A/N: I want to remind these are not my characters. Also, thank you all for reading and reviewing. Makes me feel good! Enjoy!
Pu Yi was a metropolis on the edge of the large ocean that encompassed most of the planet River had found them.
Mal stared at his small crew like a father heading a family meeting. "Right. We've nothing pressing other than a contact in about a week so I figure take your time."
Kaylee squealed.
He cleared his throat to get the attention back on him. "But, I want everyone back by dusk."
Zoe lifted an eyebrow. "Why's that, Sir? We should be safe enough."
He smiled slightly. "Have a small surprise for the engaged." Then before he forgot, "River, promise you'll stay with someone."
"Promise, Captain Daddy."
Zoe, Inara, and Kaylee immediately went in search of a boutique for the perfect wedding dress.
Simon decided to look for a barber then find something for him to wear as well.
Mal went shopping for ship staples, putting off the fancy duds until the last possible second.
Jayne decided if he was going to have to wear something more respectable than cargo pants then he would compensate himself with a new toy. It wasn't until a small hand touched his arm that he realized he had an unwanted guest. He stopped on the sidewalk to glare down at her. "Thought Mal told you to stay with the others."
River lithely skirted out of the path of others. "Mal told me to stay with someone. You are someone."
"Well, I'm sure he didn't mean me," he said, exasperated. "Go find someone else."
She gave him a 'you are a boob' look she generally reserved for Simon. "I don't know where the others are. Besides, I want to go to the weapons store."
"Stop reading my gorram mind," he growled then attempted to step around her to continue on his way, figuring he might be stuck with her for the moment but that didn't mean he couldn't ignore her.
Except she kept moving in his way. "I have somewhat of a proposition for you," she told him, tilting her chin up at him.
He cast his glance around but no one seemed to be paying them much attention. "Meaning what?"
"Meaning I know where the closest and best weapons place is located. In exchange for this information you do a favor for me."
He narrowed his eyes. "What favor?"
She showed him the small bag she was carrying. "Carry my coin."
Images of her training him suddenly popped in his head and he opened his mouth to say no when she giggled and stepped into him as a stranger walked too close for her.
"I only ask out of necessity. I've no place to carry anything on my person." She was wearing her usual staple of a long baggy dress.
Jayne supposed he should count his blessings she was wearing shoes on her 'extremities'. Giving her his meanest scowl he snatched her coin purse and stuffed it in his pocket.
She beamed, stood on her tiptoes to kiss his scruffy cheek then twirled around as he turned red and checked the crowd again.
River had about a block on him before he got into motion. Due to his size, however, he easily caught her. "Might take my share of carrier's fee," he told her as he slowed his stride to match her nearly skipping one.
"No," she told him matter-of-factly as she led them around a corner. "You'll help me pick out some weaponry."
He snorted. "Ain't ruttin' likely."
"Ooh!" Something across the street caught her attention and she was off in that direction.
As Jayne got closer he saw it was a pet store, River peering in the windows at the furry animals playing with each other. "Crazy girl. Only you would talk of weapons then moon over useless pets."
She looked at him with wide eyes. "Jayne, kittens!" She sidestepped him to enter the store.
Jayne had half a mind to leave her crazy hou bian there and go about his business but he knew it wouldn't end well for him. He sighed then walked into the cool place. He was hit quickly with the different smells of species- some he knew and some he didn't. He looked towards the direction of the kitten display and saw immediately that River wasn't holding one animal. She had managed to crawl into the enclosure and was currently stroking all the ones she could. He also saw a sales person being ignored as he pleaded for her to come out. Jayne pinched his nose for a moment then waded though the crowd. "Leave her be," he gruffed at the young man.
The guy looked up at him and attempted to stand his ground. "She's not allowed in there, sir."
"Seems she's already in there to me," Jayne tried to reason, figuring it would give the girl more time with the little beasts.
"She'll upset the pets, sir."
Jayne looked to see several kittens attacking River's long hair while she giggled and playfully rolled more over. "They seem to be having a good time," he commented, silently urging her to hurry up. She didn't seem to notice. Any other time that gorram girl would be all in his thoughts.
"Sir," the employee straightened his back as if for strength. "I must insist that you remove your daughter from the display immediately before I have to call security."
Although pardoned the mention of police was enough to make his skin crawl. Then, "Daughter?!" he roared at the boy. "Do I jiu shi look old enough to have a gorram daughter? And you better thank 'bout that real hard 'fore you answer that."
The boy looked terrified then relieved as River appeared beside Jayne, a multi-colored kitten in hand. "Feel," she told him as she dumped the little animal in his big hands.
The kitten was soft and purring. For the price he saw they couldn't possibly be the actual thing but if it was synthetic he couldn't tell the difference. Then he looked at the girl beside him gazing lovingly at the beast. Ai ya. He handed the kit back to her. "Put it up. We have things to do."
She cuddled it. "Jayne..."
"No," he said before she could finish, knowing what she was going to say.
"But, Jayne."
"No ruttin' way. You want to get something like that don't do it on my watch."
Her big eyes widened as they teared up. "I have the money."
He ignored her face as he plucked the kit from her grip, placed it with its breathen, grabbed her wrist and physically dragged her from the store. "I have your money and I say no deal until Mal gives you permission."
She sniffed beside him, occasionally using the back of her free hand to wipe her nose. "My parents always said 'after' this or 'after' that but it always became something else. There was never 'after'."
"How 'bout we find you some nice weapons?" he tried as she led him to Morton's Weaponry.
She seemed to perk up a bit but said nothing.
"Hey, folks!" There was a man sitting behind the counter of glassed in blades wearing overalls and straw hat. "What you all in the mood for today?"
As Jayne stepped all the way into the shop he was thoroughly impressed at the selection of items. He let River walk around checking the inventory as he approached who he assumed was Morton. "Need some ammunition. Got a list of what I need for the boss. Want something different for myself. And picking something out for the girl as well."
Mort smiled at the last. "Little girl, you wanting something?"
River looked up from the display she was standing by. "A gun such as Vera?" she suggested.
"Shen ma shi nin!" Jayne exclaimed. "Vera's bigger than you are."
"A might small for a gun," Mort agreed. "How about a nice blade?"
She smiled slightly. "Yes, that might be good."
"Hell, no!" Jayne again interjected. "I still got the scar from the last time you had a gorram blade in that lethal hand of yours."
Mort came around from his perch to walk around with River while Jayne studied his own items. Every so often one of the other two would suggest something he would reject. "Shiv."
"That's worse than a regular blade."
"Throwing stars."
Jayne laughed. "Crazy Ninja? Not thinking so."
"Nun chucks."
"Be able to reach higher than she kicks."
"Rope." That came from River right behind him.
He turned. "What?"
"A rope. It seems you have rejected everything else suggested."
"Just the weapons," he said with a slight grin. Seeing the physical rope in her hand he took it from her. Suddenly he whipped her around and put the nylon cord around her slender neck, just tight enough for her to feel it. Mort looked surprised but something about their faces made him stay back. Jayne leaned to put his mouth near her ear. "See, the problem with you having the rope is your prey has to be small enough for you to reach them." He released her then dropped the useless rope on the counter.
She turned to look at him, her eyes shining excitedly. "You have something in mind."
His gaze lifted over her head to Mort. "You got a Pensler?"
Mort got into action. "Which model?"
"220 small 'nough for her?"
"Well, let's see..."
hou bian - butt
jiu-shi - freaking
Ai ya - damn
