Well, onto chapter 5! Disclaimer: I do not own Cowboy Bebop or any of its
characters. Nor do I own the Maaya Sakamoto and Sade songs in the
chapters. All right then, onto chapter 5! Please review!!
Chapter 6: The past before the Past
Rip tied back her honey blonde hair and swore at the ache in her feet. She downed pain killers and winced. She ran her hand over her swollen and bruised ribs, over her blackened abdomen. Her thighs were marred with livid purple finger marks, where he had forced her to spread her thighs. Her body was torn and bruised where he had forced himself onto her, into her. She took a few more pills and chuckled to herself. "Wonder what all those hot shots would have to say if they knew my secret?" She downed a few speeders and rubbed her forehead tiredly. She didn't know how long she could live like this. But she had to live, for her baby. Rip tugged at her black, turtle-neck; sleeveless top. Her gray pants were snug and she wore flat, knee high boots. Rip opened a channel the boarding school on Mars. She was connected to her daughter, who would have quiet time right now. "Mommy!" Rip smiled, "Hey baby. How is school?" The little girl smiled softly in return, she looked just like Spike. "It's good. My friend Morgan and I are going to work with paints today. She's going to come to my room in a minute." Her little girl's expression was so brilliant Rip felt a sense of relief. Her baby was happy and cared for, that was what was important, and that was why she had to live. "Sounds like fun. I just wanted to tell you I love you and see how you were." "I miss you Mommy, when are you coming to visit me?" "Very soon, baby." Allora accepted that, her mommy never lied to her. Rip hoped she wouldn't ever have to. "I have to go baby. I love you." "Love you too! Oh, hey Mo! Bye Mommy!"
Rip sighed and rubbed her forehead again. She walked slowly to Corra's ship. Corra waved when she walked up. "Hey, you look a tad better." "A tad? Thanks. Let's go." Rip hopped into the flyer after Corra and they took off. Rip closed her eyes and prayed for sleep. But she knew she would get none. No, Vicious would haunt her dreams, a he had before, and it seems as he would for ever after.
* * *
Rip walked into the Bebop's hanger. Her body was aching so badly, and she fought to ignore it. When she saw Spike's worried face she forced a wan smile. Her vision suddenly blurred and her knees buckled. Before she hit the floor she was in Spike's arms. He lifted her and cradled her to his chest. Rip didn't have the strength to open her eyes or speak. She let herself drift into the abyss of blissful unconsciousness.
Spike walked to his room and slipped in, laying Rip Tide on his mussed sheets. Her hair fanned like a halo around her shockingly pale and bruised face. Her lower lip was an angry, swollen red. Her right cheek and eyes were blackened. Her left jaw was an ugly purple against the sickly pale white. The grim lines around her mouth showed her thoughts were troubled. Spike ran his hands through the long, rippling honey hair. The silk was different from Julia. Julia had been satin and linen, Rip was silk and velvet.
Spike stood and walked from the room hunched, his head throbbing. He was so damn tired. He pressed a cigarette between his lips and lit it as he walked. Corra rested on the ugly yellow couch and Faye was covering her with a blanket. Spike snorted. "Unusual from you, kindness." Faye rolled her eyes and brushed back Corra's soft brown cap of hair. "She's so tiny." "She's deadly." "I know." Faye sat on the arm of the couch near Corra's feet. She sighed and tugged at a lock of violet hair. "Spike?" "Hmm?" "What happened between Rip and Vicious?" Corra mumbled out, "I think I would be better at explaining." Spike snorted, "I already know the whole damn story." He stood to walk away and Corra growled. "Turn your back, Spike. It's what you're best at. You don't know, you think you do, and there is such a large difference there." He continued to walk and waved over his shoulder, signaling he was leaving.
"What happened?" Corra chuckled, "So many things, where to begin? Did you know Rip Tide was a top assassin in the Titan Wars?" Faye blinked, "You're kidding?" "Nope. I mentioned it because I kn0ow you had some dealings with a few from the Titan projects. Rip was one of them, a different nano-probe technology. Not the dangerous, killer virus, but we'll talk about that another day." "Wow." "Rip Tide was a strong Syndicate Bitch. The first to be exact. Spike was smitten, they were kids. He was her first, and it scared him she cared so much. Rip had short hair then, real short. Pretty as hell though. She was his whole world. Before he became a callous ass. But even when he was, he treated her so differently. One night Rip introduced him to another honey blonde. Named Julia, who had joined the Syndicate. Spike was at a loss. The two seemed so alike. Rip's voice was a few tones deeper, and more enigmatic. I think it was the hair, and the eyes for Spike. Julia's eyes were darker, and less.wounded. At least at the time. When he was younger, that was what he looked for. And Rip was a wounded soul alright, her line of work, her home life, all of it. Spike looked for someone who wasn't like him on the inside, for those who weren't hurt by the world."
"A lot different from now," Faye remarked. Corra nodded and sighed. "Rip and he made love one last time, and then he left her for Julia. She was hurting, and bleeding inside, but he left. He apologized, and she told him he was full of shit, and to get out. He left. Rip found out a month later that she was pregnant. This is what Spike doesn't know. She had his baby, but its not like she could tell him. He would be angry, wouldn't understand, and think she was pushing between him and Julia. She would never have a child feel unloved for a moment, she wouldn't risk it, because she loved the babe. Vicious thought it was his, because they had been.sleeping together When he found out, he didn't care so much, till he learned Spike and Julia had been..
"He was so angry with all of them. Julia turned to Rip looking for help. Rip and Spike planned a way to for them to get out. Rip had the whole thing worked out, she didn't tell them, but she was going to take the heat for them. It would have killed her most likely, but Julia didn't get through it. Spike was thought dead, and you know that history from there. Rip had Spike's baby later, and now she lives in a boarding school on mars. Safe from the Syndicate and Vicious. She's loved and cared for, and Rip's a good mother." Faye nodded, "I wont say anything to him." "Thank you. Goodnight Faye." "'Night Corra."
* * * Rip was rubbing her cut and bruised feet when the door opened. She was ready to kill, until she saw it was Spike. She tucked her feet from his eyes, but he saw the bloody stockings. "What the hell?" "Nothing Spike, don't worry about it." "The hell I wont, let me see your feet." "Spike." He grabbed her, lifted her, and tossed her back, so her body no longer covered the maimed appendages. "Holy.what did you do to them, Rip?" "When I was running, I didn't have an shoes on." Spike lifted the and looked at the deep gashes. "I'm gonna clean these up." "Spike, I can." "Shut up."
Rip was on her bloodied feet in an instant, she shoved him back a foot, "Who the hell do you think you are, huh? Don't tell me to shut up! Don't treat me like an invalid. And don't look down your nose at me! I've handled myself for all this time, I don't need you anymore, Spike. I'll take care of myself, damn it!" He growled and pushed her in return, "Why can't you just accept help?! Why can't you stop being so damn stubborn and stupid!" "Oh don't patronize me! Damn it, look who is talking! Oh just leave me alone." She walked to the bed and eased down, lifting a foot to massage the ache away. "I'm tired Spike, of everything, just..leave me be." He sighed and tugged a hand through his hair, "Rip, I'm sorry."
"Don't, I can't hear those words form you, I don't ever want to hear them again. I can't live with those memories.." Spike dropped to his knees before her took her face in his hands. He just looked at her, his gaze unnerving. The way he looked at her before the hell began, before her life ended. Tears filled her eyes and she tried to pull away, but he held her there. When they began to rain cold rivers down her cheeks he kissed them away, tasting the with his tongue, soothing her with his lips. "Spike." "Shh.." She was pushed back onto the bed and he continued kissing, caressing, and murmuring. He couldn't stand the fact it was his fault she cried. One hand slid over her thigh, exploring how much she had changed over the years. She winced and he pulled back, concern and anger filling him, "What happened to you here?" "Spike, its not important." "Tell me!" "What do you think, Spike!? What has he done before?!" Spike buried his face in the curve of her neck and let out a defeated sigh. "He raped you.he's done this before?" "After you left me.after he found out.a few other times, just because he could, just because I wasn't afraid of him. He loved to hear me scream in agony, so he'd rape me until I did. I'd scream just to make it all go away, but it never did." Spike gripped her battered body close, "Did you scream for him this time?" "No.He learned I'm not the wounded animal I used to be. Well, still wounded, but now I react like I'm cornered. I attack, I'm a survivor now. Not like I was after you left."
He looked up with mismatched eyes, "What caused the change?" "I found something to live for." He kissed her softly then, not wanting to hear she had another lover. It would tear him apart. The door opened again and Jet choked. He spluttered apologies and Spike growled, "What is it, Jet?" "We got a message, it's a bounty, a good one. Corra, Faye and I are going out. We need you on this." "I'm coming" He stood and walked from the room. He stopped at the doorway and looked at the broken angel on his bed. "Take care of those feet, and yourself. Get some rest." The honey blonde sat up, her icy eyes becoming cool once more, "Likewise, Spike-o." She grinned suddenly, "Take the flare gun, huh?" When he flashed a grin and disappeared around the corner her heart shattered again. She was tired of breaking. With that, the crew was gone, save a dog, a crazy kid, and a broken hearted woman.
* * *
Chapter 6: The past before the Past
Rip tied back her honey blonde hair and swore at the ache in her feet. She downed pain killers and winced. She ran her hand over her swollen and bruised ribs, over her blackened abdomen. Her thighs were marred with livid purple finger marks, where he had forced her to spread her thighs. Her body was torn and bruised where he had forced himself onto her, into her. She took a few more pills and chuckled to herself. "Wonder what all those hot shots would have to say if they knew my secret?" She downed a few speeders and rubbed her forehead tiredly. She didn't know how long she could live like this. But she had to live, for her baby. Rip tugged at her black, turtle-neck; sleeveless top. Her gray pants were snug and she wore flat, knee high boots. Rip opened a channel the boarding school on Mars. She was connected to her daughter, who would have quiet time right now. "Mommy!" Rip smiled, "Hey baby. How is school?" The little girl smiled softly in return, she looked just like Spike. "It's good. My friend Morgan and I are going to work with paints today. She's going to come to my room in a minute." Her little girl's expression was so brilliant Rip felt a sense of relief. Her baby was happy and cared for, that was what was important, and that was why she had to live. "Sounds like fun. I just wanted to tell you I love you and see how you were." "I miss you Mommy, when are you coming to visit me?" "Very soon, baby." Allora accepted that, her mommy never lied to her. Rip hoped she wouldn't ever have to. "I have to go baby. I love you." "Love you too! Oh, hey Mo! Bye Mommy!"
Rip sighed and rubbed her forehead again. She walked slowly to Corra's ship. Corra waved when she walked up. "Hey, you look a tad better." "A tad? Thanks. Let's go." Rip hopped into the flyer after Corra and they took off. Rip closed her eyes and prayed for sleep. But she knew she would get none. No, Vicious would haunt her dreams, a he had before, and it seems as he would for ever after.
* * *
Rip walked into the Bebop's hanger. Her body was aching so badly, and she fought to ignore it. When she saw Spike's worried face she forced a wan smile. Her vision suddenly blurred and her knees buckled. Before she hit the floor she was in Spike's arms. He lifted her and cradled her to his chest. Rip didn't have the strength to open her eyes or speak. She let herself drift into the abyss of blissful unconsciousness.
Spike walked to his room and slipped in, laying Rip Tide on his mussed sheets. Her hair fanned like a halo around her shockingly pale and bruised face. Her lower lip was an angry, swollen red. Her right cheek and eyes were blackened. Her left jaw was an ugly purple against the sickly pale white. The grim lines around her mouth showed her thoughts were troubled. Spike ran his hands through the long, rippling honey hair. The silk was different from Julia. Julia had been satin and linen, Rip was silk and velvet.
Spike stood and walked from the room hunched, his head throbbing. He was so damn tired. He pressed a cigarette between his lips and lit it as he walked. Corra rested on the ugly yellow couch and Faye was covering her with a blanket. Spike snorted. "Unusual from you, kindness." Faye rolled her eyes and brushed back Corra's soft brown cap of hair. "She's so tiny." "She's deadly." "I know." Faye sat on the arm of the couch near Corra's feet. She sighed and tugged at a lock of violet hair. "Spike?" "Hmm?" "What happened between Rip and Vicious?" Corra mumbled out, "I think I would be better at explaining." Spike snorted, "I already know the whole damn story." He stood to walk away and Corra growled. "Turn your back, Spike. It's what you're best at. You don't know, you think you do, and there is such a large difference there." He continued to walk and waved over his shoulder, signaling he was leaving.
"What happened?" Corra chuckled, "So many things, where to begin? Did you know Rip Tide was a top assassin in the Titan Wars?" Faye blinked, "You're kidding?" "Nope. I mentioned it because I kn0ow you had some dealings with a few from the Titan projects. Rip was one of them, a different nano-probe technology. Not the dangerous, killer virus, but we'll talk about that another day." "Wow." "Rip Tide was a strong Syndicate Bitch. The first to be exact. Spike was smitten, they were kids. He was her first, and it scared him she cared so much. Rip had short hair then, real short. Pretty as hell though. She was his whole world. Before he became a callous ass. But even when he was, he treated her so differently. One night Rip introduced him to another honey blonde. Named Julia, who had joined the Syndicate. Spike was at a loss. The two seemed so alike. Rip's voice was a few tones deeper, and more enigmatic. I think it was the hair, and the eyes for Spike. Julia's eyes were darker, and less.wounded. At least at the time. When he was younger, that was what he looked for. And Rip was a wounded soul alright, her line of work, her home life, all of it. Spike looked for someone who wasn't like him on the inside, for those who weren't hurt by the world."
"A lot different from now," Faye remarked. Corra nodded and sighed. "Rip and he made love one last time, and then he left her for Julia. She was hurting, and bleeding inside, but he left. He apologized, and she told him he was full of shit, and to get out. He left. Rip found out a month later that she was pregnant. This is what Spike doesn't know. She had his baby, but its not like she could tell him. He would be angry, wouldn't understand, and think she was pushing between him and Julia. She would never have a child feel unloved for a moment, she wouldn't risk it, because she loved the babe. Vicious thought it was his, because they had been.sleeping together When he found out, he didn't care so much, till he learned Spike and Julia had been..
"He was so angry with all of them. Julia turned to Rip looking for help. Rip and Spike planned a way to for them to get out. Rip had the whole thing worked out, she didn't tell them, but she was going to take the heat for them. It would have killed her most likely, but Julia didn't get through it. Spike was thought dead, and you know that history from there. Rip had Spike's baby later, and now she lives in a boarding school on mars. Safe from the Syndicate and Vicious. She's loved and cared for, and Rip's a good mother." Faye nodded, "I wont say anything to him." "Thank you. Goodnight Faye." "'Night Corra."
* * * Rip was rubbing her cut and bruised feet when the door opened. She was ready to kill, until she saw it was Spike. She tucked her feet from his eyes, but he saw the bloody stockings. "What the hell?" "Nothing Spike, don't worry about it." "The hell I wont, let me see your feet." "Spike." He grabbed her, lifted her, and tossed her back, so her body no longer covered the maimed appendages. "Holy.what did you do to them, Rip?" "When I was running, I didn't have an shoes on." Spike lifted the and looked at the deep gashes. "I'm gonna clean these up." "Spike, I can." "Shut up."
Rip was on her bloodied feet in an instant, she shoved him back a foot, "Who the hell do you think you are, huh? Don't tell me to shut up! Don't treat me like an invalid. And don't look down your nose at me! I've handled myself for all this time, I don't need you anymore, Spike. I'll take care of myself, damn it!" He growled and pushed her in return, "Why can't you just accept help?! Why can't you stop being so damn stubborn and stupid!" "Oh don't patronize me! Damn it, look who is talking! Oh just leave me alone." She walked to the bed and eased down, lifting a foot to massage the ache away. "I'm tired Spike, of everything, just..leave me be." He sighed and tugged a hand through his hair, "Rip, I'm sorry."
"Don't, I can't hear those words form you, I don't ever want to hear them again. I can't live with those memories.." Spike dropped to his knees before her took her face in his hands. He just looked at her, his gaze unnerving. The way he looked at her before the hell began, before her life ended. Tears filled her eyes and she tried to pull away, but he held her there. When they began to rain cold rivers down her cheeks he kissed them away, tasting the with his tongue, soothing her with his lips. "Spike." "Shh.." She was pushed back onto the bed and he continued kissing, caressing, and murmuring. He couldn't stand the fact it was his fault she cried. One hand slid over her thigh, exploring how much she had changed over the years. She winced and he pulled back, concern and anger filling him, "What happened to you here?" "Spike, its not important." "Tell me!" "What do you think, Spike!? What has he done before?!" Spike buried his face in the curve of her neck and let out a defeated sigh. "He raped you.he's done this before?" "After you left me.after he found out.a few other times, just because he could, just because I wasn't afraid of him. He loved to hear me scream in agony, so he'd rape me until I did. I'd scream just to make it all go away, but it never did." Spike gripped her battered body close, "Did you scream for him this time?" "No.He learned I'm not the wounded animal I used to be. Well, still wounded, but now I react like I'm cornered. I attack, I'm a survivor now. Not like I was after you left."
He looked up with mismatched eyes, "What caused the change?" "I found something to live for." He kissed her softly then, not wanting to hear she had another lover. It would tear him apart. The door opened again and Jet choked. He spluttered apologies and Spike growled, "What is it, Jet?" "We got a message, it's a bounty, a good one. Corra, Faye and I are going out. We need you on this." "I'm coming" He stood and walked from the room. He stopped at the doorway and looked at the broken angel on his bed. "Take care of those feet, and yourself. Get some rest." The honey blonde sat up, her icy eyes becoming cool once more, "Likewise, Spike-o." She grinned suddenly, "Take the flare gun, huh?" When he flashed a grin and disappeared around the corner her heart shattered again. She was tired of breaking. With that, the crew was gone, save a dog, a crazy kid, and a broken hearted woman.
* * *
