Pairing(s): SpikexFaye

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: If I owned CB, a lot of things would be different. For example... a certain blond slut would be dead. -cough- (Translation: DO NOT OWN.)


"Kind of late for a snack, eh Faye?" Spike Spiegle murmured, upon finding his fellow bounty hunter digging around in the not-so well stocked fridge.

"I was hungry. So sue me." She answered without looking at her companion. Faye's deep violet hair fell loosely around her face without it's usual band to hold it back. She sighed, there was literally nothing in the food stock that she could stomach.

"We need money…" She stated blandly, closing the door dissatisfied. Spike merely shrugged.

"We'll get it… soon. Jet thinks he may have found a lead of a good target." One large hand made it's way through the lanky man's viridian hair. Faye didn't answer, instead she shuffled toward the young man.

"Got a smoke? I'm out." Spike reached in his pocket, bringing fourth a half full pack of cigarettes. Without word, Faye nodded in thanks, he nodded back offering his lighter. Faye took little notice of his shaking hand.

"Why are you still dressed?" Faye motioned toward the male's regular apparel- steel toed shoes and all. Herself, meanwhile was clad in nothing but an oversized button up shirt (that Spike vaguely recognized as his own-he said nothing) and shorts. Hey, one in the morning is a time for sleep… generally.

"I was thinking. Lost track of time." He sighed, puffing on his stub of a cancer stick.

"…Julia?" Faye's back was turned, she didn't catch her partner's stiffening body, nor the look of supreme sadness in his one real eye.

"You need to ask?" Faye shrugged, turning back around, Spike threw the cigarette on the ground, grinding what was left of it under the heel of his shoe.

"I'm not one to talk, but she's gone Spike. You need to forget about her." Faye whispered, Spike shook his head.

"I can't Faye. I really can't." Faye heaved a breath, drawing deeply on the dwindling cigarette, she watched as the smoke leaked from between her strawberry colored lips, the tremor in her partner's voice frightened her.

"Why so mellow, Spiegle? Normally when I ask you about her you go insane." Faye observed. She was slightly unnerved by his nonchalance on the subject- it was out of character for him.

"I've been thinking too much. Maybe you're right. Maybe I should just forget her- but how Faye, how?" He advanced on the small woman, his large and grasping her petite wrist tightly. "How do you forget?" He mumbled, Faye looked down at his hand.

"I don't know. I've never tried to forget." She lied, her free hand reaching up toward her partner's face- she thought better of it and let the appendage drop.

"Lying slut." Spike's thin, colorless lips pulled into a halfhearted sneer as he watched the pale arm fall back to the woman's side. There was no malice behind the harsh words, there was no meaning.

"Stupid lunkhead." Faye countered, equally uncaring. Spike almost smiled at the familiar banter, settling instead for an unsteady half grimace.

Slowly, the slim woman led the male to the living room couch, she sat him down on the worn lemon yellow leather. Not protesting, Spike allowed himself to be pulled by his small friend (Friend? Really?…..) onto the sofa with no protest. Something was definitely wrong.

"Spike, are you really okay…?" Faye's usually sharp voice was soft with concern, she loathed to see him so torn up like this. No matter how much the two argued, she could never really hate him.

Spike nodded, his hand finally let go of Faye's wrist (on it's own accord, apparently) his drawn face dropped into his palms.

Faye had never seen him like this- she didn't even think it was possible for him to look like this. Spike was tough, he was the kind of person that could stare down the barrel of a gun and laugh. This was not Spike, this weak person before her was not Spike… it couldn't be.

"I'm breaking Faye…." His voice was a mixture of frustration and fear, the plum haired woman slid gingerly closer to the man.

"No Spike. You're not going to break… I'll hold you together." A single, small hand was placed over Spike's large, calloused one. The forlorn man glanced briefly down at their hands, Faye wondered if she had gone too far. Just as she began to draw her palm away unsurely, Spike's own hand reached over to grab her side. In one, smooth movement Fay was twisted to face him on the couch, Spike forehead rested in the crook of her neck. His large, rough hands were gentle as they settled on Faye's tiny waist.

"Not a word…." Came Spike's muffled voice. Faye, as shocked as she was, almost laughed.

"Not a word." She agreed.


(A/N: Well, my first fic in a very long while. Hope you all liked it- this started out as a three hundred word drabble, but... well... attention span was abnormally long today ;; Thank you all SO much for reading! Please review if you can, if you can't... Well, that would hurt my ego.)