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You have to know what you’re doing to him. You just have to.
They were only docking on Mars for a couple of hours while Jet ran some errands. And when you saw just how close the Bebop was to Alba city, you practically begged Spike to go with you. He knew you hadn’t seen much of Mars, having spent most of your life in Europa. Plus it's not often that you could roam such a big city without having to worry about him or the rest of the crew working on a bounty. And of course, it took very little convincing to get Spike to come with you as both escort and guide. One look at the pouting on your face, and he’s already searching for his gun and grabbing his wallet in case you saw something you liked. Except, you had one condition.
Ein had to come with.
At first, he was beyond annoyed and prepared to argue about how Ein would just end up slowing the two of you down as he lead you down crowded sidewalks and busy streets. But before he could even open his mouth, you’re already calling for the damned mutt, harness in hand. Of course, the dog comes running to you eagerly- not putting up a fight as you slip his little paws in and buckle it up before attaching the leash. Instead, he has to sit there, silently stewing as you tuck Ein under your arm and as you give him a perfectly innocent smile and ask him, “Are you ready to go?”
Sure, he was still stewing about losing some alone time with you because you’re far too distracted with the dog as you both left the Bebop and walked aimlessly around Alba city. And the way mutt would just pull you along excitedly, making you walk ahead of him without a care in the world was really starting to get to him. After all, you invited Spike to come with you first. The dog was supposed to be an afterthought, not the main attraction. To be honest, he had half a mind to just pick the stupid dog up and take your hand in his just to steal some of your attention back onto him.
But then he took a chance. Just one last chance before giving into what he wanted to do. He took a chance and looked. He didn’t think, he didn’t just stand there and grow mad. He just looked. And suddenly, all of the city and all of his anger faded away.
Because all he could see was you.
Sweet, domestic, caring little you. You would giggle whenever a stranger paid attention to the small dog, introducing him so adoringly that he couldn’t help but give a tiny smile at every interaction. You would speak to Ein too. Softly asking the corgi to stop sniffing every little thing. And when he wouldn’t listen to you, you would just shake your head with a sigh, a small, tired on your face. And then you would tug him along, allowing him to pull you to every which way until he found the next thing for his nose to become obsessed with. But you would let him. You always would. And Spike couldn’t blame you for it.
You were always soft like that, weren’t you?
With a sigh, he closes his eyes for a second and finally relents. He supposes it’s not so bad walking behind you. Sure, it’s not where he wants to be. And he’s not exactly over the fact that he lost his spot as the number one thing occupying your attention so easily to a mutt her didn’t even want. But there were a few advantages like this. For one, It’s easier to keep track of where you’re going if you’re always in his immediate line of sight. Easier to scare off anyone who’s looking at you a little too closely if he’s always right behind you, looming over your shoulder.
Not to mention, watching you trot behind Ein, hips swaying to an unheard rhythm in your head has to be one of the cutest things he’s even.
“Spike!” His attention refocuses on the present once he hears his name being called from a few feet away. You're standing at a corner, waiting for the light to cross with Ein sitting at your feet. There’s another pout on your face, and he feels his breath being caught in his throat at the adorable way your bottom lip juts out and your eyebrows furrow. You had to know what you’re doing to him. There’s just no way you don’t. “Spike hurry! The light’s about the turn!”
He holds up his hands in mock surrender, before shoving them back into his pockets and taking larger steps over to you. He’s by your side in no time, and he can’t help the way his heart thumps against his chest as you smile up at him. Still, he manages to send you a half-grin of his own, while keeping one eye on the pedestrian light. It only takes a couple of seconds after he’s finally standing next to you for the light to turn. But he doesn’t immediately step off the curve. No, he’s far too distracted with you.
The moment the light signals that it’s okay to cross, he’s surprised to find something slipping inside of his pants pocket. But in an instant, he’s able to recognize it as your hand. Your unbelievably warm, soft hand that’s now tugging his hand out of his pocket and lacing your fingers together. He nearly trips on his feet as you pull him along with you, crossing the street without a care in the world. You’ll be the death of him one day. You, that pout, that smile, that everything of yours will surely kill him.
“You keep falling behind,” You complain to him as the two of you step on the curb for the block ahead. Your eyes flicker up to his, and he’s nearly losing himself in that look of mild concern you send him. It’s not fair how you’re able to do this to him. Over something stupid like him walking too slow. It’s not fair how much of sap you make him. He’s killed people before. And he’ll kill people again if he has to. But here you are. Breaking down an ex-assassin's walls with nothing but a look as you hold his hand like he’s human. Like he’s your friend. Like he’s yours. “I don’t want you to get lost.”
“That’s bold of you. I thought you’ve never been here before, hmm?” He recovers from his previous thoughts with a low whistle and a hum as he responds to you. It’s more to appease that little furrow in your brow, though admittedly he’s interested in what you have to say considering you seem rather confident despite previously not knowing where you were just minutes prior. “You keeping secret from me or something? I thought I was your favorite.”
“You are! You are!” You squeal, immediately squeezing his hand in your grip as if to prove what you were saying was real. He’d be lying if he told you what you said didn’t have any effect on him. In fact, it was taking all of his willpower not to throw a smug comment at Ein, who was already occupied with walking around with his nose in the air and an empty head. You the grin you gave him was cheery, and as much as he loves it when you pout, (except when you make it hard on him) it’s safe to say he’s a sucker for the pearly whites of yours. “I just saw something that I liked, that’s all.”
“Oh yeah?” His question is absent as the world starts to blur, and all he can think about is your smaller hand in his and the sound of your voice as it trails off. But in the end, it’s didn’t really matter. Because vaguely in the distance, he can see the name of a store chain you’ve talked about visiting, and he has a feeling he knows that’s where you’re trying to go. And where he’s going to be standing outside of, reluctantly holding that damned mutt’s leash while your browse. Evens still, He finds himself using his free hand to pat the front of his suit jacket- right where his interior pocket would be. His wallet is there, and his head is already floating with the memory of just how much money he packed on himself.
“Mhm.”
And suddenly, his head is back in the present, and he’s clicking his tongue while flickering his eyes down at you because you didn’t even have to say anything. He’s just prepared to hand you all his wallet and tell you to do whatever you wanted. To buy whatever you wanted. To not worry about the cost. To not worry about anything. Ever again. Because’s he’s fine with spoiling you. He’s always been.
Oh, the things you do to him.
“Yeah…I think I see something I like too…”
And the things he’ll do for you.