A.N: Intended to be Mal/Inara, post- BDM. Interpret as you wish, and feedback is always appreciated.
He knows that she's wearing it.
He's not sure how he knows, how he noticed such a seemingly insignificant detail. He supposes that he just learned to notice details, back in those days, but it's such a subtle thing. Maybe just a change in color – and he's surprised he noticed it at all, because she probably took a whole gorram class on how to use those silly powdery colors – but although he doesn't like it – it hides her – how can he really blame her with all that she – that they all – have been through so recently?
So he stays quiet, lets her put up her façade and pretend, but late in the night when they alone are awake, he puts his hands on the side of her face and gently uses his thumbs to wipe away the concealer from under her eyes, revealing the dark circles he knew were there. She lets him, and the concealer smears across her cheekbones, but he doesn't tell her that.
