Jay was on a winning streak for sure and he'd just won another hand of Black Jack. Laughter and cheering erupted from the table as his meaty hand clamped down on my ass with a loving squeeze before he collected his chips. Guy was gonna regret that later when I broke his wrist but for now I'd let him have his little golden shining moment.
Everybody was havin' a good time until suddenly a prissy sharp voice rang through the air and we all stopped and turned around to look at Watcher Boy was standin' there with a wicked disapproving look on his face. Hadn't I told him to fuck off once already? What the hell did he want now? Determined to ruin all of my fun? Leave it to the Council to start messin' with my head like this. Way unfair.
"Scuse me." I muttered as I jumped off Jay's lap and grabbed the loser tightly by the arm. "I need to talk to you." I hissed out through clenched teeth as I yanked him away from the table and practically shoved him into a wall far enough away from my new friends.
"What the fuck do you think this is? Play dumb and then follow me around the city and screw up my good time? Dream on, Jeeves. I don't need a babysitter."
Good grief, what is it with that girl and shoving people into walls? I managed to bit down on a yelp when she grabbed my arms and did just that. Oh for gods sake, that is really the most annoying thing ever. How many times has she done this now? It’s getting tiresome, not to mention in-original. Can’t she come up with something better? On second thought, let’s hope she can’t. She may be only a potential, but she’s a rather strong one. Quite puzzling.
“My name is not ‘Jeeves’” I hiss at her, giving the hands clutching the shirt a disapproving look. I stand corrected, the most annoying thing is her calling me that. Which was also not original, but at least she’s not calling me English, because that would be pointing out the obvious. I pause when a feeling for familiarity goes through me when I think of that particular name, but it’s gone before I can put my finger on it, just like before. Strange that. And this shirt she is bunching up is quite silk. Since when does the Council have such a… Well no, it looks second hand, just like the jeans. The small washed out splatters of blood gave that away.
“Look miss,” I started, struggling to get her hands off me. “Get your hands off of me. I’ve called Mister Giles from The Council and he’s coming over. We’re supposed to go back to that place. And I really cannot conduct your attitude.” Letting out a frustrated growl, my eyes go wide when there’s suddenly a third voice.
“Problem?” a fellow in a security uniform asks, looking at me and then giving this Faith person a disapproving look. “Miss, unhand the man. He don’t look like he wants to be shoved against wall.”
Quite right, he doesn’t. However, security guards mean trouble, and we don’t need trouble right now. We *need* to go back to that odd apartment and…where did Noname go? The dog? Where’s the dog?
"Problem?" I asked the security guard sweetly, batting my eyes at him. In a flash I punched him in the nose and watched him stagger backwards. "No problem." With a smirk I let go of Jeeves the annoying butler as another herd of security guards were radio'd in. Hell yeah. A fight! Now that's what I was talkin' about. Fucking security guards buttin' their noses in where they didn't belong.
"What's going on here?" Jay got up from the table and started heading towards us but I only punched him out too. "Sorry baby, but I gotta blaze." I said to his unconscious form before grabbing Miss Priss by the arm and pullin' him out the front door before the rest of security could catch up to us.
Mary Poppins was still struggling with me as we headed out of the casino and down the steps onto the sidewalk below. I manhandled him into an alleyway before lettin' go of him. Puttin' my hands on my hips I cocked my head to the side and looked at him closely. He was kind of hot in a scruffy older guy Sugar Daddy kind of way. Too bad about the personality though.
"So you finally checked in with the head honchos huh? Who's this Giles guy? Not the same guy who watches that other chick. What the fuck's her name...Barbie? That guy? He better fucking know what happened to Kate and why the hell I'm stuck here with your stupid ass."
Good lord! Did that girl not know any other ways to communicate then with her fists? Highly disturbing, that’s what it is. Why on earth did they put me here with her. What was Mister Giles thinking?! She obviously needed to be restrained, brought back to the Council to learn the true meaning of being a Slayer. It was an honor, not some weapon you could carelessly use against innocent bystanders.
My eyes went wide and I watched horrified as she knocked down the guard. The poor fellow was out like a light. Which was around the time she grabbed my arm and dragged me away. Well, at least it wasn’t my throat this time. “Bloody hell. Miss Faith! Unhand me this instant! This kind of behavior is inappropriate!” The next few moments were a bit of a blur. I recalled passing that sleazy looking fellow before she tossed me out the building and into an alley. Moving up to push my glasses up and once again disturbed not to find them, I fiddled with my clothes instead. Now that these were going to look good in any shape or from. I just needed something for my hands to do.
“Are you insane?” I shot out. Two could play that came. Why should she hold all the bloody cards. “You can’t toss around your given powers like that. You’re supposed to protect the innocent, not beat them down. Though it should have come as no surprise to me since all you’ve done since we met is use your violence on me. Does that make you feel all powerful, you’re nothing but a bully.” Taking a step back, I took a deep breath, trying to once again make sense of things.
It wasn’t working. My headache was growing though.
“Mister Giles is from the Council and he’s…” I have no idea what he is, to be honest. I forgot to ask. “… on his way. I’ve no idea what *you* are talking about. I was supposed to bring you back to that place we woke up to and we are to wait for him there. Now if you could quite possibly be less rude and kindly just do as you’re told, I’m sure you’ll get some answers to your questions.” I know I’d like some. Who was this Kate? Or… Barbie? What kind of name is that?
"Newsflash, Jeeves. Ain't no such thing as innocent. People? All the same. Just lookin' to screw you anyway they can." I smirked at him suggestively watchin' with some satisfaction as he squirmed a little bit under my gaze. Big bad watcher all afraid of little old me? That was a fucking laugh and a half. Kate would eat this guy for breakfast. Guy like this had no business bein' a watcher, let alone watchin' a chick like me. If this Giles guy came to tell me that Jeeves here was my new watcher? I was gonna be throwin' a serious fit.
"And another thing? I don't take orders from washed up Brits. Why don't you go on back to England so you don't miss your tea with the Queen." Snorting at that I turned my back on the loser and started headin' down the alleyway. That wasn't the only casino I knew I could charm my way into. I might be only sixteen but I was pretty and I had some rockin' cleavage goin' on.
I didn't get very far when I felt fingers closing around my arm. Angrily I turned around and shoved him away from me.
"Don't ever put your hands on me, pal. I'll throw you through the fuckin' wall. Got me?" I glared at him just as a door in the alleyway flew open and an angry lookin' bald dude stared at me.
"Faith?!" He exclaimed, rushin' over to me and giving me a disapproving look.
"Uhh...yeah?" What the fuck? Who the hell was this guy? "Who wants to know?"
"Your boss does. You're ten minutes late for your shit now put on one of those sleazy tops you like to wear and get your cute little ass behind the bar right now or you're out of a job." He threatened me.
Oh fuck no. He did not just say that shit to me! Was he cruisin' or what?
The glare I aimed her when she ranted on about there not being innocent people in the world slid right off me. Oh boohoo, cry me a river, bloody stupid girl. She knew exactly that wasn’t what I had meant. And she wants to be a Slayer? I think not, I don’t even know why she was chosen to be a potential. She obviously doesn’t even have any desire to protect the world at large, she’s only interested in herself. Selfish twit.
“You don’t take orders from anyone do you?” No wonder her watcher did such I bad job. Whomever he or she was, I don’t envy them. This girl must have been one frustration added ontop of another. I’m rather glad to still be in the academy, though what *I* am doing here is still vague to me. And I’m guessing to mister Giles a well. “Why does that not surprise me.”
I gave her smirking face a dry look, wondering if she was able to have any other kind of expressions besides sarcastic, or smirking or just plain mean. “I’m going back to England, don’t you worry about that Miss. But for now you and I will return to the…wherever we were and wait for Mister Giles.” I reached out to take her arm, ready to use force if needed to get her back to that place.
When she shoved me aside again, - pointless and abuse use of Slayer powers! - I was thinking perhaps a tranquilizer gun may have been useful. I certainly didn’t want to hit her! At least…not if it wasn’t needed. “I dare say Miss!” I started, struggling up from the pavement. I didn’t get far with my words though, some dubious looking fellow interrupted us. Seemed to know Miss Faith. Though she looked at him as though she had no idea who he was.
Good grief, what he did just say? I stared at him with open mouth for quite a while before daring a look at Faith. That was rude! One cannot go tossing around things like that! No matter if the lady in question is rather dubious looking herself. She’s a future Slayer! Throwing myself up to my full height - which was somehow much taller then I recall, odd that - I glared at this chap.
“You will apologize to the-the…Miss Faith right now, Sir,” I told him haughtily.
“And you are?” He sneered at me.
“I am Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. And you sir, are to apologize this instant, or I’ll be forced to-to…” To what? “To call a police officer of the law!” Hah! There.
He stared at me, then laughed and before I knew it I had a fist in my face. Blinking the stars away, I wondered just how familiar I was supposed to get with the Las Vegas pavement, because I’ve had quiet enough for now. Also? Ow. “Ow,” I muttered, gingerly touching my jaw with my fingertips.
Alright, that didn’t quiet go as plan. Blood hell.
I hate Las Vegas. I hate America. I want to go home.
At least I finally had a name for the tool who wouldn't leave me alone. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. What a sissy name. Guess that's how they breed 'em in the mother country though. Not that I'd know or give a fuck. It was kinda cute that he was stickin' up for me, even if he was bein' a total loser about it. Miss Faith? He was gonna be forced to call the 5-0 on his ass? What a total fucking loser.
I only smirked when his ass got laid out on the sidewalk by the brawny lookin' dude who'd told me to go put on a top and get behind the bar. Who the fuck was he?
"Thanks," I said to the stranger, after he'd punched Wes out and let him lay on the sidewalk. "I been meanin' to do that." As soon as the words left my mouth my own fist smashed squarely into the dude's face and he balked, his back pressed against the brick wall. "Who the fuck are you?" I demanded, grabbin' the guy by the shirt and givin' him a little shake as Wussley got to his feet behind me. "Hey, I'm talkin' to you pal! How the fuck do you know my name?"
"That's the last thing you're ever gonna do little girl." The guy threatened me before takin' a swing. I caught his fist easy and put so much pressure on his fingers that I was sure I heard one of the bones break.
"Ain't no little girl. Now answer the fucking question!" I demanded, slamming his back into the wall again.
"I'm your boss! And you're out of a job, do you hear me, Hanley? You're never gonna work in this town again!"
A job? I frowned at that and took a step back. He really did know me and was confused as hell that I was actin' this way. That was the first sign that something was wrong. No, the first sign was that...I'd filled out. I mean, I was a pretty hot sixteen year old to begin with but...things felt different. With the same frown on my face I dug around in my back pocket til I found a small lamenated card. A driver's license? I don't drive! But this said I did, it also listed my address as bein' in Vegas.
"Something's up. We gotta go." I said quickly, grabbin' Wes by the arm and pullin' him down the alleyway back to the apartment we'd woken up in.
Well, so much for gratitude. Remind me to let her get hit or insulted or some such next time. She quite obviously doesn’t care so why should I? Probably because it’s a bloody reflex I should try harder to reign in. And this fellow was even less impressed. I wondered where he knew Miss Faith from though. He didn’t seem to know about her potential Slayer status, which was something I guess.
Glaring at the girl, I struggling up, gingerly touching my jaw again. “That’s going to bruise,” I muttered, wiggling it a bit. Which was about the time Faith showed her originality once again by using violence. The moment Mister Giles arrives I’m going to insist that this girl be put in therapy, she obviously has several issues to work out. Good lord, can she do *nothing* other then hit people, or slam them against walls? What ever happened to ‘talking’? And that so called ‘mocking smirk’ was getting tiresome as well.
“Miss…” Hanley? Ah. Okay, that doesn’t sound familiar at all. I’m not aware of potential in the sacred Slayer texts, but I doubt Mister Giles would go around telling lies. “Miss Hanley!” I called out again when she used this chap as her last victim. “Could you perhaps try *not* to constantly use violence? It’s rather unimaginative!” Besides, it’s not a demon, it’s a human. If she keeps this up she’s going to make a bloody mistake and Slay a human being dammit.
Opening my mouth to scold her some more, I closed it again when she stared at the contents of her wallet. The…whomever that chap was had stalked off in a huff, muttering about spoiled brats who think they’re all that. Or some such. Didn’t much care, because Faith had apparently made a decision. Which seemed to involve dragging me along. Bloody hell, I’m *not* some ragdol.
“Unhand me!” I insisted, pulling my arm loose. Something wrong? No really? “I’ve been trying to tell you that for the last oh…hour or so? How about listening next time.” Seriously, that would safe us all so much trouble. Mostly me. Using my long legs to keep up with her - how can she walk this fast? - I clamped my mouth shut because we were going in the right direction. Which was a good change of plans as far as I’m concerned.
Could this guy get anymore lame if he tried? He didn't want me to use violence? Well fuck him! Sorry. Next time I'd just let someone get away with poppin' him one good in the mouth. See how he'd like my imagination then. Shit. Maybe I'd just do it myself if it'd make him shut the fuck up for like two minutes. Thank God Kate wasn't wicked annoying like this guy or I might just say screw the council and work for my own damn self. Didn't need to be livin' in that Barbie bitch's shadow anyway.
"How about shutting the hell up before I lay your ass out like that guy did back there?" I hissed out at him again as he kept whining and pullin' at his arm. Finally I let it go and smirked as he almost stumbled to the ground without me holdin' onto him. Served him right far as I could tell. I really should just let him rot out here in Vegas and wait for this Giles dude to finally show the fuck up and tell me what was what.
Like why did I have a driver's license in my pocket that said my address was in Vegas? I didn't live here, I lived in Boston. And shit, I didn't even know how to drive! I wasn't even old enough to have my license yet, so how was all of this happening? Must be some kinda test. Had I passed yet? Cause as much fun as Vegas was, it wasn't any fun at all with Wussley babysitting me.
I continued walking back towards the direction of the place I'd woken up in, been kidnapped to, whatever. On the way I spotted a newspaper stand and on a whim I walked over. Glancing down at the papers, my jaw suddenly went lax when I caught a glimpse of the date.
How....
How was that even possible?
"Yo Wes." I finally said, callin' the loser over as I tossed a paper at him. "Check out the date."
“Oh?” I shot back at her. “As if you haven’t done so already? Really all you can do is hit people. You’re nothing but a first grade bully!” Pulling my arm loose, I stumbled back and out of her reach. I wasn’t stupid, she could strike out at any give time! The girl was a loose canon, a danger to society. Why was she even walking around still? Good lord, I do hope Mister Giles has a very good explanation for this.
I want to go back to the academy, I don’t think I’m ready for these kinds of confusing tests.
Glaring at the once again smirk, - getting tired of that one too, I wish I could wipe it off just as she seems to be able to do were the roles reverse - I just trailed behind her. We were still moving toward the apartment we found ourselves in when we woke up, so there was no reason to go into action. Mister Giles had trusted me with a task and I was bloody well going to fulfill it.
If only the precipitant of said task was such a recalcitrant persona. She was nothing like the potentials I’ve ever met, or had been taught about. They all followed the orders of the Watcher, didn’t question his authority, most certainly didn’t go around hitting him! To say that I didn’t understand any of this would be an understatement. Perhaps she was an exception? Oh! Maybe she was an actress and hired to act this way especially for this test! No, I’ve never heard of that. Unless of course it was top secret, in which case I couldn’t have heard of it? It could be.
Miss Hanely’s voice tore me out of my thoughts and I shuffled toward her warily. I made sure to stay out of arms reach when I took the paper from her. Didn’t really want to take my eyes off of her, trust wasn’t something that came to mind at the moment. “What,” I wanted to know, squinting at the paper. War, some government problem or scandal, heat wave…. At least I could read the headlines. Where were my glasses? Confused, I looked at hr and then back at her. What?
Oh, the date.
“But…that’s impossible. Not even The Council has so much power as to… they may have tossed the paper upon our way to throw us off?” No wait, why would they do that when Mister Giles insisted to meet him at the apartment? He sounded as though this hadn’t been…planed, so the paper couldn’t be either.
“We need to get back to the apartment. I want to talk to Mister Giles *now*,” I growled, fed up with this whole charade. Still holding the paper, I turned around on the balls of my feet and stalked toward the building.
I just stood with my arms folded over my chest as Wesley started havin' a hernia over the date on the paper. Had to admit, I was kinda shaken up about it myself and I wanted to find this Giles dude Wes kept goin' on about and get some real deal answers. Obviously Wes knew shit but I already knew that much. For the first time I stopped seein' him as the enemy for about five seconds. Yeah a total nerd who needed to rip the stake out of his ass but he was just as confused as I was. So we were both kidnapped?
And woke up years and years later? I should be sixteen but according to the paper? I was twenty five. How did I age nine years overnight? I glanced down at my chest again and frowned. I definitely was older. What the hell was goin' on? I was fixin' to throw another tantrum when Wesley threw his own. Raising one eyebrow I just watched him for a minute before shrugging and fallin' into step behind him. Well, he did kinda take the wind out of my sails a little bit.
"What'd this Giles guy say to you?" I asked him, almost havin' to run now to keep up with the guy and that was sayin' something considering I was slaychick. He was definitely a man on a mission though. Smug fucking scowl on his face like he was king of the world. No wonder they made him a watcher. He fit the annoying bill for real.
What happened to Kate? That was the only thing I could think about cause let's be honest? I ain't got shit else to care about. Momma could be rottin' away six feet under by now for all I cared. But Kate? I needed to know that she was okay and that...she was here somewhere or I could get to her. Ya know I give her all that shit about tryin' to act like she's my Ma and I don't need her comin' down on me but she's all I got.
Goddamit, how dare that Giles fellow play me like that. Telling me only half truths and leaving out things. How in the hell can we be suddenly more then a decade from where we’re supposed to be? That’s impossible! That would explain certain…uhm…bodily features. I wonder if I took a good look into the mirror if I’d get an attack. That chap really has something to answer for. I really don’t care if he’s so distraught about his son Rupert…Rippert,….whatever. That doesn’t give him the right to just play with lives! Like say… mine. And Miss Hanley, obviously.
Muttering under my breath, I keep storming toward the building, oddly enough not even looking where if I’m going the right way. Pausing at that, I look around blinking at the sight. Seem to be going the right way, that’s very strange. I don’t even know this place! Dear god! Have we been brainwashed? Oh, oh! I’ll just bet my father is behind that, the bastard. He would apoint his own son for such a test. Aha! Maybe it’s not ten years later, maybe they just want to make us *believe* that.
Nodding satisfied at that explanation to myself, I grin smugly, picking up my stride. I can hear Miss Hanley’s footfalls behind me and I try not to think of the small ego boost when I figure out she actually has to run to keep up. Or jog at any rate. Because it doesn’t matter, I need to get back to that apartment and I need to tear Mister Giles a new one. How dare he lie to me? Err…us. Well, no, me. He didn’t talk to Miss Hanley. Some test gone wrong my arse!
“What?” I pause again briefly to let her catch up, glancing over at her momentarily confused. Oh, what did Giles say. “Hmmm well,” I start, picking up my stride toward the building again. “He muttered something about a twit and a mind meld, I think Star Trek was mentioned, though why I’d have no idea. He asked about you…He was the one who told me your name was Faith, by the way, seemed to know you too.” Which was odd, since Faith here obviously didn’t have any ringing bells when it came to the name Edward Giles.
What else? “Oh and then he told me I should find you, we should both wait for him at the apartment. More cursing and mumbling then he told me to be careful because ‘she couldn’t handle loosing me twice’ …or some such. It really didn’t make any sense.” Ah! The building, we’ve arrived. And there’s Noname as well, where’d he run off to then? Odd dog, is that dust on his fur? Naw, can’t be, whomever heard of a vampire slaying dog. Ridiculous.
So whoever this Giles dude was he seemed to know alot about me and I knew shit about him. Well, that was usually the council's game anyway. Send a bunch of commands across the ocean while never once gettin' their own precious hands dirty. Star Trek? I was wicked confused now and it seemed like Wussley was just as confused as I was. Priss that he was. He almost looked kinda hot and badass for like five seconds but that clearly was just me cause this dude? More like a dud.
The dog was waitin' for us by the time we got back to the place we'd woken up in and I bent down to pet him only to see his fur was covered in dust. Either he'd been rollin' around in some attic or he was out slayin' vamps. Could dogs really slay vampires? Cause that would be wicked cool! I smiled a little bit as I scratched the dog behind his ears. I always wanted a puppy but Ma'd never let me have one. I liked this one though. Turnin' it's tag over I saw that his name was actually. Noname. What a dumb name for a dog! I should take him home with me and give him a real name. Like Killer.
"Think I could train him to like attack demons and shit?" I asked Wes but he was totally preoccupied with tryin' to usher me into the building. With a sigh I started inside with Wes and Noname and the three of us went back upstairs to the apartment we'd woken up in.
"This blows." I said with another sigh as I plopped down on the couch and propped my boots up on the coffee table. "I want this Giles dude to get here now and tell us what the hell is goin' on. What are we supposed to do while he flies his ass out here from England. Sit on our thumbs and twirl?"
That was when I remembered what I had in my jacket pocket. With a smirk I pulled my boots off of the table and unrolled the baggie of marijuana I'd stuffed in my coat.
Everybody was havin' a good time until suddenly a prissy sharp voice rang through the air and we all stopped and turned around to look at Watcher Boy was standin' there with a wicked disapproving look on his face. Hadn't I told him to fuck off once already? What the hell did he want now? Determined to ruin all of my fun? Leave it to the Council to start messin' with my head like this. Way unfair.
"Scuse me." I muttered as I jumped off Jay's lap and grabbed the loser tightly by the arm. "I need to talk to you." I hissed out through clenched teeth as I yanked him away from the table and practically shoved him into a wall far enough away from my new friends.
"What the fuck do you think this is? Play dumb and then follow me around the city and screw up my good time? Dream on, Jeeves. I don't need a babysitter."
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“My name is not ‘Jeeves’” I hiss at her, giving the hands clutching the shirt a disapproving look. I stand corrected, the most annoying thing is her calling me that. Which was also not original, but at least she’s not calling me English, because that would be pointing out the obvious. I pause when a feeling for familiarity goes through me when I think of that particular name, but it’s gone before I can put my finger on it, just like before. Strange that. And this shirt she is bunching up is quite silk. Since when does the Council have such a… Well no, it looks second hand, just like the jeans. The small washed out splatters of blood gave that away.
“Look miss,” I started, struggling to get her hands off me. “Get your hands off of me. I’ve called Mister Giles from The Council and he’s coming over. We’re supposed to go back to that place. And I really cannot conduct your attitude.” Letting out a frustrated growl, my eyes go wide when there’s suddenly a third voice.
“Problem?” a fellow in a security uniform asks, looking at me and then giving this Faith person a disapproving look. “Miss, unhand the man. He don’t look like he wants to be shoved against wall.”
Quite right, he doesn’t. However, security guards mean trouble, and we don’t need trouble right now. We *need* to go back to that odd apartment and…where did Noname go? The dog? Where’s the dog?
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"What's going on here?" Jay got up from the table and started heading towards us but I only punched him out too. "Sorry baby, but I gotta blaze." I said to his unconscious form before grabbing Miss Priss by the arm and pullin' him out the front door before the rest of security could catch up to us.
Mary Poppins was still struggling with me as we headed out of the casino and down the steps onto the sidewalk below. I manhandled him into an alleyway before lettin' go of him. Puttin' my hands on my hips I cocked my head to the side and looked at him closely. He was kind of hot in a scruffy older guy Sugar Daddy kind of way. Too bad about the personality though.
"So you finally checked in with the head honchos huh? Who's this Giles guy? Not the same guy who watches that other chick. What the fuck's her name...Barbie? That guy? He better fucking know what happened to Kate and why the hell I'm stuck here with your stupid ass."
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My eyes went wide and I watched horrified as she knocked down the guard. The poor fellow was out like a light. Which was around the time she grabbed my arm and dragged me away. Well, at least it wasn’t my throat this time. “Bloody hell. Miss Faith! Unhand me this instant! This kind of behavior is inappropriate!”
The next few moments were a bit of a blur. I recalled passing that sleazy looking fellow before she tossed me out the building and into an alley. Moving up to push my glasses up and once again disturbed not to find them, I fiddled with my clothes instead. Now that these were going to look good in any shape or from. I just needed something for my hands to do.
“Are you insane?” I shot out. Two could play that came. Why should she hold all the bloody cards. “You can’t toss around your given powers like that. You’re supposed to protect the innocent, not beat them down. Though it should have come as no surprise to me since all you’ve done since we met is use your violence on me. Does that make you feel all powerful, you’re nothing but a bully.” Taking a step back, I took a deep breath, trying to once again make sense of things.
It wasn’t working. My headache was growing though.
“Mister Giles is from the Council and he’s…” I have no idea what he is, to be honest. I forgot to ask. “… on his way. I’ve no idea what *you* are talking about. I was supposed to bring you back to that place we woke up to and we are to wait for him there. Now if you could quite possibly be less rude and kindly just do as you’re told, I’m sure you’ll get some answers to your questions.” I know I’d like some. Who was this Kate? Or… Barbie? What kind of name is that?
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"And another thing? I don't take orders from washed up Brits. Why don't you go on back to England so you don't miss your tea with the Queen." Snorting at that I turned my back on the loser and started headin' down the alleyway. That wasn't the only casino I knew I could charm my way into. I might be only sixteen but I was pretty and I had some rockin' cleavage goin' on.
I didn't get very far when I felt fingers closing around my arm. Angrily I turned around and shoved him away from me.
"Don't ever put your hands on me, pal. I'll throw you through the fuckin' wall. Got me?" I glared at him just as a door in the alleyway flew open and an angry lookin' bald dude stared at me.
"Faith?!" He exclaimed, rushin' over to me and giving me a disapproving look.
"Uhh...yeah?" What the fuck? Who the hell was this guy? "Who wants to know?"
"Your boss does. You're ten minutes late for your shit now put on one of those sleazy tops you like to wear and get your cute little ass behind the bar right now or you're out of a job." He threatened me.
Oh fuck no. He did not just say that shit to me! Was he cruisin' or what?
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“You don’t take orders from anyone do you?” No wonder her watcher did such I bad job. Whomever he or she was, I don’t envy them. This girl must have been one frustration added ontop of another. I’m rather glad to still be in the academy, though what *I* am doing here is still vague to me. And I’m guessing to mister Giles a well. “Why does that not surprise me.”
I gave her smirking face a dry look, wondering if she was able to have any other kind of expressions besides sarcastic, or smirking or just plain mean. “I’m going back to England, don’t you worry about that Miss. But for now you and I will return to the…wherever we were and wait for Mister Giles.” I reached out to take her arm, ready to use force if needed to get her back to that place.
When she shoved me aside again, - pointless and abuse use of Slayer powers! - I was thinking perhaps a tranquilizer gun may have been useful. I certainly didn’t want to hit her! At least…not if it wasn’t needed. “I dare say Miss!” I started, struggling up from the pavement. I didn’t get far with my words though, some dubious looking fellow interrupted us. Seemed to know Miss Faith. Though she looked at him as though she had no idea who he was.
Good grief, what he did just say? I stared at him with open mouth for quite a while before daring a look at Faith. That was rude! One cannot go tossing around things like that! No matter if the lady in question is rather dubious looking herself. She’s a future Slayer! Throwing myself up to my full height - which was somehow much taller then I recall, odd that - I glared at this chap.
“You will apologize to the-the…Miss Faith right now, Sir,” I told him haughtily.
“And you are?” He sneered at me.
“I am Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. And you sir, are to apologize this instant, or I’ll be forced to-to…” To what? “To call a police officer of the law!” Hah! There.
He stared at me, then laughed and before I knew it I had a fist in my face. Blinking the stars away, I wondered just how familiar I was supposed to get with the Las Vegas pavement, because I’ve had quiet enough for now. Also? Ow. “Ow,” I muttered, gingerly touching my jaw with my fingertips.
Alright, that didn’t quiet go as plan. Blood hell.
I hate Las Vegas. I hate America. I want to go home.
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I only smirked when his ass got laid out on the sidewalk by the brawny lookin' dude who'd told me to go put on a top and get behind the bar. Who the fuck was he?
"Thanks," I said to the stranger, after he'd punched Wes out and let him lay on the sidewalk. "I been meanin' to do that." As soon as the words left my mouth my own fist smashed squarely into the dude's face and he balked, his back pressed against the brick wall. "Who the fuck are you?" I demanded, grabbin' the guy by the shirt and givin' him a little shake as Wussley got to his feet behind me. "Hey, I'm talkin' to you pal! How the fuck do you know my name?"
"That's the last thing you're ever gonna do little girl." The guy threatened me before takin' a swing. I caught his fist easy and put so much pressure on his fingers that I was sure I heard one of the bones break.
"Ain't no little girl. Now answer the fucking question!" I demanded, slamming his back into the wall again.
"I'm your boss! And you're out of a job, do you hear me, Hanley? You're never gonna work in this town again!"
A job? I frowned at that and took a step back. He really did know me and was confused as hell that I was actin' this way. That was the first sign that something was wrong. No, the first sign was that...I'd filled out. I mean, I was a pretty hot sixteen year old to begin with but...things felt different. With the same frown on my face I dug around in my back pocket til I found a small lamenated card. A driver's license? I don't drive! But this said I did, it also listed my address as bein' in Vegas.
"Something's up. We gotta go." I said quickly, grabbin' Wes by the arm and pullin' him down the alleyway back to the apartment we'd woken up in.
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Glaring at the girl, I struggling up, gingerly touching my jaw again. “That’s going to bruise,” I muttered, wiggling it a bit. Which was about the time Faith showed her originality once again by using violence. The moment Mister Giles arrives I’m going to insist that this girl be put in therapy, she obviously has several issues to work out. Good lord, can she do *nothing* other then hit people, or slam them against walls? What ever happened to ‘talking’? And that so called ‘mocking smirk’ was getting tiresome as well.
“Miss…” Hanley? Ah. Okay, that doesn’t sound familiar at all. I’m not aware of potential in the sacred Slayer texts, but I doubt Mister Giles would go around telling lies. “Miss Hanley!” I called out again when she used this chap as her last victim. “Could you perhaps try *not* to constantly use violence? It’s rather unimaginative!” Besides, it’s not a demon, it’s a human. If she keeps this up she’s going to make a bloody mistake and Slay a human being dammit.
Opening my mouth to scold her some more, I closed it again when she stared at the contents of her wallet. The…whomever that chap was had stalked off in a huff, muttering about spoiled brats who think they’re all that. Or some such. Didn’t much care, because Faith had apparently made a decision. Which seemed to involve dragging me along. Bloody hell, I’m *not* some ragdol.
“Unhand me!” I insisted, pulling my arm loose. Something wrong? No really? “I’ve been trying to tell you that for the last oh…hour or so? How about listening next time.” Seriously, that would safe us all so much trouble. Mostly me. Using my long legs to keep up with her - how can she walk this fast? - I clamped my mouth shut because we were going in the right direction. Which was a good change of plans as far as I’m concerned.
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"How about shutting the hell up before I lay your ass out like that guy did back there?" I hissed out at him again as he kept whining and pullin' at his arm. Finally I let it go and smirked as he almost stumbled to the ground without me holdin' onto him. Served him right far as I could tell. I really should just let him rot out here in Vegas and wait for this Giles dude to finally show the fuck up and tell me what was what.
Like why did I have a driver's license in my pocket that said my address was in Vegas? I didn't live here, I lived in Boston. And shit, I didn't even know how to drive! I wasn't even old enough to have my license yet, so how was all of this happening? Must be some kinda test. Had I passed yet? Cause as much fun as Vegas was, it wasn't any fun at all with Wussley babysitting me.
I continued walking back towards the direction of the place I'd woken up in, been kidnapped to, whatever. On the way I spotted a newspaper stand and on a whim I walked over. Glancing down at the papers, my jaw suddenly went lax when I caught a glimpse of the date.
How....
How was that even possible?
"Yo Wes." I finally said, callin' the loser over as I tossed a paper at him. "Check out the date."
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I want to go back to the academy, I don’t think I’m ready for these kinds of confusing tests.
Glaring at the once again smirk, - getting tired of that one too, I wish I could wipe it off just as she seems to be able to do were the roles reverse - I just trailed behind her. We were still moving toward the apartment we found ourselves in when we woke up, so there was no reason to go into action. Mister Giles had trusted me with a task and I was bloody well going to fulfill it.
If only the precipitant of said task was such a recalcitrant persona. She was nothing like the potentials I’ve ever met, or had been taught about. They all followed the orders of the Watcher, didn’t question his authority, most certainly didn’t go around hitting him! To say that I didn’t understand any of this would be an understatement. Perhaps she was an exception? Oh! Maybe she was an actress and hired to act this way especially for this test! No, I’ve never heard of that. Unless of course it was top secret, in which case I couldn’t have heard of it? It could be.
Miss Hanely’s voice tore me out of my thoughts and I shuffled toward her warily. I made sure to stay out of arms reach when I took the paper from her. Didn’t really want to take my eyes off of her, trust wasn’t something that came to mind at the moment. “What,” I wanted to know, squinting at the paper. War, some government problem or scandal, heat wave…. At least I could read the headlines. Where were my glasses? Confused, I looked at hr and then back at her. What?
Oh, the date.
“But…that’s impossible. Not even The Council has so much power as to… they may have tossed the paper upon our way to throw us off?” No wait, why would they do that when Mister Giles insisted to meet him at the apartment? He sounded as though this hadn’t been…planed, so the paper couldn’t be either.
“We need to get back to the apartment. I want to talk to Mister Giles *now*,” I growled, fed up with this whole charade. Still holding the paper, I turned around on the balls of my feet and stalked toward the building.
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And woke up years and years later? I should be sixteen but according to the paper? I was twenty five. How did I age nine years overnight? I glanced down at my chest again and frowned. I definitely was older. What the hell was goin' on? I was fixin' to throw another tantrum when Wesley threw his own. Raising one eyebrow I just watched him for a minute before shrugging and fallin' into step behind him. Well, he did kinda take the wind out of my sails a little bit.
"What'd this Giles guy say to you?" I asked him, almost havin' to run now to keep up with the guy and that was sayin' something considering I was slaychick. He was definitely a man on a mission though. Smug fucking scowl on his face like he was king of the world. No wonder they made him a watcher. He fit the annoying bill for real.
What happened to Kate? That was the only thing I could think about cause let's be honest? I ain't got shit else to care about. Momma could be rottin' away six feet under by now for all I cared. But Kate? I needed to know that she was okay and that...she was here somewhere or I could get to her. Ya know I give her all that shit about tryin' to act like she's my Ma and I don't need her comin' down on me but she's all I got.
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Muttering under my breath, I keep storming toward the building, oddly enough not even looking where if I’m going the right way. Pausing at that, I look around blinking at the sight. Seem to be going the right way, that’s very strange. I don’t even know this place! Dear god! Have we been brainwashed? Oh, oh! I’ll just bet my father is behind that, the bastard. He would apoint his own son for such a test. Aha! Maybe it’s not ten years later, maybe they just want to make us *believe* that.
Nodding satisfied at that explanation to myself, I grin smugly, picking up my stride. I can hear Miss Hanley’s footfalls behind me and I try not to think of the small ego boost when I figure out she actually has to run to keep up. Or jog at any rate. Because it doesn’t matter, I need to get back to that apartment and I need to tear Mister Giles a new one. How dare he lie to me? Err…us. Well, no, me. He didn’t talk to Miss Hanley. Some test gone wrong my arse!
“What?” I pause again briefly to let her catch up, glancing over at her momentarily confused. Oh, what did Giles say. “Hmmm well,” I start, picking up my stride toward the building again. “He muttered something about a twit and a mind meld, I think Star Trek was mentioned, though why I’d have no idea. He asked about you…He was the one who told me your name was Faith, by the way, seemed to know you too.” Which was odd, since Faith here obviously didn’t have any ringing bells when it came to the name Edward Giles.
What else? “Oh and then he told me I should find you, we should both wait for him at the apartment. More cursing and mumbling then he told me to be careful because ‘she couldn’t handle loosing me twice’ …or some such. It really didn’t make any sense.” Ah! The building, we’ve arrived. And there’s Noname as well, where’d he run off to then? Odd dog, is that dust on his fur? Naw, can’t be, whomever heard of a vampire slaying dog. Ridiculous.
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The dog was waitin' for us by the time we got back to the place we'd woken up in and I bent down to pet him only to see his fur was covered in dust. Either he'd been rollin' around in some attic or he was out slayin' vamps. Could dogs really slay vampires? Cause that would be wicked cool! I smiled a little bit as I scratched the dog behind his ears. I always wanted a puppy but Ma'd never let me have one. I liked this one though. Turnin' it's tag over I saw that his name was actually. Noname. What a dumb name for a dog! I should take him home with me and give him a real name. Like Killer.
"Think I could train him to like attack demons and shit?" I asked Wes but he was totally preoccupied with tryin' to usher me into the building. With a sigh I started inside with Wes and Noname and the three of us went back upstairs to the apartment we'd woken up in.
"This blows." I said with another sigh as I plopped down on the couch and propped my boots up on the coffee table. "I want this Giles dude to get here now and tell us what the hell is goin' on. What are we supposed to do while he flies his ass out here from England. Sit on our thumbs and twirl?"
That was when I remembered what I had in my jacket pocket. With a smirk I pulled my boots off of the table and unrolled the baggie of marijuana I'd stuffed in my coat.
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