author: Lucinda

rating: pg 13

pairing: Faith/David (from Lost Boys)

Darkened Faith 15: Breaking Old Ties

Disclaimer: I hold no legal rights to any characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the movie Lost Boys.

distribution: Twisting the Hellmouth, TNL. anyone else ask.

note: rather AU-ish for Faith. No big needed in Sunnydale Crisis, no big needed in LA crisis. Post Lost Boys the Movie.

Faith smiled at David as they walked out of the club. The last few days had been spent in adjustments - to her new condition, to her connection to David, and to being intimate with someone. Not just the sex, though there had been plenty of that, but of actually sharing herself, her hopes, her fears, her feelings... and sharing his as well. She didn't know if they'd be so open if it wasn't for the blood bond that kept them aware, but it was still there, still a connection.

Honestly, she kind of liked having someone that would be there for her. Not someone trying to help the Slayer fight, or researching monsters, but someone there for Faith.

"So, what do you want to do now?" His voice was content, almost like the purr of a sleepy cat.

"I don't know." Smiling, she teased him. "What do you want to do?"

"We could go back to my place, lock the door, and not get out of bed until Monday?" He smiled suggestively. "We could have some ceremonial cider, or look for some minions to kill."

Faith had glanced over the crowd, certain that she'd just felt something strange. Not a clear threat, but... well, she wasn't quite sure what. Had there been a demon? A magic user of some sort? Or...

A dark haired man moving towards a bus station caught her eye. He looked oddly familiar, except... the clothing didn't match her memories. "Is that... Wesley?"

"Your former Watcher?" David's hand was on her arm, reassuring, soothing.

"Yeah." Faith swallowed, wondering why her eyes felt all prickly. Seeing him had stirred up unhappy feelings, and unhappy memories. Memories of obstacle courses with Buffy, a frowning Wesley noting times and scores. Quizzes on demons and how to kill them, again competing. And never measuring up. He'd never made sure that she was safe, never tended her wounds after patrol, never tried to get her out of that horrible motel room...

David leaned forward, kissing her cheek. "Teeth, Faith. You're growling with sharp teeth. If you want to kill him, there are too many witnesses."

For a moment, Faith considered the idea. Did she want to kill Wesley? It might feel good to get him, to make him pay for all the unhappiness and jealousy that he'd caused, fed, helped to grow. But on the down side...

"No. He's not worth it. He didn't... I didn't matter enough for him to go out of his way, I won't let him become important to me now." Faith tried to convince herself that her eyes didn't feel hot from tears, and that her throat wasn't tight. "I won't give him that much power over my future."

David's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to him. "shh... It's okay, Faith."

Faith let him hold her as they made their way down the street, looking just like a normal couple, arms around each other, leaning together for comfort or warmth. It was nice to have someone to lean on...

Blinking, she realized that they were sitting at a table, the thick scents of coffee and cider heavy in the air, mingling with cigarette smoke. Her hands reached out, pulling a mug of cider towards her.

"Thanks." The word was a soft whisper, and Faith frowned as she tried to remember clearly how they'd ended up here.

"You're my girl now, Faith. I'm here for you." David's smile lacked its usual smirky edge, and his eyes were filled with worry, as was the link humming between them. "I'll always be here for you."

Faith managed a weak smile, and let her eyes rest on the cider. "Thanks."

"Sometimes, the past hurts." David's voice was low, soft. "Unfortunately, the only way for it to stop is time, and that takes a while."

Faith managed a giggle, glancing at him as she held the cup, the steaming vapors curling around her. "That's why it's called time, blondie."

David just nodded, and glanced around the coffee shop. "It's pretty quiet tonight. Just a couple college kids over there, looks like there must be a big test this week."

Faith looked around the store, her eyes skimming over the empty tables. "And the brooding woman over there that probably had a bad break up. Look at the way she's crushing away the faintest hint of any lump?"

The door opened, and they both tensed, wondering if it could be some other unwelcome face from the past. But it was just the old figure of Dr. Jones, heading for a back table with a stack of papers.

"A bit tense, aren't we?" Faith asked, trying to smile and pass it off as a joke.

"Maybe a little." David reached out, brushing the back of her hand with his fingers. "But we can move on, you don't have to deal with him right now."

"That might be a bit hard in LA." Faith muttered, sipping carefully at the cider.

"Who says we have to stay in LA? We can leave." David grinned at her, sipping at his cider with twinkling eyes.

"Where would we go?" Faith was already turning the idea over in her mind. Leave this place, where she didn't have friends, or family to make things enjoyable? She could still try to figure out who she was elsewhere, it wasn't as if this place had any fond memories.

"Anywhere. We could face my past in Santa Carla. Or take a look at the great white north up in Canada, or go south to find out how spicy Cajun really is." He leaned back against the bench, sipping at the cider. "We don't have to plot out everything. If you want, we can just pack what we want to keep, pick a road, and start driving. Just say the word."

Faith considered the idea as she sipped at her cider. Starting over somewhere else, seeing places without a deformed master vampire after her... Travel appealed to her in a way that LA no longer did. "How about north?"

"North works for me." David smiled.

And Faith felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. They could travel, see different places, and just... be. And she could still kick demon ass and slay vampires. But this time, she wouldn't have someone lurking, waiting for her to repeat old mistakes. Yeah, life was going to be good again.

End Darkened Faith 15: Breaking Old Ties

End Darkened Faith.