Copper for a Kiss by Lady Cleo

All Disclaimers' Apply

Chapter Two: Persephone, Sanguine Desert.

2517 Early January.

The shuttle landed on the barren desert landscape with a gentle thump. Jayne glanced at the ship's clock and cursed when he realized they were a good twenty minutes early. He'd already changed out of the EMT uniform and into his t-shirt and cargo pants, so that left him with nothing to do but wait.

Spinning around in his chair he glanced at his shuttle mate and frowned. She'd kept quiet the entire trip, huddled in her corner. Wouldn't even acknowledge or accept the rations he'd tried to give her.

If there had been any doubt in his mind before it was gone; girl had to be crazy. He'd watched her scan the shuttle every thirty seconds like she was expecting someone or somebody to walk through the walls. It unnerved the hell out of him and created an un-comfortableness in the shuttle. He couldn't wait to ditch her as soon as they hit port. Having her eerie-ass presence around would do him no good, even if she was a mind reader.

Jayne kicked his feet up onto the console and leaned back in the chair, deciding to try and talk to her once more just to pass the time. "Where you from girl?" When she didn't answer for several minutes Jayne turned his head away, figuring that she really was a lost cause.

"Name's River, not girl." She spoke the words softly and Jayne spun around to fully face her, smirking as her wide eyes meet his. "Osiris, Capital City."

"You from money then?" Jayne asked eagerly, maybe her parents would buy her back.

"Not anymore, blue hands took it away, took it all away." River explained, huddling deeper into her corner. "They'll come back, they'll come back and try to blind the girl, try and chase away the rain, and she'll be lost again, back in the chair, back with the needles." Tears clouded her eyes and she buried her face in her knees. "The algorithm to the fifth power times the quantum physics of dark matter equals the equation of rhythm, meter, and rhyme cross analyzed with psychological and historical data generates the evaluation of a duration of time and existence."

Jayne's head reared back and he looked down on her with a half horrified, half freaked out expression, an eyebrow jumping up as his mouth dropped open. "What are you some kind of genius gone crazy or somethin'?"

"Genius, a being with an exceptional natural capacity of intellect... to the measure of a tee." She answered lifting her head to peer out at him from behind the waves of wild brown hair, "But they… they took something… took something from her head, they cut and they played. They took her control and they took her… they took her…" She whispered fighting back the tears as her voice wavered.

"Who?" Jayne inquired, sitting up he leaned forward and watched her with a titled head, eyes glaring down at her smaller form still huddled in the corner.

"Union of Allied Planets, two by two, hands of blue, those who made them scream, those who stood next to uniforms and watched with nervous hands. The grey and the blue…"

Jayne frowned for a second in thought. It figured that the government would do something like that, what with them always trying to stop him from making an honest buck or two. Still, he'd never much taken to all of those government conspiracy theories he'd always heard about from the crazy backwater hicks that had gotten the short end of the stick. Usually he figured that they made them up to make themselves feel better about crappy lives. But even back then there had been an element of truth to some of the saner theories, and now he could possible have living proof right before him. Then again she was unstable, could've made up the entire thing or imagined it all.

"Not made up…" River answered his thoughts, "Can't prove it though... no reason to lie." She lifted her head to once again meet his gaze. "Lie… a false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood. Don't lie do you? Not good at it, don't care if it offends, easier to speak the truth. No reasons for lies when you can deceive in so many other ways." Her gaze remained locked with his as she titled her head and smiled slightly, "If I wanted to I could make you believe… I could kill you with my brain."

Shivers ran down his spine as he watched her, watched as her large eyes seemed to dissect his inner thoughts. The logic behind her words had made sense, but her last comment had his heart racing, blood pounding through his reins. For some reason he didn't doubt that she'd been telling the truth on all accounts, killing and alliance matters.

It scared the hell out of him how he understood that despite her words she wouldn't harm him. How he seemed to be on the same level of thinking as she was, how she made sense to him. It scared the hell out of him that part of her whole eerie-ass presence seemed to fit into his mind, how it just seemed right. But he wasn't going to question it, no, he was going to get rid of her as soon as possible, kick her out onto her own two little feet, crazy or not, the second they hit the docks.

River turned her gaze away from him and focused it back on one of the bulkheads, "Won't." She whispered more to herself then to him, ignoring him as he started to rebuke her statement. "You'll see, need me, best thing that ever happened to you you'll say… keep me round until old and grey, body withers with death and breath is stolen from your lungs."

Jayne snorted, disbelief covering his entire psyche, sparkling through his eyes and echoing in his expression, "You psycho and psychic or somethin'?"

"Not crazy or clairvoyant," she bit back, "Don't have to know the future to know what you'll do. Your thoughts tell me."

"Obviously you ain't readin' em to well, cuz I'm bout a second away from ditching your skinny ass in the desert." Jayne answered angrily. The sound of engines overhead startled the girl and forced the mercenary's attention away from her last comment.

"Time to get paid." Jayne grinned jumping to his feet, tucking one of the guns on the console back into its hostler. "Stay outta view, ya hear girl?" Jayne barked, leaving the extra pistol on the console he turned around and head towards the hatch. "Ain't sure how this is gonna play, he may bite the bait or he may back off. You're somewhat… eerie-ass presence might scare 'em off." River glared at him but nevertheless moved out of view from the hatch, choosing to tuck herself into the co pilot's chair.

Jayne pried the hatch open bringing in an additional amount of bright desert sun into the shuttle. He grinned and stepped out onto the white vista to watch the small piece of crap ship land across from them. It took a several minutes for the rust bucket's ramp to lower, and Jayne's three disreputable men immerged slowly.

"Cobb!" Fletcher greeted solemnly as he walked forward with a limp. Jayne glared out at the pretty boy, who on all accounts looked like he'd only stumbled onto the wrong side of the tracks. But this boy had a ruttin' rep that made Jayne look like a cuddly little puppy in comparison. "Where's Willoughby and them."

"Had a change in plans. " Jayne answered with a smug grin; he didn't step forward to meet the three but stayed within leaping distance of the shuttle. "Got the drugs though… if'n you got the money."

Fletcher grinned and nodded, holding out a heavy leather bag. "As promised, the Forty thou for the whole lot." He tossed the weight in his hands glaring over at the mercenary. "Ya know Jayne… I always get the feeling that you don't like me none."

"Case'n you ain't noticed, don't like anybody much." Jayne bit back. "What's that got to do with our deal?"

"You an' me Jayne…" Fletcher paused suddenly, his gaze focusing in on something behind Jayne. "Who?"

"Brutus comes! Primates to the third power… plan to rip and shred, plan to win what is not strictly theirs and maintain what they undertook to confer. Wouldn't trust 'em if I were sane." River's voice rose from behind him but Jayne didn't dare turn around or question why her words made sense to him.

"Who's the girl? Pretty little thing…" Fletcher whispered, running his thumb across his lips hungrily as he eyed her. River shuddered, digested by the thoughts that slipped from his mind she took a step back.

Sensing her distress Jayne moved a step to his right, blocking her image from the three men. "Told you to stay put girl!

"Name's River." She whispered, but turned back around and disappeared into the relative safety of the shuttle.

Fletcher shrugged off her appearance, and continued, "As I was saying 'fore we were interrupted by your little crazy girlfriend there, you and me… we got a lot in common."

Jayne snorted, casually taking another step back, "Ain't got nothin' in common!"

Fletcher grinned, "But we do, Jayne, you and I both don't like to part with money much. That is, if we don't have too. See, since you ain't got them three buddies to back ya, there's been a change in plans." Fletcher said and reached for his pistol.

Jayne dove for the corner of the shuttle. Rolling behind the hatch door he pulled his own gun and poked his head out. He managed a round before the three men found equally decent cover. "Why for's the world tryin' to backstab me? Twice in the same week, that's gotta be some sort of ruttin' record…. "

Jayne cursed as he emptied the pistol off of its round and dropped the weapon back into its holster. He glanced around the shuttle and spotted his black duffel where he'd tucked it, reaching out with his leg he slipped his foot under the strap and pulled it over to him, quickly unzipping the item and pulling the topmost weapon out.

River cowered on the other side of the shuttle trembling in fear. Loading a clip Jayne glanced out of the corner of his eye onto her, "Don't suppose you can handle a weapon..." He questioned, but then didn't bother to wait for an answer, "Course not, that'd make it too ruttin' easy."

Jayne poked his head out the door for a second, pulling it back quickly when a bullet skimmed within a couple inches of his forehead. "Gorram it…" Poking his head back out he managed to get two shots off, neither hitting their targets. "Can't ruttin' see 'em."

River moved, pulling the mercenary's attention back to her as she picked up the gun that Jayne had left on the console. "What the hell you think you're doing, girl?" Jayne demanded angrily.

River ignored him crawling over to the hatch she clambered to the balls of her feet, crouching there. She poked her head out of the hatch for a second, pulling it back in when a bullet zipped past her head. "Can't look. Can't look." River chanted, spinning out into the exposure she lifted the pistol and delivered three timed shots.

Silence- dead silence suddenly filled the air and Jayne slowly poked his head out. "I'll be gorramed!" He declared, his mouth dropping open as he stared down at the three bodies. Standing up quickly he skirted around River and slowly stepped back out into the desert. Moving forward he approached the three bodies; mouth gaping wide as he took note that each was marked by a bullet to a major organ.

Jayne's gaze swung back around to River and he watched as she set the gun on the ground, huddling in the doorway. He couldn't believe it, it didn't make any sense. His gaze darted back to the three bodies as his heart jumped erratically, his mind cramped full of shock and random thoughts. He forced his mouth to close and stepped forward cautiously, toeing Fletcher's body over he reached down to grab the bag of credits.

The shock slowly started to wear off as he held the heavy bag in his hand and was replaced first by a feeling of awe, and followed rapidly by one of… joy and enlightenment. A smile slowly crept across his cheeks as he tested the heavy weight in his hands, his gaze turning back to where River stood.

"Oh, baby!" Jayne grinned gleefully, "I'm keeping you! My very own mind reading genius, a girl who can shoot three men down with her eyes closed." He laughed excitedly, "Oh I'm definitely keeping you." Bending down he pulled the dead man's gun before checking his pockets. Toeing over the other two bodies he looked for anything of use or value, all the while still laughing gruffly, almost giddily.

His gruesome task finished, Jayne turned back to stare at 'his' genius. Her eyes were still closed and her hands trembling. He frowned for a second; that might be a problem. But then again he could deal with the crazy if she was worth it.

Jayne cautiously and slowly approached her, bending down to holster the weapon she had dropped he held out a hand towards her. River jumped back, whimpering she turned her head away from him, shaking all the more. "Hey now, it's me." He whispered gruffly, "Ya know, man who saved you from all them gorram needles." River slowly looked up, staring at him with large eyes that shone with fear.

"I ain't gonna hurt ya," Jayne promised, reaching out he gently took her arm, steering her back into a ship, "That's a good little genius." He soothed and led her over to take the co pilot's chair. He grinned down at her and strapped her into the seat then returned to the hatch, closing it before taking the pilot's seat and starting up the engine.

"We'll head on into a nice little port, find a transport of this rock, and get you something pretty to wear and all." He turned to glance at her with a large grin, "You and me are gonna have fun, baby!"

"Name's River…"

The shuttle set gently down in the Eavesdown Docks and Jayne leapt from the pilot's chair. Moving to the back of the shuttle he secured his own duffel, placing the credits and the additional gun he'd taken of the dead body within, he zipped it back up before moving towards the other duffel on the small ship.

Dauber or Conley hadn't bothered bringing one, but Willoughby, being the stuffed up prissy that he'd been, had brought a small one with toiletries and a change of clothing. Jayne pulled out a fancy silk shirt and tossed it over to River. The pants would be way too big for her and same with the extra shiny pair of shoes, but the shirt would make her look slightly less conspicuous as they moved through town.

River slipped the shirt over her hospital gown, fingering the bright blue material. She smiled slightly, recalling older times, other people she'd once known; a brother that cared for her and would've worn something similar. The smile turned quickly to a sour frown. She couldn't go back to him; he might bring the needles back. No answer from the letters, he wasn't able to get her out. She turned her gaze to the mercenary digging through the back of the shuttle. She'd stick with this one and he'd keep her safe; he'd stop the needles for now.

Jayne looked up and eyed her. She still looked odd with her hair all mussed and the hospital gown. If he was gonna keep her he'd have to get her outfitted proper with the essentials. Growing up with sisters had ensured that he at least knew what the essentials were, for that he was thankful. But the only female shop he could recall was one that sold shindig like clothes along one of the boulevards. That wouldn't do at all, not for the places they were going. Still he figured he'd head in that general direction and see what he could find.

Swinging his duffle over his shoulder he moved over and pulled the hatch open, "Well…" he motioned towards the open hatch, "come on girl, lets get." River moved across the shuttle and stepped out of the hatch and into the bright sunlight.

Jayne followed a step behind her, closing the hatch behind him he started off into the busy street but paused, reaching around he grabbed her elbow, "Stick close girl. No wandering off or nothing, ya hear."

"Name's River…"

Jayne ignored her, keeping his grip on her elbow he started forward into the crowd. The thoughts and emotions hit her hard, blinding her for a second as she stumbled along after the mercenary. Emotions bombarded her senses from all around, fear, joy, loathing, they confused her because she couldn't fathom which ones where hers and which ones were not.

Jayne dragged her through the crowds and along the ways until they came to a portion of town where the streets narrowed and shops rose into the sky. They passed the fancy frippery shop, the ruffled dresses catching her eye for only a second, before Jayne pulled her into a small establishment three shops down. The noise in her head quieted down to four distinct voices, two of which she recognized.

Releasing River's elbow Jayne motioned to the racks of clothing, "Well, go on, outfit yourself." She moved slowly towards the clothes, "And don't forget them necessary pieces, like'n shoes and under-things." She ignored him and started around the racks. Jayne set his duffel down by the counter and leaned against it, grinning at the young saleswoman behind it.

"Cute daughter." The young woman commented eyeing the mercenary.

Jayne's head reared back, "Hell, how old you think I am? Girl ain't my daughter, that's for damn sure." The young woman huffed at him and turned around disappearing into the back room. "Ruttin' bitch- ain't that old." He muttered and turned back to watch his crazy genius. "Move it along girl, ain't got all day."

River fingered a bunch of dresses, unsure of what size she required. She held one up and examined it, trying to fit her proportions into it mentally. It took a second of good mathematical calculations to finally figure on which size would best suit her. But once done she started back around the racks, grabbing most anything that caught her eye. Pinks, reds, purples, blacks, yellows, browns. Spotted, plain, multi colored, layered, palsied, flowered. Shorts, skirts, pants, dresses. Shirts, blouses, sweaters, pullovers, jackets. Underwear and socks in every color of the rainbow and a pair of combat boots to finish off the combination.

Jayne refocused his attention on kicking the counter; slightly bruised by the woman's insinuation that River was his daughter. He hoped he didn't look that old. Never mind the fact that for all he knew she could be barely legal and young enough to be his daughter. Not that he would, ya know, do anything with her. Number two rule in his book; never get involved with female partners as it led to nothing but trouble. And if they wanted to get involved with ya in the first place they were just gonna backstab ya while you were focused on their womanly parts. Course he'd never been very good at following rules, but never mind that.

River tossed several armfuls of items down to the counter, startling Jayne out of his thoughts. He raised an eyebrow at several of the pieces but couldn't find a smart ass comment that seemed to fit, much as he wanted to. "Hey sales person, lady, whatever."

A second older woman immerged from the backroom with a condescending smile, and quickly started ringing the purchases. River grabbed the boots, a pair of multi-colored sock, black shorts and a speckled brown and purple shirt, and then disappeared into the changing room.

Jayne grumped at the amount that finally flashed across the sales screen and dished out the credits. He slapped them down on the counter as the woman started stuffing the clothes in bags. Swinging the duffel back over his shoulder he waited a second for River to immerge and shoved the several bags into her arms, grabbing a hold of her elbow again. They left the shop and re-immerged into the crowded streets, moving back down towards a general goods store.

Jayne hauled River into the small brightly lit wood building. Letting go of her he moved down the isle, grabbing items as he saw them, River following him with a dazed expression of interest. She picked up a couple items, examining them with open curiosity as though they were foreign objects when she'd seen them all her life; districted by the whispering voices in her mind that gave her long lists of items, plans, prices and secrets, disturbing secrets.

As he worked down a mental list of items, grabbing what was needed, his mind calculated what he could do with the additional shuttle and the drugs still stocked in the back of said shuttle.

Most of his old Persephone contacts had dried up and probably wouldn't have been able to afford what he had to offer. Still as he listed through the names that he knew one kept resurfacing in his mind, no matter how much he didn't like said person, he could probably get a deal out of the man and Jayne was prepared to offer a decent affordable price.

Besides the bare essentials Jayne grabbed a brush, a bunch of little rubber bands so she could pull back the mess of wild brown, some more of the basic stock of ammunition and a second duffel bag to hold all the go se that they'd accumulated today. River picked up a drawing pad, fingering it longingly and catching the wandering eye of Jayne. Figuring that it would be a good way to distract the crazy girl Jayne grabbed it from her hand and reached out pulling a set of colored pencils also. "Need anythin' else girl?" He questioned. River shook her head, resigning herself to the fact that he couldn't seem to call her by her proper name.

Jayne moved past her to counter dropping crap he'd gathered there. He quickly paid for it all and then stuffed it in the second duffel, shoving her clothes into the same duffel in no semblance of order.

He swung the second duffel over his other shoulder and stared down at the smaller girl. With the two duffels hanging off each shoulder an elbow would now be more difficult to keep hold off. So instead he reached out and grabbed a hold of her hand, his eyebrow lifting as her small hand fit neatly into his. But he passed off the thought before it stayed too long and pulled her away from the ugly misshaped carvings of swans.

"Right," Jayne declared pulling her out of the shop and back into the crowded streets. "We're gonna go see bout getting rid of that shuttle. I ain't figured how this ruttin' partner thingy is gonna work, but I want you to keep your pretty little mouth shut and let me do the talkin', ya hear?"

"Well if it ain't my man Jayne Cobb." Badger greeted as Jayne led River into the small dank and dark office. "What ya doin' this side of the Verse, last I heard you was playing with the big folk over on the Core, makin' a name for yourself and such."

Jayne ignored the man, dropped the two duffels and guided River over to one of the chairs, gently pushing her down into it, he glared down at her, silently ordering her to stay put.

"Heard you was too good for us now, makin' lots of dough and such, getting' your name spread cross the cortex." Badger continued, "What brings you back to our humble little territory."

Jayne tuned back around to glare down at the smaller man behind the desk. "Got an offer for ya; shuttle stocked with drugs, bargain price for a man with a nice hat like yours." Jayne grinned smugly, "If'n you wanna deal, that is."

"How do I know you got the goods?"

Jayne snorted as though the words had insulted him, "Every gorram fool knows that you got a man placed on every corner on this ruttin' planet with his ears opened? Ain't no way you couldn't not have known bout the heist me and Willoughby pulled on Ariel."

Badger grinned leaning back on his chair he picked up an apple and started tossing it from one hand to the next, "Guess 'em months on them Cores got through your thick skull after all. How come you're offerin' to me then?"

"Had a little problem with Willoughby and my buyer." Jayne grinned sadistically to add a deeper meaning to his words. "Course if'n I were you I wouldn't be questionin' my luck. Willin' ta offer it to ya for twenty thousand, that's a mighty good deal considerin' that Fletcher was payin' twice that much."

"I'll give ten."

"Ain't that a bunch of crap." Jayne growled, "The whole lots worth more'n hundred times that."

"Offer stands at ten, no more, no less."

"Don't heed the plague," River suddenly spoke up; her large eyes pinned on the man in the bowler hat, "primed to lose the asked."

Badger and Jayne both turned to look at the small girl, "Who's that then? Here, look at me. What's your story, love?"

"She's my partner." Jayne answered with a glare down on Badger. "Enough said about her, what about the deal then?"

"Yeah? Why ain't she talking?" Badger questioned, standing up he stepped around his desk and walked over to stand in front of River. "She got a secret?"

Jayne made a move to step forward, but stopped when River suddenly stood up. She glanced about the room as though confused for a second then turned a disinterested gaze on the small man before her and spoke up quietly in a cockney accent dead similar to Badgers. "Sure, I got a secret. More than one. Don't seem likely I'd tell 'em to you now, do it? Anyone off Dyton Colony knows better than to talk to strangers."

River rested her gaze on the shiny pin in the shape of a bird that adjourned Badger's lapel, angling her head she continued, "You're talking loud enough for the both of us though, ain'tcha?" She reached out as though to touch the pin and then suddenly ran her finger down his lapel before pulling back. "I've known a dozen like you. Skipped off home early, running graft jobs here and there. Spent some time in the lock down, but less than you claim. And you're what? Petty thief with delusions of standing? Sad little king of a sad little hill."

Badger gulped down an audible breath with a shaky smile, "Nice to see someone from the old homestead."

"Not really." River answered curtly, turning around she slouched back into the chair and glanced coolly over at the grinning Jayne. "We almost done here, love?" She questioned, kicking her feet lazily and gazing off into the darkness with a bored sigh.

Badger turned away from the smaller girl and walked quietly back over to Jayne. He grinned and let his gaze fall back to River for a second, "I like her, seein' as that's so, I'm willing to make you a deal."

No sooner had they left the dank and dark confines of Badger's office then Jayne burst out into gruff laughter, the additional weight of credits weighing down his pocket. He turned to the smaller girl at his side and waggled an eyebrow, "This deals gonna work out real good. Come on, girl, it's time we saw a man about a ship." Grabbing her hand again he started to lead her back down to the Eavesdown docks.

"You're gonna have to do that freaky mind-readin' thingy and all, tell me which ones ain't gonna get curious and start shovin' their noses where they ain't belonging and all." River slowly nodded and Jayne turned his head back away and proceeded.

They made quick time to the Docks and started down the long way, Jayne examining the destinations while River peered up at the massive ships with wide eyes. She shuddered at the sight of the first massive ship that they came along to, "Mother quakes in fear."

"Huh?" Jayne whispered, more than baffled by her words. It took him a good long second to figure out what her meaning might be. "You mean this captain- would he- would turn in his own mother. That the meaning?" River nodded and Jayne tugged her along to the next one.

Instead of confusing him with another riddle she simply shook her head. They'd gone maybe three ships down without another comment when River suddenly tugged on Jayne's hand, pointing out a ship another block down. "Freedom to flight, take the Sovereign and she will direct you to blithe travels. The independent! Monarch of the skies will keep treasures safe from those that seek to harm."

Jayne nodded briskly and pulled her further down the way, finally coming to a halt in front of the ship's docket he browsed over the destination list; Athens. Jayne had only a few contacts round that area, but if he'd heard correctly Marco was hanging around that area nursing a near six month old hurt put on him by some transport captain.

"Jayne Cobb, ain't it?" An unfamiliar voiced questioned and Jayne turned around to face the larger man. He was dressed in a patched brown coat with a large full beard, and he lumbered over to them with a glare in his eyes and a hard grin.

Jayne cursed his ruttin' rep for probably the thousandth time that month and answered the man's glare with an equally strong one, "What's it ta you?"

The man shrugged his massive shoulders, "This here's my boat, Sovereign. Most call me Monty." He held out his hand to Jayne and the mercenary reluctantly took it. "You lookin' for passage to Athens."

"Might be."

River tugged on his arm, pulling his attention away from the larger man and down to her, consequently also drawing Monty's attention. "Ship's in league with Peace, a man to be trusted, fought long and hard to see to right. He'll avoid them that seek us."

"If'n the little-"

"Partner." Jayne cut in before the larger man could jump to any conclusions.

"If'n the little lady means what I think she does," Monty began again. "Then you won't have no problems on my boat. Ain't a soul on board that's lookin' to meet with them that seeks ya. Lessin' of course you mean to bring them."

"Just lookin' for quite passage and no pryin' eyes s'all." Jayne answered back gruffly.

"Alright then, you and the little partner are welcome aboard."

Note: The timeline used is based off of Edgar Governo's, which you can find a link for off my homepage which is listed on the author's profile. I'm unsure of the make and model of Monty's ship, and no name was mentioned so I took the liberty of making up one and returned Monty's beard because this happens right before "Serenity" so he's not 'yet' lost it.

Thousand thanks to Twitchy Louie for being Beta. And thousand thanks to all the reviewers.