Hybrid Theory

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Draco decided to finally move from his previous position as a gaping fish on the floor to pin Faith against the wall as several Aurors took the defensive stance he had grown to know and hate so well. He leaned in and pressed his cool cheek against her flushed one and whispered softly into her ear.

"Do NOT let them see how this bothers you. They think of you as an animal that needs to be caged and this is how you will be treated. Calm down. Take deep breaths and just calm down. As much as Fudge warrants the need for a good pummeling, I'm afraid the time for it isn't now. Let's excuse ourselves and let me explain some things. It will make your stay here much more agreeable."

Faith took a few calming breaths and gazed at Draco curiously. Well, how the hell could she say no to a speech like that? That was a Wes or a Giles worthy speech.

She gave a small nod showing she had gained control and he stepped away from her but within reach. He had hidden her away from public view and now that she could see, she noticed that Fudge had also moved quite a bit farther away than she remembered him being. She suppressed a chuckle at Fudge's pale pallor.

"Dumbledore, I think we'll retire for the evening. We'll make do in my quarters."

Oh, she was so in the land of Giles. Quarters? No. Quarters were the little shiny things someone used to buy gum and pay to clean your car. Where she was staying? Those were called rooms.

She allowed herself to be led out of the room by Draco before she blew up, still taking deep breaths. The moment they exited the room, Faith exploded, "Okay, what the hell was that, and what the hell is this stupid thing ON MY ARM?"

She rattled her wrist and even tried to pry it off before Draco grabbed it wrenched it away.

"It's magic stronger than you'll be able to fight off. Don't bother."

"But why is it on ME?" Faith demanded boisterously.

Draco whirled around, shouting in return, "Because you have power!"

Faith drew back and stared at him. "What?"

Draco suddenly drew back his long black sleeve to reveal a similar bracelet. She squinted and saw that it was just like hers. She peered down at her own and sighed. It was a relatively thin silver bracelet with two gold balls at an opening about half an inch wide. When she looked down at the opening, she could barely make out little blue sparks dancing across it. Out of one set of chains and right into another.

"This so blows. I don't understand why I'm busted out of a cell by some people only to be put into another kind."

Draco sighed and ran a hand over his face. He looked to her and nodded down a hallway.

"Let's just get to my rooms and then we can talk. Privacy is something that would be best for this conversation."

Faith let out another frustrated snort and started off down towards the end of the hall. Draco led slightly and she started noticing strange things about the people they passed.

The people didn't receive them well. Didn't receive Draco well actually. He seemed to take it all in stride, but it seemed as though he was used to it to Faith. It reminded her of how she was treated back in the good Sunnyhell High School days. It started off alright, but when she showed her true colors, Buffy and her clique didn't take a good liking to her.

After a series of stairs and narrow hallways, they came to a rather nice set of rooms complete with a kitchen, living room area, eating area, and from what she could tell, a bedroom and bath.

Faith threw her jacket onto a nearby chair and looked around. The place was nice. The living area was done in black leather - all of it. Oriental rugs littered the floors and underneath them patches of dark colored carpet peeked out. The kitchen area looked nice, but Faith didn't keep her focus on it for too long. From what she did see, this was like a mini-apartment. Faith gave a low whistle at the richly decorated room.

"Damn, do all prisoners get this well off here?" She joked aloofly, tucking her hands into her back pockets.

Draco had gotten a glass of water and was sipping it, watching amusedly as Faith look around his room.

"You do if you're the heir to millions," he purred lightly.

He was pleased by her response. She whipped around and her dark eyes widened almost comically. "What did you say?"

Draco waved the hand holding the glass in the space around him.

"All this? Pocket change for me. This whole flat is about the size of a small guestroom back at the Manor."

Faith took her hands out of her pockets and glared at him.

"So basically you're saying you're practically swimming in the green."

Draco smirked at her.

"Your perception is amazing."

He took another sip of water and looked at her inquiringly.

"I'm terribly sorry; I'm being a horrible host. Can I offer you anything? Food? Drink?"

The whole time Draco had been heading towards the cabinets in his small kitchen preparing to make a huge meal for the starving slayer. What he heard was not what he expected to hear.

"What you can offer me is an explanation. And that's what we're doing here, right? Privacy and all that? I wanna know why you're all vamped and slayerfied at the same time and it's not burning you up. I also wanna know why we're being treated like scum. If you can't give that then I'm outta here."

For a moment there, she wondered where that little speech came from. It was so unlike her. It made her feel strong, confident like she knew what she was doing. She felt like a leader, someone who was in control and not like Faith, the screw-up.

Faith picked up her dark denim jacket and started to walk out of the door when she suddenly found an arm stretched out in front of her. A hand slammed against the wall so hard it almost went through it.

"I was just trying to be courteous. No need to be snippy." Draco took her jacket and put it back on a leather sofa and stomped off muttering something about bloody Americans that made Faith smirk.

"So, you're a slayer and a vampire. Some sort of hybrid. And people don't take it too well," Faith started.

Draco grinned at her and flopped down onto a couch facing a cream colored wall.

"That's about it, yes," he replied while he made himself comfortable.

She crossed her arms and leaned against the door. "How?"

"Long story." He shrugged casually.

"Plenty of time," Faith retorted.

"True."

"So tell."

"How does one begin with a story like this?" questioned Draco, looking up at Faith with a lost in thought sort of look.

Faith thought for a few moments and answered simply, "Why not start from the beginning?"

Draco graced her with a small grin. "Yes, beginnings. The beginnings are always a good place to start."

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