Another Wes/Faith installment

[alwaysjbj]

Written for the darker_wesley "Memory" challenge.
Title: The withered leaves collect at my feet
Author: Always_jbj
Rating: M 15 +
Pairing: Wesley/Faith
Disclaimer: The usual, I own nothing... Joss is God, etc, etc, etc.
Word count: 500
Unbeta'd

Previous installments can be found HERE





The withered leaves collect at my feet

Memories of his childhood weren’t pleasant ones; that was one thing they had in common. His were filled with lectures; lessons; stern, disapproving looks from a father he could never please; whippings; long hours spent locked in darkness beneath the stairs and then later, as he grew, the relative tranquillity of the months away from home attending school.

Hers were filled with neglect; abuse, both physical and sexual from her mother’s endless stream of ‘friends’; a drunken mother who forgot to feed her for days on end until she took matters into her own hands, learning to fend for herself using whatever means possible.

He knew, now, why Faith was being so obstinate about wanting to find a place to settle; a place where they could build a home of sorts. She wanted to give the boy what neither of them had; happy memories.  Something about the child brought out a softer, caring side to his fearsome slayer; maternal, nurturing even. A side he’d never have imagined was there, hidden beneath a hard protective shell and layers of bravado and hurt.

He’d catch her sometimes, when she thought she was unobserved, playing a game with Connor. She’d tickle him until he giggled helplessly and then cuddle him close and sooth the resulting hiccups. Her face softened when she looked at the boy, a gentle smile curving her lips and hushed words muttered against his cheek, words for them alone.

At these times he would often find a harsh, irrational stab of jealousy twisting in his gut. That this child, the son of two beings who’d wrought such horrors upon this earth should be deserving of such gently bestowed affection.

His mother’s affections were rarely given, an occasional smile of encouragement, a brief flash of pride in her eyes before they quickly dropped away. He remembered once when he was small, sometime before he’d started school, he had been deemed by his Latin tutor as having committed some reprehensible sin or another and had been called before his father. His mother had tousled his hair—he remembered that clearly because it was the last time he remembered her showing him any physically sign of affection—and spoken up in his defence. His father’s response had been both swift and unconditional. He remembered vividly the blood that had fallen from his mother’s lip, staining the pristine white of her blouse. The deep purpling on her cheek had lasted far longer than the welts his father’s belt had raised on his backside. The absence of his mother’s love had left an even longer lasting bruise.

Faith was right. The child deserved the chance to have more than they’d been given. He would see what he could do about finding somewhere safe, somewhere they could make a home, somewhere they could watch a small boy grow into a man. A place where they could learn to let go of the past. Perhaps they also deserved the chance.

the end

Comments

[talesofspike.livejournal.com]

Very, very nice, sweetie! You have a real knack with these prompts, and with Darker Wes.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I would actually have liked it to be around the 1000 word mark like the previous ones but it just seemed to write itself to a close so I let it be.

Ok NOW I have procrastinated in LJ long enough... off to dosome writing.

[talesofspike.livejournal.com]

As should I, once I'm wearing something that isn't a towel. That email's done, so apart from replies to some overnight LJ stuff, I should be ready to make a start.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Nice job of filling in more backstory on these two tormented people.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thanks... I'm glad you are still enjoying this little *sigh* series *sigh*... you know, somehow I am sure it is all Selene's fault... I'm not quite sure how but I KNOW it would be... she does this subliminal message thing... I think she had thrall! lol.

Oh and scroll down... looky looky at who IS (thank god) in the land of the living!

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Sigh, and once again your banner absolutely knocks me off my feet. I could look at it for hours.

And yay! for being alive and kicking!

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

I also could look at it for hours! I guess I can forgive Selene for her ability to make me write (almost) anything she wants... LOL... Pretties like that make it all worth it!

Gah... I must get out of LJ and go pay bills and buy food *gets out crowbar to pry myself away from the computer and out of the house.* Have I mentioned that I HATE grocery shopping!?

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

LOL me too. I make Stirling do it whenever possible.

[comedy42.livejournal.com]

Elegant, as were the previous posts. You've really captured an idea of Faith and Wes in this that isn't often explored.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying these ficlets... they just seem to be taking on a life of their own (esp as there was only ever meant to be ONE of them!) lol. I do enjoy Wes/Faith... I think they have so much in common and also so much to offer each other.

[amybnnyc.livejournal.com]

Really lovely, as is the idea of them rehabbing themselves through Connor.

Well done!

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And, hey... look... you're alive!! lol... Patti and I were beginning to get a little concerned.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

That this child, the son of two beings who’d wrought such horrors upon this earth should be deserving of such gently bestowed affection.
Wonderful ambiguity there - Wes & Faith or Angelus & Darla?
Oh your interpretations of Wes’ childhood really got to me, particularly framed around Faith’s own neglect. ::sniffle::

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad that it moved you! *snuggles Wes*