Previously on Father:
Upon getting ready to leave for potential crime on Highgate, Malcolm Reynolds discovered he had not one, but two sons by an old flame. Warren (17) and William (7) were taken in by the crew and eventually accepted by their reluctant father after he received support from his significant other, Inara. Meanwhile the crew also brought on a new pilot, Emerson Childs, to help assist River. Emerson ended up being a retired Alliance pilot who took part in killing Independance planets, and nearly died at the hands of Zoe upon the information being released.
"How you holdin' up?"
Emerson Childs looked up from the pilot's chair she had been tied to. It was only a few days ago she had been hired on as Serenity's pilot, and only a day ago she had been found as a former Alliance special forces pilot, then nearly killed for it, then bound, then given the chance to assist in flying the ship into Antilles where a potential job was to be had. Of course, there were still some trust issues, which was why she had a chain locked around her waist. She kept telling herself it could be worse. The chains could have been tightened by Zoe. Emerson hoped the first mate would awaken in a better mood.
Kaylee had Emma sleeping soundly on her shoulder as she paced the front of the helm. She furrowed her brow at their captive employee. "Emerson?"
"Alright, thanks." She said, turning her attention to the mechanic. "I mean, I've been better."
Kaylee nodded, rubbing the baby's back as she slipped into the chair. "Just give everyone some time, not being upfront makes it hard to... y'know... trust you."
"Well aware." Eying the baby, she tapped her fingers on the chair's arm. "She alright?"
"Just teethin'." The mechanic said softly, nuzzling the snoring baby. Emma groaned, and her babysitter couldn't help but kiss a fat little fist. "Zo's catching some Z's, Jayne's sleeping in, and River's gotta recoup from landing so someone's gotta watch this Lil' One."
"You think it's going well?"
"Which one?"
"You sure that's the one you want?" Inara asked.
Will nodded eagerly as he hugged the stuffed red Chinese dragon he had found at the vendor's cart in the shopping district. There was a large stack of gently used books on the counter as well as a small assortment of toys. "I like him." He looked up at Inara, dressed sensibly in her leather jacket, pants and boots and gave her a smile of approval. "Can I take him right now?"
Inara ran her hand from his forehead, back across and down to his nape. "You have to hold onto him tight, no losing him." As soon as she received a head nod, she gave him a nudge back to his big brother so she could negotiate a price. "Alright, give me a moment."
"Man, I wanna play with your toys, Xiǎodì." Warren quipped as he playfully pulled his brother over to him and tugged on his new overalls. They were tan, and with the navy t-shirt and brown boots, he looked an awful lot like a miniature version of their pirate father.
"We can when we get back to S'renity." Will piped up. He held onto his new friend tightly as Inara haggled for a good price on their wares. Gazing up at Warren, he admired his big brother's new outfit. They both had new clothes and shoes that actually fit them on top of the other purchases.
"You like my jacket?" Warren asked, tugging on the collar of the brown canvas work jacket with the wool trim on the hood.
"Fits you."
"I know, novel, huh? Whatcha gonna name this guy?" He poked the dragon.
He furrowed his little brows, taking a moment to carefully look the dragon over. "Shen." He finally announced.
"Shen?" He scooped his brother and Shen up and dropped him on his shoulders. "You sure?" He felt the toy resting on his head as his brother held on.
"He's a Shen."
"Huh."
Inara turned to see the Reynolds boys waiting for her. She looked the pair over in their new clothes, boots, and coats. Seven and seventeen. One small, one tall and lanky. One all Mal, the other a mix. It made her smile. "They're going to send everything to the ship." She said. "I think we're done. Warren, are you sure you want something other than the ship magazines?"
"Oh no, Inara, those are just fine." The boy reassured. "More than enough to keep me busy."
"If you say so. Should we go sit down somewhere and have lunch?"
Warren held onto his brother's legs and blushed. No one had ever bought him new things, much less considered taking him somewhere to eat that wasn't cooking meat on an open flame next to the street. "You sure?" He asked uneasily.
"Are you not hungry?"
"I'm hungry." Will told her from on high.
"I'm beginning to think you're always hungry." She said teasingly.
"Maybe so."
Warren shifted uncomfortably. "You sure you want to go to a restaurant? With us?"
Inara furrowed her brow ever so delicately and realized what Warren was implying. "Something casual." Reaching up she playfully tugged on Shen's tail. "There's a little cafe up the street in the restaurant district. It's mostly middle eastern fair, but they make sandwiches and the like."
Warren still wasn't entirely sold.
"Can I have my own sandwich?" The little one asked.
"Of-" Inara stopped at the flash of red hair that passed them by.
The flash of red hair heard her voice and stopped, turning and meeting her eyes. Saffron debated whether or not she should actively engage the Companion, or just brush past her and try to steal her wallet to make up for Bellapharone. However she saw the children, quickly noticed the resemblance, and decided the conversation would put herself in better spirits. "Well, well, what do we have here?" She tilted her head and neared the little group.
Inara frowned, though she straightened her shoulders and switched to a more stately and reserved countenance.
"Last time I heard anything about your crew it seemed everyone from here to kingdom come wanted you dead." She told the Companion. "And they pinched Mal's first… what was her name again?"
"Saffron-"
"No that was my name, a few capers back though." She looked the boys up and down, relishing the new information she was gathering whilst also making Inara stew. "Zoe, right? By the looks of you, you took her place." Saffron gestured to Inara's more utilitarian clothes.
Warren shifted, unsure of the slick, clearly untrustworthy woman taunting Inara.
Scowling, Will tugged at Warren to be put down.
"Just a bitch when they kick you out of the Companion's Guild ain't it, Honey? Of course-" She smiled up at the children "I'm sure his bed is just as-"
Inara pulled the pin back on her gun and aimed it at the other woman's stomach. She kept it close to her side, as to not call attention to them. "I'm getting tired of your yammering." She offered a bored sigh. "Why don't you go fleece someone else?" Inara nodded over to the selection of other people in the vicinity. "Take your pick. Just not Serenity, because I can guarantee you'll be shot as soon as you reach our slip."
"Relax." She hissed, more annoyed than intimidated. "I have bigger, more expensive fish than you bunch'a morons-"
"Well if we're morons and we managed to get you locked in a dumpster, I can't even begin to think of where you fall on the IQ scale."
Saffron frowned.
Inara offered a smile. "Get the hell out of here, Shuí tā mā de nǐ xiànzài."
She looked the children over again. "Fine, one last question. Who are these two?" Quirking her brow she took a step back, away from Inara and her gun.
Glacing over to the boys she knew what Safforn was trying to get at. "Serras. They're mine."
Will bushed past Saffron and hurried over to Inara, finding a safe spot behind her legs.
Inara slipped her free hand onto the top of the little boy's head. "Now leave, before I drop you."
Saffron backed up more. "That'll only work as long as you keep them out of the same room he's in." Turning, she slipped into the crowd.
Warren let out an uneasy breath. "Who the hell was that?"
"I didn't like her." Will said, still behind Inara.
"If you ever see her, you need to be careful is all." Inara placed her pistol back in her back holster. "She's not to be trusted."
"Can we still get lunch?"
She turned and scooped the littlest Reynolds up. "We can't let you go hungry now can we?" Stealing a hug, she passed him to his brother. "Here, we'll move faster-"
"Yeah, his legs are short." Warren put his brother back up on his shoulders.
"Hey!" The littlest yelped.
"Well its true! And don't fidget so much up there."
"Quit fidgeting with your coat." Simon muttered.
"I'm not fidgeting." Mal knew he was fidgeting. Simon was in his element and he most certainly was not. The damn place looked like the lightbulbs cost more than they made in a year. It was plush, lit for ambiance, and there was a grand piano off to the side with someone playing it. Smells like incense and expensive meats wafted through the club the waiters bussed around silver platters stocked with delectable looking food.
Their hostess, a girl in a tight black dress, pulled back a curtain and ushered them into the dimly lit space. Suddenly it smelled like expensive cigars and equally expensive women. There was a stage, on it a Shiro dressed in silk and geisha makeup, playing a shamisen in the most seductive way one could. "Mr. Xiao is in the corner booth."
Simon nodded and slipped her a bill. "Thank you." He kept an even, impressive stride. Dressed well and amongst well off ilk, he had more confidence than Mal had ever seen.
"Lord you're smooth." He mumbled. "I take it you're familiar with this kind of setting?"
"During college, one may celebrate by... indulging." Simon hinted "These places cater to a man who's looking for a certain mood as well as anonymity. Money's usually not an afterthought."
"They always this dim and quiet?"
"Weekends there's probably burlesque, a much more lively and adult atmosphere."
"I never pegged you for that type."
"It was a long time ago," he sighed "I was quite young and stupid and enjoying the follies of said youth."
"And here I thought you were a bookworm. All work and no play."
"Books and covers, Mal." tipping his head to the silver crop of hair that was above the black leather backing he swallowed "That our guy?"
"Guess so." They rounded the corner to see the man. Tall and lean, younger than what his hair advertised, but possibly longer in the tooth than either of them. "Eddie?"
TRANSLATIONS:
Xiǎodì: Little Brother
Shuí tā mā de nǐ xiànzài: Whoever the fuck you are
A/N: Reviews are always shiny.