Trouble
Rose was practically bouncing in her shoes to show off her friend. They’d had her room with Rose as Faith was going to be basically treated like a Dhampir. Faith wasn’t so thrilled she wasn’t even out of bed yet. Faith wasn’t asleep though she just didn’t get up. Rose wasn’t sure if Faith slept at all.
She bounced on the edge of her bed, “Come on, we’re going to be late,” Rose had never been concerned about being late before but she was just really excited.
Faith opened a single eye to look at her, not nearly as enthused she sighed heavily and flung her blanket off, “Yeah yeah yeah,” Faith huffed.
Rose couldn’t help but admire Faith’s body. She was slim and athletic with subtle attractive curves. She could see places where scars littered her body some looked fresh others old and fading. She looked like some kind of warrior. The fact that this woman hunted Strigoi. The battle didn’t come to her, she went out seeking it...regularly and she still lives to tell about it. If she was a Dhampir she’d probably have a Zvezda mark, there’d probably be too many Strigoi for molnija. Her scars were her marks, Faith was dangerous and Rose didn’t know how she missed it when she’d first met her.
She was fishing in her nightstand and she produced a pack of cigarettes. Rose crinkled up her nose and Faith rolled her eyes, “Trust me, you want me to smoke, it’s in everyone’s best interest,” Faith snorted pushing open her window as she lit it and hung the cigarette outside.
“If you get caught…”Rose started but Faith cut her off.
“I wish they would bitch at me for smoking, I wish they had the balls for that,” Faith narrowed her eyes.
Rose raised her eyebrows then giggled, Faith was going to be fun. She was probably going to make Rose look like an Angel. While she was smoking she was swigging liquid from a flask, Rose frowned a little considering asking for some but Rose didn’t need to be caught before class. Maybe later.
Leather pants and a tank top Kirova is going to love that. Rose knew it was going to end up in Faith getting a lecture about modesty and distracting the boys.
There were a few extra guardians in the room that day, Dimitri was one of them. Rose wondered if they were concerned about Faith. Stan already watched her carefully as soon as she entered, and gestured for her to come to the front of the class.
“This is Faith Lehane, she’ll be joining us, she’s a very...unique case...yes she is human...mostly, Faith if it’s alright with you I want you to tell everyone why you’re here, to get that out of the way,” Stan announced but eyed her critically. Faith’s arms were wrapped tightly around herself and her eyes flicked around nervously.
“Can I sit down, not really feelin’ this standing in front of the class shit,” Faith muttered.
“Yes you can sit down, Watch your language,” Stan said without missing a beat.
Faith laughed at that and lowered herself in a seat next to Rose, the Dhampir turned their heads to follow her.
“I’m not really human, you keep sayin’ that, but...I’m not, I’m a Vampire…” she cleared her throat and corrected herself, “A Strigoi Slayer, you guys protect Moroi, I protect humans from everything that goes bump in the night.”
“Just you?” someone spoke up.
“That’s how it was supposed to be, but this plucky little blonde died, and when one of us dies another is called, she they did CPR brought her back so now there’s two of us,” Faith explained.
“To protect all those humans?” Mason Spoke from the other side of Rose.
“Yeah...kinda gotta be a little more proactive...I hunt Strigoi and other demons,” Faith said.
“Demons? What do you mean Demons?” someone asked, as whispers went through the room.
Stan now frowned and stared at her intently the first time he was hearing this part.
“You think Strigoi are the only monsters out there? There’s all kinda hellish shit out there,” Faith snorted feeling a little odd but relieved to talk about it openly. Stan cleared his throat and Faith arched an unimpressed eyebrow.
“So...How many Strigoi have you killed?” Rose piped up making Faith turn her head and look at her.
Faith frowned in thought then shrugged, “I don’t know...I don’t count...um...probably up into the triple digits by now,” she shrugged.
“No way,” Eddie peered around Mason to stare at her.
Faith just shrugged, “That’s what happens when you’re on the front line, you don’t count, you just kill, you survive until you’re the only one left standing.”
“So...which one was the hardest?” Mason asked curiously.
“Kakistos,” Faith said without hesitation.
This is when Stan spoke up, “Christ, you killed Kakistos?”
“Who’s that?” Rose asked looking around as the name seemed to register with a few of the guardians in the room, including Dimitri.
“Kakistos is….was...a myth...a Strigoi that was so old he didn’t even appear human, Ancient...rumored to be one of the very first,” Stan muttered in awe.
“Kakistos was an ugly son of a bitch, he...uh...he killed my watcher, She was….the only person I’d ever seen kill a vamp wearing a pencil skirt and high heels,” Faith chuckled softly then frowned, “I watched him tear her in half,” her jaw tightened, “I cut him in half and burned his layer to the ground...I thought he was dead, but he followed me as I went from place to place, when he finally caught up to me...I was...terrified…” Faith muttered quietly as she was lost in the memory, “Buffy, the other Slayer she helped me, we fought together but he was kickin’ our asses, she tried to stake him but a silver stake didn’t have enough silver...we were fucked...I froze up, Buffy shouted at me...broke me out of my stupor and I impaled him with a support beam and cut off his fucking head.”
“Holy shit,” one of the guardians whispered.
The room was quiet as no one knew what to say, Stan broke the silence, “Any insight into helping us defend against Strigoi would be appreciated,” he said quietly, as her head snapped up to look at him as if she’d forgotten where she was a minute, he cleared his throat, “If anyone has any more questions and Ms. Lehane is willing to answer them, ask on your own time, Let’s get to work, today we’re going to work on defending your Moroi and using your surroundings to your benefit.”
Faith was at least glad she got to be up and moving around for this class. For this exercise they were lead outside.
“Okay here’s what we’re doing, One of the guardians is going to play your Moroi, this is so they can give you a more detailed account of areas that need improvement, first up, Eddie, Mason and…” he shrugged, “Faith, you’ll be guarding Belikov, the other guardians will be acting as Strigoi.”
Faith sighed heavily and stood up while the boys bounced excitedly around her. Rose pouted a little, but was curious to see how Faith would do.
“So strategy?” Mason asked after a moment.
“I’ll kill everything,” Faith said flatly.
“That’s one hell of a strategy,” Eddie snorted.
“It’s the only one I got sue me, it’s worked so far,” Faith smirked.
Mason frowned thoughtfully, “We’ll get Guardian Belikov out of the direct line of combat and…”
“Times up let’s go.”
Dimitri smirked a little listening to them speak, it was obvious Faith wasn’t used to defense, only offense. It was something that needed to be worked one. Mason and Eddie stood on either side of Dimitri and Faith stood between them.
“Get him back, against a wall so nothing can sneak up on your asses, One of you stick real close the other one should be a little more mobile...I’ll lead them off,” Faith said cracking her neck and putting herself in a more serious frame of mind.
“Backing ourselves into a corner?” Mason frowned.
“Better than being surrounded, walls don’t bite,” Faith muttered watching as they advanced they indeed tried to circle around, and Eddie backed himself and Dimitri into a corner and stood in front of him.
Faith did as she said she was going wondering how realistic they wanted her to be, she doubted as realistic as she would be, normally she would have sliced open her palm let them go to her because they smelled blood, instead she waded in head first. Surrounded herself by them. One of them grabbed her from behind leaning their head forward as if to bite her, she jerked her head back into their face and used them for support while she kicked another. She leaned forward and tossed the one that grabbed her into another. A fist connected with her face and her head snapped back, “That all ya got? Come on baby I like it rough,” she grinned eliciting laughter from the class.
“Keep it clean Lehane,” Stan chided.
The guardian in question grabbed her shoulders and shoved her into another Guardian and started for Mason Faith reached back and grabbed the other one by the hair and hurled him at the one going towards the boy.
“Fuck…” the guardian breathed out landing on him with a solid thud.
Mason winced as he seemed to be hurt but he took the opportunity to ‘stake’ them both. The fight advanced closer, and Mason joined the fray, Faith dropped back to fight beside him, before taking a few steps behind him.
“Grab my arm and swing me forward,” Faith muttered to him.
“Are you fuckin’ kidding?” Mason took a shot to the face and nearly another while he started at her but Faith yanked him back, at that they clasped wrists and Mason with all his strength slung her forward. She twisted and kicked several of them back and when they let go she landed gracefully in a crouch.
“Switch places with Eddie, Faith,” Stan instructed.
Faith cracked one of them in the head with her own head before complying, she clasped him on the shoulder, “Tag, you’re it.”
He smirked and eagerly switched places, with her but Faith was ansty, “You’re holding back,” Dimitri commented.
“Yeah I assumed that no one wanted broken bones,” she replied quietly.
He chuckled softly but went back to silently observe. Faith was still antsy, Eddie went down first and the ‘Strigoi’ overwhelmed Mason and took him down and the remaining faux Strigoi advanced on Faith. There were five of them, she could fight them or save her charge. She sighed heavily and grabbed Dimitri by the arm and shoved him in the direction of the door, “Go, faster, Rasputin,” He wasn’t moving fast enough, stumbling so Faith grabbed him and lifted him easily over her shoulder in a fireman’s carry heading for the door that lead out of the field she shoved him through it dumping him unceremoniously on the other side and slamming it shut.
One of them kicked her in the back slamming her into the door, the force was muted, they were holding back, she could tell. So was she, she used her strength to shove herself backwards as hard as she could, she tumbled into a ‘strigoi’ and they both hit the ground. A real strigoi would have caught her. She threw her elbow back and hit the one on the ground, he stopped moving. Faith was on her feet ready to continue.
“Wait Guardian Chase is down...he’s not moving,” the four standing guardians stopped, and one knelt down.
Dimitri came back inside furrowing his eyebrows.
“Okay...that’s enough of that,” Stan said immediately, “Someone call Dr. Olendzki,”
Faith winced, “oh shit is he…” Mason, Eddie and Rose joined Faith’s side.
Her mind immediately flashed to the first human she’d accidentally killed, panic actually started to set in. Not again.
“He’s breathing,” Stan verified and Faith let out a sigh of relief.
“Damn,” Rose muttered.
“I supposed I should have asked, how strong are you Ms. Lehane,” Stan commented.
“I was holding back,” she muttered, she was still shaking she crossed her arms tightly over her chest to hide it.
“Celeste has a black eye,” Stan pointed out.
“Yeah but her head is still on, I was holding back,” Faith crossed her arms.
“Okay, I see your point Ms. Lehane,” Stan relented.
“It’s not the first one I’ve had I doubt it’ll be the last,” Celeste smiled slightly.
“In spite of this little mishap, you seemed a bit...tentative, Ms. lehane, I understand this is your first day but…” Stan told her in a quieter a voice, but he’d fought her before.
“You guys aren’t Strigoi, you can pretend all you like, and you might fool them, but you don’t fool me, I can punch Strigoi as hard as I can without killing it, I can’t say the same for you, you guys are gonna play these games and fuck around and someone is gonna get more seriously hurt, you don’t want me to do that again, trust me, I can’t pretend to treat you like a threat, and also not treat you like a threat,” Faith lowered her voice only the people close by could hear her, “Either it’s going to be pointless, or I’m gonna kill someone.”
She wouldn’t play anymore games like that, she understood they were useful to the others. She was pretty sure Stan only wanted to see what she was capable of. He didn’t see that here, he only saw what she was not capable of.
Stan gave her a pensive look for a moment, “How about you play our Moroi? And Ms. Hathaway take her place and we’ll try again without any brain damage,” Stan instructed.
“Faith, stop blocking punches with your face,” Dimitri told her as he took his place among the guardians.
“Hit harder and maybe I won’t,” Faith shot back, he shot her a look that Faith couldn’t read. A few near by Dhampir giggled, but a cold look from Dimitri shut them up quickly.
Dimitri would have to get her in a sparring match to really see what she was capable of. He could probably get an okay to train her with Rose. He’d miss the one on one time with her but Faith wouldn’t learn in this environment for a number of reasons. He could probably convince Kirova to let him read some of the Watcher’s diaries so he could get to know more about Slayers.
The exercise went more smoothly this way, as Faith gave pointers all around, pointers to the Novices and to the Guardians about their Strigoi performance. Stan was actually a bit impressed by the pointers she gave.
“No no, you missed the heart, you don’t EVER want to miss the heart as now, he’s just pissed the fuck off,” she gestured at Dimitri who was the Strigoi in question, “Chances are if he were a real Vamp he’d have fucked you up, look you gotta make finding their heart like sex in the dark, find it without looking.”
“Ms. Lehane!” Stan snapped...of course she was still her.
The class was snickering, “That’s a bad analogy, I know most of you can’t find-”
“Faith,” Stan stared her down and she smirked and winked, but there was a ripple of laughter mixed with undignified muttering, and obnoxious responses.
“That is not what they can’t find,” Rose added.
Dimitri shot Rose a look before Stan could say anything and she closed her mouth and actually flushed just a little. Faith grinned broadly at Rose, and made a note to question her about the big Russian.
“If only we had a class on Etiquette,” Stan muttered.
After class Faith looked through her schedule, “I need you to know, Rosita, that there is no way in any kinda hell, that I’m taking Pre Calculus, or...Slavic Art...I really….really could give two shits, so...you have fun at your next class.”
Rose groaned, “Oh come on Faith please? I have to go, if I miss it Kirova will have my head.”
“I’d rather scoop my eyes out with a rusty spoon, Rosita,” Faith said gripping her head and kissing her on top of it, “Tell Lissa I said hi, and to drop by so I can meet and properly threaten her boyfriend.”
“Christian will love that,” Rose smirked being that rumors probably had started to float around already, she’d love to see his face.
Honestly Faith was relieved while it was not so bad in the first class anything that involved her sitting still for a few hours would drive her nuts. Faith could go out and slay. Faith went back to her room to grab her Silver dagger. It was the easiest to hide. She tucked it into her waist band and made her way off property.
Dimitri had taken his place back with Lissa after the Novice class, he couldn’t help but note the distinct lack of Faith. He shot Rose a questioning look as she entered and Rose shrugged. He pursed his lips but remained silently.
“I thought you said Faith was coming too?” Lissa whispered.
“She was supposed to, but...she said...no way in any kind of hell...I believe were her exact words,” Rose replied.
“Rose, Kirova is going to be so mad,” Lissa replied.
“I’ll tell her Faith got hurt during training and didn’t feel well,” Rose shrugged, “I mean if she keeps refusing I don’t think that’ll hold for long, I mean I’m not sure she’d care if they kicked her out.”
“So this human that kills Strigoi is a no show?” Christian arched an eyebrow sitting opposite Lissa.
“She’s...yeah she actually wants you and Lissa to come by later,” Rose said leaving out the bit about her threatening Christian out.
“Me and Lissa?” He arched an eyebrow.
“That’s what she said,” Rose shrugged.
After class Dimitri ducked out, the campus was secure enough, Lissa was with Rose she’d be fine while he went to drag Faith out. He knocked on her door but no one answered he waited and listened to see if he even heard her move. She could just be ignoring him. It was eerily silent. Nothing at all. Great.
It became more unnerving that she wasn’t seen for the rest of the night. Rose herself only became concerned when she wasn’t there when classes were over. Shit. She didn’t know whether to tell someone or to wait. She paced searching around for maybe a note or something...anything. After an hour or so there was a knock at the door. Rose pulled it open hoping to see Faith but found Lissa staring back with Christian in tow, “Don’t look so disappointed,” Lissa snorted.
“No...I mean...it’s Faith...she’s not back yet,” Rose crossed her arms, “I mean I don’t want to get her in trouble but…”
“But something could be wrong,” Lissa nodded in understanding.
“I’m gonna get Dimitri, maybe you guys could stay here in case she comes back,” Rose said finally.
Lissa nodded and Rose slipped out.
Rose tapped on Dimitri’s door lightly, flicking her gaze around to see if anyone saw her. She’d gotten good at sneaking around though. Dimitri opened the door shirtless and Rose faltered and smirked. A small smile appeared on his face and he pulled her in and shut the door.
“What is it Rose?” his smile faded as the worry began to set back into her face.
“Um...Faith...she’s not...here, she’s gone, I, don’t want her to get in trouble but...I’m kinda worried,” Rose bit her lip wishing she was there under better circumstances.
Suddenly her mind was yanked away and all she could hear at first was the sound of Lissa panicking, “Rose, Rose She’s back...she’s hurt...I could...help her, she won’t let me…”
“Rose?” Dimitri nudged her.
“Faith’s back, she’s hurt,” Rose’s eyes were wide.
Dimitri had already pulled on a shirt, the pair were out the door and on their way back.
“Jeez what happened?” Christian asked as she rolled herself onto her bed.
She seemed to be breathing shallow and blood trickled down her lip and her knuckles were bloody and swollen, “This weird Rock Demon...like a golem or some shit, son of a bitch kicked me through a wall, I had to beat it into pieces with a chain wrapped around my knuckles,” Faith groaned, “I’ll be okay, I heal fast.”
Rose burst through the door and her hands went to her mouth, “Holy shit, Faith, You should go to the doctor.”
“Yeah...no,” Faith shook her head.
“Okay...but...I’m still stuck back on this rock demon...Golem?” Christian frowned, “You can’t be serious…”
“My ribs are broken, my head is pounding and I’m pretty sure there are bones in my hands that I could use to make bread, does it look like a fuckin’ joke?” She demanded.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Dimitri demanded moving to her side to get a closer look.
“I’m a Slayer, Rasputin, Slayers gonna slay, took out a few Strigoi, came across that lovely fucker, wish I had a sledgehammer,” Faith muttered.
“I’m taking you to Dr. Olendzki, now” Dimitri told her curtly.
“No,” Faith replied tersely, “I hate doctors, I’ll heal fine on my own.”
“I wasn’t asking,”
“Rasputin, don’t touch me, I’m not gonna tell you a second time, if you bring the Doc here, the same goes for the Doc,” Faith narrowed her eyes and rolled into a sitting position.
“Faith...please go,” Rose pleaded.
“Or let me help you,” Lissa added.
Rose shook her head, "Lissa you can't...it'll hurt her too."
Faith shook her head, "What do you mean?"
"She can heal people but it hurts her too," Rose crossed her arms.
It physically hurt her to see Faith like this. She hadn't seen her in a while but that didn't stop the intense need to help her. Lissa reached out to her and Faith moved swiftly to avoid her grasp.
"Don't you dare hurt yourself because of me, I'll be good by tomorrow," she pursed her lips. It was only a small lie, the broken bones would take a little longer to heal but she'd LOOK better tomorrow.
Dimitri pursed his lips as he didn't seem to believe her, even if Lissa did. He almost wanted to tell Lissa to compel her to go but that would do nothing for her trust in them, "Lissa, Christian go back to your room," Dimitri told them, he hesitated, "Keep this to yourselves."
Lissa opened her mouth to protest but closed it, and nodded, reaching out to take Christian's hand she led him out.
"She seemed...intense..." Christian commented.
"Ya know, she is but...I didn't realize HOW intense...she hid a lot, very well," Lissa said thoughtfully, "I bet she protected us, and we didn't even know it."
Dimitri sighed heavily, "How long will it REALLY take you to heal Faith?"
Faith huffed, "I told you I'd be fine tomorrow."
"And you were lying, so how about the truth?" he demanded.
She pursed her lips, "Tissue damage will be healed up tomorrow, maybe a little scarring, the scars will heal too though, bones will take anywhere from a couple days to a week and a half, depends on the bone, how many other things I've hurt at once and how much I eat, Protein helps speed up the process."
"Okay," he nodded slowly, "Let me see how bad you're actually hurt."
She rolled her eyes at him, but nodded and sighed. He first took her hand and examined her raw knuckles, "Can you make a fist?"
She nodded and balled up her hand, there was a sickening crack and she flinched, "Didn't know that was outta place."
He rolled his eyes, "Make sure you clean out your open wounds," his eyes flicked to Rose and Rose understood she was to make sure she did it, "I'm gonna check your ribs okay?"
Faith smirked, "If you wanted to feel me up Rasputin, you could just ask."
His response was a scathing glare, but she grinned wryly. Rose felt a pang of jealously at her flirting...Faith flirted with everyone...even her. She couldn't be TOO upset, it was a pretty typical Faith response but...still.
His hands gently moved to her back where her ribs connected with her Spine and his hands followed the length of her ribs. Rose watched them attentively. It was...an interesting sight...out of the current context she might even say it was attractive to see her undercover boyfriend's hands on Faith. It was a strange thought. It was broken when Faith yelped.
"Congratulations you found my broken ribs, now quit it," Faith grumbled.
"Well I would have just asked you, but there's not guarantee you'd tell the truth about how many are broken," Dimitri responded.
It seemed that they were broken high up and close to her sternum, he'd have checked higher but it would at that point border on being highly inappropriate, but he could only guess she probably dislocated her sternum, if not broke it. She pursed her lips as she seemed to considering it as well. She clasped her hands behind herself tighten and pushed her chest forward. There was an audible pop in her chest, and she groaned in pain, gasping.
"There see? I'll be fine," she breathed out, she did admittedly find it easier to breathe.
"You need to wait until you heal before you do any extraneous activity," Dimitri said and as soon as it left his mouth he knew he'd made a mistake.
She grinned and her head flopped back to look at Rose, "You hear that Rose? No rough sex tonight, but maybe in a few days."
Rose grinned devilishly and Dimitri rolled his eyes, "What if I'm gentle?"
Dimitri's eyes immediately fell on Rose, as he tried NOT to picture that. Faith chuckled softly, "Well that's no fun."
The words tumbled from Dimitri's mouth before he could stop them, "It is if you know what you're doing," he closed his mouth promptly and Faith grinned as if it were some sort of triumph.
"Your gender doesn't," Faith replied promptly.
He opened his mouth to defend himself, but closed it, "I am not having this conversation with you."
"Well that's mostly true," Rose muttered.
She hadn't yet slept with Dimitri, but they had fooled around a bit. Of course she was more speaking about clumsy highschool boys who couldn't find certain spots on the female anatomy even if it was labeled.
Dimitri stared at her uncomfortably long, until she squirmed a bit. He turned sharply towards the door, before he said something he shouldn't.
Faith chuckled softly then winced in pain, "I wonder how hard it was for him not to squirm."
Rose chuckled, "Oh he never squirms...I...mean...um..."
Faith snickered, "All of 'em squirm, you just gotta try harder, well go on, he clearly wanted to jump your bones go get 'em."
"I..." Rose flushed, and stood up smirking, "You won't tell anyone right?"
Faith shrugged, "Why would I? I don't care, he's hot."
"He is definitely that...Um...Faith?" Rose started, "You should uh...teach me sometime..."
"Teach you what?" Faith frowned.
"How to make him squirm," she replied.
Faith smirked wide, "Oh you are on, go on, go get him."
Rose grinned and slipped out of the door after him.