Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Unveiled Emotions ❯ Bargain? ( Chapter 4 )

Vicious stopped the car and stepped out. He crossed the street and walked into a place called the Moonlight Cantina. The maitre d looked at him for a second then quickly took him to a booth in the back.

"Would you like some company tonight?" he inquired as Vicious lit a cigarette.

"No. I'd like to be alone with my thoughts," Vicious replied with a sarcastic smile. He knew he could never again be alone with his thoughts but he didn't seem to mind that. He silently tapped the ash into the ashtray as he listened to the soft music and the quiet conversations of the other clientele of the bar.

Stinger would have to go, he decided. It wasn't because of his performance. It was because of his attitude. He had gotten away with comments that Vicious should not have let slide and that was a mistake that Vicious would have to rectify.
The only thing that posed somewhat of a problem was the fact that Stinger had given him somewhat of a threat. The males of his species were recruited for their predatory and combative spirit to be used in the underground operations of the syndicate. But Vicious had the feeling that he had not seen the true magnitude of Stingers abilities.
"May I take your order?" a woman's voice asked and Vicious looked up. She was beautiful in the uniform of the bar but Vicious regarded her with little interest. He had come for solitude, not romance.
"Wine," Vicious said as he set what was left of his cigarette into the ashtray. "The oldest you have."
He watched her leave then surveyed the bar again. There was one person that he recognized. Faye. What was she doing there? Vicious laid a hand on his handgun and watched as she walked up to him.
"I'm not here with Spike. I came alone," she said and sat down. Vicious watched her warily as she lit a cigarette.
"You came to me alone for what purpose?" he inquired.
"To ask about the girl."
"Why?"
"Would you believe I'm curious?"
"No."
"Suit yourself but it's the truth."
"I'm not going to tell you anything."
"Well I'm not leaving until you do."
"The girl is fine now leave before I lose what little I have holding me back from killing you."
"What exactly do you mean by fine?"
"Why do you care?"
"I told you. I'm curious."
"You either want something or he put you up to this. You wouldn't risk your life for something as childish as curiosity. You want something."
"All right. I want a favor."
"A favor."
"The guy that bounty is on. At the party can you keep your dogs on a leash?"
"Why? What do you expect to gain out of this?"
"We need the money."
"What do I get?"
"Well keep Spike from trying to do anything rash with the girl."
"I see. He's still brooding over that."
"You know Spike. He gets like that. He wants to see you dead and he'll do anything to hurt you."
"I'm fully aware of what he wants but I can't just hand someone like that over. He delayed her recovery to get more money from me. My reasons are personal and I can't hand them away simply because you need the money."
"Fine. Then you'll have to deal with Spike."
"I've dealt with him before. I suggest you leave now while I'm still in a good mood. If you wait much longer, you may not make it out alive."

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Rei stretched as she yawned. Stinger watched her for a moment then lit a cigarette. They sat in silence for a few moments then Stinger looked up.

"He's back. I'd better leave. No telling what kind of mood he's in," Stinger said.

"He's always like that. You don't know how hard it is to sleep beside him listening to all his plans of killing people and cheating others. I know it's his nature but there are times when I just can't stand it. He's always thinking about death."

"Even when he's thinking about you?"

"Well..."

"I'm leaving. He's unlocking the door."

"He's not in a good mood."

"I figured as much. See ya."

Rei stood up and began to unbutton the top of her shirt. She could tell that he was angry about something but she couldn't tell exactly what it was.

"Vicious..." she said as he opened the door.

"Not now," he snapped as he laid his coat on a chair. She watched him for a moment then turned away. She heard his thought and she flushed. He took her hand and pulled her close to him. His dark eyes gazed at her dangerously as he unbuttoned her shirt. He pushed it off of her shoulders and kissed her neck.

"I see he did as he was told. He makes it extremely difficult to hate him," Vicious said as he ran his hands down her chest.

"Isn't it difficult for you to feel anything else besides ice?" Rei asked and Vicious drew away from her. He could say nothing to disprove her statement for she was correct. Even his affection for her came difficult for him to express. He had become so trained to ignore emotions that a desire to express any went against everything he had learned.

"I'm sorry," she said as she turned away. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Emotions are nothing but traitors of the soul. My heart is cold and will always be as such. That is why people fear me."

"Your heart isn't completely frozen."

"But you can see and hear what others cannot. Consider yourself lucky."

"I do, believe me."

They both fell silent as Vicious kissed her neck once more. She closed her eyes as he touched her, hearing the silent thoughts that he refused to vocalize. She sighed as she allowed him to take his liberties, for she knew it was the only form of true relaxation he had. She knew he would never admit it, but he enjoyed making love to her and he enjoyed it immensely.