Title: Untitled as yet. Got a title? Mail me.
Author: Storm
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. You know the deal.
Distribution: Serrated Visions. Coupla lists. If you want it, mail me.
Rating: PG-13 (US), 12 (UK) [language]
Type: F/Aus, S/D
Summary: Alternate universe. Angelus never got cursed. Faith's recently been called as a Slayer in Boston and has been told about Buffy but has never met her, nor has Angelus, Spike or Dru.
Authors notes: Thanks to my bro for beta-reading. There's a bit of language but not much else.


A strobe light flashed submerging the dance floor into darkness and then emmersing it in blinding whiteness. Either way you could hardly see a thing. Not that it mattered. People weren't there to look. They were there to lose themselves. Lost to the music. Lost to the beat. Bodies moved in unison. Every movement in time, no one needing to watch the others. All living for the beat. Only they weren't. Because they lacked one of the crucial elements for living. Life. All except one at least. The brunette was at the center of the attention. Despite the lack of visuals the guys were crowding around her like iron filings to a magnet. Or perhaps an electro-magnet. She seemed oblivious to them. Her hands moved smoothly gliding over her body, her hair continuously being tousled and teased by them. She could dance like this all her life. Finally as the song faded into a track designed for slowing the clients down before closing, she left the dance floor. A group watched her go as she slipped out the back entrance. They followed her quickly not wanting to lose her. As they reached the back alley, they needn't have worried. She was waiting for them. "What took you guys so long?" She asked casually. "I was getting lonely out here without a partner." She added. They circled her slowly. Unsure of themselves now. They thought she'd be a quick meal before bed. But apparantly this girl knew what they were. As each in turn began to wonder if she was prepared she pulled a slim wooden stake from the pocket of her cargo pants. She grinned manically before spinning into action landing a roundhouse kick on the nearest vampire sending two others flying in the process. Another approached cautiously from behind but he obviously wan't cautious enough as a stake was plunged into his heart and he exploded into dust. The three she had hit first now stood facing her, the plan seemed to be to attack in unison but the biggest of the group attacked first. He was met by a pointy rekoning and ended up as nothing but ash. The other two were not so keen and glanced over Faith's shoulder to whoever was giving the orders. Faith didn't miss her chance. She kicked the female vampire in the chest sending her backwards into the side of her dumpster and hit the other squarely on the jaw. As he fell to the ground she knelt on his chest and staked him. Standing quickly she nearly collided with the female vampire who had picked herself up faster than expected. Faith however was the one with the speed this time as she plunged the stake home. "Vampires nil, humans one." She smiled.

The sound of clapping caused her to spin around. She was faced by two more vampires, neither in game face. The owner of hands that could clap was smiling at her rather disconcertingly. "Good show girl. Dru and I had a right good time watching you turn our helpers into sawdust. Very entertaining it was wasn't it Dru."

"Oh yes, Miss. Edith will be so upset she missed it when I tell her." The other vampire replied sweetly, "But Spike, you're wrong to call 'er girl. Slayers don't like that."

Spike looked blankly at Faith, "Slayer?" He asked as if confused.

"What? Who did you think I was? Mystique?"

"Its just, what about the other one?" He asked, his voice unsteady.

"Oh yeah, um, they told me about her, what's her name, Bunny?"

"Buffy." He filled in.

"Yeah, her, seems she died for a bit and another was called and then...woah, why the hell am I talking to you?" She moved into a fighting postition. At least, what passed for a fighting stance as far as she was concerned. "Bring it on Debbie."

Spike laughed softly and wrapped his arms firmly around Drusilla's waist and kissed the top of her head. "Me and Dru, we don't do so much fighting. Last time I killed a Slayer it was more a sort of grab her, drink her and dump her. They don't last long. You're a skinny bunch an' all. No meat on you."

"So much for the Boston nightlife." She quipped but Spike and Dru were already gone, "Hey? What are you? Some kinda pussy or something? Geez, what's a girl gotta to get a good fight around here?" She turned to look around the alley and heard someone clear their throat behind her. "Oh your...who's this? The Cavalry?" She asked the stranger. She could see nothing more than his outline but as he stepped out of the shadows she saw his face. His angelic face. ~He's gorgeous~ She thought, ~Look at him. Handsome, good body. Bet he shags like an animal.~

"Name's Angelus. You already met the cavalry. I'm the Lord."

"I guess that'd be in the god sense. So you're Daddy are ya?"

"You could put it that way." He smiled revealing perfect white teeth, ~Bet they're not so perfect when he's in game face.~ She reminded herself. She rarely considered vampires good looking. The last one she'd screwed and staked but it'd been risky. She nearly lost a few pints.

"Daddy come to do the chores that the kids forgot about?" She asked sweetly.

"Girls got attitude. I like that. Now I might kill you marginally quicker than I planned to. Not much though."

"Oh, I'm so scared. Daddy thinks he can catch me. Lets see." With that she turned and ran putting as much distance as she could between herself and Angelus as possible. She knew who she was. Every Slayer did. He wasn't the sort of guy you stood and fought. Not for long anyway. When she was satisfied that he wasn't following her she slowed to a halt and looked around. She was about five minutes from her home and she spotted the all night cafe that she regularly graced with her presence. Strolling in she sat at the counter, the waitress placed a chocolate milkshake in front of her before continuing to flirt with a demon. A couple left as they spotted the Slayer throwing their money on the counter and not worrying about change in their hurry to leave. That was the only reason Faith got everything on the house. Because of the extra money from people who wanted to get gone so fast you would hardly see them. She swirled the straw around hoping that the lump of ice cream would melt quicker if she did so. It rarely did but it was something to pass the time. She watched the door in the mirror opposite her and turned to see who was coming in as the glass moved without revealing a cause. It was Angelus. He sat down silently next to the Slayer, the waitress backed out of the cafe as did most of the visitors. Faith wished she had the same opportunity. They also knew who he was. He reached over the bar and opened the fridge pulling out a packet of blood and breaking it open with a straw.

"I hate this stuff. It's like, like they pasteurise it or something." The first words he spoke since invading and they were to complain.

"Typical whining vampire." Faith criticised hoping to keep him occupied with anything other than torturing her.

Angelus glanced at the Slayer, ~She's so very pretty. I wonder if she'll have this attitude as a vampire? I hope so.~. "So, did you really think I'd run after you?"

"No, I knew you wouldn't, I was banking on it."

"Problem is I've been watching you for weeks. Since you were called actually. Had to check out the competition after all." He smiled once again revealing his shiny whites, "Did you expect me to ome after you at all? I don't think you did. You thought, if I get home I'll be safe. He won't know where to find me. Nice try Slayer but didn't anyone ever tell you not to underestimate your opposition?" Faith said nothing in reply. She stirred her milkshake for a while longer before taking a sip and stiring it some more never taking her eyes of the froth. Silently willing him to just get up and leave. "I was thinking about moving to sunny Ca to play with the Slayer. Now I got my very own. You've saved me a trip." He grinned but just with his lips, not with his eyes. Faith glanced up at his face again. ~Right now is probably the only chance I'll get to stake him and what am I doing? I'm admiring his beauty giving him more time to decide how he's gonna kill me.~

"Tortured any Slayers before?" She asked innocently. She knew the stories but hearing first hand would probably hammer it home and get her back in the game.

"Just the one. Usually I just kill them." ~Usually? Listen to me. I'm bragging to a Slayer saying stuff that she knows is all bolocks. I'm letting her get to me. But she's so...beautiful. I'd rather she were mine no matter how much fun it'd be to torment and tease her. What am I saying? Geez, I'm completely pussy-whippped.~

"Really." She said flatly. She stood up to leave and he did the same, as she turned to go he grabbed her arm and pulled her into an embrace kissing her full on the lips. A trickle of blood ran into his mouth. She pushed him off her and stared in shock for a moment. He returned the look not sure why he'd done what he had. She turned and walked out of the cafe standing on the street outside and looking up at the stars she was unable to move, the taste of his mouth haunted her. The blood, she had liked it. ~Only vampires and shit like blood. I don't.~ She tried to convince herself. Angelus was still inside and she wondered briefly if he'd enjoyed it, she shook the thought from her head and began to walk home.

It was a short walk and she let herself quickly into the flat. It was grey and bare. It was the only thing she could afford without working more than two days a week. Sometimes, when she was short on cash, she'd go down to one of the clubs and dance on the platforms. There was a group of girls who did it full time and they often asked her to join them and though she loved the dancing, she hated the managers. Always complaining that they'd get more money if the girls would wear less clothes but Faith didn't do striptease. That was of the few moral lines she wouldn't cross. Yet. She ran the tap and grabbed a glass off the draining board, she filled it and drank it down quickly wanting to wash away the taste of Angelus. She washed her face too and then moved into her bedroom. She undressed quickly throwing her clothes on the back of a chair. She pulled back the sheet and crawled into bed. She'd hardly slept the previous day and it was beginning to catch up on her. There was no bedroom light to switch off, no honey to whisper good night to. She lay silently in the unlit appartment and tried to think of things non-Angelus before she went to sleep hoping that if he wasn't her final thought then she wouldn't dream of him.

To be continued...