The Heart of the Bounty
A fanfiction
Chapter 7: Normalcy Amiss
It's been three days since we took off. I'm not completely on my feet yet, but I can thankfully move about on my seat. I'm sure Jet was getting sick of being in one place purposelessly. I was, too, even though I had no say in that matter. I'm just glad I can sit without anyone's help. There's nothing worse for your pride than being handicapped the way I was.
Ed would entertain me throughout the day. Indirectly, of course. That kid has really grown on me. She would be hacking into, God knows what. I'd listen to her cracking codes. What she lacks in martial arts expertise she makes up for in just mental genius. In spite of her annoying tendencies, I'm glad she's on the ship. It's not that we catch any more bounties; she just makes the work easier for us.
Ein has grown on me, too. He subtly clues all of us in on what's going on amongst each other or whatever hunt we're working on. He isn't much of a nuisance, like other dogs. Especially like the dogs I've known in my past.
Then, there's Faye. I want to say to myself that she hasn't grown on me, that she'll always be the same, obnoxious, mischievous girl. Yet, I can't remove the spark in my eyes when I catch a glimpse of her. Surprisingly, that's all I've seen of her. I'd see her slender, curved back walking away from me. Or maybe a profile of her small, delicate face. I look on her with much more ease than I used to. Okay, she has grown on me. But this … the way I see her now indicates more than just her growing on me. Something's grown, and it's not just mere familiarity.
When I zone out here and there throughout the day, I expect flashbacks of Julia to return to me. It's almost as if she's being blinked out of existence for me. I see nothing … nothing but Faye. Her fighting instincts as she zooms around in her ship, her sly looks, her wily smile. I don't shudder at the thought anymore. I don't welcome it either, but I just let it happen. It's almost as though I'm still too weak to keep myself mentally in tow. Damn women. They're always trouble from the start. Especially Faye. Especially … Julia.
She's the primary reason I cling to my past the way I do. More and more the vision in my left eye is clouded. My past with Julia becomes foggy and unclear. The past my eye looks upon now is that with Faye, whatever sort of past that was. Visions of her from when we first met, from every bounty we'd hunt, from that one melting stare.
I'd perk up when I hear echoes of her voice streaming down the halls past the common room. When I hear the clanking of her heels, I turn, hoping to see her. I must admit, I have been lonely. Jet is wonderful company, but someone has to drive the Bebop. Faye only passes me by, as if I were nothing, as if I weren't there.
I really want to work on another bounty. Then she'll have no choice but to speak to me. We'll have no choice but to finally confront each other. I'm anxious, but willing. I'm ready to work. I'm ready for Faye.
