Dreams
Cloria paused before stepping onto the deck of the Bebop. In her left hand she carried a bottle of alcohol and in the right she carried an egg. She couldn't help but wonder what had really happened between Spike and Faye - both had been shot as of late, and Faye's recent journal entry was anything but nice. It seemed there was more beneath the surface than she could see, and she wondered if it was a good idea to get involved. Still, she felt terrible for this crew's situation, and her natural response was to help.
She walked onto the ship, and after knocking on the door, simply let herself in. Spike wasn't getting up anytime soon, and she didn't know if anyone else was on the ship. She stepped into the living room and smiled when she saw him laying on the couch. "I brought your medicine."
Spike propped himself up on his right elbow to turn and face Cloria. "I don't think I've seen anything that beautiful in a long time," he said sincerely. Something about a considerate blonde woman mixing him a hangover remedy touched a chord, but he quickly supressed the thought before it could go anywhere. "You know how to mix a prarie oyster?"
Cloria blushed at the complement, and for a brief moment wondered if Jin would have been mad. Nevertheless, she set the bottle and the egg down on the table, pulled out a glass, and quickly mixed up the prarie oyster for Spike. "Here you go," She said softly. "Hopefully, you'll feel a bit better. Why were you drinking so much anyway?"
Spike took the glass and downed its contents before the smell had a chance to hit him. Setting it back on the table, he sighed. "Thanks. Last night ... well, alcohol is a better painkiller than none. Plus I got into a massive fight with Faye. She's got access to a computer, and sent me a message. I replied, and things got kinda ... heated."
Cloria sat down in the small seat across from the couch, and watched Spike down the drink. "I don't think I could ever do that," she said when he finished. Then, thinking about Faye, she nodded, "I take it that's the reason for her ... rather ... not nice message to you today?" Cloria had no idea what they had said, but Spike's own journal made it pretty clear there were words between them.
Spike nodded sadly. "Unfortunately. I already have enough to worry about, and now she hates me. Which is probably just what he wants."
"He?" Cloria asked, a bit confused. "And I'm sure that she doesn't hate you, Spike. Remember, she's in a very stressful situation right now. If anything, she's probably taking out her frustrations on you. I'm sure I'd do the same if it was me."
Spike blinked. "You know what? You're probably right about that. I guess we're both taking our frustrations out on each other. I know I'm plenty frustrated right now. That's something we've both got - right now, we both feel so helpless."
Cloria looked him up and down. "I can imagine, that a man who is normally in complete control of his situation would feel helpless when he can't get off the couch. And a woman who does what she pleases is locked in a room she can't leave. I'm sure that alone is enough to make anyone frustrated." Cloria set her hands in her lap and watched Spike's expressions. He was obviously troubled, but there was more to it than just that.
"Yeah," Spike said distantly. "That's more or less it." He seemed distracted, as though the majority of his mind was elsewhere. "Y'know, once you've hit rock bottom it's still possible to start tunneling through the bedrock."
"I think you're far from rock bottom, Spike." Cloria replied. "Look around you. You have a home, filled with people who, like it not, care about you. You ask a favor of them, and they jump to help you, without even looking back. You've been taken care of here, and you're respected. No, I think you're about as far from rock bottom as you can get. You just need to open your eyes and see that."
"You're right about that as well," Spike sighed. "So if life isn't that bad, then why does it all seem so ... anticlimatic?"
"Life is what you make of it, Spike," Cloria replied, glancing off into the distance, "You can let someone else tell you how to live it, or you can go out and make the most of it yourself. And when your climax comes, you just have to be ready for it." She was thinking of her father and her own decision to leave her family. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get rid of the thoughts. She didn't want to think about her father. Opening them back up she looked at Spike, "Do you feel your life has been void of climaxes?"
Spike laughed. "Just the opposite, Cloria," he said. "I've gotten so used to it that I guess I'm waiting for the next one to happen. And instead of going out to find it, I'm laid up here, bickering with Faye and getting drunk. Now, is that anticlimatic or what?"
Cloria smiled. Spike's laughter, despite his mood, was warm. "I suppose so, Spike, but then enjoying some alcohol and chatting with friends is an important part of any bounty hunters life." She met his eyes. "At least by 'bickering' with Faye, you're distracting her from her otherwise precarious situation."
Spike paused to consider this new idea, then shook his head. "Uh-uh. Cos, we're usually bickering about her situation. Which doesn't help at all."
"I suppose. At least you keep her company then. It's nice of you, Spike," Cloria replied.
Spike lay back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. For a while, the only sound was the soft creaking whir of the overhead fan. "I guess," he said despondently. "You'd probably be better at it, though. You're nice. I just argue with people."
Cloria just smiled, "You do seem to argue a lot. Although I don't think it's always a bad thing." Cloria leaned back in her seat and stared up at the ceiling, as though she was trying to figure out what was so interesting about it. Finally, she looked back down at him, "I might be nice, but that doesn't mean I don't see things for how they really are."
"I never said you were naive," Spike pointed out, attention remaining fixed on the ceiling fan. There was something relaxing about talking with Cloria - she was practically the polar opposite of Faye. "I just meant that you know when to not open your big mouth and ruin everything."
"Call it years of experience," Cloria replied. "There was a time when I was brash as well. But I paid dearly for the times I spoke my opinions too loudly. Besides, when you live on a ship with a bunch of men, you learn to be tolerant and sensitive. Or else, I'd probably go crazy."
Spike shrugged, biting back the inevitable wince that wanted to follow as the motion tugged the wound in his side. "I wouldn't know," he said with a faint smile. "I am one. If it helps, living with women is pretty damn tricky too."
Cloria laughed, "Oh is it? How so. Because honestly, I thought men were the tricky ones."
Spike raised an eyebrow. "Really? And here all along I thought it was women who needed to be coddled amd pampered. Once wrong word and they'll pounce on you. We men are simpler creatures. We expect less from life."
"I think you generalize too much, Spike." Cloria replied. In reality, she felt everyone expected a lot from their lives - just some were willing to die for it. She believed Spike was one of them, who simply refused to acknowledge that part of him. She stood. "I think, Spike, that woman simply need to be loved. They ask for coddling and pampering, because sometimes it's the only way they feel the man in their life will show them that love. In the end, all they really need is to be appreciated, loved, and respected." She walked up and knelt down next to him, "I need to get back to the ship. I don't want Jin to worry about me and I didn't tell him I was leaving." She leaned over and kissed him softly on the forehead before standing. "Get better Spike. I think Faye needs you far more than she lets on."
Spike stared back up at the ceiling fan. He'd worry about Faye once the prarie oyster kicked in.
---------------------
Spike sat on the deck of the Bebop, looking up at the bright sun, back propped up against a small crate. His wiry frame seemed washed-out and pale. Naked from the waist up, the heavy bandages wrapped around his waist and left arm were clearly evident. He dropped the stub of his cigarette, then reached into his pocket for a new one.
"I'd warn you that those things can kill you but somehow I think it's a dead point," Mei said as she walked onto the deck. "Seeing as how I've met everyone else, I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you're Spike?" The young Asian woman continued to walk toward him until she was only a foot away.
Spike looked up at the approaching stranger. "Yeah, I am," he said, voice tinged with sleepiness and boredom, and a tiniest hint of another, quickly-suppressed emotion. "If you've met everybody, then you must be from the SeaDog. And I've met Jin, Kade, Sam, and Cloria, so you must be Mei."
She was, he recalled, part of the rescue team to save Faye. And he hadn't actually seen her face-to-face before now.
"Ooh," she mused tilted her head, "you're good." A gust of wind across the deck blew her long hair across her face and she lifted a hand to brush it back over her shoulder, holding it there. "Mind if I join you? I've been meaning to talk to you anyway." However, without actually waiting for a response, she plopped herself down next to him.
Absently, Spike's hand went up to touch the bandage wrapped around his arm. Even that tiny motion, however, caused him to wince. "Talk to me?" he said. "I guess. What about?"
"Faye. When we first met, she didn't exactly speak too highly of you. But now she's held prisoner by some... syndicate. Red Lizard or something like that," Mei said and absently waved it off. "In our communications, she was worried about you. She wanted me to go with you and keep you safe," she went on and turned her head to look at him. "Which really got me to wondering about your relationship. But aside from that, I was looking for some information on her. I mean, we haven't been friends for very long. I won't pretend to be her best friend or any thing but I, frankly, don't really want to miss this chance on saving a potential close friend. Anything you can give me would be welcomed," Mei said with a smile.
Spike closed his eyes and smiled. "She'd do that, wouldn't she," he said, almost fondly. Moving slowly, so as not to jar his side, he sat up to look at Mei. "What do you want to know, really?" he asked. "She's independent, loves to gamble, and can be a real pain in the ass. She's totally insufferable, but just barely useful enough that it pays to keep her around. Sometimes. Were you thinking about anything in particular?"
"Well what makes her worth risking our necks to save her? I told you my reason. What's yours?" Mei asked curiously. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm not having second thoughts. I don't regret anything. But I don't know about everyone else. So I'm asking. Why?"
Spike was silent for several long moments. Finally, he said, "You know, I really don't know? I mean, she's gotten into all kinds of trouble before and we've left her to work her own way out. I think it has something to do with where she is. I have ... something of a history with the syndicate."
"History? What, they kicked your dog or something?" Mei asked, unimpressed.
The corners of Spike's mouth turned up in a regretful smile. "Or something," he echoed.
Not a dog person, are you?" Mei asked, wrinkling her nose. Yes, random question. But she couldn't press the issue of Faye too much. Not yet anyway. Besides, she was reading every look on his face and filing it away for memory. After all, she was supposed to finding out his weaknesses for Mr. V. right?
Spike blinked, trying to work the nonsequiter out in his head. How had she gone from -
Finally, he just shook his head. "No," he told her. "Not a dog person. I hate animals. They just ... bug me. Noisy, smelly, annoying things."
"I'm more of a cat person," she said, pulling one leg up against her chest. "What else don't you like?" Mei asked, looking at him with something akin to genuine curiosity.
Spike stared out at the sunlight as it glittered across the tiny crests of the water. "Cats."
At that, she chuckled. "Fair enough. You aren't too social, are you, cowboy?" It was more of a comment than it was a question. Her position shifted and she grew serious as she knelt at his side, feet tucked under her rear. "So what do you think your chances are?"
Slowly, Spike's gaze traveled back to Mei. He regarded her with mismatched eyes, studying her closely. "What does it look like?" he asked, laying his wounded left arm across the bandage that encircled his stomach.
"Then why are you going alone?" she asked, her voice soft. Acting or not, Mei honestly didn't understand. Maybe she'd misread him and he really was expecting to come back alive. But he couldn't possibly think that. Not unless he was utterly insane.
For a second, a dapple of light lit Spike's left eye as he leaned closer to her. "Mei," he said seriously, "would you invite a third person along if you were on your way to sleep with your boyfriend? It's kind of like that."
She couldn't help it, really. "So you're on your way to sleep with your boyfriend? Spike, I must say... you didn't strike me as the type," she said with a wink, though most of the amusement was lost with the seriousness of the subject.
Spike didn't laugh. "I meant that it's personal." He closed his eyes again and leaned back. "Sorry. I'm too tired to come up with a better metaphor."
Mei stood then and looked at him thoughtfully. "Y'know, Spike, you're a curious one. I'll give you that," she said and stepped over his legs with one foot only to end up crouching in front of him--well within his personal space--with her feet on the outsides of his legs. She reached out and put the tip of her index finger on his forehead, a smirk pulling at her lips. "Makes me want to try and get inside this head 'o yours."
Without moving, Spike took a long pull on his cigarette. "Not gonna happen, Mei," he said tersely.
"Why not? Do you have more skeletons in your closet than the average person? Are you just so closed off to the world that you won't let anyone in?" she questioned, her voice soft. An enigma, this one was.
Spike opened his eyes, face seemingly bored, and stared forward, somewhere in the area of Mei's knees. He'd dealt with this kind of thing plenty of times before, and it was nothing new. "Yeah, I am," he muttered.
"Why? Does it have anything to do with Vicious?" she asked. There. The name was said. Mei had let it slip but already knew how to cover it up. Between the conversations in the communication network, Mei could have picked up the name. Afterall, some people only played stupid.
At the mention of the name, the disinterested facade vanished. Spike's head jerked up so he could only stare at Mei. "Why?" he asked sharply. "What do you know about him?"
She blinked a couple times and then twisted her body to the side so that she was sitting, pulling her legs away from Spike. "Guess so, huh. Sensitive subject I take it?" Mei asked idly. She shrugged and looked off. "I mean, I've been picking up things here and there from the comm network. Vicious is the one that has Faye, right? You said it was personal. Am I right?" With the last question, her dark eyes met his mismatched ones and she held his gaze steadily.
"Yeah," Spike replied darkly, breaking eye contact to look down. "Anyone else, I'd tell her to take care of herself. But not him."
"Why don't you like him? I mean, what's so bad about this guy?" she asked with a frown.
"I already said," Spike told her curtly. "It's personal."
"So it's not just some 'good versus evil' thing? It's a personal vendetta? And I'm not talking about NOW since Faye's been dragged in. But what started it?" Mei asked, unable to keep her curiosity from getting the better of her. After all... curiosity thrilled the cat.
Spike sighed slowly. Whatever happened to the good old days when people would just do what you wanted without asking all these annoying questions? "Does it really matter that much?" he asked evasively.
"Yes, considering it looks like I'm risking my neck due to some personal vendetta that no one will explain!" Mei said, exasperated, throwing her hands into the air. Do what he wanted? Pfft. She did whatever the hell she wanted to do. Whatever was in her best interest.
"Then don't come," Spike replied, voice dropping back into its lethargic monotony. This time, however, it was tinged with a years-old weariness.
At that very moment, Mei wanted to slap him. Ugh! For such a curiosity, he sure was frustrating and boring at the same time! She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath, and then plopped down beside him again with a frustrated sigh. "So where do you originate from?" she asked idly, arms folding against her abdomen comfortably as she stared out at the water.
For nearly a minute, Spike stared out at the water, listening to the sound as it gently lapped against the sides of the Bebop. Just when Mei was sure that he wasn't going to answer, he said, "You said 'no one.' Who else did you ask besides me?"
"I haven't asked anyone else," Mei grumbled, annoyed at his evasiveness. "After all, who else would know? Hmm, I suppose I could go find this Vicious person and ask him myself, hmm?" Hey, one thing she could do was cover her tracks with ease.
Spike smiled. "Yeah, I suppose you could," he said jovially. "That would be fun to watch. Although I think that trying to save Faye is a better waste of your life."
"You enjoy being utterly annoying, don't you," she muttered, watching him from the corner of her eye.
"I could say the same for you," Spike murmured. "But there are places that you're not gonna pry."
Mei shrugged a bit and looked out at the water again. "Question... for an animal-hater, why do you have a dog on your ship?"
"You mean Ein?" Spike asked. "We sorta adopted him a long while back. He's just a worthless little corgie, but Ed likes him, so I put up with him. Also put up with Ed, for that matter."
"Ah, well that takes care of my next question. Nasty things, kids are..." Mei responded, wrinkling her nose. "So now that we've covered some dislikes... what are the things you like?" Yes. Play nicely.
Spike smiled. "What every other guy likes," he told her. "Weapons, wine and women. Do you usually pump everyone you meet for information?"
"Ugh. And here I was hoping you weren't with the stereotype," Mei said teasingly. "Stereotypes are boring. And yes. I'm pumping you for information. I'm bored. Humor me. What else can you tell me?"
"You gotta be more specific than that," Spike said pleasantly. "Didn't they teach you anything in interrogation skill? What do you want, other than my complete biography?"
At that, she began laughing. It wasn't the usual polite laughter that she found herself doing. The words that just came from his mouth were not at all what she had expected. "Okay, how about this: what's with the eyes? I mean, it's kinda cool actually," Mei said, grinning as she tilted her head to look at him. "Or is that too personal?" she teased.
Spike widened his eyes and regarded Mei full-on. "This is why it's always a good idea to play nice with the other children," he said. "My left eye is fake. Eye surgery is not a pleasant experience, let me tell you."
Mei leaned forward. "Why don't you change it so it matches?" she asked.
Spike looked at Mei quizzically. "I didn't notice that they didn't quite have it right until the bandage came off," he said faintly. "They made it a shade off. And to change the color would mean having it replaced. Which would mean going through that again. I already told what I think about eye surgery."
She shrugged at that. "Nothing wrong with being different," Mei said easily and regarded Spike for a moment or two. "You didn't answer my question from before... where are you from?" Idly she noted that he wasn't really bothering to ask her questions in return. "You have to hail from somewhere, right?"
"Mars, where else?" Spike replied. "Doesn't really matter where."
"Yeah, I suppose not. It only really matters where you're going, right?" Mei mused, boredly running her fingers through her hair.
"Exactly," Spike agreed. "Although planning too far into the future is generally a bad idea."
"How so? Wouldn't it give you something to work toward?" Mei argued. Not that she was the ambitious type, of course.
Spike shrugged. "You never know if the future's gonna happen at all," he told her. "Planning takes time and energy. If you've only got a little bit of time left, why waste it planning for something that isn't even going to be there?"
Mei looked at him, eyes fixating on his features. "So then why bother with anything? What is there to keep you going?" The term 'you' was meant to be general, but it could very easily be answered on a personal level.
Ah, philosophizing. The great thing about it was that he could be as vague as he damn well felt like. "You've gotta use what time you do have," he said. "We all die eventually - just some sooner than others. As for your question ... well, why does anyone do what they do?"
"Most people are working toward a goal or a dream. They've thought about the future and are working on their plans to achieve what they desire. If it is, as you say, a waste of time, then what is the use? What is there to drive someone forward? If it's a waste of time to plan, why bother living at all? What drives you, Spike?" she asked, treading on personal space again.
Some imperceptible facet of Spike's eyes hardened. "Do you really want to know that?" he asked, voice suddenly lowered.
"Yeah, I'd like to know. I don't understand how you can say it's a waste to plan for the future," Mei said quietly, a frown creasing her brow.
"Sometimes I think my entire life has been a waste," Spike said distantly. A faint smile crossed his face as he recalled countless events from the past. "But then, maybe not."
"What do you mean?" Mei couldn't help asking. His words were confusing—as she was sure they were meant to be--and she hoped he would explain a bit.
"Tell me something," Spike asked her. "If you lose everything you achieve and alienate everyone you love, then is all that time spent wasted? Because, except for a new set of scars, you're right back where you started: with nothing."
"That all depends," Mei said carefully, looking at him thoughtfully. "It all depends on what drove you to alienating everyone you love and thusly losing everything you've achieved. By the same token, maybe you haven't really lost everything," she murmured, turning her head away to look out at the water.
"I did," Spike appealed, looking at her. "But I've gained something since then. Which is part of why I want to help Faye, I guess."
Mei nodded a bit, absently playing with the ends of her hair. Only part? Come on! Give her something more to work with! "So if you've gained something since then, you really haven't lost everything, right?" she questioned, her voice low.
Spike mulled that over for a moment. "No, I guess not," he admitted. "What's your interest, anyway? I'm just a cowboy with a history."
"That's just it. You've got a history and you aren't really giving to me. That's what makes me more curious," she said with a soft chuckle. "I like to know about people. I like to know what made them the way they are. I guess maybe I think it could help me figure myself out," Mei said truthfully.
Spike sat up, then planted his feet on the deck. Slowly, he straightened. When he squared back his shoulders, a sudden stab of pain from his side caused him to almost double over again. This time, he was more careful as he stood upright.
"Everyone has to figure it out for themselves," he said, staring out at the water. "It's not my job to help you with yours."
"Have you figured it out yourself?" she asked, head tilting upward as she watched him. Mei almost wished that he hadn't been injured in the recent fight at the casino. Then maybe she could have seen him at work without the injuries. As it was, she wasn't so sure a gust of wind wouldn't throw him off balance and put him out of commission for another several weeks.
Spike took two steps forward, moving slowly and carefully. He was supposed to face Vicious in only five days. His legs were fine, but standing upright took every shred of effort he had. "Yeah, I have," Spike said. "I know where I am. That's the important part."
Mei nodded absently. "So how exactly are you preparing for your big show-down? I mean, no offense, but you're not exactly in good shape," she said, looking up at him with a wince of sympathy. "Which, actually, is an even better reason as to why you should take back-up..."
"That'd be the smart thing to do," Spike agreed. "But that's not the right thing to do. I know I'm not at my best, but I can't just ignore Vicious until I get better. Under any other circumstances I would, but ... he has Faye. And I'm not just going to leave her in there. Not with him."
"So she means that much to you, eh?" she asked quietly, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "What if you get killed? What about her?"
"Then I die," Spike said simply. "I died once before. The only difference will be ... this time, I won't come back."
She sighed quietly and then tilted her head back, resting her head against the packing crates there. "Spike, why did you become a bounty hunter? It's not like it's glamorous."
Spike started to stretch his arms above his head, then thought better of it and stopped. "I wanted something like I had before," he admitted. "Ever since I was a kid I've loved the rush of being in danger. Sometimes, that's the only time I feel truly alive. I had that before, and there's plenty of risks being a cowboy. I couldn't live any other way."
"You had that before? Before you were a cowboy? When you were a kid? What did you do?" Mei asked, curious.
Spike turned slowly and regarded Mei with mismatched eyes. "That was another lifetime," he said cryptically. "A long time ago."
"You aren't THAT old so it can't be THAT long ago," Mei answered with a chuckle. She sat up with interest. "Come on, just tell me!" she pleaded, batting her eyes dramatically while giving her best puppy-dog-type eyes.
Spike tilted his head back to stare at the sun through closed eyes. "Sorry, Mei. That's somewhere I'm not going to go. It you want to know badly enough you'll figure out for yourself."
"Okay so my best guess is there is a girl involved. There's ALWAYS a girl involved. We're Man's weakness, afterall," Mei said, amused.
"Yeah, that's part of it," Spike agreed. "There's a lot more than that, though. A whole lot more."
"Well that's good to know. At least we aren't risking our necks on some personal vendetta that only involved a girl," Mei said blandly and stood, brushing her hands off on her pants. "We'll have to talk more, Spike. Maybe next time I can get you to stop talking so much," she joked.
Spike turned to face her and smiled. "It does involve a girl. You're risking your neck to save Faye. I'm risking mine for a different reason. We just happen to be on the same side. 'Enemy of my enemy is my friend' and all that stuff. I always hated that quote, you know?"
He waved a faint farewell and, one painful step at a time, walked back inside the ship.
----------------
Mei was in her room, sitting on the edge of her bed with a small computer resting upon her knees. Fingers were poised over the keypad as she paused in thought. Yes. So many things to do still. She had to get together with Alaura still and get some information on Spike to feed to Vicious. It wouldn't be so damn difficult if there were more time! She finished her note to Vicious and proceeded to start some random entry just to pass the time. Mental notes, more like it.
Kade stepped from the shower and dried off with a towel. His workout with Jin had left him feeling envigorated, and now he wanted to do something. He quickly tossed on a pair of pants, then made his way down the hall to Mei's room. He knocked on the door a couple of times, "Mei? You there?"
Mei looked up, mid-thought, and stared at the door for a good two seconds before answering. "Yeah, I'm here. What's up?" she asked, eyes darting back down to her computer where she quickly finished off her note and closed all ties to her "other side".
"I'm feeling a bit hungry. Did you want to run out for some beer and greese? I know a great burger joint in mid-town." Kade asked, running a hand through his hair.
"Sure," she said while putting away the portable unit. "Come on in. I just have to change my clothes anyway," Mei replied and opened the door on her way back to the pile of clothing she'd made somewhere near her suitcase. When she heard the door fall shut again, she pulled off her top--stained with grease--and exchanged it for another one. Stained workpants were exchanged for a pair of faded, low-cut jeans. "Okay ready?" Mei questioned as she turned to look at him.
Kade watched Mei silently change and felt himself getting arroused while she changed in front of him. "Woman, when you do that, you make me want to stay in."
She laughed softly at that and sauntered forward, giving him a sultry look. "Oh, but food feeds the fire, my dear Kade," she murmured and lifted a hand to rest against his chest playfully. "So come on. Let's go get some grub!"
He smiled back, "You know just what to say don't you." He reached up and took her hand, leading her from the room. "Shall we walk, or do you want to give that piece of crap zip you bought a try?"
"Hey, you leave my baby alone," she admonished. "Just for that, we're takin' her. You just better be givin' good directions," Mei said as she followed him.
Kade laughed. "Alright, we'll cram in there and give her a try." Kade tugged Mei along to the garage. "But you have to drive the thing."
It took several minutes to get them both settled into the black piece of crap but they got settled eventually. The room was a little small for two people but it was do-able. The engine fired up and she grinned with pride. "Listen to my baby purr!" she said, casting a glance at Kade. The old adage of 'don't judge a book by it's cover' was right on the nose with this one! As they took off, Mei looked at Kade. "So where to?"
"Mid-town. Head there, and then I'll give you directions once we're closer," Kade was pressed up against Mei in the crapped little space - but he wasn't objecting. He let one hand rest on her leg, as they took off, as though he felt he needed to be touching her.
Mei guided the craft easily until she'd reached mid-town. "Okay hot-stuff. Where are you taking me?" she asked with a chuckle.
Kade pointed to a small hole-in-the-wall joint, "Right there sugar," He replied, playing off her words. "They have parking in the back."
"Sounds good," she replied and landed with only a small bump on the way in. She got out first and hopped down to the ground. Mei brushed her hair back over her shoulder and looked up at him with a grin. "So have you been here before?"
"Many a time," Kade said, leading the way into the joint. It was a small seat yourself place that smelled of greasy fries and beer. Just his type of place. He pulled her to a table at the back and tossed her a menu. "Trust me, they have the best burgers and fries here."
"Mmm... artery clogging," Mei said, pretending to drool. She grabbed a menu and ran her finger down the list of items. "Okay. I'm having the Mega-Burget with extra pickles, no onions... and fries. Yes. Must have oil-soaked potatos," Mei said, more to herself than anyone else.
Kade flagged down a waitress and quickly ordered them a pitcher of beer and a couple of burgers and fries - just the way Mei wanted them. "So, what about you Mei? Are you ready... for all of this?"
"Oh, totally. I've been dying for some of this food," Mei said, gaze drifting around the joint. She hadn't missed what he had said but was pretending to anyway.
Kade sighed softly. "I'm hungry too." He looked out the window, wondering how everything would happen. "Mei," he said softly, taking her hand. "Look, let's be frank here. I'm an asshole. I treat woman like shit. And yet, I...." He trailed off. What the hell was he doing anyway? He wondered if it had to do with the fact that they were marching on a death mission to save Faye.
She looked up when he took her hand and wondered why he had gone serious suddenly. When he talked about how he treated women, she frowned faintly but remained silent. Upon realizing that he wasn't speaking again, she pursed her lips for a moment before responding. "And yet you what?"
Kade smiled, "It's nothing Mei." The beer came and Kade quickly took a gulp. "Tell me now, what else did you have planned for the day?"
"No... what were you going to say?" she asked, frowning still. She picked up her own mug and took a gulp of it, never taking her eyes off of him.
Kade turned back and looked at her, his eyes intensely staring into her. "Look Mei. I don't. I don't get attached." He set his beer down and touched her cheek. "And just when I am - And believe me, this isn't easy - we're going on some crazy mission to get ourselves killed."
Mei stared at him mutely, honestly shocked by his words. Then she looked away and took a gulp of her beer again. "Well, whatever happens is going to happen," she said quietly. In other words, no one should get too bent of shape just yet. As a perfect interruption, the waitress returned with their food. Without another word, Mei picked up her burget--which, honestly, should have been too big for her mouth--and dug on in without any sort of prissiness what-so-ever.
Kade also ate in silence. "What am I saying," he said leaning down and kissing Mei softly. "We're just in this for the sex, am I right?" He laughed a bit, trying to ease the tension he had brought upon their conversation.
"Wild, passionate, monkey sex," Mei joked. She felt a pang of guilt for a brief moment and looked at him with a smile. "Kade, you said it yourself. We're about to go on some crazy mission that will probably leave several of the 'good guys' dead. Don't get attached," she said, the smile fading as her gaze drifted away and she focused on her food. Don't get attached... because she wouldn't be there when it was done. She didn't think she'd end up dead, but she was sure she wouldn't be on the SeaDog at the end.
Kade wrapped his arms around Mei, and rested his head on her shoulder. "I never get attached, Mei," He replied, kissing her cheek softly. "It's all about the sex." He tilted her chin back towards him and kissed her on the lips. "And we'll be having some of that as soon as we get back to the Seadog."
She returned the kiss, though her lips lingered on his for a moment longer than she meant them to. "Sounds perfect," she grinned and lifted her glass. "And just think. I'm not nearly as drunk this time," Mei said with a wink.
"I didn't mind you drunk," Kade replied, taking another sip of his own beer. "You're pretty wild when you've got alcohol in your system."
Mei chuckled and looked at him seductively, snaking her foot out to rub it against his leg slowly. "How do you know the alcohol isn't taming?" she asked, sultry eyes fixated upon him.
"We could finish this food and find out," Kade replied, letting his hand slide down her leg to just inside her thigh. "Ever done it in a hamburger joint before?"
She wrinkled her nose. While Mei was usually up for anything, the idea of gettin' busy in a greasey burger joint was certainly not appealing. "No, and I'm not really looking forward to it. Though I'm sure we could rent a room nearby. No cleanup, no worries of crewmates barging in..." she said with a smile, reaching out to run her finger along his jawline.
Kade shrugged, "That sounds wonderful." He kissed her again, then picked up his burger. "But first, you must finish clogging your arteries with burgers and beer." He took another bite. They really were the best burgers.
"Don't forget the fries," she said, shaking her head at him. How could he forget the oil-soaked potatos?? With a grin, she shoved several into her mouth at once and washed them down with beer. She certainly was not a woman who cared about what someone thought of her!
Kade smiled as he finished eating. He poured them both another beer, and then sat back thinking for a moment about the situation. Yeah, it was definately better to use woman than to fall for them. He wasn't going to make that mistake now.
Just whom was using whom, hmm? Mei tugged at the neckline of her top, eyeing Kade mischivously. She quickly finished the food and washed it down with her second mug of beer. "Done yet?"
Kade slammed the rest of his beer. "Yeah," he said getting up. "Let me pay the tab really quick and then we can head out." He qiuckly did as he said, and then returned to get Mei. "Come on."
---------------------
Faye threw herself on the bed, then cried as her shoulder rocked with pain. She was frustrated, and the more she talked to Spike the more frustrated she got. She didn't know if she talked to Spike because she was bored, or if she was looking for an answer to some question that she could figure out for herself - an answer he wasn't going to give.
And then there was Julia. That stupid bitch kept popping up and Faye couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy that she wasn't the one so enamored by all. Of course, she didn't need anyone. Or that's what she told herself.
Still, small tears flooded her eyes, and streamed down her cheeks. She needed a release from everything - her prison - both the walls around her physically and those that threaten to box in mind. She curled up in a small ball, and began to shake as she cried. Her head was screaming, and she knew, although she didn't want to admit it, that she needed whatever it was that Vicious had been feeding her.
But had it been affecting her mind. She couldn't even tell anymore. Her conversations with Spike were surreal - she could have been talking to anyone for all that she could tell. It was, after all, just a computer.
Just then, she heard the sound of the door opening. She uncurled herself, and wiped her eyes. When the haziness finally left her vision, she realized it was Vicious.
Vicious stepped into the room. Although he was sure that Faye was aware that someone had entered, it took her awhile before she finally looked at him. He smiled softly to himself, pleased that she had been crying. It must have been something that Spike said to her.
"Miss Valentine," Vicious said softly, "Is something wrong."
Faye shook her head. "I just want to get the hell out of here," she muttered.
Vicious set a glass of water on the small table next to Faye's bed, followed by few pills. "I'm afraid I can't grant that request, but your other one..." he nodded to the pills on the table.
"So you are drugging me," Faye replied with a small laugh. "Spike was right about that much." She reached over and picked up the pills. She examined them for a moment, but they looked like regular pain killers. Shrugging, she popped them in her mouth and followed with a gulp of water.
"Yes. We are giving you medicine to keep your shoulder from hurting too much," Vicious replied, although he knew that Faye was aware there were much more than painkillers in the drugs. This particular batch was stronger than those he had given her before.
"I'm sure," Faye replied. She looked back at Vicious, "Why do you need me? You know he'd come anyway. I'm sure it's not your style to just let a useless prisoner go free, but honestly, I can't figure out why I'm still here."
Vicious continued to stand. He stared down at Faye, who was still sitting up on the bed. "You're here, because I do need you. And I want you to see the truth, Miss Valentine. Spike isn't all he's cracked up to be. If he'd betray his best friend, he would betray you as well."
"Call me Faye. It's... more personal." Faye replied, her vision blurring a bit. Why was she talking to him? She had told Spike she wouldn't anymore - and yet, here she was doing just that. She looked away. "I shouldn't talk to you. Spike said it's bad."
Vicious shook his head, and softly tilted Faye's face back towards his. "And is it bad because it's bad for you? Or is it bad because it's bad for him?" Vicious let a thumb run softly down Faye's cheek. There was a small part of him that actually enjoyed spending time with Faye. She reminded him of Julia - whom he hadn't heard from in a few days. "Why do you care about him?"
Faye stared up at Vicious again. "I... I don't." She felt so torn. She did care about Spike. Too much. And yet, everytime Vicious came in the room and talked to her in that voice, she felt drawn to him. "You're too similar to him," she whispered.
"We are the same, and yet we're so very different." Vicious replied. "But Faye," he continued, "The parts of him that are different are the parts you don't want to know. The parts that will leave someone in a casino after being shot because he wants to save his own life. The part that will betray his brother for no reason."
Faye bit her lip. "He left me there because he said he couldn't make it out with the both of us."
"Is that so?" Vicious replied. "I think Spike would have gotten out just fine. I'm the only who can kill him. There is no one else who can rival Spike. And he knows that."
Faye's eyes watched him for a moment. Was that true? She started to feel out of place again, and closed her eyes. "Strong painkillers you've got there." she muttered.
Vicious grinned, "Do you feel better?"
"Yeah, I do." Faye replied. "More at ease I guess."
Vicious nodded, "Faye. Spike is the enemy. You will see that soon enough. You will know in your heart. You are not the one he wants and you are not the one he's doing this for. He'll go to the ends of Mars for Julia, but not for you."
Faye shook her head. "I know. He told me he loves her." A new set of tears glistened her eyes. "But I don't care. I don't care about him. I never will. Not like that anyway."
"You lie, but I can understand why," Vicious replied. She was getting closer. It wouldn't be long now. "I wouldn't want to admit that the person I wanted didn't want me back. I wouldn't want to feel so humiliated."
"And why do you care anyway about how I feel!" Faye shot back, getting mad. Why was he talking to her about this? "Look, I don't want to talk about Spike anymore."
Vicious turned around. "I think you'll want to talk about Spike plenty. About how much you really hate him. And about how much you wish that he would just die." Vicious voice was low, but soothing.
The thought bounced in Faye's mind. Hate him? Did she? See him dead? The thoughts echoed again and then seemed to magnify. "I think I just need some rest," Faye replied.
Vicious nodded, "I will visit you again soon, Miss Valentine."
---------------------
Faye ran down the hallway. Something was chasing her, and though she looked over her shoulder, she couldn't see what. She glance down, and noticed she was wearing only a small white t-shirt and boxer shorts. Where had these come from? No matter - she had to run.
She tripped over something, and fell, and when she looked down the hallway was gone, and she was tumbling down stairs. Casino lights were flashing all around her, and she thought she heard gunshots. In response she screamed, and reached for her own Glock, but it wasn't there. She was unarmed.
Faye landed at the bottom of the stairs in a pile. The casino lights were blinding her, and as she stood up, she found she did indeed have a gun. She whirled around, but all she could see was Spike, falling down the stairs. She jumped to the left, as though she was afraid that he would hit her during his decent, and suddenly she was no longer in the casino, but in a small 15x15 room.
Faye rushed to the door and banged on it. Screaming, she sunk the floor, crying. Why was she here! She didn't need deserve this. She cried until she could cry no more. When she looked up, she was no longer in the room.
As she pulled herself to her feet, she could hear the sounds of beautiful music, and the hum of a crowd speaking in low voices. She looked down at herself again, only to see that she was dressed in the most exquist ballroom gown she'd ever seen. The dress was a deep blue, with no sleeves and fit her figure until her waist where it flowed outward.
Then she saw him, dressed in a tuxedo, holding two glasses of champagne. She walked forward, feeling as though she belonged here. She could be happy her. It was like she was in the perfect dream. She, who wanted him.
Spike met her halfway across the floor, rich brown eyes sparkling. He offered her a champagne glass. Breathlessly, she accepted it, and he slipped an arm around her waist. His grasp was both pleasant and welcoming, with an overtone of possesiveness. Faye had never been more sure in her life that she was his. All his.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked, voice low and warm.
Faye nodded, sure that this was heaven. She took a sip of the champagne and then draped her arms around Spike's neck. "Tell me, Spike. How is it that you look so handsome tonight?" She smiled - her dazzling smile - the one that knocked people off their feet. It was a smile she often kept hidden, but tonight, she would show it to him. Because he was that wonderful. Because he deserved it.
The room seemed to fade away for a moment as though they were dancing on clouds. Faye leaned her head against Spike's chest, as she moved to the music. "Could this be my heaven?"
Spike held Faye close, the music still playing in the distant background. He stroked her hair gently, and gazed down at her with eyes flled with unconditional love. "It's always heaven so long as you're here," he murmured.
Faye let her eyes meets Spike's and her heart melted at the look in his eyes. This wasn't real. She knew it couldn't be real, and yet, her heart told her that it must be. She was here with him wasn't she? "Spike, kiss me," she said softly, her voice low and smooth as though she had been hypnotized by the look in Spike's brown eyes.
Spike took Faye's chin in his fingers. "You know I love you," he told her, voice brimming with devotion and sincerity. Then, he brought his mouth to hers.
The kiss was everything she could have possibly hoped it would be: tender and gentle yet fierce and fulfilling. Faye could have lost herself forever in that kiss, drowning in the caress of his lips and all it implied.
Abruptly, Spike pulled away, staring at something behind her. Faye turned and spotted a familiar and hated golden visage, watching them.
"Julia," she said venemously.
"Julia," Spike echoed. But his voice was the polar opposite of hers, filled with unbearalbe longing and desire. He broke then, casting her aside like an unwanted rag doll, and ran to Julia.
As Faye watched, her heart shattering like shards of frozen crystal, Spike swept up Julia in his arms. Utterly forgotten, Faye could only look on in misery as the man who'd said he loved her bent her enemy over and kissed her with a fiery passion that the kiss he and Faye had shared only moments early could never hope to match.
She turned and ran. She couldn't bare to watch any longer. Her dress ripped as she stepped on it, and she tumbled to the ground. Pulling herself up, she continued running, but she didn't seem to go anywhere. The room swirled around her, and she felt as though Spike was haunting her - the voice, the word "Julia" echoing all around her.
And then, as she fell again, she felt someone catch her. Strong arms gripped her body and pulled her back up. She looked up, wondering if it was Spike, returning to her, but it was not. The eyes she stared into now where Vicious's.
"You should kill him," Vicious said softly, although the voice seemed to ring in her head more than come from his lips. "Kill him - he's not worth your time."
Faye's eyes hardened. She hadn't considered that prospect before. "Kill him?" she questioned.
"Yes," Vicious said, leaning down and kissing her softly. "Make him pay." He kissed her again.
Faye closed her eyes, the thought playing on her mind as she kissed Vicious back. When she opened her eyes, she was back in the room - the 15x15 room, but this time Vicious was with her. She was in his arms, and he was carrying her.
"You want your freedom don't you?" He asked, setting her on the bed, before joining her. Faye only nodded, as she wrapped her arms around Vicious once more. Spike had to die. It was a simple as that.
---------------------
Cloria hummed softly as she tidied up the living room. Her mind was still thinking of Spike and Faye and the fascinating situation of their temporary neighbors. In all honesty, she didn't really understand why they were going to save Faye - they had nothing in it for themselves - but she still wanted to go. She wanted to help her, because she wanted to help Spike, and she felt there was much more to the relationship of Spike and Faye than either of them let on.
"Clory!" Jin shouted storming into the room. "What the hell do you mean by 'enamored'?"
"Jin, what are you talking about?" Cloria replied, whirling around to see his upset face.
"In your journal!" Jin said trying really hard to keep himself under control. "You said you were 'enamored' with that green haired guy!"
Cloria blushed, "Jin! I didn't mean it like that. I just enjoyed speaking to him. There is more to him than he lets on." Her face had flushed red. She hadn't meant it like that. Or had she? She shook her head. No, Spike had his own demons to deal with - one of them being Faye.
"When were you speaking with him?" Jin asked stepping up to Cloria and held her chin up so she would have to look him in the eye. Her blush alone told him that she was feeling guilty over something.
"He had a hangover, so I took him some medicine," Cloria replied. "We spoke for a few minutes and then I left." She reached up and gripped his hand. "You don't have to hold me like that Jin. I'm not going anywhere."
"You worry me sometimes," Jin said softly resting his head against hers so she couldn't see the look on his face. He couldn't help but feel a little jealous; this whole relationship with Cloria was still so raw for him. Especially after the way his last relationship had ended. Leaning done he gave her a soft peck on the lips. "You don't want me to hold you anymore?"
"I want you to hold me gently," Cloria replied. He seemed upset about something, presumably Spike. "Jin, you don't have anything to worry about. I'm not... attracted to Spike. Besides, he's got his own loves and problems to worry about."
"Shhh," Jin whispered into her ear. Wrapping one arm around her waist and the other behind her neck, Jin pulled her in for a long sensual kiss. "Gentle, huh?"
"Yeah, gentle," Cloria replied, kissing Jin back. She closed her eyes while they kissed and opened them again as she pulled back. A small smile crossed her lips. "I love it when you do that."
Jin chuckled softly; he wondered how he'd been able to live with out her before now. "We don't do it often enough as far as I'm concerned."
Cloria smiled; glad the tension was gone from the situation. "Then why don't you do it again." she said coyly.
"Hmm, I like your thinking," Jin said smiling down at her. He laced his fingers together behind her back, loving the feel of her against him. "But what do I get for my kisses?"
"Me," Cloria replied, her eyes shining as she looked up at him. Things were perfect in that moment. They would always be perfect.
"Mmmm," Jin said sublimely happy with her answer. He bent down and gave her another long soft kiss. As far as he was concerned he could spend the rest of his life like this. "That's good enough for me Princess."
Cloria smiled, "I love it when you call me princess." She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair. It had been a long time since she'd kissed a man.
Jin loved the taste of her. He picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the couch their lips still touching. Placing her down gently he leaned over on top of her. "Will you always be my princess?"
Cloria gasped a bit, surprised at Jin's sudden action. She forced a smile, reminding herself that he was gentle and cared about her. "I'll always be your princess," she repeated.
Jin backed off a bit, surprised at Cloria's brief reaction. He slowed down a little bit, smoothing her hair back from her face. He never wanted to see anything but a smile from her. "I never thought I'd have my very on Princess," Jin said smiling brightly.
Cloria took a deep breath. "Yeah," she said softly. "But you found her." She let herself relax. There wasn't any reason to think Jin would push things.
Jin rested his weight on the couch so that he was lying beside her. With one leg draped over Cloria, he held her as close to him as possible. "So why did you choose me?" Jin asked. He still couldn't figure out why a girl like Cloria would choose a bastard like himself, especially considering what he put her through.
Cloria was silent for a moment. "I just feel happy when I'm with you. You make me laugh, and you treat me like…well a princess." Cloria turned to her side so that she was facing him. "Really, what isn't there to like about you?"
"Well," Jin said playfully tugging and twirling at a lock of her hair. "I'm pig-headed, a complete bastard, and I didn't recognize you for the wonderful princess you are."
Jin let his hand wander, down her arm and under her shirt to feel the care skin of her back.
Cloria smiled at his complement, then stiffened slightly when his hand wandered under her shirt. She closed her eyes, willing herself to just relax. What was wrong with her? She trusted Jin and she wanted to be with him. To cover her tensing, she tossed an arm around his neck and kissed him.
Jin kissed her back reveling in the feel of her soft skin. As he caressed her, her shirt began to inch up slowly. "You're beautiful, Clory," Jin whispered to her nibbling softly on her ear.
Cloria kissed him back, but as her shirt inched up she pulled back. She grabbed the clothing and pulled it back down. "Please Jin..." she said softly. She just wasn't ready to go that far yet.
Jin immediately pulled back as if her skin burned him. He felt dirty pushing her to far. "I'm an ass," Jin said closing his eyes so he wouldn't have to see the frightened look on her face. "Forgive me, Clory."
Cloria shook her head. "No, you're not an ass. I'm just... careful." She kissed him again. "You haven't done anything wrong." She breathed a small sigh of relief. He had listened. OF course, what did she expect from Jin? He was a good person.
"Then can I just hold you for a moment?" Jin asked. Cautiously he moved wrapped an arm around her shoulders and placed his head lightly on top of hers. He wasn't ready to let her go yet.
Cloria closed her eyes. "You can hold me forever..."
