few minutes, and it was obvious to Spike that the Slayer was slightly unnerved by her. Not that he could blame her, though. Having a god eat their way through someone you used to know and later take their form is…odd, to say the least. Although Illyria was now no longer inhabited in that body, she vastly preferred it. Spike had managed to ask her why one day, and she'd said that it was to remember Wesley by, and that Wesley had loved her.
Well.
"Still moping about somewhere. Wes's death and all." Faith cast a glance at him, but realized that he was not being sarcastic.
"Pity, isn't it? Fred, Wes, Gunn, Angel."
"Life's banged-up like that." He paused for a moment as he switched lanes. "Well, it was about time for Peaches. Can't have two vampires with souls running about."
After a moment of silence, Faith spoke. "So. Angel Investigations?"
"Ah yes. Been meaning to talk to you about that."
She eyed him warily. "What about it?"
"See, the Hyperion is not suited for that kind of business. A relocation is in order."
Faith laughed. "Sorry to bust your bubble, buddy. It's all we can afford at the moment."
He smiled. "Not exactly."
She studied his knowing look. "All right. Spill it, whatever it is."
"As of now, there's no more Angel Investigations, only Wolfram and Hart."
Her smile was completely wiped off her face as she stared at him in disbelief. "The demon law firm? Look, no freaking way, all right? They can kiss my ass."
"Wait. Listen to me, Faith," Spike said before she could get really heated. "It's not what you think." He quickly explained everything that had gone on in her absence, Angel and the others on the joining of Wolfram and Hart and what went on, the throwing down of the Senior Partners…everything.
"I can't believe you guys can hide this from me," Faith snapped angrily when he was done. "I helped you guys with the clean-up and everything, and you didn't even tell me. And you're working for them, too?"
"How'd you think I scored this sweet ride? Angel didn't want you getting the wrong idea." Spike shrugged grimly. "And no one really wanted to talk about it, especially after Gunn's and Wesley's deaths. He did good, though. Got Wolfram and Hart back into the beat, severed all demonic ties. When he defeated the Senior Partners Wolfram and Hart was his."
Faith took a couple of minutes for this to properly sink in. Wolfram and Hart, the number one evil force in L.A…now belonged to Angel? "That big-ass dragon?"
"Yeah. Physical manifestation of the Senior Partners."
"Oh."
"Told me to tell you. And give you a nice spot if you wanted in."
"Tight."
"Yeah. So, you with?"
"Gotta think about it. Wolfram and Hart tried to kick my ass once."
"Ever wondered why none of the cops busted your ass yet?"
"Don't tell me Wolfram and Hart's got something to do with it."
He grinned. "Yeah. We had someone to erase all your records. Free as a bird. We're the white hats now." The car stopped in front of the law firm, standing tall and imposing against the L.A. skyline. With some work, the building had been restored to its former glory, only now there wasn't quite so much demonic presence about it.
Faith frowned at him. "Tell me why we're here."
"A tour of the premises? You'd like it."
Spike had begun with a quick introduction to the building. Since it was already late, there were only a select few lawyers working. Despite herself, she'd been impressed with it. The labs were huge, the research materials were boundless, the offices were enormous…
Never thought I'd live to be in something like this. She thought. As they made their way through an office, a brunette with a sweet face leapt up cheerfully. "Mr. Spike!"
He nodded. "Hey, Clarisse."
Faith smirked. "New squeeze?"
"Your personal assistant."
The personal assistant in question made her way over to them, looking fashionably chic in a well-cut suit. "And this must be Miss Faith? It's good to finally see you in person."
Faith blinked, surprised. Then she turned to Spike. "My personal assistant? You planned this all along?"
He grinned. "Yeah. I've always been a little towards the dramatic, myself. You even got your first paycheck."
"What?"
"In your pocket."
Faith immediately understood. "So the whole demon thing was a ruse?"
"Nah. Mrs. Berley was one of our clients, and the trouble was real. I just told her to call the Hyperion."
She scowled at him, annoyed. "I'd like you to be upfront about it, not lead me in a roundabout. Gets irritating."
He shrugged. "Surprise."
She didn't bother to reply as she gazed at the gold plaque that was embossed on an oaken door, not bothering to hide her shock.
FAITH
PRESIDENT/ CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
WOLFRAM AND HART
Spike said to Clarisse. "Here it comes."
"What the hell?"
"Look, dude," Faith said as soon as she and Spike were alone. They were in her office. HER office. Those two words had never belonged in the same dictionary before. And it was enormous. Heck, the entire lobby of the Hyperion could fit comfortably into it and there'd still be a lot of space left over! "You made a mistake, all right? I cannot run an entire law firm, for God's sake! I can't lead, or take charge! The last time I did it, I blew half of the people up and nearly got my ass blown up sky high."
"Hey, I'm not happy about that either, all right? I'm AVP, of all bleeding things! But Angel expressly wanted you to have this position. He thinks you can do it."
Tiredly, Faith rubbed her temples. This night was getting progressively from bad to worse. "No. No, I can't. I'm a Slayer, not a freaking diplomat! I do better beating the crap out of demons, not sitting my ass here the whole day doing nothing but paperwork!"
"Hey, you can do ground work too. But look on the bright side, anytime things get too hot, we've got our special-ops thing on the ready. And being the CEO of Wolfram and Hart is the magic key to unlock almost every high-flying underworld circle out there. You get information you normally won't even get as a Slayer, and you can manipulate people and demons a hell a lot better, too. The deal doesn't get sweeter than this. And then there's the added bonus of me going out in the sun without getting boiled."
She sighed. "This isn't about the treats and stuff. It's about helping people. Isn't that what Angel does?"
"We've moved up a few notches. Why fight only the peanuts when you can save people on a larger scale, too? Even the Ponce knows that, which is why he fought the Partners as CEO in the first place. You have the power to do greater good here, think about it. There are resources here you can only dream of, and these are the tools we need to fight evil. So come on!"
He made sense.
Everything made sense, but it was just too soon. Faith, CEO of Wolfram and Hart? It was a lot to take in at the moment. "Let me think on it."
"Well, you'd better put on that thinking cap fast, 'cause we've got major clients coming in tomorrow evening. They make up close to half of the firm's income. And they want to see you."
"What?! Shit, I can't DO this!"
"Give it a shot. They know that you're new, and Wolfram and Hart holds a lot of power not just in L.A.. They're not going to make this difficult for you."
The closest she'd ever come to being in power was being at the Mayor's right hand, running errands for him and getting pretty gifts in return. And this…
"Angel's lucky he's not here," Faith growled. "Or else I'll be whomping his ass right about now." Sure, she owed a lot to him and all, but did he know what he was asking of her? Of what he was giving to her? What the heck had he been thinking?
But still, sitting on the luxurious leather seat held a certain sense of excitement for her. She was not stupid; she knew she could use the extra help, especially in locating the new Slayers, but what she wasn't sure of was HOW she was actually supposed to handle the post of CEO. What, exactly, was required of her? This was just like that show she'd watched a year ago, the one about a bunch of little people and some kind of all-powerful ring. The ring destroyed everyone it came into contact with and sent them reeling into the darkness. Faith had been in that darkness once, consumed in the power of being a Slayer, and she was not looking forward to dipping in it again.
Power corrupted people, that was one of the things she'd learned in murder rehab, and it was the one thing that stuck most in her mind.
Maybe I should just take this as a test. She thought to herself. If Angel gave me this spot, he knows I can do it. If nothing else, I trust the guy. And this job will help me make a bigger difference, even out the odds, so to speak.
Nevertheless, she stood up abruptly. "I'm beat. I'll let you know my answer tomorrow."
Spike stood up and shrugged. "Fine by me. Want a ride home?"
"No. I'm gonna walk this out."
"It's a long way."
"Screw that."
"The limo will be waiting outside for you at nine. It's your choice. Save more people, save less people. Think about it."
"Yeah."
The night was cold, almost freezing. The traffic had thinned out considerably, which was expected this late in the night. She kept carefully away from the well-lit areas, much preferring to walk in the faded, run-down, and dangerous places in town. She wanted to see L.A.'s dark side, overridden by the glitzy promise of Hollywood not too far away.
It was the place she was walking in now, where wannabes never made it, where drugs were the only way to pass time, to bring one away from the suffering and sadness from their lives, not knowing that for every jab they took, they died just a little more. It wasn't all that different from Boston, the way of life she'd been used to ever since she'd been a kid.
And now, I've got a chance to change all of it. It wasn't so easy, she knew, but at least it was something.
A scream, shrill, feminine, and entirely terrified snapped her out of her thoughts. Almost immediately, her Slayer senses pinpointed the exact location of the source. Whipping out the wooden stake she'd kept in her belt just in case, she broke into a sprint. The woman--girl, whatever--was still screaming, and she supposed it was a good thing. If she stopped screaming, then it was probably too late.
Screeching to a stop in front of the narrow alleyway in between two dilapidated warehouses, she reached just in time to find a girl pressed up against a grimy wall. There was dust swirling around, most likely from some dusted vampire, and there was a slight figure with bloodred hair, tied up in a high ponytail, advancing on her. She frowned. In the darkness, she wasn't sure if that was a woman or a man.
"My apologies. I leave no witnesses." Well, that settled the sex thing. Most definitely male, with a boyish, mannish voice that was smooth and seductive at the same time. The glint of a blade glinted in the dim light before Faith let her stake fly, the sharp tip stabbing into the guy's hand, making him drop the dagger. That vamp wasn't out to feed then, the Slayer thought, since he was about to slit her throat instead of tearing into it.
There was a snarl, more of fury than anger, and the vampire in question whirled around, brilliant amber eyes glowing with a feral light. Well, at least there was something she could take her frustrations out on.
Ripping the stake out of his hand with a low growl, Kenshin tossed it carelessly to the ground. She was smart; it would definitely take awhile for his hand to properly heal. The girl he'd been about to kill whimpered and beat a hasty exit. He did not bother to catch her, not this time.
Not when she was advancing on him, her movements oozing pure sensuality and confidence. He stared hard at her, the throbbing almost forgotten. Her ki called out to him, filled with power. It was nothing like he'd sensed before, and it startled him momentarily. Judging from the stake on the floor, she had to be one of the Chosen, but the energy he felt coming from her was much more powerful than that. It was a kind of purity…stained with darkness.
And it sang to him.
"Run as fast as you can," she said to the girl as the latter sobbed and ran. Her voice was sultry and distinct. Then she turned to smirk at him, crimson lips curling up into a smirk. "Just when I thought my night can't get anymore boring."
She had another stake at the ready, and before he could blink, she was already rushing towards him, every inch like the warrior she was Chosen for. But he had no time for this, the Master had requested his presence, and he had to be there. He had killed a few Slayers in his time when it had been absolutely necessary, but this one…this one was special, for reasons even he did not know of. All he knew of was that it would not be in his best interests to kill her. For all he knew, they might need her services one day.
It was his turn to smirk. "Now is not the night, Slayer."
And before her astonished eyes, he shimmered out of existence.