Chapter Text
“You’re late.” The snarl sounded impatient. Victor was tired of the chase. The large, ornate clock that stood behind him was a testament to his impatience and self-righteousness.
He was standing in the middle of a cathedral.
In his underground base.
The smarmy-ass bastard.
“I didn’t get the invitation,” Mai quipped as she observed the time behind him. “I just decided to turn up out of the blue. Figured I could crash whatever party you were trying to throw.” She smirked.
She was a woman whole again, and Spike and Faye were close behind her, pillars of support.
She turned to face them.
All three (and Rin, vicariously) were behind a threshold that would no doubt produce a sliding door the moment they crossed.
“This is my fight.”
“But-” Faye began to protest.
“No buts, doll. You two need to get the hell out. I’m entrusting Rin to you.
Faye frowned slightly. “What about Roy?”
Mai gave a solemn smile. “I have a sneaking suspicion that he’s about to make his presence known.” She smiled as she faced Faye more directly. “I suppose you know what comes next.”
“You said you weren’t coming here to die,” Faye reasoned.
“I’m not. I came here to save you. And Rin. And maybe Roy if I get the chance.”
“I’m hurt,” Spike said as he gave a halfway grin.
Mai laughed. “You don’t need me to save you. You’ve got someone else for that,” she reasoned.
He smiled back. “I know.”
Faye blinked.
“Well, huntress, until we meet again. Maybe in another lifetime, things would take a different route.” Mai winked before kissing Faye’s cheek. She then looked down at Rin. “You’ll grow to be strong, little one. You’ve got two amazing godparents to make sure of that.” Resigning to her fate, she kissed Rin’s forehead and turned to Spike. “You want a kiss, too, tiger?”
He gave some noise between a sigh of resolve and a laugh of irony. “Take it easy, sis.”
She chuckled. “I’m counting on you, Spike.” She stood back and stared at him hopefully. “You’re gonna’ carry that weight.”
“No need… I’ve got someone to lighten the load,” he responded, smirking all the while.
Faye blinked.
“I’m tired of good-byes,” droned Victor from behind Mai.
“See you, then,” Mai directed to Spike.
“And you,” he answered.
“Mai…” Faye tried.
“You got this,” was Mai’s last farewell.
She turned and crossed the threshold.
The metal door slid upwards and bolted.
“Faye, we need to get out of here.”
She was frozen to the spot.
“Faye.”
“So that’s it…”
“Faye?”
She spun on her heels to face him. “So that’s it. We just leave her here to die. It’s all over. Just like that. Victor wins…”
He took two steps toward her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Some bitter win, if you ask me. No Syndicate. No stone. No Rin. No Bebop.”
“Like hell!” She yelled before she bolted.
He groaned, but chased after her.
Various video screens lined the upper portion of the walls, and though they had paid them no mind before, they were now nearly fixated as they rushed to safety.
They could see Mai and Victor standing opposite one another.
Faye stopped to stare.
Spike nearly ran into her.
“It’s nearly your end, isn’t it?”
“If that’s what the stars ordain.” Mai’s face was determined and her voice was strong.
“Tell me, do you fear death?”
“How could I? Death is always at our side. When we show fear, it jumps at us faster than light. But if we do not show fear, it casts its eye upon us gently and then guides us to infinity.”
Victor gritted his teeth. “You damn Spiegels and your riddles.”
“Is there anything else you wanted to ask, Victor?”
“Why are you still alive?” He rushed towards her, and her left hand caught his arm. Her right hand, quickly armed, pointed her Glock to his chest.
All in one fluid motion.
“Why defy fate and battle for your life, dragon, when you are destined to die?”
She smirked. “I guess I’m stubborn.”
He pulled his arm back, and Mai ran past him to the opposite wall of the room.
A bullet flew through Victor’s shoulder, and he stumbled as he attempted to chase after Mai.
They both looked to see Roy on the second floor balcony overlooking the room.
Spike and Faye could barely make Roy’s figure out on screen.
“Faye, we need to go.”
“But Mai…”
“She’s with Roy. She’ll be fine.”
“She’ll die happy. That’s what you mean.” She was getting angry.
“Faye, how much damage do you honestly expect to do while holding a baby?”
She had actually thought about that.
And that was the real reason she hadn’t tried to find a way to battle back to Mai and help kill Victor and save the day.
And Mai was right: this wasn’t Faye’s battle.
“Let’s go…” Faye resigned.
Spike nodded, and the two ran down the hallway once more.
The screens continued their showcase.
“Roy!” Mai screamed.
How he was standing, she couldn’t fathom.
He was knocking on that door when she saw him last.
But now he appeared to be the spitting image of health.
And it dawned on her.
“We are all victim to the stars, Mai,” he answered.
He knew what she was asking.
Her eyes said it all.
“Roy…”
“Touching. A cursed couple that reeks of death,” Victor seethed.
“Only as of recent,” Roy answered.
Roy had planned the whole thing.
“You knew he’d find Rin…” Mai nearly whispered.
“I had to find Spike first to get everything in motion,” he answered.
“So Rin wouldn’t be alone,” she concluded.
“So, Spiegel, you’ve got toxic blood, too,” Victor grinned. “Both of you are destined to die, then.” Gripping his shoulder, he dashed towards Mai.
She side-stepped.
Roy jumped from the balcony and rolled towards them.
Victor swung his katana at Mai, and she leapt backwards to avoid the swing. Given her height and shorter legs, she knew she couldn’t keep dodging for long. Victor was built much like his brother with the reach and stride to boot. Mai paused briefly to take a shot at Victor’s head, but he was already running towards her.
Her bullet grazed his cheek.
She threw both hands forward, Glock hanging from her thumb, and held his arm. She guided him smoothly to her side and behind her before she swung around and took another shot.
His right arm was now useless as the second shot pierced the ligaments in his shoulder.
The opposite wound was still bleeding freely.
He dropped his sword, turned, and ran towards her again.
Roy caught him this time, a hand grasping Victor’s fist and the other pointing the gun to his chest.
Victor was already leaning back to avoid the shot. He hit the ground to kick Roy’s legs from underneath him.
As Roy stumbled backwards, Victor pulled his Walther from his belt and chanced a shot in Roy’s general direction.
Left-handed disability aside, he still managed to nick Roy’s calf.
“You two disgust me,” he yelled as he ran towards Mai again.
“You’re mad, Victor. Stark, raving mad!” Mai screamed in retaliation. He shot at her and grazed her cheek this time.
Matching battle scars.
He shot.
She shot.
She missed.
He didn’t.
Roy watched in horror as Mai fell to the ground, blood pooling around her.
Victor had newfound strength as he pointed his firearm at Roy and lifted Mai by the throat with his other hand.
She was smiling.
“You’re a fool, Mai,” Victor cooed.
“Oh?” She coughed and blood spurted from her mouth onto the edge of Victor’s sleeve. “I think you’re the one who’s been played for the fool, Victor.”
His eyes narrowed. “What game are you playing, dragon?”
Roy laughed this time. “I gotta’ say, I didn’t see that coming.”
He was staring at the clock.
Victor stared at it as well.
He didn’t understand why 11:18 was significant.
Faye and Spike were nearly to the doors, sweet sanctuary on the other side.
They had been listening and glancing at the exchange the whole time.
Spike had been picking off Silver Snake thugs as they made their escape.
“Faye! Hurry!” Spike yelled.
“I am!”
“We’re out of time!”
“What are you-” but she didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence.
As the clock struck 11:19, Mai’s smirk intensified. “I’ll see you in another life, you scumbag.” She was barely audible.
Roy shot.
Victor crumpled to the ground.
Roy ran to Mai.
Bang.
Spike dove to Faye and sent them rolling right through the doors as the base exploded and crumbled around them.
He threw his bomber jacket over the tops of their heads as shrapnel flew, and Faye shielded Rin’s ears.
The baby still said nothing and nestled into Faye’s bosom.
Seven minutes.
Somehow everyone had forgotten.
Aside from Mai.
When the rumbling and dust subsided, Spike stood up. He extended a hand to Faye, and she took it gladly. He started towards the crater, still holding her hand/
“Ow…” She winced as she followed.
Spike raised an eyebrow to her.
“I sprained my ankle in that wonderful, little show of acrobatics back there. I was focused on keeping Rin safe.”
Spike knelt to look at her injury. “Sit down.”
She frowned, but complied.
He grabbed a short piece of metal (debris from the explosion), ripped part of his sleeve, and wrapped Faye’s ankle with the makeshift splint.
He helped her to stand again once he stood and leaned her against him. “I can carry Rin.”
She blinked at him, astounded by his thoughtfulness and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
She nodded.
He pulled an arm around her waist, and she pulled one over his shoulder. Her other arm held Rin over her hip as they walked towards the bottom of the crater carefully. Spike braced them against parts of the structure that had remained free-standing, and they were soon to the bottom.
The dust hadn’t settled here, and Faye shielded Rin again as they coughed.
A figure came into view.
Two.
One was kneeling over the other.
Faye’s eyes watered.
Spike frowned.
“Mai…” they could hear Roy whisper.
They approached him slowly and took notice that his time was nearly gone, too.
He had shielded her from the explosion.
He was in the same position he had been in when protecting her.
Mai smiled weakly. “You know? Faye’s right. The Lunkhead gene runs in the family.”
Roy leaned slowly over her to kiss her. “Stop that.”
“There’s something about blue…” she whispered.
“Anything but blue…” Faye cried softly.
“Never seen a bluer sky, have you? Roy?” Mai asked.
He shook his head and slowly sat next to her, leaning back until they were side by side staring at the sky above them. “Freedom, muse. It’s freedom.”
“Yeah…” she finished. Her head leaned over to his shoulder. “Changed our stars after all, Zen.”
“Yeah.”
Spike and Faye were nearer to them now.
And as they reached them, Mai said her final piece. “It’s real…” Her eyes fluttered shut.
Spike took Rin from Faye before she collapsed next to Roy and started crying.
Roy looked up apologetically. “Hey now. She’d hate to see you cry. Buck up.”
His voice was weak.
“It didn’t have to-”
“Now Rin gets her chance, you know?”
Faye sobbed louder.
“Go live your dream, pixie.” He smiled and closed his eyes to open the door.
Together with Mai.
Spike stood solemn as Faye cried. Jet arrived some time later and stood next to Spike. He looked sadly at Faye as she sat frozen. She was out of tears, but felt hollow.
“You think she’ll be alright?” Jet asked.
Spike handed Rin to Jet and remained silent. He walked to Faye, his hands in his pockets, his posture slouched, and a fresh joint in his lips now that there wasn’t a baby in his vicinity.
He knelt beside her, pulled an arm around her, and dropped her head to his shoulder.
She began crying again.
“Faye,” he said. He didn’t feel the need to say anything more. Just her name: to remind her that she was still alive.
She sniffed and hiccupped against him.
He stood slowly after her tears subsided and extended a hand to help her up.
She complied.
They were facing each other, Jet staring at them awkwardly with Rin in his arms.
Spike hugged her close to him, and her sobs started again. He rested his chin on her head as her body shook.
“…go home…”
Her voice was muffled against his shirt.
“What?” he asked.
“I want to go home…” she sniffled.
He squeezed her closer. “You are home, Faye.”
She pulled back and stared at him; she had just then realized his comfort.
And his implication.
She opened her mouth to say something, but instead turned heel and walked to Jet.
“I can take Rin,” she said.
He blinked at her, looked to the baby he was holding, and looked back to her. Rose had filled him in on the vague details. He handed the child to her.
“Rin May Spiegel,” she cooed. She kissed Rin’s forehead as she rocked her gently.
“They need a proper funeral,” Spike commented as he reached Jet and Faye.
“The Mezzo,” Faye answered.
“That’d be fitting, especially since it’s stick here on Titan,” Jet added.
“Stuck?” Spike questioned.
“The crack in that dome. Doohan doesn’t know what material Mai used for it, but he can’t replicate it, and normal materials won’t work on something transparent at that size. If it breaches the atmosphere again, it’ll break completely.”
They were silent.
“Whatever it is, it’s also what absorbs the radiation that powers the thing. It still works, though. Running water, air conditioning: the works. An oasis in this damn desert,” Jet finished as he lit up a joint.
Faye stepped back to avoid the smoke, but commented, “Thought you didn’t approve of those.”
“Burning one to pay my respects.”
Faye nodded solemnly.
“Well, I think beneath the tree will do right by them,” Jet concluded.
Faye looked back at Mai and Roy; they were a picture of peace. She faced the two men again. “I’ll see you guys at the Mezzo.”
She walked forward towards the Red Tail parked near the edge of the crater.
It was a lucky break that it didn’t fall in with the rest of the building.
“She gonna’ be alright?” Jet asked, concern in his brow and voice.
Spike watched as she walked away, lighting a joint of his own. “She’s tough.”
They walked to the resting spot. Jet picked up Roy, and Spike picked up Mai.
Rose called Jet. “Flora and Ed are otherwise distracted. Faye told me everything…” Her voice was shaky.
“Good. They don’t need to see this. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Jet transported the fated duo in the Hammerhead, and Spike followed in the Swordfish.
The Mezzo’s globe glistened as the sun began to set.
Faye had already dug the graves in front of the large tree, and Rose, despite her injuries, had already made a makeshift headstone from a scrap of metal.
Spike and Jet buried the two, and Faye and Rose secured the headstone above them.
Here lie the damn Spiegels.
Miss Dragon and Psychedelic Roy.
Reunited at last.
Each of them smoked, including Rose, and stared at the grave somberly.
Perhaps the custom was to speak at funerals.
But words couldn’t be said to do the occasion justice.
So the Bebop crew remained silent and stoic.
Flora and Ed bounded into the room, Ein at their heels.
“Mama? Why is everyone so sad?” Flora asked as she coughed. She tugged on Rose’s skirt.
Before Rose could answer, Ed spoke. “Mai and Roy are no longer with us. They are finally together.” Her voice was quiet, and less high-pitched than usual, but she grasped the situation perfectly.
Flora looked to the group. “But then we should be happy, right?” She coughed some more. “They’re finally resting; no more running and hiding and being tired of looking for each other,” Flora pleaded.
The most insightful thing that could have been said.
Out of the mouths of babes.
Rin shook her rattle softly from her crib near the group.
Roy had brought it aboard before the mission, unbeknownst to Mai.
Flora ventured to the crib and climbed the bars.
“Flora,” Rose chastised.
Faye walked to the crib with the intention to lift and hold Rin, but found her sitting to stare at Flora.
Flora blinked at Rin and smiled. “I’m Flora,” she said.
Rin smiled back and stuck out a hand to touch Flora’s nose.
Flora leaned forward and kissed Rose’s forehead. “You must be Rin.”
Rin touched her Flora’s forehead this time.
Flora blinked and dropped from the crib. She placed a hand at her throat before running to Rose. “Mama…” She was still holding her throat.
“What’s wrong?”
Flora tugged on Rose’s skirt, and Rose knelt to let Flora whisper in her ear.
Rose blinked, a small smile tugging at her lips. “We’ll go check.”
Flora turned and waved to the baby Spiegel. “Good night! And thank you!”
Rin just smiled.
Jet leaned over and whispered to Spike. “I’ll watch the kid. You take care of Faye.”
Spike had never appreciated Jet more than at that moment.
“I got it from here, Faye. You go rest,” Jet told her as he started to wheel the crib to the living room.
Faye said nothing.
She hadn’t said anything since she left the crater.
Spike stood next to her.
She was at the graves now.
The sun had set, and the stars glittered the sky clearly through the dome as though Faye and
Spike were beneath them directly.
Spike gazed at the night sky.
He looked down when he heard scratching.
Faye was writing something on the headstone beneath Rose’s words.
See you space cowgirl
You’re finally home.
He crouched beside her, took the rock from her hand and scribbled a note of his own.
Suppose it happens.
He put the rock in Faye’s hand and guided her to write a final message.
Free
“She’d like it,” Faye whispered.
“She would.”
“Would he?”
Spike looked at it thoughtfully. “It would make Mai happy, so it would make him happy.”
“Good.”
Spike stretched across the grass next to the fresh graves and stared at the sky above him.
He nudged Faye with his foot where she sat.
She hesitated, but reclined beside him to stare at the sky as well.
He reached down to hold her hand.
She was cold, and she flinched at his touch.
As much as she wanted to bolt, something was holding her captive. She took Spike’s cigarette and stole a drag.
Nicotine.
But it felt good.
“So that’s it,” she finally said.
“I guess so.”
He used his free hand to grab his cigarette.
Cherry.
Must be her lip balm.
“We should get to bed, Faye.”
“Huh?”
“Bed.”
“I don’t know.”
He blinked and turned his head to look at her. “What’s there to know?” He stood up and extended his hands. “Let’s get to bed.”
The implication hit her again.
Home.
She stood slowly and followed him out of the dome.
He stopped in front of his room. “You alright?”
He didn’t turn to face her.
“I hate sleeping alone,” she admitted. She had slept alone for four months.
“I won’t tell a soul.”
He opened the door.
She followed.
“You want to hear a secret, Faye?” he asked as he stripped for bed.
“What?”
He tossed her one of his shirts to wear.
“I hate being alone.”
She blinked.
He sat on the edge of bed and eventually leaned to lie down. He rested his tired eyes and placed his forearm against his head.
Faye sat. “What does that mean?”
“It means something,” he answered.
“That doesn’t explain anything.”
“Does it have to?” He opened his eyes to look at her.
She had changed while his eyes were closed.
She pouted, but joined him in lying down anyways.
She stayed at the edge of the bed, her toes hanging off and her nose facing away from him.
He sighed.
In one fluid motion, he looped an arm around her and pulled her next to him, rolling her over to face him.
Her face was in the crook of his neck, and his arm against his forehead shifted so that he could run his index finger lightly over her forehead and hair.
She squeaked.
“That’s a new one,” he commented to the sound.
She was about to tell him off, but he didn’t let her.
“There once was this tiger-striped cat.”
She groaned.
“And he met a tigress.”
He shifted to his side to face her.
“And he decided he was tired of being alone.”
He kissed her.
She squeaked again.
He pulled back. “You gotta’ stop that,” he said, putting a pinky in his ear and twisting it dramatically.
“Lunkhead!”
“I mean it, Faye.” His eyes were dead serious.
“Mean what?”
“I’m not spelling it out for you.”
Did he mean she needed to stop it? The squeak?
“You’re not making sense,” she concluded.
“Life is too short, Faye.”
And it hit her.
Spike Spiegel cared about her.
“The hell?” she wondered aloud
He twitched. “I try actually being the nice guy for once and-”
She kissed him this time.
Hard.
Like she needed his very breath to sustain her.
Like she needed to swallow him whole and fill herself with everything that he was.
All calm, cool, collected, green-haired Lunkhead made of water.
And he kissed her back.
Hand on the back of her head, arm snaked round her waist.
And with eyes shut, everything was clearer.
No black and white.
Just blue.