Firefly Fic: Just Watching

Title: Just Watching
Author: caffeinified
Fandom: Firefly/Serenity
Characters/Pairing: Mal/Inara
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I don't own Firefly. It's just for fun.
Summary: Just a oneshot scene.


He wasn’t sure how long he had been standing at the entryway to the cargo bay leaning one shoulder against the cool steel wall. Any concept of time had seemingly slipped away into the abyss on the ship that they called their home. Most of the time he wasn’t paying enough attention to make time stand still as it seemed to be right now. Most of the time, other things got in the way of the illusion. Most of the time he missed these chances to just exist outside of the chaos that was their normal.

They were moments that seemed almost surreal, as if he were on the outside looking into something that he shouldn’t be allowed to see. The scene, while full of substance found itself lacking in the fine tuned edge that most situations held. And when she finally looked up to him, tucking an errant curl behind her ear, Mal was almost positive that she didn’t get any prettier than that.

And then she smiled at him.

She beckoned him closer with a tilt of her head and Mal pushed away from the wall. He moved along the catwalk, his boots tapping against the metal grating in a stark contrast to the serenity of the moment. He settled down on the catwalk next to her and mimicked her position with his legs dangling over the edge. Curling his arms around the railing, he leaned against them and watched her. “Smells somethin’ awful.”

“You always say that.” Inara answered, carefully gliding the paint over long, carefully manicured nails. “I’m glad that I know that you enjoy the finished product.”

“For somethin’ so beautifyin’ it’s got quite the stench.” He knew that it probably wasn’t what she wanted to hear. But it was said with a gentle tone that was half compliment and half not so that it went over smooth enough.

Inara worked the brush over another nail, smoothing out the ruby colored paint. “You were staring at me.”

“You didn’t seem to mind.” Mal answered, a cocky grin twisting over his lips. In all reality, she had probably known he had been watching her for awhile.

A small grin spread over Inara’s lips in reply. “No, Mal. I don’t mind at all. Stare as you please.”

Holding onto the railing, Mal leaned over to place a light kiss to Inara’s cheek. “You know what? Think I’ll be takin’ you up on that offer.” Work-worn fingers at her chin, he turned her head so that he could place a kiss to her lips next.

“Mal! Carsova’s on the Cortex.” Jayne interrupted, poking stepping onto the catwalk. He was picking at his teeth with a sharp knife obviously having just ate something. “Wants to know when we’ll get there.”

“Tell him-“

“Ain’t your messenger service.” Jayne interrupted. “Go tell him yerself.”

Mal sighed and got to his feet. He walked back over the catwalk towards the hallway. Passing Jayne, he made sure to lightly punch him in the gut.

“Hey!” Jayne protested. “What was that for? Coulda wound up with a knife in my throat!”

“Dunno, Jayne.” Mal answered, already walking away through the hallway towards the cockpit. “Maybe you should be askin’ ‘Nara.”

When Jayne looked to her, Inara just arched on brow at him. “I am not Mal’s messenger service either. Although if you were the intelligent sort, I think you could come to the correct conclusion yourself.”

For a long moment, Jayne stood there trying to think it through. Finally he wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Huh?”

Inara just rolled her eyes and grinned.