Title: The Token
Series Title: Green lace
Author: FabledFigment
Disclaimer: Nothing here belongs to me.
Rating: R (For camping out in Jayne's filthy mind)
Still slightly damp from the shower, Jayne removed his clothes from the sonic cleaning machine.
He tugged on his pants and sniffed at the shirt. He sighed, too ripe, he balled it in his fist. He threw his towel into the machine and hit the cycle button.
He glanced around to make sure he wasn't leaving nuthin out. The women on this boat sure objected strong to a lot of stuff.
He grinned. One of those objections was to him wandering around shirtless, but putting on the one in his hand would sort of defeat the whole shower-after-sweating rule. Hell, who was going to see him to object anyway. People would stay mostly in their bunks today and all tomorrow too.
He grabbed up his boots and tucked his socks inside.
He felt really good in a sore, after-workout way.
Time to head for his bunk and some intense thinking about that green lace. He felt a grin spread across his face. What a shiny sight.
You never jerk off in the shower on a spaceship. That is strictly a black-water activity. Common curtsey, no-one wants to wash in that over and over and over.
Jayne had crewed ships where that rule was ignored, the smell alone was more than he wanted to deal with, even with all the filters the grey water flushed thru. He showered less if the water was fouled like that.
Made you want to change the filters along with the water.
Disgusting like a whore that didn't clean up between customers.
He padded barefoot thru the ship, pausing in the galley long enough to grab up a snack.
Jayne dropped into his bunk, threw his boots to the side and put the dirty clothes into the laundry pile in one of his cabinets. He began checking all his pockets, dropping everything in his top drawer before sending his pants after the shirt and socks. He sealed the little compartment shut and turned to his bed.
What he saw there knocked the breath out of him. He knew his bunk had been locked. He had too many weapons lying around to let the crazy girl have access to them. Plus it sort of defeated the purpose of having his own bunk if anyone could just waltz right in.
So, seeing that little scrap of green lace laid out on his bunk was a shock. He sniffed the air, yes, she had been here, not real recent and she left again right quick.
Jayne checked his arsenal, all his girls were accounted for, at least she hadn't taken one of them again.
The shock faded and Jayne was left with only one thought. Somewhere on this very boat, those female parts she'd almost let him see were wandering around without anything to cover them over.
He groaned and reached for the scrap of lace. No getting over it, Doc's little sister had gotten it into her crazy head to be a torturing dick tease.
She had to know as well as he did that he couldn't do a thing about it. Nobody would believe him if he complained and they would all kill him if he tried to take her up on the implied offer.
He lifted the panties to his nose. Yup, smelled like her.
Jayne had never been one to collect trophies or any such nonsense, but he knew right away, he weren't never gonna give these back.
He took his immediate problem to hand, thinking the whole time about a certain pair of creamy white thighs and the bare female parts between them.
Jayne hid in his bunk the rest of the day, but the next morning he ventured out to find food.
He made himself a big bowl of instant full-nutrient gruel, and considered a moment before adding the last of his spicy ginger-garlic sauce. He added a dash of salt for good measure and stirred it all up together.
He took a big bite. Good stuff. He always kept back a treat like this for partway thru a long ride.
He sensed River before he saw her. The crazy girl was right behind him.
He turned, bringing his bowl up like a shield.
His mouth grew dry around the food already inside.
"Whatcha want?" He asked suspiciously, trying to chew.
"The splendor of the thing increases exponentially. Will it envelop and burn?" She asked it like it was a serious question he might know the answer to.
"Huh?" He didn't think he even knew what she was talking about.
"The overture has been played." She looked intently into his eyes. "You are unready." She said, puzzled.
River frowned. Her hand reached out, it ran over his shoulder and down his arm.
Jayne shrugged her off, scowling.
"Stop that."
"He likes to touch, but he does not want to be touched. Data is lacking."
"I ain't never…" He protested.
"Maybe not." She stared like she couldn't figure him out.
Their eyes were locked together, so it came as a shock when she touched his hip and probed into his pocket.
"Lips deny, yet he carries her token into battle." She looked confused.
Jayne caught her wrist and pulled her hand roughly away from his side.
She smiled up at him, pulling their joined hands to her chest. Jayne's eyes widened as the back of his hand made contact with her breasts.
"The black knight, shrouded in mystery. He will win the contest in the end." She gave him a satisfied, feminine smile.
Jayne dropped her wrist and inched away from her along the counter. If he could just get past…
She sidestepped, keeping him trapped. She looked like she thought they were playing a game.
"Leave me alone, girl." He croaked.
"Your hands are strong." She told him seriously. "You will defeat dragons."
"I ain't no rutting knight." He growled.
Jayne gave up on subtlety, he pushed past her. He needed to get away fast.
He made it as far as the door before she spoke again.
"You would still rather hold vigil in solitude." She looked sad, maybe even lonely.
Jayne looked down at the suddenly unappetizing bowl in his hand. He turned down the hall and dropped into his bunk, careful not to spill.
He forced himself to eat his pasty lunch, bite after disgusting bite.