Fandom Firefly

Rating K+

Spoilers None

Summary This is the next piece in my series of short Firefly stories. It's not set at any particular time, just a little quiet moment between River and Inara.

In the series, I still have to write stories with River and Jayne, Wash, Zoe and Simon – I'm half-way there! I'm on my summer holiday now, so hopefully the last four stories will be up in the next week. Please read and review, it will keep me going!

Disclaimer Mine, I hear you ask? No, not at all. I'm not making any money from this.

Girl Talk

River sat cross-legged on the soft cover of Inara's bed, while the Companion sat behind her, slowly running a brush through the girl's long hair.

Inara sang softly as she worked, just an old children's lullaby that she remembered from her childhood on Sihnon, and River had closed her eyes to better concentrate on her friend's voice.

When every strand of River's long dark hair had been brushed smooth, Inara put down the brush and reached into a small wooden box that held a number of ribbons and hair-ornaments. "Mei mei, turn around, so I can see what colour suits you best."

River turned, and Inara searched through the bundle of ribbons.

" 'Nara? This one." River held up a wide pink ribbon. "Use this one."

"Yes, that does suit you. Now, how shall I do your hair now it's brushed?"

"Uh…"

"Why don't I surprise you?"

"Okay." River turned again, and Inara started to style her hair.

"You didn't know what you wanted, did you?"

"I suppose so."

"It's okay… I suppose I thought the same as everyone else, that you know everything. Not knowing something is new, for you anyway."

"Didn't have much opportunity to be a girl, when I was there. No braiding, or ribbons, or lullabys. Got a lot of catching up to do."

"Well, whenever you need a moment just to be a girl, you can come and see me any time."

"Thank you." River hesitated for a moment. "Inara?"

"Yes mei mei?"

"What's going on between you and the captain?"
"What?"

"You. And the captain. Whenever I see you together, it's so confusing."

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes, the air between you feels like it does between Simon and Kaylee. Like you like each other. But sometimes, there's so much hostility there between you. Like you can't stand each other. Why is that? I've never seen it before, with anyone."

"Uh… I really don't know what to say… but you shouldn't be reading us like that without telling us."
"I can't help it. The captain thinks too loud, and he always thinks loudest when he's around you." She frowned a little. "Actually, that makes it more confusing. Inara?"

"Wha… oh, bao bei… the captain and I have been like that for a long time. Sometimes I think I like him, but sometimes he's just so infuriating…"

"I understand. And I'll try and keep this to myself."

"Thank you." Inara carefully finished styling the younger girl's hair. She felt a tear slip down her cheek.

"Don't let it upset you."

"Oh, no, I'm fine."

"Of course you are." River got up from the bed, admiring her new hairstyle in the mirror, and twirling the end of the pink ribbon in her fingers. "Thanks, 'Nara. I had fun."

"That's good. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. You have a lovely smile, you should smile more."

"Smile more… yes. That's a good idea." She glanced at the console of Inara's shuttle, visible through the open curtains. "There's a wave coming in for you."

"Oh… thank you. I should take that."

As Inara sat down at the console, River admired herself one last time in Inara's full-length mirror, then started to leave. She stopped in the doorway, tilting her head. She smiled broadly, as she sensed a slight change in Inara's aura. She had let go of something, something bad that had been weighing on her mind for a long time. River nodded once, and left.