Faith
Faith glanced outside. Hmm, night again. Time to patrol. She didn't feel like going alone though. She probably shouldn't make Zac do it again and Xander was busy. Who else liked to hunt?
Ah Mouse.
Faith picked up her phone and dialled Mouse's number.
"Yo Mouse?"
Mouse
Mouse picked up the phone. "Hey. That you, Faith?" She scratched Fafnir's ears and he rumbled in contentment. "What's up?"
Faith
"Yep, it's me. Wanna go for a patrol then some drinks and dancing at P3? I have much to tell you."
Faith grinned and laced her boots up while leaning the phone against her ear and shoulder.
Mouse
"Sounds good. I need to get out of this apartment. Bit of bloody
violence sounds very attractive to the wolf in me." Mouse looked at
Fafnir. Wanna go hunting with the Slayer?
"You gonna orb over, or what?"
Faith
"Ah, that's what I gotta tell ya. I'm not living with the
Halliwells. Long story. Um... just meet me..."
Faith rattled off the details of the cemetery that was closest to a
big scrub of bushland, said bye and hung up, grabbing some weapons
and a jacket and heading out to meet Mouse.
Mouse
Mouse pulled on her boots and then shrugged into her duster. She slid
her knife into the side of her boot and then headed out with Fafnir
by her side. A few cats tagged along with her out of interest. She
arrived at the cemetary, then spotted Faith. "Hey, Faith. Long time
no see. Not since the ball," Mouse said as she headed over.
Slayer. Fafnir nodded to Faith.
Faith
Faith nodded at Fafnir. "Wolf."
She turned back to Mouse. "Heya Mouse. Yep, since the ball. What
have you been up to?"
Mouse
"Listening to music, trying to find a high school correspondence
course, netsurfing. Not much." Mouse shrugged. "You?"
Faith
"Moved out... I have my own place. You should come by. But uh...
don't sit on the couch." Faith grinned. "And Zac came patrolling
with me last night. Was kinda interesting."
Mouse
Mouse raised her eyebrows slightly. "And how many nasties did meet
their end while you patrolled with Zac? Love to come by sometime.
Feel free to do the same. I'm usually there. Unless I'm out, which
kinda is the same for everyone. And I bet Fafnir could tell why you
don't want me to sit on the couch. Are you going to let Diana sit on
it, if she ever comes over?"
Faith
Faith giggled. "I don't think Diana ever wants to be *that* close to
her son. We ran into... hmm, not that many. I think Zac was a bit
scared at first though."
Mouse
"Bet he came through like a trooper though." Mouse grinned and
bounced slightly, eyes gleaming. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's
go hunting." Fafnir pointed his nose to the night sky and howled.
After a beat, Mouse joined in the eerie wolf song, matching the
lilting inhuman candences perfectly. "Pack thing," she said shortly
once they were finished. "You always howl before a hunt."
So, let's go. Fafnir shook his head.
Faith
Faith grinned.
"Oh Zac always comes like a tropper." She giggled and started to
walk through the cemetery.
"We'll do a quick sweep."
Mouse
"And once more, how many times do I havta say this? TMI, Faith, TMI."
Mouse trotted after Faith, slipping her knife into her hand as Fafnir
bounded along ahead. "I'll follow your lead. This is your area of
expertise."
Faith
"Sorry Mouse. But it's true. Zac is a fantastic lover. Mmm."
Faith sighed and reached behind a headstone, pulling a vampire up,
who looked perplexed. And confused. She staked him quickly.
Mouse
"Wow, they really do go poof," Mouse said with fascination. "I want
one!" She bounced slightly. "C'mon, wolf. Fetch one."
Mmmm. There. Stench of the walking death. Fafnir turned slightly,
and then sprang at the vampire, ripping his teeth through its stomach
and groin. The vampire howled in pain, and swung at the wolf. Fafnir
dodged nimbly, and then hamstrung it. Mouse walked over and grabbed
the back of the vampire's head, ignoring the constant stream of
deaththreats and curses, before stabbing her knife into his chest,
wrenching it apart, grabbing its heart and pulling. The vampire went
poof, and Mouse let Fafnir lick at her hand as she sturned around,
ignoring the impulse to do so herself.
"Next?"
Faith
Faith closed her eyes for a second. "Ooh, our lucky night. Five
vamps. Behind you. Duck for a sec!"
Faith jumped over Mouse and the vampire and landed in the middle of
the group.
"Slayer. Still wanting to die?"
Faith cocked her head and kicked the vamp in the stomach. "Not
really." She proceeded to beat the hell out of it before getting
bored and staking it and moving on to the next.
Mouse
Fafnir and Mouse bounded into the fight, cutting one of the vampires
away from the others. Hamstrung vampires don't move fast. Fafnir
looked up from the vampire, muzzle bloody as Mouse leaned in to
decapitate it. Hunting is good.
Hunting is good. Mouse agreed, before cutting through the last part
of the vampire;s neck. She coughed as it ashed in her face. "Damn."
One down, they started to cut another out from the herd.
Faith
Faith looked over and grinned.
"Yeah, that happens."
She was about to stake a vampire when it asked her a
question. "Aren't you on our side? You're the bad slayer."
Faith grinned. "Yeah... not anymore. Didn't you hear? I'm the Good
Slayer now." She staked it quickly and looked around. Hmm, mostly
all gone.
Mouse
Mouse and Fafnir quickly took down the last vamp, moving together in
eerie sychronity as Pack. They turned and cocked their heads at
Faith. "More?" Mouse asked in a deep voice, and then barked a laugh
as they scented the air. "Over there. Let's go." They turned.
Pack. Fafnir nodded, and leapt over a tombstone. Oh, merde! That
tastes FOUL! His shocked and disgusted yelp came in loud and clear.
Mouse came around to see some pink slightly squishy looking humaniod
gurgling its life away as Fafnir pawed at his muzzle and whined.
"Don't bite strange things, idiot."
Nom d'un nom! Bleaarrggh.
Faith
Faith felt something creeping up behind her. She grabbed it's hand
as she saw it reaching for her neck and pulled it over her head.
She wrinkled her nose. "Ew..."
The demon stood up. "What are you saying ew at?"
"Your face?" Faith blocked the punch that was coming for her face
and knocked her forehead against the demon's head, before ripping
the Jackal out of her pocket and decapitating it.
"Fun."
Mouse
"Yeah, fun." Mouse grinned up at Faith as she wiped out Fafnir's
mouth with a corner of her t-shirt.
Thank you. So much.
"No probs, Faf." She stood. "We move on now? Or do your slayer senses
say more demons are in the vicinity?"
Faith
Faith looked around. "Move on."
She pointed into the bush. "If I'm not mistaken, there's a nest of
vamps in there."
Faith pulled out a stake and went into the bush, leaving Mouse to
follow.
Mouse
Fafnir barked a laugh and sprung, Mouse not far behind him. Cut one
out, dust it, return to cut another one out. Damn, but vamps were
stupid. They were so sure she was weaker because she wasn't a Slayer.
Errr, wrong answer vamp! Mouse snarled and sank her teeth into one
vamp's hand as he tried to grab her. He yelped, giving Fafnir time to
knock him to the ground and Mouse to finish her job on his chest and
rip out his heart.
Faith
In one fluid motion, Faith cut two vamps heads off. She grinned and
then beat one around a bit before staking it. She frowned.
"Only two left. Bags this one!"
Faith grabbed it and kicked it against a tree. She staked it and
brushed the ash off her pants.
Mouse
Mouse turned tail and ran towards a tree, wanting to pull this out a
bit longer. The vampire gave chase, then looked extremely surprised
as she ducked under a tree branch, then drove it into his chest. He
dusted with a last startled exclaimation then Mouse padded back over
to Faith. "This is fun." Fafnir yelped in agreement, then licked at
her fingers. Mouse tousled his ears a bit.
Faith
Faith grinned.
"Feel up for some drinking? P3?"
Mouse
"Sounds good. Lead on, oh dark Slayer." Mouse grinned.
Faith
Faith led them out of the bush and into the backway of P3, so Mouse
couldn't get asked for ID. They sauntered up to the bar where Piper
was serving.
"Hey Piper."
Mouse
"Hey!" Mouse grinned. "Made Fafnir stay outside. Seriously unhappy
wolf. He bit something that tasted quite bad, apparently."
Faith and Halliwells
Piper smiled at Mouse.
"You want a drink, sweetie? I probably shouldn't serve minors
though. Who cares."
Faith grinned. "Paige and Phoebe here too?"
"Ok, I get the point." Piper pointed to the dance floor where Paige
was rubbing up against some guy, then pointed to the couch, where
Phoebe was drinking.
Mouse
"Coke and bourbon, thanks Piper." Mouse rolled her shoulders
slightly. "Not much bourbon. Lots of ice."
Faith and Piper
Piper gave Mouse her drink and glared at Faith. "The usual?"
"You know it."
Piper groaned and went about mixing a complicated drink for Faith.
Faith caught Mouse's look. "Hehe, it's a concoction I request. I
call it 'The Slayer'."
Piper groaned again and pushed the drink over to Faith. "Here. It's
annoying to make."
Mouse
"Faith likes to be annoying. It's one of those things that make you
love her more." Mouse sipped at her drink. "What's in it?"
Faith
Faith grinned cheekily.
"Well, I think at a time like this, you gotta ask, what isn't in it?"
She sipped her drink. "Mmm, yum. Aww. I miss my boy."
Mouse
"Faith, you're always missing Zac. When you're not with him.
Actually, I wish Tay would show up." Mouse pouted slightly. "We
haven't done anything for ages. And I know he's not well, but I just
really want my boyfriend back, ya know?"
Faith
Faith settled on the bar stool.
"I get that... but Taylor will be ok soon, and you'll have him back.
You just have to help him through at the moment, and it'll all be
worth it."
Faith grinned. "Yeah, it's just Zac's so... I don't know. He's...
perfect, you know? He's... I love him. And... that's very new to me."
Mouse
"Join the club," Mouse said honestly. "You know, the last time I even
had friends was like six years ago. More." She frowned
slightly. "Human ones anyway. And now I have a boyfriend, and lots of
friends. It's difficult. Animals are so much simpler."
Faith
Faith shrugged. "Yeah... friends is knew to me as well. And when Zac
said he loved me... I was shocked. I mean, I'm the girl who sleeps
with guys and that's it. No more contact. But yeah. It's weird."
Mouse
"I stayed far, far away from guys on the streets. Never could tell,
ya know? And I was always a good enough thief that I didn't need to
turn tricks." Mouse turned and surveyed the club. "And I thank every
slighly benovlent god for that."
Faith
"Ah, get some get gone. Policy that worked best for me. But I
screwed up with Zac. I fell for him. Which is a good thing really.
But now, I worry about him, and miss him. It's... different. But I
like it."
Mouse
"When I thought Tay had cheated on me, I thought I would die. It hurt
so bad. Love is a risky thing, at least with people. I know Fafnir
will always be there for me, and I'll always be there for him." Mouse
sipped her drink thoughtfully. "Tay is almost Pack. We have a link
now...it's very scary at times."
Faith
"But good, right? I mean, you trust him and he trusts you. And
Taylor's one of the good guys. Actually aren't all the Hanson boys
good guys?"
Faith looked around the club, thinking while she sat with Mouse. She
spotted a guy in the corner who was gesturing for her to come dance
with him.
"You know, a few weeks back, I probably would've taken that guy up
on his offer."
Mouse
"I think all the Hanson guys are good guys." Mouse rolled her glass
between her palms. "I trust Tay. And trusting people is hard for me.
You're different now. You're in love. It changes things." Mouse
looked thoughtful. "Being in love changes a lot of things."
Amanda
Amanda saw Mouse and Faith talking inside the club.
"Hey girl, kill anything tonight?"
h ca
Faith
Faith nodded.
"Yeah... it's weird. I'm not the love sort. But... I don't know.
Listen to us, being all deep and meaningful. How about we dance?"
"Few demons and some vamps. No shortage of scum, right? How's Giles?"
Faith sipped her drink, looking aloof.
Mouse
"Sounds good. Show all the boys what they can't have." Mouse chuckled
deep in her throat. "Put on a show, yeah?"
Faith
"Yeah!" Faith grabbed Mouse's hand and led her onto the floor, she
started to dance happily looking around and wondering if she should
just steal another girls boyfriend to annoy her. Oh but Zac... hmmm
there in lay the problem.
Mouse
Mouse danced with Faith, humming happily. It was good to let go
occasionally. Tonight was good. She had worked out a lot of things
tonight on those unfortunate demons who had crossed their paths. She
was having fun. Spending time with a friend. Only thing missing was
Tay...
Faith
Faith grinned happily at Mouse and danced until a sorta slow song
came on. Faith stopped moving.
"Ok, this is a little weird. Even for me. How about we get a drink?"
Mouse
"Aw, don' choo love me an' more, cherie?" Mouse said half laughing,
slipping into the Creole accent easily. "Mais, je pense we have
scared all thes' garcons enuff for one night, non? Oui, let us have a
drink."
Faith and Piper
Faith giggled and signalled to Piper to get them drinks.
"The same again, thanks P."
Piper groaned and then turned to smile at Mouse. "And for you?"
Mouse
Mouse bounced slightly. Now she was being Creole, she didn't want to
slip out of it. "Oui. Perhaps a bit more bourbon, non?" She raised an
eyebrow. "Don' tease the perdy bartender, cherie. It's not fair."
Faith and Piper
Piper handed the drinks to them and bustled off.
Faith stuck her tongue out.
"She really loves me."
Mouse
Mouse made a pffft noise. "Ouiai, cherie. Choo keep telling yerself
that, non? But Zac, ah, he is a different story, ouiai? Choo deserve
to be loved, cherie. Don' let anyone tell you different." She drank
down her drink.
Faith
Faith shrugged. "I don't know... I don't think I do deserve it.
Like... I'd like to... but I feel like Zac's too good for me."
Mouse
"Tha's just pure merde, and tu knows it, cherie." Mouse shook a
finger in Faith's face. "Don' let yourself tell choo that choo ain't
worth it, either. Otherwise, je might have to beat some sense into
choo. Foutre. Nouse sommes fou, tu sais?" Mouse grinned
slightly. "All of us, vraiment. Crazy."
Faith
Faith shrugged again. "I don't know." She took another bit sip of
her drink.
"I love him though... I could spend the rest of my life with that
one."
Mouse
"Ouiai, and j'adore my Taylor. But choo t'ink I don' wake up every
morn' and go, that's it. Today, Tay will decide he don't need no
street brat in his life. But he don'. At least, not yet. But ever'
day, it's the same ting. Will today be the day?" Mouse smiled
sadly. "Je pense we need to drink more, non?"
a
Faith and Piper
Piper gave Mouse another drink and tossed a bottle of vodka to Faith.
"Here, just do shots. I can't make it again."
Faith grinned and grabbed a shot glass. "Thanks P."
She turned back to Mouse. "But Taylor loves you and you love him...
it's different because you guys... I don't know, it's obvious that
you work as a couple. But Zac and I... it ain't that obvious to the
world. And I'm waiting for Zac to realise he doesn't love me. And
leave me broken hearted."
Mouse
"Cherie, I see what he feels around you. And gotta tell choo, it's
l'amour alrigh'. The love forever after kind. Choo don' get out of it
so easily." Mouse clinked her glass against Faith's. "Let's drink to
it. Our guys, who ain't here, but love us anyway." She slipped back
into her usual voice. "To 'lamour, and the crazy things it makes us
do."
Faith
Faith nodded and half smiled.
"I guess you'd know... with the empathy and all."
She took a shot.
"Oh that was good."
Mouse
"You bet your sweet ass I know!" Mouse giggled, and then swept her
fringe out of her eyes. "I can see it. Loveydovey and I'll protect
what's my Pack with my life. You and him both. It's sweet. Although
you two are always wanting to jump each others bones something
shocking. Need a cold shower, the two of you!"
FAith
Faith giggled.
"We don't have sex everytime we see each other. There were a few weeks when we went without because of... you know, the Kenny thing. But then we... uh... got back in the saddle. So to speak. Because we haven't used a real saddle. Yet."
Faith grinned cheekily. "But I mean, I think my main worry is that, is Diana right? Are we confusing lust for love? It's not like you and Tay, were anyone can see you're in love. Even if you're not empathic. It's just... sweet. It's like... like your souls are entwined together."
Mouse
"Aw, Faith, you'll make me cry." Mouse pretended to wipe away a
tear. "That was almost too sweet to handle. You and Zac are different
to me and Tay, but just as in love. You show it different, is all."
Faith
"I guess... but you and Taylor and majorly cute. But then, I don't
know if Zac and I could handle being all romantic. It just isn't us.
We're... more... for lack of a better word, explicit." Faith took
another shot. "Ok, wooziness. Probably shouldn't drink anymore."
Faith giggled, looking at the half empty... or half full (depending
on your outlook) bottle of vodka in front of her.
Mouse
"Why is it that everyone always calls me sodding cute?" Mouse asked
with slight frustration. "'M not un enfant, tu sais. We should go
home, ouiai?" Mouse poured herself a vodka shot, and then knocked it
back. "Right, let's go den. Allons-y."
Faith
Faith waved to Piper and grabbed her jacket off the stool and headed
for the back.
Once they were outside Faith looked around, shivering in the cold.
"I'll walk ya to your place if you want?"
MOuse
"I got Faf'." Mouse whistled and the wolf loped in out of the
darkness to rub himself up against her legs. "We'll be cool. Thanks
for asking me to patrol with you, cherie. And any animal around would
be glad to help me out of a tight spot." She touseld Fafnir's ears up
and then started walking. "Need a walk to clear my head anyway.
Night, Faith."
Faith
Faith gave a wave and headed off in the opposite direction.
"Night Mouse."
Amanda
"He's good. I found a nest of Fyarls, and look what he gave me tonight!" she excitedly showed Faith the new silver dagger Giles had given her as a gift. Her weapons collection was slowly growing.
"No more Fyarls now," she grinned. "And you know what else is quite amusing? The fact that he and Priss are dating, but they don't think I know." she laughed.
"Oh, Faith, almost forgot, we found a nest of vamps, must have been about 30 of them. Giles said we should go back in the morning, when they're asleep, wanna come?"
Faith
"As a wake up call? I'm in."
Faith took another sip of her drink.
"Tell Giles I'll come to see him soon."
Amanda
"No problem. I'm too wired to go to bed. Wanna go kill more nasty things?" she asked, completely hyper & bouncing around*
Faith
Faith shook her head.
"Maybe another time."