Enigma

Nouvelle

Part 3: Restart

Kukukachu. More reviews. Ah what fun. I'm so busy and I have so many things to do but I don't care. I wanna write my fanfics so there. School sucks. Anywayz, I don't own Cowboy Bebop or the characters. This chapter took me a couple of days to write because I didn't know what to write and I don't want there to be a long wait for only the third chapter so I built it up little by little. My first two chappies each took me only a couple of hours to type up in a day. Well anywayz, read and review.

I woke up the next morning tired, groggy, and ready to murder my alarm clock.

Blinking blindly, I reached out to steady myself as I stood up and headed to the door stepping on my shopping bags on the way. Yawning widely, I opened the door and stepped through only to hit a solid wall.

A soft, warm, solid wall.

Scowling darkly at whatever stopped my conquest to the kitchen I looked up.

And there before me stood Spike in all his glory wearing only sweat pants holding a steaming cup of coffee. I now understand how the bad guys felt when Superman showed up. I mentally made another scratch on the inside of my brain.

Count: four to two.

My new wall didn't seem to want to move however after two minutes. I half considered grabbing a sledge hammer to break it down but since I didn't have one and I was still sleepy, I settled on slamming the door in his face. The grunt I heard from him as I slipped back under the covers caused me to grin.

Count: four to three.

I stayed in bed for about ten minutes before getting up again. Cautiously I opened the door and scanned the hallway.

No Superman.

Overjoyed that he was gone I flung open my door and made my way to my awaiting cup of coffee.

Yet upon entering the kitchen I had to stop and back track because there was Spike, sitting on the coach, idly holding my coffee cup.

I know it's pretty childish of me to claim a coffee cup as mine, but hey, I bought it, I use it, its mine. And why the hell Spike was dangling it in front of me tauntingly was beyond my comprehension.

Count: five to three.

Growling, I made my way over to him. Why did this man insist on delaying me from my caffeine?

I knew Spike had a death wish, but I'm sure he wouldn't enjoy my methods of putting him out of his misery.

"Give it to me," I grounded out through clenched teeth. Lord knows I'd bite him if I could.

"Why should I?" he asked raising an eyebrow at me. I wonder how he would look without any eyebrows.

"Because it's mine, so give it back to me." I was beginning to see red. I think it's going to be my new favorite color.

"There are plenty of other cups Faye. You could always use one of those," Spike pointed out suggestively.

Like I cared. My sense of reasoning had long since divorced my common sense and I lunged at him. Let's blame it on PMS.

"Die," I yelled as my hands groped for his neck. An over used word if you've watched one of those horror movies or backstabbing chick flicks but an apt word in this case.

Spike just seems to bring out the best in me.

Unfortunately for me Spike just happened to move out of the way 'like water' as he so nicely puts it, and as a result I happened to splash onto the couch. Still fuming at him, I turned over so that I was sitting when I came face to face with him.

Not what I was expecting but apparently he expecting me to make an attempt at his life. An attempt that I was still in the process of

Count: six to three.

"Now Faye," Spike drawled grinning at me, "there's no reason to jump me. We all know how feisty you can be."

What the hell?

Was he flirting with me?

Probably not. He was most likely mocking me, but that knowledge didn't help in keeping down the blush that threatened to turn my face into a tomato.

"Bastard, go screw yourself," I replied darkly before shoving him out of the way and going to the kitchen. If need be, I'd get by for one day without my coffee cup.

After the incident in the kitchen Jet rounded us up for a little meeting. We would be going after a bounty in two or three days. All we did was get the low down on the situation, the money, and where'd we hit them at when we commenced the operation. Not very interesting to me so I just sat there filing my nails. All I needed to do was go in, beat up the person, and then turn them in. In and out in one little session.

I began to drift off when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.

"We'll go."

Looking up at Spike with a bored expression I said, "Of course, we'll go. Do you think the bounty will walk in by itself?" Honestly. He didn't need to state the obvious. Usually it was me and Spike who'd go out and catch the bounty. Well it's been only me for the past year since Spike's been AWOL.

Spike grinned from ear to ear at me and my breath hitched in my throat.

"I'm glad you agree. Well then, let's get going." Spike said, getting up and throwing his jacket over his shoulder.

Startled, I sat up straighter. "Go where?"

"To go info hunting," Spike declared as he walked through the door.

So that's what he was talking about. We needed to find a little street information on the bounty

The count was now seven to three.

I followed Spike out into the hanger where we got into our aircrafts and set off.

How did I get into this mess? Did I really want to spend the rest of the day with Spike?

It might not be much of a bad idea.

This would give us a chance to try and get along. But much to my dismay after we landed Spike and I split up. It wasn't a big surprise but you'd think after he dragged me out here we'd go info hunting together. If he wanted to go alone he didn't need to volunteer me.

Now that my day had been ruined I decided to complete the task at hand then go to the casino. No need to be completely miserable.

I made a few stops at the local bars to eavesdrop on some conversations. After, I started to snoop along the alleys and backhand shops. I was able to accumulate a sufficient amount of information about our dear bounty to call it a day. But it was getting late and the casino seemed to loose its appeal to me. Instead I headed to a bar to have a few drinks.

Pushing open the door I ignored all the leers made in my direction and headed to the counter. Sitting down I ordered the cheapest drink they had in the house. No need to go all expensive if I was going to spend the money at the casino tomorrow.

I quickly downed a few shots before the door of the bar banged open.

Damn. It just so happened that the one day I decide to go to a bar, one of those gang leaders decided to appear.

I'm not into all that. Sure their leader might be a little cute but the whole attitude of 'yeah I'm a rebel, dig me' doesn't work for me.

In hopes of going unnoticed I turned my head to the opposite wall and pretended that it had my utmost fascination. My efforts were in vain however as Mister Gang Leader made his way over to me.

"Hey there babe."

I hadn't stopped looking at the wall when he first addressed me, which was a smart choice since I had difficulty hiding the disgust off my face. 'Hey there babe?' What kind of line was that? I didn't feel like flirting with the boy but I didn't feel like trying to take on him and his cronies either. In favor of avoiding a fight because Lord knows me and Spike have enough of those I spun around slowly.

I've been doing this for years and I've become quite good at the seducing and duping the dumb. And this little boy had to be the dumbest if he thought he could try and pick me up.

"Hello," I replied stretching my lips in a slow smile. I watched as his eyes followed their movements. Definitely a little boy.

I spent the next few minutes chatting with Mister Gang Leader about random things.

I started to tune out after a few seconds however. As the years passed I learned how to have a conversation without really thinking about it and still look sexy at the same time. I'm so talented.

I only momentarily paid attention when Mister Gang Leader started to list all the girls he's banged.

You know how I called Spike an idiotic, callow bastard?

I take it back.

This one has just topped the charts. Let's give him an award.

I can't even fathom why he decided to discuss about all the women he laid with another women. Did he want to impress me by his vast collection? I guess it's a male thing.

Like I said. Little boy.

After that I tuned out again much like I do when an annoying song comes onto the radio.

Wouldn't someone come and save me from my misery?

Then all of a sudden Mister Gang Leader grabbed my hand and started to pull me up to stand.

What the hell? I'm pretty sure I wasn't so zoned out that I wouldn't at least know what was going on.

In protest I started to tug my hand out of his grip, but that only resulted in him gripping my wrist more fiercely.

Hmmm. I guess he isn't such a little boy as I thought he was.

He raised a threatening eyebrow at me. "What's wrong babe?" he asked, voice arrogant.

Quickly, I assessed the situation. If I tried anything in the bar I'd most likely be stopped by his cronies before I even reached the door. But if I got outside I'd be able to make a clear run for it.

"Nothing's wrong, I just wanted you to know I've got a place nearby that I use once in awhile." A little lie so that I could get to door and stop him from asking question to why he hasn't seen me around. It would persuade him to let me outside where I could later get away.

Smiling smugly at me, he once again started for the door.

On the way I felt more than one pat on my behind made by the cronies.

Enough was enough. Deciding to take my chances, I crouched down and swept at Mister Gang Leader's feet and made a dash for the door. Only before I got there did the door swing open with a bang.

I'm starting to feel bad for the door. All the banging must have put a lot of strain on it over the years.

Can you guess who was standing at the door?

Yay, we have a winner.

As I gazed at Spike, the only coherent word that I could utter was, "Huh?"

Count: eight to three.

But it only took that quick second for Mister Gang Leader to catch up with me and whirl me around to teach me a lesson.

And that's when the chaos ensued.

Rather than go into the grueling details of the battle let me make it easier for you.

Do you remember how I referred to Spike as water? Well, let's just say that Spike was a flood and those little gang members got swept away.

Afterwards, Spike grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the bar and down the street. After awhile, the pressure increased and I gave a cry of protest.

"Spike, that hurts!"

Quickly he let go but raised a questioning eyebrow at me as he turned to face me.

"I wasn't gripping that hard," he informed me.

Tartly I relied, "It was enough."

Gazing down at me he reached out for my hands and brought my wrists to his face. In the dim light of the street lamp he was able to see the faint blemishes of a forming bruise made by Mister Gang Leader. Quickly his face contorted with anger and his eyes snapped up to meet mine.

"What do you think you were doing Faye?" he questioned, his voice thick and low.

"Nothing," I answer bristly.

How dare he question me? He's the one that left me alone to fend for myself.

"That didn't look like nothing," he countered. "You're supposed to be gathering information.

"I did," I answered thoroughly annoyed. "And it was nothing. I could have dealt with the situation myself."

"Like how you were handling it when I walked in," he put in, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I can take care of myself Spike," I retorted. "I've been doing it for the past year."

"Don't you dare throw that back in my face now," he demanded as his eyes narrowed in anger.

"I'll do whatever I want," I shot back. "You think you're so cool now that you've beaten me eight to three but I'll have you know I don't care. You're not number one at everything Spike. I'm a big girl now. One learns things over a year's period. You just weren't there to see it."

Now I know I might have thrown Spike off when I mentioned my little 'surprise count' but I could care less. I was mad, annoyed, and sore. In my little rage I whipped around and started heading down another street.

"And to think I came back for you."

I wasn't sure if that had been my imagination, the wind, or actually Spike but I gave no notion of hearing it. It had been barely above a whisper and I'm pretty sure that if Spike had said it he had not meant for me to hear it. The only thing I know is that Spike jogged up to me and together we walked back to out aircrafts in silences with the wind whispering secrets around up.

And that's the end of this chappie. I think in the next one I might focus a bit on how they never have any food to eat on the Bebop. I hope you liked this chapter. And don't forget, I need more ideas. So... gimme gimme gimme. Go superman!

Love & Peace