"Jealousy"
Notes: Drabble 400 words.
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The shouting emanating from the mess bounced off every dark corner of the ship. One voice was embittered, gruff, the other determined and mousy.
Various members of the crew perked their ears up to the ruckus and dropped whatever they were doing to race to the kitchen. Filing into the room, they watched the situation unfold as if behind a two-way mirror.
River was standing tall on a chair, bravely getting up into Jayne's face. Poking her little finger hard against his chest, her cheeks were flush with anger as she shouted at him. "You're as dense as granular matter! Cornflake."
Jayne puffed up his chest, asserting his dominance. "Yeah, well, yer 'bout as cracked as an egg. One that has a bunch o'…cracks in it." He sputtered and finished lamely, intensity smoldering his blue eyes dark.
River's expression was caught somewhere between indignant and smug. "Cracked, broken, but you're the one with issues."
"Only issue I got is wit' the itty bitty thing that won't jus' let me be!"
River narrowed her eyes. "Selfish ape-beast."
"Witch." Jayne spat back, leaning in close, his hot breath invasive.
River thwacked her fingers right over Jayne's heart, her teeth practically grinding. "Cowardly lion."
Mal whispered out the side of his mouth, careful not to take his eyes off the pair, his hand instinctually hovering over his gun. "Anyone know what's going on?"
Kaylee had her arms folded petulantly over her chest. "I do. River an' Jayne have been seeing one another going on a year now an' he's still bein' his mean old greedy self."
Mal smirked. "Oh, you mean the fact he ain't ever gonna settle?"
"That ain't it." Kaylee watched River hop off the chair and brush past them, throwing her hands up in the air animatedly. "I want a divorce!"
Jayne shook his head as he called after her. "Girl, we ain't even married! Gorram nut job." Still oblivious to their audience, he followed in suit.
Mal turned back to Kaylee, bewildered and exasperated. "Well, can anyone enlighten me as to why they're at it again? He cheat on her? Know it ain't the no kissing thing. Seen enough o' that to make my eyes bleed."
"Nothing like that capt'n." Kaylee looked down the empty corridor still resounding with the sound of high pitched squeals and crotchety protests. "River's just jealous. Jayne still won't let her play with Vera."
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