Nine: Reveal

The Mayor paced in front of Faith but no concern showed on his never-aging face.

"I don't want that slayer getting in the way of the Ascension."

Faith shrugged as she slouched in the chair.

"Done."

"I mean it, Faith. Nothing can go wrong tomorrow. I don't want Buffy, Angel or her little friends ruining our big day."

Faith quirked an eyebrow.

"Our big day?"

The Mayor stopped pacing and smiled down at her with something akin to warmth in his eyes.

"Well it's not just my day anymore, Faith. You've helped me so much through this and I want to thank you. So yes, it's our day."

Faith smiled and nodded.

"Cool."

He smirked as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Cool? Just cool? Now didn't I raise you better than that?" He said in that fatherly way of his.

Faith rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, sir. Thank you... for making this our day. I appreciate it."

He smiled brightly then.

"That's my girl! Now go make sure that Angel gets what he deserves."

Faith nodded and stood, going over to the cabinet and pulling out a crossbow with a small vial and a few arrows just coz y'know, she might miss. It was highly unlikely but it was better to be prepared.

A vampire came into the Mayor's office and stood to attention.

"I'm ready." Faith announced.

She nodded to the Mayor and the vampire did the same before following her out the door.

Killing Angel. It would be easy but Faith knew that. She hated Soul Boy. Buffy loved him. What was there to love about him? He had killed people.

So have you. Her brain taunted.

Faith scowled and tried not to think about what she'd done.

Angel. Kill Angel. That was all she had to do.

She had to find a hiding place, a vantage point, and then all she had to do was point the crossbow in Angel's direction and pull the trigger. Easy.

But still, she was curious to know a little more about Angel, Y'know, before she killed him.

The vampire that trailed behind her, was making her feel uncomfortable.

She killed vamps like this and here she was using one as her own personal bodyguard. It's not like she needed one.

She turned and looked back at him.

"We'll meet back here in half an hour, there's somethin' I gotta do first."

He only nodded and walked away as Faith clutched the bag that held the crossbow and headed for Angel's mansion.

Angel had his back to her as she walked in.

He turned and looked at her, showing no emotion on his handsome face.

Faith would admit that he was handsome, he was a hot piece of ass and she wasn't surprised that Buffy got all tingly in her special place whenever he looked her way. Faith had more control with feelings, that's all.

"Faith."

"Hey."

He looked questioningly at her.

"Is there something I can do for you?"

Faith licked her lips and ditched the bag with the crossbow to the side as she walked further into the mansion.

"We haven't talked much...I guess I just wanted to see why Buffy thinks you're so special."

He frowned but only a little.

"And why would that bother you?"

Faith shrugged.

"B's my friend. I wanna make sure you're a good guy."

Angel chuckled lightly.

"Ok. It's good that you're looking out for her. She needs someone like you in her life."

I am in her life. In ways that you can't even imagine. Ways that you can't be even if you tried. Faith thought viciously and triumphantly all at the same time.

Instead, the dark haired slayer nodded.

Angel looked at her intensely before he asked a question that she really didn't want to answer.

"So, how you holding up? Buffy told me about what happened with the human in the alley."

Faith's fists clenched at her sides but she shrugged instead of lashing out. There might be time for that later.

"I'm good. It was just an accident, right?"

Angel nodded.

"It haunts you though, doesn't it?"

Faith pursed her lips and raised her chin, trying to appear unaffected.

"I dream about it but it doesn't keep me awake at night if that's what you're askin'."

Angel shook his head.

"I don't believe you."

"Screw you, you don't know me." Faith snapped.

Angel wasn't phased by this tone at all.

"I think I know you a lot more than you think. You took a life, Faith. Yes, it was tragic and it haunts you but there's hope for you if you're sorry for what you've done."

"And what if I'm not?" Faith asked, folding her arms.

"Then you're not human. I know the guilt eats you up inside and your way of dealing with it is to block it out. To pretend that it's just one life and what does it compare to the hundreds, maybe even thousands, you've saved? Just tell me I'm getting warm."

Faith was definitely getting warm, her anger was close to overflowing but she stayed silent as Angel continued;

"Now you're angry because I'm hitting a nerve and making you face up to things you'd rather leave buried."

Faith's breathing became erratic and more than anything, she wished that she had just shot him the back with the crossbow when she'd had the chance.

"But you have to face them, Faith. You have to realise what you've done and repent."

Faith narrowed her eyes at him.

"Repent? What are you, a preacher now?"

Angel shook his head.

"There is redemption for you but you have to want it."

Faith shrugged.

"I don't care about redemption. I've done what I've done and I can't take it back.

Am I sorry? Yes. Do I see the guy in my dreams and does his face appear when I close my eyes? Yes. But there's nothing I can do about it, so I do what I do best and fuck what anyone thinks of me."

Angel bowed his head.

"We're trying to help you, Faith."

"We?" She snapped.

"Buffy, me, Giles, everyone."

"I don't need anyone's help." Faith muttered as she walked over to the corner and picked up her bag. She was done here.

"Buffy's worried about you."

That made her stop.

She turned around slowly.

"Is that what she tells you when she comes here?" Faith asked, unable to stop the jealousy from coming forward.

She slipped the bag over her head, the strap crossing her body as she took a step towards Angel.

"Do the two of you talk when she comes here? Do you sit up and fantasize about a future you can't have with each other? Do you look at the bed when she's here and wonder if it's worth it just to take her and let that do-gooder soul leave your body if it means you can have her just once?"

Angel frowned at the way Faith said those words, as she stalked towards him, slow and sure.

"You say she worries about me...she said she worries about you, but answer me this Soul Boy, who does she come to in the middle of the night when she wants a good screw?"

Angel frowned but he looked confused.

"Buffy and I can't-"

"I know. So if she's not screwin' you, who do you think she's screwin'?"

Angel stared at Faith as realisation dawned on him.

"You..."

Faith nodded, that triumphant gleam in her eyes.

Angel licked his lips as his anger shone through but he was doing his best to control it.

"She loves you..."

"Oh no, it's just sex." Faith said flippantly.

His dark eyes bore into her's.

"Do you love her?"

"It's not about-"

"Do you love her?!" He snapped, his voice sharp and loud.

Faith licked her lips and folded her arms.

"In my own way."

Angel shook his head.

"She deserves better than you."

Faith grinned, pleased that she'd been able to taunt the vampire.

"Hey, I give her what she needs, pal."

Angel's jaw clenched and his hand curled into a fist.

Faith looked down.

"You wanna hit me now? Go ahead. I've been dying for an excuse to hand your ass to you." She said, taking up a fighter's stance.

"I don't want to fight you, Faith. I just want to know that you're not messing Buffy around if she has feelings for you."

Faith shook her head.

"She doesn't. She just needs to let off steam sometimes and she knows she can get it from me."

Angel wasn't fooled. He saw the hurt in Faith's eyes when she told him that Buffy didn't have feelings for her.

At the end of the day, as sad as it sounded, Faith just wanted to be loved.

Would she ever admit that? Hell no! She didn't play the role of 'needy little slayer in need of love and affection' and she never would. As far as anyone else knew, Faith needed no one but herself and she was fine with that facade.

Angel and Faith stared at each other for a while before Faith let out a breath and turned away.

"I gotta go."

"Faith."

She stopped but didn't turn around.

"Don't hurt her."

Faith glanced over her shoulder at the vampire she would soon put an arrow through.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

...

Buffy was meeting him tonight.

Right now, she watching them from a roof top, her crossbow raised as she watched them kiss in the street.

The blonde looked so happy, so content and Angel, even though he looked a little happier than normal, was still tortured, would always be tortured.

Had he told Buffy that he knew what she did? What she had done and with who?

Faith shook her head as she adjusted the crossbow which now felt strangely heavy in her grip.

Buffy smiled up at Angel as he pulled back from the kiss.

"You're acting strange tonight. Anything wrong?" Buffy asked.

Angel shook his head and then a small frown came over his face.

"Actually, I need to talk to you about something."

Buffy nodded and looked up at him.

"Faith came by today."

Buffy frowned.

"She did?"

He nodded.

"Wha-what did she want?" Buffy asked, folding her arms as nervousness began seeping in.

Would she have told him-

"She told me that you and her-"

She would.

"Oh God."

"Yeah, I know but Buffy listen-"

"It was just a one time thing y'know, it didn't mean anything. Well actually it was two times but I don't love her and it's just sex and I know that's not a good reason to sleep with somebody when you're already dating someone else and I feel dirty afterwards even though she makes me feel really good at the time but I know that doesn't make it right and I just-"

"Buffy."

She stopped babbling and looked at him, her guilty eyes shining.

"It's fine. I love you and I know you love me. I can't give you what she can. I just never thought you were-"

"I'm not! I just...I don't know."

"Faith is a very attractive girl and she's powerful, confident. I can see why you're drawn to her."

Buffy frowned.

"You think she's attractive?"

"Yes but I don't love her. I love you." Angel told her, putting his hands on her shoulders and making Buffy look him in the eye.

"I'm sorry, Angel. She's not even on our side anymore." She said sadly shaking her head.

Angel frowned.

"She's not?"

Buffy frowned and closed her eyes.

Another secret she had kept, from everyone.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything. She's been working with the Mayor, helping him prepare for his Ascension."

Angel frowned.

"And you didn't think you should mention that?"

Buffy returned his frown with one of her own.

"Wait a sec, you find out I've been having sex with Faith, and this is what you're annoyed about?"

Angel's jaw tightened.

"I just don't understand why you would keep something like that to yourself."

Buffy looked down.

"I thought...I thought I could talk to her. Change her mind, bring her back to our side, where she belongs."

Angel sighed.

He knew that Buffy was trying to sort things out on her own but it wouldn't be that easy and now she would have to tell the others.

Angel pulled her into him before releasing her again as she took a step back.

"We'll figure this out together, ok? Maybe Faith can still-"

Angel was cut off as an arrow flew at his back and plunged into his flesh just above his heart.

On the rooftop above, Faith grinned.

"Angel!" Buffy cried as he fell to the ground.

She held onto him and looked up to see Faith fleeing the scene.

Oh she was so dead...