//_______ // = dream, flashback, or thoughts
I only own Spiro Speranza and May Gray, and in no way claim ownership of any other characters unless mentioned otherwise.
"Running With Fate"
"Hope In The Mirror"
Chapter 3
Spiro flew her Optica to a small city park on Mars, to get her thoughts in order. Sitting down under a weeping willow by the edge of a lake, Spiro leaned back and began to let her mind wander.
// "You alright?"
The man lifted Spiro's head up and examined her face. He was shocked to see her right eye was now covered with blood and unable to been seen.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"Don't be stupid!"
The man then put Spiro's arm over his shoulder and quickly, but gently, led Spiro out of the cemetery to safety. Blood still streamed down her face, the pain was almost unbearable. Spiro squinted with her good eye over at the man, who was staring straight ahead, in full concentration. She noticed his eyes were different colors. //
As Spiro stared out at the still waters, she reached up and touched the area just under her right eye. That fight cost Spiro her right eye and it had to be replaced with an artificial one. That one was lighter than her real left eye. The man from that night would be the same man Spiro would come to respect and- even love.
// Spiro awoke in a room, on a bed. Her vision focused and saw that the man from before was sitting next to her bed, looking as though he'd been there for a while.
"May I know the name of my savior?"
Spiro joked.
"Spike. And yours?"
The man smiled.
"Spiro. Call me Spy."
The two smiled back at one another.
"They replaced your right eye. It's a fake one now."
Spike informed her.
"I guess I should be lucky I came out with a fake eye instead of a fake leg?"
Spiro laughed a little, so did Spike.
"So you're with the Red Dragons?"
"Yeah. Have been for a while now. Two years next week."
Spike stared down at Spiro, his eyes never moving from her face.
"You too I take it?"
"Yeah. Longer than you."
"I think I've heard of you."
"Really?"
Spiro struggled to sit up. Spike reached out and helped her to support herself.
"My partner, Julia, might have brought up your name. She seems to be really taken with you."
"Yeah. I know her. She's never said anything about you to me."
Spiro put a hand on Spike's and held it slightly.
"Thanks, Spike. For bringing me in."
"Don't mention it."
Spike wrapped his fingers around Spiro's hand. //
Spiro wrung her hands nervously. She could still feel his touch from that night. But all that bliss turned cold when Spiro and Julia began competing for Spike's affections. But in the end, it seemed Julia had won. Even though she was also with another member of the Red Dragon Syndicate, Vicious. Ever since Spike had left the syndicate three years ago, Spiro had been searching for him. But nothing had turned up. She still remembered that night.
// "Get out of here, Spiegel."
Spiro said coldly, keeping her back to him.
"Look at me, Spy."
Spike said.
"You were planning to run away with Julia. Is that right?"
Spiro slowly turned her head to the side, glancing at Spike. Spike's eyes turned to the floor, not answering.
"I knew it was too good to be true."
"What?"
Spike came closer as Spiro took a step back.
"That I finally found a person I could relate to. But– you and– her…"
Spiro felt her eyes begin to water. She turned away so Spike wouldn't see. She didn't want him to see her cry.
"I'm leaving the syndicate, tonight. I'm getting out once and for all."
Spiro heard Spike's footsteps come closer. She then felt his hand on her shoulder. She reached up to put her hand on his, but stopped herself and shrugged the hand off of her shoulder.
"Why did you come here? I know everything. More than I want to."
"I care about you."
"Obviously not enough to tell me you're sleeping with my partner."
Spiro spat back at him. Spike turned and started to leave.
"I'll find you, Spike. Count on it. And when I do... I'll kill you."
Spiro turned around and faced Spike. Her eyes filled with anger and betrayal.
"Is that a promise?"
Spike answered. Spiro gasped slightly, not expecting that answer. Spike then left. //
Spiro then stood up and began walking back down the small grassy hill. Her face was sad and disappointed.
"Maybe I'll never find him."
She sighed.
**Back On The Mayhem… In The Living Room**
Spiro lay on the couch in the small living room-like area, facing up towards the ceiling. Her hand behind her head and one leg hung over the edge of the couch.
// "He was the only one… the only one I'd met who was truly- living…" //
Spiro thought to herself as she rolled onto her side.
// "DAMN YOU, JULIA!"
Spiro threw a lamp against the front door, shattering it to pieces.
"You're crazy, Spiro! Stop this!"
Julia grabbed Spiro's wrist and held it in place.
"Why do you need two?"
Spiro screamed in Julia's face. She then yanked her wrist from Julia's grip and stormed over to the mantle and leaned against it.
"You knew how I felt. But you still went after him… just because I wanted him too!"
Spiro picked up a small vase and hurled it in Julia's direction. Julia moved out of the way just in time. The vase smashed against the opposite wall. //
Spiro got up from the couch and walked down the hall that led to the bathroom. She needed somewhere where May wouldn't come in unexpectedly.
As Spiro lay in the bubble-filled bathtub, she leaned her head back and began to think again. There were very few times when Julia was gone where Spiro and Spike were left alone together.
// Spike and Spiro walked down the walkway in the park, side by side. Spiro glanced over at Spike, her eyes focused on his face.
"Spike, what do you think of me?"
He didn't answer at first.
"You're different."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Spiro stopped and turned to face Spike.
"Different, a good kind. A wonderful person."
Spiro tilted her head to the side slightly, a little confused by Spike's answer.
"Ok, Spike. You're off the hook for now."
Spiro then turned to start walking again, but Spike caught her hand and held her in place.
"What?"
Spiro asked, slowly turning to look back at him. Before she knew it, Spike brought her close and gently kissed her on the cheek. Spiro's eyes widened in surprise as his touch seemed to warm every inch of her. This feeling was very strange and new to her. Spike then pulled back and started walking down the path again.
"Coming, Spy?"
Spike called back. Shaking her head, snapping out of her trance, Spiro hurried off to catch up with Spike. //
As she got out of the tub and began drying herself off, there was a knock at the door.
"Spy! Got a new lead! New bounty head on Mars!"
May called out through the door. Spiro shook her head to dry out her hair then began putting on her clothes.
**Meanwhile… On Mars: In the harbor… On The Bebop…**
"Spike, there's a new lead on a bounty head. Let's go!"
Jet called out from the living room. Spike walked out of the control room, his hand stuffed in his pockets.
"Spike?"
Jet looked over at him. Spike looked to be in a daze.
// "Spike, what do you think of me?"
"You're different."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Spiro stopped and turned to face Spike.
"Different, a good kind. A truly alive person."
Spike looked across at Spiro, waiting for her reaction. He only got a confused look.
"Whatever, Spike."
Spiro then turned to start walking again, but Spike caught her hand and brought her back towards him.
"What?"
Spiro asked, slowly turning to look back at him. Before both of them knew it, Spike brought her close and gently kissed her on the cheek. Spike, as well as Spiro, felt a warm feeling inside and out. Neither of them had felt this before. Spike then pulled back and started walking down the path again.
"Coming, Spy?"
Spike called back. He smiled a little as her saw Spiro snap to attention and hurry up to him. //
"Spike!"
Jet yelled, trying to Spike's attention.
"What?"
"New lead on a bounty head on Mars. Let's go."
Jet repeated.
"Alright."
Spike and Jet then headed for the hanger.
"Where are you going?"
Faye appeared in a doorway.
"Out. Stay here and keep an eye on Ed."
At the sound of her name, Ed popped up from behind the couch and ran up to where Faye was.
"Faye-Faye!"
She smiled as she wrapped her arms around Faye's waist.
"Have fun you two."
Jet threw back, a smirk on his face.