Disclaimer: Let's say it together now!
Kathleen does not own Malcolm Reynolds or any of Firefly or Serenity even though she REALLY REALLY wants to.
If you know how I could obtain all of it, just let me know.
Also I believe that if I don't get more reviews I just might stop writing this one, so take a moment and lay it on me.
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Nevvie stormed down the hall and blew past a few large hands laughing with each other, their laughter silenced for a second at the sight of an outraged girl storming away.
She hadn't been training since she was 12 to be calm and collected to lose it this early, had she? Neveah calm down, remember to just calm down.
Her steps slowed as she tried to picture running water and calm surroundings at the Academy. Though she had left, she still remembered and cherished those quiet and peaceful times.
"How foolishly I have behaved," she whispered.
"I'll second that opinion," Malcolm's voice approached from behind her.
Ignoring the bubbling sensation to…punch him perhaps? she turned and nodded graciously, "I apologize for my behavior Malcolm."
Shrugging his shoulders he replied, "I s'pose it's just the way of women. And call me Mal."
"All right, Mal. And it is not usually the way of me, so I'll try to stop that."
He studied her thoughtfully before concluding aloud, "I don't know Neveah, you seem to have a mighty volatile nature. Long as we are around each other we might want to keep ours in check."
Feeling a shard of the hurt that came with his unconscious comment she shook her head, "I might have a temper at times, but perhaps it would be best not to see each other so much."
Mal laughed good-naturedly, "Missy, we will be seeing each other whether we like it or not, and so you better learn that."
Crossing her arms she stared down at the ground and muttered, "Maybe you should, too."
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing. Just saying…shiny."
Stepping a bit closer to her he held out his arms in an obviously faux gentlemanly posture and looked down into her face, "Shall I then show you the civilized portion of my little moon?"
Putting a smile on, and ignoring the smile growing inside, she placed her hand on his wrist and let him lead her down the hallway and out into the glaring sun.
They walked everywhere, Mal explaining the different parts of the ranch with the same affection that he obviously held for the ship which he cleaned so often and lovingly. They talked about the workings of the ranch for a good amount of time, but halfway through they just ended up talking.
She was surprised at his speech, it wasn't as though he spoke in flowery prose, but his comments seemed to inspire thought and conversation more than most people Nevvie had met. In fact before they knew it they were in a field outside the ranch, the orange sun dipping lazily behind the blanket of its bed of horizon.
Sighing Neveah sat down, the yellow flowers up to her shoulders, "what a beautiful place."
Mal stayed standing, bathed in orange glow, "I know it. It's a wonderful place to be."
Looking up at him, she realized she was glad to have made a friend so early on. Smiling Neveah plucked a flower and tapped him on the elbow with it, "Friends?"
Grinning he took it, "Now I'm not used to bein' the one gettin' flowers, but I'd guess our introduction before warrants it. Thank you. Friends."
He sat down beside her, leaving a few brilliant yellow flowers between them. Together they watched the sun sink down. It was only when the bright golds had faded into darkening reds that Neveah got the courage to ask calmly, "So do you have a girlfriend to keep you company normally on nights such as these?"
His shoulders shook in a succinct laugh, "No, I don't. Though don't be tellin' my mama that, she's been tryin' to set me up with any eligible girl like to look at me, no matter age nor circumstance."
"Like me for instance."
Nodding, Mal offered an apologetic look, "Sorry about that, she sees a pretty girl and assumes you'd be crazy not to want to lasso in her own son."
Neveah blushed at his mixed in compliment, "Well it was amusement at the least."
A calm dropped over them, though a slight and indefinable restlessness interspersed among the flowers.
Neveah stopped and looked at him, the darkening blue of the sky obscured his features, but she felt as though she had something to say.
Come on Neveah think. You're good at thinking…most of the time.
"Mal, I just—"
A young woman's voice cried out through the field, "Mal you old charm! Come over here and give your old sweetie a kiss!"