And After…
Main Entry: 1af·ter
Pronunciation: 'af-t&r
Function: adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English æfter;
akin to Old High German aftarafter, and probably to
Old English of of
: following in time or place : AFTERWARD, BEHIND,
LATER we arrived shortly after returned 20 years after
• • •
I'm hungry. I'm hungry. I'm hungry!
She looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Nothing but pipes and steel. Nothing interesting for her to hang from or play with. She felt Ein shuffled somewhere in the room but was too hungry and too bored to look. She dropped her arms loudly on the floor and laid there, spread eagle, with a blank look on her face.
I'm hungry. I'm hungry. I'm hungry…
Her mind babbled as her eyes clouded over from not having blinked in over four minutes. Another sigh escaped her lips, louder, more annoying and still nothing happened. The silent hum of the ship's engines was lulling her to sleep, and it would have succeeded too if it hadn't been for the hollow ache deep in her stomach.
"Hungry." She moaned quietly without realizing she was speaking out loud.
"Stop moping Ed." Jet called out from one of the other rooms on the ship.
"But–"
"No buts!"
"HUNGRY!" She exploded with all the energy she had left. "Ed's hungry Jet person."
Jet's head popped out from his bonsai room, a nasty frown on his brow. "Well I'm hungry too but there's nothing we can do about it until Faye comes with the food." Edward answered him with a sigh, not bothering to look in his direction.
"Instead of just laying there have you even tried contacting her?"
Ed nodded her head. "Yes, yes, yes. Ed tried but Faye-Faye not answer."
Now it was Jet's turn to sigh as his brow softened at the poor sight of Ed on the floor mumbling away. She's delirious from hunger. His own stomach complained with a growl. "Damn! Don't I ever learn? Why do I give that woman our money?" He mumbled to himself.
"Because Faye-Faye is Faye-Faye," was Ed's unwanted answer.
Jet hung his head and agreed with the girl. "Yeah, yeah. But if she's not here by twenty hundred hours she's out."
Ed grunted sarcastically.
Jet frowned at the lack of respect Ed was showing him. Since when am I everyone's doormat around here? He pointed his index finger at her to emphasize his point. "Take my word for it Ed. If she's here even one minute late she's out! I don't care that she doesn't have anywhere to go. She's not going to change my mind like last time–"
"And the time before that, and the time before that, and the time before that, and the time before that-"
"Ed!"
The girl didn't pay any attention to him and just kept on repeating the same phrase over and over again with a deep voice, no doubt in Jet's mind mocking him. He sighed and returned to his bonsai trees.
Ed doesn't respect me. It's all Faye's fault and my fault in letting her get away with it. How many times has it been this month she's late with the food? Five? Six? Ten? He picked up the tiny, screwed scissors he used to cut the tiny branches off the trees but his heart wasn't in it. Not with his stomach complaining like that. Jet couldn't remember going one month without being hungry at least once. Why did I ever stop being a cop? At least then I had food on the table.
Their ship had been hovering over a city in Mars for the last two weeks. The trio had been chasing a bounty that had gotten away due to Ed's excessive excitement. Months and months of asking Jet to include her in the chase and what did Ed do? Mess it up before they even got there.
Poor Ed. Poor, poor Ed.
Edward still laid spread eagle over the floor next to the couch. She scratched her head absentmindedly and her mind began to scan over her memories, something she wasn't patient enough to do often. She sulked at remembering Jet's eyes bulging out of their sockets when he found out their bounty had fled. If Ed thought Jet's expression was bad then, she should have waited to see his face get disgustingly red and blotchy when he found out Ed had let it leak over the web that the Bebop had first pickings on that bounty, something that never happened with her. She was excellent when it came to computers and Jet could not figure out what had happened to make the girl make such a mistake like that.
In his bonsai room, Jet was remembering the same incident Ed was. He had been furious with the girl, but as time went on he cooled down and sulked around the ship. His anger returned when he noticed the young girl avoiding him. The anger was directed at himself for losing his cool and then at Faye for not butting in like she usually did and stopped him. The one time I want that woman to stick her nose where it doesn't belong and her mouth stays shut. He began to search the ship looking for Faye, purposely wanting to pick a fight and relieve some of the tension. He found her sitting languidly, her body stretched on the length of the couch. She was reading a magazine and looked very pleased with herself. He walked into the room with heavy steps, ready to have his fight.
"Come on Jet. It's obvious."
That caught the old man off guard. "What?"
"What do you mean what?" Faye chuckled at the oblivious expression on her partner's face. Her eyes left the page she was reading and focused on the man in front of her. "You're getting slow Jet."
"Stop playing games woman." He grunted and moved her legs so he could sit down. "The kid is avoiding me like…"
"The plague?"
Jet looked at her grin and got up, heading for the kitchen, "Well thanks for the help," he said sarcastically. At that Faye threw the magazine on the couch as she got up, hiding her grin so she wouldn't get the best of him. She touched his shoulder and he stopped.
"Okay, okay calm down. Who knew you were so touchy?"
He looked over his shoulder at her, "Faye," he warned.
She smiled but held her arms out in front of her in mock surrender. His answer was to simply fold his hands over his chest and wait for her to say something.
"What was your question again?"
"That's it!" He threw his hands in the air. "One last smart ass remark and you're gone!"
"Stop making idle threats Jet. We both know you love me so much you would never let me go." She teased with a bad imitation of Ed. He relented uneasily and she grinned at the easiness it took for her to calm him down. I have him in the palm of my hand. Without knowing it she snickered.
"What was that for?"
"Huh?"
"You snorted."
She narrowed her eyes at him and grabbing his metal arm she dragged him back to the couch. "You know very well I don't snort big guy." He squirmed under her grasp in protest. "Stop fidgeting and listen to me cause this is important." With that she got his attention. "Now we both know Ed will be Ed and she will do odd things. And letting it slip we were coming for the bounty is actually, one of the sanest things she's ever done."
"You call that sane? She lost us our money!"
"Don't think how she did it. Think about why she did it."
He made a face at her. "Just what the hell do you think I've been doing? Scratching my ass?"
She grinned but held her sarcastic remark back. What she had to tell him was important. "Calm the fuck down Jet. I swear you're gonna get an ulcer one of these days–"
"And you'll be the one to thank for that," he added accusingly.
"Oh please," she rolled her eyes. "About Ed. She's feeling lonely Jet."
"Then why don't you spend time with her. You're a girl, she's sort of a girl."
"She's not looking for that kind of relationship." Faye held her head high. "And anyway, I do spend time with her. But there's only so much I can do when what she's really needing is a father-"
"Wait, wait, wait." He stepped back. "That is not my territory. She has a father remember?"
"Will you let me finish my sentence? Father figure, she needs a father figure."
"How is that supposed to make it all right? She has a father on earth. A man she left us for."
"And she came back. Haven't you ever wondered why she came back?"
"No. It's none of my business. Besides I was just waiting for you to force it out of her and then I'd force it out of you."
"Oh, so you're letting me do all the dirty work?" Before he could retort she held a hand up. "No matter what you say something happened back on earth to make her come back to the Bebop. And ever since she came she's been clinging to you like glue." She put her hand down and began to walk away. "That's all I'm gonna say Jet. Take it or leave it, I don't care."
Ed's continuous mumbling brought Jet out of his silent reverie. Walking over to stand over Ed he spoke, almost regretting the words that were coming out of his mouth. "Okay Ed, lets go find Faye."
The girl let out a yelp and leaped up, running straight for the hangar. "Hurry! Hurry! Ed's HUNGRY!"
Anticipating an afternoon full of Ed made Jet wince. That kid's too damn hyper for her own good. He picked up both their jackets and a hat for him before joining her in the Swordfish, both heading down to Mars.
• • •
One of the bad things about Mars was how greedy everybody was. No one would soften their heart for a half starving girl. Not even when Jet hid behind lampposts so they wouldn't think he was working her. Two hours of roaming street after street had left Jet exhausted. Ed didn't help matters much with her incessant whining that had left him with a headache the size of Jupiter.
I need a drink. He searched his coat pocket and came out empty. I need some cigarettes too. He felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down at a forlorn Ed.
"My tummy aches Jet person."
"What do you want me to do about it?"
"Make it go away."
Jet sighed loudly. The only thing that gets rid of hunger pains is a drink. He spotted a bar across the street that looked half way respectable. A drink it is. Ed had been dragging her feet annoyingly over four blocks now.
"Come on Ed." He picked her up without warning and gave her a piggy back ride. She squealed with the energy she had left.
"Where are we going? To get some food?"
"Nope." He felt her frown behind him. "But we're getting the next best thing."
"What?"
"A drink."
She laughed hard and her body shook with excitement. "Ed's never had one of those!"
• • •
The bar looked like any other bar. Dark, small and cramped with dirty glasses and dirtier waiters. He set Ed down before he opened the door, fixing her jacket and flipping the neck flaps over her face.
"Alright Ed. Just calm down and relax." Hearing himself say those words almost made him chuckle but he held it back, "Please." Yeah that will make her calm down. All Ed's response was a crooked smile and a blink.
"Here we go." Jet mumbled underneath a sigh and went in, holding Ed's hand hard, just incase she decided to bolt in the place.
Nobody looked at them when they walked in. So far so good. He looked around the room, checking out the people sitting on the chairs, looking around for the familiar bundle of a gun underneath clothing. He spotted an empty table against a wall in a perfect position to overlook the place incase it got rowdy. Holding on tight to Ed's hand he moved them along, not making eye contact with anybody.
Shit! I forgot to tell Ed to keep her eyes down.
Turning around he saw everything in slow motion. Ed smiling ridiculously at a guy with the saddest looking mo-hack he had ever seen. His face showed off more scars than skin, and they seemed to be all over each other fighting for dominance like bubbles in a boiling pot. What do you know? Jet wondered absentmindedly when Ed's hand stopped inches away from the man's face, She noticed the same thing too.
"Hey mister person, what's that crap all over your face?"
All ready the man's hand was emerging out of his pocket with a gun. Geez, when will these guys slow down and smell the flowers? Stupid question, Jet knew that as he took out his butterfly knife, not wanting to make a scene he discreetly pressed it on the man's neck, in the shadows and hidden from view from the other people.
"We don't want any trouble, so why don't you just put that gun away?" He pressed the knife tighter on the man's skin, causing a drop of blood to run down his neck. Ed watched this with fascination.
The man's eye flinched but he nodded and took both hands out, laying them flat on the table.
Jet grunted and moving Ed in front of him they started walking. Both Jet's hands were on Ed's shoulders while his eyes remained on the man.
"Oh oh. Oh oh, oh oh."
Jet looked down at Ed. "What is it?"
She looked up and shrugged, rubbing her stomach. "Someone took our seats." She pointed at the table next to the wall without looking at it.
"Ed's hungry."
"Damn!" Is it this difficult to get a drink around here? They kept on walking, weaving their way through the tables until they were feet away from the once empty table. The man sitting down was cast in shadows the lamp above produced. Leaning back with his chair against the wall he rocked slightly back and forth, both hands dangling off the sides of the back of the chair. There was a pack of cigarettes and an empty glass on the table. The frost on the glass kept Jet from seeing the man's face. Where's my luck today? His stomach grumbled in response.
"Bringing Ed into a bar? Real smooth Jet."
Jet choked on his own spit in surprise. That voice. Smooth, low and monotone, and above all, always sarcastic.
"Spike person!" Ed pushed Jet's hands off and flew towards the man, jumping up on him before he was ready. With one hand she hooked her arm around his back and sat on his lap, with the other she aimed the lamp hanging above them over him to get a better view.
She smiled at Spike and hugged him tight, letting go of the lamp as it rocked back and forth, moving the shadows all over the small bar. Before anyone could get a good look at the man Ed was hugging Jet's hand shot out, steadying the lamp before he himself sat down on the other chair and took one of Spike's cigarettes.
"Do you have any food?" Ed asked Spike. "Food, food, food?"
Spike cocked his eyebrow, looking over at Jet with a grin dancing on his lips. Jet grunted in response.
"As a matter of fact I do." The change in Jet's and Ed's faces was enough to make Spike laugh out loud.
"Give me! Give me! Give me!"
Ignoring Ed's pleads Spike explained, "There's a diner about two blocks down. My treat."
"My treat, yeah that's rich." Taking a deep inhale Jet couldn't hold back his grin. "You owe me more than that Spike." Both men stood up, understanding this was no kind of place to talk. Ed's hand grasped Spike's hurrying him along.
"Food, food, food." She looked back at her new found friend and smiled. "Food, food, Spike person has food, food, food."
The walk over to the diner was loud and uneventful.
• • •
"Fuck Spike. The least you could have done was written a letter-"
Spike looked up from his dinner of eggs and coffee with a smirk. "Write? What age are you living in?"
"Don't give me that smart ass reply Spike. I have enough of that on the ship already." He raised his hand up, calling the waitress over for a refill of coffee. His stomach felt full and happy. Jet looked over at Ed who was dipping her fries in ketchup.
"I see nothing's changed."
Jet looked at Spike and laughed dejectedly. "Sadly," he agreed with a little bit of humor.
"And you?" Jet took a long look at his ex-partner. Spike looked pretty much the same since the last time he saw him. His clothes? They were newer but of the same color and style. His hair? The same haircut. His attitude? The same smart ass shit he was used to dealing with from him. Nope nothings changed. Except… it has been two years.
"Hunger must have finally done permanent damage to your brain."
"What are you babbling about?"
"I asked you a question."
"And you! And you! He asked and you Jet person." A smiling Ed said. She continued eating. Done with her fries she poked Jet on the ribs and pointed to her steak. Without even thinking about it, he grabbed her knife and fork and cut it into small, chewable pieces. Spike's eyes got round in surprise but his smirk remained the same.
"I don't think you have the right to ask me that question," he said in a deep tone. "But you do have the right to answer it if I ask it."
"I've been around." Spike said in a shrug.
"Why didn't you contact us? We thought you were dead."
"Dead! Dead as a doornail," Ed clarified with a wink. Spike winked back.
"Eat your food Ed." Jet looked at Spike with a frown. He had never been the one to ask about people's lives, especially when they were Spike. Jet smiled and held out his hand. "Well, I'm glad you're alive."
Spike shook his hand but said nothing.
"I'm sorry about Julia."
Spike's eyes narrowed but that was the only change in his face.
"Move on. Move on. Move on." Both men looked at the girl as she took Jet's coffee and gulped it down. "Let's go, Faye Faye will be waiting."
At the mention of Faye's name Jet's face became clouded in anger. Spike chuckled at his reaction.
"Nothing's changed."
Jet grinned, "Oh you'd be surprised."
"What is that suppose to mean?"
Edward laughed conspiratorially with Jet. "Spike person are you coming back with us?"
Spike looked at the girl and at Jet with a shrug. "I see you're using the Swordfish. Is she giving you any trouble?"
"Nope. Who would have figured? In the hands of a real pilot and she purrs like a kitten."
"I bet," said Spike with a smirk.
"Is that how you tracked us down?"
"Not hard to track down your own ship, especially on Mars."
"You want her back?
Spike took a cigarette out and lit it, offering one to him. "Not mine anymore."
"Like hell it ain't." He took it with a genuine smile. "I just have to check some things and she's good to go. You're gonna have to go to the Bebop though."
He smacked his lips as he exhaled, "There's always a catch."
"So are we going or what? Ein-Ein will be hungry." She said waving the plastic bag of fries she saved for him.
"Let's go." Jet took her hand to cross the street, not waiting for Spike. When he heard his light footsteps fall into line with their own, he smiled.
• • •
The Bebop looked the same as it had when he had left two years ago. The smell of engine oil brought him back to those days. A lifetime ago it seemed. He was a different person now. Back then he had hope. Hope in finding Julia and hope in her love for him. Now he had a hollow space where he knew she would never return to him. He had made peace with that fact. He had never expected to be happy, not with all the things he had done. It was just retribution.
"Oh oh." Ed taunted him as they stepped up to the 'living room'. "Spike-Spike doesn't have a room."
Spike looked at the little girl.
"It's Faye-Faye's room now." She clapped and flopped down on the couch. Spike turned around the question Jet.
"Yup, it's hers now Spike. And she deserves it too; at least that's what she said."
Both men sat down, Spike on the couch next to Ed and they silently watched TV, enjoying the weird sense of dejavu the moment produced.
The evening passed on to night and the Bebop's crew fell asleep in the living room. Spike on the couch, Ed on the floor below him with Ein at her feet and Jet on the old chair. None of them had wanted to break the atmosphere, not even Ed who forced herself to not go to the restroom. That is until her incessant leg shaking forced Spike to accompany her to the john. He had to sand in front of the door, talking constantly so she would know he was still there. Who knew the girl missed me so much? They made their way back to the couch and the silence returned. Ed looked at the clock on the TV when it hit twenty hundred hours. Her eyes shifted to Jet quickly and then back to the TV. A greedy grin washed over face and she covered her mouth with her hand to keep from giggling. Faye Faye's late. Spike noticed and gave her a raised eyebrow in question but Ed just smiled at him and continued watching TV.
• • •
A beeping sound awoke Jet. He felt something sticky on his side and grimaced at the pool of spit that formed on his shoulder. The beeping came from somewhere in the kitchen. My communicator. He walked hazily to the kitchen and opened a channel.
"Where the hell have you been!" He hissed at the tiny screen, not wanting to wake up Ed.
"Is that you're way of saying you missed me?" Came the kind of smart ass reply Jet hated, especially in the middle of his sleeping time.
"Cut the shit Faye, you've been gone for three days! What are we suppose to do? Eat the ship?"
A confused look was his answer. "I left food for you guys in the box."
"What box?"
"Don't you remember anything Jet? You were fixing some gadget and I told you I'd be gone for awhile, came in carrying a box and you told me to put it down… any of this coming to mind?"
While Faye had been talking Jet walked over to the bay area, where he fixed the most of the things on the ship. Just like she had said, a box laid next to the wall. He opened it only to find packages of crackers and freezed dried meat and some beer.
"Oh."
Faye laughed rolling her eyes. "Idiot."
"Do you have the food with you?" Jet asked, desperate to change the subject as he carried the box back to the kitchen on one hand and with the other spoke to Faye. A gleam shone on her eyes.
"What did you do Faye," came his weary question.
"Why do you automatically think I did something bad?" She turned her nose up to the screen.
"Because you always do."
"Yeah well… just for that you're not getting you're present."
"Present! Ed wants present!" She popped her face next to Jet's and waved at the screen excitedly. "Did you bring Ed a present Faye-Faye?"
While they spoke Jet looked at Spike, leaning against the wall. Not close enough for him to be seen on the communicator.
"Yes Ed."
"What is it?"
"You'll just have to wait till I get there."
"Is it a boat?"
Spike chuckled at Ed's guess.
"No."
"A kite?"
"Wrong again."
"A-"
"Ed! Just wait till she gets here." Jet rolled his eyes and Faye laughed on the other end.
"Guess who's ba-" Ed felt Spike's hand on her shoulder and she turned to find his index finger pressed to his lips.
"Shhh."
"Back? Ed?"
The girl turned back to the screen waving and disappeared.
"What was she talking about Jet?" He was looking off screen at Spike, shaking his head in disagreement. She's not gonna like us not telling her. Yet again, she's likely to bolt and with our food. "Nothing, we went to the surface for a meal."
"With what money?"
"I had some lying around."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"Think me stupid do you? If I'd tell you you'd just gamble it away."
Faye narrowed her eyes menacingly at him. "So that's how it's gonna be huh?"
Jet swallowed. He never liked that look from her. Before he could say anything else she interrupted, "I'll be there within the hour." She cut the communication link and Jet was left with static on the screen.
He turned around to find a mocking Spike behind him. "Being told what to do by that woman."
"Shut up."
• • •
The hour turned into half a day as Ed waited and waited for Faye to show up with her present.
"What time is it?"
"You can look yourself," answered Spike for the tenth time. Spike and Jet were checking out the Swordfish, Jet showing Spike some improvements he had done while Ed and Ein played in the background. Every couple of minutes she would ask Spike what time is was.
"She's in good shape."
"Of course she is. You weren't here to bang her up."
Spike smirked at his response, realizing the truth in his joke. "Still bringing in bounties?"
"Yeah…" Jet jumped off the roof of the plane and grunted when he hit the floor. "fastest way to get cash-"
"And get some kicks too." Edward walked in between the two men. "That's what
Faye-Faye always says. You have to kick them bastards where it hurts!"
"Sounds like her alright." Spike looked up at Jet, "By the way, that hour sure lasts a long time."
"What time is it?"
"Shut up Spike."
"What time is it?"
"Hey, you're funeral."
"What time is it?"
"Damn it Ed!" Both men walked further in the ship with Ein trailing behind them, leaving Ed alone with the Swordfish. She looked up at the impressive piece of machinery, pressing her hand on the cool red steel.
"What time is it ship-ship?"
• • •
"How's the market nowadays?" Spike caught a beer thrown by Jet and both men sat down on the couch, the TV on in the background.
Scratching his head Jet took a swig of beer before shrugging. "Stinks. I don't know where all these lowlifes are hiding but the Issd can't even find them to put a bounty on their heads. Most times they just file them as dead." He settled in more comfortably on the couch. "A few weeks back we had us a real good lead. Easy too, but Ed screwed it up."
"Yeah I know."
Jet looked away from the TV.
"That's how I was able to track you down."
"Figured."
"You know that was a really shitty thing you did Spike."
Spike looked up from his beer.
"Leaving me with a ship full of women. I've literally torn my hair out with the crap they pull."
Spike's gaze traveled to the top of his head, smirking at the receding hairline. "I thought Ed left for good."
"So did I. About five months after you… left, she contacted us. Told us she was bored and to come pick her up." He chuckled at the memory. "I was dead set against it, but Faye nagged and nagged, you know how she is."
"Can't believe she's still around."
There was a loud squeal that made both men jump. Ed's high pitched voice was then recognized followed by clicks on the floor, probably made by high heels. Jet and Spike stood up, facing the hallway in which the sound was coming from, from the hangar where they parked the Swordfish and Red Tail. Jet held his breath, knowing what kind of reaction Faye was gonna have.
• • •
"What is it?"
"It's a brush kid." Faye laughed with Ed as she was bombarded with hugs before even leaving her ship.
"Brush brush brush." She moved it in different angles as the light hit it before looking at Faye with greedy eyes. "Anything more for Ed?"
"Maybe."
Ed squealed so loud Faye's eardrum's tingled. "But you have to wait. First help me with these boxes."
"What's in them?"
"Food."
Ed jumped off the cockpit while carrying four boxes precariously in her arms. Faye carried one tiny white box.
"Ed's full. Ed's full full full."
Faye turned off the Redtail. "Oh yeah? What'ya eat?"
"Steak and fries and coffee. Yum! Yum! Yum! Faye person missed it."
Faye looked curiously at the young girl, knowing something was off balance.
"Where's Jet?"
"On the couch."
"Sleeping no doubt, the ass."
"Nope."
"Then what?"
"Talking."
"Talking? About what?"
"I don't know. Jet person told Ed to stay away."
"Talking to who?"
"Surprise! Surprise!" Ed's eyes got big and she whispered in Faye's ear, "surprise."
Faye bit her lip. What's that man planning? He can't be that mad at me for being late. "Well whatever he's planning he won't ruin my day." She told herself, whipping her hair to the side and smiling at the young girl.
"Now Ed, did ya miss me?"
The big smile she got in return was all the answer she needed. "Let's go to the kitchen, drop this crap off and let Jet put it away."
They began walking to the living room, the only way to get to the kitchen. Ed's eyes got bigger with every step they took, knowing who would be waiting there. That particular train of thought vanished when she remembered what Faye had said earlier. More presents! Ed felt the brush against her back pocket and smiled, already thinking of ways to play with it that didn't include her hair.
"Presents! More presents for Ed! Ed wants them now Faye-Faye." She eyed the black bag hanging over Faye's shoulder with relish, knowing whatever present she had for her was in there.
Faye couldn't help but smile at the girl's antics. "I never said you had more presents, I said maybe. And where's the gratitude?" Faye acted insulted. "I didn't hear you say a thank you for my fabulous gift."
• • •
Spike and Ed stood there, Jet with one hand holding the beer and with the other his cigarette. Spike stood there calmly, almost smugly, holding a beer in one hand and the cigarette dancing on his lips. They could here their voices traveling through the corridor, getting louder and louder as they got closer.
"Presents! More presents for Ed! Ed wants them now Faye Faye."
"I never said you had more presents, I said maybe. And where's the gratitude? I didn't hear you say a thank you for my fabulous gift."
Spike snorted at that.
"That's because I didn't say it yet Faye-Faye. I'll say it when you give me the other present."
Her giggled laughter hit Spike's ears. What surprised him though was the laughter that accompanied it, low and relaxed, void of any sort of tension or stress. It was Faye's laughter, something he hadn't heard before.
Expecting to see the familiar yellow shorts and white boots he was again surprised when from the shadows came short black boots hiding underneath black pants. As she moved into the light from the bottom up, he saw her red sweater was still there, hanging off her shoulders for dear life. On the inside was a tight black wife beater, tied at the waist in a knot. Her hair was the thing that surprised him the most, long and straight, with her bangs falling gently on her face, like they did in the her home video.
"What's in that box?"
Faye was looking over her side at Ed when the young girl halted, apparently remembering who was in there. Ed stared at him expectantly and her eyes flashed from him to Faye.
Faye kept on walking, not noticing the change and whipped her head around only to stand a couple of feet in front of Spike.
Of all the things Spike could have said at that moment, Jet was sure it would be the worst.
"Yeah Faye, what's in the box? More debts to pay off?" The smirk on his face made her insides burn.
Her face was frozen, her bangs covering part of her eyes from view. Her mouth which had been smiling slowly formed a thin straight line. But that only happened for a moment, her smile returned with more force than before, puzzling everybody.
She walked over to him with ease, showing him a dazzling smile.
Wack!
The sound of her hand hitting Spike's cheek made Jet flinch. Ed followed the cigarette that flew from Spike's mouth, doing a graceful flip before landing on the floor with a quiet thud.
Her smiled turned venomous as her gaze shifted to Jet. "Here's your god damned box! You ass hole!" She turned on her heel not giving Spike another glance and left the room.
Pieces of cake were splattered all over the floor and the couch where she had thrown the box. Ed moved to examine it more carefully, opening the lid ceremoniously. All three of them turned to look at its contents, a white, fluffy cake laid massacred in the bent box.
"Regalia."
Ed and Spike looked up at Jet.
"My favorite type of cake. They only make it on the outskirts of Mars. Can't believe the broad remembered." He drew the cigarette to his lips before leaving to his bonsai room.
Ed dipped a finger in and tasted it. "Mmm. Good, good, good! Ein-Ein! Come and taste!" The dog sauntered in the room with a wag of it's tails and began licking up the pieces on floor with relish.
"Spike person, wanna try?"
His cheek still burn as he looked down at the girl. He stared at the cake, at the gesture it meant and shrugged, sitting Indian style he took the piece of cake Ed offered and began eating with his hands.
• • •
(Author's Notes)
I, like probably all of you, am a huge fan of this series. And unlike most anime endings which for a lack of a better term, suck, I actually liked the ending of the show. A few things left up in the air and of course the sad fact that the main man died, but a good ending. The thing I hate about that train though, is that if it's the ending, it's like all the characters are dead then. Cuz there's nothing else left for them to do.
I like to think that Spike survived the shooting. How? You'll see. But if Faye could have survived the destruction of the moon, so can Spike survive this.
I hope you guys liked it.