How easy it would be…if I wasn’t me…

[magick_goddess]

Biting my lip I looked around my dorm room for my new leather jacket, I know I hung it up when I came from class last night. I put it on the back of my desk chair and it should still be there. But it wasn’t

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[prodigal_slayer]

Finally got myself all spiffied up. Sure a few bruises and bumps here and there, but when didn't I have those? Think I managed to convince most people I was just clumsy but all they'd have to do was take one look at the way I moved and that theory was blown out the window. But hey, it went along with the slayer gig. If giving up the bumps and bruises meant givin' up bein' a slayer? Color me not interested. I loved what I was way too much. Bein' a slayer gave me oppurtunities I never woulda had on my own. Back then I'd just been another loser.

After I'd gotten dressed in my favorite pair of leathers and a tank top plus jean jacket I strolled out of my dorm building. Thought I'd do a sweep but mostly I was just bored so I thought I'd take the long way around through campus. 'Sides Wes said I had to have finesse. Didn't know where he got off sayin' that to me. I had loads of finesse, way more people skills then he had. Damn. Unless this Tara chick was into books and tea? She'd probably be bored stiff around watcher boy.

Lazily with one foot in front of the other I sauntered over towards the football field when my eyes narrowed as two figures came into view. A girl and some guy in a letterman jacket. Probably his idea of a blast, bendin' his chick over the bleachers or something. With a shrug, I kept goin' watchin' the couple until I realized they weren't down here to get bouncy with it at all. The terrified look in her eyes gave that away, well along with Mr. Bumpyface himself. Looked like I had a little bit of staking left to do tonight, and I was just prayin' that the Immortal had nothin' to do with this shit.

"Hey." I said loudly as I approached the two of them. The girl gave me a confused look and the vamp turned around and cocked his head to the side. "Oh sorry, were you busy? Suck it up vamp boy. Well not literally."

The vampire smirked at me before stalking away from the girl towards me.

[magick_goddess]

I don't know how long I was sitting on the bench but when I finally looked up it was dark out. I bit my lip and looked around nervously, a habit I had from Sunnydale was never be out after dark if you could help it. This, me being out here now, was stupid on my part. I realized the more I looked around the stupider I was.

Chewing my bottom lip I started to get up and fix my bag, my intentions were to make a B-line right back to the dorm's. I turned and saw the student I tutor and stopped, I decided to wait for him and hoping he changed his mind because I could really use that money this week.

"Josh, y-you're still h-ere..." I gave him a small nervous smile and looked up at him as he approached me quickly. I started to move back and my legs hit the bench and I gasped when his face shifted. I guess I really wasn't far from Sunnydale after all.

"Hey. Oh sorry, were you busy? Suck it up vamp boy. Well not literally."

Startled I turned and looked at the brunette that came up to us, I noticed she had a stake in her hand. Huh? I'm very confused. I watched with a dumbfounded look and wide eyes as he headed towards the girl.

I swallowed hard and started fishing in my bag for a powered potion that I kept with me at all times. I hoped that that girl knew what she was doing. Maybe she was a slayer...no, that wasn't possible. Buffy's the real slayer and everything. Or maybe this one isn't one that's been called just yet or...

My eyes went wide when I saw Josh - or what used to be Josh - pin the girl against the nearby fence. I whimpered softly and bit my lip a little bit harder before throwing the bag over to them. It landed a few feet away from them on the ground and missed Josh totally. I watched with wide eyes and hoped that when it did it's thing that it would work and wouldn't be a waste.

[prodigal_slayer]

The vamp lunged at me and I easily side-stepped him with a smirk on my face. Gotta love these fledglings man, they think they're the shit til they come up on a slayer. Then it was just dust in the wind and it was all over and done with. Gotta love the simplicity of it, the rush. Head and heart, don't stop comin' til you see dust. End of story.

Looking up I waited for the dumb chick who'd let herself get attacked to run away and was puzzled when she didn't. Damn, didn't the girls in this town ever get a grip? Stayin' out in the city at all hours of the night? Sometimes I swore these bitches got what they deserved for real. But instead she was combin' through her purse like the vamp had stolen her favorite lipstick or something.

"Ooomph!" Escaped my lips as I was pinned hard to the fence next to the bleachers. I'd been so busy payin' attention to his almost previous snack that I hadn't been payin' attention to the actual vamp. Alright, now I was seriously pissed!

Was about to strike back when suddenly something rose up into the air right beside us. Both of us stopped for a second to stare at it in wonder before it exploded into a ball of light. Narrowing my eyes against the sudden light that was harshin' my mellow I watched in awe as Mr. Bumpyface himself burst into flames before his ash blew lightly in the wind and settled on my shoes.

Ok. What the fuck just happened? Was I seriously goin' mental? I would hope someone would tell me if I was, namely Wesley. Then again, I probably wouldn't listen. When wasn't he complainin' about me?

Catching my breath I brushed the dust off of my leather pants before turnin' to meet the girl's wide stare.

"Right. What's with the light show?" I asked bluntly, narrowing my eyes in her direction. Hold up...wait a sec. Was this that Tara girl? She seemed witchy enough to me. I hoped it was her, cause if I just hallucinated that? We were all up shit creek.

[sexytarawitch]

The potion worked like a charm and I sighed slightly, leaving the beaming for another time that the new spell actually worked. Slowly I got to my feet and tried to fix my jacket a bit, I felt like I was a mess but that wasn't my big concern now. I just wanted to thank her and leave. I wanted to run and hide in my dorm. Running seems to be what I do best so why not excel at it.

"T-thank...thank you...I-I didn't mean...I." I sighed. "I didn't know it w-was this late..."

She glared at me coldly and I looked away, feeling like I was under a microscope or under surveillance. I never did well with any type of attention and I doubt I ever will.

I looked down at my feet and studied my shoes, it was a habit I had, always looking at them as if somehow they had all the answers to my questions and a way for me to escape. "I-I was t-trying to help...I-I'm s-so-sorry..." I crossed my arms over my chest and curved my shoulders inwards as if to hide myself from her. I felt more insecure and more self conscious around her and I wondered how long I'd be standing here before she made some remark about how stupid I was for being out here this late and then saunter off into the other direction.

I bit my lip again, trying to think of something to say that could answer what she was asking without giving to the fact that I was a witch. I wanted to be a normal girl on campus and live a bit of normal. That didn't seem possible. Then again this girl didn't seem to be normal either. I decided to try and shrug it off, maybe make her think it was a lucky shot and that be that. "I-it was j-just something I m-made in science c-class...didn't t-think it would explode..." Great, just wonderful Tara. Make her think you're making bombs in school. Real smart.

[prodigal_slayer]

Raised an eyebrow as I watched her desperately try and hide inside herself. Shoulders hunched, and eyes trailing towards her shoes. I'd seen that look before, plenty of times. Was she scared of me? After that little magick trick? My guess was she packed a pretty decent punch. Well with that magick crap anyways, I was always more about the literal punching. Still, she just made killin' that vamp way easy. Not that there wasn't a degree of disappointment in not gettin' that one easy thrust in before dust. Loved that feelin'.

Instantly the bully in me wanted to make fun of her cute little stutter. What was the problem? But then I remembered Wesley's advice. Something about me and my lack of finesse. I had a wicked lot of finesse and I was gonna prove it with this wallflower. Wesley had said she was shy. Check. Witch. Check. Think we gotta winner, Bob tell her what she's won.

A fabulous trip to help this leather clad slayer out with kickin' some immortal ass.

"I got a stake in my hand, do you really think you gotta use that science cover up on me?" I asked her raising an eyebrow as she slowly tilted her chin up to look at me. "That was a spell...or something magicky. You're name doesn't happen to be Tara, does it?" She perked up instantly when I said the name and so I had to just guess it was her. 'Sides, how many real deal witches could there be on campus? Hopefully, just her.

"I'm Faith."

[sexytarawitch]

How did she know my name? That was the question I wanted to ask her but my tongue wouldn't move. I just stared at her and nodded slightly, trying not to look at her so wide eyed. It was rude.

"F-faith..." Why did that name sound familiar? Faith...Faith...Ohhhh Faith. Willow mentioned something to me about there being another slayer somewhere. "Y-you're a slayer." Duh, stating the obvious. "T-that explains the s-stake and ummm yeah..." I tucked my hair behind my ear and looked at her, crossing my arms back over my chest protectively, and out of habit. "H-how d-do you know who I am?" I have no idea how she'd know me, I mean I'm not somebody that anyone remembers. I'm easily forgettable, least that's what people have told me. I blend in, never stick out. Faith is the definition of stick out. Looks to me like she doesn't mind it.

I shifted my bag and looked over at her, I felt beyond invisible and plain next to her. I felt a bit envious too, I mean I wish I could be as confident as she is, she's not even moving or saying anything and it rolls off of her in waves. I shifted again and looked down, letting my hair cover my face. "S-sorry..." I didn't realize I was staring.

[prodigal_slayer]

Took her long enough to catch up to the conversation. The bully instinct in me was runnin' wild with this girl. I mean, she seemed nice enough but damn! Could she stop fidgeting for like five seconds, or maybe look me in the eye for longer than a split second? Wesley had warned me about her bein' shy but he didn't say she had no social skills. But I also remembered arguing with Wes about my level of finesse. I could do this, make this chick feel comfortable, be nice to her. Mostly because right about now? I was at the end of my rope with the Immortal and I needed all the backup I could get. This chick was as powerful as Wes made her out to be, she'd do the trick.

"That'd be me. Slay chick." I tried my best to give her a reassuring smile as I put my stake back in my jacket pocket. Tentatively I took a few non-threatening steps towards her. She needed to chill for real. What was her deal?

"I know about you because my watcher told me about you. Actually, kinda weird I was just about to head over to your dorm room, Tara. I needed to talk to you about...some magick stuff." I raised an eyebrow at her as in this might not be the best place ever to talk about said magick stuff. First off, I wasn't really comfortable with the concept of magick and second? I didn't wanna have to chase off anymore vamps tonight.

Gettin' your ass handed to you by one of the Immorta's bitches sort of takes the fun out of slaying.

[magick_goddess]

She put her stake away and I could tell that she was trying to be nice. From what Willow told me Faith was the opposite of Buffy. That didn't help me much since I really didn't know Buffy at all. I had to remember to put my guard down just a little. Being wound up wasn't going to help me any. I mean so what if she looks like one of the many popular girls that tormented me all through school, even into college. That didn't mean she was just like one of them. Ohhh, I hope not.

I took a deep breath. "W-watcher?" I nervously chewed my lip and wondered why a watcher would know who I was, where I was and why would they want me for magick? There are plenty other people who are far better at it then I am.

My eyes darted around and I nodded, looking down at my arms that were still crossed over my chest. "Oh-ok..." At the rate I was biting my lip from nerves and worry I was going to either bust it open or it was going to be very swollen in the morning. "M-my roommate's gone f-for the night." With my new jacket no doubt. "W-we can t-talk here..." I fumbled for my keys in my bag, sighing when I finally had them in hand.

We headed up the stairs to my floor and I pulled out my other key and opened the dorm room door. "S-sorry about t-the mess..." Mess? Nobody would think this was a mess. Everything was neat and in place save for a few art supplies and the corner of a few spell books that were shoved under the bed. "Y-you can sit an-anywhere you w-want...W-would you like...s-some t-." I stopped mid sentence and realized that Faith looked by far the farthest person from someone who would want tea. "I-I have s-some Coke..."

[prodigal_slayer]

I followed her up to her room, relieved that she at least hadn't turned on her heels and ran away from what I was sayin'. Might sound strange, but the chicks in this town were strange. You risk life and limb to save some little blonde from a blood sucker and do you get a thank you? Fuck no, they scream and cry before gettin' the hell out of dodge. Not like I needed a thank you or anything, but something every once in a while might be nice. Oh well, guessed that was what bein' a slayer was all about. Just doin' it cause you had to, no reward. Least they could do was get me a motorcycle or something.

"Mess?" I blinked stupidly as I glanced around her room. It was neat as a fucking pin, for real. She should see my room! Ru and I weren't exactly the cleanest people ever, and usually we were both out so we never bothered to clean up after ourselves. It wasn't unusual for there to be leather clothes littering the wooden floor in our dorm room.

Shaking my head I sat down at her desk and she offered me some Coke. "Naw, I'm good.....thanks though." I added in a little bit too enthusiastically. Okay, I was desperate to prove to Wesley that I had boatloads of finesse. I had the mad people skills yo!

At least this Tara chick seemed to know what a slayer was, so I didn't have to explain the gig to her. Was that because she was a witch? When your all witchy you automatically learn about this stuff? Fuck if I knew.

[magick_goddess]

I put down my bag next to the bed and toed the few books that were peaking out under the bed before walking over to the edge and sitting down. Putting my hands in my lap I start to nervously fidget with the hem of my shirt, not really sure what my place is. Even though it is my room.

Tucking my hair behind my ear I looked over at her and I couldn't help but notice the confidence that just rolled off of her in waves, that sense of self and knowing where you belong. But I looked at her a little closer and I could see flickers in her aura, to anyone who just looked it looked smooth and in place. If you looked closer you could see there were fragments, pieces and things that didn't fit right. It seemed maybe deep down she was floundering like I was, looking for just the right niche to fit into and be comfortable.

I thought I had that with Willow... Ok, moving on. Next thought.

I nervously licked my lips and looked over at Faith. "S-so umm...w-what d-did you need h-help w-with?" I have no idea what her or her watcher could possibly want from me. I'm nothing and nobody special.

[prodigal_slayer]

Why was she stuttering so much? How did you cast spells when you couldn't talk right? Not that I was gonna ask, since ya know, I actually did want her help. And frankly? I was willin' to do just about anything I could to smack down the Immortal, even befriend a shy little wallflower like the one sitting across from me.

"Well, I'm havin' some trouble. Guy goes by the name of 'the Immortal'. Yeah, not really all that original I know. Anyways, problem is he's been smackin' my ass all the way across Boston for the last few months and the only reason I can't just kill him is cause he keeps usin' magick on me. I'm five by five with the kickin' ass parts but the magick? Not so much. But Wesley...my watcher, he thought maybe you could somehow I dunno, magickally drain him of his power or weaken him or something. Honestly I don't know jack about magick so I dunno what you can or can't do. But right now? I'm willin' to try just about anything."

I smiled slightly at the discomfort that was so clearly radiating from her. Crap, maybe Wes had been wrong all along. Had a hard time believing that this chick was the key to smackin' the Immortal down. She didn't seem to have any backbone at all, so I was kind of a skeptic on the her bein' a badass witch factor.

[sexytarawitch]

Huh? What, wait. Hold on. I'm what? She's five by what? Magick? The Immortal...who? I'm clearly lost.

Ok, deep breaths. I tucked my leg up and rested my chin on my knee, nervously pulling at my lip and thinking. Actually I was trying to get my head to stop spinning so I can comprehend what she was telling me.

"W-wait..." I swallowed hard and tried to smile back at her. I was just very confused right now. Why and who would want me to do a spell for something this important. "W-who's the Immortal? F-five by five what? I-I'm sorry, it's just, I'm umm very c-confused." I blushed slightly and looked down. "S-sorry...just..." I sighed and rested my chin against my knee again, letting my hair cover my face slightly. "W-what does Mr. Wesley need me to d-o?"

I'd be happy to help but I don't know how much I can help with someone who has enough power and magick to take down a Slayer. I just hoped that whatever they need me to do I didn't mess up.

[prodigal_slayer]

"The Immortal. He's just some....guy. I dunno, Wes can give you the skinny on him if you think it'll help. He's just some badass wannabe who managed to not only be practically unkillable but learned some parlor tricks too. Think it's mostly smoke and mirrors but it's enough to spin my head right around. He's got some shady dealins on the South Shore, mostly trading with vamps and demons. Got some gig where he tosses them a few warm bodies and they give him what he wants. Caught onto his deal a couple months ago and I thought I might take his ass out. Easier said than done....apparently."

I was tryin'. I was tryin' wicked hard and for real? I thought I deserved some mad props for it. This chick wasn't easy to talk to. First off, once you got past the stutter she pretty much just repeated everything I said. Knew I confused people sometimes (read: Wesley) but usually I didn't really need people around so I didn't give a fuck.

"Think Wes wants you to I dunno, work some mojo stuff? Do you think...maybe you could like make his powers go away for a little while? Long enough for me to take his ass out?"

She was givin' me a blank nervous look and I had pretty much reached the end of my limit on finesse. Obviously Wes didn't know what the scoop was and Glinda here could only make tiny balls of sunlight. When it came to the big stuff we were on our own. As usual.

"Never mind. It's cool." I said quickly, standing up from the chair at her desk and heading for the door. "Thanks for the bail out on that vamp. I'll figure out something for the Immortal."

Hey, at least I was bein' way nicer than I usually was. Wes better recognize. Somehow I thought the only think he was gonna recognize was that I somehow had screwed this up. Hardcore.

So much for finesse.

[sexytarawitch]

Thankfully I learned rather quickly, thanks to living with Maranda, how to speak Bostonian...or is it Bostonease...I'm not sure. But I knew what Faith was saying and that was a start. As to what she was saying. I don't know. I don't think I'm advanced or know enough to pull something like that off.

I bit my lip nervously and tried to go over some spells I knew in my head, I wasn't coming up with a lot but maybe a few bits and pieces. If her watcher was anything like Mr. Giles was, according to Willow, he might be able to help me.

She headed for the door and I got up quickly, nearly stumbling over the hem of my skirt. "W-wait." I sighed and put my hand on her arm, silently cursing my stutter. "I-I'm w-w-willing to help." I swallowed hard and gave her a small smile. "I'll help." I honestly didn't know how but maybe I could try. Nothing happened if you didn't try.

"I...I honestly don't know w-what I can do to h-help but I'll try." I bit my lip again and tried to think harder. "I-if I can't take h-his powers..." Hmmm maybe.... "I umm might be able to at least umm distract him..." I trailed off, trying to think of the spells I knew. "M-maybe your umm watcher c-could help...three minds and all..."

I turned to get my jacket, kneeling under the bed I pulled out my mothers spell book, it was big and thick and it had seen many better days. Putting it into my shoulder bag I walked back over to Faith. "I-I don't h-have classes tomorrow so umm...We can g-go see him n-now if you'd like...do s-some research..." I tucked my hair behind my ear and glanced at my toes. "I-I need umm more information from you too..."

[wickedslayer]

Quirking an eyebrow slightly I turned around when I felt her warm hand clasp around my arm. Whoa. Just when I thought there was no bark left in this puppy she up and surprised me. Most people who didn't know me, didn't touch me. Ya know, unless I smiled and told 'em that they could.

"Research." I commented dryly as I followed her out the door and waited for her to lock up, with my arms crossed over my chest. "Sounds like a blast."

The kinda blast that really wasn't any fun at all. Maybe Tara was one of those research types like Wes, but I was a more find something nasty and punch it til it stopped movin' kinda girl. Woman of action. Didn't see anything wrong with that, but Wes was always complainin' about my short attention span when it came to the book readin'. Hey, I figured I already had to do enough studying at BU. Why add more to that when I had to fight vamps all night long too? Ya know?

"What kinda info you lookin' for from me?" I asked casually as I walked down the stairs next to her. Maybe I could just tell her whatever on the way and then they'd let me off the research party. Doubtin' it for real, but it was worth a try anyway. 'Sides I doubted there was anything I could tell her that Wesley couldn't. He'd probably do a way better job of it too.

[magick_goddess]

Faith looked as amused about research as I did public attention. This was going to be amusing. I just had to suck it up and do whatever I could to make this fly, her and her watcher more or less came to me as their last resourt. I have to at least try.

We headed out of the building and I crossed my arms over my chest as I let her take the slight lead to where we were going, she did know after all. I glanced over at her when she asked what I needed from her. Selfconfidence, a body that could pull that off, that outter spark she had....there was a lot. But she wasn't talking about that. "W-well, i-if I'm going t-to help with th-this demon then I need to k-know about him."

I followed her down the street, tucking my hair behind my ear and recrossed my arms. "I-I need to know a-about his fighting and what not. I-if we're g-going to try this...then we umm need to do it right." I shrugged and glanced over at Faith. I wondered if I was going to have a problem getting what I needed from her, she seemed far from the book type and all that. She seemed more into shiny things and for a moment I wondered if I would have to magick up a few weapons to keep her interest.

I turned away to keep from laughing and I quietly followed her up the stone stairs. "I-I just need a f-few things from you..." I turned and looked out towards the moon. "Y-you'll still h-have time to go out b-before sunrise."