Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Got You ❯ Symbiosis ( Chapter 30 )

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….

Angsty pregame issues.

 

Chapter 30: Symbiosis (Jed Davis)

 

Faye glared at the warm spring, trying to decide if she could swim in it or not. Rustling stilled her internal debate. “Uh… hey.” Came the whisper of the redhead. She eased next to Faye. “You're boyfriend, husband, whatever seemed pretty upset about you leaving.” She sat down when Faye didn't appear to mind her presence. “Do you mind me asking what's wrong?”

Faye sighed, the girl meant well. She shrugged.

Angie shifted, “He seems real nice and very into you.” She coughed, “I know I'm not much, but I tried to pick him up at that club Jeff took us to.”

Faye glanced at her, waiting.

“Anyway, he uh… wouldn't stop watching you.”

Faye snorted, That's `cause I was supposed to draw in a hefty bounty head and he didn't trust me.

Angie continued, “He gave me some pretty good advice.” She shrugged and blushed.

Faye grumped, “That's Spike, a real advice columnist.” She stabbed a stray stick into the pool's edge, “Maybe he should change professions.”

“You don't have to be snippy. I just came out here to see if you're ok.”

Faye turned towards the suddenly nervous girl, “Ok?” She snarled, “I'm fuckin' peachy.” She chucked a rock in the water, “I'm a replacement. The means to a fuckin' end. A toy to play with until it's broken or boring.” She gave a rough snicker, “You know what the worst part is? I want the guy stuck on another girl.” She glared at the water, “When he's pretending to be my boyfriend, husband, whatever he imagines her in my place.” Shift, “It's sad really. She and I have nothing in common; she was one of those dangerous beauties that a guy falls for fast and hard. An angel from… from the underworld.”

Angie twitched. “W…was?”

“She was cool, collected and near perfection.” A sad smile ripped across her face, “She had her own gravitational pull. I met her once and even I found myself wishing I could be like her.” She snorted, “I'm klutzy, loud and a complete tomboy. He hates tomboys.” She sighed, “I get noticed because I dress like a tramp and know how to bat my lashes and swing my ass.” She dug up some more rocks. “It'd be nice to be seen as something other than a perky boobs attached to a decent pair of legs.” She glanced at the red-head, “You know, be someone who isn't what's available and looks easy?”

Angie studied her, “How can you think that?”

“What?” she shrugged, “The truth?”

“No. That you're just what's available.” She scowled, “I saw how everyone acted around you at the club and school.” She glared at the water, “You weren't even trying and everyone was interested.” She studied Faye carefully, “You've got that mysterious pull thingy too.” She grinned sadly, “You just don't realize it.” Her head cocked to the side, “Trust me, I'm the invisible one. I play the role of what's available.” She shrugged, “I wouldn't be here if Kevin and Wolfe could catch a girl like you.” She sighed and grinned, “Jeff was supposed to keep me company but he was busted for narcotics again. Idiot.” She glanced at the bounty hunter, “You don't seem bad. Definitely not bad thing.” Her head tipped sideways, “A fallen angel maybe.”

Faye scoffed.

“I don't care what you say,” she folded her arms, “That dishy, skinny guy's interested. Especially if what Wolfe said is true.”

“Who's Wolfe?”

“Oh. He's that guy with Kevin and me.” Angie smiled, “He said he was going to hit on you the other day, but your uh… whatever he is came and interrupted him.”

Faye giggled, “I'd forgotten he was even there.”

“Oh. That'd piss him off royal.” She giggled, “He thinks he's Mr. Super Woman Magnet or some junk.” She continued grinning, “Anyway, Wolfe said your uh… boyfriend showed up, got all possessive and stuff.”

Faye laughed.

“It's true!! I believe him too!” She smiled, “I hung around the club long enough to watch him chase away all the guys tryin' to dance with you. It was hysterical.” She shook her head, “You should have seen how he ignored all the girls grabbin' him too! It was like no one but you existed.”

More like the bounty behind me.

“Hey. Have you two been on any dates?”

“Not really, why?”

“Oh, just curious.” She sighed, “What's he kiss like?”

“Excuse me?”

 

Spike slunk into the office. Annette grinned and waved him close. George materializing beside her. “So you've come for some help, aye boy?”

“Somethin' like that.”

Annette nodded, “First off, quit with the teasin'.”

George's head bobbed in agreement. “You only make a move of you plan on following through.”

“I have been.”

“Bullshit, kid.” George scowled, “From what little I could get from that cute kid living' with you two you've been pretty hot and cold towards the poor thing.”

Annette nodded, “If what that sweet, little girl said is true, you were a wonderful suitor then, poof, she has to stay at arm's length.”

“Whoa. You've been in contact with the Bebop?”

They glanced at each other and nodded. Spike scowled. George grinned, “No. You can't use it.” He dropped some images on the counter, “The kid sent the club pictures,” he shook his head, “How do you keep all that pent up?” He snickered, “I would've popped a nut.” Annette swatted his arm. “What?” He grinned, “No one acts that well with someone they don't give a shit about, boy.” He rubbed his chin, “Well, unless they've got one hell of an imagination and I doubt you fall in that category. And the chances of you both able to imagine someone else that well is total bullshit.”

Annette nodded, “Suck it up and treat her nice like you did at the school.” She rapped his head with her knuckle. Spike grinned and rubbed his abused forehead. Annette disappeared, returning with another bag. “Take this with you, from what I've heard she wandered towards the spring.”

George nodded and dropped some towels on top, “That goofy red head followed her.” He grinned, “She won't hang around long, especially if you show up intent to follow through.”

“Which you are!”

Spike just grinned, he didn't do romance, but he could follow through. George nodded, “Just don't choke kid and don't worry Annette and I'll keep the unwanted rabble out of the way.”

 

Faye rolled her eyes and eyeballed the water again. It looked like a giant tub. Angie was still babbling about the perfection that wasn't Spike. Sick of the incessant thrum of chatter Faye smiled, “Hey. Do you mind heading back?” Angie stilled and twitched. Faye pressed the nice girl routine, “I just want to be alone for a bit, you know? I need to process and calm down. You know post wedding jitters that crap.”

She nodded.

Faye smiled, “Thanks.” Heading away, Angie glanced back in time to see Faye tug off her shoes. With a smile and a plan to tell the skinny guy to pop in she hurried back towards the cabins. She grinned when she saw her intended target wandering up the path, a rumpled cigarette dangling from his lips. Her plans forgotten, she scowled and blocked his way, “You need to be nicer to her and quit thinking about…” she scowled, trying to remember exactly what Faye had said, “that dangerously gorgeous girl from your past. The angel from the underworld or whatever.” She marched closer, “Especially if you're with her,” she jerked her thumb back to the spring, “now.”

“Not that what I do is any of your business.” Spike repressed the urge to groan, “I think someone has misread my intentions.”

The redhead blinked, “What?”

Spike shrugged, “Why don't you let me deal with this.” He glanced at her, “I think that bossy fellow…”

“Wolfe or Kevin?”

“Eh… Wolfe is lookin' for you.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah, sure.” He watched her disappear before heading in the opposite direction. What's with everyone digging in my business lately?

 

Faye grinned and shimmied out of her skirt. She hadn't been swimming outside for fun since she was a little girl at the springs with her folks. Her head tipped sideways, did this even count as a spring? Not caring she hopped in happy to be alone and away from pervy college boys, nosy old people, opinionated redheads and confusing Spikes. Splashing happily she dipped below the surface before finding a place to perch and soak. She studied the scrubby growth surrounding the place- it really wasn't as ugly as she previously thought. She sighed, trying to remove all the insecurities that popped up whenever Spike would pull his doting suitor act. Maybe Angie was right. She snickered at the other woman's indignant rant. Faye had never considered herself threatening physically. Her philosophy had become: If in doubt broadcast, well… everything. She knew she was attractive in a vulgar kind of way, but to hear that girl ramble on she'd have to believe she was a hard to miss temptress. She laughed and submerged, kicking off her perch and paddling across the space.

Spike broke through into the clearing, just catching the happy giggle and rhythmic splashing. He stilled, deciding to wait before creeping closer. She popped up, smiled, took a deep breath and disappeared below the softly tinted water. He eased towards her pile of discarded clothing and settled at the edge of the pool. She appeared nearby, sputtering. With a giggle she dipped below the surface to repeat her trek across the small space. He watched, just noting she had worn a suit. So she planned on swimming. Huh. She reappeared on the far edge, spun and froze.

“What are you doing here?!”

He grinned, “I was told we should have a real date.”

She glanced around.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking for flying bullets.” She pulled a face, wiping stray droplets off her chin, “Maybe I want to be alone.”

“Do you?”

She ignored his question and turned scowling, “Aren't you supposed to ask the girl if she wants to go out?”

He shrugged, “Not an expert on this…” he pulled a face, “romance bullshit.”

She grinned and disappeared below the surface, emerging nearby. “Is this more acting?”

Scowl, “No.” He tugged off his jacket. She remained still, studying his every movement. He grinned, “Numerous people have told me that I send mixed signals.”

She frowned and inched closer. “Who?”

“Jet's yelled it at me a few times. George and Annette gave me a nice long lecture. Ed's tried in her subtle way…” he smirked at her funny grin, “And a chubby redhead accused me of thinking about a dangerous someone or other.” Her progress stilled and she edged back. Spike tugged his shirt over his head. “Why's everyone think I'm stuck?”

She stumbled into a deeper section, disappearing. Spike grinned and waited for her to reappear. She popped out, sputtering and swiping at her face. His eyebrow rose, waiting. Her convulsions stilled. She blinked and smiled sheepishly, “Uh…”

He undid his belt and kicked off his shoes, “Why Faye?”

“Uh…” he grinned when her eyes followed his hands. She blushed and turned away, “She just seems like a woman that would be hard not to forget.” Shrug. “Perfection, or near to it.”

“And so that's why I'm frozen, as Ed so kindly puts it?”

She stilled when ripples made their way to her. “You… you went and blew yourself up to find out if you were alive. You came back half dead and you haven't been the same since.” She shrugged, dipped below the surface and glided away. She appeared across the pool and watched him. “You've been a moody mope since you healed up.” She grinned, “The most interest you've shown in anything is in making my life hell with all those stupid pranks.” She grinned, “I won by the way.”

He dunked below the surface. Faye tensed preparing for the worse. He came back up in the same spot and shrugged, “Maybe I was just having' fun for once.” Grin, “And I have a sinking suspicion this'll end up a tie.”

Her eyes drifted to the scar across his abdomen. She bit her lip and shook her head, “I guess I can't understand. And be careful, those stitches shouldn't get submerged.”

He ignored her warning and sat on her previous perch, “Why?” he grinned, “Aren't you constantly drudging up stuff most of us would have long forgotten?”

She shifted, “That's because I don't get a choice, and I can't control when something triggers a memory. Besides, it's not like I run off hell bent on fixing whatever shows up.” She grinned, “I'm more interested in the here and now, maybe tomorrow. Yesterday, just doesn't matter as much.”

Spike leaned back, “Jet says when I left a lot of stuff came back.”

She nodded, her head lowering towards the water. “What changed?”

He grinned, “My past is dead and gone.” Shrug, “After being laid up so long I guess I decided it was easier to live in the now…”

She giggled, “Too bad your now consists of a shrew, obsessive compulsive, a psychotic and a dog.” She disappeared under the surface. Taking that as his cue, Spike submerged and kicked towards her. She stood and swiped at her face, “Poor Spiky.” She scowled at the lack of a response and glanced at his previous location. She bit her lip, “Spike?” She noted his pile of clothes, undisturbed. She scanned the water, no tell-tale ripples. “Spike!” She turned looking around the perimeter of the pool for evidence that he had slipped out. She drifted towards the edge and studied the forest, “SPIKE!” She spun at a splash, Spike inches from her face. He grinned, pinning her. “I don't really mind the psychotic, obsessive compulsive or the mutt.” The space between them shrank, “The woman on the other hand drives me nuts.”

She swallowed and squeaked, “The… the shrew? Why?” Forcing herself to not think of this as anything more than acting.

He grinned, forcing her to back into the pool wall. His eyebrow rose, “Because she's a confusing riddle. A complete bitch, ice cold with glimpses of a warm human being underneath.” Her hands floated to his chest in an attempt to keep him from advancing closer. “I can piss her off and still count on her when the chips are down.” He moved closer, noses touching. “You know what, Faye?” She blinked. “This last stunt of Jet's really pissed me off.” She blinked again, not following. “I had to do all the stuff I've been avoiding since I started collecting bounties again.” Numb nod. He grinned, “And then you end up being the one thing I swore you were incapable of being.” He floated back, grinning when she followed, hands still on his chest. “You're a likeable tomboy.”

“Huh?”

He herded her back towards the perimeter, “How's it feel to prove me wrong?” Blink. Deciding there was too much of him talking he pressed against her. Arms wrapped around her he tugged her close.

She gasped and nervously glanced at him. “What…”

“Faye.” She blinked. “Shut up.” Her eyes fluttered closed, arms sliding up to his shoulders. He didn't wait for more of an invitation, pressing tight, his mouth against hers. She hummed softly, her fingers slipping into his hair. His hands slid down her waist, past her hips, and hooked under her thighs pulling her up and wrapping her legs around him. She gasped at the change of positions and the sudden and obvious proof he wasn't acting. He grinned and pressed tighter, “I've been telling you I wasn't acting.” Her grip on his head tightened. She bit his lip, “Spike. Shut up.”

He returned the favor, “I told you one free…” she silenced him. One hand untangling and floating across his chest. He placed her on the lip of the pool, following closely behind. Easing up onto her elbows she licked a stray trail of water from collar bone to ear. He pulled a face, she giggled and latched onto his earlobe. Not to be outdone, Spike's fingers traced their own path over her damp skin. She shivered slightly when his hand splayed across her stomach. She arched into his touch, another soft moan slipping out. He grinned, only to try and repress his own as he pressed into her hand as it copied his and slid lower. He hissed, “That's cheatin', Faye.”

She grinned, her hand still in place, “Didn't know there were any rules, Cowboy.” She squeezed gently.

His head settled in the crook of her neck, breathing slightly stressed. “Should be.”

She giggled, until his hand moved up and under her top. His second sliding behind her and towards her hips, he settled above her.