Faith had only been in L.A. for a few days but in that time, she had caused quite the uproar in the supernatural community. So much that quite a few people ended in Glory's deluxe penthouse, asking her for help... saying that this Slayer wasn't like the other. This one was out of control, dangerous, and perhaps mentally unstable.

Apparently she tended to torture her prey before killing them.

This just served to intrigue Glory. After all, if there was someone who understood and loved mayhem and more than Glorificus she had yet to meet them.

The more she heard about this Slayer the more she wanted to see her for herself. Especially after the whispers in the community said that pesky vampire with a soul was after her himself. Hoping to put her on the road to redemption.

Sneering at the thought, Glory tossed her hair over her shoulder and pursed her lips, making sure her lipstick shone with perfection. Redemption was such a dirty word, it had ruined far too many of her playmates and she wasn't going to let it ruin this potential fun as well. Besides, it was far past time she introduced herself properly to the avenging knight of this fair city. Shaking his world up would be amusing if nothing else.

Nothing quite burns quite like a vampire.

"Your holiness?"

Glory turned to eye the leader of her minions. Or at least she thought he was. He seemed to be the one she talked with the most, after all. "What?" Glory asked, her tone irritated just enough to make him more nervous than usual. Giving a feral smile, she walked closer to him and pressed her hands to his face and cooed, "Come on now, baby, don't get scared now. I know you wanted to tell me something, hm?"

"The Slayer is after the Slayer," Jinx blurted out. It frightened him when Glorificus smiled. Her smiles never meant the things that smiles normally entail.

"What did I tell you about the Sunday jumble, orange chiffon, pantyhose in a ball, tap water, flannel shirts, butterflies, and unclear statements, pookie kins?" asked Glory, her voice turning dulcet and soft, making Jinx shiver as he backed away slightly.

"You hate them?" Jinx squeaked out in strangled tones.

"Uh hmm," Glory nodded slowly. In an instant she was at his side, her arm around his shoulders and peering down into his eyes which were wet and fearful as they gazed up at her, she clucked in disappointment. "If you knew that then why did you just do something that I hate? You know what I do to things I hate, snookums."

Jinx paled even more and seemed to be on the verge of wetting himself or passing out when Glory sighed and moved away from him. Standing back in front of the full length mirror in her room as she adjusted her flaming red dress. Arching an eyebrow as she looked at Jinx from the mirror, Glory laughed suddenly, causing Jinx to smile nervously. He wasn't sure yet if laughter was good or bad with Glory.

"I'm not going to kill you, I still need you to explain things properly," said Glory in an oddly reassuring voice. Only to add seconds later with a wicked smile, "However... after you explain I might feel the need to break something."

Paling again, Jinx cleared his throat and attempted to not fear for his life while he was explaining to his god. It only made it worse, feeling fear around Glorificus. She sensed it and enjoyed it. If you weren't afraid she left you alone. You were no fun to play with, to poke, prod, tease, burn, and break. That's why he tried his best not to be afraid now.

"Buffy Summers, the Slayer from Sunnydale, has come to apprehend," he paused, trying to think of the right wording, "the one you have recently shown such interest in, your glorious one," said Jinx as he shifted from foot to foot. "Apparently she's done more than just kill in the demon community."

There was a moment of complete silence and then Glory whirled around, staring at him with eyes that looked nothing if not crazed. Jinx gulped at this and wondered if this was going to be his last moment on Earth. Then Glory strode past him, chuckling lowly as she picked up a picture they had given her just days before when she first requested information about the human girl who was ripping L.A. to shreds.

"Oh sweet baby, you are a bad girl, aren't you?" Glory chuckled, her fingertips delicately tracing the profile of Faith Spencer in the middle of a particularly brutal fight with some of the local vampires. Her long brown hair flying back as she lifted her stake up high, a wild smile on her features, pure in its joy of the moment. Looking over her shoulder at Jinx who wasn't quite so frightened anymore, she drawled, "Someone is trying to mess with my baby, Jinx. You know that isn't something I'll allow, not after waiting so long for her."

"Yes, Glorificus," said Jinx quickly, nodding his head.

He wasn't entirely sure what his god meant about waiting for the Slayer. As far as he knew Glorificus had never waited for anything in her long life. Especially not for some lowly human. For now Jinx would do what he always did. Agree absolutely with whatever she said, and just try to figure out what she meant later. Far, far, later.

"I think I'll have a little fun with a certain Slayer," Glory commented absently. Walking airily out of the room, she called to Jinx, "Take care of things here, sugar dumpling."

Now safely alone and out of Glorificus' presence, Jinx allowed his shaking legs to rest as he slid to the ground and released the sigh of relief he'd been holding back. Only after he calmed a few minutes later did he pause to think on what Glorificus had just said and wonder exactly which Slayer she had been talking about.

---

Buffy Summers was royally pissed and she was royally pissed at the girl who stood across from her wearing a brash grin as she rocked back in her black boots. Faith, the dark Slayer, trouble incarnate, the person who never failed to screw her over or just screw her in general. Buffy wasn't here for some of her yum yum treats though. No, she had enough of Faith and her shenanigans and she was going to do something about it. Namely kick her ass then shove said ass into a prison somewhere.

One hopefully far enough away that Buffy could get the images of Faith and what she looked like naked, sweat beaded on her tanned skin, showing off her taut muscles, along with the memories of just what she could do with said muscles. Especially the one in her mouth when she was properly motivated. Then Buffy shook her head, knocking herself out of her self started fantasy. She was here to kick ass, not to have hers kissed.

So far. Angel was in L.A. too, you know.

"B," drawled Faith in the sensual tones she liked to use to seduce and sound self superior with. It wasn't so much seducing Buffy as making her angrier but that was what Faith had expected when she decided to use the tone. Fighting with Buffy was always that much more fun when the tiny blonde was royally pissed off. Shoving her hands into her the back pockets of her brown leather pants, she arched an eyebrow and asked, "What took you so long? I was startin' to think you'd never show." Smirking widely, Faith continued to rock back on her booted heels. "And that wouldn't be much fun for me, would it, huh? I gotta get my kicks somehow, y'know. Or else I get bored."

"Your kicks hurt people, Faith," Buffy growled before she blinked at what she just said, wondering why it didn't sound right. It also should be noted she didn't really growl so much as she attempted to growl. This is still Buffy, folks. Growling and Buffy is like butch and Buffy, they don't mix. As if sensing the mocking from the fic author, Buffy looked upwards then shook her head. She was just imaging things. This was a serious story, she was sure of it. "I'm not going to let that happen. This time I'm taking care of you," she paused for dramatic effect, "for good."

Faith arched her eyebrow more, so much that it almost reached her hairline as her smirk grew to mammoth proportions. Removing her hands from her back pockets, she acted like she was getting ready for the fight that was to come. Unlike Buffy she wasn't in denial and she knew damn well which fic authors worshipped her, so she knew she had no reason to worry. She'd either kick the blonde's ass or escape relatively unscathed.

The tiny blonde responded to Faith's nonverbal superiority by throwing a punch at her, something which Faith ducked quite easily and smirked even more at. This was turning out to be her lucky night, it seemed. Buffy attempted another growl and sprung at Faith, landing a solid kick to her midsection, sending the dark Slayer back into the wall of the alley and filling the air with the loud crash of her impact. It was almost enough to drown out the sound of the nearby club that Faith had been partying inside before Buffy showed up and decided to ruin her good times.

Shaking her head and wondering why that old TV theme song was now in her head, Faith peered at Buffy with dark brown eyes. The blonde was now in front of her, elbow pressed against her throat, her gaze threatening. Well, as much as it could be.

"I knew you had it in ya, B," Faith rumbled lowly, chuckling soon after she said this. Leaning back into the wall and relishing the look of confusion on Buffy's features, she decided to enlighten the other girl. "I'm not the only monster in these parts. You're a Slayer, the same as me. Don't think for one lousy minute you're better than me, B. That you're above all the shit I've done because y'know... you could end up here someday."

"Not likely, F," sneered Buffy as a reply.

Just as Faith was going to begin her witty repartee in response to Buffy's charming sneer, she caught sight of a glimmer behind the other Slayer. A glimmer that was getting a hell of a lot brighter as Faith watched it expanding into the form of a blonde who was, in her expert opinion, far more of a hottie than Buffy could ever hope to be. But her opinion was also spurred on by the fact she was wearing heels. Faith loved chicks in heels.

"Oh yes, there's my bad baby girl," the woman purred, locking her burning gaze onto Faith who squirmed in Buffy's hold and grinned widely at the attention.

Yeah, this one was gonna be a lot of fun. She could tell that already. There was something crazy powerful about her, and it made Faith tingle in all the right places. The woman pushed Buffy carelessly aside, sending the tiny blonde crashing into the dumpster at the other end of the alley, which in turn crashed into the building, shaking it and sending small portions of brick falling down on them. Faith peered up at the brick bits, frowning and wondering how in the hell had this chick done so much damage with just a little shove when she felt soft hands on her face. Remembering said chick was still in front of her, Faith lowered her head and met their eyes. Smiling extravagantly, the woman's blue gray gaze had a wild look to it that made the tingling feeling Faith was experiencing grow even greater. Stroking Faith's cheek softly, the woman leaned closer, her breath deliciously hot and sweet on the Slayer's skin.

"I've been wanting to see you for the longest time, precious," she whispered before pulling away, her fingers trailing down to Faith's full lips, caressing them while the Slayer shivered and stared at her attentively. "And now that I finally have?" she tilted her head to one side, inspecting Faith before smiling again, moving back gracefully and clapping her hands. "I'm amazed that you're far better than I could have imagined, baby doll. And I," she purred again, "can imagine quite a few things, being who I am."

"So who are you?"

Turning her eyes reluctantly away from Faith, the woman released a huffing noise of pure aggravation as she stared at the somewhat trash covered form of Buffy. It being somewhat as Buffy just had a McDonalds bag on her foot and a banana peel on her shoulder. Other than that she was spic and span.

"You aren't dead," stated the woman, sounding both bored and annoyed.

"Slayers are hard to kill," said Buffy, smirking as she moved towards them.

Sighing now, the woman turned to face Faith who had her gaze fixed on her the entire time. No matter what she did, she couldn't shake the feeling this chick was someone she should watch out for. She just had this vibe about her. Plus she was a hottie and it was pretty clear the chick had a thing for her. Faith always figured it was best to stay on the good side of the powerful folks who happened to like her.

"Sorry, baby girl, but it looks like one of us has to take care of this problem before you can have some fun with Glory," said the woman in dulcet tones, reaching out to caress Faith's cheek yet again as the Slayer shivered at the contact. Glory, huh? She liked the name. For some reason it really fit this chick. I mean, if she wasn't something glorious then Faith wasn't sure what the hell was. "Should I do it or do you want to?"

A slow smile spreading across her lips, Faith, for the very first time in her life, was struck by the absurd need to see someone defending her. Something in Faith thought nothing at this point could be better than to watch the gorgeous blonde in front of her kick Buffy's ass all over the alley and then back again. And in heels to boot.

That's exactly why she leaned back against the building, raising her leg and resting her booted foot as she drawled, "Why don't you finish the job? You were doin' pretty good, if I gotta say so myself. Plus it was sorta fun... watchin' for once."

Chuckling softly, Glory lightly tapped Faith's chin, wearing a fond expression on her features as she did so. "You are a naughty one, aren't you? I do like you, sweetness." Then she abruptly whirled around to face a surprised Buffy and formed an altogether manic smile and purred, "While you, I can do without."

Buffy's eyes narrowed and she moved into a defensive position that didn't help her at all as Glory was in front of her in a flash, hand on her neck, lifting her high in the air. She raked at Glory, trying to loosen her grip, but it was steel and Buffy could feel the life drain from her body, making her struggle more. Sensing this, Glory's smile widened and her gray blue eyes flashed in a moment of amusement and arrogance.

"Give it up, short stuff," Glory commented absently, tightening her grip by a degree, causing Buffy to gasp and increase her attempt to free herself. "You aren't dealing with a vampire or some lower level demon." Lowering Buffy just a bit so she could look into her eyes, Glory drawled, "I'm something you've never dealt with before."

"Yeah?" Buffy managed to gasp out, still prying at Glory's hand. "What?"

Gray blue eyes glinted and Glory whispered in tones that echoed with danger, "I'm the divine, sugar kins. I'm holy and great and everyone who hears my name shakes in their booties and prays that maybe, just maybe, I'll let them live. And," she paused to stare Buffy down and felt the Slayer go cold as she did, "I find you highly annoying."

"My bad," coughed Buffy, smirking weakly at Glory. She flicked her eyes over to Faith who was watching the situation play out, her emotions masked vaguely. "I didn't know that gods liked murderers so much."

Following Buffy's line of vision, Glory arched an eyebrow as she studied Faith. The dark Slayer didn't say a word, merely met Glory's gaze with steady eyes that seemed curious but not the least bit afraid. Oh yes, she was the one she had been waiting for. Glory was sure of it now. Then she turned back to Buffy who she figured had a minute or so left if she didn't get bored and simply resort to snapping her neck.

"It depends on the god," said Glory in glib tones. Forming a wild smile, she tightened her grip, knowing that the little Slayer had tried to insult her baby girl just then. Make her feel bad about what she had done. For having her fun. Well, that just wouldn't do for Glory. It was part of the reason she was interested in Faith, after all. "In my opinion, teeny, there just isn't any comparison between you and my precious over there. She's worth a million of you. See," Glory leaned closer, watching Buffy gasp for breath, locking their eyes, "I'm not too fond of morals. They just constrict you humans more than your tiny brains do. Take what you want and crush those who get in your way, that's my motto. Unlike you, my baby girl grasps this concept. Which is precisely why she's better than you."

Instead of replying, Buffy's eyes rolled up in her head before closing as her body then went slack. Glory sighed at this. Was it just her or did humans keep getting weaker? She thought a Slayer would last longer. It wasn't like she was squeezing her very hardest, you know. But then again, if she had done that, the Slayer's neck would've been crushed into little pieces within the first second of the encounter.

"She dead?" Faith's clear voice rang out in the alley, breaking the silence. The dark Slayer didn't sound particularly concerned for Buffy or afraid of Glory. Merely curious.

"Not yet, doll face," said Glory with a smooth smile. Her grip tightened just a bit and Faith's eyes narrowed, knowing what would happen next if those fingers constricted just slightly more. Tilting her head to one side, Glory continued, "What would you like me to do? After all, she was threatening you not me, precious."

Eyeing Glory with definite surprise now, Faith tried to shake the shocked feeling that someone as powerful as this woman was asking her what she should do. No one ever asked what she wanted. Not even the Mayor. He cared for her, yeah, but not once had he asked what she really wanted. It didn't matter to him. Apparently it mattered to this woman though. Here she was, asking Faith what she wanted, what she should do. Kill Buffy or let her live. It was all up to Faith now.

"Baby girl?" Glory called out, sounding a trifle miffed. She arched an eyebrow expectantly at Faith and tapped one red high heeled toe. "Have you decided yet? It isn't the most fun in the world, suspending a tiny girl in the air endlessly, you know." Blue gray eyes glinted like steel and she purred, "I have better plans for us."

"Dump her here," said Faith finally, her voice devoid of feeling.

She had enough blood on her hands. Even if Glory would be the one to kill Buffy, she would be the one responsible and Faith just didn't have it in her to be the cause of the other Slayer's death. Though she was well aware of the fact that she would never be a saint, Faith still couldn't bring herself to do that. It seemed that now and forever, Buffy would be her weak spot.

Watching the barrage of emotions flicker across Faith's sculptured features, Glory sighed quietly and dropped Buffy carelessly to the ground. The only sound in the alley was the reverberation of the club music and the click of Glory's heels on the concrete. Lifting her head, Faith looked expectantly at the god, wondering what would come next. This chick didn't seem to have it in for her. In fact, from everything Faith could tell, Glory was pretty damn interested in her. Thing is, Faith couldn't figure out what her interest was directed towards. Did she want her to be some sort of servant? Or did that glint in her eyes mean what it usually did, signaling a nice one night stand? And did gods even have flings in the first place? Faith sure didn't know.

Hell, if she wasn't a Slayer and heard the word on the L.A. streets about The Powers That Be which were apparently giving Angel the info on who to save via Cordelia and some headaches, she would probably dismiss Glory as some super strong nutter. But she was a Slayer and she did know about all that. Which led Faith to wonder what in world would a god want her for?

"Shhh," Glory soothed in a whisper, suddenly in front of Faith, peering down into the confused features of the girl. "You are so special, princess, do you know that?"

Pressing dark locks back and away from brown eyes, she smiled at Faith. This was her baby, all right. There would never be someone as powerful as her in this dimension, she knew that, but this girl had the potential to be close. She knew more than anyone what the Slayers were, how their powers emerged from a darkness almost as powerful as her own. When she first came to this dimension she had struck a deal with The Powers That Be. They separated her from the weak human body she had been trapped inside and she in turn would remain neutral to the events of this world. She would neither conquer nor lead, she would simply be. It suited Glory perfectly fine. The deal didn't keep her from having legions of loyal worshippers and covertly running a good deal of the globe's supernatural community. There wasn't one thing that went on in this world that she didn't know of and she enjoyed that. If being all knowing wasn't a quality that a god would enjoy, then what was?

The only thing that she missed from her world, besides the ravaging destruction and constant mayhem, was her lover. Glory had found her when she was just a scrap of a girl alone in one of the countless cities her army had conquered in her war to rule their dimension. Crying beside the bodies of her dead parents, the girl took one look at Glory, sitting astride her horse, body armor and face drenched in the blood of her people, and screamed as loud as her tiny lungs would allow. Flying at her, beating at her with relentless fists, cursing her existence and shouting for her death.

It was a display that impressed Glory. So much that she took the child under her wing. Allowing the weak hits of her fists, the insults which spewed from her lips, and the glare from her eyes. The child, Isa, was seemingly immune from the danger which surrounded everyone else while in Glory's presence. There was nothing the child could do which would bring her harm from the god. Something which infuriated Isa to no end. She didn't want to be the god's favorite, her pet. All she wanted was to be with her parents and her people, she wanted to be dead. To leave this world forever.

"Why?" Isa finally demanded, when she couldn't take it any longer. Her child's voice somehow harsh in its accusation, her hands on tiny hips.

"Why what?" asked Glory, continuing in her dance of sword and armor as she battled with the head of the guards. It was her way to fight constantly, either in body or mind. To be at rest wasn't comfortable for her, it never had been. Which is why she had started this war, she supposed. Glory knew she was the most powerful among the hell gods. Why shouldn't she take what was hers? There were none who could stop her.

"Why do you let me live?" asked Isa, voice shaking, tears in her eyes. She was sure the god only kept her alive to torment her, like she was some plaything. "Why won't you kill me like the rest? Why do you keep me here with you?"

Pausing her fight, Glory held her hand up to the head of the guard, dismissing him. He nodded and left the room quickly, not sure he wanted to be here when the little girl finally ended up pressing her luck. Looking at Isa, gray blue eyes glinted, and the god formed a slow smile as she murmured, "You were the first person I ever let hit me."

The child's eyes went wide and she squeaked, "What?"

"You heard me," Glory chuckled, putting her sword on the wall with the rest of her weapons. When it was safely in place she turned to face Isa and arched an eyebrow. "Did you think I let everyone hit me? They usually never get the chance. But you, for some reason, were different. It... made me curious."

"Are you ever going to kill me?" asked Isa, more curious than afraid.

"Not unless you make me," said Glory quietly, meeting the child's eyes steadily. Leaning against the wall, she looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "I've lived for a very long time. A very, very, long time and in it, only you made me pause just enough in my actions to allow a strike. Because of that..." Looking at the confused little girl, she shook her head and pushed away from the wall, now walking out of the room. Stopping at Isa's side for a moment, Glory murmured, "I'd like you at my side. Even if you despise me." Laughing low in her throat while she left the room, she continued, "Not that it matters, really. Everyone hates me sooner or later, precious."

But after years at Glory's side, Isa soon didn't. She somehow grew to love the god and remained the only one impervious to her rages. And when Glory was overthrown by the two other hell gods, banished to this dimension, it was Isa who had tears in her eyes as she screamed for Glory's return, just as she had once done for her parents.

Now there was this girl in front of her. This dark Slayer that she had learned everything about via orders to her minions. One filled with so much conflict, so much pain in her life. Everything either darkness or light in her world. Nothing that was gray and in between. She was the same as her Isa, she was sure of it. This wisp of a girl, whose eyes were fathomless in their sorrow and regrets, she would be the one.

She would be the one made immune to her powers. The one who would endure her, the one who would fight her, the one who would remain at her side as Isa was meant to. She would keep Glory from feeling the pangs of endless loneliness that clutched at her soul.

"Why am I special?" asked Faith finally, her tones low and full of suspicion. "Because I'm a Slayer and I got powers? Because you can use me? That it?"

As much as Faith wanted to listen to the voice in her head that told her to just go along with this even if she didn't know her, to obey this powerful woman and save her own ass, she just couldn't. She was getting sick of being used like she was some sort of toy. If this chick was going to kill her for it then so be it. That's why she had come to L.A. anyway. To get herself killed and finally end the cycle of misery that was her life.

"Oh baby girl," Glory sighed, her hand falling to Faith's neck, thumb lightly rubbing the skin there and making the Slayer tingle with pleasure. "It helps that you're a Slayer but that isn't why you're so special to me."

"Yeah? Then what is?" asked Faith gruffly, backing away from Glory and folding her arms across her chest. No matter how hot this god was and how much she made her tingle, Faith wasn't about to trust her until she had the full story.

Sighing again, Glory rubbed at her forehead and peered at Faith through gray blue eyes. Laying low in this dimension had taught her patience and being trapped briefly in a weak human body had taught her humility. But still, sometimes when she was frustrated by the actions of others, she really wanted to have a good old fashioned tantrum. One which would result in the deaths of thousands.

Ah, she did miss the old days.

"How about we talk about this at my place, cutie pie?" asked Glory, dropping her hand from her forehead and extending it to the dark Slayer. She formed a slow and delicious smile then purred, "I'll let you sit in my lap as I feed you strawberries."

Quirking an eyebrow at this, Faith released a bark of laughter and shook her head. No matter what the voice said she couldn't help but like this chick. She was sort of funny in a really warped way. "All right," she drawled, smirking at the god. "I guess I'm up for that." Walking towards Glory, she paused in front of her then added, "But I gotta tell you that I like cherries a whole lot better than strawberries."

"Then it will be cherries for my precious," Glory declared before they disappeared in a glimmer of bright light, leaving an unconscious Buffy all alone.

It would only be a half an hour before Angel arrived with a headache complaining Cordelia and when he woke Buffy, asking her what had happened, she could only manage to say three things.

Red high heels.

---

When the glimmer was gone Faith found herself inside the plushest apartment she could've ever imagined. Staring at her surroundings, she finally looked back at Glory who was beaming widely at Faith's inspection.

"You like it, baby girl? If you want, it can be all yours," Glory informed, looking very happy that Faith seemed impressed with her dwellings. After she said this, she turned to some nearby creature that, to Faith, looked like a bumpy gnome. "Precious wants to eat cherries while I explain everything to her," said Glory to the bumpy gnome who remained still, his huge eyes fixed on Faith. Scowling at the lack of reaction, Glory snapped her fingers in front of him and growled, "NOW Jinx. Don't make me break you."

With that, the gnome called Jinx scurried off, now thoroughly scared out of his pants once again by his god. Pushing back a shock of curly hair, Glory looked over at Faith and said in faux confession, "Servants. Can't live without them, can't brutally murder them because looking for new ones is an absolute pain." Moving forward smoothly, Glory smiled at Faith as she sat on the elegant red couch. Patting the cushion, she continued, "Sit next to me while we talk, baby." Her grin turning altogether naughty now, Glory then went on, "Unless you would rather sit in my lap."

Quirking an eyebrow at the god, Faith strode across the room and sat next to Glory, folding one leg under the other and studying her closely. She knew logically she should be afraid of this chick. Obviously she was powerful and from the whole encounter with Buffy it was clear she had more than enough strength to kill a Slayer. But still, there was something about her... how she acted with her that made Faith trust her.

She just wasn't sure why.

"Aww, no lap sitting," said Glory with a slight pout which caused Faith to smirk at the god. "Oh well," Glory sighed, fixing her eyes on Jinx who was scurrying into the room with a huge bowl of cherries. "At least I got you some cherries, precious."

"We removed all the seeds, your magnificence!" Jinx declared as he bowed and presented the bowl to the god who took it from his hands before he smiled at Faith who was wondering how in the hell they removed all the seeds but kept the cherries in tact.

"Good, now get going," said Glory in bored tones, waving her hand dismissively at Jinx who nodded rapidly and scurried out of the room. He didn't want to press his luck today, so he was planning on staying far away until Glorificus shouted for him. Turning back to Faith, the god smiled and held up the bowl of cherries. "See? Glory always delivers."

"Glad to hear it," replied Faith humorously. When the god held a cherry up, presenting to her, she laughed lowly then opened her mouth, taking the fruit into it as she gave into the urge, closing her lips around long fingers, sucking on them while Glory fixed a burning gray blue gaze on her. When the fingers slid from her mouth quietly, moving to touch her jaw gently, Faith chewed on the fruit, swallowing it then grinning at Glory who continued to stare at her quietly. "Pretty tasty, I gotta say."

"My baby is a pretty girl who likes her treats," Glory whispered, pressing her palm to Faith's cheek. Gray blue eyes were thoughtful as they studied her. Looking into the dark gaze before her, a small smile graced her lips. "I'm a god, precious. You being a Slayer doesn't matter to me. I've got more than enough power on my own."

"Yeah? Then what do you want with me?" asked Faith quietly, narrowing her eyes. This chick wanted something from her, she was sure of it. She just didn't know what it was.

"I want you to be with me, sweetness," answered Glory simply. She searched through the bowl and presented Faith with another cherry which the dark Slayer took into her mouth as she peered at the god. "It becomes tedious, being immortal. The only thing that ever caught my attention was the thrill of war. The killing and conquering, it was what kept me sane, kept me interested in my never ending existence."

"But?" Faith inquired, knowing that there was more.

Smiling at this, Glory leaned back into the couch and sighed. Tipping her head, back she drawled, "But when I was banished to this dimension I was weak... stuck inside a human body that restrained my powers. To escape it, I struck a deal with The Powers. One that says I can't do here what I did there. No more war for Glory, no more killing, no more blood on my hands, no more feeling alive for just one moment. I sit and I watch and I greet the sniveling weaklings who arrive at my doorstep begging for a god's assistance." Dropping her head, she met Faith's eyes. "That's how I found out about you, baby. Your antics have upset quite a few up and coming demons around town." With a snort, she went on, "Ones too afraid to deal with you themselves so they came to me, hoping that I would take care of their little problem for them if they pledged their lives to me."

Silence filled the air, hanging there for several moments before Faith spoke in unfeeling almost expectant tones, "So that's what this is about. You wanna kill me. Yeah, well, get in line."

All along she thought this chick wanted her. Wanted her for... well, she didn't know. She felt strangely safe with her. Especially after she had asked her what to do about Buffy. It was then she made her mistake. Assuming just because Glory was willing to kill Buffy for her that it meant that she didn't want her dead as well. It didn't matter really. Before she met this chick she had wanted to die anyway.

"No offense, precious, but if I had wanted to kill you, you would be dead already," answered Glory simply, not pulling any punches because she knew the Slayer would appreciate the honesty. "I shooed the bad little demons away even if I did have a reason to be grateful to them. If it wasn't for them, you might have never been brought to my attention." Tossing her hair over one shoulder, Glory looked across her penthouse, studying her shiny weapons on the wall and age old decorations. "I've known of you Slayers for a long time now and I've always let you be. Hunting and killing vampires, saving the world, it was all rather boring to me even considering your origins." She looked back at Faith who was staring at her with those dark fathomless eyes. "But you were different from the others, baby. You were the first to understand."

"Understand what?" asked Faith softly.

"It all comes from darkness," Glory said, setting the bowl of cherries on a nearby table before she locked her gaze on Faith. Reaching out, she pushed a stray lock of hair from the Slayer's forehead. "The powers you have, the instincts, the change in you when you received the call. It's all darkness, baby, and you're the first in a long time to give in and listen to it... to try and understand." Glory paused and formed a wide and happy smile. "That's why I want you. You're the one of the first to understand."

"Shit happens and people die," said Faith gruffly, her eyes steel as they raked over Glory's features. "Mistakes are made and you either gotta forget they happened or just accept it and move on. Killing a person or a demon is only different dependin' on who you ask, you know?" She sighed and stared at her hands, sure she could see the blood soaked onto them from countless battles. "Everything ends the same."

"Yes," murmured Glory, rising to her feet and looking at Faith who gazed up at her with brown eyes wide in their expectations and offered her hand, "you understand."

Faith stared at the hand for a long moment, then slowly, she reached out, placing hers quietly in its grasp, feeling the gentle squeeze from the god as she was pulled to her feet. Looking up into gray blue eyes that burned heavy with the knowledge of countless centuries, Faith realized what this was all about. So she said in husky tones, "And that's what you want. Someone who'll understand."

Someone who could understand the love of the death, of the blood, of the danger in the fight. The song that calls out to you in your mind as you slash through one body and into the next. How you can lose yourself in the moment and nothing matters, not those you hurt around you, not what will happen tomorrow, but just that now, in the gore and hatred of the moment, as horrible as it is, how it makes you feel alive. Someone to understand this, someone to accept this, to not be driven away, disgusted and fearful. A person to have at your side who, for once, wasn't afraid.

She knew about the longing for someone like that. Faith had experienced it herself after all that gone on. It was too late for redemption, it was too late to fight. All she wanted was for it to end, for it to just be over and she be alone in the silence. To take away the awful want of that feeling for her, which seemed to always end in the deaths of others.

Glory understood that and she knew Faith did too. That was why she was here and that was why the god wanted her. So they could both have someone at their side who would not judge, who wouldn't cringe in disgust from their past, who would understand it.

"Baby girl," said Glory softly, a wisp of a smile on her features as she cupped the Slayer's face in her hands. "You are a precious commodity."

Then she was kissing Faith. Her mouth hot and open, possessing the brunette and taking over her senses. Glory smelled of marigolds and honey, she was the nectar of the gods, and Faith wanted to taste from her even deeper. Her tongue delved in, entangling with Glory's as she pressed hard into the god, groaning at the feel of soft breasts against her own. They continued to kiss even as Faith felt herself swept up in strong arms, carried for the first time in her life into a bedroom.

Never had it been like this. She was always the strong one. She was always the aggressor. But this time, with Glory, it wasn't that she was the weak one. It was more as if she had finally found her equal. Her partner.

Scooting back onto the bed, Faith pulled Glory to her, tugging on the straps to her dress and bursting into laughter when they broke in her hands revealing a matching red bra holding a pair of breasts that really could be only described as divine. Smirking at Faith, the god ripped the rest of the dress easily from her body, dropping her shoes to the floor then crawling towards the Slayer with all the languid ease of a cat hunting its prey.

Lowering herself onto Faith, she sought her mouth out again, and it was everything it was before and so much more. It was passion and it was fire and it reminded her of Isa but it didn't. Faith was different, she tasted like cherries and her smell was sweeter, still holding the slightest tang of innocence that even the Slayer didn't know she had. But Glory knew and she rejoiced in it, groaning as Faith kissed her deep, hands on the clasp of her bra, removing it while they embraced.

"I want to see you," said Glory in the sexy growl that Buffy could never manage to pull off. Her gray blue eyes were steely with passion, dark and overwhelming, and Faith had never felt as desirable as she did in this moment.

Forming a wild grin, Faith pushed up on her elbows and raised an eyebrow. "Then why dontcha help me get out of these clothes?" she drawled slowly.

In seconds the clothes were gone. Completely shredded and ripped, landing on a pile on the floor to soon be joined by the thump of Faith's boots as Glory carelessly removed them. Faith's eyebrow rose even more, again almost reaching her hairline as the god hovered above her, red lips spread out in a delicious smile of passion. Glory was just as impatient as she was about this sort of thing. Faith liked that. She liked it a lot.

After all, what was the point of wasting time when she could be tangled in Glory's arms? Feeling soft skin pressed up against her own. Shivering at this thought, Faith reached out to hold Glory's hips in her hands, pulling the god down onto her, moving one hand up to tangle in curly blonde locks as she lifted her head up to capture Glory's lips with her own.

They kissed deeply and Faith opened up to Glory more than she had done for anyone in a long time because she knew it was safe to do that with Glory. She didn't want to use her. Glory was like her in an odd way, she understood, and it made Faith feel safe and it made her let go of herself. Giving in as Glory pressed further into her, nestling her leg in between Faith's thighs and grinding into the Slayer who groaned at the feeling.

"These have gotta go," Faith rumbled when her lips parted from Glory's. Her hands slid across the tanned skin of the god, ripping her final item of clothing, red silk panties from her body before tossing them aside. Finally all of the barriers between them were gone. It was just her and Glory, absolutely nude, just as Faith wanted it. Smirking up at the god, she flipped her over, hovering above her to gaze into burning gray blue eyes before she dipped her head, giving into the overwhelming need to taste her. Her lips reached out to catch a hard nipple in her mouth as her hand traced down, slipping inside Glory only a bit, just enough to feel how wet and tight she was. Peering up at Glory who met her gaze with a look of unadulterated passion that made Faith shiver and feel sexier than anyone had in her young life. "Do y'know how good you feel?" asked Faith softly.

"Nowhere as good as I'm counting on you to feel, precious," Glory responded, a smirk on her features. "Now," she purred, shifting in her position, drawing Faith further in, "do you want to keep feeling or would you rather taste instead?"

Laughing despite herself, Faith let her fingers reluctantly slip out of Glory, missing the feeling of her almost immediately as she lowered her head and kissed her way down the god's body as she murmured against it, "I think I wanna have a taste." Stopping as she reached her destination, Faith breathed in the scent of marigolds again. It was more intoxicating than anything she'd experienced and kissing Glory's thighs softly, smiling at the smallest quiver of her body, she chuckled again. "Ambrosia, yeah?"

Then she dove in, tasting the god as she wanted, sucking on her clit and absorbing the smell, the taste of her, and trying not to get lost in it. All the while reassured and touched by the hand, strong but soft, in her hair, fingers tangled in the dark locks as she pressed her on, urging her forward. It was almost too much, the feel of her, the taste of her, and even when Faith felt Glory orgasm, the fingers tightening in her hair, she continued on, not wanting to stop, wanting even more of the god, to have everything that she was.

And when Glory orgasmed again Faith still wasn't willing to stop. But the god spoke, her breath caught in her throat, voice low and purring, covered in desire as she said, "That's enough for now, baby. I think it's my turn with you." Protesting this, Faith bit lightly on Glory's clit, causing the god to moan before she scowled and said with irritation, "I said that's enough, precious." With that, Glory hauled Faith up from in between her thighs, holding her under her arms and meeting their eyes as she sat Faith in her lap.

For her part, Faith was completely unashamed of her display. Why should she want to stop tasting anything that good, huh? It was perfectly all right for her to indulge. That's why she licked her lips, dark eyes glinting at Glory as the god quirked an eyebrow at her wanton behavior.

"Sweetness," Glory said in a purr, wiping her thumb gently over the girl's skin, removing the last traces of her from Faith's mouth, "you do impress me."

"Yeah, no one can go down like a Slayer," said Faith with a pleased chuckle.

Laughing with Faith, the god's eyes darkened into pools of gray, and she leaned forward, capturing full lips and opening the up, tasting herself on Faith. The Slayer groaned and moved with her, tongues exploring as Glory moved Faith on her lap, easily slipping her fingers into her, smiling as Faith moaned into her mouth. Moving her lips away to rest by the Slayer's ear, Glory whispered to her, "I was right. You do feel just as good, baby."

"Do it hard," Faith said in hoarse tones, lifting her head that had fallen onto Glory's shoulder when the god entered her. Looking into gray eyes, she moved up to kiss the god, murmuring against her when they parted, "I trust you not to hurt me."

Humans never failed to surprise her. No matter how long she stayed in this dimension. The changes that passed with their beliefs, they continued to change, to advance. With a slow smile, Glory curled her fingers into Faith, pressing down on the Slayer's clit as she increased the pace and rhythm of the fingers moving inside her. Faith lost herself to the feeling. No one had ever been as far inside her as Glory was now and it was more than she could take. Squeezing her thighs tight, Faith attempted to capture her hand, leaving it there as long as she could while her hands gripped the god's shoulders.

Pressing her face into Faith's throat as the Slayer arched up into her, Glory thrust harder yet and pressed down hard on the Slayer's clit with her thumb. Faith made a keening noise as she squeezed Glory's shoulders, fingers biting into her skin, but not leaving the slightest impression. "That's it, precious," Glory murmured against her throat, tasting the sweat of the Slayer's skin, "come for me. You know you want to."

And when Faith finally orgasmed she couldn't remember ever feeling so free, so perfect, in her life. Everything was good in this moment. There were no problems, there was no darkness, there was no death, and she could be happy. Then the moment was over and she was slumped in Glory's arms, smelling the scent of marigolds as her heart calmed.

They were quiet for a long while, Faith content to sit on Glory's lap and be held by her, and Glory equally as happy with the situation. But the Slayer eventually pulled back to look into the god's features as she pushed dark locks from her eyes.

"Stay with me, sweetness," murmured Glory, caressing Faith's hair, pressing her hand gently into her. "I'll take care of you always. Feed you cherries and let you sit on my lap."

Releasing a snort of laughter, Faith replied, "I don't need taking care of." Glory's face shifted into an unperceivable mask. Not a show of anger or any emotion at all. Rather a total lack of. Seeing this, Faith relented, cupping Glory's chin and smirking at the god as she drawled, "Neither of us need to be taken care of, I figure. But yeah, I'd like to stay." Looking away from Glory, she finished quietly, "Y'know... to be with you." Smiling as she felt Glory's hands go around her waist to pull her close, Faith rested her head on the god's shoulder and added teasingly, "And for the cherries."

"Of course, baby girl," Glory chuckled softly, murmuring into Faith's hair.

Because, after all, there was one thing that both Faith and Glory knew better than anyone else it was the position of cherries and those who loved them.

They were always on top.

-End-