Chapter Title: Once Too Often (2/7)
Prompt: Wrath; #30 Death
Rating: R (violence, character death)
Word Count: 330-ish


Jayne tossed back his whiskey and shoved the chair back, fuming because he had lost yet another hand of poker. He peeled himself away from the table, gathered what few credits he had left, and made his way to the bar for more liquor.

As he waited for the bartender to fill his order he felt something soft press against his arm. It was River.

"I ain't in the mood, girl," he snarled.

"Silly boy with the girl's name. I tried to tell you the cards were marked, the players duplicitous."

Still angry at losing to a bunch of deceitful cheaters, he pushed her away and snapped, "I done told you about that 'girl's name' go se."

But River only giggled, mocking him. The sound grated on his nerves and he was so furious that he had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from backhanding her across the room. So when she excused herself to go to the ladies' room, Jayne followed not far behind, stalking her.

He waited for her to finish, then grabbed her arms in his tight grip as she exited the stall.

"I gotta show you, girl? Do I?" he hissed as he slammed her against the wall.

River's eyes seemed to taunt him, questioning his manhood. And he couldn't have that. So he snatched her hand from where she had placed it on his chest in an effort to ward him off and shoved it down his pants.

"There. See? I got man's parts."

Once again River laughed, her head thrown back in sheer amusement. But when she lowered it, leveling her gaze at him, her eyes held nothing but contempt.

Gripping his cock and balls in a punishing grip she whispered, "Do not fool yourself. Anatomy does not make you a man."

It was the last thing she said before he unsheathed his bowie knife…and slit her throat, leaving her to die, alone, on the filthy bathroom floor.