Strength

Rated: G

Category: Gen, Ficlet (355 words) Mal Character Focus As Seen From Inara's POV.
Spoilers: None.
Summary: Inara Gives Mal More Credit Than He Knows...

Note: Written in response to the LJ prompt of 'I'm Not Even Going To Ask What You're Doing With That' on ff_friday.

Oh, and this one is all for The Nathan Nation, including The Fillion himself. Thanks for everything.

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"I'm not even going to ask what you're doing with that."

Inara gave Mal one of those stares that made his insides boil. It was half condescending and half amused, like she knew more about whatever was going on than he did.

Mal glanced down at the hammer in his hand and then gave her a quirky grin.

"Might be best you don't."

Mal strode off Serenity and onto the dry, dusty ground of their latest rest stop.

Twenty minutes later, he returned, looking very pleased with himself.

Inara was sitting right where he'd left her in the cargo bay. She'd borrowed Kaylee's folding chair and was sunning herself on the ramp just outside the ship.

She looked up as Mal walked by, still clutching his hammer in one hand.

"So, mission accomplished, then?"

Mal nodded. "Yup."

"Good. Wouldn't want any stray nails to cause problems, now, would we?" Inara's voice dripped with something that sounded like honey but tasted like battery acid.

Mal opened his mouth to answer, but quickly closed it. He smiled and shook his head, deciding it would be better if he kept his latest activities to himself. He wasn't in the mood for more of Inara's sarcasm.

He would've succeeded in keeping his secret, too, had not Kaylee come skipping up the ramp at that very moment.

"Oh, Captain! That was right shiny of you!"

Inara raised her eyebrows.

Mal shrugged. "Ah, Kaylee, it was nothin."

Kaylee laughed. "That horse would argue that for sure. He'll feel much better with that nail outta his hoof."

Mal blinked twice, smiled a thin grin, and walked off. He'd have been fine with Inara not knowing what he'd been up to. So much for that.

Mal stomped off to his bunk already hearing cowboy jokes in his head.

He never saw Inara's eyes follow him as he left.

He never saw her tiny smile that showed appreciation for his kindness, instead of condemnation.

Kaylee skipped off after a second, and Inara's grin grew into a beaming smile.

Some might say that kindness is a weakness, but Inara knew better.

Kindness is a strength.