Chapter Two: The Trouble With Young'uns Aboard
Malcolm Reynolds had never thought he'd end up with children on his boat, River was one thing at seventeen she was nearing womanhood not to mention she was a living, breathing weapon but Shaney, Waelyn and bitty little Mulan were another thing all together, not to get him wrong, Mal was in fact rather fond of them after a month of having them on Serenity.
Mulan was sweet and innocent, she had bonded with all the crew and had them all wrapped around her wee little finger. She loved to play chasing games with River and Kaylee, she loved to sit with Jayne and talk about his weapons and she enjoyed dressing up in Inara's shawls and jewellery. Mulan was often found playing dinosaurs with Wash or watching Simon in the medi-bay. The girl adored talking with Zoe or doing her lessons with Book, but most of all the sweet wee girl loved sitting in the Captain's lap and snuggling close.
Waelyn was a curious boy who loved ships, he spent a great deal of time with Kaylee, helping her fix Serenity when need be. Despite being smart he wasn't one for schooling and would often hide to avoid the tedium of lessons with the Preacher, not religious lessons in an overall way but just good old reading, writing, mathematics and so on so forth. Waelyn too had his bonds with the crew and had come to see them all as family.
Shaney was the most reluctant to bond with the crew although the teen had made quick friends with River. She didn't much mind doing her lessons or helping out on the ship, she did love prepping for meals and was quite adept at finding ways to make the protein taste of actual food.
"Waelyn you best be getting your little pigu (butt) where it's meant" Mal yelled "you got lessons to be doing an' less you're looking to be in strife I'd suggest you be getting to it right quick" he warned the boy who had yet again decided to hide rather than get his lessons done.
"I don't fancy repeating myself son, so best be here soon or I'll be aiming to give you a lickin'" he warned again, this time Shaney spoke up "Captain you can't mean to" she started to say but Mal cut her off "Gwon Ni Tze Jee Duh Shr (mind your own business)" he snapped at the girl "what I do or don't do on my ship is my business."
"he's my brother and you'll not lay a hand on him" she stood up straight, looking him directly in the eye a stubborn look on her face "now 'less you wanna be gettin' the same I suggest you don't tell me what to do on my ship" he growled at the teen but Shaney stood her ground, protecting Waelyn and Mulan had been her job as far back as she would remember.
"Shaney, Bao Bei (darling/sweetheart) Mal won't beat him, you know that" Inara tried to calm the girl, not wanting her and the Captain to get into it not now not in front of everyone "Aiya, he's been a gorramn pain in the pigu (butt) and a tao shen (naughty child) for nigh on two weeks now an' I for one am done with it".
"You won't touch my kin you wong ba duhn (son of a bitch)" Shaney snapped as she glared at the captain "ni tao shen(you naughty child) I don't fancy you talkin' to me that way on my ship...dong le ma? (You understand me?)" he scolded turning the teen a little and swatting her butt SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK "you will keep a civil tongue with me" he said before heading off to find the other wayward child on his boat.
"Zhuanheng de ren (bossy man)" Shaney muttered under her breath as Mal left the room.
...
"You and me are goin' ta have ourselves a conversation" the Captain said as he found the twelve year old hiding in his bunk "you best be tellin' me why you've been behavin' as such" he continued as he sat on the bed next to Waelyn.
Mal wondered if the boy even knew, he'd been informed by Inara that the children were going to test all of them, but especially him because as Captain he was the main authority figure to all of the crew but even more so for the young'uns.
"I aint got not a thing to say" Waelyn said, refusing to look up at Mal, he wasn't much of a talker or one to do as he's told. His Mama was dead and his Dad didn't care for him much, Mulan's Mama had been hocked on the drops before her life was ended. He hadn't had anyone to care much for him so being on Serenity with all the rules was difficult for him.
"Well I reckon you better be findin' a thing or two to say" there was a stern look on his face as he stared at the boy waiting for him to reply "well I aint goin' ta" he said stubbornly "well then you best be getting your little pigu all good and ready for a lickin' then".
Waelyn's eyes widened, that was the second time the Captain had threatened him with a spanking in the past half hour, he hadn't believed him the first time but now with him right there in front of him he knew it was not joke.
Mal didn't waste time, he pulled the young boy over his knee, he may have swatted Shaney earlier but he had never been on the giving side of a spanking. As a boy he had received his fair share and had an idea of how it went.
SMACK, SMACK, SMACK landed in the centre of the squirming backside "Ow, wei (hey) you fen fen pi go (baboon's ass crack) stop that hurts" he yelled SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK "It'll hurt a mite more if your tongue don't stay civilised" the Captain scolded.
SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK "Ouch, ow sorry Capt'an" SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK "best we be gettin' some things clear leastwise you wanna forget sittin' all comfy like" he said SMACK, SMACK "on my boat you do what I tell, dong le ma? (You understand me?)" SMACK, SMACK.
"Ouch, shi (yes) sir I promise" he cried as more swats met his sore behind SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK "good, 'cause we have ta revisit this topic it won't be so pleasant" with that he landed the last volley of swats to the boy's sitspots SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, SMACK.
"shush now Di-Di (little brother) it's done and over with" he sat Waelyn down next to him once more and rubbed his back comfortingly "now you best git yourself to doin' that schoolin' now" he nudged him to the door.
Looking around the boy's small bunk room he added "and once that's done you ought to clean this joo fuen chse (pig sty)" he indicated the pile of dirty clothes and toys strewn around the room "yes sir" the kid replied giving him a mock salute.
A/N: hope you enjoyed the chapter =D please review.