Chapter 6- wherein River and the Captain share some space...
Mal- Even though it's after dinner, the crew pounds the table until they consent to a tight pants contest. River wins hands down, of course (even Mal agrees there is no rival for those jodhpurs) but the fun the crew has as the two of them strut and sashay is infectious and liberating and a perfect complement to the pleasant meal they've just shared.
Wash heads off to take Serenity off auto-pilot, and the crew cleans up with hardly a fuss, and Mal asks if he can claim her for a spell. She consents, taking his proffered arm and waving good night to the rest. They debate retiring to his cabin, but he slips down the ladder for a bottle before leading her to the bridge. Relieving a surprised Wash of duty, Mal tells him to get down to Zoe with an affectionate smile. He takes the pilot's chair and she alights on the ledge of the control panel, and they sit and sip and stare out at the stars, happy in their silence. Eventually he finds himself more drawn to the glow in her jade green eyes than the shimmering starlight and when she notices, she slides onto his lap with an air of approval. They share a kiss, sweet and simple and gently flavored by time and the taste of open air when you're smiling and the rich burn of the liquor. Neither presses to make it more, and they part with half-hooded gazes and contented smiles.
She stays perched on his knee, one arm softly around her waist, her back against his chest, his chin on her shoulder as they watch the night swirl by. They talk about what it feels like to die, and to truly live, and the freedom of life on their own terms (well, more or less) out here in the verse. She turns and presses a kiss to his temple and he listens to the beats of her hearts. Eventually she slips out of his hold and he makes no move to stop her.
The soft whoosh of the hatch sounds behind him, but he doesn't hear her step through. Turning to look at her, he watches her standing in the doorway, three-quarter facing the hall, looking like she has something else to say. Just as he's convinced she won't, she swallows hard and speaks softly, urging him to tell her before it's too late. He doesn't insult her by asking who she means- although he's right curious to know just how she does. But he does ask why. It's a short question but far from simple, and she merely winks at him over her shoulder and whispers "Spoilers" before vanishing into the night.
A/N: I know I said I would post more regularly, but eh. Life. anyway, up next, it's bedtime!