Author: Lucinda

similar to the series, with chances of violence and moderate sexuality

main characters: Riley, Buffy, mentions of Faith

Faith and Second Chances 12: Poisonous Words

disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

distribution: Wic, Paula, Cat - anyone else ask first.

set in season 4.

Riley made his way back towards Lowell House, his mind sorting over his schedule. Thanks to being Dr. Walsh's Teaching Assistant, he had the task of grading this batch of Psychology papers. Sixty seven papers, each supposed to be between five and ten pages, all about behavior adjustment therapies. He could already feel the headache coming on.

"Riley." Buffy's voice, calmer sounding now.

He looked at her, part of him wondering where she'd picked up the bruise that was starting to darken on her cheekbone, if she was standing with her weight on one foot due to injuries on patrol or simply to keep her feet from falling asleep. She looked thinner, as if she hadn't been eating well. With a sigh, he tried to push the concern back - they'd split up, by her choice. She wasn't his responsibility, not that she'd ever let him try to help. "Buffy. I didn't think there was anything left to say."

"You have no idea what kind of person she is, Riley." Buffy took a step closer, her eyes meeting his, as if she could make him listen just by looking into his eyes.

"This is about Faith?" He shook his head, amazed and appalled. Maybe Faith had been right when she'd said that Buffy didn't want to let him move on. "I have bigger problems than your issues with her."

"Riley, you really don't understand." Buffy insisted, one hand grabbing his arm. "She's dangerous."

"Funny that you're calling Faith dangerous when you're the one who gave me a sprained wrist." Riley glared back, remembering her hostility at their breakup. It had been an honest mistake on his part, how was he to know that Faith was in Buffy's body, anyhow? Buffy was probably exaggerating the whole 'Faith was evil' idea anyhow.

"What?" Buffy blinked, looking shocked. "I never... when are you trying to say that I hurt you?"

"Right before you walked out of my room, slammed the door and left whatever relationship we'd had in broken fragments on the floor, like the glass in front of the picture that used to hang on my wall." He tried to pry her fingers away from his arm, to no effect.

Buffy had the grace to glance away, looking embarrassed. "I didn't mean... umm, sorry?"

He just made a non-committal noise, uncertain if he believed her. "Why are you here, Buffy?"

"To warn you. Warn you about the sort of person that she really is." Buffy said, and then looked back up. "She's evil, Riley."

"Buffy, just because you don't like someone, that doesn't mean they're evil." He barely managed to keep from rolling his eyes at her.

"Riley, she betrayed us all last year. She almost killed my boyfriend, almost killed Willow, and very successfully killed several people for the big nasty bad guy. Faith was his personal hit woman, Riley. She's evil." Buffy was almost pleading with him to listen, her voice so intense, her eyes desperate.

"Killed..." Riley blinked, the words much harsher and darker than anything that he'd expected as the cause for Buffy's dislike. "You're telling me that Faith... That she..."

"Faith killed people. Up close and personal, normally with knives. She's dangerous and evil, Riley."

Riley swallowed hard. Faith had said that she'd done some things that she shouldn't, but he hadn't thought it would be that bad. He hadn't thought that she'd done anything really bad.

"I guess she hadn't told you then." Buffy's voice was softer, as if she was offering a bit of sympathy.

"No, she hadn't told me." Riley managed to force the words out.

"I guess she didn't think you'd like her anymore if she did. If you knew the truth about her." Buffy consoled. "But you needed to know."

Riley didn't say anything, but just shook off her hand. "I have things that I have to do, Buffy."

"Where are you going, Riley?" She called after him.

"I told you, I have things that I need to do. Responsibilities. Papers to grade. Commitments." He didn't look back. "Take care of yourself, Buffy."

"Riley? Are you... You don't have to walk away from me like this." Buffy sounded mournful, almost lonely.

"There's nothing but proximity anymore Buffy, remember?" He didn't look back. "You decided that it would be that way."

If only the things that she'd said would be as easy to walk away from. If only he didn't find himself wondering if there was any truth to them. He needed to figure out just how much...well, how much faith he had in Faith. And he'd best hope that it was deserved.

end F&2nd 12: Poisonous Words.