FRAMED - Cowboy Bebop fanfiction

Session 24

Quinn wanted nothing more but to be in bed. Her head hurt, her muscles ached, and her heart, much like the rest of her tattered body, felt like it had been shattered into thousands of pieces. After she had watched Spike walk away earlier that day, she hadn't been able to keep her mind off of him. In an attempt to distract herself, she spent the rest of the afternoon at some cafe, deep in the heart of Venus' most populated cities.

Justin and Cole had accompanied her to the cafe for lunch, but they had left soon after. Quinn enjoyed their company while it lasted, but she knew it was only a temporary distraction. Once they had gone, she drowned herself in work. The day dragged on as she kept her nose buried deep in her laptop screen. Quinn was working well into her weekend, but it wasn't unlike her to do such a thing.

The sun had set ages ago, and as the cafe began to empty, Quinn felt the emptiness she had been desperately trying to avoid, start to consume her once again. Venus, unlike Mars, was not a city that contained a bustling nightlife scene. So as Quinn packed up her things and cleared her table, she made her way towards the only club in town. A small, insignificant jazz bar just a few blocks from the cafe.

...

Devoid of all thought, Quinn entered the bar. It wasn't empty, but it wasn't full. There were plenty of seats open at the counter, and as she took a seat alone, she shrugged off her overcoat and slid her bag under the seat. The atmosphere inside was unlike any other bar she had been too. The music was loud, but not deafening, and the surrounding patrons weren't nearly as sleezy as the ones Quinn encountered on Mars.

She ordered a drink, swallowed it down in seconds, and then ordered another. Her head buzzed pleasantly as she swallowed a third, and as she slammed the empty glass down to the countertop, she listened to the bar door open behind her.

She signaled the bar tender for a fourth, and as he made his way over to her end of the counter, the patron who had just entered decided to take the seat directly next to Quinn. She turned her head away from the stranger and rolled her eyes. Suppressing the urge to scoff at him, she listened to the stranger order a drink for himself. Much to her surprise, he didn't order one for her. Quinn was glad he hadn't made an attempt to interact, but as her drink was slid down the counter, she found that she had judged too quickly.

"What's got you so down darling?" The man inquired gruffly as he took a sip of his drink. Quinn sighed deeply as she propped her elbow up on the counter. The music soothed her buzzing mind as she kept her eyes glued to her drink.

"I'm not interested in conversation," she groaned, not even bothering to look at him. He smiled through a laugh as he downed the rest of his glass.

"Me neither. I'm just looking for something to fill the empty space," he grumbled as he placed the glass down. He rest an arm on the countertop before shifting his body to face hers. Quinn wasn't interested in the pleasantries this man was so eager to provide, but she understood what he meant by filling the space.

"Aren't we all," Quinn slurred as she lifted her glass to her lips.

"Wonderful, glad we can relate," he shrugged, leaning in closer to her. Quinn lifted her head up. The mans eyes were hidden by a mess of long, silverish, grey hair. He was pale, and dressed formally. A long, black trench coat complete with gold buttons and accents flowed over his shoulders, and down passed his hips. Quinn was taken aback by his appearance. She wasn't expecting such an appropriate man to be striking a conversation with her.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to stare?" The man teased, breaking Quinn from her accidental, impertinent gaze.

"I- I'm sorry," she blushed, quickly turning her head away from him. She was embarrassed by how quickly he was able to fluster her.