So this accidentally wrote itself while I was working on a challenge for Romantiscue. Mildly inspired by 'Think Twice' by Eve 6.
This is going to be my dumping ground for and random Mulan ficlets that want to write themselves now that I've finished 'Soldier'. If there are any different circumstances concerning the universe or whether these are set in the same storyline as 'Soldier' I will state so, but for the large part assume these all come within the world of that story.
They are travelling together from a training camp in the far eastern provinces of China to the Capital, and stop over in a rest house on the way, paying the innkeeper generously for his best room. Shang has stepped outside to feed and water the horses for the night, and Li Mulan sits at a greasy table in the downstairs room, her hands folded politely in her lap as all around her men sip cheap Sake.
"Good evening, miss," a man at a nearby table greets, and she smiles briefly at him and then her eyes flit back to the door.
"I said good evening," he repeats, and Mulan looks back at him.
"Good evening," she echoes hollowly, and then her eyes are distant once more.
"You don't talk much, do you?" the fellow says after an uncomfortable pause, dragging his stool across a little so that it sits closer to hers; he is a good decade or so older than her, with a weathered and leathery face and thinning hair sprinkled around his blotchy crown.
Mulan says nothing, feeling that her silence gives all the answer she requires.
"Here by yourself, little miss?" her unpleasant companion questions, and leans in a little closer. "These can be dangerous parts you know, all sorts of-"
"I am perfectly capable of looking after myself," Mulan responds with a sigh, and wonders just how long Shang is going to spend talking to their horses tonight. She knows he does it, not that she is innocent of it herself; although, she does wish sometimes that he wouldn't alwas go to them before her when he has a problem.
"Is that so, little miss?" he says with a leer, and now Mulan is sure that her assumptions are not mistaken. His attentions to her were foul-meaning from the start.
"I am travelling with-" she begins to say, but breaks off when she feels the brush of dirty fingertips against her sleeve. The man obviously couldn't hear her properly through all that filth in his head. "What are you doing?!" she snaps harshly, pulling her arm away from him. "I am a-"
"Full of it, aren't you?" the man growls, and lashes out his hand fast to grab Mulan roughly by the shoulder. "You should learn to be more-!" the shout trails out to a yelp as the man sees the tall and imposing shadow fall over him, as Shang returns from outside and observes the exchange from across the room.
To put it plainly, he is furious, and looks like he might be considering a quick execution for the man who dared to touch his wife. However, Mulan tries to pacify him.
"Please, Shang," she says softly. "I can handle this." With this she calmly stands up, pulling her arm away from the grip of the stranger and straightening herself up. Then with a movement so fast the assailant can barely keep up, she whips around and punches him square in the face.
It is by no means gentle, and the unfortunate man goes tumbling head over heels off his stool, upsetting his table, and then falling under both in a bruised and humiliated pile, while the tinkle of broken crockery around him speaks of the price he will pay to the owner for damages.
"See?" Mulan says to her husband, who – while not looking any less enraged – seems to accept this resolution, and after taking her by the arm leads her away. Gods protect anyone who tried to touch his girl.
Man I hate pushy chat-up men. They just don't know when to quit.
Review if it pleases you, as it pleases me. ;) oh yeah.
