Title: On Suckers and Smiles
Author: Lokaia
(A/N): Fourteenth of thirty for the LJ community 30Kisses. Extended A/N found below.
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Swirls of red and blue. Swirling and blending but never quite making purple - they're seperate, the colors, and they're good that way. Sweet.
It's clear, too, she can see the stick in the middle of the confection, like the invisible axis of a planet. Red water and blue land - never blue water, that's boring - orbiting a paper stick. Good.
It's hard, though, dense even if pieces of it flake off when she closes her teeth around it hard. She can't break it all at once, needs to chip at it piece by piece. No-- not piece by piece. Lick by lick. Savor it, the blue and the red.
When the globe dwindles, smaller and clearer, the axis more apparent, she blinks dark eyes at it and smiles. Red and blue came together and made purple. She made purple. She brought the red and the blue together, much as they'd tried to stay apart.
She did it.
"...You gonna eat that thing or just stare at it?" That's Wash, watching curiously-- with the box they'd kept the stolen party treats in.
Kaylee makes a face, wrinkling her nose at the pilot. "She's been lickin' it the last ten minutes, Wash!"
"But it's caaaaandy!"
"Let 'er have it." The bear doesn't growl so much today, leaning against a box in the cargo bay with them. A leather strap in one hand, his foot holding the other end down, he sharpens a knife-- sharpens his claws. Not to attack and kill. To protect. Baby cubs out for their first hunt, aren't watching right, mama's gotta be there.
River looks up, looks at him, just looks... and giggles.
He looks up at her, brow arched, but he isn't nearly as scared or aggressive as he once was. Not tamed-- but learned. "What?"
A pause and River takes a long lick of her sucker before giggling again. "Mama bear," she says before breaking into a grin and outright laughing at the picture that makes in her head.
Kaylee smiles but doesn't understand. Wash eyes her and then goes back to looking for more candy. The bear has no idea what she's talking about, so he goes back to sharpening his knife.
But he's smiling.
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(Extended A/N): It has come to my attention that some people are not aware of this, so I will make it more clear for you: I am not paid for this, nor do I receive anything in exchange for fanfiction other than wonderful reviews, excellent criticism, and quite a few comments from people who are incapable of giving either of the former. Please do not leave me backhanded-compliment reviews. If you've read all fourteen stories up to now, there must be something you like. Please tell me what you liked and/or how you believe the vignettes could be improved. Please do not tell me or insinuate that I should write faster. This is fanfiction. You'll live if it takes me a month to get the next installment out. If you don't, leave a note and have your relatives contact me. I will retract all of the following.
For those of you who have given me nothing but lovely support, reviews, and ways to improve, I thank you and apologize for being rude - it was meant for one person and any others who decide to follow in his/her footsteps. I think I'll end my mini-novel of an Author's Note now. Hope you enjoyed #14 - 16 more to go!