"Hello, Faith." Xander managed to choke out after a moment of shock and despair. She grinned at him as she stalked closer, her hips swaying seductively. "That's close enough Faith," He said, his hand moving between them.
"What's wrong, lover? Didn't you miss me?" She said, her eyes taking him in, "You're looking fitter then ever, all that black looks good on you," She said.
"I'm sorry Faith, I am sorry I couldn't stop them before they got to you," He said, his arms coming up in a defensive stance.
"Get to me, lover? I voulenteered. Power to take down Buffy, and anyone else in my way? Shit. I'd take that any day," She said. She smirked once more. "They haven't finished powerin' me up yet, so I can't have you killin them 'til they do, Boy toy."
"I won't let them do this to anyone else Faith, especially not you," Xander said. Faith cleared the distance between them in a single leap, throwing a punch at him mid-leap. Xander was caught off guard by her speed, she was faster then he remembered. That was all a moot point he decided, when her fist connected with his chin. The force of the blow knocked him off his feet and caused him to slide a short distance on his back. He started to get to his feet, shaking his head to clear it. Before he was fully to his feet she was on him again. A kick caught him at his hip-level cheek. He spun with the force, using it to preform a sweep that caught her at the back of her lower shin.
With a grunt she hit the ground, and Xander stood up, trying to get some room between them. She stronger and faster then he remembered, quiet possibly stronger and faster then him. He took a single step away from her, before she grabbed his foot and pulled him back down. Faith straddled his hips, and smiled down at him.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it?" She puntuated her sentance with a flurry of punches that slammed into Xander's armored head and face, causing his head to become rattled. With a roar, Xander rapped his hands around her wrists and squeezed with all his strength. She moaned in pain, Xander thrust his hips up, causing her to loose her placement. He rolled ontop of her and glared down at her.
"None I want to relive right at this moment, Faith," He gurgled at the end of the sentance as her legs wrapped around his waist and squeezed. Her hand came free of his, her wrist already healed, and caught his throat. She squeezed once his throat, choking him. Xander gasped as the pressure started to build. He pulled at her hand, tried to force her off. Everything he tried, she countered. Left with little choice, Xander did the one thing he really didn't want to.
Sknnt
Xander felt sick as the blade shot out of his wrist, the metalic blade gleamed in the floursent lighting. Faith followed the length of the blade to the tip with her eyes.
"It's not that big," She said. In he distraction Xander was able to free her hand from his throat. He gasped in prescious air for a moment, before slamming his forehead into hers. The adamantium skin over his foreheard, reinforced by the adamantium grafted to the ouside of his skull, bashed into Faiths nose. Her eyes rolled back and closed. He felt her go limp under him and he physically pulled himself out of her grasp. He stood, looking down at her.
"I can't just leave ya here all helpless, can I?" He asked, more to himself. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
"So you're leaving tomorrow?" Buffy asked, quietly. Scott only nodded in return. "If you hear anything about Xander..."
"You'll be the first one I call, Buffy," Scott said. "I have a bad feeling about all this, I think he is in trouble."
"Well that's obvious. Xander is always in trouble. Anytime someone needs saving, it's his thing. But he can never save himself." Buffy said with some sadness.
"That is why he has you, and now me and the X-men. I have a feeling that our next reunion will be sooner then the last." Scott said.
"So do I Scott, I just don't know if that is a good thing," Buffy said.
"Whatever happens, we'll get through it, we always do, Right?" Scott said. Buffy just nodded.
"Logan, contact Scott. Let him know I have lost contact with Xander. Also tell him I have reason to believe he will be heading to Sunnydale." Charles Xavier said. Looking at the offical boarding list for the flight to Texas, noticing Xander wasn't on it.
"Sure Chuck, but what about the Kid? I'd like to go after him. I know what he is going through, he's going to need help." Logan said.
"We can only hope that he realizes that also, Logan. If he doesn't the world may become a very dark place for that young man." Charles said softly.
The man known as Doctor Strange watched the events involving Xander unfold with sorrow on his face. He saw the boys destiny, he knew what had to be done. That didn't make putting the boy through all this hardship any easier.
"Have Faith," Strange said with a slight smirk, "and all will turn out well, Alexander."
"Allen I think we should leave, now." Walsh said, looking at the security moniter in front of her.
"I think it is a little late for that, Doctor." Allen said, his eyes looking at the only exit from the room.
"We have to do something!" She said, reaching for the computer.
"What would you have us do, Walsh? We will fight him, and we will lose, and he will kill us. It is what we deserve." Allen said.
"Don't tell me you're having an attack of a conscience, now." Walsh said.
"I suppose I am," He said, "I've heard if you're really sorry you can get into heaven anyway." sarcasm dripping from his tone. All conversations were cut short as the door in front of them burst open, revealing the black armored weapon they had created.
"It's ironic, don't you think?" Xander smirked, glaring at Walsh, "Well Mrs. Frankinstine, it's time to poney up the bill." Faith slung over his right shoulder and his left forearm blade pointed menacingly at her. Allen rushed at Xander, only to meet a boot to the face. He crumpled to the ground and Xander continued past him.
"We can work this out, Alexander," Walsh started. "Look at you, so powerful. You were nothing when I found you. Just a little boy in over his head. Cannon fodder. Now look at you. You've made me so proud."
"Proud? You are proud of this?" Xander asked, anger in his voice. "Well, I'm glad that I could be all that you made me." He dropped Faith on the ground uncermoniously.
"You are, you're nothing like the helpess child you were before. The child that couldn't even stop his father from beating him. Nevermind help that poor girl kill vampires. Nor could you save Faith, here, from the path that brought her to my doorstep. No Alexander, I knew she wouldn't stand a chance against you. You are perfect."
"Perfect anger. Perfect hatred. Prefect Revenge," Xander said, throwing the desk between them away.
"What is it that girl called you? The Zeppo?" Walsh asked, unflinching.
"Cordelia," He whispered. Something made him move, something he couldn't understand. He sway just so slightly to the left, barely avoiding the lamp that cut the air where he was a moment ago. He half turned and punched the apparently now awake Faith in the face. She fell back, away from him. Walsh decided that was distraction enough and launched herself at him. Xanders hand came up to defend himself, Blade still extended. He turned to look in the womans eyes as the life drained from them. They were accusing him. Accusing him of not being good enough, accusing him of being a loser. Finally they stared blankly, and Xander retracted the blade, Walsh fell lifelessly to the ground in front of him.
"I am the Zeppo no more," Xander whispered.
"Holy shit, X, you killed her. Damn man, I didn't think you had it in you." Faith said.
"It was an accident..." Xander started.
"Keep telling yourself that, Boytoy." Faith smirked. A loose vampire crashed into the office. Faith caught it and threw it, forcing it to impale on the now upturned table leg.
"Wow Faith, didn't know you were still in to stakin vamps," Xander said.
"It was an accident," Faith said.
"Keep telling yourself that, sweetie," Xander said with a sugary grin.
Xander half carried half dragged Faith out of Lowell House. Apparently most of the soldiers/staff left during his assault.
"Wow, who stays with a sinking boat anymore these days?" Xander asked of no one in particular. Of course, a screaming, punching, and yes, bitting Faith decided not to answer.
"You know, this would be so much easier if you would just walk," Xander said, ignoring the very upset young womans attempts to get free.
"Help! Pervert!" Faith screamed as a last resort.
"Now Faith, as I recall, you were most willing," Xander said.
"Let me go!" She screamed.
"Okay," Xander said, dropping her. She hit the ground with a thud and a groan.
"Thanks a lot, asshole." She mumbled from the ground.
"What was that darling?" Xander asked.
"I said," Faith said standing up, "Thanks a lot, asshole." She lifted her knee into his crotch and met nothing but metal. "Oww."
"That wasn't nice," Xander said.
"Yea well... I ain't sugar or spice or any of that sweet shit," Faith said.
"Yes, I know, and thats why everyone loves you," Xander said with a smirk.
"Shut up," Faith said.
"How rude," Xander said, a smooth confidence in his voice. That confidence was, of course, a facade. Inside, Xander was breaking down. He had killed Walsh, wheather he meant to or not. He wanted to do it and he had. What were you gonna do? Bust into her top secret lab, toss her toys around, and give her a warning? Well, yeah, that had been the plan. His inner monologue was cut short when Faith turned to run away.
"Where are you going to go?" Xander asked a familiar question as he grabbed her by the back of her shirt.
"I don't know," Faith said, "and it's none of you're damn buisness."
"You're wrong. I let you out of there. I set you free. I am responsible for you're actions, even if its only to myself. I'm sorry Faith but you aren't getting ten feet away from me." Xander said.
"Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. FUCK YOU!" Faith ranted. Xander watched her scream at him with an impassive gaze.
"Are you quite done?" Xander asked.
"Yah, all ya yappin is enough to raise the dead, you bloody bint." A voice said from behind Xander. His gaze turned in that direction, in time to see Spike walk out of the night.
"Hi Spike." Xander said.
"Hi Droopy!" Spike said with false cheerfulness.
"Bye Spike!" Xander said with heartfelt cheerfulness as his forearm blade extended and decapitated the rather annoying British vamp.
"Wow," Faith said quietly.
"Yeah, imagine that." Xander said. "What a way to make things all better, don't you think?" Xander said. Faith shrugged.
"So where to now, Boy Toy?" Faith asked.
"I think it's time we saw some mutual friends." Xander said. The results of this statement were predictible and Xander was forced to knock Faith unconscious, again.
"Alright, I'll talk to you later Logan, tell everyone I said hello. No don't worry I'll be careful with him." Scott said. He pressed the end button on his cell phone and closed it.
"What was that all about?" Buffy asked.
"That was Logan, another X-man, he said that Xander disappeared. They say he missed his flight to Texas for some reason, so they think he is coming here. I am supposed to stay here until he gets here," Scott said. The doorbell rung, which was followed by a shriek of "I got it".
"Xander?" Dawns voice came from the living room. Scott and Buffy rushed to the door. Standing in the porchlight was Xander, Faith slung over his shoulder, with a slight smile on his face.
"Hi honey, I'm home."