Disclaimer - Bowcoy Pebob is owned by me, Cowboy Bebop is not.
Any more stupid questions? ::brandishes a shiny mallet::
Chapter 7 - Bottom of the Barrel
"Somewhere in this darkness there's a life that I can't find
Maybe its too far away...
Or maybe I'm just blind"
- 3 Doors Down, "When I'm gone"
The bartender, and owner of the establishment, Joe, a man in his mid-forties,
glanced up as the door swung open for the second time in the past two
hours. He glanced at the clock once again…
'Only 2:30…? What's up with these people?' He glanced at the prospective
customer, a lanky young man with poofy green hair. 'Hey… s'pose I can't
complain… business is business…' He put on a grin. "Hey, buddy, what
can I get ya?"
Stepping up to the bar, the young man opened his mouth to speak before
setting sights on the room's other occupant. The young woman from before,
lay half draped over the counter surrounded by shot glasses. There was no
doubt that she was a beautiful woman, but it was hard to view her as such
when her mouth was slightly agape and her eyes swirled like pinwheels.
Joe sighed heavily. It wasn't as if he was going to turn her down after she
asked for the rest of the scotch. Granted, she'd been very polite about it
and had paid for the bottle, but it hadn't really helped that she'd had a Glock
90 pointed at his head.
Guns, alcohol, and emotional women didn't mix, he'd always said. He'd
learned that from his mother - bless her heart.
He turned back to the man and was about to ask him what he wanted when
he noted the astonished - and quite comical - look on the man's face.
He was gawking at the young woman with an almost horrified, yet relieved
look on his face. "Fa-Faye?!"
Joe blinked, glancing at the woman. So, Faye was her name, huh? It
suited her. However, his intrigued look turned into one of worry when the
woman did not respond. He tapped her lightly, almost hesitantly. "Hey,
um… lady…?" he asked. "Your friend is here…" He glanced at the man
standing over her worriedly. "What's your name, pal?"
The man paused lightly. "Lee."
"Okay… Yeah, your old pal Lee is here to see you."
Faye jerked slightly, snapping to attention as she glared at the young man
with unseeing eyes. Both men jerked back in fear as she seemed to be
regaining her bearings.
A red lacquered came flying out of nowhere. "SPIKE SPIEGEL, YOU
JACKASS!"
Joe the bartender could only blink in surprise as the young man he assumed
to be named Spike hit the ground with a thud, followed shortly after by the
woman passing out on top of him.
He sighed heavily, glancing at the two who lay there swirly-eyed. Shrugging
in a noncommittal way, he set about clearing the counter. "Well… Ma did
say I shoulda been psychiatrist…"
~~~
After several hours - and several Prairie Oysters - Faye was back to her
normal, irritable self… along with a helluva hangover.
She leaned forward, pressing her head against the cool surface of the table
at which she and Spike were currently seated. "Aw… damn… my head…"
she moaned piteously. "It huurtsss."
"Well, down a bottle of scotch and that'll do it to ya…" Spike murmured,
holding an icepack over his face. He'd probably still get a bruise, but he
decided not to bring it up - she looked guilty enough as it was.
She moaned once again, holding a hand over her temple. "Shit… what the
hell was I thinking…?"
Spike shrugged absently. This was the woman he was in love with… deep
down he wanted to laugh out loud. "Something must've ticked you off enough
to get piss drunk in the middle of the day…" He trailed off, wondering what
had done so himself.
Faye looked up, her normally bright green eyes slightly hazed over. "Yeah…"
She paused, a frown passing over her features. "I don't remember what
though…"
Spike chuckled. "Well… problem solved…" 'For now…' She gave him a wry
smirk, his mind wandered back to the last time he had seen her in such a
state.
~ "I'm so tired… I'm so tired of this life... I'm tired of being alone... I don't want
to hurt anymore, Spike..." ~
He couldn't let that woman come back... no matter what it took.
A moment of clarity came to Faye, allowing her to put herself into a sitting
position without setting the world spinning. She took the time to glance at
Spike, who was staring at her with a sad, sort of wistful expression. Just
seeing him with such an expression dampened her spirits lightly, nearly
reminding her why she was in such a state. However, the thought vanished
when he came out of his trance, glancing away quickly.
"Where were you…?"
Spike paused, turning back to her. "Huh?"
Faye regarded him quietly, a look of child-like curiosity in her eyes. "You
were somewhere else just a moment ago…" She leaned towards him
slightly.
He tensed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. She looked so
cute like that…
"Yeah, I guess I was."
"Don't do it again…" Her voice was suddenly pleading. "Don't leave me all
alone…"
He blinked, staring at her in wonder. She looked completely serious. 'It's
gotta be the alcohol still talkin'… it's like she's having a totally different
conversation…'
"Please don't…" Her hands gripped the table tightly. "I don't want to be
alone anymore…"
~ "I don't want to hurt anymore…" ~
This was definitely getting too heavy. Spike stood up. "Maybe we oughta
head back," he replied lamely. "You probably need your rest."
Faye's hand caught his as he pushed away from the table. Spike glanced
down at her in curiosity. Her green eyes suddenly seemed lucid again.
"We're being watched…"
~~~
After Faye's admission, the two decided it was best that they head back
towards the ship. After paying for the six Prairie Dogs and thanking Joe for
the ice, the two exited the bar and headed out into the street. Sure enough,
they were being followed. Three figures exited the bar several moments later,
trailing behind them a block or two.
Faye walked alongside Spike, deftly dropping her wallet on the pavement.
As planned, Spike stopped, turning to pick it up - catching a perfect look of
their pursuers.
"How many?" Faye asked.
"Three," Spike answered, auburn eyes darkening a few shades. "All armed."
"Just three…?" She bit her lip in confusion. "I thought there were four---!"
She stumbled over a crack in the pavement, saved from kissing the concrete
only because of Spike wrapping his arms securely around her.
"Maybe that fourth guy was just that scotch talkin'," he said with a smirk.
To his surprise, she only smiled up him. 'There's the Spike I know…' she
thought to herself, relief flooding through her. Then realizing the
compromising position they were in - her languidly draped over him with his
arms wrapped around her waist - she straightened herself, pulling away.
She was surprised, however, to feel a slight resistance.
On the inside, Spike was slightly disappointed with himself for not noticing
their audience earlier. Was the Great Spike Spiegel losing his edge… all
because of a woman? 'It's always because of a woman…' he thought bitterly
to himself. And yet, holding her like that felt right… he didn't care about the
three men following them or anything else at that moment. It was then that
his hold on Faye had tightened once she started to pull away. He didn't want
the moment to end yet!
"What're you doing…?" Faye asked hazily, resigning herself to leaning on
him for support. The sidewalk suddenly didn't look too safe, what with it
constantly tipping and all.
"Trying to make us less conspicuous," he murmured. "You didn't leave your
gun at the bar, did you?"
"Don't be stupid!" she snapped at him, wincing when her voice got too loud.
She lowered the decibels a bit. "I keep it with me all the time."
Spike found himself smirking despite the situation. "Even in the shower?"
She flushed slightly, staring at her feet. "Hell yeah… I remember that time
you nearly walked in on me… pervert."
"Me, too…" Was it just Faye, or did he almost sound wistful? "Can you
even shoot straight, or do I have to worry about losing a toe?"
"I can," she replied wearily. "But not as accurate…" Her expression turned
slightly apologetic.
Spike smiled, ruffling her hair lightly. "Don't worry about it," he replied lightly.
"I'll take care of everything."
Before Faye could question what he meant, Spike began quickening their
pace ever so slightly. It came as no surprise that the three figures began to
match them. After going a few blocks, they made a turn into an alleyway that
led into a less inhabited part of the city. Glancing back, Spike made sure
they were still being followed.
It seemed as though their pursuers were still eager to oblige them.
"Okay, Faye," Spike replied, hooking his arm underneath hers as he reached
for his gun. "We're gonna make a run for it…"
"No, Spike, I can't---"
"Too bad - let's go!!" With that, he took off running, dragging Faye behind
him.
The three men started in surprise.
"Shit! They're onto us!"
"After'em!" Immediately they took off in hot pursuit.
~ End of Chapter 7
Author's Notes -
Aghh... sorry, didn't mean to end it there, but I couldn't think of anything
else to put at that particular moment.
So, as it stands, Faye and Spike are being pursued by three suspicious
men. Who are they and what do they want from them? Will the two
bounty hunters be able to shake them off and get back to the ship
safely, or will Faye accidentally shoot Spike in a drunken rage?
FxS angsters - (hehe, angsters) Hey, that might work!
Nah... that's not how the story's going, so don't worry. We'll get into
all that angsty goodness later on. And yes, the relationship conflict
between Faye and Spike will be kicking it up a notch in the next few chaps,
I promise you. I don't want it to be too rushed, but unlike TWTCITB, I
really don't want 20-something chapters... though I've never been able to
do less than that... sigh.... I'll learn.
But anyways, keep reading, writing, and reviewing everyone! Ja ne!
Nataku-chan ^_^
Any more stupid questions? ::brandishes a shiny mallet::
Chapter 7 - Bottom of the Barrel
"Somewhere in this darkness there's a life that I can't find
Maybe its too far away...
Or maybe I'm just blind"
- 3 Doors Down, "When I'm gone"
The bartender, and owner of the establishment, Joe, a man in his mid-forties,
glanced up as the door swung open for the second time in the past two
hours. He glanced at the clock once again…
'Only 2:30…? What's up with these people?' He glanced at the prospective
customer, a lanky young man with poofy green hair. 'Hey… s'pose I can't
complain… business is business…' He put on a grin. "Hey, buddy, what
can I get ya?"
Stepping up to the bar, the young man opened his mouth to speak before
setting sights on the room's other occupant. The young woman from before,
lay half draped over the counter surrounded by shot glasses. There was no
doubt that she was a beautiful woman, but it was hard to view her as such
when her mouth was slightly agape and her eyes swirled like pinwheels.
Joe sighed heavily. It wasn't as if he was going to turn her down after she
asked for the rest of the scotch. Granted, she'd been very polite about it
and had paid for the bottle, but it hadn't really helped that she'd had a Glock
90 pointed at his head.
Guns, alcohol, and emotional women didn't mix, he'd always said. He'd
learned that from his mother - bless her heart.
He turned back to the man and was about to ask him what he wanted when
he noted the astonished - and quite comical - look on the man's face.
He was gawking at the young woman with an almost horrified, yet relieved
look on his face. "Fa-Faye?!"
Joe blinked, glancing at the woman. So, Faye was her name, huh? It
suited her. However, his intrigued look turned into one of worry when the
woman did not respond. He tapped her lightly, almost hesitantly. "Hey,
um… lady…?" he asked. "Your friend is here…" He glanced at the man
standing over her worriedly. "What's your name, pal?"
The man paused lightly. "Lee."
"Okay… Yeah, your old pal Lee is here to see you."
Faye jerked slightly, snapping to attention as she glared at the young man
with unseeing eyes. Both men jerked back in fear as she seemed to be
regaining her bearings.
A red lacquered came flying out of nowhere. "SPIKE SPIEGEL, YOU
JACKASS!"
Joe the bartender could only blink in surprise as the young man he assumed
to be named Spike hit the ground with a thud, followed shortly after by the
woman passing out on top of him.
He sighed heavily, glancing at the two who lay there swirly-eyed. Shrugging
in a noncommittal way, he set about clearing the counter. "Well… Ma did
say I shoulda been psychiatrist…"
~~~
After several hours - and several Prairie Oysters - Faye was back to her
normal, irritable self… along with a helluva hangover.
She leaned forward, pressing her head against the cool surface of the table
at which she and Spike were currently seated. "Aw… damn… my head…"
she moaned piteously. "It huurtsss."
"Well, down a bottle of scotch and that'll do it to ya…" Spike murmured,
holding an icepack over his face. He'd probably still get a bruise, but he
decided not to bring it up - she looked guilty enough as it was.
She moaned once again, holding a hand over her temple. "Shit… what the
hell was I thinking…?"
Spike shrugged absently. This was the woman he was in love with… deep
down he wanted to laugh out loud. "Something must've ticked you off enough
to get piss drunk in the middle of the day…" He trailed off, wondering what
had done so himself.
Faye looked up, her normally bright green eyes slightly hazed over. "Yeah…"
She paused, a frown passing over her features. "I don't remember what
though…"
Spike chuckled. "Well… problem solved…" 'For now…' She gave him a wry
smirk, his mind wandered back to the last time he had seen her in such a
state.
~ "I'm so tired… I'm so tired of this life... I'm tired of being alone... I don't want
to hurt anymore, Spike..." ~
He couldn't let that woman come back... no matter what it took.
A moment of clarity came to Faye, allowing her to put herself into a sitting
position without setting the world spinning. She took the time to glance at
Spike, who was staring at her with a sad, sort of wistful expression. Just
seeing him with such an expression dampened her spirits lightly, nearly
reminding her why she was in such a state. However, the thought vanished
when he came out of his trance, glancing away quickly.
"Where were you…?"
Spike paused, turning back to her. "Huh?"
Faye regarded him quietly, a look of child-like curiosity in her eyes. "You
were somewhere else just a moment ago…" She leaned towards him
slightly.
He tensed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. She looked so
cute like that…
"Yeah, I guess I was."
"Don't do it again…" Her voice was suddenly pleading. "Don't leave me all
alone…"
He blinked, staring at her in wonder. She looked completely serious. 'It's
gotta be the alcohol still talkin'… it's like she's having a totally different
conversation…'
"Please don't…" Her hands gripped the table tightly. "I don't want to be
alone anymore…"
~ "I don't want to hurt anymore…" ~
This was definitely getting too heavy. Spike stood up. "Maybe we oughta
head back," he replied lamely. "You probably need your rest."
Faye's hand caught his as he pushed away from the table. Spike glanced
down at her in curiosity. Her green eyes suddenly seemed lucid again.
"We're being watched…"
~~~
After Faye's admission, the two decided it was best that they head back
towards the ship. After paying for the six Prairie Dogs and thanking Joe for
the ice, the two exited the bar and headed out into the street. Sure enough,
they were being followed. Three figures exited the bar several moments later,
trailing behind them a block or two.
Faye walked alongside Spike, deftly dropping her wallet on the pavement.
As planned, Spike stopped, turning to pick it up - catching a perfect look of
their pursuers.
"How many?" Faye asked.
"Three," Spike answered, auburn eyes darkening a few shades. "All armed."
"Just three…?" She bit her lip in confusion. "I thought there were four---!"
She stumbled over a crack in the pavement, saved from kissing the concrete
only because of Spike wrapping his arms securely around her.
"Maybe that fourth guy was just that scotch talkin'," he said with a smirk.
To his surprise, she only smiled up him. 'There's the Spike I know…' she
thought to herself, relief flooding through her. Then realizing the
compromising position they were in - her languidly draped over him with his
arms wrapped around her waist - she straightened herself, pulling away.
She was surprised, however, to feel a slight resistance.
On the inside, Spike was slightly disappointed with himself for not noticing
their audience earlier. Was the Great Spike Spiegel losing his edge… all
because of a woman? 'It's always because of a woman…' he thought bitterly
to himself. And yet, holding her like that felt right… he didn't care about the
three men following them or anything else at that moment. It was then that
his hold on Faye had tightened once she started to pull away. He didn't want
the moment to end yet!
"What're you doing…?" Faye asked hazily, resigning herself to leaning on
him for support. The sidewalk suddenly didn't look too safe, what with it
constantly tipping and all.
"Trying to make us less conspicuous," he murmured. "You didn't leave your
gun at the bar, did you?"
"Don't be stupid!" she snapped at him, wincing when her voice got too loud.
She lowered the decibels a bit. "I keep it with me all the time."
Spike found himself smirking despite the situation. "Even in the shower?"
She flushed slightly, staring at her feet. "Hell yeah… I remember that time
you nearly walked in on me… pervert."
"Me, too…" Was it just Faye, or did he almost sound wistful? "Can you
even shoot straight, or do I have to worry about losing a toe?"
"I can," she replied wearily. "But not as accurate…" Her expression turned
slightly apologetic.
Spike smiled, ruffling her hair lightly. "Don't worry about it," he replied lightly.
"I'll take care of everything."
Before Faye could question what he meant, Spike began quickening their
pace ever so slightly. It came as no surprise that the three figures began to
match them. After going a few blocks, they made a turn into an alleyway that
led into a less inhabited part of the city. Glancing back, Spike made sure
they were still being followed.
It seemed as though their pursuers were still eager to oblige them.
"Okay, Faye," Spike replied, hooking his arm underneath hers as he reached
for his gun. "We're gonna make a run for it…"
"No, Spike, I can't---"
"Too bad - let's go!!" With that, he took off running, dragging Faye behind
him.
The three men started in surprise.
"Shit! They're onto us!"
"After'em!" Immediately they took off in hot pursuit.
~ End of Chapter 7
Author's Notes -
Aghh... sorry, didn't mean to end it there, but I couldn't think of anything
else to put at that particular moment.
So, as it stands, Faye and Spike are being pursued by three suspicious
men. Who are they and what do they want from them? Will the two
bounty hunters be able to shake them off and get back to the ship
safely, or will Faye accidentally shoot Spike in a drunken rage?
FxS angsters - (hehe, angsters) Hey, that might work!
Nah... that's not how the story's going, so don't worry. We'll get into
all that angsty goodness later on. And yes, the relationship conflict
between Faye and Spike will be kicking it up a notch in the next few chaps,
I promise you. I don't want it to be too rushed, but unlike TWTCITB, I
really don't want 20-something chapters... though I've never been able to
do less than that... sigh.... I'll learn.
But anyways, keep reading, writing, and reviewing everyone! Ja ne!
Nataku-chan ^_^