Thoughts in Space

Their Thoughts

Mal's bare feet felt oddly chilled as he took his first steps onto the bridge, making his way to where River sat, staring off into the black. He started to reach his hand out to touch her softly on the shoulder to let her know he was there, but as he did he suddenly had the feeling that his hand couldn't be trusted and let it fall to his side instead opting to simply say something to announce his presence.

"How are you doin little albatross? Are you keeping the stars company?" He asked as he stood next to her, letting his eyes look down toward hers as she looked up at him, her luminous eyes felt as though they could see through to his soul.

If she was Serenity's albatross and Serenity was his ship, did that mean that she was his? The thought quickly came and went as she looked up toward him. "Lonely." She said first then added, "Tired and Waiting." She replied to his question, adding again quickly, "The stars…." Her words trailed off as she turned her eyes back to the stars, hoping he wouldn't notice the slight blush in her cheeks at her slight slip of the tongue.

"Yes, the stars…." He said thoughtfully in response. His eyes were still locked against her face and he forced himself to look away, look out into the backdrop of space; standing and staring for several moments he finally turned toward the pilot's chair.

Crossing the bridge he sat down and faced the black, letting his quiet thoughts wash over him, thoughts of River and him and lips. He really didn't look forward to the special hell he was going to, he would really miss seeing Wash and Book. A silence fell between the two of them, neither really trusting their selves to speak, unsure of the other's thoughts and inner turmoil.

She just wanted a glimpse into his thoughts, just for an instant, just to see if she made him feel as confused and unsure of himself as he did to her. She knew she wouldn't but it didn't make it any less tempting. She closed her eyes to try to calm herself, to steady her thoughts and not allow her senses to be overwhelmed by him.

As Mal looked over at her as the silence continued and seen her eyes closed and breathing becoming steadier he thought she had fallen asleep. "Guess its past her bedtime." He joked aloud to himself and stood up, walking out of the bridge toward his room.

As he stood to leave, River still awake, wanted to stop him, tell him she wasn't asleep. But she couldn't force herself to do it. She didn't want him to leave, not yet, but as he stepped out toward his bunk she did nothing. She couldn't trust her words not to betray the emotions that were running in her heart so she stayed quiet. She felt a vague sense of loss that she could do nothing about when he left the room.

Mal climbed down into his bunk and pulled the blanket off of his bed and climbed back up, making his way toward River. As he entered the room, her eyes were still closed and her brow heavy with sleep. He let the blanket drape over top of her, tucking it behind her shoulders with a smile. On an impulse he leaned down and softly pressed his lips to her forehead, "Sleep well, baobei." He whispered softly before moving back to sit in his chair.

As she heard his footsteps returning from his bunk she quickly closed her eyes again, so he wouldn't think she was faking sleep. She could feel him next to her, so close, as he wrapped the blanket around her. Then as he leaned down and she felt his lips touch her forehead, warmth spread through her body from head to toe tip and moments later she would fall asleep with dreams of her and Mal and lips.

Mal's eyes opened and he yawned loudly, noting that a blanket was pulled up against his chest and over his shoulders. He turned his head to his left as he stretched and noted that the co-pilot chair was once again vacant. Looking at the blanket he realized it was the same one he had used earlier to cover River while she slept. As he stood, he leaned down to pickup the blanket as it fell into the chair and he could still smell her scent against it, a scent that brought on a wave of thoughts that Mal quickly squashed down, instead he let his mind wander to the job they had today.

He walked back toward his bunk, climbed down, laid the blanket on his bed as he sat on the edge to put on his boots. He climbed back up the ladder and entered the hallway of Serenity once again, closing the door behind him he turned left and headed toward the kitchen knowing he would find those of his crew that were awake there.

As he entered he noticed that River wasn't around but could swear that she was near by, her scent once again filling his mind. Shaking his head to clear it he said to everyone there, "Mornin'." A preoccupied grunt of greeting was returned to him from Jayne, who was mouth and beard deep into his breakfast, and a small wave from Kaylee who was studying something on the table while she ate. As he went to sit down at the head of the table, Zoë entered, he looked up at her and gave her a small smile and she responded by giving him a look like she didn't quite know who he was.

Sitting down, he wondered what Zoë's problem was, as he pulled himself out a plate and began to fill it. Just as he was about to eat Kaylee looked up from examining whatever it was she was looking at, he still couldn't actually see what it was, and she looked up at him and gave him a happy smile which quickly turned to one of surprise, not far from the look Zoë gave him just moments earlier.

"What?" He said more then a little annoyed by the strange looks he was getting this morning.

"Oh, nothin. Everything just shiny, Capt'n." Was her response, but her face quickly gave away her lie as it turned into one of grins and poorly suppressed laughter.

Finally, Jayne looking up after finishing his food, burping loudly at which Kaylee slapped him on the arm and said something about manners, gave Mal a questioning look as he tilted his head and squinted his eyes a little. "You know Mal, you know me, and I'm all for lettin' folk choose to do whatever they want or be whatever it is they wanna be…" This got eye rolls from Zoë and Kaylee, "…but really I don't think purple lipstick is you." At which time the poorly suppressed laughter from Kaylee broke through like a floodgate and even Zoë could be seen with a half laugh, half smile on her lips.

Mal's hand shot up to his lips, his index and middle finger pressing to his lips in wonder. River, leaning against the outside of the wall, just next to the door of the kitchen sat with a smile on her violet lips and her eyes alight with love.