kerk_hiraeth | Fics for 2025 # 001 ~ The Slayer That Came in from the Cold (BtVS) (Reply)

TITLE: The Slayer That Came in from the Cold

AUTHOR: kerk hiraeth

FANDOM: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (FemaleHusband!verse)

CHARACTER(s): Faith Lehane;

'SHIP: none;

LENGTH: 350;

RATING: R;

A/N: After two years away Faith has been called back to Slayer HQ; established near the City of Trillium which, though close to a hellmouth, only marks the epicentre of a fiery series of hot spots; most dangerous of which is in Cleveland, but with fiery siblings near Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Irrelevant to this story is that Faith had already made the decision to return, but only Buffy and Giles know this. Also irrelevant to this story, but important to the series is why they called Faith back; hopefully it won't be too long before I write that story.

This 'verse originates from the non-canon death of Willow in Season Six.

ADDENDUM: I decided this was a good fit for the Halfamoon 2025 Day 3 prompt, Self-care.

By the time she brought her battered old Indian to a rolling halt outside the gatehouse Faith could see it was well past midnight.

After staring down the Slayer in charge, she ignored the instructions she was given, and headed round by the old path next to where the hayfields had been.

More than fifty hours on the road; she needed food, not fucking orders.

Travelling at a purring lope she could see some kids under the lights having a catcher vs. umpire dispute as she took in the changes to the structures and layout in the two years she'd been gone.

Growling at herself, she was still impressed as she dismounted out front of where the inner courtyard stables had been. She took in some kids playing a board game; one hurriedly hiding a plastic bag.

Somebody had painted 'The Feading Room' in rainbow colours over the entrance; they'd used it to store crates of books while they repaired the main house, which set Faith to smirking that her snarky joke would be remembered by kids she'd never met she headed straight for the main cafeteria.

Five minutes later she sat down; tray laden with baked potatoes; pasta; pierogi and chocolate cake.

And confiscated beer.

She recognised some of the faces staring at her as she fed her face.

Grabbing up the last of the pierogi and polished off another beer; watched by the kid she's snagged them from. Grinning at her Faith stood up and chugged the last beer.

Buffy and her Band of Bureaucrats could wait.

Not needing to ask directions; she could see the floor plan Buffy's kid sister had drawn in her head, she grabbed some more Japanese sodas, heading straight for the only room in the building with a bed and a private shower.

Odds on a fuck were low and she needed a shower and a bunk down more than a fuck anyhow.

As she fell asleep she was thinking how to hammer these kids into some kind of shape; almost as if she'd come home.

She kinda liked feeling warm as well.