Author's note: Thought of this idea after rewatching the entire series with my family. There are some allusions to sexual assault and some cursing so be wary

Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly or any of its characters though if I did it would not have ended

Vigilance: The Bull

Inara's heart thumped wildly against her chest as she docked her shuttle back into Serenity. Two days ahead of schedule and there were bound to be questions. Inara closed her eyes as the shuttle locked into place, though her body did not relax.

"I paid for you, that means you're mine!"

The words echoed in her mind and she shuddered. She could still feel his hands gripping painfully on her arms, his tongue attempting to invade her mouth…

She swallowed the lump in her throat and allowed herself to go to her mirror. Her lip was still bleeding. Bruises scattered along her neck, shoulders, and arms. It was less often than not that a customer would try to overpower a Companion, but it still happened. And this was not the first time it had happened to Inara.

But this was the first time she was not able to defend herself.

Inara allowed thoughts of the experience to subside, though they still whispered quietly in the back of her mind. She cleaned the blood from her lip and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. Ultimately she decided upon avoiding the crew at all costs. Someone was bound to come inquiring as to why she had returned so ahead of schedule but for the meantime she would not go looking for them. Inara took a deep breath, trying to forget. Deep down she knew she never really would.

Kaylee stared at the entrance to Inara's shuttle. Questions bounced around in her head but something stopped her from addressing them. She crossed her arms and chewed her lip. Mal thumped up the cargo bay stairs and stared at the girl.

"What're we starin' at?" he asked as he reached the top. Kaylee's head bobbed as she pointed a finger toward the newly docked shuttle. His eyes followed her pointing. He cocked an eyebrow.

"And?" Kaylee pursed her lips.

"'Nara's back early," she said.

"Huh," he grunted. Mal looked back at the young mechanic. He could see that she was bothered by this fact. True, it piqued his curiosity as to why Inara had returned ahead of schedule, but he felt no reason to worry as Kaylee seemed to be doing. His eyes went back to the door.

"Wonder why," he said, taking a step toward the door. Kaylee put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Maybe you'd ought not to, Captain." She didn't know why but something inside her was telling her that perhaps Inara wanted to be left alone. But the captain was a stubborn man who found joy in irritating others.

"Nonsense," Mal said with a smile. Kaylee let her hand drop to her side as he walked up to the door and let himself in without knocking.

"Afternoon," the captain said, strutting into the shuttle like a peacock.

"Gāisǐ de, Mal!" Inara shouted. At the sound of the door opening she had shot up from her position on the bed, wrapping the shawl even tighter around her shoulders. She kept her back to Mal.

"Easy now, Inara. No need t'be so vocal." Had she seen the cheeky look on his face and the way he'd put up his hands in fake innocence she would have rolled her eyes.

"What do you want?" Inara said. Mal's face fell, all manner of playfulness faded. Her tone had not been one of her usual frustration that she used with the captain. There was slight frustration in her voice, though underneath it was something else. Aggression or fear, he thought. And why wouldn't she face him? His face became one of concern as he walked over to where she stood. Still she did not turn around.

"Somethin's wrong," he said sternly. Inara swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She shook her head.

"No, everything's fine." She'd tried her best to keep her voice steady and calm but couldn't quite keep the tremble from her words. Mal lifted his hand as if to put it on her shoulder, but couldn't bring himself to touch her.

"Inara," he said. His voice had held the authoritative tone of an order, but both knew it was not an order. Inara chose to act, however. She closed her eyes and turned around. Through the hair hanging on her neck Mal saw the faint traces of deep purple coloring. He noted the way she clutched the shawl too tightly around her body. He wanted to reach out and sweep the hair off of her shoulders and push the shawl away from her frame. But this was one of the few times that he would acknowledge that he mustn't push her if he wanted answers. Mal stared down at the Companion and waited.

They stood in silence for several minutes. At last, Inara took a deep breath and let the shawl slide off of her body. Mal's eyes widened in horror. Two hand shaped bruises on her arms just above the elbow, several smaller bruises around her collarbone and neck. Inara lifted her face to gauge his reaction. She gasped at the sight. Mal was absolutely livid. His eyes, remaining on the markings, were burning with a fury she had never seen before. His jaw clenched and unclenched, causing veins to pop on his neck. His fists too clenched, until the knuckles turned white. His breathing picked up, nostrils flaring like a bull. Inara could see him shaking from the sheer rage that surely coursed through his blood. She nearly stepped back out of fear.

"Mal," she tried as calmly as she could, for someone had to be. He swallowed and Inara could see the difficulty with which it went down.

"Who did this to you?" the captain asked through his teeth. Inara searched for his eyes but he would not tear his gaze away from her arms and neck. Mal couldn't think straight. All of his thoughts were of his hands around a neck, fingers on triggers, anything that would torture the bastard.

"Mal, please calm down." She kept her voice quiet, though she longed to scream. He did not react.

"Mal," she said firmly. No reaction. Inara tentatively reached out a hand. She rested it on his cheek. At her touch his eyes met hers.

"Please," she almost begged. His body still read anger but his eyes softened slightly at the sound of her plea.

"Who then?" Mal's voice was still strained, though not as harsh. Inara's hand fell and she looked away.

"Just forget it, there's nothing you can do." The fire returned to Mal's eyes.

"No, there is somehtin' you can do," he fumed. Inara stepped away from the infuriated man, crossing her arms.

"Oh? Should I report him to the Alliance?" she spat. For a split second all of the anger and fire left Mal's body like the sudden stillness in the eye of a hurricane. Inara couldn't go to the Alliance because of him. Should she go to them she's never be able to come back to Serenity. Inara couldn't be affiliated with the ship or crew in any way.

The man who did this to her would get away with it. The realization hit him like a punch in the gut. He decided he would guilt himself later. As quickly as it had left, rage flooded him once more. He took a step toward the Companion.

"You can find the āng zāng de bàilèi bèndàn and show 'im that he ain't allowed to do that to no one." Inara's shoulders drooped.

"You know I can't do that," she said.

"Then tell me who he is and I'll do it for ya." She turned around slowly.

"And let you get yourself into more trouble with the Alliance? I can't let you do that."

Another punch in the gut. Mal's face fell somewhat.

"He'll receive a black mark," she continued. "That's the best I can do." Her gaze wandered to the shawl on the floor. Mal did not know what to say. He was angry; both at the man and at himself. Not knowing what to do, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the shuttle. Inara had watched him leave, allowing the tears she'd been holding in to slip out.

Mal wandered back to his bunk. He sat down on his bed and grabbed his gun from the side table. He stared at the reflection on the murky surface. He spat on it and wiped it on his shirt. Once it was shiny again, he pointed it at an imaginary target across the small room.

"He'll pay," Mal promised himself.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are always appreciated so please do. I don't know if I'll do a sequel. If I get enough inspiration maybe I will, otherwise we'll just call this a oneshot.

Translations (I used Google translate so sorry if these aren't really accurate, please feel free to correct me)

Gāisǐ de – Damn it

Āng zāng de bàilèi bèndàn – dirty scum fucker