Boy oh boy is this my lucky day

[el_comfortador]

Lucky me, I get to go and meet and greet with Faith. We haven't heard from her since Sunnydale's meltdown and now, out of no where, she calls Buffy with dreams of the Master and stuff, and she comes for a visit. Who gets to pick her up? Me! Of course. Good ol' butt monkey Xander

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[faithcb]

Great. I was in ye old city of witch trials. Personally this is the last place on earth I'd like to be. Not like I truthfully mind Salem itself, maybe the current people in it. Didn't B really know that I actually was tryin'? She didn't have to go and mock me like that last night.

Pickin' up my bag, I shuffled off of the bus and stopped when I saw Xander Harris staring back at me. 'Lookin' good, nice eyepatch, ' I wanted to quip like a usual bitch.

"Hey," I said instead, avoiding eyecontact. Am I surprised B couldn't make it? Not a chance.

[el_comfortador]

Just when I thought that this was stupid and she probably wasn't going to actually come, there she was and as hot as ever. Man times never change. "Hey back," I said as she approached.

My sight stayed down and I sighed. "So...how was your trip?" How was your trip? What the hell is that? That's almost like saying 'let's see how much tension I can put between us'.

This is what happens when people wake me up early. "Uh...I guess you don't need a hand with your stuff." I said with a soft chuckle.

[faithcb]

"Nah," I replied, shuffling my bag back onto my shoulder. "M'fine." Pack light, don't stay long.

I looked up to him, almost surprised he was actually talkin' to me, but not really at the same time. "Trip was good... as good as you can get on a bus ride for a coupla hours." I commented towards him.

"Guess, B couldn't make an appearance herself?"

[el_comfortador]

Man she makes it look so easy. If I tried to lift that bag I would probably get a hurnia. Hell, I think I could get one just by thinking about lifting it. I kicked at the ground aimlessly.

"Ya know, I didn't even think to ask her that," I admitted. I mean come on, wake a guy up early in the morning and think he's supposed to...think. Yeah right.

"I hope you don't mind walking. We don't really drive around here. Everything is pretty much in walking distance. Saves us the trouble of gas and mechanics and stuff." Idle chit chat, wow is this fun.

[faithcb]

"Yeah," I stated, sort of absently. Probably had slayer duties or somethin'? Yeah, right.

"Walkin's okay." I shifted the bag again on my shoulder. "You're looking good..." Yeah, that was smooth Faith, he probably just thinks you're tryin' to bug him or insult him. "Really." I said, trying to reassure. Since when did I dish out compliments to Xander Harris? Since he got an eye poked out and now looks like a hurt and lost puppy dog.

[el_comfortador]

We started walking, me leading the way without getting ahead of her. Though the compliment threw me off completely. Did she just say that or did I imagine it? Hey, no fighting it on my part.

I smiled towards her. "Thanks...I wasn't doin' so well for a while...but, I'm taking care of my life, taking care of myself." I looked up at her, catching her gaze for the first time since she got off the bus.

"You look good too, ya know." I commented softly, smiling warmly at her.

[faithcb]

Okay, weird, as per usual. Not used to havin' smiles come my way... and he didn't think I was a freak for sayin' he was lookin' good.

"Um, good," I replied, more uncomfortable with the compliment and normal discussion than anything.

"Been up to much?" I sort of gave a shrug. Wasn't much to do other than the uncomfortable dumb small talk.

[el_comfortador]

Apparently I'm not the only on caught off guard by the pleasantries and small talk. i walked with my hands in my pockets, looking back down.

"Not too much. Workin' construction. Big suprise there. Except I'm the forman of the site, so I get to be the boss. It's pretty cool I guess."

I took in a breath and sighed. "But other than that...regular patrols, occassional research parties. The council has us set up in some pretty cool digs. But really..." I sighed again. "I still get all lonely sometimes. I miss the old days of happiness in between apocalypses."

[faithcb]

"Well, you might get an apocalpse..." I suggested with a half grin. Yeah, that Master guy was creepy stuff - also in major need of a full makeover.

But, for real? I was still shakin' in my boots.

I let out a breath, letting out a soft yawn. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep last night.

"But... congrats on the job and stuff."

[el_comfortador]

The look in her eyes, as I glanced up at her, told me so much. Seemed like even Faith was freaked by this. I touched her arm soothingly, slowing my pace some. "Yeah...but we've faced this guy before...we can take him. Again." I added softly.

My sight went back down, and my hand to my pocket, at her congratulations. I shrugged softly.

"Not like I did anything to earn the job. The council set us up with jobs, I was just lucky." I kicked at a rock on the ground and sighed once more. "Can't say that I'm...happy though," I said softly.

[faithcb]

He acts as if I need comfort, which I don't - not really. Still his few words about the Master aren't really comforting. "Yeah, you guys faced him and B died," I reminded him. The Master was one of the reasons I was a Slayer today.

"And it pretty much blows that you're not happy, Xand." I stated, too sharply. I exhaled. Like I was happy either?

[el_comfortador]

I cringed at her word. Okay, so me trying to help, not such a successful plan. Note to self: shut up. I mentally kicked myself and nodded. "Yeah...duh...stupid. Sorry," I said softly.

Faith's words caught me off guard again. First she compliments me, then she acts all...caring and stuff. Crap, did I get sucked into an alternate universe or something? Jeez.

I arched a brow and looked up at her. "It's no big deal...just haven't been the same since..." I trailed off and sighed, biting my lip. "Yeah."

[faithcb]

"Yeah." I didn't want to let him complete that sentence. Since Anya died... I know, Xander. She rocked your world.

I wasn't a heck of a lot good at the touchy feely sort of thing and to even try that with Xander was something that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

"Maybe you just need to move on..." I replied callously. Just how reckless could I be?

[el_comfortador]

The tone of her voice told me that she knew what I was thinking, and I apreciated not having to say it. Even after so long, almost a whole year, it's still a touchy subject. Though not as bad as it used to be. So...go me.

Ok, and all the sympathy that she seemed to have, just evaporated and seems like Faith is back. I let out a harsh sigh.

"What? You think I haven't tried?" I bit coldly. Shaking my head I looked back down. "Sorry..." I said softly. "I've been trying...just gettin' no where. Salem isn't quite the best place for finding someone, I guess." I shrugged lightly.

[faithcb]

"Yeah, don't really expect a place lingerin' over another hellmouth is a place to find love..." Whatever love actually was...

I paused and looked up to him, "I'm not the one you want to give you sympathy. I'm not good at that sort of thing. Least you've loved and lost. People say that's better."

[el_comfortador]

"Yeah...and Salem isn't so big with the population. Maybe as big as Sunnydale...not sure." I kicked at another rock. "Plus...few blind dates I've been on, kinda went south as soon as they saw the eye." People never look past the defect and to the person. Damn shame. Hurts too.

"Well, people are dumb." I said coldly. "I'd have preferred to never fall in love. I've fallen for people before...they always go away."