(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Lyrics in this chapter taken from Rush's 1989/90 album Presto.)
Proud swagger out of the schoolyard
Waiting for the world's applause
Rebel without a conscience
Martyr without a cause
Buffy shrugged.
"'Kay, I dunno what this is, or what sort of spell you used Faith, BUT YOU ARE SICK!" placed her hands on her hips as her mouth numbly tossed out another lecture.
Faith stepped forward, extremely close to Buffy, looking down on the blonde slayer.
"Two things, B, 1) Tru is a real person who I did NOT create, and 2) I don't think you find me 'sick', I think you're just jealous it's not YOU I'm holding." Faith smirked as Buffy's eyes shrank into little slits.
"Shut up."
"Wow. No long 'blah blah blah, holier than thou, you're WRONG and I'm RIGHT' speech? You're losing your touch, B."
Faith grinned widely, her eyes closing momentarily.
Momentarily was long enough for Buffy to lunge out at her.
She didn't attack her though.
"MMMPH!" Faith managed to get out as Buffy pressed her lips roughly.
Tru stood on the sidelines, growing very angry and annoyed. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!" Tru screamed at the slayer, only growing angrier when the blonde slayer gave her the finger, still clutching at the back of Faith's head with strong hands.
She was helpless. There were two slayers that could beat her into school cafeteria mush, and there was nothing that she could do to save her love.
Tru's anger turned into self-doubt and disappointment when Faith didn't pull away.
She... she's kissing her back... oh my god...
Tears flooded from Tru's eyes just before she turned and ran 10 blocks to the morgue.
Static on your frequency
Electrical storm in your veins
Raging at unreachable glory
Straining at invisible chains
And now you're trembling on a rocky ledge
Staring down into a heartless sea
Can't face life on a razor's edge
Nothing's what you thought it would be
As soon as the brunette stepped inside the doors of her work, she could no longer hold back her feelings.
"FFFFFUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKK!!!!" she screamed at the top of her already stressed lungs before falling to her knees, sobbing loudly.
Davis sprinted out of his office to investigate the disturbance in his examinations.
"Tru? Tru! What's wrong?" He knelt beside her trembling body.
"NOTHING!" Tru answered, her voice quivering terribly.
"You must think I'm stupid if you think I'll believe that for even a second! Tru... Shh... tell me what's wrong...." He reached out to comfort her, but when his hand made contact she slapped it away viciously.
"PISS OFF DAVIS! THIS DOESN'T CONCERN YOU!" She yelled at the poor man, who was innocently crouched beside her, a worried frown on his face.
"Huh. Alright, Tru." He bit his lip, "I'll leave you alone, since you seem to want it so badly..." He started to get up.
God, I'm pushing everyone away today...
"No! Stay! I'm sorry...please...stay..." She pleaded, and he came back and crouched beside her again.
"Ok...I'll stay... but come into my office so you can be more comfortable, okay?" He asked. She nodded and strode her way into the morgue with a little help from her boss.
As she sat down, Davis gave her a quizzical look.
"Does this have anything to do with that girl... Faith? The slayer...?"
"No..." She looked at the ground as Davis' eyebrow raised.
"Yes..."
"Do you want to tell me what happened? I'll understand if you don't."
Tru looked up at him and gave him a closed-mouth smile.
"I'd rather not... but thanks... I think I should get to work now."
Yeah...work... lots of dead people. The empty look on their face is SO less depressing than this...God, I'm even twisted like Faith... I HATE THIS!
With every thought, Tru's face scrunched up into extreme emotions; pain, anger, depression, and fear all flew through her dark eyes.
All of us get lost in the darkness
Dreamers learn to steer by the stars
All of us do time in the gutter
Dreamers turn to look at the cars
Turn around and turn around and turn around
Turn around and walk the razor's edge
Don't turn your back And slam the door on me
Some random victim of some man's greed got wheeled in five minutes later, her pockets looted and her throat slashed.
"God I hate New York..." Tru whispered, right before the dead girl's head spun on it's neck and the corpse whispered a small 'help me'
It's not as if this barricade Blocks the only road It's not as if you're all alone In wanting to explode
Someone set a bad example Made surrender seem all right The act of a noble warrior Who lost the will to fight
Tru was rushed back to the yester-today and she woke up in a jolt, only to catch Faith sneaking out of bed.
"DAMMIT! God, you're a light sleeper! I tried to be quiet, but nooo..." Faith complained.
Tru just looked at her sadly.
"It's a do-over day Faith... I have to go save somebody... You were gonna leave me... then Buff-... nevermind... don't go by the Magazine Stands today okay? There's some bad stuff happening there."
Faith made a face and shrugged "Probably nothing I couldn't handle."
Tru shook her head and grabbed Faith's hand tightly.
"Please Faith. Promise me you won't go by the 'Stands today."
Faith frowned a bit. "Okay... since it means so much to you... I'll just go to the gym."
"I'll probably be done this case by noon... so... pick you up for lunch?" Tru asked, a begging tone in her voice.
Faith blinked repeatedly and her breathing kept hitching as if she was going to say something.
"OK. Sure."
Tru sighed and got up, hugging Faith tightly for a moment, before going off to get ready, leaving a confused Faith standing in her bedroom.
I almost got away... maybe this is a sign... maybe I'm not supposed to leave...I gotta keep my promise though... even if it wasn't for Tru, I should go to the gym.. getting' all flabby from that New York food...Her thoughts trailed off into unrelated questions and ideas.
And now you're trembling on a rocky ledge
Staring down into a heartless sea
Done with life on a razor's edge
Nothing's what you thought it would be
No hero in your tragedy
No daring in your escape
No salutes for your surrender
Nothing noble in your fate
Christ, what have you done?
(Author's notes #2 : = I heard this word somewhere and I don't remember where. Not my word, people. I think this, and chapter 9 will be the best (and longest) chapters so far. Sorry it took so long for updates, I had writers block grr . Anyways, hope ya like 'em.)