Smells Like Teen Spirit
Summary: One thing changes on the path back home for Xander. Begins at the Zeppo episode.
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"So, Buffy came up to me, hugged me, and told me she loves me in a friend way," Xander explained as he and Faith took a seat in his car to enjoy their breakfast, "Any comment?"
"…She appreciates you as a friend," Faith suggested weakly, and at Xander's look said, "Yeah, even I wasn't hot on that one."
"So, how much does she know," Xander asked, taking a bite out of his biscuit.
"…She figured out that you were still in love with Red," Faith confessed, "I didn't tell her anything till she got that far, I just confirmed it."
"…Eh, she would've found out anyway," Xander said, not genuinely bothered by her knowing that, "So long as she doesn't find out about the hyena stuff."
"She was actually kinda happy about it," at his look, she explained, "She figured that was why you cheated on Queen C. She was always confused about why you would cheat, but said it made sense since you were in love with Red."
"…I guess it does," Xander said, munching on his biscuit.
"…Xander," he looked at her, noting the use of his full name, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," Xander said with a smile, though he had a feeling he wasn't going to be happy about this.
"Why did you sleep with me," Faith asked, kinda afraid of the answer.
"…Faith," Xander started, "Are you sure you wanna have this conversation?"
"Yes, Xander, I do," Faith said, "It's just…you seem like such a nice guy, I don't get why you'd do something like that. I mean, even with it being me, I just kinda feel…disappointed in you for doing it."
"Well, that's nice to hear," Xander sighed, "Alright, you wanna know…here it is."
Faith leaned forward slightly, wanting to not miss anything.
"…That night, while Jack and his buds robbed the hardware store, Willow was buying stuff from the magic store across the street," Xander explained, "I saw her and we started talking. I tried to get her to tell me what was going on, but she was tight lipped about it…before she left in a hurry, though, she hugged me and said…she said 'I love you.'"
Faith winced in sympathy for him, knowing how that musta felt.
"After that, I just…I dunno, I felt lost and alone, then Jack and his buds came after me, and I was just…" he sighed, "I wanted to feel needed again. So, when you offered…"
"…You used me to feel needed again," Faith said, a sad look on her face, before she laughed sardonically and said, "Just like I used you to work off my energy."
"I felt guilty afterwards, so I kinda lashed out at you to make myself feel better," Xander explained, "…I'm sorry. Really, I am, I-"
"Hey, stop," Faith said, looking him in the eye, "C'mon, you and I both know that what happened that nigh wasn't about anyone being used," at his looked, she reiterated, "Ok, so it was about me using you and you used me, too, but, y'know what? If that hadn't happened, and if I hadn't run into you afterwards, we wouldn't be talking right now."
"…So, I guess what started out as nothing became something," Xander said thoughtfully, "A friendship."
"…Yeah," Faith said with a nod, "You're a good guy, X. Hell, if Red knew what she was missin' out on-"
"Ok, that's enough," Xander said stiffly, "I know that was to make me feel better, but…"
"Alright," Faith nodded.
An awkward silence descended on the two, so they just picked up eating. Eventually, they finished their food, and the bell rang, signifying that Xander had to be in class. Xander, of course, did not leave. He and Faith sat in the car for a few awkward moments, till Faith decided to do something about it.
"You wanna drop by my place," Faith asked.
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Jack grunted as he tossed the drugged body of his friend into the trunk, and Kyle unceremoniously dumped his other friend in the back. Heidi was in the driver's seat, preparing to take them to Sunnydale.
"So, how're we doin' this," Jack asked as he and Kyle sat down in the car.
"Simple," Heidi said, "Tonight, we'll take them to the zoo, then we'll possess them," Kyle cackled at that, knowing what delights they were in for, "Then, I'll break them, and you'll kill them."
"We should drop in on Rhonda," Jack said, "She should have another batch for us."
"I think you're right," Heidi agreed, "You and Kyle keep an eye on those two," at Jack's look, she hastily added, "She's afraid of me, but not of you, and she'll respond to me just like Kyle," she took one hand off the wheel and idly rubbed Kyle's hair with it, causing him to moan in pleasure.
"Fine," Jack said, "Tomorrow night, we strike."
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"What's up with Xander and Faith hanging out together so much," Willow asked.
Buffy snapped her pencil in half at that.
"Um," Buffy said, trying desperately to think of something that'd satisfy Willow.
"Buffy, you're hiding something," Willow said, staring at her, "You know what happens when you hide something from Willow?"
"…I try and keep it a secret till you break out the Resolve Face," Buffy admitted with a sigh, "Look, Wills, it's just….it's personal."
"Personal," that was the wrong thing to say, apparently, "With Xander…and Faith? What, are they going out or something?"
A look crossed Buffy's face.
"They are," Willow exclaimed, seeming crestfallen at the conclusion, "But…Xander…and, and…FAITH! With that skanky ho-bag?"
"Willow," Buffy exclaimed, shocked to hear such language from her meek friend.
"Ugh, Faith," Willow said to herself, "Anyone in the world but Faith."
"What's wrong with Faith," Buffy asked, feeling the need to defend her sister Slayer.
"She sleeps around, dresses like a slut, and isn't-" she abruptly paused, before saying, "Look, she just isn't right for him. How long have they been dating?"
"…Well, I guess they're not officially dating," Buffy said, looking for a way out.
"Good, then it shouldn't be to difficult to talk some sense into Xander," Willow said, but she caught Buffy's look, "What?"
"Don't you think you're kinda…I dunno, acting like a crazy person," Buffy said shyly, "I mean, you gave up Xander for Oz. That kinda means that you have no right to interfere in his love life."
"But…it's Faith," Willow said, as if that explained everything.
"And it's Xander," Buffy said, "I'm sorry, Will, but you're on your own if you wanna try and split them up. And, really, do you think your friendship with him could take a blow like that?"
In truth, Buffy had been worried for some time about her friends' friendship together. They had grown distant in the aftermath of the Fluke, and what with Xander still being in love with Willow…well, she remembered several disasters like that from her old high school. None of them ended with a hug.
"…I guess you're right," Willow muttered to herself, "I've been keeping Xander at two arms length from me for a while now, and…I guess we've kinda suffered for it."
"Well, you had to get Oz back, and you showed him that you're capable of maintaining your friendship with Xander while still remaining loyal to him," Buffy said, "I've seen both these kinda things before, Wills, and lemme tell ya…they usually don't end as well as they have. I mean, you and Oz broke up for about two weeks, tops, while Xander's had to live with the guilt, Cordelia's attitude, which is just mean no matter how much in the right she is, and you distancing yourself from him. Frankly, it's a miracle you two are still even friends."
Willow looked at her, a new light in her eyes. Sighing, Buffy turned away and hoped she'd done the right thing to help put Xander and Willow back together.
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"Y'know," Faith said, staring at Xander on the other side of her bed, "This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I invited you to my place."
"Beats the last time I was here," at Faith's look, he clarified, "Little to no chance of you kicking me out in nothing but my boxers."
"Well, not yet at least," Faith said with a smirk, "Of course, I didn't beat the pants of you like I have this time."
"Ah, but you didn't beat the pants off me," Xander responded with a smile, "At the moment, my pants are merely around my knees."
"Well, in that case," Faith lifted up her hand, "Prepare to be spanked!"
She brought her hand down.
"A7!"
"Miss," Xander replied casually, placing his white piece into the slot, "B9."
"Miss," Faith chorused, "So, seriously, are we gonna do it?"
"Maybe," Xander replied, amazed at his own ability to keep a straight face as he said that, "For right now, I wanna kick your ass in Battleship."
"Oh, please, if I were to toss these boards down and jump you, you wouldn't have a damn thing to say about it," Faith smirked.
"Well, I'm sure I'd have something to say," Xander retorted, "Course, it'd probably come out as a moan, but I'd still be technically saying something!"
Faith chuckled, "C3."
"Hit," Xander replied morosely, "D6."
"Miss," Faith laughed, "So, Xander Harris, you are skipping school to play Battleship with your friend who happens to be a dropout. What's up with that?"
"School sucks," Xander explained, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Besides, the teachers don't give a shit. It's more convenient for them to just mark me present and pass me through than to actually try and hold me back."
"The teachers aren't too fond of you, I'm guessin'," Faith said.
"Well, I didn't win any points when I ate the school's mascot," Xander said with a smile, "Add to the fact that Snyder hates us all, you get a recipe for discontent all around."
"True," Faith said, "C4."
"Hit," Xander sighed, "You sunk my battleship."
"Me and B are hookin' up for patrol tonight," Faith said, "You want in?"
"Really," Xander asked, "Sure, why not. Think Buff will mind?"
"If she does, screw her," Faith said glibly.