Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly/Serenity.

-A/N: A short piece written literally ten minutes ago for a weekly prompt challenge at the Muse Bunny writing forum. I'll admit freely that I probably could have done a better job if I had given myself more time to think about it, but I had this idea and I just had to get it down. My muse is a drunken film noir detective - and he held me at mental gunpoint and made me write. Alas, alack. Erm... Right. More "Out of Sight" coming soon. A sequel to "The Reluctant Suitor" coming a little after that. Enjoy this everyone!

Title: Chatter
Date: 27 August 2008
Character(s): River
Word Count: 453
Prompt: Silence

She sat, strings of cat's cradle between her fingers, listening to the rest of the crew as they chattered in the hold.

The captain worried vaguely about their upcoming job. "...but that's only if Badger don't turn on us again. Can't hardly trust him as far as you can smell 'im." His worry pressed against her, but it wasn't strong enough to invade. She kept all her focus on moving her dextrous fingers around the string.

Kaylee, in typical fashion, was rambling warmly about her engine. "…couldn't get that part last time, but maybe now we can find it! Serenity's tough as anything, but she ain't gonna hold up for much longer without some serious repairs. A girl deserves to get some nice new things once in a while. If only Cap'n would…" The mechanic's love for the old firefly shone bright and warm against River's mental skin. She shivered happily and focused on the next voice.

Jayne was quieter, mumbling as he sat on a crate, wearing the hat his mother had made him and munching on some indiscernible sort of snack. "Job ain't gonna go right; why we gotta use Badger, anyhow? Gorram fool don't even respect us. Bet we ain't goin' t'get all our money, neither. But if – "

"Captain," Simon called suddenly, striding into the hold, "I was wondering if you'd pick up a few things for the infirmary while you're out."

River shot him a glare as she let her string drop. She'd wanted to hear what the mercenary had to say. "It's rude to interrupt when people are talking, Simon."

He smiled and shot her a confused look. "What do you mean, mei mei? No one was talking." He laughed a little unsurely; he was sure his sister must be playing some sort of joke. "For once, the hold was silent."

River didn't respond as he went over and restarted his conversation with Mal, instead looking down, her hair swinging around her face, shielding her from the rest of the crew. She trembled, her whole body cold. All their thoughts swirled around her – they had to be thoughts, loud and invasive, never leaving her to her own mind. Why didn't she know; why couldn't she hear with her ears and see with her eyes like a normal girl of skin, blood, and bone? Nothing was real; everything was real. How was she to know the difference? And Simon...He gave Mal his list of medicines, no longer consciously concerned with his sister's odd chastisement. Poor ignorant Simon, who poked and prodded with gentle, caring hands, but who would never understand; she knew his words weren't chosen to hurt. But why didn't he see?

River's world was never silent.

Feedback and reviews - always greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading.