Disclaimers: Joss owns them, not me. I make no claims. No harm intended. He has all the power.
Comments: Love is sometimes not enough. Anyone who tells you different is one of the following; naive, a liar or plain stupid.
Dedications: To Sway, Sar M, Steff A, Pebblin, Star, M and Miss X, aka God. All my favourite people.
 
Buffy's POV
 
Slayers Do Vegas LXVII - My Charnel House
 
I flick the TV on and stare at the screen.
Then I hear the door open; Faith.
 
I try not to look over but I can't help it.
So much for being all strong willed, Buffy!
What's she been doing now?
 
'Faith, who beat you up this time? We need to train more if I can't even leave you on your own for an hour.'
 
Now that deserves a ticker tape parade, because I think I sounded happy.
Thanks mouth, or vocal chords or... whatever controls everything.
Probably my brain, although you only get half a thanks because you keep shooting me off on tangents!
Yes, you!
Why am I talking to my brain?
Ok, you get no thanks, none; tangent running again.
 
'I had a hard Slay, wasn't concentrating. Anyway, he was the size of a truck. They grow 'em big in Vegas.'
 
'Faith? I could get drunk from breathing the air round you. Go and have a shower, then I'll clean you up.'
 
'I can do it my...'
 
'Myself, yes, I know. But I can do it better, go on.'
 
I watch her walk into the bathroom, muttering something about being domesticated.
Slayer hearing never fails.
Wish it did sometimes.
 
I still don't feel anything.
I should be mad at her, I know I should.
But I'm not.
 
I don't think I care anymore.
 
Faith's POV
 
What's going on?
I was thinking I'd get Slayer slapped or chewed up or, shit, something, anything!
She did hear what I said, right, I mean... she heard what I said, yeah?
 
I pull my top off and look at the bruises on my ribs.
Shit, purple never was my color.
What is it with me getting beaten up on this trip?
Never her, always me!
Oh, apart from me slapping her round when I wasn't me.
Well I was me, only...
 
Shut up and shower, Faith.
 
Buffy's POV
 
I stare at the TV.
There's some programme on about bikes.
Faith would like this, she likes bikes.
I hear her in the shower and I can see her in there, wet and naked.
I switch the channel to MTV and turn the volume up higher.
I look at the screen and I don't even know what's playing.
 
So what, we sleep together
 
She never lied to me, she never said it was anything else.
I shouldn't have thought it was.
This is my fault really, not hers.
She never said we were more.
 
I stare at the TV and watch the screen flicker images up.
Images, patterns and pretty colors, that's all they are.
I turn the volume up higher and someone next door bangs on the wall.
 
I turn it up higher.
They bang again.
So I turn it up higher.
 
Then I hear a voice, screaming through the wall.
 
'Hey, turn the fuckin' sound down, you idiot!'
 
Did they call me an idiot?
I put the remote down, walk out into the hall and knock quietly on their door.
A seriously gross, sweaty man answers.
He's wearing clothes that I'd be embarrassed throwing out in case the garbage men saw them.
 
'I'm from next door, I...'
 
He cuts me off with a prod to my chest.
 
I don't like people doing that.
 
'Look, turn the fuckin' music down before I go talk to your parents!'
 
'Oh, just wanted to make sure that's what you meant. Couldn't hear over all the banging on the wall. Thanks but I like it that loud.'
 
I smile at him and turn to walk away, but he prods me again in the shoulder.
 
I really don't like people doing that.
 
'Look girlie, turn the fuckin' music down or I'll come in and do it for you!'
 
He prods me again and I grab his finger, bend it back and hear it snap.
He screams and drops to his knees.
 
'My name's not girlie. If I want the music on this loud, I'll have it on this loud. You touch me one more time, and I'll drag your body into my room and break the other two hundred and five bones in your body, paying special attention to the ones in your jaw. That way you'll never speak to someone like that again. Do you understand me?'
 
He nods and I push he's finger back some more, just so he doesn't forget.
 
'Have a nice night!'
 
I smile as I let his finger go, and walk back into the room.
Faith almost bangs into me as she comes out of the bathroom.
 
'Sorry, B. Hey, why were you outside?'
 
'Someone had their TV up too loud. Had to tell them to turn it down.'
 
'Shit, you trying to out do them with MTV or something?'
 
She presses the mute button and drowns me in silence.
 
'Was it loud? Sorry, didn't realise. Come on, sit on the bed and I'll disinfect those cuts properly.'
 
'B, about what I said in...'
 
'Don't.'
 
'But, look, if you want to shout at...'
 
'I said don't, Faith. Just don't. Don't talk to me about it, don't mention it, don't try and lie your way out of it, don't even tell me the truth because I'm not interested. I don't care.'
 
'You don't understand, I was...'
 
'No, Faith. You don't understand, I said I don't care. And you know what? I really don't. I'm not trying to be all Buffy brave or pretend you didn't say what you said. I'm not doing any of it. I really don't care.'
 
I don't feel anything, so that means I don't care, right?
That's what it means, doesn't it?
If I cared I'd feel something.
 
I don't.

I feel nothing.

Nothing.