Disclaimer: Just Joss' lowly follower.
A/N: Mal PoV, BDM, Mal/Inara implied. Read, enjoy, let me know what you think.
First time Mal ever sees her undone happens to the first time he wakes up in a Fed infirmary too, after Miranda.
Her hair's pulled up without its usual styled look, her face is pale, her eyes half closed, and the last remains of her battle wound was fading away.
There isn't a stitch of make up on her face.
Her head's bent forward and her hands are in her lap, folded neatly over the blue cotton on her coveralls.
And he can't help but think she looks beautiful.
"You best not be praying." He said and the words sound slurred even in his ears, every part of his body aching something fierce. Her head shot up, and if he'd never seen her startled before he'd seen her startled now, eyes wide, mouth falling open to release a gasp as her hand came up to her chest. If it hadn't been for the pain in his gut at the mere thought of laughing, Mal thinks it would be safe to assume, had the situation been different, he'd be roaring by now.
"Mal, you—" She swallows, collecting herself, features softening and composing themselves until she's lowered her hand from her chest and is gripping his. "I'm glad to see you awake. You gave us quite a scare back there." And even though she smiles gently he sees her eyes say different, sees worry and fear and concern. All of them for him and he can't help but feel a mite better because of it.
"Well, it's what I'm good at." His words are a bit clearer now and her hand is small and soft and he hesitates a little before squeezing it.
"Yes, I won't argue with you about that." And there's the same watery smile on her face, that perfect face of hers, and it doesn't fit right with him, to see her so downtrodden, not when she's suppose to be everything placed far above the ruined ashes of the world. She places her free hand against his brow, a simple touch really, brief and fleeting but it sets a spark to his flesh that tingles and carries over.
"The doctors say you're going be alright."
"Are you—?" He starts, awfully aware of the fact that her hand hasn't left his.
"Yes. Yes I'm fine. Just a scratch." She turns her cheek towards him. "See?"
His palm tightens and he wants to touch her, make sure she's really fine. "It won't scar will it?"
"No, they have very good doctors here."
The words appear before he can even think to suppress them and the fall forward heedlessly.
"Good, wouldn't want it to affect your business."
Eight words and the moment ends. Her eyes flash and the walls are back in place, very last gorram wall and he's shut out.
"No it shouldn't." She says softly, and then, "The doctors ordered you receive plenty of rest. You should sleep now."
Then her hand's gone and she's walking away with her head held up high, back straight, shoulders set, every bit the Companion she's s'posed to be, cotton coveralls be damned.
"Gou-shi." He mutters, the hurt stirring in his gut, mixing with the awful clenching in his chest, right near his heart.
End
Gou-shi : shit
Feedback is Love