A/N: It's been hectic for me lately, and I'm stuck in this annoying rut. Anyways, I will reply to all reviews once I've gotten the chance, but I figure you'd all prefer an update.
Sky Song
Roots
He hated it when she was right.
She brought all this damn logic to her arguments, showed off her intelligence in the elegant way she verified her points. He always had a hard time refusing her anything when she'd talk to him in such an assertive manner. If he was a ship, then she was his navigator; without her, he may as well be lost in the black. But it would be nice if, once in a while, his navigator would shut up and he could go which way he preferred, even if that was right into the Alliance's very unfriendly embrace.
At this rate, he'd take on reaver space over Inara Serra being right for the umpteenth time. It was a losing argument though, and he knew it. It didn't help any that seeing her again like this was enough to throw him off guard. He once told her that she spun him about, screwed things up, and she still did.
He wanted to sneer at her, standing there looking more like a goddess than a human. Such an ethereal, flawless creature's presence seemed wasted in his company. He had never felt like he deserved Inara, and she had let him know it the day she left him for the second time.
"The Alliance are looking for you right now. They have your ship, they have your credentials, Mal, if you take your crew back looking this way, then you're bound to get caught! Stop being so gāisǐ de gùzhí for one minute and listen to what I'm saying!"
When he tuned back into her verbal assault, all he could see was red.
"I don't gotta listen to a damn word you have to say, 'Nara! You ain't on my ship, you ain't got any sway on my actions! You lost all that the second you stepped off my boat! Don't you dare get off tellin' me how to captain Serenity!" He shouted angrily.
She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly, growing more infuriated with every passing second.
"I'm not asking you to stay at the Training House for my own benefit, Mal! I'm asking you to save your crew! So don't do it for me, do it for them! If you care even an ounce for those people, you won't let them walk right into the Alliance's prison cells!"
He stepped towards her, closing the distance between them in a single stride.
He glared down at her, his steel blue eyes cold and calculating as they searched the fine planes of her face. He hated how she made him feel. He wanted to defy her by showing her he was unfazed by the rich, velvety darkness of her eyes, by the perfect peak of her nose, and the rosy blush of her high cheek bones. He could stare at her full, inviting lips, and resist the urge to kiss her until her deep red lipstick wasn't even noticeable anymore.
But he only managed it just barely.
In a lowered and icy voice, he said, "You're the one who walked out on them twice, not me..."
Her eyes dropped, and he knew he'd hurt her. He saw the emotion flicker but briefly across her features. She couldn't look at him anymore, had too much pride to let it show that he'd gotten to her with his words. Little did she know that they'd stung him just as equally. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to gather her into his arms, kiss her until his lips bruised, and whisper nothing but honeyed words to her.
Instead, he did what he did best; he pushed her away.
"You got a real funny way of showin' you care, 'Nara. You'll try instructin' me on how to keep my crew safe, meanwhile you left 'em in the dust without so much as an explanation to why," he whispered maliciously.
She didn't speak, couldn't even lift her gaze. For the moment, she was defeated. She was human.
Then, Mal felt something kick him hard behind the leg. He nearly lost his balance, and cried out at the shock and jolt of pain. Inara gasped, and then Mal received another swift kick. And then another, before he finally turned to face his attacker.
"Leave her alone, you big bully!" Liam shouted, lifting his leg to kick Mal again in the same spot.
But Inara had dashed over and picked him up. He struggled in her arms, his face angry and fierce as he tried to reach for Mal with his small hands.
"Stop it, Liam! Zhùshǒu!" she instructed, hushing the child.
She carried him out of the pantry, with Mal staring after her, still shocked that a babe had attempted to beat him up. In the next room, he could swear he heard River snickering. He followed the sound, and watched as Inara tried to calm the young one down. It was the first time he'd actually taken notice of him since he'd stormed the training house. He was no longer crying out, but his brows were furrowed in agitation, even as Inara cradled him and whispered into his ear.
Mal looked to his crew, baffled. Zoe was trying to hide her smile, Jayne was openly laughing at him while chewing on a snack, Kaylee wouldn't meet her captain's eyes, and Simon had a look of amusement on his face.
"Is there somethin' funny?!" He cried out, exasperated.
More giggles.
"Yeah," Jayne piped up, "you were beaten up by a hatchlin'."
Everyone was laughing at him now.
"Hey! I wasn't beaten by the little worm! Caught me by surprise, is all," Mal protested.
Liam stuck out his tongue in response. Inara chided him, before setting him back down onto the ground. Liam folded his arms over his chest, and pouted.
"I'm sorry about that, Mal," Inara began, looking as tired as she sounded, "Liam is both my ward and my nephew. He can be...quite protective."
Mal peered at the child in question, and noticed the similarities in features he shared with the companion. His hair was a mass of soft brown waves, and his nose was dainty like hers. He certainly had her highly expressive, deep brown eyes.
"You raise children here? In a whore house? That even proper?" Mal asked her, puzzled.
She snapped at him. "You will watch your language in front of him, Mal. You may have taken to calling us names, but I won't have you poisoning the mind of the youth, too," she hissed.
His features softened, and he jumped to the defensive, "I didn't mean to-, I mean I wasn't callin' you-...I'd never call you-, not since..." He struggled to find the words, his tongue tripping over itself.
He couldn't walk out of it whilst keeping his dignity intact, so he suffered a silence instead, and hoped it was enough for her.
After a moment of awkward tension, her voice filled the room, confident and serious. "You can all take your leave here for the night. I'll arrange some rooms for you, as well as a hot bath and some fresh clothes while yours are washed. I'm also figuring you're famished. We can settle that, too. Its past curfew, but I'm sure I can have the cook fix you up something decent. You can leave in the morning, and we'll send away any curious Alliance soldiers that come sniffing around."
She locked eyes with Mal, but he didn't press.
She was right, after all.
She always was.
And he was grateful, even if he was angry with her.
He was lost in the woods, but somehow, her hand would find his, and she'd gently steer him away from the dangerous path he was always on. The lady with the lantern.
She'd asked for separate quarters, much to the captain's and Jayne's beguilement.
"Trouble in paradise, lovebird?" the merc teased, with Mal smiling at the jibe.
He had to fix things, even a dolt knew that. He had to try, and maybe not put his foot into his own mouth this time around. That was how Simon had ended up outside her room, with his head against the old, oaken wood, at a total and utter loss. How was he supposed to get himself out of this one?
He nearly fell over when she swung open the door and found him outside her sleeping quarters for the night. He stumbled, and caught himself before he fell onto her smaller form. She took a step back, and was just about to slam her door shut again, when he forced it open, and exclaimed, "Wait! Kaylee, please..."
Before she could force him out, he apologized. "Look, I'm sorry...For what I did, I really am sorry. I didn't mean to...be a total prat...," he conceded, sounding as sincere and humbled as he felt.
She didn't answer him, but she was no longer trying to close her door on him. He could almost smile; that was his Kaylee. Too sweet, too kind, too gentle, to ever stay angry for long, no matter the situation.
She looked at him, hurt and sad, and it bothered him to know that today, it was his fault. He took a bold step towards her, and tried his chance. It was now or never.
"I'm bad at this, Kaylee, and that's the truth. I don't think I'll ever get used to it, being with you. I say stupid things, do even stupider ones when I'm around you. I was out of line back there in the marketplace, I know that now. I guess...I'm a bit of the jealous type when it concerns you. It's just, I can't help but think you're going to wake up one day, and realize you're sleeping next to a wanted fugitive who is going nowhere in his life and can't give you any of the things you want. You're going to see that you...can do so much better than that. Because you deserve so much better...,"
He laughed at himself, cheaply. "Look at you...," he breathed, taking in her appearance.
She'd just gotten out of the bathhouse, her cheeks were glowing rosy red, her skin shining, kissed by the water. Her hair, half dry, half wet, tumbled down her shoulders in long, dark waves. Her hazel green eyes still shone in the dim candlelight of the training house.
"There isn't a single thing I'd change about you. Not a one...I suppose, what I'm trying to say is...I don't ever want to lo-..."
She cut him off with a kiss. She grabbed his face between her hands, stood up on her tip toes, and planted her lips onto his in a passionate, lingering, open mouthed embrace. He was quick to melt against her touch. He moaned against her warm mouth, and his hands snaked their way around her small waist, having missed the way she felt already. He pulled her closer to him, pressing her body against his. Her towel came undone, and she pulled him into her room, slammed the door shut behind them, and led him to her bed.
"Reckon the capt'n's gonna take 'Nara to his bed tonight?" Jayne asked Zoe.
The woman gave him a dubious look. "Jayne, do you even know anything about how a relationship works?"
Jayne looked at Zoe like a child lost. "Mal's in a relationship?"
She rolled her eyes and sighed, giving up on the conversation already.
"How much do you wanna wager on them sexin' tonight? Been a while since the capt'n's tasted that sweetness. Can't imagine the kiss he got from that pretty stripper didn't worsen the ache," Jayne pressed on.
"The girl was traumatized, Jayne. Capt'n saved her life, she was grateful. Tried payin' him back the only way she knows how. And the capt'n did right by refusin' her offer and sendin' her home safely," Zoe explained, a touch of pride for her captain evident in her tone.
"Pfft. Capt'n woulda done right by comfortin' her like a man oughtta comfort a woman in need. It's his obligation as a man," Jayne retorted.
Zoe stared at Liam playing with River, perplexed by the new game she was teaching him.
"His obligation as a man?" Zoe threw her head back and laughed mockingly, "Where do you even get half of this stuff from?"
"Oh Zoe, you've been missin' out, haven't ya?" Jayne teased, smiling at her with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Remember the part where I can hurt you?" She replied, still smiling.
Liam picked a hand, and when River opened it, the cat wasn't there. She smiled, and said, "Empty palm. Truth. Ask me one question, any question."
Liam paused, thinking on something good to ask. He didn't want to squander it, and he wanted to impress River, even though she already knew what was on his mind before he even spoke it. But she liked hearing him, liked hearing the inflection in his voice when he floundered with his words. She grinned wide when she gleaned it.
"Am I ever gonna see my papa again?"
So sad.
He made her sad.
His voice was brimming with the emotion. He wanted a father so badly, wanted to be in a normal family, like every other kid. He was always teased, treated like an outcast among his peers because of his status. River understood that feeling. And it made her happy to have an answer for him that would fix all the sadness.
Still grinning, she peered in at him, dark eyes shining with delight, and said, "Yes. The cat says yes, little prince..."
"Mmmmm," Kaylee purred, completely satiated.
She curled up into a naked Simon like a cat, wearing nothing but the tangle of sheets around them. Her skin was warm and glowing from their recent, rigorous romping session. She'd been merciless in her exploration of his body this time around. She left him gasping, staring up at the ceiling, a thin film of sweat coating every inch of his porcelain skin.
She giggled, and he put his arm around her with his fingers resting on her bare arm. He leaned down to kiss the top of her head. Her fingers found his, and they laced together. She watched them, watched the way they fit so perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle. She found herself, oddly enough, thinking on Inara's ward of all things.
"What's on your mind, xīn'ài?" He asked her.
She answered truthfully. "Liam kickin' the capt'n's leg," she laughed.
She felt the rumble of Simon's chest as he joined her.
"That was pretty funny, I have to say. It's nice to see the captain meeting his match in the form of a capricious three year old," Simon added.
A beat.
"He's a cute kid," Simon continued, still playing with Kaylee's fingers with his own.
"We'd make a cute kid, ya know...," Kaylee responded.
He looked at her then, perplexed.
"She could have your eyes, my hair, your stupid ears, and my gift with machines. She'd be takin' apart all the toys you buy for her, and you'd scold her, but she'd put 'em back together without my help, and we'd both be so proud that we'd forget why we were mad at all...," Kaylee rambled.
Simon brought Kaylee's hand to his lips, and kissed her knuckles with a feather light touch. "And what would we call her?"
Kaylee smiled. "Violet. Her name would be Violet."
Simon repeated the name, getting a feel for it. "Violet. That's pretty."
Kaylee sighed. "I wish she'd exist..."
Simon continued to kiss all of Kaylee's fingers, one by one. "You know the captain's got his rules about kids on the ship. He won't even let Astra on Serenity for long periods of time, and she's not even a baby anymore," Simon elucidated.
"Yeah but, Zoe didn't want her on the ship, neither. Not after that one time she was nearly shot. Mal took that bullet, and you had to get it outta him. The second he could walk, he told River to head to Wash's home world, and Zoe didn't even argue it," Kaylee replied.
Simon smiled. "Yeah, I remember that wound all too well. And Astra cried the biggest crocodile tears I've ever seen, knowing she was going to be away from her mother. But nothing can break Zoe, not even her daughter, it seems."
Everyone had fallen asleep.
They'd all had their baths, and their food, and were safe and sound for the moment. It was all she could offer them, and she was aware that it hadn't been very much. She'd sat down and talked with Zoe, asked after her daughter. It was obvious that she still missed her awfully, since the girl was the glue that held the woman together after her husband's death. Losing Astra, the one thing she had left of her husband, would be the final straw for Zoe Washburne. Inara was certain Mal had been aware of that, and so he'd sent the girl to stay with her grandparents, only visiting her during their down time, or when they were nearby.
Inara had even helped Jayne refuel his ammunition supplies, and gave him a new 'toy' grenade with a much deadlier explosion radius. He'd asked if he could have a companion, too, but she'd only smiled at him. None of her girls worked for free, and their costs were far too high for the mercenary to ever afford. House Madrassa had a reputation to maintain, of course. So, he settled for the weapons, good food, warm bed, and hot bath instead.
Inara had offered River her room to share with her, since she knew the girl didn't like sleeping alone. Simon had to patch things up with Kaylee, and that meant he'd likely have to spend the night with her, leaving River by her lonesome. It was nothing out of Inara's comfort zone though, since she'd shared her shuttle with the touched girl many a time on Serenity. However, when she'd come to collect Liam from the guest room, she found the pair of them fast asleep on the pillows, next to one another. She didn't want to disturb either of them seeing as how they were sleeping so peacefully. Instead, she threw a blanket over them in case they got cold, and left it at that. Before exiting, she placed a light kiss onto Liam's forehead, and turned out the lights.
She was just about ready to go to sleep in her own quarters, when she spotted his light still on.
Her anklets jingled when she came to an abrupt stop outside his room. With bare feet, she padded a bit closer, trying to listen for something, anything. It wasn't unusual that Mal suffered from insomnia. Sometimes, he'd sleep like a baby, and most nights, he'd take on a menial task until he was too tired, and then fall asleep for a few short hours. The nights he slept best were the nights he spent with her in his bed, naked and sweating. The thought made her entire body feel warm, and made her belly ache with longing.
Against her better judgement, she decided to check in on him.
"Mal?" she called out, rapping her knuckles delicately against his door.
She heard him move, and then he was there, staring down at her. He'd just gotten out of his bath, having waited for the rest of his crew to go first, and he looked fresh and clean. His hair was dark and wet, combed neatly to the side, his face gleaming and clean shaven. Being in such close proximity to him, she could take in his scent, and it nearly made her dizzy, left her reeling. He smelled divine; like spice and soap and Mal. It was enough to get her to forget that she needed to breathe again.
She had missed him, more than she thought she did.
She'd only truly come to realize how much after seeing him again.
"Somethin' you need?" he asked her, drawing her attention back to the situation at hand.
She suddenly felt like a schoolgirl talking to her crush; silly and graceless.
She cleared her throat, and replied, "I-No, I was just making sure that you were settled in. I saw your light on and I wasn't certain..."
He nodded stiffly in response.
Silence between them, too many words left unspoken, too many feelings left untended. How could they convey it all in a single moment?
He wanted to pretend he wasn't angry with her anymore; she wanted to act as if everything was the same as when she was on his ship. But there was a wall they'd both built, and it segregated them. She could feel its presence now more than ever.
"Well then, I guess I should...go," she stated, her eyes darting about nervously.
She didn't want to go.
If he told her to stay, she would. With him like this, being so close to her, with his heady scent, she felt helpless in his dominating presence. She'd do anything he asked her to.
"I guess so...I mean, it ain't like I'm gonna be gettin' any shuteye. But at least someone should," he said.
She smiled sweetly, trying to concentrate on their conversation. "Still can't sleep, can you?"
He scratched the back of his head, and sighed, but didn't meet her eyes, or reply.
"You know, we've got some of that tea I used to give you on Serenity that would help...I can boil some of it for you now, if you'd like..."
"No! No, don't go through that trouble. Don't seem fair-."
"It's hardly any trouble, Mal. It's just water. It won't take very long at all,"
They talked over one another.
As usual, though, he couldn't win against her logic. It was in Inara's nature to be compassionate and loving, and it was one of the many qualities that endeared her to him.
He followed her to the pantry in what felt like a very tense silence. He tried his damndest to keep his eyes off her lovely backside and from the seductive sway of her hips as she moved. Instead, he focused on his surroundings, taking in all the expensive paintings and furnishings that decorated the halls of the training house. She led them back to the guest room where River and Liam had passed out, and put her finger to her lips to let him know he needed to be quiet. They treaded lightly on over to the pantry.
He tried to find things to distract his view in there as well, but it was proving rather difficult considering its size. She shut the thin, screen door, and went about to boil him some water for his tea. He went about trying not to watch her do it.
When she was done, she turned to face him, and they exchanged stiff, forced, but polite smiles. Then the waiting game began. The room had tension so thick, Mal was beginning to think a knife could cut through it. He tapped his fingers softly against the wooden table he was leaning against, and tried to make light conversation.
"Sorry about all this troublin' you...," he started.
Inara shook her head, with heavy, dark curls moving with her.
"It's no trouble at all. It's the least I could do after...well, after everything..." She looked down at her hands guiltily.
"Nonetheless, I do hope you know that...I'm- we're all very grateful for your hospitality. Can't conjure it was easy to convince them house folks of yours to let us crash here for the night," he said.
She smiled at that, sincerely this time. "Truth be told, it wasn't all too difficult. I do have quite a bit of power in my own house. No one's going to be asking any questions," she confessed.
"Truth be told, I'm surprised you haven't asked me any questions as to our raggedy appearance on your doorstep, 'Nara." It felt good to have her name on his tongue again.
"I figured you wouldn't tell me anyways, seeing as how I'm not on your crew...," she replied.
He stood up at that, and took a nervous step towards her. "'Nara...you're still crew. Even if we had a fallin' out, it don't count you out. Zoe, Kaylee, Jayne, Simon, River, they all still think on you as family...," he explained, his voice softer.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining and her lips parted. She made to walk towards him, closing the distance between them just a little bit more.
With a shaky voice, she whispered, "And you?"
Her eyes never left his, and he visibly tensed up at both her question and her nearness.
He took in a deep breath before he found his voice. "You left, 'Nara. You just...disappeared. Didn't even say why, just said that you had to go. It's been years, but bein' here, like this, doesn't make all of that okay, just cause you want it to be. Tomorrow mornin', we'll say our farewells, and it'll be the same thing again. You'll stay here, and I'll head back to Serenity, and it's as if we ain't ever even known each other..."
He stared down at the ground.
A beat.
And then she was in front of him, like a dream come to life. He ached to touch her, his whole body responding to her in ways he'd forgotten. Their pent up sexual tension seemed to boil and spill over, filling the room with it, choking them until they couldn't breathe.
With a whisper of a voice, she broke the silence, "How about, tonight, we pretend it isn't like that? Just for this night? Make it worth our while..."
He was staring at her lips, at the way they parted, begging him to kiss them, to taste them with his tongue. He noticed the way her eyelashes fluttered, the way her body swayed closer to his, and he knew she wanted him just as badly.
"I...we can't...," he tried to say, but his body betrayed his words.
Her nose brushed against his, and she was so close, he could feel her small, soft breaths against his face, smelling of mint and vanilla. He could take in her sweet, arousing aroma of jasmine and silk. All he had to do was reach down just a bit, and he could have her again, could take her like a fruit ripe for picking. For one night, he could pretend like she was his again. He could forgive her, temporarily, and take her back to his room, where they'd spend the whole night making love, and relearning each other from scratch.
Unable to be patient any longer, Inara reached up, and pressed her silken lips against his mouth.
A/N: I'm sorry. For ending it there, I truly am. It got out of hand, though. Anyways, this chapter is a bit filler, but you know what? Firefly is all about crew and relationships. It's what made the series as amazing as it was. So, even with all the action and plot, it's important to take a moment, and just re-establish all of those bonds. Introduced one more important character here; Astra! Zoe's daughter. Zoe is a greek name, so I chose a greek name for her daughter, as well. It means 'from the stars'. I'll let you figure out the rest.
Translations:
gāisǐ de gùzhí: goddamn pigheaded
Zhùshǒu!: stop!
xīn'ài: beloved, dear
