FIC: A Murder Of Crows (8?)
"Whoee!" Faith punched the air as the pool ball rattled home, proving once and for all the supremacy of the fairer sex. Spinning round, she smirked at her downcast companions. "Pay up looosers," she shoved out her palm for emphasis. Her grin widened as Johnno and Xander exchanged looks, sighed, and dug into their pockets to pull out a fiver each and slap them into her hand.
Faith was in heaven, she, the town skank, the worthless slut, had a home, a half-decent pop, and two great guys who didn't just want to bang her, although she knew both of them would jump at the chance, but liked her for her. Sure life wasn't perfect, she had to put up with B's constant whining about her pop nearly killing her undead love toy. Stupid bitch.
But it was still better than anything she'd experienced before.
Her smile faded as she glanced at her watch. "It's gone eleven, guys," she shook her head. Her having a curfew, fucking unreal. "We'll have to head out," she wondered at the shadow that flickered across Xander's face.
Shaking it off she grinned at Jonathan. "Thanks for the help with the homework Johnno, you're a real hero." She laughed at Johnno's predictable blush. He was so easy. "Come on," she looped her arms around her companions' shoulders, her newly bought leather jacket swinging open, revealing her skin-tight black spandex top underneath.
After dropping Jon off home Faith escorted Xander home, noting her friend's increasing reticence and his forced quips. Finally X stopped by the gate to his house and turned to her. "I'm fine from here Faith."
Ah, Faith's heart dropped like a stone, she got it now. X thought his family were too good to meet a low-rent bitch like her. Hiding her hurt behind a stony expression, she nodded curtly. "Sure X, see ya whenever." She turned away and started off, holding back her tears of disappointment. She'd thought X was different, well fuck him. Jonathan was the one then, he's been buzzed to introduce her to his 'rents.
Behind her she heard Xander open his front door and it slam shut behind him. "Boy! What were you doing with that trailer-trash!" Faith's hackles rose and she stopped at the man's gruff voice. Like father like son. "You'll mess up that sweet deal with that rich Chase girl!"
"Dad," X's voice was filled with something that made Faith's skin crawl and compelled her to turn. "Faith's not a slut, she's my frie-."
"Don't answer me back boy!" Faith exploded at the sound of fist hitting flesh. Before she knew it she was moving towards the house. The door flew off its hinges under a single kick. X's dad turned towards her, a stunned look on his ugly face. "What the-."
She caught the man with a powerful kick to the balls, slammed a knee into his chin as he doubled up, and thundered a left hook onto his temple, knocking him flat out. Faith turned to Xander, hiding a wince at the swelling area around his left eye. "Grab your things," she ordered. "You're coming home with me."
"But-."
"Do it X."
Hearing the sound of his front door being unlocked, he moved through to the hallway to remonstrate with his daughter for being late home. His mouth widened when he saw his daughter dragging his student through the front door. Faith groaned. "Oh crap."
"Harris!" Crow growled. "Get out of here! You are not using my -."
"Shut up pops!" his daughter grabbed the kid's head and turned it towards him, ignoring the youth's resistance. "Look what his pop did to him for standing up for me when he called me trailer-trash. I'm not letting my bud being beaten up, he's staying with us."
"He is not staying here!"
Jack felt a stab of guilt as the boy's shoulders slumped. "Yes sir," the boy turned to the doorway. "Thanks for helping me Faith. I'll see-."
Faith grabbed Xander's forearm, stopping the youth. "Shut up X!" Jack swallowed when his daughter's scorching gaze turned on him. "My bud leaves," she sneered. "I leave with him."
Jack considered putting his foot down. But then he could hardly discipline his daughter for showing loyalty to her friends. "Fine," he shrugged. "He can stay on the couch." He turned his eyes on Xander. "And you go near Faith's room and I'll kick your ass out, understand?"
Xander nodded meekly. "Yes sir. Thanks sir."
Jack stared at the boy, finally satisfied by his sincerity he nodded. "Faith, get him some sheets, then bed. No arguments." He resisted temptation to shake his head as he walked out of the lounge. As if life wasn't complicated enough.
Jack looked across his kitchen table. He watched with surprising concern as his daughter gently tried without success to get Xander to talk. Fuck, he resisted the urge to shake his head, being a dad was making him soft.
He was surprised to admit that he wouldn't change it for the wild old days. Seeing his girl's smile, the spark in her eyes, hearing her laugh, feeling pride at her accomplishments and heart, what was the temporary high of whoring and drinking next to that? His only regret was the lost years and the pain his girl had endured. The pain that his daughter's bud, he glanced at the silent boy, was now going through.
Finally he came to a decision. "Harris," the boy's head snapped up at his voice, the fearful look in his eyes making him soften his tone. "If you're to be staying here, how about me and you go 'round to your house and get some of your stuff?"
"Wicked cool!" The glee on his daughter's face swept away his remaining doubts.
"That'd be good, sir," Xander nodded slightly.
"But I wanna," grabbing his daughter's arm, he dragged her into the porch, leaving Xander waiting aimlessly by the car.
"You've missed enough school, you're going to school!" Seeing the Bostonian's mouth open in protest, he continued in a slightly gentler tone. "Faith, the more people who are there, the more pressure Xander will feel."
The Slayer glared at him for a second before reluctantly nodding. "K, but you best make sure his pop doesn't get to hurt him."
"You think I'd let him?"
Xander swallowed as he approached his front door. "It'll be fine kid." He nodded, strangely comforted by the gruff man beside him. Sliding his key into the lock, he carefully turned it, hoping against hope that his parents were either out, or at least still sleeping off last night's hangovers.
Hearing the lock click, he eased the door open. His heart dropped at the slurred voice that greeted him. "X.xxanderzzz?" his mom's voice came out from the front room, he coloured at the grunt from his companion. Great, an audience for his humiliation. Just what he wanted. "Dadddyzz wasn't," his mom belched. "Pleased with youze," his mother appeared in the doorway, "yourse new girl is a real fire-cracker."
"J…Jessica?" he glanced behind him to see an ashen faced Crow staring at his mother, the veteran vamp hunter's eyes bulging. "Y..you?" the man glanced towards him, jaw dropping open. "Oh crap."
"H…he's my bro?" Faith's legs felt suddenly weak, after a second she slumped onto one of their lounge's chairs. She glanced from Xan to her dad, waiting for one of them to laugh and yell 'fooled ya!'. When neither spoke she blurted out. "But I nearly-."
"Nearly what?"
"Uh, nothing," Faith cast her eyes down so to avoid her pop's, shit their pop's, gaze. Best not mention she was thinking of taking X for a spin, that would only add to the general surrealness of the moment. "How did this happen?"
"Uh," Faith was surprised when Crow looked embarrassed. "I saved Xander's mom from a vampire in '80 and sorta talked my way," the veteran demon hunter coughed. "Anyway," Jack turned to her newly-discovered brother, his eyes unexpectedly nervous. "There's a place for you here Xander. If you want it."
Xander looked more than reluctant. "Well I don'-."
"You know," Faith decided to throw her cap into the ring. "When I was kid, growing up in Boston, the one thing I wanted more than anything," well other than a mom who actually gave a shit, "was a bro or sis to hang with. I got so jealous of the kids who weren't only children, who actually belonged." She felt a barely-remembered pain constrict her chest. Ignoring the tightening, she continued. "And if I was to ask for a brother I can't think of anyone I'd want more than you, X."
There was a long pause before Xander nodded. "I… I guess I could give it a try."
"Great," relief flooded their pop's face. After shooting her a grateful glance, Crow stood. "I'm going out for a while. Faith," Crow glanced at her, "help Xander move his stuff into the back room. Xander, make a list of any things you need."
Jack shoved the door to the dark bar open, the sounds of the jukebox playing early 80s power ballads and the mingled smell of smoke and booze washing over him. He stood in the doorway, his cold eyes searching through the shadows for the man he'd come for. Finally he saw him, a fat, tall man sat by the counter supping at a glass of whiskey.
He weaved towards his target, his easy grace taking him past frilly-skirted waitresses and boisterous patrons alike. Drawing his gun, he shot out the jukebox behind the bar just as he reached the man, grabbed his drink and threw it in his eyes before the glass into the drinks cabinet. The man turned to him, eyes tearing from the fiery liquid. "What the -."
He punched the man in the throat, sending him gurgling to his knees. Sensing people approaching, he spoke, his voice cold. "This man has beaten my son and his wife for the past eighteen years," he stamped on the man's fingers, breaking two. "Anyone got a problem with this, step forward."
When no-one reacted, he grabbed Harris by his throat, dragging him to his feet before driving a knee into his groin. Harris croaked before dropping back to his knees. No stamina. Next, Crow grabbed his adversary and drove his head into the bar counter, splintering the wood with the force of the impact. "What you do with Jessica is your own business," he growled. "But you even look at Xander again, and I'll bury you." Turning, he strode out of the bar, the hushed crowd parting in front of him.
He kinda felt like Moses.
Faith walked down the school corridor, conscious but uncaring that people were whispering about her and X. You didn't grow up with a whore for your mom and not get gossiped about. No, she peered around a corner, she had other concerns. Seeing the person she was looking for, she ran up to him, grabbed him by his shoulder, and spun him round to face her. "Hey Johnno, I thought we were meeting for lunch?"
Jonathan shrugged and looked down to the floor. "I figured you wouldn't need me around, now you've got Xander."
Faith stared at her friend in confusion. "Why the hell would you think that?"
"He's funny and better looking than me," Jonathan shrugged. "I know you only hang with me because you feel sorry-."
Faith interrupted her friend by pressing her lips to his, cupping his face in her hands even as she expertly worked her tongue into his mouth. She pulled out of the kiss and ruffled the bemused boy's hair. "You're an idiot," she accused before taking his hand. "You can never have enough friends. 'Specially when they're sweet, kind, and smart like you. Now let's get out of here, making-out time's going a wasting."
"Y…you-."
"You treat me better than any guy before," she interrupted. "We're dating, get it?" The boy nodded meekly. "You know it makes sense." Shit, if she'd waited for him to ask….
Xander gulped as Cordelia cornered him in the corner of a sadly deserted classroom. "How could you do this to me?"
"Eh?" he was reasonably sure he hadn't done something socially unacceptable but he couldn't be sure. With his beautiful but status-obsessed girl-friend it was so hard to tell.
"I mean I know Tony and Jessica are beyond lame." Xander opened his mouth to protest then closed it. It wasn't like he felt any great urge to defend his parents. "But at least you weren't a bastard!" Again he opened his mouth. Again he closed it. Generally it was easier than arguing. "And Faith's your sister." Cordy's eyes widened. "The sister you liked. Beyond ugh," Cordy's beautiful mouth twisted into a hideous grimace. "You wouldn't be related to Jerry Lee Lewis too by any chance?"
"I didn't fancy her," Xander was finally moved to mutter. "And even if I did I couldn't be blamed it's not like I kn -."
"Ah! SO you admit it!" His girl-friend repeatedly poked him into his chest. "Well they'll be no in-breeding on my watch, mister!" Cordy tapped her foot thoughtfully on the classroom floor, the sound echoing through the empty room. "Still, Faith has potential. She's pretty enough, and if she's with me, no one will pick on her." Xander blinked. Even without her powers, who in their right mind would pick on Faith? Someone with a death-wish that's who. Suddenly his girl-friend's face brightened. "I'm glad we had this talk, it helped me come to a decision."
"So am I," Xander stared after his girl-friend as the brunette raced out of the room. "Just what have we decided?" Shaking his head, he remembered there was something else he had to do. "Oh great." Suddenly his chat with Cordelia didn't seem quite so hard.
"You!" Crow blinked when his newly-discovered son's girl-friend strode up to him as he parked his car on his apartment drive, the look on her face imperious. "We have to talk!"
Crow gulped. "Oh crap."
"Hey."
Willow quickly wiped her eyes before turning to regard the teen stood in the doorway of her room. She forced a quavering smile. "Hey," she replied.
Xander's face creased in concern. It only took him a second to cross the room and then she was in his arms. "Will," her childhood friend exclaimed. "What's wrong?"
"You've got Cordelia," Willow's bottom lip quivered. "And I'm happy for you, she's not as bad as I thought. But now there's Faith, your sister, for real sister. Not girl you're just friends with. You don't need me anymore."
"Hey, hey," Xander pulled her to arm's length and stared into her eyes. "First day of kindergarten. You cried because you broke the yellow crayon, and you were too afraid to tell anyone. You're my oldest and best friend, and always will be."
"P..promise?" she whispered.
"Promise."
Faith looked up as her bedroom door swung open. She blinked as X's girl-friend entered. Since she'd arrived in Sunnyd she'd been content to just ignore the cheerleader, having nothing in common with her. "What's the sitch C?"
"I've decided you need to be taught how to dress!" the cheerleader exclaimed.
Faith blinked. "What's wrong with the way I dress?"
"You look like a low-class hooker!"
Faith hid a grimace. "How you think I should dress, like you?"
"Exactly," Cordy nodded.
"Ah," Faith nodded in understanding. "You think I should be aiming for the high-end of the market."
Queen C glared at her, there wasn't many people who could go glower for glower with her but C was definitely one of them. "Your dad has given me five thousand dollars to go out-."
"Five K?" Faith's mouth dropped open. Her pa had given Faith five k for clothes? Man.
"Yes I know," Cordy pulled her to her feet. "Hardly enough to create a new wardrobe. But we'll have to work with what we've got. Still it's enough to move you up to maybe HarmonyBuffy standard, much more suitable for the sister of my boy-friend. " She yelped as the cheerleader groped her chest before squeezing her right arm. "Yes, excellent muscle tone, good bone structure-."
Faith raised an eyebrow even as she tried to wriggle away from the Queen of Sunnydale's pokings. "Didn't know you swung that way C."
The cheerleader either ignored or didn't hear her mutterings. "But you use too much make-up and your clothes, they're okay for Slaying I suppose," she bristled at the cheerleader's comment. "But hardly suitable for the sister of my boyfriend. It's social status you see. Now, get your hand-bag, we're going to the mall."
"I don't have one," she replied as she dazedly picked up her wallet.
"Purse and handbag," she stared as the cheerleader wrote a note. "Another item to buy. Gucci I think. Come on," she yelped as the older girl grabbed her hand and dragged her through the door. "We're going to shop 'til we drop!"
"Oh joy."
"Look she's here!" Cordelia leapt to her feet, her face proud as Faith trudged into the library. "Doesn't she look just so?"
Faith stared challengingly around the sniggering Scoobies sat around the table, uncomfortable in her black knee-length, strapless dress, and hating the handbag she was clinging to. "Anyone wanna say something?"
As usual her Watcher appeared not to notice her ire. "Yes, I was wondering when Ken's going to turn up?"
"Ken?" Faith squinted at the Englishman. What the fuck was he talking about?
The middle-aged man smiled. "Well if you insist in dressing like a Barbie doll…"
"CORDELIA!"