**(Imitating Actor Troy McClure from the Simpsons): Hi. I'm fanfic author breakaway_republic. You might remember me from such fanfics as Kendo Girls Gone Wild and Love Hina Self-Insertion Fic #37. Today, as part my plea-bargain, I'm here to deliver an important public service message....*ahem*....."I don't own Outlaw Star". Thank you.**
Suzuka arrived back at the offices shortly after Mel, Jim and Aisha had drifted off to sleep. As she quietly fixed herself a cup of oolong tea, she once again looked at the slumped boy genius and Ctarl Ctarl, dozing in one big sprawl on the stairway. The assassin briefly contemplated what sort of day the two of them had that they would fall asleep on the stairs instead of in their respective bed and fouton. Upon closer examination, Suzuka could see that Aisha's dress was riddled with some small holes- consistent with medium caliber bullets or fragmentation grenades. Yet the boy didn't have so much as a paper-cut visible on him. A slight smile played across the kimono-clad woman's lips, realizing what this meant. If they had spent the day apart, Jim was so concerned for his C'tarl C'tarl friend upon seeing the bullet holes in the dress that he wouldn't let her out of his sight. However, if they spent the day together, Aisha most likely got the holes in her dress from protecting the boy-genius. And from all outward appearances, she had done her job well. No matter how different they seemed, their personality traits seemed to compliment each other instead of clash. Twilight Suzuka momentarily pondered how the young James and Aisha seemed to be getting along well in the fairly brief time that they had known each other before stealthily making her way past the two and off to her bed.
**
To say that Gene arrived late would be something of an understatement. With a few hours to spare before dawn, the tipsy Outlaw staggered into the Starwind & Hawking offices. Tonight's meeting with Fred had gone over exceptionally well. The two of them went out to a bar and over some drinks, Fred had told him something about The Universal Strongman competition. Women were also allowed to compete in this thing as well, and that was what had Fred so concerned. He explained that the reigning champion for the last four years would become his betrothed should she win for a fifth consecutive year. Gene could see where Fred was going with this, but had remained quiet. He didn't want to seem too eager to take the job, otherwise Fred might give a lowball offer.
Naturally, Gene accepted Fred's offer, thinking of Aisha the whole time. This will be money in the bank! That loud-mouthed cat girl is always boasting how strong and tough she is he thought. Now she can finally put her money where her mouth is.
As he staggered his way inside, he could see a green scarf and long braid draped from the staircase. For a second, Gene wondered if Aisha had fallen and injured herself. She stirred from her sleep a little by Gene's approach, but simply rolled over and protectively draped her arm over something instead of waking up. As Gene got closer, he could see it was Jim.
Why that little.....Gene fumed quietly. He glanced around, looking for some crockery to hit his young partner over the head with. First he does this with Melfina, now Aisha. Why is it when I try it, I'm a lech, but when Jim does it, he's just a cute kid as pure as the driven snow?
Even in his drunken stupor, Gene calmed down a little. His partner was still just a kid, and he realized Jim wasn't quite at the age where he'd be at the mercy of his raging hormones. He thought he should wake up Aisha and tell her about the Strongest Woman in the Universe competition. He figured she'd jump at the chance, but as he reached out to shake her and excitedly blurt out the news, Gene hesitated as he finally got a good look at this young partner with Aisha's arm gently holding him. Fretting over finances, maintenance and weapons for all of his waking moments, Jim now looked very serene in his sleep.
Tomorrow. Gene thought as he decided he should sleep if off on the sofa. I can always tell everyone tomorrow.
With that, the C'tarl C'tarl and boy genius continued their tranquil slumber through the night.
THE END
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Author's note: I originally intended for this fic to take place after the "Between Life and Machine" episode, but before "The Strongest Woman in the Universe". Perhaps Melfina is behaving the way she does in the beginning because she's still haunted by her first face-to-face encounter with Harry McDougal. I made it a point not to mention anything like what happened at the Galactic Leiline, Grave of the Dragon or anything that took place after The Strongest Woman in the Universe competition for the sake of continuity. Except I never really got around to writing this part- enough people seemed to enjoy it as-is. And up until this part, I suppose there's no reason it couldn't be a post-Leiline fic, either. Still, I hope those of you that have read this far have enjoyed it.