milliways_bar | (no subject)

Faith comes into the bar in high spirits, dressed casually - she's been training - but still wearing that somewhat ridiculous circlet in her hair. It comes off as soon as she's in the bar, and she goes up to Bar to get a cup of coffee.

This procured, she goes over to read the notice board, and sees Kaylee's note.

The coffee cup drops from suddenly-nerveless fingers, and Faith, staring in pale, wide-eyed horror, doesn't even notice the waitrats that scamper to clean up the mess.

River and Simon. Taken. Her friends - her good friends - in terrible danger.

The horror gives way, slowly, to the cold, killing fury of a very angry Slayer, and she turns on her heel and stalks over to Bar, acquiring paper and pen and writing a very brief note, which will be delivered to whichever member of Serenity's crew happens to come into the bar next.

If I can help, I will. - Faith

Then she gets another drink - whiskey this time - and stalks over to a table with a carefully blank expression on her face.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Cue stream of Antarian profanity, directed at all evil bastards who kidnap children.

"Max said you went along to help out then, yeah."

"I did." Faith smiles, coldly. "It blew up prettily."

"And", he starts carefully, "if they tell you they want you to help this time too...?"

"....I don't know," Faith admits, quietly. "These are humans, Michael, they can't do that much to me...I don't...I won't do anything stupid or really dangerous, but if I can help them without risking myself much..."

"I can throw a human across a room with a shove", Michael says flatly. "I can fuse a man's ribcage just by concentrating, and a whole hell of a lot more. And they still got me. Don't underestimate humans, Faith."

"...I don't," Faith says, and means it. "I don't, Michael, really. I just..."

Beat.

"She was fourteen when they took her, Michael. And they drove her insane. And tampered with her brain, made her psychic with no control over her gift. And I don't know if it's even the same people, I don't know if it's just some henchmen or what...but if there's something I can do...if it won't mean endangering my life..."

"If", he says, voice starting to rise. "If, if, if, but how will you know? You could go out there thinking for sure you'll be safe, but people like that will have security, and you don't know what it is. Anything could happen."

He's a soldier. He's accepted he's as likely to die in battle as to reach retirement. But she's already reached retirement, and that's the difference.

Faith flinches, sharply, and looks down.

Because he's right.

She knows he's right.

It's a horrible, helpless sort of knowledge, but she knows, and her hands clench slowly into fists.

Because she won't do anything that might mean leaving Max behind.

But it feels horribly like betraying her friends.

"I know you want to", he says, voice low. "But that note says... the situation is being handled. If I thought it wouldn't make things worse, I'd let Max lead the army to break them out. But I can't."

He's thinking mainly of making things worse at home, but also for Simon and River.

".....I know. I know."

Faith has rarely sounded so helpless.

The mask shatters, and she curls into a ball, covering her face with her hands.

The crying had to come sometime, right?

It really did. And at least he knows what to do now, reaching out to her.

Faith leans against her brother, and lets herself break down.

He's a good shoulder to break on.