Hooray! A double-feature! Since both these chapters were a little on the short side, I figured I'd post them at the same time to make up for the length. Enjoy your Monday, friends!

Session Eighteen

Leon adjusted the tie around his neck and stared at himself in the mirror in Spike's room. His father's old blue leisure suit fit well, no matter how reluctantly Faye handed it over. Leon liked the sophisticated air it gave his lanky figure. He hooked a finger under the tie and loosened it by a few inches. Sophisticated or not, he wasn't about to walk around choking for the sake of fashion. He gave his appearance another once-over. Did Spike look like this the day he went to fight the Dragon? How were you supposed to dress to capture a Syndicate anyway? Leon gave his reflection his most rakish grin, then he pulled out the Jericho and gave the mirror his most intimidating scowl. He laid the Jericho on top of the dresser and scrutinized his reflection one last time. He winked at himself and laughed. Then he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, making it stick up more than usual.

"There's just no getting away from you, is there...dad?" he said softly.

The reflection didn't answer.

"I wish I met you. The stories I've heard - " Leon chuckled but there was something harsh in it. "There's no way I can fill your shoes."

"Maybe you should stop trying."

Leon jumped and whirled toward the door, hand going for the Jericho. But it was just Ed, grinning in the doorway.

"Ed!" he put his hands down at his sides. "Don't scare me like that! Have you ever heard of knocking?"

Ed nodded and walked into the room. "You don't catch people in the middle of things when you knock," she said, tapping the side of her nose knowingly.

"What if I was getting dressed?" Leon asked.

"You weren't," Ed said, waving a hand dismissively.

"Then what were you hoping to catch me in the middle of?" Leon asked, tugging at his tie again.

"Being Leo."

"What?"

"Being Leo."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means what it means," Ed sang.

Leon rolled his eyes. "Ok, Ed. Do you even have everything ready for this afternoon?"

"Of course." Ed whistled and Ein came scrambling into the room a moment later, Tomato strapped to his back.

"You're taking Ein?"

"Why not?" Ed asked, bending down to give Ein a scratch behind the ears. Ein's tongue lolled happily.

"I mean, won't Jet tell you not to?"

"Probably," Ed grinned. "But Ed can just take him anyway."

"How do you do it, Ed?" Leon asked.

"Do what?" she looked up at him, amber eyes unblinking.

"Just be...you."

"Oh that," Ed laughed. "That's easy. Ed is Ed, no matter what other people say or think."

"Easy for you to say. No one expects you to be anybody but Ed."

"That's because Ed is always Ed. There's nobody else for anybody to expect Ed to be."

"That's because your parents weren't freaking legends."

Ed shrugged. "No. My dad is crazy. But people don't expect Ed to be crazy just because her dad is."

Leon stopped for a moment and scratched his head. "But Ed. You are crazy."

"Yup!" She nodded enthusiastically.

"So, aren't you just like your dad?"

Ed shook her head so hard her goggles swung around her neck. "He's on Earth chasing rocks, and Ed's in space fishing with her best friends. We might both be crazy, but we're not the same person."

"Yeah, well, I doubt you look just like your dad either."

"That's true," Ed said thoughtfully. "But just because you look like Spike person doesn't mean you have to be Spike person. It just means at least you know what he looked like."

"You make it sound so simple."

"That's because it is."

Leon frowned at her.

"For the record, Ed thinks Spike person would be proud of you." Ed winked. "So does Ein."

Leon felt his defenses drop. "You really think so?"

"We know so."

"Thanks, Ed." Leon sighed. "I just hope I can live up to his expectations."

"Leo can't live up to Spike person's expectations when he didn't have any for you. Leo should live up to Leo's expectations." Ed spun on her heel and skipped out of the room. Ein followed, barking.

Leon looked at his reflection again. This time, he thought he saw something underneath Spike's features-a thin scar from the pier on his left cheek, a higher tilt to his smile, a different slant to his eyes. Maybe Ed was right. Maybe he just needed to set his own expectations and live up to them. He slid the Jericho under his jacket and followed Ed out of the room.

He found Jet in the living room adding the finishing touches to his casino security uniform. "You look official." Leon said.

Jet turned around. His eyes widened for a moment. "Hell, kid. You look...sharp." Leon was pretty sure Jet just stopped himself from saying "like Spike."

Leon sketched a bow. "I try." He looked up with a smirk.

Jet clipped a plastic ID (complete with fake name) to his belt, something Ed fabricated last night to Ares standards.

"You think this is gonna work, Jet?" Leon asked.

"You getting nervous, kid?"

Leon rubbed his neck. "Maybe."

Jet shrugged. "Well, this is one of the fastest jobs I've ever put together. Maybe when you tell your bounty you're coming for them at noon tomorrow, you should make sure you've got everything ready for that, huh?"

Leon felt heat rush to his face. "About that…"

Jet clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Leon," he said. "I pulled off more half-assed plans with Spike than you can shake a stick at. We'll be fine. Really."

"Yeah. Right." Leon nodded like he was convincing himself. "Now I just need to find my lady friend."

"I don't think you'll have to look far," Faye's voice floated from the hall.

Leon turned in surprise to find Faye draped against the doorframe. She wore a floor-length, purple sheath dress, slit up to her thigh on the left side. The dress was sleeveless and covered in subtle sequins that glittered when Faye turned to the light. She wore long black gloves up to her elbows and had a dark fur stole draped over her shoulders. Her bright red heels matched the flower in her pinned-up hair and a pair of delicate shades covered her eyes.

Leon found himself speechless for a second.

Faye looked over at him and froze. With her eyes hidden, Leon couldn't tell what she was thinking. Her ruby-red lips remained in their customary pout, but Leon felt his stomach drop. He knew what Faye was seeing. He shouldn't have put on Spike's old suit. Her lips turned down and Leon took a breath, ready to defend himself. Faye slid the sunglasses down her nose, staring at him with those startling green eyes. And then the lips parted and she smiled, showing a flash of white teeth.

"Well, at least one of us cleans up nice, Mr. Spiegel."