Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Got You ❯ Lipstick and Bruises ( Chapter 20 )

I do not own the characters of Cowboy Bebop. They are the property of Sunrise, Bones, and Bandai Visual (2001). They make the money, not me. Nor can I take credit for most of my chapter headings- they are the product of their authors. Sigh.

And now….

A petty apprehension.

 

Chapter 20: Lipstick and Bruises (Lit)

 

Jet glanced up from his research frowning at a drooling Spike sprawled on the couch, the half a vodka bottle nestled under his arm like a teddy bear. How can he just sleep like that when he knows Faye's after him? He shook his head deciding he would send her to catch Lester Lopov. You owe me, Spike. Tapping on her bedroom door he heard a muffled, “What?” Taking that as his cue, he entered the room to find Faye digging in her closet, piles of clothes littering the floor.

“Faye.” She jumped, banging her head on the clothes rod. She scuttled from the darkened recesses and waited for him to continue, “I've got a bounty for you. He isn't worth much, but he's enough to get that new part.” He purposely avoided which ship the part belonged to. Faye held out her hand for the bounty's information. Her brow rose slowly as she continued to scan the page. “A pick- pocket?” She snorted, “Jet he's only worth 1500 Woolongs.” He nodded. Faye groaned, “Let me guess he's nearby.”

Another nod, “He should be on…”

“Oh no. No.” She groaned, “He's on Mimas?! That place is like tourist central. It's hell!” Another nod. Faye sighed.

“It's an easy catch,” Jet cajoled, “The tourists clump in specific areas and that's where our guy'll be.”

“Why not send Spike?” Her voiced dripped with contempt.

Jet thought quickly, “What. Can't you handle a lousy thief?” He silently gave himself a pat on the back when Faye took the bait. He sighed and turned to leave, “I guess I can ask…”

“I can handle a pathetic purse snatcher!” She frowned, catching onto Jet's ploy a moment too late. “Fine. It shouldn't take long.” She flipped through the papers again, “Looks like you and Ed got a lot of info on him.” She eyeballed her assortment of clothing, “Get out. I'm not going to that frozen shit hole dressed like this.”

At the door he grumbled, “Keep your comm on, just in case.” He heard the soft grunt of acceptance and with a soft click he left her alone to prepare. An hour later, the hangar clang shut and the RedTail zipped from sight. He felt a little guilty sending her to family vacation central alone, but decided it was for the best. With one trickster out of the nest the other would have no one to hassle and he could get some much needed down time- maybe even a few hours sleep.

Ed peered at him from her preferred spot at the end of the coffee table, “Where'd Faye-Faye go?” Jet noted that Faye had done remarkably well removing most of the discoloration. Though still slightly grey, the most notable alteration was the strangely streaked brownish-blue and copper hair. Ed caught his expression, “Faye-Faye said it'll wash out soon.” She smiled and repeated her question, “Did Faye-Faye go after a bounty head?”

Jet nodded, “I sent her after Lopov.” Ed's head bobbled, pulling another face when Spike began to snore. Jet took the opportunity to snatch the Vodka bottle and return it to the freezer. With the crew quiet and precautions taken Jet took a final once over of his flight plan and decided to rinse off the day's events. Between bonsai, tools and repairs he was filthy. Shuffling to the bathroom he missed Spike slinking to one of the storage rooms.

He hadn't heard Faye since he passed out on the couch several hours earlier and assumed she was asleep in her room. Lethargically he emptied a trash can and filled it with water. Wincing at a sudden stab in the center of his skull he paused, resting a hand against the wall, until the world stopped spinning. Perhaps I should wait `til tomorrow. He snorted at the thought, sucked up his resolve and lugged the full can to Faye's bedroom. After tilting it against the door, he staggered back to his own bed. The world spun precariously as he settled and before he could lose his booze, he placed his foot firmly on the floor slipping off to dream of an upset Faye.

 

Faye was not a happy bounty hunter. An arctic breeze ripped by. Nope. Not happy at all. She clutched her coat tighter and mourned her moment of temporary common sense, she felt naked without her trademark yellow. With another frigid breeze she immediately changed her mind and came to the conclusion that perhaps it was time to expand her wardrobe- layers were good and there really wasn't anything wrong with slacks and boots. She shivered, again, watching another shipload brimming with young families take in the wonders of Herschel's Crater. She had spent six, teeth chattering hours on the observation point, the RedTail a click of her bracelet away, and no sign of Lopov. The cheap ones always suck. She jumped out of the path of a rather messy, pig nosed boy headed straight for her thigh.

“Eh… s'rry `bout `at m'am.” She gave the child's father a friendly smile, pretending to not care. Internally, she wanted to kick the nuisance over the guard rail. I wonder if he'd bounce? Stepping away from temptation, she wandered into the gift shop and cafeteria, tripping over a hunched Lopov attempting to cut the strap of a frustrated mother's purse.

He jumped and spun on her, “What the…?”

Faye smiled and grabbed his hand in a gesture of kindness, “Oh excuse me!” She brought her other hand out and snapped a cuff over his wrist. She congratulated her finesse, he hadn't noticed yet. With a quick kick to the back of his knee, she spun her body behind him- pulling the cuffed arm with. As he fell she braced for balance and snatched the second hand on impact. Knocking the penknife from his fingers she forced his arm to comply with its mate, and connected the two. She then sat him up and collected his blade.

“What?!” The distracted woman turned and found a disheveled Lester kneeling behind her. Faye continued to frisk the addled man, tossing the woman her wallet in the process. “Hey that's mine!”

Faye took her eyes off the bounty, “Yeah. I know. You want it back or you want to try and collect it from ISSP after I turn him in?” Catching the not so subtle hint that she would lose her wallet the woman collected her belongings and ushered her children away.

As if on cue, Lester began squirming and screaming, “Help! Someone help me!” A few families glanced over, “This woman. She's kidnapping me! Save me someone.” He tried to kick out at her, knocking her into a trash can. Faye's hand bounced off a cement column. “I don't know you! Stranger! Stranger!”

Furious Faye grabbed his collar and punched him in the jaw, wincing. She smiled in satisfaction when Lopov became silent, “Stranger danger is for little kids, idiot.” She flicked his nose, grinning at his watering eyes.

A shadow fell over the pair, “Miss. What's goin' on here?”

Faye turned to find a rather large, security guard hovering. She groaned, Just my luck to run into an all powerful rent a cop. She batted her eyelashes and gave a sweet smile, “Well…uh…officer I was just collecting a bounty.” There was an audible gasp from the observing families. Faye pressed on, “You… uh… don't want a pick-pocket helping himself to everyone's wallets do you?”

The man looked unconvinced until the near victim came forward, “That's right! She just saved my money from that… that… that very bad man!” A rustle of voices filled the small space and the guard plucked at his collar.

Faye gave a knowing nod, “Thieves are pretty bad for business, wouldn't you say…” she glanced at the name plaque, “Mr. Doyel?”

He frowned and tugged his pants back to their proper location, “Miss you're making a scene, please leave.”

Faye smiled, “Sure,” dragging Lopov to his feet and pushing him out the door. The moment the glass slid home the thief began with a new performance. “You're too pretty to be a bounty hunter. I got a friend who could make you famous.”

Faye snorted, “No thanks.”

“Ahh come on. I can't be worth much, why not just let me go?”

“Not feeling generous today,” she began flexing her injured hand, “sucks to be you.”

“Bitch!” He thrust forward, dragging Faye with him. “I ain't goin' t' jail!!” Faye let go, to avoid falling with, and grimaced when his head bounced off the concrete deck. Oopsies. No hands to break the fall. She signaled the RedTail and forced the dazed bounty back to his feet. She grinned, pleased, as the families scattered away from the approaching craft. Once settled, she called the Bebop. Ed answered on the third beep.

“Bebop Bebop!” She glanced at the screen, “Ah. Hey Faye-Faye.”

“Hey Ed. Tell Jet I've got Lopov,” Ed nodded. “Where are you guys?”

Ed glanced off screen for a moment, “Bebop just passed the floating rock belt.”

“Got it. Let Jet know I'm bringing Lopov to the ship.” She disconnected before further discussion. She vaguely noted him stirring behind her and jerked the ship sharply to the left, grinning when she heard him ricochet off the side of the pod with a pained grunt.

“You fuckin' skank! Let me go!” He thrashed around for a moment until he wore out.

Faye snickered, “Petty theft made you soft.” He growled and stirred some more.

“Do you know what they do to guys like me in prison?”

She snorted, “You'll be someone's bitch.” She zipped around slower traffic, Lopov being tossed with every turn. Faye giggled, “Or worse.”

He shifted, “I won't go. Can't make me!!” Faye decided to ignore him, not a big fan of whining and concentrated on the upcoming Bebop. She entered the landing sequence and slid back into her seat. I can't wait to crawl into bed and sleep. She vaguely noted Lester moving again. “Why so twitchy? Your foot fall as…” Cold metal wrapped around her neck, two shaking fists in her periphery. “I told you I won't go to jail!” He hissed frantically. Faye's brain fell off track the second the chilly chain bit into her throat. Shocked she kicked out, trying to squirm from his grasp. While flailing, Faye flicked her communicator on. Ed and Ein glanced at the screen, unnoticed by the struggling woman and irate bounty.

The links bit deeper. With her feet against the console Faye straightened her legs, her head slamming into Lopov's chin. Now off the pilot's chair she fell with him, tucking her chin she began elbowing his ribcage. He yanked his hands over her head in order to gain some distance and a semblance of protection. Faye immediately pushed away, falling forward when the ship jarred suddenly- the docking clasps grabbing hold. Momentum launched her into the console, her fingers broke the fall. Furious at the sudden pain shooting up her arm Faye `vented' on a fetal positioned Lopov. He made a few attempts to fend her off, but gave up for cowering when her foot made sharp contact with his side as the hatch hissed open. Unable to breath he passed out. No longer trapped, Faye escaped.

 

Ed sat, transfixed. Ein dashed off towards Jet, busting through the bedroom door and landing on the snoozing man. He snorted and bolted upright, “Ein! What the…?!” The pup latched onto his pant leg and pulled. “Ok. Ok. Lead the way.” Immediately the dog leapt from the bed and stormed to the hangar door, Jet hot on his tail. Ed whipped out behind the racing duo, “Faye-Faye just landed.” Jet's mind was racing, Why are Ed and Ein so worried? “Ed what's…” he heard the tell-tale whoosh of the hangar pressurizing and burst through the door. At the top of the steps he had an unobstructed view inside the cockpit. Faye was beating something on the floor of her MONO pod. She kicked viciously at the unknown, before opening the hatch and toppling out. Instantly on her feet she dashed past her stunned crewmates.

“Lopov's on the floor. I don't think he's dead.” She cradled her hand and frowned, “Shit head better not be.” Jet nodded and retrieved the unconscious bounty. Whatever the guy had done it was the wrong trick to pull. Eyes blackened, his hand had a distinct shoe imprint and based on the labored wheezing, Jet was certain a rib or two was broken. Shaking his head he drug the man out and up the stairs. After dropping the bounty in the make shift holding cell- a converted broom closet, he returned to the main room. Faye was sitting on the couch glaring at the first aid kit. With a sigh, he sat in front and began assessing damage, noting she favored one hand. He examined her fingers, the misshapen one hard to miss. She flinched when he touched it. “This'll hurt,” he jerked the finger back into alignment before she had the chance to fight. Now splinted and wrapped to its neighbors he waited to be filled in.

 

She gratefully accepted the pain killers and ice pack before slinking off for bed. Quite pleased when she heard the pained sniffles coming from the storage closet across the lounge's doorway. Stumbling to her room her foot hit something. Grimacing at having to move the trail of bruises across her neck and jaw, she turned livid when she saw a bucket of water propped against the door. Her eyebrow twitched, That's it! Fuming, she tugged the container to Spike's, mimicking its previous position. Satisfied she settled into her own bed, groaning at the numerous aches and pains, waiting for the pain pills to take her to blissful, dreamless sleep.