AN: Cowboy bebop is not mine. I couldn't make something half as awesome really. Song used is killkill by lana del ray.
She was happy.
She was content.
She had moved on.
She was finally going somewhere with her life. And she did it without him.
I'm in love with a dying man.
After his death she had fallen apart. She had spent so long carefully building something between them. Something more than their forced comradery. Something fragile and far less obvious. It was in the of late at night, when they sat silently smoking together. Or the rare time when he would reach the bathroom first but would leave her some hot water. It was there when she chased him into battle and again when he waited for her to wake up. It was there when they first met.
Do you know that I am going to leave you?
But then his angel died and he tore it all down. The footsteps he took toward battle -and away from her- were all the confirmation she feared. In the end their something meant nothing to him.
She was stupid for doing that. For placing some sort of hope with him. She knew this. But she had so desperately needed an anchor, for anyone or anything to steady her in this massive corrupted galaxy. Someone to ground help and keep her from becoming more lost then she already was. And amidst all the money and blackmail he found her. And even though she was looking for someone else she had found him.
When she finally picks herself up, she starts trying to clue together her past. And after a while things slowly slide into place. At first it's just titbits but then larger chunks, giving her some clues as to who she was. She finds that she is essentially still alone but as consolation she also finds that there's a bank account. And with the memory of her first boyfriend's birthday restored it's hers. As simple as that and she's free.
So she goes and makes something of herself, without the fear of being chased. She turns the tables and becomes the one who does that chasing. She becomes the eyes for some big shot casinos and puts her experience to good use. She's good at what she does. She begins to make friends (the right side of the law). She starts renting her own apartment. Faye is happy.
Then one Friday morning she's making rounds. She's over by the slots when she sees it. A ghost. A dead man walking. No blue suit but she'd know that hair anywhere.
She's about to look away and dismiss it as a daydream when he turns and looks straight at her. It's a bullet between the eyes. It's a punch to the gut. She can't fucking breathe. She feels herself move backwards but doesn't realise that she's running until she's lost sight of him completely.
She runs and runs. She moves faster than she ever has in her entire life. But she can still feel him without even turning her head and she knows he's gaining on her. She pushes past people feeling no remorse as some fall to the ground. She hopes he trips on them.
Out of the corner of her eye she sees an open elevator door and sprints towards salvation. She makes it to the crowded elevator and hides herself among the bodies. She watches him as he runs past wildly searching for her. The door begins to close and she knows she's made it. The past will remain in the past. He won't find her. She's safe.
That is until a hand shoots out and stops the doors. He walks in. The elevator bings shut. She doesn't look up but she can feel his eyes burning on her. And even though it's far from quiet she can still hear him breathing. Slow and steady even after chasing her. She hates him. A couple leave on the next floor and she moves to do likewise. But a hand smakes around her wrist, rooting her to her spot and she knows she's not going anywhere. His skin is cool, almost unbearable against hers which is heated and flushed. Slowly she watches as the remaining passengers exit until it's just them left.
Then and only then does he release her. He waits for the elevator to start again and then presses the stop button. He turns and looks at Faye straight in the eyes, looming over her. Dark brown two tone eyes meet forest green. He's completely expressionless. The jackass just chased her down and now he wants to play mannequin. She wants to slap him but finds she can't.
For minutes, hours or maybe just seconds they say nothing. And just as she thinks he's going to move closer he pulls out a cigarette and lights up.
"So wanna tell me what the fuck that was about Romani?"
This time she does slap him.