2 Drabbles, Simon/Kaylee & Mal/Inara

[noblealice.livejournal.com]

Title: Resonance of Sound
Author: lily_268
Summary: Short ficlet (300W) dealing with Kaylee's thoughts on Simon's devotion to River
Rating: R for sex
Characters/Pairing: Kaylee/Simon
Spoilers/Timeline: future fic, post BDM
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon
Author's Note:We've seen that River is "all right", but she will probably still be affected by random outbursts and episodes. I think there is more than just one memory in her brain that belongs to someone else.

 The heat created from their melded bodies fogged up the glass in the infirmary, but she didn’t notice.

 The screams of pleasure and excitement that escaped from her lips echoed through the mess and the crew gave each other strange looks and still she didn’t notice.

 The discarded remains of their clothes lay in a puddle of spilled plasma and Simon for once didn’t look so neat and proper, but her mind was otherwise occupied.

 The fold-up bed was overturned and discarded after its use; however, neither noticed how crumpled the medical paper was on the floor.

 It wasn’t until he heard the sound of something being shattered coming from River’s bedroom that Kaylee finally took notice of the world around them. Or rather, she noticed that Simon’s arm was no longer around her and he was looking for his pants. She was astounded at that faint sound's ability to instantly awaken him from their fantasy world.

 “I should go find River, make sure she’s not hurt.” Kaylee tried to make some form of contact with him, but he was already looking distant and had his eyes fixed on the floor. Kaylee sensed his feeling of obligation returning and the guilt of their afternoon together finally settling around him. It seemed he could never outrun his brotherly bond, nor would she ever want him to. But she still hated when his vacations with her were at an end.

 “Right……I guess I’ll make sure Jayne’s not hurt.” Kaylee looked away, unable to hide the sting that she felt when he was so cold to her. She silently handed him his shirt, and only dared to look back once when she heard his steps retreating.

 As she quietly returned to the engine room she reflected on the power of such a small resonance and its power to shatter so much.

Title: Tired of Running
Summary: Pretty short (400W) ficlet where Kaylee plucks up the courage to talk to Inara about Mal.
Rating: G
Characters: Kaylee, Inara
Pairing: mentions of Mal/Inara
Spoilers/Timeline: set after the BDM
Disclaimer: All character belong to Joss Whedon

 “Don’t you look pretty as a picture!” Kaylee’s singsong voice filled Inara’s shuttle as she entered, bringing freeze-dried protein packets for a light snack.

 Inara smiled as she smoothed the front of her dress, “Thank you. It’s from the Academy.”

 “You had time to bring new clothes?”

 Inara chuckled at Kaylee’s look of astonishment and began straightening pillows, while politely refusing the food that was offered. “A companion tries to be prepared for multiple scenarios, and I’ve learned that with Mal, the more outrageous scenario is the most probable one.”

 Inara was working intently on ridding a curtain of its wrinkle and it seemed to Kaylee that she was determined to keep her composure while she said the Captain’s name. Kaylee, never one to like silence broke the tension. “That’s kinda what I came to speak with ya about. Y’see, I didn’t miss you.”

 “What? Kaylee? I--” Inara turned her head around, her mask still serene but her eyes flashing with pain and confusion.

 “No, no! I mean, I did, o’course I did! What I really mean is, what cap’n said – it’s not just ’cause I missed ya.” Kaylee flung herself onto the bed, ruining Inara’s careful design.

 Inara was still as she responded, “Oh, well thank you Kaylee, but we’ll have to talk about Mal’s various motivations for what he does at another time, I’m very busy.” She bent to pick up the packets that had fallen during Kaylee’s outburst.

 “‘Nara, y’know I love ya, and I respect ya plenty, and so this is real, real hard for me…but I’m not gonna let you do this again.”

 While feigning interest in a photograph on the wall Inara’s voice slightly faltered when she finally decided to speak, “Do what? I’m just going out to meet a client. It’s my decision.”

 “That’s not what I meant, but I’ll let you believe what you want—just…”

 “What?”

 “Don’t you ever get tired?”

 “Mei mei, you know that the men I entertain are my choice, and I don’t think I have horrible taste, they are never boring. Besides, I don’t have any other options.”

 “You’ve always had another option, another choice, but you fill your scheldule so you never have to confront it.” With this, Kaylee sat up and took the packet from Inara’s gentle hands.

 “What I meant was, well, aren’t ya ever tired o’running?” She said as she passed through the shuttle door, leaving her words to clutter Inara’s mind for days.

Hope you like them both!
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Comments

[me-fein.livejournal.com]

Shiny! Poor Kaylee... love how she tries to give advice to Inara in her way. :D

[noblealice.livejournal.com]

I know. I didn't think Kaylee would come out and say anything blatant to Inara, who's privacy she respects, but she also doesn't want to see Inara get hurt. I hope you think my characterisation was okay. Thanks for the feedback!
I know, poor kaylee, I can't seem to write fluffly!Kaylee fic, which is ironic, since she's always so happy....

[shadow2serenity.livejournal.com]

Nice! I like how little Kaylee laid it out for Inara. She worded it just right and left Inara to think on it a while. That's how to effect change. ;)

[noblealice.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm happy you liked it! I hope that Kaylee's comment will affect change!
Although, then I'd be without my angsty Mal/Inara, and I love them so...