Hurt Me

Rating: PG13
Characters: Angel, Faith
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, they're Joss Whedon's, so don't sue me.
Notes: After Angel's finale, but no spoilers.

Hurt me.

She is begging. It's not usual, not even possible in her to beg. When you have supergirl powers you don't have to beg ever, so that sound is stranger than the smell and the taste on her lips. Her imagination gives his sweat the taste of blood, though now he isn't covered in blood anymore. They're just memories from different days, and Faith's so glad they are gone that leans over him, entangled in his arms, heavy breath, to whisper in his ear.

Hurt me.

Angel can't do so. Humans love promising that sort of things, 'I'll do anything you ask me to', but he never promised anything to her - not that he didn't mean it. But he can't hurt her anymore. Not in the way she means to - other ways are allowed. He knows every scar, every wound, every mark around her wrists, and recognizes without any doubt which were made by him and which he'd like to erase forever.

Hurt me.

She deserves it. Beyond any game or trick, she feels she needs to be hurt, even when Angel's fingertips run across her back, so soft, and his embrace is warm - this time no one would tell them that's wrong. As she closes her eyes kisses draw lines on her shoulders, his hands seizing her hips, and everything's ok. It can't be. Faith gasps, and moans, and when she opens her eyes all she can see is the dance of a thousand lights covering the bedroom. But she still manages to speak.

Hurt me.

No, he can't.

Hurt me.

Because in Faith's mind hurt equals reality, and nothing's real until it hurts.