Cowboy Bebop: Jet/Spike, Five Emotions: Compassion
Title: Meeting
Author/Artist: rosehiptea
Theme: Five Emotions: Compassion
Rating: PG
Word Count: 435
Cross-posted to rosehiptea.
Jet is smoking in the bar, just waiting for someone to point to the no smoking sign so he can get angry at someone besides himself. All that work today and almost all the money would go into repairing the damage to the Hammerhead. He should have known that chasing down a bounty head famous for being a pilot wasn't going to be worth it.
Suddenly a dark-haired man is standing by the table. Maybe here's someone to be angry at. But there's something about the way he holds himself, his balance, that makes Jet think this is someone who can fight.
"You stole my damn bounty head," the man says. "I came all the way to Io to get him and then you brought him in."
Another bounty hunter. He should have known. Jet grinds out the cigarette on the floor. "I didn't see your name tattooed on him anywhere."
"You owe me something. Dinner, at least. That would have been my food money."
"It would have been mine too, if I hadn't wrecked my ship chasing him."
The other man shrugs. "It was some good flying, anyway."
Jet laughs. "You saw it?"
"I couldn't help it; I was chasing him too."
"I don't remember seeing you," Jet says.
"I'm good at staying hidden."
Jet sighs, calls out an order for two of the special without asking what it is.
"You're actually going to pay for dinner?"
"You look hungry," Jet replies. And he does. He also looks intense, like someone who is keeping a secret they aren't going to give away.
"I'm Spike Spiegel," the man says, reaching across the table to shake Jet's hand.
While Jet shakes with his good hand the man eyes his other arm. "What happened to that one?"
"None of your damn business," says Jet, and receives a grin in return.
Jet is starting to feel something for this Spike Spiegel. Maybe it's just compassion, maybe it's something a little edgier that Jet's not going to admit to. Either way, as badass as this guy seems to want to be he might need someplace to go.
"You know, there are a few other bounty heads loose here on Io. If you want we could try chasing the next one together, split the bounty," Jet says.
"How do I know I can trust you?" asks Spike.
"You can't. I'm a bounty hunter."
Spike laughs. "All right. I'm in."
Jet smiles for the first time that day. Life will probably keep being tough on them, that's usually a given, but at least now there's someone new to hear his stories.
Author/Artist: rosehiptea
Theme: Five Emotions: Compassion
Rating: PG
Word Count: 435
Cross-posted to rosehiptea.
Jet is smoking in the bar, just waiting for someone to point to the no smoking sign so he can get angry at someone besides himself. All that work today and almost all the money would go into repairing the damage to the Hammerhead. He should have known that chasing down a bounty head famous for being a pilot wasn't going to be worth it.
Suddenly a dark-haired man is standing by the table. Maybe here's someone to be angry at. But there's something about the way he holds himself, his balance, that makes Jet think this is someone who can fight.
"You stole my damn bounty head," the man says. "I came all the way to Io to get him and then you brought him in."
Another bounty hunter. He should have known. Jet grinds out the cigarette on the floor. "I didn't see your name tattooed on him anywhere."
"You owe me something. Dinner, at least. That would have been my food money."
"It would have been mine too, if I hadn't wrecked my ship chasing him."
The other man shrugs. "It was some good flying, anyway."
Jet laughs. "You saw it?"
"I couldn't help it; I was chasing him too."
"I don't remember seeing you," Jet says.
"I'm good at staying hidden."
Jet sighs, calls out an order for two of the special without asking what it is.
"You're actually going to pay for dinner?"
"You look hungry," Jet replies. And he does. He also looks intense, like someone who is keeping a secret they aren't going to give away.
"I'm Spike Spiegel," the man says, reaching across the table to shake Jet's hand.
While Jet shakes with his good hand the man eyes his other arm. "What happened to that one?"
"None of your damn business," says Jet, and receives a grin in return.
Jet is starting to feel something for this Spike Spiegel. Maybe it's just compassion, maybe it's something a little edgier that Jet's not going to admit to. Either way, as badass as this guy seems to want to be he might need someplace to go.
"You know, there are a few other bounty heads loose here on Io. If you want we could try chasing the next one together, split the bounty," Jet says.
"How do I know I can trust you?" asks Spike.
"You can't. I'm a bounty hunter."
Spike laughs. "All right. I'm in."
Jet smiles for the first time that day. Life will probably keep being tough on them, that's usually a given, but at least now there's someone new to hear his stories.