Title: Forever Broken

Author: Nirvana

Rating: R

Category: Romance/Angst

Summary: AU. Set in the year 2066, Spike Spiegel and Faye Valentine meet and an inevitable attraction arises. Unintentionally, the two begin a possessive affair under the worst circumstances.

Disclaimer: We all know the drill, but I must say it anyway. I do not own Cowboy Bebop or any of the characters they rightfully belong to their respective owners.

Chapter 4-The Fourth Wheel

Faye frowned slightly once she reached the top floor of the building. Didn't people know that it was rude to stare? Not in this place, she thought. To her left and right, women and men, were literally gawking and she couldn't tell why. She wasn't wearing anything revealing either, just a simple dress. It was off-white and the color contrasted sharply with her hair, but she didn't seem to mind. A man had even dared to whistle in her direction and she sent him one of her coldest glares. It was one of the reasons why she never came here. The secretary, who spotted her approaching, had an expression lost between annoyance and forced politeness as she gave a small smile.

"Can I help you, Miss...?"

"Valentine." Faye said. "Just tell him that Faye Valentine is here."

Once realizing who she was, the secretary, known as Alicia, nodded curtly. Her words clipped. "Vicious-sama is very busy at the moment. I'm sure you can come back another time."

She frowned slightly. "I'd just like to speak with him for a few minutes, I'm sure that wouldn't be too much trouble."

"It would be too much trouble." Aquamarine eyes narrowed. Her voice was laced in ice but it never rose above a whisper. "I don't know if you realize it, but Vicious-sama is a very important man." She gave Faye a mock sympathetic look. "You may be his 'lover' at the moment, but believe me, it won't last very long. Whores like you think you can--"

"Alicia," Both women looked up to see Vicious standing by the door, gray orbs darkening by the second. He looked anything but happy.

Alicia gasped quietly. "Vicious-sama, gomen nasai. I didn't know..." But she trailed off when he approached her desk, reached for Faye's hand, and led her into his office. He then turned to face his secretary.

"I expect to see all your things packed, and you, gone before I step out of this office again." And he closed the door before he could hear the first word of the woman's vain protest.

Faye, silently stepping closer to Vicious, wrapped her arms around his torso and leaned against his back. "I was lonely." Was her quiet explanation. She was surprised slightly when he pulled away, muttering an apology before going back to his desk and sitting down. Her eyebrows furrowed in frustration. This had been happening for that past few weeks and it was more than aggravating her. "You work too much."

"If I didn't, this company would crumble." Vicious answered.

Faye moved towards his desk, leaning over the small piles of paper, she smiled innocently. "Would it be so bad if you didn't work as much? Your employees wouldn't actually miss you."

At this, he looked up. "Faye..." Abruptly, she seated herself on the desk, purposely knocking folders and documents to the ground. She even risked tearing a few papers, she felt too bold. Before Vicious could speak, she pressed a finger to his lips. Her smile blossomed into an enticing smirk while she stared at him through half-lidded eyes. She tilted her body over until that finger was the only thing separating their lips.

"What do I have to do, my dear Vicious-sama," she raised an eyebrow suggestively and reached for the first button on his shirt. "What do I have to do get your attention?" Faye undid the first and moved to the second. "I try and I try, and nothing seems to work." Her smirk widened when she noticed the feverish look in his eyes.

Slowly, she moved her finger away and kissed him gently. Vicious responded by draping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his lap. Faye's body more than willingly relaxed into the line of his. He gripped at her shoulders, holding her more tightly against him. His right arm was hooked around her neck. She whimpered into his mouth, her hands clinging tightly to his shirt. "The door...it's not locked." She murmured.

Either Vicious hadn't heard her or he was pretending not to, she couldn't tell and the hand sliding down her bare back was becoming too distracting. Quickly but patiently, Faye began to undo the buttons of his shirt, it soon fell to the floor. Vicious lifted her from his lap, and just when he was about to lay her on the desk, the door swung open. The couple froze.

"Vicious, listen, I..." Spike stopped in mid-sentence, noticing what he had stumbled upon. The faintest of blushes appeared on his cheeks as he looked away, coughing awkwardly. They could have at least locked the door.

They disentangle themselves, and Faye, fixing her disheveled state, chose to gaze outside the window then at Spike. Of all the people that could have walked in, it could have even been that damned secretary, but no, it was him. She groaned mentally in weariness. The situation couldn't have gotten worse or more embarrassing, but it did. Julia walked in, her hands filled with files. She paused, gazed around, and noticed Vicious' tousled appearance and Faye standing near by. She was about to say something but was beaten to it.

"It's noon," Faye announced coolly. "I need to get going. Vicious, I'll see you tonight." Walking swiftly, and keeping her eyes away from everyone, she was so close to freedom until Spike called after her.

"Then come to lunch with us." He said. "A new restaurant just opened, and I hear the food's to die for. It's not too far from here."

"No, thank you. I wouldn't want to be a fourth-wheel."

"Besides, it's always so busy during lunch and I only made a reservation for three." Julia added, her eyes were flooded with contempt. "I'm sure you understand, Faye."

"Yeah, I understand." Faye's hands balled into fists. Don't get angry, she told herself mentally, don't get angry. But it was too tempting...

"I bet we could improvise, getting a table for four wouldn't be too much of a hassle." Spike said. "Won't you change your mind and come with us, Faye?"

Why, she wondered, why was he trying so much to make her feel like she belonged? Earning a frown from Julia, and a smile from Spike, she nodded in agreement. "I'll come."

Julia had been right, the luxurious restaurant was crammed with people of all kinds. Old couples, young lovers, businessmen, and the list continued on. Even though a table had already been reserved for three, Julia, with her brilliant smile and sweet words, was able to talk one of the waiters into giving them a table for four. It wasn't the best, but it would have to do. As soon as they were all seated, a waiter approached.

"Ah, Vicious-sama! Spiegel-sama!" The waiter greeted them enthusiastically. "Julia-sama you are looking more radiant than ever! Welcome! I see you all have a guest with you today."

Faye gave her poorest attempt at a smile. "Faye." She muttered.

"And good afternoon to you, Faye-sama. I hope you will enjoy yourself." The waiter looked at Vicious, Spike, and Julia. "What shall we have today?…."

Faye cursed inwardly, swirling the red wine in her glass idly. She hated this, why hadn't she just gone home? Indistinctively, she glanced at Spike who was murmuring something in Julia's ear. And she watched as the blonde smiled and flushed slightly. Vicious, however, seemed completely oblivious to everything that was going on around him. He had never been a big fan of public displays of affection anyway. She finished her wine in one gulp, sweet but bitter all at the same time. She gestured for another.

"Faye," She looked to see Spike had called her name. "Vicious barely talks about you. If you don't mind, tell us something about yourself." He smiled, urging her silently.

She shrugged, trying to be as calm as possible. Her past had never been a good thing to talk about. "What's there to tell?

"Anything. Did you grow up here on Mars?"

"Iie. I was born on Earth, raised on Ganymede, and I somehow got to Mars." Another glass of wine was placed in front of her, and she gratefully drank the whole thing in another gulp. Again, she gestured for another. It was starting to get to her and the sudden familiar giddiness was enveloping her common sense. It would be funny if she did get wasted on only two cups of alcohol.

"How did you meet Vicious?" Julia asked, her question was simple enough.

"Casino."

"That seems appropriate." Her words were cryptic.

The third glass of the sweet liquor had arrived and Faye swallowed it all within a minute. She rested her chin in the palm of her hand, it was getting hazy. "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is how you both met, it's fitting."

Faye was about to raise her hand for her forth swing when Vicious stopped her. He was frowning. "You've had enough."

She pulled her hand away from his grasp, ignoring him completely. Emerald eyes met blue. "No, I don't think that's what you meant, Julia." The fourth glass was set on the table. She was feeling brave at the moment, and this woman had pushed her around for far too long. "I think you meant to say...that I met Viscous in some sleazy strip club downtown. I willingly offered myself to him, and he accepted, right?" When Julia did not answer, Faye went on, sipping her wine; she was getting herself ready for a good conversation. "And I'm sure you saw that it was appropriate that I go back to Vicious' extravagant estates and give in to a night of sex."

Spike choked on the water he had been drinking and spared a glance at Vicious. Was he...blushing? No, it couldn't be. But he had seen stranger things. Faye's voice interrupted his musings. "I agree with you completely Julia, it was fitting that Vicious offered me money to pretend to be his 'lover' for a while, and how could I refuse? I've never been given that much money for my...services." She smirked despite herself, finishing off her final glass of alcohol. "Is that what you wanted to say?"

Julia shifted uncomfortably, but when she did not answer; the smirk on Faye's lips dropped and she suddenly raised her voice. "Isn't that what you wanted to say!"

All conversation in the busy restaurant ceased, and every gaze had turned to the obviously hysterical woman. Faye stood, knocking over the empty glasses in the process, before heading to the exit. She was such a fool. And as soon as she passed through the doors, she sprinted. She just ran, as fast and as far as her legs could stand, and until she could no longer see the restaurant. She looked back only then to see one figure running after her, pursuing her. She didn't want to be followed. She wanted more than anything else to go back to what her life was before. Wake up, get dressed, go to work, gamble, cheat, win money, go home, sleep, repeat. She wanted nothing more than that.

Her legs were beginning to cramp, stopping briefly, Faye rubbed her sore calf but then noticed her pursuer gaining on her and she forced herself to continue. She did not breathe, she just ran. She ran in spite of every ache that was building in a ferocious crescendo to a climax that would be anything but orgasmic. This climax would be the pinnacle of her over-exertion. She was a smoker, a cigarette never far from her. There was a new pack of Newports in her purse that she had left on the dining table in the restaurant. But finally, her body gave up, and she came to a dead stop, about a two miles away from the bistro.

Faye slumped against the wall of a building and listened as the footfalls that had followed finally caught up. She turned her head to see Spike Spiegel jogging up behind and barely looking winded, he attempted to give a grin but she looked away. The last person she wanted to see was standing right next to her. He leaned against the wall, slowly placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Look at me." Spike requested quietly. When she refused, he reached for her other shoulder, turned her to face him, and lifted her chin. "Forgive her, Faye." He begged. "Once she knows you better, it won't be as bad."

"Why...?" Her question was barely a whisper.

"Nani? Why what?"

"Why...why do you try so hard?" They stared at each other for a few moments before Faye moved away from him. "I need to leave."

But Spike would not let her go so easily. "Four glasses of wine in less than fifteen minutes. That has to be some kind of record."

"I can handle my liquor!" She exclaimed abruptly yet not angrily, she proudly shoved her chin into the air, making him chuckle lightly. "And may I ask, what is so damn funny?"

"You're drunk."

Faye looked genuinely surprised. "Me? Noooo." She shook her head a little too vigorously but then, she smiled. "Arigato."

"For what?"

"For cheering me up." She glanced at her watch. "I've have to get to work in a few hours." Her smile widened. "Gotta make sure to get sobered up. I'm sure you know from experience." Faye moved away from him. "Ja ne, Spike." But his hand on her arm halted her first step.

He looked at her curiously. "Aren't you hungry?"

"No, I..." But Faye trailed off once the loud rumble from her stomach had its say. In a span of two seconds, her face turned six different shades of red.

"I'll take that as a 'yes.'" Spike said. "There's a café a block or two from here. It's small...but that's a good thing, expensive restaurants never caught my interest. Even though it's old, they have the best food I've ever tasted on Mars. And the greatest part is, it's cheap. You have a few hours to waste and I really wouldn't mind the company."

"What about Vicious and Julia?"

"What about them?"

Could he really be that clueless? "They're still waiting for you at the restaurant."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Let them wait, they won't miss me." He smiled. "So, do you have time to spare for me?"

Slowly, Faye returned Spike's smile, it was all the answered he needed.

Author's Notes: Good? Bad? Constructive criticism is always good! I hope to have chapter 5 up by next week. If this story is moving too slow, I apologize. Doing short chapters is better for me because I get to update on a regular basis. I will try to make the chapters a little longer. Thanks for the reviews so far, they are my inspiration.