FRAMED - Cowboy Bebop fanfiction

Session 16

Quinn loosened her grip around the letter opener as a tall, masculine silhouette drifted down the length of her frosted glass office walls. She had a feeling she knew who was coming, but she didn't want to believe it. She wanted to believe it was anyone else in the galaxy, anyone but him.

 As his figure rounded the corner and appeared in the doorway, Quinn's heart sunk into her stomach. She stood there with her lips slightly parted. She didn't know what to say, and even if the words were to have somehow made it to her mind in time, she didn't know how'd she'd even begin to speak. All she could to was stare. 

"Nice office you got here. You might want to invest in more security though," he shrugged carelessly as he took a drag of his cigarette. Quinn couldn't believe he was there in front of her, no more than 10 meters away. He was just standing there, wearing the same leather jacket and black jeans that Quinn had made him wear the night of the mission. 

"S-Spike?" Quinn stammered as she slowly walked around her desk. She was shaking, she could barely breath, and her entire body felt like it was being dragged downwards. Light reflected off his dark, tinted green hair while smoke enveloped the area around his face. His appearance hadn't changed since she had least seen him, but for some reason Quinn just couldn't see him as the same man she had fallen for all those months ago. 

"That's what they call me," he cocked his head to the side playfully before exhaling a large cloud of smoke. She couldn't believe how calm he was acting. It had been months since he had last seen her, and this is how he chose to greet her? 

He presented the same arrogance he had worn the first night he picked her up at the bar. Quinn hated it, and it all felt like a bad dream. Ever since he left she'd being having nightmares about him. Every so often she'd awake in a cold sweat after dreaming about his return. 

Although it didn't happen often, every occasion was unforgettable. This moment, despite feeling like a nightmare, was real. Quinn could hardly compose herself as she made her way towards the doorway. 

"What are you doing here?" Quinn choked as she walked closer to him. She was completely baffled by his sudden appearance, and needless to say she she was not particularly pleased with his actions. 

 Spike smiled happily as he leaned himself against the door frame. He crossed one ankle over the other as he took another drag from his cigarette. 

"You want the truth?" He asked, and Quinn nodded her head hesitantly. She didn't know what she was expecting to hear from him, but once he opened his mouth, a look of utter bewilderment flushed across her face.  

"Would you believe me if I told you I haven't been able to get out out of my head since the last night I saw you?" He asked, and Quinn's stomach twisted as she bit the inside of her cheek. She couldn't believe what he was saying, and regardless of whether or not he was telling the truth, she hated the way he spoke to her. 

He talked like he had a chance, and he was acting as if his simple words could fix all the pain he had put her through. Whatever he was thinking was wrong. Quinn wasn't one to be easily persuaded. 

"I would think you're stupid for thinking anything you could say would convince me to let you back into my life," Quinn frowned, her tone flat with animosity. She had spent countless sleepless nights attempting to forget him, and now suddenly out of nowhere he appeared at her door? The entire situation was beyond ridiculous, and she wanted him to leave. 

"I figured," Spike exhaled slowly as he turned his head away from her. 

"I think I made a mistake all those months ago," he began, but Quinn wasn't buying his sob story.