Author's Note: Mal/Inara fic for the LJ ff_friday challenge. May 22's subject: something stolen, and something freely given. Length: just about 1,000 words. My computer counts ". . ." as three words, so I gave myself some leeway with those.
yunchun = stupid
The Thought That Counts
By Trisana McGraw
Inara knew without looking that Mal was at her door; no one else regularly visited, except Kaylee, who politely knocked. Inara regarded him silently, her hands folded in her skirt. It amused her how often he appeared here, yet always for the wrong reasons.
"So, you'll be off soon?" he asked.
"Yes." He hadn't said anything unpleasant; she hoped he might refrain from torturing her just for today.
He kept talking. "Off at your Guild House, where you can catch up with your fellow whores. Do you compare clients? That'd take at least the whole day."
Her anger flared. She'd been yunchun to think he would act civilized. She hadn't even said anything to set him off! "I'll be at the Guild House for less than an hour; most of my time will be at the spa."
"The spa," he mocked. "You'll probably want to wash all that dust and grime from my ship off your sensitive skin."
"I have a right to enjoy myself," she argued, rapidly losing her inner battle to be the better person. "Why are you crankier than usual?"
He was silent for several uncomfortable moments. Finally, he challenged, "You're so eager to get away from here, ain't you?"
"I do have a life off Serenity. I'd prefer a day to myself."
"You've lots of time to yourself. You just choose to spend it servicing men."
For a moment their eyes locked as his words hung between them. Then both glanced away, and he strode out as the same regret crossed their minds: he hadn't even wished her a happy birthday.
* * *
"Remember to be back before six," Kaylee reminded Inara as she hugged her. "Oh, and . . . have a happy birthday."
"I will," Inara replied, laughing. Pulling away, she gave Mal a curt nod, avoiding his eyes. Then they watched her silk-clad figure walk slowly down the street toward the temple-like structure located a few blocks away.
Once Inara was gone, Kaylee announced, "Shepherd, let's check out the tasties. I wanna find something delicious for tonight."
There was a sudden clattering behind them; then Jayne was at the open hatch, panting. "Huh? What about whores?"
He was met with blank stares, until Kaylee blinked a few times and realized his confusion. "No, Jayne, I don't mean tasty' like a prostitute. We're looking for some food. Wanna help?"
"Nah," he sighed disgustedly, turning and beginning to lumber back upstairs. "Bring me back somethin' good."
Rolling her eyes, Kaylee turned to Mal, who still stared in the direction Inara had gone. "What about you, Cap'n?"
"I was gonna leave the menu to you two," he answered, "but I'll come along. It's her birthday, so I guess I should get her a little somethin'. I just don't know what."
"Come on," Kaylee said, linking her arm in his. "I'll help you find somethin' extra special."
"It don't have to be special," he hastily backtracked as Book fell into step beside them. "Just, you know, nice."
* * *
"Come in, Kaylee," Inara called when she heard the knock at her shuttle door. Upon setting down her shawl and turning around, she was shocked to see Mal.
"You . . . knocked." She tried to recover, but there was a knowing twinkle in his eye.
"The look on your face is enough for me," he teased. "Kaylee will want you to come to the galley soon, but I wanted to see you first. I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean to be tetchy. . . . I take that back. You and I like to regularly annoy each other, but I shoulda been nicer on your birthday."
Part of her anger melted away, but she still took the chance to tease him back. "What an unexpected gift: you're actually something of a gentleman."
Mal swallowed patiently as his hackles began to rise. He deserved this. "Well, that's not the gift I came here to give you."
"It's . . . not?"
He took a step closer, pulling something out of his pocket, and handed her a small leather pouch. "I hope it's okay. . . ."
The pouch held a simple but lovely necklace. A smooth black opal hung on a thin silver chain. "Mal, this must have cost a fortune," she gasped, looking up into his eyes. Slowly, she smiled. "You used the money from that theft last week."
He shrugged, his mouth twisting into a small smile. "Guilty. I just wanted something nice."
"It's perfect," she assured him. Without thinking, she hugged him; after a moment, his arms came around her for a brief squeeze.
"Could you help me put it on?" she asked as they started to pull away, surprised to hear her voice sound husky. He blinked but nodded and took the necklace out of her hands. She felt a strange tingling in her stomach at his warm hands on the back of her neck and the closeness of their bodies.
Finally, he stepped back, and she looked down at her necklace. In the light, purple, blue, and green flashed in the black surface. She looked up at Mal and smiled, but his gaze was on the stone. "Like your own piece of the black," he murmured.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He was reluctant to look up; the necklace looked perfect, nestled right between her breasts. . . . He forced himself to lift his head, and he smiled at Inara. "Happy birthday."
They were actually getting along. For once, his visit had been for the right reason.
* * *
Mal mock-bowed and offered to escort her to the galley; Inara didn't have the heart to refuse. Upon entering, she gasped at the feast Kaylee and Book had prepared. She'd eaten finer food, of course, but the intent was touching. Hugs and good wishes were exchanged; then all sat down to eat. She even received a few gifts.
Compared with her day at the spa, Inara was tempted to say that this was the better half of her birthday celebration.
