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Wanted
Author: Bill the Bloodless
And another part in my series. Set about a month
after Secret
Lessons.
Rating. 15
Disclaimer. All familiar characters are owned by JW and ME.
Many thanks to Sho for all her help and suggestions. :) :)
Walking boldly through San Benardino's largest cemetery
Faith smiled. Despite the drubbing she had received at crazy golf that
morning - all of Xander's help hadn't done much good - Faith was in a good
mood. Her smile turned into a grin. Maybe if they had spent more time
practicing and less time making out it would have went a little better.
Faith didn't care anyway, well not much, let B have her victory and a
little party if she wanted. She would have her own victory party later.
After two days away working in Phoenix Xander was due back tonight and she
meant to show him what he had been missing.
She intended to head straight back to the school once her patrol was over.
If you could call it that? Like her previous patrols there hadn't been
even the tiniest hint of a vampire or a demon. Not that she'd done much
patrolling since they'd moved here. Buffy normally did the honours in that
area and usually in the company of two or three of the younger slayers,
but she and Giles had taken the whole lot of them to Sunnydale, to see the
Hellmouth. It will be educational, she had said. Faith snorted, yeah
right. The only education they needed was how to fight.
At least she got a break from Buffy's tedious lessons. Thinking about it
with only Willow, Dawn and a few of the more experienced slayers remaining
at the school it was going to be relatively peaceful for a few days. Maybe
there should be more field trips.
Vaulting easily over the metal fence at the edge northern edge of the
cemetery Faith headed towards the Northside warehouses, a notorious
hangout for some of the worst scum the town had to offer. Unfortunately it
wasn't scum of the demon variety just the human kind. Oh well, not long to
go now.
A half-hour later and even though it was barely seven o'clock Faith had
had enough. As she had known it would be her trip to the warehouses was a
bust, some wannabe tough guys and a drug dealer or two but nothing that
was of any interest to her. Trudging dispiritedly back towards the school
Faith shook her head, San Bernardino must be the dullest place in
California, if not the whole of America. She wondered if the creatures of
the night even knew it existed. Perhaps Buffy would let her put an advert
on the internet. Vampires required for quiet town, thousands of ignorant
victims on offer, must be strong and dangerous. She laughed, somehow she
doubted Buffy would think that it was such a good idea.
Overhead thick cloud finally obscured the pale beauty of the autumn moon.
Passing a large sewer opening she stopped, a flicker of light catching her
attention. Well, well what have we here? She wondered. Maybe tonight
wouldn't be a complete loss after all. Squeezing between the rusted bars
that protected the entrance she went to investigate.
Half a dozen steps inside, the dark haired slayer began to regret her
decision. Like all sewers this one was dark, cramped and, she grimaced,
full of who knew what. Reluctantly she continued deeper in and a short
while later the sewer split into two and Faith stopped unsure which way to
go.
After several seconds she decided on the left one but then saw the flicker
of light again, from the right-hand tunnel. With a shrug of acceptance
Faith went that way instead. For another ten minutes she followed the
sewer without incident and was just about to give it up when it entered a
large shaft.
Standing in the mouth of the tunnel, a dozen or so feet above the shaft's
base Faith looked around curiously. Octagonal in shape the shaft was
perhaps forty feet across and stretched upwards as far as she could see.
Lit by lamps spaced evenly around its edge she saw that each of its sides
had a sewer opening identical to the one she was in. What the purpose of
the shaft was she had no idea and didn't particularly care, what she did
care about though was that it seemed she had walked down the sewer for
nothing. Her boots and trousers were filthy and she smelled terrible.
She turned to depart but before she could move there was a loud rumbling
and a surge of water came down the tunnel, knocking her off her feet and
into the shaft. With a splash she landed in several feet of dirty water.
Her face grim she picked herself up, could things get any worse? And of
course they could.
"Well look what's been washed into our lair," a voice said from
above.
"I said this would be a good place to hangout Brad." a second
replied a moment later.
Faith looked up and saw, looking down at her from different tunnels, a
pair of dirty, scruffily dressed vampires.
The first vamp, Brad, snorted. "Good? You're an idiot Niall. This
place is disgusting." Taking a lighter from his pocket he played with
it nervously, flicking it on and off several times.
"Would the two of you like me to leave?" Faith asked. "You
seem to have some unresolved issues."
The vampires blinked. "Is she trying to be funny?" Niall asked.
Brad shrugged. "You ain't going nowhere missy." They revealed
their true faces. "Cause ya see we're vampires and we're going to
drink you dry."
"Oh please don't hurt me mister vampire," she pleaded mockingly,
it was fairly obvious that they hadn't been vamps long. And in a few
minutes they were going to be vamps no longer. "You see this?"
She pulled her stake from the back of her pants. "This is a stake and
I'm gonna jam it through your cold bony chests."
The vampires dusted Faith re-entered the sewer and quickly retraced her
steps back down the tunnel to the entrance. Squeezing through the bars she
paused, ran a hand through her matted hair, looked down at her stained
clothes and groaned. What did she look like? And the smell, well she just
didn't want to think about it. Why tonight of all nights? Someone up there
must really hate her. She broke into a run, despite her little side trip
she was sure she could make it back before Xander.
With slayer speed it wasn't long before the school was in sight but
instead of heading for the main entrance she veered slightly to the left
and a small building that adjoined the school. It had once been the
caretaker's flat but was now Xander's and since Giles had moved out some
weeks back it was a little less cramped. Small though the flat was it did
have one good thing about it and that was a bathroom with a shower. And
though Faith was certain that there would be no hot water it was better
than the one the slayers had to share at the school. She'd had enough of
sharing showers in prison.
Silently Faith opened the door and, seeing no lights on, breathed a sigh
of relief, Xander wasn't back yet. Slipping inside she flicked on the
lights and headed straight for the bathroom, shedding her dirty clothes on
the way. As she'd suspected the water was cold but it was clean and she
was soon scrubbing vigorously at her dirt encrusted skin.
The slayer was still scrubbing some time later when she heard the door
open. "Hello?" Xander called. Damn, she'd hoped to have been
finished before he returned. Then getting an idea, she smiled. Turning off
the water she stepped from the shower and without a stitch of clothing
went to greet him.
Seeing a wet and naked Faith coming towards him Xander dropped his case
and gaped. "Hello lover," she purred, "have you missed
me?"
"Faith what are you doing here? What if someone should see you?"
Stopping in front of him she shrugged. "Let them, I don't care,"
she told him and grasping his shirt with both hands she ripped it open.
"I've just got back and I'm dirty…"
Faith's laugh cut him off. "I can be dirty," she told him, then
jumped into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist kissed
him hungrily. "Now unless you really do want people to watch, close
the door. Then take me to the bed and show me how much you've missed
me."
Xander shut the door and then carried her into the bedroom.
Sunlight woke Faith early the next morning and she smiled contentedly. It
had been a wonderful night. "Xand are you awake?"
she asked.
"Uh-huh," he answered sleepily.
"So you missed me a lot then?"
She felt him move at her side and leaning on one elbow he kissed her.
"More than I thought I could ever miss anyone."
Faith met his gaze, looked at his honest face, his expectant expression
and then looked away. She had no idea what to say and she felt awful.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Xander
said, his tone hurt and confused, which made her feel even worse.
She forced herself to look at him. "No Xander, I'm sorry but you have
to realise that this is difficult for me."
Xander smiled sadly. "It's not easy for me either Faith. It's not
every day you find yourself falling in love with a beautiful woman."
Again Faith was at a loss, all of a sudden things had turned serious.
"Xander…" she began then stopped.
"I know. It's difficult for you."
"Please let me finish." She took a deep breath. God, her heart
was pounding. The last time she had been this nervous was that last day in
Sunnydale. "It is difficult and I want to be honest but I just don't
know what you want me to say."
Xander shook his head. "I don't want you to say anything Faith, I
want you to tell me how you feel. Has our time together meant anything to
you?"
"Of course it has. I've been happier this past month or so than I
have been in a long, long while."
"And what about me? Do you feel the same about me as I do about
you?"
Did she? To be honest she didn't know. When it came to love she was a
novice. "I really don't know Xander. When you were in Phoenix I did
miss you and the number of times I found myself thinking about you were
too many to count. And I don't want this to end." She looked at him.
"Can we leave it at that for the time being?"
Xander was silent for a moment and she thought that maybe it wasn't enough
for him, that maybe he wanted more than she could give but then he smiled.
"Sure and I'm sorry for turning things heavy." He kissed her.
"And even though it's your turn, how about I make breakfast to make
it up to you?
Faith pushed him away. "Hey! It is not my turn," she protested.
"If you remember I made breakfast the morning you went to
Phoenix."
Xander frowned then after a moment grinned. "Oh yeah, if you can call
whipped cream and strawberries breakfast."
"Well if that's how you feel maybe I shouldn't make it again,"
she told him, with a grin of her own.
"Now there's no need to be hasty, if I remember correctly the serving
was quite interesting."
Faith punched him. "Only quite?" she asked, pouting.
"Ouch!" Xander rubbed his arm. "That hurt."
"Good, you deserved it."
"You're right I did" he laughed "but not so hard next
time." He got out of bed and quickly pulled on a pair of pyjama
bottoms. So quickly in fact that it made Faith smile, amused that he was
still embarrassed around her.
"I'll have two eggs with my bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms and
fried bread," Faith told him, there was nothing quite like a fried
breakfast.
"Yes ma'am, right away ma'am" he saluted mockingly
"anything else ma'am?"
Faith considered for a moment then smiled. "Nope, I think that'll
do."
Xander laughed and headed towards the kitchen. Left on her own Faith
pulled the duvet over her head and it wasn't long before she began to
doze.
When Faith awoke again, about a quarter of an hour later, not only was
there no sign of her breakfast but she couldn't smell anything cooking
either. Wondering what was keeping him, she frowned. Reluctantly she got
out of bed and after slipping into Xander's pyjama top she went to see
what was keeping him.
Which turned out to be a moment's endeavour, because entering the living
room she saw Xander at the door. She scowled, she hadn't heard anyone
knock. She opened her mouth to ask him who it was but then stopped, some
instinct warning her to stay quiet.
"Keep an eye out for her sir," she heard the visitor say.
"She is extremely dangerous."
Xander nodded. "Thank you officer" Faith's heart lurched "I
will."
He closed the door and leant his head against it.
"Keep an eye out for who?" Faith demanded.
Startled, he jumped, then turned and shook his head. "No one."
"I don't believe you."
"I swear he was just…"
"Tell me Xander," she shouted.
His face grave Xander slowly raised the piece of paper in his hands.
"For you," he said and Faith found herself looking at a
picture of herself.
Though she had known what he was going to say, it still came as a shock.
For several seconds all she could do was stare and then she shook her
head. "I'm not going back," she said, and then she turned and
fled.
"Faith, wait," Xander called after her but she paid him no
heed.
Through the connecting door and into the school she went, up the stairs
and along the corridor where she nearly knocked over a bemused Willow. She
didn't stop running until she was in her own room, where she immediately
changed into some leathers and began to pack.
It was another five minutes before Xander entered, breathing heavily, by
which time Faith had virtually finished. Years of travelling light took
more than a few months to be forgotten and most of her things lay in heaps
on the floor. "Don't say anything
Xander," she said without looking up.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm leaving," she told him stuffing the final few things into
her bag.
"To go where?"
"I don't know and I don't care." She slung her bag over one
shoulder and then looked at him sadly. "Somewhere far away."
"To become a fugitive again?"
Faith sighed. "What else can I do?" And just when her life
looked like it might become liveable.
"There must be something."
"Then tell me Xander. Tell me what I should do?" Feeling tears
on her cheeks she wiped them away angrily. "Do you want me to go back
to prison? Is that what you want?"
"Of course not."
"Then what?"
"I don't know. I don't want you to go."
"And do you think I want to go?"
"I'll come with you then." Faith snorted which brought a frown
to her lover's face. "I wasn't joking," he said.
"I'm sorry Xander I know you weren't, but your place is here with
Buffy, Willow and Giles helping them to train the slayers."
The dark haired young man shook his head. "You're wrong Faith, that
may have been true in the past but not any more." He took hold of her
hands and looked at her solemnly. "I love you Faith and my place is
with you, no matter where that it is," he declared.
And in that moment Faith knew that she was in love with him. She could
feel tears on her cheeks again but this time she let them fall unchecked.
"Make love to me Xander."
Xander didn't refuse.
Their needs different their love making was gentle, more tender than the
night before but there was also a desperation about it. They both knew
that it could be their last time together for some time.
Afterwards, lying in Xander's arms her head on his shoulder, Faith wished
that she could stay there forever but, like all good wishes, knew that it
was impossible. "I have to go," she whispered as much for her
own benefit as Xander's.
She felt Xander nod. "I know."
"There will only be trouble if I stay."
"I know." He tightened his embrace and they lapsed into silence
each alone with their thoughts. "When will you go?" Xander asked
after some time.
Faith knew the longer she delayed the harder it would be. "The sooner
the better," she told him and immediately regretted her
choice of words, even to her own ears it sounded callous.
"I understand," Xander told her gently. "Will you say
goodbye to the others?"
The dark haired slayer shook her head. "I don't think I could Xander,
it would be too difficult. You'll say goodbye to them for me won't
you," she pleaded, "and tell B that I'm not abandoning
her?"
"Of course I will."
Faith sighed, she would hate to think that Buffy thought she was running
out on her.
"Will you come back?" Xander asked.
Faith had no idea. "I hope so."
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