She's still afraid. Afraid to touch, afraid of the simple brush of skin - and it is so simple, so very simple people take it for granted. It's a part of everyday life for most people. She used to think about what she could be doing if she wasn't such a - a freak. She thought about sex, of course, but mostly it was just the simple things. Shaking someone's hand for instance. And now - now she's terrified. That the device won't hold. Gunn, he had been stupid, she had been stupid. Being together was being reckless. It - wouldn't work out. So Gwen left. Dropped off the face of the planet for all he knew. He tried to call, but with everything that was going on, he stopped eventually. It was better this way. She had to remind herself of that.

She's still afraid. Of feeling, and not just physically, but emotionally. You don't grow up like Gwen did and not be scarred. It comes with the territory. She's afraid to let herself -

And it didn't stop with Gunn. She couldn't just get away from him and not - there were always people. Nice people, with kind hearts and soft fingers. So she runs. She can't risk it.

And then there's Faith. There's something about her that makes Gwen - she can't run from Faith. She knows she should, of course, but - she can't. There's something about her that makes her want to stay there forever.

Faith can be gentle if she wants to, and that's when Gwen wants to run. But most of the time - when Gwen wants to stay - she's rougher with her. Slamming her back against the wall, her hands working to remove her leather pants quickly, no words, just action and lust and then it's her hot breath on her thigh, her tongue flicking over her center while her fingers work inside her, and fuck if Gwen doesn't ever want to leave.

But sometimes, on rare occasions, but still too much by far, Faith will be soft. She'll take her time, caressing and teasing, and Gwen wants to run. It's too much, too far - she can't allow herself. What if -

What if one day the device did stop working? It most surely would eventually. But when would that be? Who would get hurt?

Faith's being gentle now, lightly tracing patterns and designs on her stomach.

Gwen closes her eyes. It's too much. "Stop," she says.

"Why?" Faith asks, sitting up.

"Just. stop. please."

"What if I say no?"

Gwen opens her eyes and takes a deep breath. "What if I leave?"

"Go on," Faith says, her eyes flickering, motioning at the door. "No one's stopping you."

Gwen nods, gathering her clothes. "Right."

"Look, B - "

Gwen turns around. "B?"

Faith shakes her head. "Just go. Get the fuck out of here."

"You're not throwing me out," Gwen says before leaving and closing the door behind her.

There's a curse and shattering heard behind the door. Gwen leans against the wall, and allows a tear to find it's way down her cheek. Because now she wants to go back.

End.