milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Faith comes in from outdoors, looking quietly pleased, and acquires dinner and coffee, then curls up in front of the fireplace.

Tomorrow, there will be blood and violence and possibly all manner of woe. Tonight...tonight was good.

As Alain would say, it is well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"All things considered, I'm doing pretty well."

Beat.

"You...did you know about Tonks?"

All hint of a smile is gone, and Susan nods, looking away from Faith-- and at the fireplace.

"Aye. I'd heard."

"She's alive, Susan."

Faith's voice is utterly calm.

"She's alive, and we're going after her."

"Ye're certain she's alive?"

She looks back, and oh, but the desperate hope is clear.

"That they are?"

"...I don't know about the baby," Faith says, honestly. "She might have...but Tonks is alive."

She doesn't know that, really, for sure. But they wouldn't be posting a rescue if there was no chance.

"She's strong-- it'd have to be-- the baby's likely well, yet. It -- I'd think it'd survive a lot." She sounds desperately hopeful and yet very certain all at once.

"Is there-- how do'ee know she's alive? Did sai Aziraphael bring word?"

"I don't know where Tim got the word," Faith says quietly. "I just know he says we're going. And I hope you're right, about the baby...I think..."

She hesitates, then says, "Did I tell you, ever, that Slayers have prophetic dreams? Dreams that tell the future?"

She shakes her head.

"I don't-- I don't remember it, Faith, say true."

"Well, we do. Usually they're bad things - warnings - but I had a good one, not long about. About Tonks and Bernard. And their children."

Beat.

"They had three of their own, Susan, plus Sunny. That's why I believe Tonks is alive."

And oh, but her face is suddenly alight with hope as she nods.

"Then I'll-- I'll hope ye saw true."

"What about-- did Tim say aught about sai Bill?"

"...Bill?"

Faith's expression goes utterly flat.

"Bill was with her? Bill Weasley?"

She starts, alarmed and wary as she looks at Faith, and nods.

"Thee-- thee didn't know?"

"No," Faith says, softly. "No, I didn't."

Susan's probably seen an expression very like this one on the faces of three gunslingers of her acquaintance.

She has, oh aye, and kens it well.

(no quarter - no prisoners)

Flat and bleak and utterly determined, and Susan reaches out helplessly to lay one hand on Faith's.

"Say sorry, I do."

"Bill's a friend. A very dear friend."

It's all she says. Probably all she needs to say.

She bites her lip, hesitating for a moment, and then moves closer to Faith and hugs her, telling her with fierce desperation,

"Then he-- if he's with her, and Tim knew something, and ye're going-- it'll be all right, Faith--"

Faith returns Susan's embrace mechanically, patting her friend's shoulder gently.

"We'll see," she says, softly. "If not...I'll deal with it."

This is somehow not at all comforting, and Susan finds herself remembering Eddie telling her of a carved rose with sharp thorns--

--and the reason for them.

She pulls back, looking at Faith with clear worry.

And Faith smiles at her.

Quiet. Calm.

"Ka, Susan. Isn't that what you call it?"

"Like a wind," she agrees quietly, still watching Faith.

Faith nods. "Well. Then we'll see what ka blows our way. And deal with it as it comes."

Susan nods back, very slowly-- but the worry doesn't fade.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only