So, I know this chapter seems a bit out of place and all over the place. Believe it or not, it was a bit intentional though I do feel as if I've kind of lost Cordelia a bit. On the other note, I just want to remind you all that Cordelia isn't exactly known for...coddling or babying anyone. Everyone in this story is going through some readjustment so it's bound to be a bit awkward at some point. Please, don't hate any characters but feel free to point out any flaws you find. I'm working on this story again and hopefully will get an update out next Sunday. On to the chapter!
Two weeks later, Faith sighs flipping to yet another page. She chances a glance up across her counter and tilts her head.
"What?" she asks Cordelia who seems to be studying her. Cordelia shakes her head, smiling a little.
"Nothing." She says. Over the past two weeks, the two had learned to get along with one another without pissing the other off too much. Faith had a bit of a smart mouth and Cordelia didn't believe in sparing one's feelings, so things tended to get a bit tense but they managed.
"No, really, what?" Faith asks folding the paper. Cordelia smiles a little, looking down at her magazine and shrugs a shoulder.
"Well," she starts. "It's just a bit weird seeing you like this." She says finally. Faith glances down at her clothes with a frown.
"I knew I wore a lot of leather but I'm sure I wore jeans at least once…" she said self-consciously. Cordelia chuckles a little, shaking her head in amusement.
"No, I meant so…serious." She says honestly. "You seem like a regular person now, it's a far cry from being a sex obsessed psychopathic teenager with a chip on her shoulder." She explains. Faith's eyebrows raise a little but she nods.
"Uh, thanks?" she asks. Cordelia nods, going back to her magazine before closing it.
"So, what have you found?" she asks. Faith puffs her cheeks out.
"Nothing." She says. Cordelia seems to think it over before her eyes light up.
"Well, come with me." She says.
Angel leans back at his desk, looking over the file of Annie Chamberlain. There was definitely a bit of a resemblance between her and Faith. The eyes, the smile, the hair even. But it didn't feel right. He heard from Faith herself that her mother was dead, so what did this mean? Was Faith adopted at a young age? Was this woman really even her mother or was there something else entirely. He looks down at the picture, smiling a little wondering if he was looking at Faith in twenty five years.
"Cordelia!" Faith snaps almost three and a half hours later. Cordelia pauses, turning to look at her head on.
"What?" she asks crossing her arms.
"We've been all over this area, on foot I might add, and I'm freakin' tired. Can we stop for five minutes?" she asks. They'd spent the past few hours job hunting the old fashioned way; walking in and inquiring. And shopping.
"Right," Cordelia cringes. "Sometimes I forget that you're…well…human like me." She says. Faith snorts and sits down with the bags she's holding.
"You're not human, I don't know what you are." She says under her breath. Cordelia looks hurt. "I just mean that I think you could walk around for days on end without stoppin' if it meant you got to shop the entire time." Faith explains, feeling guilty. Then she frowns; she wasn't used to feeling guilty just for hurting someone's feelings.
"Well, it is a good form of exercise." She reasons sitting beside Faith. So far, only three places seemed promising except for the fact that Faith would have to deal with rude customers through the day. Faith insisted that she didn't care but Cordelia felt bad on her behalf; she didn't think she had the patience. "Stay here, I'm going to go get you something to eat." She says standing back up. Faith reaches into her pocket, grabbing her wallet.
"Thanks," she says. Cordelia shakes her head and makes her way across the street, leaving Faith watching behind her with a slight sigh.
That evening, after Andrew serves them up pasta with some kind of homemade sauce he'd Googled, he and Faith stand side by side doing the dishes. He keeps glancing in her direction.
"What?" she finally asks. He shakes his head before biting his lip.
"Nothing, nothing." He says quickly. Finally, he sighs, wondering what he has to lose. "I'm just… I'm looking for…." He waves his hands. Faith puts the half washed plate she'd been holding back into the sink.
"For what?" she asks, a slight edge creeping into her voice. He shrugs.
"Do you know who you remind me of?" he asks suddenly. Faith sighs, wondering what in the heck he was going to go on about now.
"Who? Rogue?" she asks. He laughs, shaking his head.
"Funny, and oddly close, but no." he says. He waves his hand in a flourish as he turns to face her. "You remind me of Magneto." He says resting one hand on his hips. Faith raises an unimpressed eyebrow.
"Come again?" she asks. He nods his head sagely.
"Oh, yes." He says. His eyes light up, "You love, loved…" he corrects quickly. "Being a slayer. You realized what kind of power that held, how you could do things no mere mortal could even comprehend." He says excitedly. Faith clears her throat uncomfortable.
"But he was a psy- wait, never mind, I see the comparison." She says wryly.
"No, I don't think you do." He says gently. "You see, while Magneto was well aware of the fact, in his own world, that Mutants were the superior race, much better than humans; it's because he needed that power. It made him feel…alive and while he didn't go about showing it the best way, I can certainly see the appeal." He says thoughtfully. "He's done some horrible things in his quest for respect, but he knows this. There's a look in his eyes, as if he's aware of what he's doing but doesn't know another way. He just wants someone to see him – to understand him really." He says. Faith glares and faces him before taking a threatening step toward him.
"I'm not asking you to psychoanalyze me." She growls. He swallows nervously but stands his ground.
"I'm just saying…there's more to you than others let on." He whispers. "I heard stories, about how you'd done these terrible horrible things and I quite honestly imagined you were a monster." He says honestly. "But then, that night when-" he stops to clear his throat. "I think-" she cuts him off angrily.
"Listen, Pretty Boy, I really don't give a damn what you think." She says very aware of Amanda and Cordelia in the living room. "Actually, what you think doesn't matter to me so you can keep whatever little fantasy person you've cooked up stored in that sad little head of yours." She adds angrily. Andrew swallows, blinking a few times at the stinging in his eyes. Faith turns to walk away but he can't help himself.
"Seems like my head isn't the only one that's sad." He calls out. Faith spins back and corners him quicker than he'd imagined. He can't help the nervous gulp.
"Don't push me…" she says. He stares at her, honestly a little afraid but feeling safe knowing Amanda was just in the next room.
"Why? Want to hurt me?" he asks, his voice wavering. He sees something flash in her eyes and decides to run with it. "Or-or maybe you just want to attack me so Amanda comes in here to stop you." He says. Faith clinches her jaw.
"Hangin' with the Scoobs gave you balls." She comments, smiling seductively and leaning closer. He scoffs at her.
"You're barking up the wrong tree, sweetie." He says boldly. Then his eyes turn sad. "You've seen a lot of people…a lot of things die, right?" he asks switching gears. Faith feels uncomfortable; out of control and backs away.
"Yeah, so?" she asks. He clears his throat nervously.
"Have you ever…have you ever witnessed someone trying to make it happen?" he asks. Her eyes widen in recognition and she throws the closest thing to her past his head. Unfortunately for him, it happened to be a steak knife that was still sitting on the table. He squeaks, shivering when he realizes it was just a few inches away. Amanda comes in, her eyes widening and turning to Faith angrily.
"What's going on?" she asks. Faith watches Andrew and he just swallows.
"Bug." He says pointing. "There was a…a bug crawling up the wall." He lies unconvincingly. Faith doesn't speak; instead she turns on her heels and marches from the apartment.
Faith walks back into her apartment some time later, careful to close the door quietly and holding the case of beer tightly.
"Are you really that messed up in the head?" she hears. She almost drops her beer but manages to hold in her surprise considerably well.
"What are you doin' in my apartment, Cordy?" she asks. Cordelia scoffs, standing up and walking over to her.
"Keeping an eye on Amanda." She says shrugging. "And making sure you made it back before the girl went into cardiac arrest worrying about your ass." She adds. Faith rolls her eyes, pushing past Cordelia and into the kitchen. She sits her beer on the table and flicks the light on; almost flinching when she notices the knife is still in the wall. She moves to remove it but Cordelia's voice stops her. "You're like, half a bad comment away from slipping back into what you used to be." She comments idly. Faith turns slowly, looking at Cordelia angrily.
"Don't talk about shit you know nothin' about." Cordelia just looks her in the eye.
"Yunno, he's terrified now." She says casually. Faith shrugs carelessly.
"Good, he should be. It'll teach him to stay outta my business." She says with a smirk. Cordelia just smirks back.
"Oh, not of you. For you." She explains. Faith just looks at her. "After you left, he told us about that night." She says, her smirk growing when Faith looks away. "Oh, the big bad Faith doesn't wanna talk about it, huh?" she taunts.
"Shut up." Faith says. Cordelia just chuckles, walking closer to Faith slowly.
"Or what? Gonna try to scare me too?" she asks. Faith stands there, watching her as Cordelia began to circle her. Cordelia finally stops in front of her, her stance and her eyes softening. "You haven't been sleeping." She comments softly.
"What?" Faith asks, her eyebrows furrowed.
"You have bags so big under your eyes they probably wouldn't pass customs at any airport." She says holding up a finger. "Yesterday morning when I got here with breakfast, you were already sitting up and it was only four am."
"I was waiting for the kid."
"You look like a zombie. No amount of make-up or concealer could cover that." She says. Faith sighs, looking away then down at the steak knife.
"He okay?" she asks finally. Cordelia is silent until Faith meets her eyes.
"Go down stairs and find out." She says. Faith opens her mouth but Cordelia just walks back to the living room. Faith groans internally; the last thing she wanted to do was face someone else she'd fucked over.