When Blood Runs Cold
A/N: You should know who is mine and who isn't. If you don't, here you go. I don't own Jet, Spike, Faye, Ein, Ed, Or Julia and Vicious if I do decide to place them in here. Vicious and Julia are not mine either, but they are spoken of.Space once a place of mystery, and only for those specially trained to visit. No longer is it off limits to the general public. No, in fact it's open to all, and because of this crime is at an all time high. Spike and Vicious had fought to the death, or so seemed.
Faye, loving the wild ex-syndicate member at placed a homing device upon him, and arrived with Jet in tow shortly after Spike had collapsed. She cried out running to his side, and was pushed away as Jet easily swept the lithe young man up and out.
In their rush they never noticed the pair of eyes that watched them from the shadows. A pair that resembled Vicious'. The only difference was that they held less hatred, and even relief at seeing the green-haired man being taken away. At the sound of their ships taking off the owner of those eyes stepped forward to take command of the syndicate. It easy enough to do when you were a favorite to the former master.
Her name was Coria, only student to Vicious; code name Cobra. Those still alive after Spike's rampage quickly submitted to her without question. Her first command was simple enough, "Get this place cleaned up." Then she left quietly for where Vicious lay limp and still. Checking for a pulse she found none, and held back her own tears as she pull several men from the task of gathering things still of use to carry him off for burial.
Over the next month she kept close watch on the hunter who'd killed her master. Even taking to visit when the others where gone for short periods of time. She watched as he healed bit by bit. Even awakening some times when she entered to grin. It made her wonder sometimes if he knew who she was, if he knew who she once was?
The remaining members of the syndicate quickly cleaned out the destroyed building, and into a new one on Mars. Their methods were average, and no longer as cruel as they were under Vicious' rule. Those serving Coria became obedient and no longer hesitated to do what was asked of them. She had set her sight of taking out the Blue Dragon and Green Turtle Syndicate before the year was out, and so far things had been running smoothing. If things continued that way, she could turn attention to more personal interests.
Faye carelessly crammed Spike in the cab without hesitation. He wasn't hurt that badly anymore, and had gone up against worse odd in more severe health than he was now. She smiled as he cursed at her merely happy to still have him. Vicious was dead, the Syndicate had fallen, Spike's past had come to a close.
Yet, he still seemed to be living in it. Why couldn't he just move on? What is a separation and knowing his past was completely gone that bothered him so much? She was about to climb in the car when a flash of silver caught her eyes. She focus on the owner until the woman turned looking right past her. Something about her sent chills up Faye's spine, and she quickly got in the cab, slammed the door, and gave the driver the dock number for the Bebop.
No matter how high she asked the driver to turn up the heat she still felt strangely cold. As if she'd put on cloths that had been in the freezer for an hour or two. Faye tried focusing on the building but that too didn't help. Vicious was dead, she repeated in her head. It was a woman she'd seen, not a man. No matter how hard she reasoned the cold wouldn't leave her.
"That woman was familiar." Spike said almost in a whisper that had her turning to meet his steady gaze. "I know her, but I can't remember from where."
"What are you talking about?"
"When I was in the hospital she came to visit. At first, since my vision wasn't too good, I thought it was Vicious." Spike stopped and stretched to the best of his ability in the cramped back seat of the cab. "But after awhile I realized she wasn't. Interesting person though, not that she spoke. Just stood there watching."
"You should have called a nurse or something." Faye growled angrily.
"Why? I recognized her, just not who she was. Stop your bitching, it was me in the bed not you."
"Screw you, if not for me you'd be dead now! Don't you get it, it's because of me you're alive! You should be grateful!"
"Why grateful? We're even."
"Fuck off!"
He laughed, and she cursed at him even more. The more he laughed the more she cursed, and the driver was grateful to rid of them when they reached the Venus docks where the Bebop sat. Swaying gently with the waves caused by those flying by in their own boats.
"Suddenly this piece of junk is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Spike laughed at himself as he and Faye boarded the old ship. It was though, despite several rusting tubes overhead, the musty smell, the dull clank of his shoes against the floor, and a lack of color it was a wonderful place. He hadn't realized how much one could miss a place after believing they were never going to see it again.
It was that thought that got to him, he should have been dead. He a Vicious should have gone down together, but instead he had been spared. Why was it that he survived? Who was the strange woman who had visited? Was it possible Vicious had maybe survived too? No, it was impossible for Vicious to still be alive. Not one of those idiots who had been 'loyal' to Vicious would have budged an inch to even make an attempt at saving him. But the woman, she had the same color of hair as Vicius.
He jumped as Faye touched his arm and looked up at him with a mixture of emotions. This woman had saved his life even though he was a total asshole to her. He didn't want to get involved with anyone and yet this woman was beautiful and persistent. Would she be as stubborn as she was now if she hadn't been screwed over every moment since she'd been reawakens? Somehow, he doubted that they would have ever crossed paths had she not been stuck with all those debts.
"Are you okay?" Her voice wasn't the most beautiful he'd ever heard, but right then it sounded like that of an angel's. When he nodded she dropped her gaze and started toward the bathroom.
"Faye!" She stopped at the steps but didn't turn to look at him. For some reason it hurt that she didn't, but he couldn't get close. People who got close to him got killed, and Julia was enough proof of that. "I never thanked you proper now did I?"
"Forget about it, besides if you died who would I have to annoy. Jet's too short tempered for such, so I had to make sure you stayed around." She gave a forced laugh and started slowly down the steps. "If you really want to that me pay off my debts!"
He chuckled lightly as she disappeared from view, but didn't move until he heard the shower turn on. The muffled cursing told him all was as it was when he left believing he'd never see it all again, and that the hot water still didn't work.
"Welcome back Spike-spike!" Edward's greeting left something to be desired as she merely turned back to her computer screen typing away.
"What are you up to?"
"Edward is writing our travels. See what Edward is writing?"
"Good job kid, but you're leaving a lot out. Wait a minute, how the hell do you know what's going on when you never leave this machine! Stop it! I wasn't thinking that!"
"Stop denying it Spike-spike! Besides it makes the story better!"
"Hey stop that damn it! No, stop, quite copying everything I say!" Spike grabbed at Edward but she ducks under his arms. "Damn it stop typing everything I say!"
"Is spike-spike mad? Edward is sorry, but Edward is also trying to keep all records straight." Turning a little she finds herself facing down the barrel of gun. "WILL ANYONE HELP EDWARD?"
To be continued. . . . .
A/N: and if you want to help the person who really is typing send her a GIANT EXTRA STRENGTH ADVIL FOR HER MIGRAINE!
