Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction ❯ Unveiled Emotions ❯ Meeting ( Chapter 15 )

Vicious gazed at the leader of the Blue Dragon Syndicate coldly and glanced at his watch. In two hours he was supposed to meet the Taliban Sanders had mentioned and it look like the bargaining game he had gotten into would take awhile.

"I'm not giving you any territory," he hissed and his opposition looked at him. She was tall and wore clothing that Faye Valentine would be envious of. She lit a long cigarette and placed it between her mauve colored lips. There was a silence as she deeply inhaled the nicotine.

"All right then, what do you want?" she asked as she leaned forward. Vicious got a good view of her cleavage but he showed no reaction. He calmly lit a cigarette and sat up in disgust.

"I want you to back off."

"We both have our directions that we want to satisfy and right now, our paths have crossed."

"I'll give you money but I'm not giving you any of my territory. Now can we hurry this up? I have another meeting to go to."

"I don't want money but I'll take employees. Preferably men. I have a taste for them, you know."

She took a sip of wine after that statement and waited for Vicious to respond. When he didn't, she leaned forward to confide in him again.

"I also have a taste for you. Perhaps we can work out a bargain."

Vicious drew his gun and pointed it at her chest.

"I'm not making any bargains over flesh and bone," he hissed and she folded her arms in amusement.

"We're supposed to be on mutual ground here on Titan," she commented and Vicious gaze darkened with impatience.

"Look get to the point. I don't have time for this."

"Either you open up some territories or there'll be hell to pay. I'll give you a week to make your decision. After that, be on your guard."

Vicious stood up and his bird lit its perch on the high-backed chair to Vicious' shoulder. Vicious turned and walked out of the room without saying a word.

"That was dangerous, boss. He could have killed you," a tall male with blue spiked hair and skull earrings said as he stepped into the room.

"Vicious isn't that stupid," she replied as she pushed back her hair.

"What if he doesn't comply with your request?"

"Then we take the woman he's fought so hard to keep."

"Wonderful way to piss him off but is he willing to trade for her?"

"He is, but the minute he gets her back, we've got to make sure we're on our guard because that bastard will strike back hard."

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"What happened in there?" Rei asked when Vicious had stepped inside his ship.

"Nothing that you need to worry about," he said. "Come on, we're going to the surface. I have another meeting."

"You don't seem as upset about this meeting as you were with the other one."

"I believe I've found another Regal Taliban."

"You're getting a replacement?"

"I need a replacement. Especially after this meeting with the Blue Dragons. They'll try another attempt on my life soon. Or worse, they'll try for your life."

"Again?"

"You're a favorite target because of your affiliation with me. A lot of people would like to use you for blackmail."

"I'm a liability to you, aren't I?"

"Yes, but you're a liability I'm willing to have."

"Thank you," she said and he gazed at her for a moment then turned away.

"Let's get going. I'm doing this for your protection if not for my own."

He lowered the hatch and stepped out. He waited for her then raised the hatch back up. After turning onto the security system, he turned to Rei.

"Come on. I don't have time to waste."

She followed him and resisted the urge to take his hand. She heard his thought and sighed as she continued to silently walk behind him.

"Stay where I can see you. I don't trust anyone," he said and she hurried to comply.

"Where were you supposed to meet him?" she asked.

"Where I once fought. Damn. I forgot to warn you of the Titanian winds. Take my coat."

"But…"

"Just take it."

She did as he commanded and wrapped his trench coat around her body. It was too big for her, of course but it did keep her warm. He turned a corner and she hurried after him. He pointed to a small bar, his face showing no emotion to the intermittent cold blasts of wind that Titan was famous for.

"We meet him there."

"Aren't you cold?" she asked and he glanced at her.

"I fought in these conditions. Come on. It'll be warm inside."

"I don't want you to get sick."

"I won't get sick. Let's go."

***********************************

The inside of the bar was dark, as bars go, but it was warm. Rei sat alone at a table, quietly drinking wine and listening.

Vicious sat in a booth near the back of the bar waiting for his appointment. He was watching Rei though, she knew as she heard his thoughts about her exposed back. She had her long aqua hair up in an elaborate bun and she could almost feel his hands touch her bare shoulders as she picked up her wineglass. Her ears twitched as she recognized a familiar scent.

It was reminiscent of the trees on her home planet. She could almost feel an ocean breeze on the back of her neck, just like she used to feel when she visited the beach as a small child so many years ago, as a shape moved behind her. She knew it was a Taliban without turning around. It wasn't from his thoughts because there had been none from when he entered the bar to where he walked over to Vicious.

Vicious glanced up when the Taliban approached him and lit a cigarette. His narrow eyes assessed the Taliban critically. He was tall and swift looking with amber eyes and shoulder length blue-violet hair. He sat down without Vicious invitation and poured some wine into a glass. He raised it to his lips then stopped when Vicious' gun pressed into his neck.

"I don't recall inviting you to have a drink," Vicious said coldly.

"I'm drinking it any way. As of now, you're unarmed," the Taliban said as he pointed Vicious' gun at his face. Vicious smiled slightly as he leaned back in the booth.

"Clever and yet foolish at the same time. You underestimate my abilities."

"As you do mine. I've heard a lot about you, though. I also know you killed one of my brethren and I'm not especially happy about that."

"It needed to be done."

"So why have you come seeking me out?"

"I want to hire you."

"Really?"

The Taliban took out a sepia colored cigarette and lit it. Vicious watched him, carefully taking in the creature's silent actions and filing them away for future reference. The Taliban watched him with interest then leaned back in his seat.

"And what would you want me for?" he asked as he exhaled onyx colored smoke.

"Protection," Vicious said and the Taliban tapped his fingers on the side of his empty glass.

"Isn't that what my predecessor got killed for?"

"No. His mouth and previous involvement with someone is what did him in."

"I see. How much is all of this worth to you?"

"Seventy-five thousand."

"Hmm. Perhaps you don't know about my demand. I net two-hundred thousand woolong from doing freelance work. I'm not exactly cheap."

"Well you won't be doing freelance once I get a contract with you."

"What's in this for me?"

"I asked you how much you wanted."

"Name your price then I'll argue with it."

"All right. Ninety thousand."

"Is that how much he got?"

"It's about the same."

"In whose favor?"

"Yours."

"Hmm. If I take you up on your offer, I'm also taking on one hell of a liability."

"You're also taking on one hell of a liability by not agreeing with me."

"I'm fully aware of this."

"I figured you were, considering how cocky you've been."

"It's not being cocky. I simply know where things stand."

"Really. Then you know what my decision will be."

"You have no other choice."

Vicious' eyes flashed in anger he poured himself another drink from the bottle.

"Very well then. If you have any unfinished business, I suggest you take care of it now."

"Where can I contact you once I've gotten everything taken care of?"

"You can reach me here," Vicious said and handed the Taliban a card.

"Thank you. I'll see you shortly."

Vicious watched him leave then stood up and walked over to where Rei sat.

"What did you hear?" he asked as he sat across from her.

"You and the other people here," she said replied and Vicious gazed coldly at her.

"Don't get sarcastic with me."

"I wasn't. I was telling you the truth. I could hear everything else around me but him."

"I don't like that."

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't get anything from him."

"Perhaps the males of your kind have figured out a way to nullify your telepathic ability. If that's true, then that's a problem."

"I'm sorry Vicious. I really am."

"Don't apologize. You had nothing to do with this. Let's get back to the ship.'

She blushed as he took her hand and helped her up. He knew what he was thinking.