bisexualxanderharris gave me the prompt Faithsley + "Oh my god did you just say that out loud?"

This takes place in an AU where Faith sticks around with Angel Investigations after Sanctuary, rather than turning herself in, because this offers her a better chance to work for her redemption, and she gets away with it because Angel calls in a favor from years and years ago with a guy who is now a judge that he saved from vampires. Or something like that. So Faith doesn't go to prison, the charges against her are dropped or dismissed or whatever, and she works with AI. Wesley and Cordelia both have misgivings, obviously, but it all works out, and this takes place in a thus AU early to mid Season 3.

"Oh my god, did you just say that out loud?" Cordelia demanded, then shook her head, "No, god, the out loud part doesn't even matter. Because I did not just hear what I think I heard just now."

Wesley shook his head, "You heard me correctly, Cordelia. I slept with Faith last night." Wesley hadn't really planned on letting anyone know about it – neither had Faith. Not just yet anyway. Things between them were too… new, for either of them to want it to be aired out in front of everyone. But then he'd run into Angel this morning and the vampire had done his whole 'smelling' thing and confronted him about it.

Surprisingly, Angel hadn't reacted that badly. He'd just warned Wesley to be careful – to not get hurt - and to not hurt Faith. Wesley got the distinct impression that Angel had been expecting this for some time. Which, in hindsight, Wesley supposed made a lot of sense. He hadn't realized his feelings for Faith until after they'd gotten back from Pylea, but looking back, he could see they'd been there for at least a while before then.

But if Angel knew… well, there was no hiding it for long. So he'd told Cordelia.

"What? Are you completely insane? I mean, sure, she's Faith, she's hot, and she's probably really flexible, being a Slayer and all that, but seriously Wes, if you've been that horny since Virgina broke up with you, just go out to a bar and pick up some random girl. I mean, you actually can do suave now, unlike in Sunnydale. Hell, you could have just picked up some prostitute, even!"

The level of seeming disgust in Cordelia's voice surprised him. And upset him. He'd thought Cordelia, like him, had long since moved past her issues of Faith being here. She certainly had seemed to last year, especially after Faith had called Angel out on his bullshit when he'd fired them all, and stuck with them when they continued with the agency anyway.

Biting back his anger, Wesley straightened up in his chair and adopted a cold, emotionless tone. "I didn't realize you thought like that about Faith."

Cordelia scoffed and rolled her eyes, "It has nothing to do with Faith, Wesley. I like her plenty, and she's a grown woman allowed to do whatever the hell she wants, but seriously, Wesley, she tortured you. Fine, you've forgiven her, and that's great, but don't you think that would make having a fling with her…" Cordelia trailed off, looking at him intently. "It is just a fling, isn't it? Tell me that you're not- oh, good, god Wesley, you really are a masochist!"

Not in the least, Cordelia.

"Is the idea that I'm in a relationship with Faith so disturbing to you?" Wesley's tone was still cold, because he still didn't get why Cordelia found the whole concept so repulsive, but at least she wasn't denigrating Faith. I – I love her. Is that so hard to understand?

"Yes! She tortured you! And she's got issues all over the place. And for that matter so do you! I mean, you were her Watcher, for all of five seconds. Do I need to go on about how you were towards her when she first ended up sticking around?"

Wesley bit his lip and looked down, "No, you don't." He had justification, perhaps, for how he behaved towards her, but still. He'd shunned her, refused to listen to her attempts to apologize, all but spat on her efforts for some time.

"This is serious, isn't it?" Cordelia asked suddenly, her voice softer. "You love her." It wasn't a question.

"I do." Wesley nodded. "I… I didn't exactly expect it. I just…" Wesley had trouble articulating it, putting the way he saw Faith into words. She accepted him, cared for him… she could be unbelievably crude at times, and yet astonishingly gentle and unsure at others. With her, Wesley could be himself, no masks, no facades for the daily grind of life. With Faith, he could entirely be himself, and he knew that Faith was being as genuine as he was, in every way.

Cordelia scoffed, "I suppose none of us are going to have a normal relationship anyway. If she makes you happy, then… well, good for you. Just… be careful, Wes. I don't want to see you hurt." Then she leaned in, "and if she hurts you, Slayer or not, I'll make her hurt back. Twice over."

"And I hurt her?" Angel hadn't made any threats, but then, he hadn't had to. Angel cared for Faith like a sister.

"Then I'll slap you for being such an idiot and then help you figure out how to make it right. Duh, what are friends for?!"