Authors Notes: - I can't help but poke fun of things :) and I will explain why Vicious is acting so OOC.

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Vicious sat at the foot of the stairs and watched the room with a frown. The girl-child Ed was sitting on the coffee table with goggles over her eyes staring intently in the direction of the screen sitting on top of a cardboard box before her. He could hear Jet in the kitchen, cleaning and grumbling about how he was the one who did all the work around the ship. The dog was sitting before him, staring at him suspiciously. It hadn't growled at him in a while and his welcome would certainly run out if he skewered the creature. The sound of footsteps behind him made him turn. When he saw it was Spike he relaxed his grip on his sword, if he wanted him dead he would have done it already.

Spike sat down beside him and stretched his long legs out before him. Ein moved slightly to avoid getting kicked, but quickly settled back down into watching Vicious.

"You've been unusually out of character Vicious." Spike remarked, pulling a half crushed cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

Vicious glanced at him and said nothing. Spike took a drag then said casually. "Hell, you haven't killed anyone yet."

Again he didn't respond, only continued to stare at the dog. It almost looked as if they were having a staring contest. Spike sighed out a puff of smoke and stood up.

"Look Vicious..." He stared to say.

"I can't remember a time when I wasn't killing." Vicious interrupted him, still no emotion entering his gruff voice.

Spike fell silent and stared down at him, not sure how to respond to such a statement coming from his old friend.

"Why are you here Spike? Are you simply running from your old life? Or is there another reason?" He finally looked away from Ein and up to Spike.

He was quiet for a few moments, carefully considering how to respond to his questions. After a moment he took a deep breath and sighed, then sat back down.

"Once I was." Spike said softly, staring at the cigarette burning slowing in his hand.

"What changed?"

"For the longest time I felt as if I was living in a dream, and that any day I would wake up. When Julia came back, I suddenly felt awake again, real and alive." Ash fell from the tip of his cigarette and spilled onto the floor.

Vicious remained silent, letting his friend go on. He stared at the pile of ash as he listened.

"I can't believe I fell for it again." Spike dropped the cigarette and crushed it under his foot; he made no effort to light a new one.

"Found him, found him!" Ed suddenly yelled from the table.

Jet walked out of the kitchen, pulling off his apron. "What's that Ed?"

Vicious lifted his eyes and watched them. Spike looked over as well, his gaze just as heavy.

"The ISSP found him, then lost him." She announced happily. "He's on Mars!"

"Great, then let's get a move on." Jet said eagerly. He paused then looked over at the gloomy pair. "So... what are you two going to do?"

Vicious stood. "I will help."

Spike looked up at him in shock. Jet nodded slowly. "Alright, hope you have a ship of your own."

The gray haired man nodded. Jet glanced to Spike. "You coming too?"

"Of course." He announced, getting up.

"Alright Ed, where is he?" Jet asked, turning away from them.

"Last seen around Valles Marineris!"

"Humm, he could be hiding out in one of the caves there." He mused.

"He will be easy enough to find." Vicious announced, walking past the much taller man.

Jet watched him leave with a frown then called out after him. "Hey wait up there!"

Vicious stopped and looked back at him. Jet tossed him a comm. device. "You'll need this."

He caught it then glanced down at it. "Very well."

Spike watched him leave with a frown then rubbed his head. "My head hurts again."

"Then maybe you shouldn't drink so much." Jet smirked.

"Thanks for the advice mom." Spike retorted with a glare.

"Mommy!" Ed squealed, falling off the table and hugging Jet around the waist.

"Get off of me Ed! We've got a bounty to catch!" He protested trying to shake her off.

Spike walked way from the two shaking his head. The normalcy of the situation was comforting but the presence of Vicious was really starting to make his head hurt. Why the hell was he there!?

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