Black Magic White Lies, chapter 14

[moscow_watcher]

Title: Black Magic White Lies
Chapter 14 - In Which Xander Finds Out Something About Faith
Timeline: BtVS, alternate season 5
Genre: drama, mystery, action
Characters, pairing: general, Xander/Faith
Rating: R (for intense situations).
Summary: Xander thinks he has a little secret. He doesn't know that his little secret is a part of a big fat

Comments

[mulder200]

Oh, shit indeed! This should be fun!

[moscow_watcher]

It will be. *cackles evilly*

[moscow_watcher]

Oh, yes - he is the walking illustration of that quote from "Starman": You are at your very best when things are worst.

[waddis]

I like the way you're handling the Season 5 arc with this story. It's very well-focused, and you're explaining the changes well. Interesting way of working the fiction history into canon.

[moscow_watcher]

I might be a canon whore, because "what if?" rewrites are the personal kink of mine. I read many fics where whole seasons were rewritten either Spuffy or Bangel way: the problems were the same, but Buffy dealt with them together with this or that vampire. And I decided to apply this principle to Xander: what if season five was All.About.Xander? What if he had to face the problems Buffy faces in canon?

[waddis]

I like that concept. That's a lovely thing about fanfiction. A supporting character can be the central character.

[xc_runner50]

Well....Shit. That can't be good. Badness lies in Faith being surprised by something.

[moscow_watcher]

Oh, yes - the *real* badness gets closer and closer... :)

[keith5by5]

'"Yet you were on Buffy's team." Faith looks at him, grim and determined. "Xander, you have to understand. If you're with me, you have to take my side."'

Good on her for expecting the least someone should expect from their partner.

[moscow_watcher]

It's tricky. Could Xander be considered her partner? They've already found out that their memories are false. But if it didn't happen and they feel like it's happened - could it be counted as real? Both Faith and Xander are still reeling from the revelation that their minds were manipulated - Faith in particular. She is in a desperate situation, and, as a mother, I understand her feelings all too well. A mother will do anything to protect her baby. And nobody can blame her for that. But it's not a coincidence that Faith asks Xander to take a side after he blurts out that, subconsciously, he chooses her - not the humanity! - when it comes to apocalypse (he talks about his dreams of the Earth being destroyed and the two of them escaping in a comfy space ship). Xander is her only hope. She understands perfectly that Willow helps them only because of Xander. Spike may call Faith "luv", but if Buffy tells him to kill Faith he won't hesitate to execute her orders.

So... it's kind of Gordian knot.

[keith5by5]

I agree with all you said as regards can Xander be considered her partner.

However Xander more or less offered to stand by her. If he makes that offer he can't half-ass it. He has to pick a side and stick with it.

As for Spike. Eh, he'd kill anyone if Buffy told him to.

[moscow_watcher]

However Xander more or less offered to stand by her. If he makes that offer he can't half-ass it. He has to pick a side and stick with it.

I agree. Yet I cringe in advance, as I try to imagine your reaction to some events in the later chapters...