Three Slayers 2- Trust
"I've got to go," Xander glanced at his watch before standing. "I'm meeting Ken at the G-Man's."
"But we've hardly hung out since I got back."
Once the pout that accompanied Buffy's words would have melted his heart and snapped his resolve but now it bounced off him like a bullet off Superman's skin. "Yeah but sometimes people grow apart. Particularly when people run away from their friends and responsibilities," Xander turned away from the stunned Slayer and to the others. "Will, Oz, Cordy, see you at school tomorrow."
Turning he hurried out of the Bronze, still fuming at his exchange with Buffy. The others might fall at Princess Buffy's feet when she saunters back into town after running away for months but not him. He'd seen the hurt on Mrs. Summers' and Giles' faces, remembered how worried they'd all been. If the Council hadn't decided to let Kendra stay they'd have been in real trouble, targets of any vengeful demon wishing to pick them off one by one.
Just the thought of Kendra was enough to make his anger ebb away. They'd bonded during her week long hospital stay, he'd visited her and Willow every day. Then on the day she was to be replaced from hospital, Kendra had kissed him fervently, clumsily, inexpertly, but very passionately. He laughed to himself as he remembered his confusion and the suddenly blushing Slayer explaining that 'Mr. Giles' had told her that it was who had saved her life. Then she'd asked if it was alright if she kissed him again. And they'd been dating ever since.
"Hiya boytoy," a slight yet curvy figure stepped out of the shadows and into the alley light.
* * *
Faith looked at the teen stood in the alley and smirked. She'd only arrived in Sunnydale three days ago and already she was pissed off. She'd come here looking for help from the legendary Buffy Summers and found instead a sneering snob and a gang of sheep. Except for the Xander guy, he was kinda cute in a geeky way, lousy dress sense though, but stealing a rocket launcher from an army base. That was definite potential. "Wanna go party, bang bodies maybe?" she began to swing her slender hips rhythmically and lent slightly forward to give the youth a tempting view of her ample cleavage.
The teen coloured. "As tempting as the offer is I've got a girlfriend."
"So?" she stalked closer to the youth. "She doesn't have to know, does she?"
"Look me and Ken are going to the pictures. Do you want to come along?"
Faith stepped back, her brow furrowed in confusion. She hadn't been rejected by a guy in years; hell she knew she had the goods to turn a gay man straight. And this geek was going to turn her down? On the other hand, she didn't want to go back to the 'roach-pit she was crashing at and be hassled by the manager about how if she couldn't find the rent there were other ways a pretty girl like her could pay her way - the guy was fifty at least, even she had standards. And she wanted to meet the other Slayer too; she couldn't be as bad as the other bitch. Finally she nodded. "Five by five," the Slayer's lips pursed up in disdain as she remembered something, damn she'd have to stop at her crib after all. "I've got to stop off somewhere first."
"No hurry, I've got nearly an hour before I have to meet Ken. I just couldn't stand the air in there anymore."
Faith grinned. "You too uh?"
"You're staying here?"
Faith glared at the guy by her side, the trip to the hotel had been fun, her new-found companion was a witty dude with a ton of entertaining stories about Slaying but that didn't give him the right to criticise. "Look it's all I can afford okay?" she snarled defensively.
The youth raised his hands. "Calm down Faith," the teen said gently. "It wasn't a dig, it's just I saw at least two drug deals going down outside and one hooker propositioning a john. This is no place for -," Xander smiled. "Grab your stuff; I know where you can stay."
Ah here it came, Faith felt her stomach clench. She thought he was a stand- up guy, really just wanted to be her bud. She should have known better. He was the same as all the rest though, only wanted her for one thing, wanted her to move in with him so she'd be 'grateful enough' to do whatever kinky shit he and his friends were into. "With you?" she was careful to keep her tone neutral.
She was surprised when the youth shook his head. "God no, I wouldn't inflict my family on a friend. I figured you could stay with Giles and Ken, he's your Watcher after all." The boy raised an eyebrow. "So are you packing then?"
A friend? Faith hid a grin as she started to pick up the clothing scattered across the floor and the bed. Maybe he was on the level after all. "You helping or what?"
"Help a woman pick up her underwear?" Xander shuddered theatrically. "Don't think so."
Faith winked at the teen. "Would it help if I told you I didn't wear any?"
Xander coloured. "Not really no."
Her laugh died when the hotel room door swung open to reveal the pot- bellied bastard who managed the place, his habitual leer firmly in place. Fuck, she'd forgot to lock the door. "Hello Faithie," the man whined at her, "Have you thought about my offer?" The manager's muddy grey eyes narrowed as he noticed her new friend. "Who the hell are you?"
"A friend of Faith's," Xander's eyes didn't move from the manager. "Got your stuff Faith?"
"Yeah."
Her friend nodded. "Let's go."
Xander started towards the door only for the manager to block the way. "She's not going anywhere until she's paid off her debt one way or another."
"That right?" Faith blinked as Xander's right fist flicked up and smashed into the man's throat. The manager's face turned purple before he slumped gasping to the floor. "You should pay people to live here not charge. Coming Faith?"
"Yeah Xand, nice punch by the way," she complimented as she stepped over the manager's gasping frame. "Soldier boy?"
"Yep."
* * *
"How come you got a key to the Watcher's house Xand?"
Her new friend shrugged. "Giles gave me a key for when things get too heavy at home."
Too heavy? Sensing her friend's discomfort she changed the subject. "So what's Watcher Guy like?"
"Pretty cool, don't tell him I said that though. I like to keep the G-Man on his toes," the door swung open and the youth leaned into the house. "Ken! G-Man! It's only me," Xander turned to her. "After you Faith."
The Slayer blinked. Polite too, shame he was taken, a smile flickered across her lips, still that shouldn't be a problem; she'd took guys off other girls before. She'd barely stepped into the hall-way when a man appeared in the lounge door-way. Faith gave him the once-over, cute in an older, intelligent kinda way. Maybe doable.
The man smiled politely at her before turning to her friend. "Hello Xander, and who is your friend?"
Xander opened his mouth only to be cut off when a coffee-coloured whirlwind raced downstairs and engulfed the youth in a bear-hug. Ignoring the wave of jealousy that hit her, Faith turned to the older man. "I'm Faith, the new Slayer on the block."
"Really?" the Englishman took off his glasses and began polishing at them with a ferocity that threatened to wear the lenses away. "This is most surprising. And where is your Watcher?"
Faith glanced down at her feet. It still hurt to think about Lorraine, the first person to ever really care about her. She'd planned to lie but now she'd started to trust Xander and if he said the Watcher was five by five. "She's dead."
"Oh dear," the Englishman sounded sympathetic. "And where might you be staying?"
"Here."
The Englishman looked towards her new bud in surprise. "I beg your pardon?"
Xander sighed. "G-Man, she was living in a fleapit of a motel with hookers, winos, junkies, and dealers. Is that any place for a young girl?"
"True, but surely -."
"There's somewhere else? Buffy's? Well she and Buffy haven't exactly hit it off -."
"There's a fucking understatement," Faith muttered, spoilt bitch.
"My place?" the young man continued with a harsh laugh. "The Swiss Family Harris? Well yeah, my dad would love a chance to have a perv. And I can just see Willow or Cordy's folks taking her in. Besides," the teen paused, "you're a Watcher she's your responsibility."
The Englishman let out a groan. "Not one, not two, but three Slayers and a Xander? Surely I wasn't that bad in the seventies." Faith scowled, what the fuck was that supposed to mean? The Englishman turned to her. "Would you have any objection to sharing a room with Kendra?"
Suddenly hesitant, Faith glanced towards her counterpart. She found herself replying to the girl's infectious smile with one of her own. There was just something about the girl she instinctively liked, maybe she wouldn't try and steal Xand from her after all. She nodded and affected a casual tone. "Nah, that's five by five. Just as long as I've got a floor to lie on and a few sheets to keep me warm." She'd slept on far worse.
"A floor?" the Englishman sounded mortally offended. "I think we can do rather better than that. Kendra, can you and Faith go into the attic and get out the camp bed please. Xander, could you join me in the lounge?"
* * *
Giles stared at the youth sat opposite. The rift that had grown between Xander, Kendra, and the others saddened him. He was supposed it was inevitable after Buffy's behaviour, as always Willow had followed Buffy's lead but Xander had been forthright in his criticism and if there was one thing Buffy didn't take well it was criticism. He'd found it difficult to forgive Buffy too, but he had a job to do and Kendra's welfare to consider. And this Faith too apparently. "How sure are you that Faith's a Slayer?"
"I don't know G-Man," Xander's eyes danced with merriment. "Super-hot teen babe with Jackie Chan's moves and Arnie's strength who I happened to see staking a vampire as casual as you or I would clean our teeth. You do the math." The youth's face grew serious. "What worries me is what she's running from."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Look at the facts G-Man." The young man leaned forward, his eyes intent. "What's a sixteen year old east coast girl doing on the west coast specifically looking for Buffy while staying at the worse fleapit in town? Desperate much?"
Giles nodded; as usual Xander showed himself to be rather more perceptive than one would expect given his image. "Do you have any idea what she's running from?"
He was disappointed when the youth shook his head. "I don't know but I'm planning to take her and Ken out tonight, maybe get her to open up a little."
"In that case," Giles dug out his wallet and pulled out a trio of twenty dollar bills. "Take this."
Xander shook his head. "I've got money thanks."
"Xander," Giles kept his tone soft but firm, "I've got plenty of money, my salary as a Watcher and librarian, as well as my family money. Moreover, making Faith feel part of the team is in effect Council business."
That last piece of logic did it. Smiling slightly Xander took the money. "Thanks G-Man."
* * *
"So what's" Faith effortlessly hefted her end of the camp bed, "G's kink?" Kendra looked at her in confusion, Faith attempted to explain. "What's his thing? Does he like to touch or be touched? Or does he just watch?" In her experience guys weren't nice unless they were getting something out of it - well maybe not Xander, maybe. She might as well know the ground rules before she decided if she could stay here.
Kendra looked shocked. "Mr. Giles is a perfect gentleman. He would never do anything unseemly!"
Faith raised a sceptical eyebrow. "My mistake." She supposed it was possible - two nice guys in one city, unlikely though. "What's Xand's story? What's he like when you get pelvic?"
Kendra's face crinkled up in puzzlement. "Get pelvic?"
"In the sack?" Kendra's confused expression didn't clear. "Between the sheets?" she tried again. "You know fucking?" dear god, did her sister Slayer even know the facts of life?
"Ah," Kendra coloured. "We haven't done anything like that, we're taking things slow. Xander wouldn't rush me he's too sweet to do that -."
This was one weird set-up. "So how come," she took the sheets Kendra offered her, "G lets all of the others help?"
"Xander and Willow didn't give Mr. Giles much choice. And Xander is the one who started the second line by giving Buffy CPR after she was drowned by the Master. And the third line by stopping the bleeding in my throat after Drusilla cut my throat."
"No way!" she was definitely sticking close to Xand, if nothing else it would improve her chances of staying alive. "So what's his family like, he's said stuff."
Kendra's face saddened. "I don't know much, I've only been to his house once. His dad was drunk and said I wasn't bad looking for a nigger so we left. I think he hits Xander."
Faith felt a surge of fury. Who the hell did the bastard think he was? "What about you and your family? What do they think about you living with G?"
Her counterpart glanced down at the floor. "Mr. Zabuto took me from my family when I was young, I don't remember them. Mr. Giles and Xander are the nearest I've ever had to family."
Faith's mouth dropped open. No wonder she kinda felt a bond with Kendra and Xand, they all shared the same lousy families. But maybe, she glanced hopefully around the room she now shared with Kendra - she'd never been in such a clean and tidy place, maybe she had a chance at a home now.
* * *
Faith beamed as she walked out of the cinema with her two new friends. She'd had the best night, seen a great movie, had food and drink bought for her, and without having to put out either. And her companions were pretty cool. Xander was wicked funny but real polite too while Kendra had a sort of engaging sweetness that meant she couldn't help but like her. Her with two friends, who'd have thought it? "What next?" they could go to a club or something; she didn't want tonight to end.
Xander glanced at his watch. "It's nearly eleven. You better walk me home and then go home yourselves."
"Walk you home Xman?" Faith pushed aside her disappointment to grin at the teen. "Shouldn't you walk us home and then go home yourself?"
"Not if you're the Slayers and we're living in Sunnydale," Xander replied dryly.
"Five by five," Faith nodded, "but the night's too young to go home yet guys. Can't we hit a club for a few hours," she wheedled.
"Faith!" Kendra sounded scandalised. "Mr. Giles has a strict curfew for us. The nights we don't patrol we have to be in for half past eleven for school."
School? She so didn't like the sound of that; she hadn't been to school since junior high. "School? I don't do -."
"Oh Faith, you don't have to worry about school."
The Slayer's blood chilled as she stared at the hulking figure who'd stepped out of the shadows. Kaktosis, the master vampire who'd killed Lorraine and with a whole bunch of other vamps backing him up. "Run!" grabbing Xander by his arm she yelled to her counterpart. "Down the alley Ken!"
She soon realised they couldn't out-run their pursuers, not with an already heavily-sweating Xander slowing them down. She considered the option of the dumping the male then discarded it, Ken would never go for it, and he'd treated her nice. He deserved better. "Ken in here!" a single kick sent a near-by warehouse door flying. They'd have to make a stand.
"Well Faith," the giant vampire followed them into the warehouse a few seconds later. "You've led up a merry dance. But now it ends," Kaktosis smiled.
Kendra and Xander charged into the fight but Faith was frozen. All she could see was Lorraine's agonised face, all she could hear was her Watcher's screams, and smell was the Englishwoman's flesh burning had tortured her. "Faith, I'm disappointed in you," Kaktosis taunted as he approached her, "I expected more of a fight from you, you seemed so spirited."
"Fight this!" Faith watched in disbelief as Xander, a normal, leapt fearlessly at the master vampire only for the vampire to contemptuously back-hand the youth into a stack of wooden crates, splintering them and spilling fruit out on the floor.
"Xander!" the sight of her friend's crumpled body was enough to galvanise the Slayer into action. She wasn't about to allow the bastard to get away with hurting her bud. Spinning round she pulled away one of the roof's wooden supports and threw it splintered end first at the vampire. She grinned as her makeshift stake hit Kaktosis and her nemesis exploded into dust before running over to her dazed friend. "Xman, you five by five?" she asked, a note of unaccustomed softness in her voice.
Her friend nodded then winced. "Help Kendra," Xander gasped his voice weak.
Faith glanced up and cursed. Her fellow Slayer was being out-gunned by a quartet of vampires. After taking a second for another glance at Xander she raced over to Kendra. One of the vampires, seeing her approach, turned and retreated from the warehouse leaving only three.
The brunette leapt into a flying drop-kick to slam into the nearest vampire's chest. She hit the ground on top of the vampire and grinned down at the demon as she slammed a stake into its heart. "Sucks to be you."
Looking up she saw Kendra stake one of the two remaining vampire, and the other turn to run only for her companion to throw her stake through the vampire's back. "Nice shot," she praised weakly. Faith managed not to flinch when Kendra turned her angry eyes on her. She'd fucked up again. Found two good friends and pissed them off by hiding the truth, her ma was right, she was a worthless slut. "Yeah, I guess I've got some stuff to tell ya."
Ten minutes later and she'd finished telling them about Kaktosis. Her head dropped as she turned away from Xander and Kendra, determined not to cry. It wasn't fair, she hadn't meant for anyone to get hurt. "Faith, I've got something to say."
The Slayer took a breath and turned to face Xander, wincing slightly at the egg sized bruise on his forehead and his grazed right cheek, here it came the yelling and cursing, well she deserved it. "Are all your exes like him? Because if we're going to be friends I'm definitely vetting your boyfriends."
Faith's mouth dropped open as the import of Xander's words hit her. Covering the dusty floor in a blur she picked up the surprised youth in a hug. "Thanks Xand," tears streamed down her face.
"That's alright Faith. Now can you put me down please? Jealous girlfriend, oxygen depravation issues, and ribs cracking."
"Um, sorry," remembering her image she lowered the youth. "We five by five too Ken?" After a second the other Slayer nodded. "Wicked!"
* * *
"I don't know where Xander gets off talking to me like that!" Buffy muttered as she walked through one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries. That traitor, first he takes up with Kendra, and now she'd seen him walking off with that low-class bitch Faith!
The blonde stopped her mutterings as she heard a growling in the undergrowth ahead of her. Drawing her stake she started forward only to stop when she recognised the naked figure on the ground. Her stake fell from nerveless fingers. "Angel."
"I've got to go," Xander glanced at his watch before standing. "I'm meeting Ken at the G-Man's."
"But we've hardly hung out since I got back."
Once the pout that accompanied Buffy's words would have melted his heart and snapped his resolve but now it bounced off him like a bullet off Superman's skin. "Yeah but sometimes people grow apart. Particularly when people run away from their friends and responsibilities," Xander turned away from the stunned Slayer and to the others. "Will, Oz, Cordy, see you at school tomorrow."
Turning he hurried out of the Bronze, still fuming at his exchange with Buffy. The others might fall at Princess Buffy's feet when she saunters back into town after running away for months but not him. He'd seen the hurt on Mrs. Summers' and Giles' faces, remembered how worried they'd all been. If the Council hadn't decided to let Kendra stay they'd have been in real trouble, targets of any vengeful demon wishing to pick them off one by one.
Just the thought of Kendra was enough to make his anger ebb away. They'd bonded during her week long hospital stay, he'd visited her and Willow every day. Then on the day she was to be replaced from hospital, Kendra had kissed him fervently, clumsily, inexpertly, but very passionately. He laughed to himself as he remembered his confusion and the suddenly blushing Slayer explaining that 'Mr. Giles' had told her that it was who had saved her life. Then she'd asked if it was alright if she kissed him again. And they'd been dating ever since.
"Hiya boytoy," a slight yet curvy figure stepped out of the shadows and into the alley light.
* * *
Faith looked at the teen stood in the alley and smirked. She'd only arrived in Sunnydale three days ago and already she was pissed off. She'd come here looking for help from the legendary Buffy Summers and found instead a sneering snob and a gang of sheep. Except for the Xander guy, he was kinda cute in a geeky way, lousy dress sense though, but stealing a rocket launcher from an army base. That was definite potential. "Wanna go party, bang bodies maybe?" she began to swing her slender hips rhythmically and lent slightly forward to give the youth a tempting view of her ample cleavage.
The teen coloured. "As tempting as the offer is I've got a girlfriend."
"So?" she stalked closer to the youth. "She doesn't have to know, does she?"
"Look me and Ken are going to the pictures. Do you want to come along?"
Faith stepped back, her brow furrowed in confusion. She hadn't been rejected by a guy in years; hell she knew she had the goods to turn a gay man straight. And this geek was going to turn her down? On the other hand, she didn't want to go back to the 'roach-pit she was crashing at and be hassled by the manager about how if she couldn't find the rent there were other ways a pretty girl like her could pay her way - the guy was fifty at least, even she had standards. And she wanted to meet the other Slayer too; she couldn't be as bad as the other bitch. Finally she nodded. "Five by five," the Slayer's lips pursed up in disdain as she remembered something, damn she'd have to stop at her crib after all. "I've got to stop off somewhere first."
"No hurry, I've got nearly an hour before I have to meet Ken. I just couldn't stand the air in there anymore."
Faith grinned. "You too uh?"
"You're staying here?"
Faith glared at the guy by her side, the trip to the hotel had been fun, her new-found companion was a witty dude with a ton of entertaining stories about Slaying but that didn't give him the right to criticise. "Look it's all I can afford okay?" she snarled defensively.
The youth raised his hands. "Calm down Faith," the teen said gently. "It wasn't a dig, it's just I saw at least two drug deals going down outside and one hooker propositioning a john. This is no place for -," Xander smiled. "Grab your stuff; I know where you can stay."
Ah here it came, Faith felt her stomach clench. She thought he was a stand- up guy, really just wanted to be her bud. She should have known better. He was the same as all the rest though, only wanted her for one thing, wanted her to move in with him so she'd be 'grateful enough' to do whatever kinky shit he and his friends were into. "With you?" she was careful to keep her tone neutral.
She was surprised when the youth shook his head. "God no, I wouldn't inflict my family on a friend. I figured you could stay with Giles and Ken, he's your Watcher after all." The boy raised an eyebrow. "So are you packing then?"
A friend? Faith hid a grin as she started to pick up the clothing scattered across the floor and the bed. Maybe he was on the level after all. "You helping or what?"
"Help a woman pick up her underwear?" Xander shuddered theatrically. "Don't think so."
Faith winked at the teen. "Would it help if I told you I didn't wear any?"
Xander coloured. "Not really no."
Her laugh died when the hotel room door swung open to reveal the pot- bellied bastard who managed the place, his habitual leer firmly in place. Fuck, she'd forgot to lock the door. "Hello Faithie," the man whined at her, "Have you thought about my offer?" The manager's muddy grey eyes narrowed as he noticed her new friend. "Who the hell are you?"
"A friend of Faith's," Xander's eyes didn't move from the manager. "Got your stuff Faith?"
"Yeah."
Her friend nodded. "Let's go."
Xander started towards the door only for the manager to block the way. "She's not going anywhere until she's paid off her debt one way or another."
"That right?" Faith blinked as Xander's right fist flicked up and smashed into the man's throat. The manager's face turned purple before he slumped gasping to the floor. "You should pay people to live here not charge. Coming Faith?"
"Yeah Xand, nice punch by the way," she complimented as she stepped over the manager's gasping frame. "Soldier boy?"
"Yep."
* * *
"How come you got a key to the Watcher's house Xand?"
Her new friend shrugged. "Giles gave me a key for when things get too heavy at home."
Too heavy? Sensing her friend's discomfort she changed the subject. "So what's Watcher Guy like?"
"Pretty cool, don't tell him I said that though. I like to keep the G-Man on his toes," the door swung open and the youth leaned into the house. "Ken! G-Man! It's only me," Xander turned to her. "After you Faith."
The Slayer blinked. Polite too, shame he was taken, a smile flickered across her lips, still that shouldn't be a problem; she'd took guys off other girls before. She'd barely stepped into the hall-way when a man appeared in the lounge door-way. Faith gave him the once-over, cute in an older, intelligent kinda way. Maybe doable.
The man smiled politely at her before turning to her friend. "Hello Xander, and who is your friend?"
Xander opened his mouth only to be cut off when a coffee-coloured whirlwind raced downstairs and engulfed the youth in a bear-hug. Ignoring the wave of jealousy that hit her, Faith turned to the older man. "I'm Faith, the new Slayer on the block."
"Really?" the Englishman took off his glasses and began polishing at them with a ferocity that threatened to wear the lenses away. "This is most surprising. And where is your Watcher?"
Faith glanced down at her feet. It still hurt to think about Lorraine, the first person to ever really care about her. She'd planned to lie but now she'd started to trust Xander and if he said the Watcher was five by five. "She's dead."
"Oh dear," the Englishman sounded sympathetic. "And where might you be staying?"
"Here."
The Englishman looked towards her new bud in surprise. "I beg your pardon?"
Xander sighed. "G-Man, she was living in a fleapit of a motel with hookers, winos, junkies, and dealers. Is that any place for a young girl?"
"True, but surely -."
"There's somewhere else? Buffy's? Well she and Buffy haven't exactly hit it off -."
"There's a fucking understatement," Faith muttered, spoilt bitch.
"My place?" the young man continued with a harsh laugh. "The Swiss Family Harris? Well yeah, my dad would love a chance to have a perv. And I can just see Willow or Cordy's folks taking her in. Besides," the teen paused, "you're a Watcher she's your responsibility."
The Englishman let out a groan. "Not one, not two, but three Slayers and a Xander? Surely I wasn't that bad in the seventies." Faith scowled, what the fuck was that supposed to mean? The Englishman turned to her. "Would you have any objection to sharing a room with Kendra?"
Suddenly hesitant, Faith glanced towards her counterpart. She found herself replying to the girl's infectious smile with one of her own. There was just something about the girl she instinctively liked, maybe she wouldn't try and steal Xand from her after all. She nodded and affected a casual tone. "Nah, that's five by five. Just as long as I've got a floor to lie on and a few sheets to keep me warm." She'd slept on far worse.
"A floor?" the Englishman sounded mortally offended. "I think we can do rather better than that. Kendra, can you and Faith go into the attic and get out the camp bed please. Xander, could you join me in the lounge?"
* * *
Giles stared at the youth sat opposite. The rift that had grown between Xander, Kendra, and the others saddened him. He was supposed it was inevitable after Buffy's behaviour, as always Willow had followed Buffy's lead but Xander had been forthright in his criticism and if there was one thing Buffy didn't take well it was criticism. He'd found it difficult to forgive Buffy too, but he had a job to do and Kendra's welfare to consider. And this Faith too apparently. "How sure are you that Faith's a Slayer?"
"I don't know G-Man," Xander's eyes danced with merriment. "Super-hot teen babe with Jackie Chan's moves and Arnie's strength who I happened to see staking a vampire as casual as you or I would clean our teeth. You do the math." The youth's face grew serious. "What worries me is what she's running from."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Look at the facts G-Man." The young man leaned forward, his eyes intent. "What's a sixteen year old east coast girl doing on the west coast specifically looking for Buffy while staying at the worse fleapit in town? Desperate much?"
Giles nodded; as usual Xander showed himself to be rather more perceptive than one would expect given his image. "Do you have any idea what she's running from?"
He was disappointed when the youth shook his head. "I don't know but I'm planning to take her and Ken out tonight, maybe get her to open up a little."
"In that case," Giles dug out his wallet and pulled out a trio of twenty dollar bills. "Take this."
Xander shook his head. "I've got money thanks."
"Xander," Giles kept his tone soft but firm, "I've got plenty of money, my salary as a Watcher and librarian, as well as my family money. Moreover, making Faith feel part of the team is in effect Council business."
That last piece of logic did it. Smiling slightly Xander took the money. "Thanks G-Man."
* * *
"So what's" Faith effortlessly hefted her end of the camp bed, "G's kink?" Kendra looked at her in confusion, Faith attempted to explain. "What's his thing? Does he like to touch or be touched? Or does he just watch?" In her experience guys weren't nice unless they were getting something out of it - well maybe not Xander, maybe. She might as well know the ground rules before she decided if she could stay here.
Kendra looked shocked. "Mr. Giles is a perfect gentleman. He would never do anything unseemly!"
Faith raised a sceptical eyebrow. "My mistake." She supposed it was possible - two nice guys in one city, unlikely though. "What's Xand's story? What's he like when you get pelvic?"
Kendra's face crinkled up in puzzlement. "Get pelvic?"
"In the sack?" Kendra's confused expression didn't clear. "Between the sheets?" she tried again. "You know fucking?" dear god, did her sister Slayer even know the facts of life?
"Ah," Kendra coloured. "We haven't done anything like that, we're taking things slow. Xander wouldn't rush me he's too sweet to do that -."
This was one weird set-up. "So how come," she took the sheets Kendra offered her, "G lets all of the others help?"
"Xander and Willow didn't give Mr. Giles much choice. And Xander is the one who started the second line by giving Buffy CPR after she was drowned by the Master. And the third line by stopping the bleeding in my throat after Drusilla cut my throat."
"No way!" she was definitely sticking close to Xand, if nothing else it would improve her chances of staying alive. "So what's his family like, he's said stuff."
Kendra's face saddened. "I don't know much, I've only been to his house once. His dad was drunk and said I wasn't bad looking for a nigger so we left. I think he hits Xander."
Faith felt a surge of fury. Who the hell did the bastard think he was? "What about you and your family? What do they think about you living with G?"
Her counterpart glanced down at the floor. "Mr. Zabuto took me from my family when I was young, I don't remember them. Mr. Giles and Xander are the nearest I've ever had to family."
Faith's mouth dropped open. No wonder she kinda felt a bond with Kendra and Xand, they all shared the same lousy families. But maybe, she glanced hopefully around the room she now shared with Kendra - she'd never been in such a clean and tidy place, maybe she had a chance at a home now.
* * *
Faith beamed as she walked out of the cinema with her two new friends. She'd had the best night, seen a great movie, had food and drink bought for her, and without having to put out either. And her companions were pretty cool. Xander was wicked funny but real polite too while Kendra had a sort of engaging sweetness that meant she couldn't help but like her. Her with two friends, who'd have thought it? "What next?" they could go to a club or something; she didn't want tonight to end.
Xander glanced at his watch. "It's nearly eleven. You better walk me home and then go home yourselves."
"Walk you home Xman?" Faith pushed aside her disappointment to grin at the teen. "Shouldn't you walk us home and then go home yourself?"
"Not if you're the Slayers and we're living in Sunnydale," Xander replied dryly.
"Five by five," Faith nodded, "but the night's too young to go home yet guys. Can't we hit a club for a few hours," she wheedled.
"Faith!" Kendra sounded scandalised. "Mr. Giles has a strict curfew for us. The nights we don't patrol we have to be in for half past eleven for school."
School? She so didn't like the sound of that; she hadn't been to school since junior high. "School? I don't do -."
"Oh Faith, you don't have to worry about school."
The Slayer's blood chilled as she stared at the hulking figure who'd stepped out of the shadows. Kaktosis, the master vampire who'd killed Lorraine and with a whole bunch of other vamps backing him up. "Run!" grabbing Xander by his arm she yelled to her counterpart. "Down the alley Ken!"
She soon realised they couldn't out-run their pursuers, not with an already heavily-sweating Xander slowing them down. She considered the option of the dumping the male then discarded it, Ken would never go for it, and he'd treated her nice. He deserved better. "Ken in here!" a single kick sent a near-by warehouse door flying. They'd have to make a stand.
"Well Faith," the giant vampire followed them into the warehouse a few seconds later. "You've led up a merry dance. But now it ends," Kaktosis smiled.
Kendra and Xander charged into the fight but Faith was frozen. All she could see was Lorraine's agonised face, all she could hear was her Watcher's screams, and smell was the Englishwoman's flesh burning had tortured her. "Faith, I'm disappointed in you," Kaktosis taunted as he approached her, "I expected more of a fight from you, you seemed so spirited."
"Fight this!" Faith watched in disbelief as Xander, a normal, leapt fearlessly at the master vampire only for the vampire to contemptuously back-hand the youth into a stack of wooden crates, splintering them and spilling fruit out on the floor.
"Xander!" the sight of her friend's crumpled body was enough to galvanise the Slayer into action. She wasn't about to allow the bastard to get away with hurting her bud. Spinning round she pulled away one of the roof's wooden supports and threw it splintered end first at the vampire. She grinned as her makeshift stake hit Kaktosis and her nemesis exploded into dust before running over to her dazed friend. "Xman, you five by five?" she asked, a note of unaccustomed softness in her voice.
Her friend nodded then winced. "Help Kendra," Xander gasped his voice weak.
Faith glanced up and cursed. Her fellow Slayer was being out-gunned by a quartet of vampires. After taking a second for another glance at Xander she raced over to Kendra. One of the vampires, seeing her approach, turned and retreated from the warehouse leaving only three.
The brunette leapt into a flying drop-kick to slam into the nearest vampire's chest. She hit the ground on top of the vampire and grinned down at the demon as she slammed a stake into its heart. "Sucks to be you."
Looking up she saw Kendra stake one of the two remaining vampire, and the other turn to run only for her companion to throw her stake through the vampire's back. "Nice shot," she praised weakly. Faith managed not to flinch when Kendra turned her angry eyes on her. She'd fucked up again. Found two good friends and pissed them off by hiding the truth, her ma was right, she was a worthless slut. "Yeah, I guess I've got some stuff to tell ya."
Ten minutes later and she'd finished telling them about Kaktosis. Her head dropped as she turned away from Xander and Kendra, determined not to cry. It wasn't fair, she hadn't meant for anyone to get hurt. "Faith, I've got something to say."
The Slayer took a breath and turned to face Xander, wincing slightly at the egg sized bruise on his forehead and his grazed right cheek, here it came the yelling and cursing, well she deserved it. "Are all your exes like him? Because if we're going to be friends I'm definitely vetting your boyfriends."
Faith's mouth dropped open as the import of Xander's words hit her. Covering the dusty floor in a blur she picked up the surprised youth in a hug. "Thanks Xand," tears streamed down her face.
"That's alright Faith. Now can you put me down please? Jealous girlfriend, oxygen depravation issues, and ribs cracking."
"Um, sorry," remembering her image she lowered the youth. "We five by five too Ken?" After a second the other Slayer nodded. "Wicked!"
* * *
"I don't know where Xander gets off talking to me like that!" Buffy muttered as she walked through one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries. That traitor, first he takes up with Kendra, and now she'd seen him walking off with that low-class bitch Faith!
The blonde stopped her mutterings as she heard a growling in the undergrowth ahead of her. Drawing her stake she started forward only to stop when she recognised the naked figure on the ground. Her stake fell from nerveless fingers. "Angel."