My Own Damn Weapon

“A baby? Oh my god, really?” Her interest was peaked. Humans were very fascinating and a touch complicated, so, it only made for her curiousity as she was perceived just like one. “Well, you don’t have to tell me what happened,” Clearing her throat, Joy attempted to frown as it seemed to be much more of a serious matter. “We can move on. I just thought you had a juicy story to tell, Wynonna, you seem interesting— that’s a compliment, I swear!” 

After a few moment Wynonna sniffed before looking up, wiping her eyes and hoping that her tears wouldn’t be commented on. “I don’t know if I’m interesting. Definitely fucked up though. Look, I’ll tell you about my kid but you have to promise not to tell anyone anything about it. No one can know.”

What a babe

          pearl swirled her own glass for a moment, gaze caught in its liquid depths, before she took a sip. it was strange, the idea that a marshal would help out a sheriff’s department in the middle of fuck nowhere canada, but she had heard of another case like that tim had been on before. it was such an odd town, too. one the likes of which pearl had never been in. “that’s so strange. i thought f’sure he would’ve been caught in some crazy situation. it isn’t often that tim forgets to text me, not after we reunited. do y’know that they’ve been dealin’ with?” 

      Wynonna definitely knew things, he’d been helping her out more than anyone else but how much of that she could or should actually say to Pearl, she wasn’t sure. Instead she tried to give herself a bit of time, downing her whiskey rather quickly before leaning over the bar to grab the bottle to refill her glass. “Oh you know, little of this, little of that.” She finally replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Right. So this will be the only time we talk about her then, if that’s the best way to keep her safe.” Talking to Wynonna put so much in perspective for the Slayer. Her worries seemed so miniscule in comparison. “Well I do. Trust me, I had a good mom and a not-so-good dad and I can say confidently that you’re one of the good ones. Even if you don’t feel like it.” Just how much she cared was a good indication in Buffy’s book. Hell she couldn’t remember the last time her dad had checked in on her and he didn’t have any excuses not to. 

Buffy nodded slowly. Of course Wynonna would have to be stronger than she was since she had a child. That was a whole extra set of responsibilities that Buffy couldn’t even begin to understand. She used to dream about being a mom but that dream died the day she was called as the Slayer. “I didn’t even think about that, sorry. You’re totally right to want freedom for her. You’re a good parent. I can’t even imagine how hard it’s been…” She selfishly hoped she never had to understand. 

         Well, what a coincidence! Good thing that Pearl’s very limited world view of her childhood in small town Indiana transferred above the border to their sister country. Small towns were predictable all over, apparently. “Sure, a whiskey would be great, thanks.” Pearl slid more comfortably onto her seat, fingers tapping against the bar top as she waited. “So. How do y’know my brother?” 

Wynonna nodded, pouring them both a decent glass of whiskey before returning to the other side of the bar, she’d pay Doc for the drinks when she eventually saw the cowboy. Sitting on the stool, she took a sip of her drink, “He’s helped out the Sheriff’s department here and there, my sisters girlfriend is a deputy.”

PASS IT ON.

“Hint taken.” Faith offered a weak smile as the other brunette spoke.  She was getting the feeling that although she brought it up, there wasn’t much she wanted to talk about, and she wasn’t one to pry. “Er, the company that hired me is in the next town over, and I didn’t want to really be in it but around it, if that makes any sense at all?” The woman chuckled, taking a sip of her drink. “It’s for some horror page.” She admitted, cracking another smile, this time more sincere.

“Sorry, opening up is not my strong suit.” Wynonna admitted, she avoided the emotional stuff for the most part, she never did like letting people to far in, to see too much of the real her. “I know that town, interesting group of people.” The heir nodded, remembering rivalries between the high schools. “A horror page. Well, you might spot some horror here. It’s usually the town drunks.”

“Do you really think so? Like, let’s be honest with each other for a minute. Do you really believe that one day we’ll get to do what we want? That we’ll get to be happy and free and finished with all this?” Buffy wanted to believe it. Sometimes she did; she could imagine a ‘normal’ life with her friends. Maybe she’d finish her degree, maybe she’d find a nice human man to settle down with. These moment didn’t last long since she knew it wasn’t productive to hold onto such dreams. 

“You’re definitely one of the lucky ones.” Wynonna chuckled. She supposed it was nice to know that Purgatory got guest who weren’t obsessed with the old gun slinger, the less she got to hear about him, the happier she was. “Is misspent youth a decent explanation?” The heir was now wishing she hadn’t really brought it up, there was only so much she could say before she was unloading a bunch of trauma onto a stranger. “Anyway, what drew you to try find inspiration here?”

“Nice to meet you too, Faith.” Wynonna replied as she took a sip of her coffee before setting it back down on the bar. “You’re not a fan of Wyatt Earp, are you?” She had to ask, curiosity finally getting the better of her, she definitely wasn’t about to mention her own last name just yet. “Let’s just say I have a bit of a reputation around town. You’ll hear all about it if you’re hear long enough.”

“That’s fair.” Wynonna replied with a playful pout, the redhead certainly had a point, remembering all the times she had talked her into joining her on her bike. “I will happily shoot some stuff for you. Now that does sound like some fun.”

Faith smiled as the bartender brought them a coffee and cocktail.  “I’m Faith, nice to meet you.  And yeah I guess you can say that.”  The brunette flashed a smile in her direction, sipping on her drink.  “I’m in town for work.  A big company hired me to design a billboard for them, and I’m staying here for inspiration.”  Faith always enjoyed traveling for work if it meant a change of scenery. “What about you?”

Wynonna smiled, grabbing her coffee happily. “I’m Wynonna, thanks for the caffeine.” She smiled, nodding as the other spoke. “People don’t usually come to Purgatory for inspiration.” Not unless they were interested in Wyatt. She wasn’t judging, more confused than anything, she knew the town a little too well. “I’m a local, much to some people’s disappointment.”

It was sort of a relief to have someone in her life that understood. Her friends were as supportive as they could be, and lord knows they suffered a great burden too just by helping her. But since they could walk away at any point, none of them really understood the pressure she was under. Wynonna had been a breath of fresh air, someone that Buffy could really talk to. “Good choice,” was all she said in reply to Wynonna’s dream destination. There was too much to unpack there. “I want to go somewhere I’ve never been, somewhere beautiful. Maybe Iceland? It’s quiet up there, that could be a good place for me.” She imagined it would eventually get boring but maybe she longed for some boredom. “When I was a kid I dreamed about doing a cross country sort of thing. Going to every state and visiting a landmark there. In theory that one’s somewhat attainable, I just can’t be away from home for too long.” Ugh. Giles had told her that she was free to move, though the council would prefer if she stayed in a city or town that sat on top of or nearby a hellmouth, which pissed her off enough to not even want to bother with it. She’d stay trapped in her life until a better opportunity presented itself. 

The two of them shared a bond that not many other’s would understand, though Wynonna supposed she had it slightly easier, there was potentially an end in sight for the curse, at least she hoped there was. She managed a sad smile at Buffy’s response to her choice, she wanted to be there more than anything, she couldn’t wait for that day. “Iceland was one place I didn’t manage to get to. Heard great things though.” She told her with a nod. “One day you’ll get there. I’m sure of it.”