Chapter 4 coming right up! This chapter is a little different than the first three. It's going to be from Spike's POV. I have a Faye-chapter like this in mind, but I don't plan on doing it back-to-back with this one...that would just be silly! Enjoy! And thanks to everyone that has reviewed so far! I like to hear what you like and what I can work on to make this story better, it being my first and all that jazz :D
Disclaimer-ness: I do not own Cowboy Bebop!
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"Well, that went good." I said. I know Faye heard me, but I don't think she really cared for my tone. Well, she didn't say anything or complain, so I really don't know.
At least ten more minutes went by in complete silence. Now, I usually can handle a nice, peaceful quiet time, but this isn't one of those times. I mean, I'm strapped back-to-back with Faye, of all people. And she's not talking. I can't see her face, so it doesn't make me feel any better about the situation. In fact, it's quite annoying.
"Are you alive over there?" I asked impatiently.
"Yes Spike. I'm alive and well." she replied.
At least she's talking now. Annoyance level going down.
"So, you got any ideas?" I asked, trying to keep the flow going.
"Not a one." she said. This wasn't like Faye. She'd usually be raging right now for being caught like this. Instead, she was being calm and placating me, something that a Normal Faye could not stomach. I could feel the heat from her back through my jacket and shirt. It was really hot in this small room.
"What the hell is your problem woman?" I sputtered out, regretting it before I even said it. I should get that checked out–you know, talking without thinking first.
"My problem?" she repeated.
I sat silent, awaiting her much anticipated rage. Weirdest thing...it never came. The heat was getting worse, along with the smell. This room had no circulation at all. I guess the crappy bartender became cheap when it came to furnishing his hostage room.
"I'm upset that she knows about my remote for the Redtail." she answered simply.
"Are you kidding? That's your answer?! You're always thinking about yourself, Faye!" I snapped at her.
Even with that, still no Angry Faye. This is baffling me. I feel like I must get to her before my head explodes with disbelief. But, I bit my lip.
What? I'm holding back? Since when do I, Spike Spiegel, hold back anything? Especially from her? She deserves an all-out verbal assault for this...I mean, of all things, me holding back!
I still say nothing. The unnerving silence continues.
"Spike?" she says after a couple minutes.
"What?"
"Why didn't you pull your gun on them back there?" she asked.
"To save it for later." I responded.
"Oh." she said.
This was going nowhere, and now I'm just plain aggravated. The only reason I can think of for not ripping at her seams with insults and sarcasm is...no, it can't be. I mean, this is Faye. How desperate would I have to be to want Faye like that? HA! Impossible. I must be hungry, that's it. And I bet the sticky heat isn't helping my thinking right now.
"I wonder when they're going to come back." she said quietly.
"I don't plan on staying for their return." I said, feeling a fat droplet of sweat roll down my forehead and into my eyebrow.
"What about the Swordfish II?" she asked.
"You've still got the Redtail. That's all we need." I answered.
"That's if we get out of these ropes and cuffs." she stated.
"Already working on it." I said and knocked my shoe off with the tip of the other one.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Working on it," I said flatly, "When I tell you to, scoot backwards, okay?"
"Okay." she said.
"Go." I told her, and as she scooted back, I scooted forward, bringing my hands to where my discarded shoe was now sitting.
I pulled my left hand out from behind my back and grabbed my shoe. The movement seemed to temporarily relieve the heat.
"Hey! How'd you get your hand loose?" she questioned while trying to look back at what I was doing.
"That Red bitch sucks at tying up hands, and it helps that my wrists are all sweaty from the humidity in here," I said dryly as I pulled the little metal pick from my shoe, "Good thing I keep one of these in here." I said pretty much to myself since Faye couldn't see what I was doing anyway.
"Keep a what?" she asked, becoming more and more like the Faye I'm used to.
"A pick. I'm going to unlock the cuffs around my ankles." I said and reached down to my feet to begin picking the lock.
Faye sat quietly as I worked at the cuffs. "Aren't you going to beg for me to unlock your's too?" I asked, amazed that I got to the question first.
"I just assumed that you would, or I'd figure a way out of it." she said meekly.
Damnit, she's back to Quiet Faye again. I hate this. It's making me uncomfortable now. And uncomfortable is just annoying.
"Right." I said, not really knowing what to say or do. I finally unlocked the cuffs and unwrapped the rope from myself, and then Faye. She just sat there, like a helpless child.
"So...yeah, I guess I'll get those cuffs for you then." I said and moved to her ankles.
I took off her pearly white boots and set them aside. As I worked on unlocking her from her cuffs, I had to hold the cuff steady and I noticed how soft her skin is, even if it is her ankle and foot. It's smooth like silk and soft like a new blanket. It's nice.
I think she noticed that I was admiring her skin as I worked at picking the lock because she sighed and lied flat on her back. Or maybe she was just saying, "Hurry the hell up so I can get out of here and take a shower." The woman says a lot in just a little sigh.
I finally got her cuffs unlocked after what seemed like forever. But I didn't really mind as much as Faye did. I think she fell asleep.
"Hey, Faye?" I asked poking her in the calf. "You awake?"
No reply.
"Faye. Get up. We have to get out of here and get my ship back."
Still nothing.
"Is your skin naturally that soft or do you have surgery to keep it like that Grandma?" I said.
And with that, I received a quick kick to the side of my head.
"OW!" I said rubbing my temple, looking at her as she stood up and put her shoes back on.
I guess she's back to normal now. Thank God.
"How are we going to find these assholes?" Faye asked as she walked from the back room to the bar.
I got up and followed her. They closed the place up pretty good. The doors were closed and locked up, as well as the windows, making it very dark in the already dismal saloon.
Faye leaned over the bar and grabbed a bottle of Vodka. "I think I'll borrow this." she said and went to the doors to inspect them for an exit.
"They're locked up pretty good. Looks like we're stuck again." I said to her.
"Are you kidding me? If you're saying that we're stuck, you must have a fever. Would you like some Vodka to bring yourself back to sanity?" she asked offering me the bottle.
"I was gauging you for a response."
"Since when do you do that?" she questioned me impatiently and put her hand on her hip.
"Since you started acting weird." I said.
"And when exactly did I start acting weird?"
"In there!" I said pointing to the backroom, "You weren't fighting me or anything. Not typical of you at all, Faye." I replied.
"Can't a girl be quiet?" she said.
"No. Not you. You're never quiet; you're not allowed to start now."
"Seems like it bothers you. Maybe I'll make it habit." she said with a grin.
"Let's just go." I said and pulled out my gun, shooting at the lock on the doors. It fell apart, like they always do when you shoot them, and I proceeded to kick the doors open.
We walked out to see the Redtail, about 100 feet away and started to head out to it.
"Wait. I have a better idea." I said.
"What's that?" Faye asked.
"Bring it here, so if they're hiding around somewhere, we can get away quickly." I said pointing to the remote/bracelet shining in my eye.
"Fine." she said and hit a button on the remote, which started up her ship and began to fly it over to where we were standing at the entrance of the saloon.
"Ok, let's go." I said as it landed and opened up.
I climbed in first and squeezed into the tiny cockpit. Faye climbed in next and closed the Redtail up.
"Where now?" she asked.
"Let's just go back to the Bebop. I can worry about the Swordfish II later." I said with a huff because there was just about to room for me in the Redtail at all.
She headed toward the Bebop and about an hour later we were landing.
"Faye? Is that you? Where's Spike?" Jet asked popping onto her com.
"I'm here." I replied for Faye.
"What?! Where's the Swordfish II?" he asked.
"Um, I don't really know." I responded with a small chuckle.
"Don't you even care that your damn ship is gone?" he asked, growing impatient.
"She always returns to me, so I'm not really worried about it." I said.
"Just land and tell me what happened." he said and shut off the com.
Faye landed the Redtail and opened the hatch. She climbed out and headed for the shower. Just like I thought she didn't say. I noticed that she forgot her cigarettes in the cockpit, so I grabbed one for later.
Seems like Miss. Red took my last pack when she took my key. What a sweetheart.
I made my way inside to see Jet cooking, as usual. I sat down on the couch as he brought me over a plate of the same shit we eat every night. I don't even want to dignify it with a name. I'm so sick of this garbage. If only we'd brought in that bounty today...
"So tell me what happened." Jet said, sitting down in the chair across from me.
Disclaimer-ness: I do not own Cowboy Bebop!
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"Well, that went good." I said. I know Faye heard me, but I don't think she really cared for my tone. Well, she didn't say anything or complain, so I really don't know.
At least ten more minutes went by in complete silence. Now, I usually can handle a nice, peaceful quiet time, but this isn't one of those times. I mean, I'm strapped back-to-back with Faye, of all people. And she's not talking. I can't see her face, so it doesn't make me feel any better about the situation. In fact, it's quite annoying.
"Are you alive over there?" I asked impatiently.
"Yes Spike. I'm alive and well." she replied.
At least she's talking now. Annoyance level going down.
"So, you got any ideas?" I asked, trying to keep the flow going.
"Not a one." she said. This wasn't like Faye. She'd usually be raging right now for being caught like this. Instead, she was being calm and placating me, something that a Normal Faye could not stomach. I could feel the heat from her back through my jacket and shirt. It was really hot in this small room.
"What the hell is your problem woman?" I sputtered out, regretting it before I even said it. I should get that checked out–you know, talking without thinking first.
"My problem?" she repeated.
I sat silent, awaiting her much anticipated rage. Weirdest thing...it never came. The heat was getting worse, along with the smell. This room had no circulation at all. I guess the crappy bartender became cheap when it came to furnishing his hostage room.
"I'm upset that she knows about my remote for the Redtail." she answered simply.
"Are you kidding? That's your answer?! You're always thinking about yourself, Faye!" I snapped at her.
Even with that, still no Angry Faye. This is baffling me. I feel like I must get to her before my head explodes with disbelief. But, I bit my lip.
What? I'm holding back? Since when do I, Spike Spiegel, hold back anything? Especially from her? She deserves an all-out verbal assault for this...I mean, of all things, me holding back!
I still say nothing. The unnerving silence continues.
"Spike?" she says after a couple minutes.
"What?"
"Why didn't you pull your gun on them back there?" she asked.
"To save it for later." I responded.
"Oh." she said.
This was going nowhere, and now I'm just plain aggravated. The only reason I can think of for not ripping at her seams with insults and sarcasm is...no, it can't be. I mean, this is Faye. How desperate would I have to be to want Faye like that? HA! Impossible. I must be hungry, that's it. And I bet the sticky heat isn't helping my thinking right now.
"I wonder when they're going to come back." she said quietly.
"I don't plan on staying for their return." I said, feeling a fat droplet of sweat roll down my forehead and into my eyebrow.
"What about the Swordfish II?" she asked.
"You've still got the Redtail. That's all we need." I answered.
"That's if we get out of these ropes and cuffs." she stated.
"Already working on it." I said and knocked my shoe off with the tip of the other one.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Working on it," I said flatly, "When I tell you to, scoot backwards, okay?"
"Okay." she said.
"Go." I told her, and as she scooted back, I scooted forward, bringing my hands to where my discarded shoe was now sitting.
I pulled my left hand out from behind my back and grabbed my shoe. The movement seemed to temporarily relieve the heat.
"Hey! How'd you get your hand loose?" she questioned while trying to look back at what I was doing.
"That Red bitch sucks at tying up hands, and it helps that my wrists are all sweaty from the humidity in here," I said dryly as I pulled the little metal pick from my shoe, "Good thing I keep one of these in here." I said pretty much to myself since Faye couldn't see what I was doing anyway.
"Keep a what?" she asked, becoming more and more like the Faye I'm used to.
"A pick. I'm going to unlock the cuffs around my ankles." I said and reached down to my feet to begin picking the lock.
Faye sat quietly as I worked at the cuffs. "Aren't you going to beg for me to unlock your's too?" I asked, amazed that I got to the question first.
"I just assumed that you would, or I'd figure a way out of it." she said meekly.
Damnit, she's back to Quiet Faye again. I hate this. It's making me uncomfortable now. And uncomfortable is just annoying.
"Right." I said, not really knowing what to say or do. I finally unlocked the cuffs and unwrapped the rope from myself, and then Faye. She just sat there, like a helpless child.
"So...yeah, I guess I'll get those cuffs for you then." I said and moved to her ankles.
I took off her pearly white boots and set them aside. As I worked on unlocking her from her cuffs, I had to hold the cuff steady and I noticed how soft her skin is, even if it is her ankle and foot. It's smooth like silk and soft like a new blanket. It's nice.
I think she noticed that I was admiring her skin as I worked at picking the lock because she sighed and lied flat on her back. Or maybe she was just saying, "Hurry the hell up so I can get out of here and take a shower." The woman says a lot in just a little sigh.
I finally got her cuffs unlocked after what seemed like forever. But I didn't really mind as much as Faye did. I think she fell asleep.
"Hey, Faye?" I asked poking her in the calf. "You awake?"
No reply.
"Faye. Get up. We have to get out of here and get my ship back."
Still nothing.
"Is your skin naturally that soft or do you have surgery to keep it like that Grandma?" I said.
And with that, I received a quick kick to the side of my head.
"OW!" I said rubbing my temple, looking at her as she stood up and put her shoes back on.
I guess she's back to normal now. Thank God.
"How are we going to find these assholes?" Faye asked as she walked from the back room to the bar.
I got up and followed her. They closed the place up pretty good. The doors were closed and locked up, as well as the windows, making it very dark in the already dismal saloon.
Faye leaned over the bar and grabbed a bottle of Vodka. "I think I'll borrow this." she said and went to the doors to inspect them for an exit.
"They're locked up pretty good. Looks like we're stuck again." I said to her.
"Are you kidding me? If you're saying that we're stuck, you must have a fever. Would you like some Vodka to bring yourself back to sanity?" she asked offering me the bottle.
"I was gauging you for a response."
"Since when do you do that?" she questioned me impatiently and put her hand on her hip.
"Since you started acting weird." I said.
"And when exactly did I start acting weird?"
"In there!" I said pointing to the backroom, "You weren't fighting me or anything. Not typical of you at all, Faye." I replied.
"Can't a girl be quiet?" she said.
"No. Not you. You're never quiet; you're not allowed to start now."
"Seems like it bothers you. Maybe I'll make it habit." she said with a grin.
"Let's just go." I said and pulled out my gun, shooting at the lock on the doors. It fell apart, like they always do when you shoot them, and I proceeded to kick the doors open.
We walked out to see the Redtail, about 100 feet away and started to head out to it.
"Wait. I have a better idea." I said.
"What's that?" Faye asked.
"Bring it here, so if they're hiding around somewhere, we can get away quickly." I said pointing to the remote/bracelet shining in my eye.
"Fine." she said and hit a button on the remote, which started up her ship and began to fly it over to where we were standing at the entrance of the saloon.
"Ok, let's go." I said as it landed and opened up.
I climbed in first and squeezed into the tiny cockpit. Faye climbed in next and closed the Redtail up.
"Where now?" she asked.
"Let's just go back to the Bebop. I can worry about the Swordfish II later." I said with a huff because there was just about to room for me in the Redtail at all.
She headed toward the Bebop and about an hour later we were landing.
"Faye? Is that you? Where's Spike?" Jet asked popping onto her com.
"I'm here." I replied for Faye.
"What?! Where's the Swordfish II?" he asked.
"Um, I don't really know." I responded with a small chuckle.
"Don't you even care that your damn ship is gone?" he asked, growing impatient.
"She always returns to me, so I'm not really worried about it." I said.
"Just land and tell me what happened." he said and shut off the com.
Faye landed the Redtail and opened the hatch. She climbed out and headed for the shower. Just like I thought she didn't say. I noticed that she forgot her cigarettes in the cockpit, so I grabbed one for later.
Seems like Miss. Red took my last pack when she took my key. What a sweetheart.
I made my way inside to see Jet cooking, as usual. I sat down on the couch as he brought me over a plate of the same shit we eat every night. I don't even want to dignify it with a name. I'm so sick of this garbage. If only we'd brought in that bounty today...
"So tell me what happened." Jet said, sitting down in the chair across from me.