When it Rains…
Chapter 1: Cloud cover
I do not own Firefly. Now that that's out of the way, I should definitely start by saying that this is a companion sort piece to Nothing in the 'Verse by dongyrn, who is in the process of writing a multi-chaptered fic based in this universe. Seeing as I happen to be the inspiration for the character Rain, I figured I'd be best to do a set of shots from her POV. Seeing as how the main character Dani is not, in fact, omniscient. I'm only planning on these being Rain's POV (hence the title), but who knows what the future holds?
This is a real experience, as close as I can remember. Names are changed to fit the Nothing in the 'Verse AU, and I would suggest reading that lovely story first before any of this story at all. It's not really much of a stand alone. This chapter corresponds to the prequel of Nit'V.
Jiangyin. 2 years pre-U-Day
Growing up was good. Jiangyin was a nice place, country-fied and pretty peaceful. She knew there were prettier, nicer places near the Core, but that was how life worked. Rain was never one to question it, not since her Kaasan (mom) left that day when she was 9. If she started questioning, Cali would notice, 'cause she always did somehow, and Cali was s'posed to be happy. 'Sides, the day was sunny, but not too hot for once. She could be outside, but her favorite fic had been updated finally and she was glued to her pocket Cortex in the den.
"Have you seen Mom?" speak of demons and they appear.
She turned away from her Cortex link to look at the 9 year old behind her, "Pretty sure she's in the study, brat. Why?"
"She said she was waiting to get a call, but that was hours ago! Mom said she'd help me with finding that clock spring I lost last week!"
"I'm not a seeker device," Rain muttered, standing up. "Let's go find 'er then, if it'll make you leave me alone."
They got into the study to see mom at her Cortex, checking for information on the Independent Army again. She spun the chair around when Cali as un-stealthy as possible bounced up behind her.
"Hello Cricket, what are you two up to? You drivin' Rain crazy again?"
"Like she ever stops?"
Cali stuck her tongue out at her older sister from where her arms were wrapped around their mom. "Nuh-uh! This time she came with me vol-volun-"
"Voluntarily." Mom interjected gently.
"Yeah that! Thanks!"
Then a Wave came in, and life shifted, shattering around the small, already broken family.
"Hello? Yes, this is Bethany. I...I see. Alright. Yes, I will. Good-bye."
Rain and Cali looked at each other in concern, their mom's face had turned so pale during the short call. Rain just sat there, trying to figure out what was happening while Cali whispered, like the words themselves would break the small amount of control Mom seemed to be clinging to, "Mama? Are you...ok?"
"No, sweetie. No I'm not." Her voice broke. It broke for the first time Rain remembered outside of someone mentioning Kaasan. "I'm sick. That was the doctor. The tests they took last time I was in? The ones testing for... Well. They came back positive."
"I don't understand," Cali murmured, blue eyes huge and dark against her lightly tanned skin.
Rain just stepped forward to hug her mom. How do you respond to something like that? You already took Kaasan away from us, you couldn't give this family any sort of break at all, could you? Rain didn't talk to God much, but she tried when she could, because it made her parents happy. The tears started then, Mom shaking in her seat, Rain's arms wrapped as far around her as she could, as tight as she could, like she could hold off the illness with her grip. She felt Cali come join the embrace, her shorter body squirming between one of Rain's arms and their mom's body to get a good grip.
"Everything will be ok," Mom whispered, already trying to pull herself back together.
No it won't. And it's still so gorram nice outside.