Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Under Pressure ❯ Ch. 7: Shame ( Chapter 7 )

Sadly, 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 my chapter headings- they are the product of their authors.

 

Chapter 7: Shame (Stabbing Westward)

 

Faye glared at the slowly filling pot of coffee. With luck she'd get her cup of liquid fuel and be out the door before Spike woke. The sound of shuffling and incoherent cussing instantly burst her bubble. She stared at the black liquid- there was barely enough to cover the bottom of her mug.

The noises drew closer.

She'd been uncomfortable around Spike since `the incident', unable to speak to him directly without blushing like an idiot, school girl. Her only sense of consolation was Spike's disregard of her burning cheeks. She groaned, now that Ed and Jet had left she was forced to talk to him directly, no more messages through the kid. She eyeballed the dog, absently toying with the idea of a carrier puppy. Ein plunked on the floor, absently chewing his foot. Deciding it would be a wasted effort she resumed her glaring at the gurgling machine. Rolling her eyes, she could already feel the nervous flush creeping past her collar.

Spike turned the corner, catching her back and opting for a hasty reorganization of the third storage room below the hangar. It was one of the few places Faye refused to go. Her voice stilled his progress, “If you're heading anywhere besides the lounge, hangar, observation deck, kitchen, bath or either of our bedrooms you're out of luck.”

“What?” He slumped against the doorway, idly fingering a smoke.

Shrug, “Jet closed up all the rooms except the main living spaces.” She shook her head, “No air, heat. Nothin'. Locked the doors up too.”

“Damn.” He ignored the fact she wouldn't look at him.

“Yup.” She glanced at him briefly the smallest smile fighting to be seen, “Guess you won't be able to hide.”

Snort, “I'm not the one hidin', Faye.”

She twitched before glancing at the clock, “Got to go. Later, Lunkhead.”

Ein slipped between the slumped cowboy and retreating woman. One of them should get the hint that his canine belly needed food. He watched Faye duck through the hatch and turned his complete focus on the frowning man. Spike appeared deep in thought. Desperate he waddled towards his bowl and nosed it across the floor until it crashed into a clunky shoe.

“Huh?” Spike glanced at the floor, absently flicking his smoke.

Ein watched as the ash flitted in the air before landing in his dish. He plopped on his rump and tried to give the cowboy his best, `Get a clue' look.

After dumping an unhealthy pile of kibble out for the dog, Spike went to work scrubbing the hangar. It gave him something to do while alone on the ship. Naps had become troublesome after Ed's announcement that he was prone to talking in his sleep. That's all he needed, Faye walking in on him in the middle of one of `those' dreams. He rolled his eyes, smoke clinging limply to his lip. His comm chirped. A smirking Jet on the other end.

“Yo.”

“Hey, how're things goin'?”

Eyebrow quirk, “Fine.” The other eyebrow rose when Ed's happy cackle floated over the link. “You, uh, sound busy.”

Jet nodded, a dark cloud drifting across his face, “Yup.”

Smirk, “So how are the slots and dogs treatin' you?”

“Well.” Grin, “I tripled my Woolongs.”

Another riotous cheer.

“Ergh.” The dangerous look returned, “Where's Faye?”

“Work, why?”

“Shit. I'll call back later.”

Spike nodded, “Hey, Jet?”

He froze, waiting for Spike to continue.

“Why'd you lock up the ship?”

Shrug, “No need to waste energy on more than the necessary rooms.” Grin, “I was generous too.”

“Bull.”

Chuckle, “I'm not the one upset I can't run away from Faye.”

Spike growled, “Because you already ran, chicken.”

“Boo…” another girlish giggle had him scowling. He grumbled, “Let her know I'll call back later.”

“What's wrong?”

“Nothin' you can help me with.” His gaze shifted to behind Spike's shoulder. A small head bounce, “Have fun cleaning the hangar.”

Spike glared at the screen and spat, “Jet, you suck.” He cussed. It was a waste of breath. Jet had already disconnected.

 

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The ex-cop glared at the screen. Ed's newest friend was giving him heart palpations. She told him she'd met the boy on the “Universe's Scariest Ride”, a roller coaster that looked like a stomach churning decent to hell and back. She had ridden it fifty times in a row. Pausing only for a soda, snack and brief bathroom break. They, she and James, had supposedly met on her thirty-second time through. The pair had been inseparable ever since. Another squeal. Jet's fist clamped around the comm when flapping feet rushed into his room. He knew she wasn't being honest. She knew too much about the boy for them to have just met and her sudden attainment of lip gloss, mascara and hair gel implied Faye knew what was going on too.

“Papa Jet, Edward is going to ride some more rides with James-boy. Ok?”

Twitch, “Fine.”

She shifted, her voice dripping to a whisper, “Can Edward call Faye-Faye later?”

Another twitch, he disguised as a nod.

“Yay.” She rushed from the space, “Come on James.”

There was a grunt.

Jet's blood chilled. He hated that kid, simply because he existed. Ed had never lied before that punk showed up. He glanced at his comm on the table, Faye knew what was happening and he'd get to the bottom of it, if it killed him.

 

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Spike contemplated in the direction of his comm, something was off with Jet. What, the question of the day. Not that it mattered, the old fart deserved whatever Ed dealt. He chuckled, it would be fun to learn the source of the ex-cop's obvious distress. Whatever it was should distract him from Faye. He scooped up the brush and began cleaning Swordfish. It was nice without the other bodies aboard the Bebop. The soft clicks, hums and groaning as the large ship floated through space a nice change to the usual banter, shouting and constant clicking of Ed's fingers.

Cursing Jet's cheap nature and need to save a buck, even though he was gambling a sizeable chunk of earnings on a vacation disguised as a bounty, Spike resumed his scrubbing. He didn't understand the immediate need to leave. He tossed the brush back into the frothy bucket. Glaring at the two empty spots where the Hammerhead and RedTail normally sat. With a sigh he dug through the water, retrieving the scrubber and resumed the meticulous cleaning. In an attempt to kill the silence with a tuneless whistle; the solitude suddenly becoming troublesome as his thoughts began to wander.

He paused in his scrubbing; the sound of the docking gate preparing to open alerting him that Faye was back. He waited for the RedTail to settle before he resumed his maintenance. She slid out of her ship, smiling slightly as she floated away. He stopped her at the hatch. “Jet has a problem.”

She nodded, “Ed met a new friend.”

“How'd…”

Giggle, “He's a little older and overly polite.” She snorted, “I can't believe he hadn't figured out what was going on until he met the kid. She's been chatting with him for over a year.”

“Huh?”

Shrug, “Surprised you hadn't noticed either.” Grin, “I thought you prided yourself on your instincts, cowboy?”

“Faye, you know I don't know shit about little girls.”

She turned fully facing the lanky man. “Haven't you noticed? Ed isn't a little girl anymore.” More laughter, “I bet you, Jet's certain the poor kid is only interested in deflowering little Ed.”

Spike stilled, the thought of Ed attracting boys, a cool venom rushing through his veins- he still saw her as an androgynous kid. “That's just wrong.”

“Huh?” She giggled with a shrug, “It's normal. In fact,” pause, “I think she's slower `n most girls her age.”

He scowled and sighed when the hatch clicked shut. It was a strange turn of events and not a welcome change either. Ed wasn't supposed to attract boys. He glared at nothing in particular, he'd been a sixteen year old boy once and instantly hated the kid. Regardless of his motives, he was certain Ed's new friend was up to no good- Faye was just too goofy to see it.

 

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Faye snickered when her comm chirped. Ed had been incessant with questions. Jet's cranky scowl filled the screen. “Hey Jet. How's the bounty going?”

He snarled, “Shut it. You know I'm not on a bounty.”

Grin.

Blue eyes shifted off screen, “What do you know about Ed's new friend?”

Blink, “Who? That nice boy she met at the roller coaster?”

The image shook slightly, “Quit lying to me, when did she meet the little punk?”

“They've known each other for a while.” Shrug, “He helped her with a few dives, they've been chatting for over a year.” Her head tilted, “Why are you so upset?”

Ed's voice drifted over the line along with the chuckle of a lower, masculine voice.

Faye's eyebrow quirked, “He sounds cute.”

Jet's complexion purpled as he spat, “I would not know.” He tensed visibly, “Please tell me you taught her the dangers of men.”

“What dangers?”

“Ffff-aye.” It was hard to talk with his teeth clenched so tightly. “Stop fuckin' around.”

She giggled, “Why the sudden change of tune?”

Jet's face melted from rage to confusion.

“I thought my sex were the dangerous ones.” Wink, “Don't worry, she's fine. I checked the kid out myself.”

He nodded, not pleased as he glared at the blackened screen. Faye's ability to gage danger was shaky at best. Deep in thought he contacted Spike. At least the lanky cowboy would understand his concerns. Faye was just too busy enjoying the fact Ed was acting like, like a girl! His face soured, it was just wrong. Very wrong.

 

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Faye rolled her eyes at the obsessive ex-cop and gathered bath supplies. Work had been nuts and her next day on the job wasn't looking much better. She hated the super themed sale her employer at the shop had come up with for the month of June. She gave an involuntary shudder as she remembered the staff meeting.

The strange, overly rouged woman had waddled out in front of them first thing that morning. Grinning, a halo of ratted hair encircling her pinched features, her thin lips pulled tighter, bright pink lipstick bleeding from the edges, making small spider webs around her mouth. Fingering a round of new products she passed each employee her chosen item, while explaining the upcoming `June Jamboree.'

“It will be a wonderful time to boost sales,” she rubbed her hands, “All those anniversaries, you know.”

Faye had studied her newest package, using her tipped head to hide her eyes rolling. She could hear the strange, vamped up, Baba Yaga figure counting coins. She glared at the kit for couples, How the hell's this supposed to help me?!

“June brides that need to be satisfied.” More cackling.

One of the women nearby Faye giggled, obviously pleased with her latest test assignment.

“It's the newest brand, dear.” She smiled at her employee, “I know you'd mentioned that boyfriend of yours lacking in technique, this will help.”

Blushing the giggling girl tucked the product away in the decorative bags, Nandi Tyren, insisted they use. She liked assuming the public thought her employees were the most knowledgeable in the universe. Her small shop catered to hundreds of people floating by on trips, work and the curious. She enjoyed knowing she had an extensive knowledge of how to help in the bedroom and was making great effort in instilling her wisdom to her faithful employees. Dismissing her crew she wrapped a withered hand around Faye's arm.

Frowning the cowgirl studied her employer. “Yes?”

“How have things been going with you and that cute roommate of yours?”

“Who?”

She patted Faye's arm, “The skinny one. The one you never talk about.”

An eyebrow rose, “How'd?”

Chuckle, “You're littlest roommate likes contacting me. Quite the little diver that one.”

“Ergh. I'm gonna kill that kid.” She glared at the wall, “Is that why I started getting so many,” her fingers rose in air quotes, “couples items I couldn't do a damn thing about?”

The elder woman snickered, “Well, I thought a little push the right direction would encourage you to branch out, if you know what I mean.”

Faye's eyes narrowed, “Not amused.”

“Actually, it's very funny dear. You just can't see the humor because you're a part of the joke.”

“Ha. Ha.”

“That's the spirit.” She prepared to leave, “I need you to come in tomorrow too. Big sale, you know.”