A/N: Poor fayt...I always like to cast him in angsty roles and torture situations. This one is a little bit of both...I think. Anyway, I still think it works and hopefully you do too.

Disclaimer: I own...diddly squat! How exciting.

Fayt had to be the strangest person Albel had ever met. He was a young, clean-cut college student. Straight A's, student leadership, honors classes, captain of the debate team, community service volunteer. He was a perfect role model. He certainly had no business being where he was.

This was Albel's alley, where Albel hung out to ditch classes and smoke. Everyone in the college town knew to avoid the street. But here was Fayt, completely oblivious to the danger he was in. Albel was likely to beat him up. He was a college student too. He as the captain of most of the sports teams, but he wasn't a team player. At one time or another he had been kicked off teams or disciplined for his attitude. If Albel was in a bad mood, anyone who came close to him was likely to get killed. Albel was in a bad mood pretty often so most people preferred to avoid him, just in case.

Yet here was Fayt. He probably though Albel was lonely or needed a friend. Albel scoffed at the idea. He didn't need anyone. He stamped out his cigarette as he watched Fayt walk down the alley towards him cheerfully. Albel was feeling generous. If the boy was just passing though, Albel would let him go, but if he tried to talk to him, Albel would spit on him to discourage any future attempts to be friendly.

Fayt stopped about a foot away from Albel, tightly clutching his books to his chest. "Please beat me up," Fayt said softly.

Albel raised an eyebrow. "Why should I? You haven't done anything worth the effort."

Fayt sighed. "Please just do it. I-I'll pay you ten bucks."

"Do you think I need the money that badly" Albel asked indignantly. "You're supposed to scream and struggle and then I take your money from you. You don't just roll over and give it to me without a fight."

Fayt smiled. "Good, you're getting mad. That's a good sign."

"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish or something?"

"If I said yes, would you hurt me?"

Albel snorted. "You're supposed to be a perfect student. Now go and look for trouble somewhere else."

"But…Albel, isn't it?" Fayt crept closer and tentatively placed his hand on Albel's shoulder.

Albel jerked away with a scowl. "Don't touch me!" he growled.

Fayt's eyes lit up. "Come on, you're almost there." He reached out his hand a second time."

Albel swatted the hand away angrily. "Goddamn. Fine, give e the damn money and I'll do it. Then will you leave me alone?"

Fayt beamed. "Yes, sit. That's all I want." He unfolded a crumpled ten and handed it to Albel who immediately pocketed it.

Fayt stood completely still s Albel made a fist. He didn't even flinch as Albel's fist connected with his nose. But as Albel's hand dropped back, Fayt blinked in surprise.

Fayt reached up a hand to tentatively touch his nose. "Ooh, I'm bleeding," he said happily.

Albel snorted and lit up another cigarette.

"Is that it?" Fayt asked mournfully.

"For ten bucks, yes," Albel said irritably. "Now get lost."

"Oh," Fayt said softly. He sighed and trudged away.

The next day, Fayt was back with forty dollars.

Albel let out an exasperated groan. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I brought more money," Fayt said hopefully.

"Why do you want me to beat you so badly? You've got to be insane. No normal person likes pain."

Fayt shrugged. "Well, I guess I'm not normal. But that's okay. I've accepted that."

"Why aren't you like all the other weirdos? Can't you cut yourself or do something about your pain cravings without involving me?"

"Because I'm lonely."

"Go get a girlfriend then," Albel snarled.

"I'm not particularly into girls," Fayt said softly. "Many girls I know wouldn't spend time with me because they're too materialistic."

"Sounds like exactly the type of girl you need, one that'll make you feel miserable."

Fayt frowned. "Besides, I couldn't give them any lover or attention. I'm too emotionally numb and besides, I have too much to do."

"You always find time to pester me."

"That's because I need to see you. I have to have pain just to make sure I'm still alive, that I can still feel."

"Damn, I thought I knocked sense into you yesterday but now you're worse. It's rather ironic that I should say this, but you need some serious help."

"Oh no, I don't need counseling or anything," Fayt said softly. "I just need some kind of pain to break the emptiness in my life."

"Emptiness? Shit, you're busy with all your advanced classes and stuff. How do you find time to be miserable?"

"That's the point. I don't want my whole life to be difficult classes and peer counseling. It's not boring, but it's rather repetitive. Nothing makes me feel anything anymore except pain. It hurts, but it makes me happy that I still feel."

Albel sighed. "What do you want me to do about your problem?"

Fayt smiled and pressed two twenties into Albel's hand. "You like to hurt people and I like to be hurt. It's a fair trade. And this time, I get four punches, right? Or maybe you can break an arm or crack a rib. Something that will last for awhile."

Albel groaned and once again stuffed the money in his pocket. "Okay, Fayt. Have it your way."

Albel pulled a knife out of his pocket, rolling his eyes at Fayt's delight. He aimed a kick at Fayt's chest, knocking him onto his back. Albel grabbed the front of Fayt's shirt and ripped in open and then drew a long, shallow cut down Fayt's chest. He yanked Fayt back to his feet and shoved him away.

Fayt smiled broadly. "Wow, I sure got my money's worth. Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah. Now just leave me alone."

"See you tomorrow,' Fayt said cheerfully. "And he ran off before Albel could protest.

"Damn that kid,' Albel grumbled. He sighed heavily. "Oh well, at least I know where I'll get my cigarette money from."