"Evolution." Chapter Four.
Story: Evolution
Chapter: Hostage (4/10)
Character(s)/Pairing: Crew
Prompt: 1: Gray; 2: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." -Cassius; Julius Caesar (I.2.141-142)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3238
Disclaimer: Not mine.
-Author's Notes: For my second claim @ 2by2fics. I'd like to thank my marvelous beta-readers (adverbia and modernlove_89 - I'm still waiting to hear back from mercuryandrain,). This is a pretty good chapter, I think. The style is slightly different from the previous chapters, I think, but all in all I'm fairly happy with it. Especially the Jayne-characterization, I'm quite happy with that. Anyway, thanks to all the commenters so far; I'd really appreicate comments for this chapter, as well! And now... With no further ado, here's the chapter!
Evolution
Four: Hostage
Ever since Jayne had proven his - albeit shaky - loyalty to all of Serenity’s family by shooting the man who’d mentally assaulted River, Mal had begun assigning the merc and the genius to work as a team while out on jobs.
Neither one was pleased with the new arrangement; in fact, Jayne had protested so fiercely during Mal’s first attempt at the partnership that River had lost her patience and threatened to kill him with her brain if he did not cooperate. That only incensed him further and it had taken the promise of a whole night’s leave and an extra percent from the next job to keep the merc amenable to the captain’s plan. No one was quite sure why, after Jayne had saved River, that he seemed so averse to being around her; they all just put it down to embarrassment.
Both the merc and the Reader put aside their mutual dislike and hostility while on a job, but as soon as the crime had been completed they were at each others' throats like wild dogs. Simon, the one person everyone had been sure would fight Mal’s decision, had been surprisingly blasé about it. The fighting, he’d said, was better. The big man quarreling with the girl was better than him resenting her presence, and as long as the looming threat of death-by-brain stayed over him, Simon was sure the merc wouldn’t do anything too untoward.
The latest caper Mal’d found for them was a bank job. A certain wealthy inhabitant had been extorting money from his tenants, and they’d hired the crew to steal the money they’d most recently paid and redistribute it - keeping, off course, a reasonable percentage for themselves.
Mal and Zoë would be the actual perpetrators; River had been excited of the prospect of picking the high-tech lock, but after another squabble with Jayne she’d been assigned to guard duty with the very man she’d fought with.
“Move.”
Jayne glared down at the little hand pushing hard against his arm. “No.” He shoved the girl away from him. “You move.”
“The girl is not the one taking up more than her fair share of space,” River seethed, stubbornly scooting closer. The space was only just big enough for the two to sit without touching, but after being there for an hour it was getting increasingly difficult not to fuss and fidget. “Back to your side.”
“The whole ruttin’ thing’s my side! There ain’t ‘nough room for both o’ us an’ since I’m the biggest, I get the most space.”
“No, space belongs to both!”
“You ain’t bigger’n ‘bout half a person anyway, so why d’you - “ She poked him, hard. “Ow! Gorrammit, moonbrain, you - “
“Quiet!” She glared at him fiercely in the dim light. “Unnecessary volume will alert them to our presence. Captain Daddy requires that we remain here undetected.” She wiggled a little, shifting her focus back to the task at hand, resolving not to allow Jayne’s childish antics to perturb her any longer.
He grunted. “Won’t do no good,” he told her, referring to her intent study of the room below the small cavity they’d hidden in. “You can’t see ‘em anyway.”
“When one is a mind reader, eyes are not a necessity.” She growled a little, irritated that she was being forced to spend so much time with him in such close quarters. If only she hadn’t risen to his bait - if only he wasn’t so easy to irritate. If they hadn’t fought, she would be happily down there with the captain and Zoë, picking the lock in no doubt half the time. “Must focus. Do not distract me with your petty quibbling.”
Jayne clenched his teeth, biting back a few choice words. ’Gorram little witch,’ he thought angrily. ’Tellin’ me what to do, actin’ like she’s in charge. Hate takin’ orders from a kid.’
“Stop,” River commanded harshly. “Cannot hear when you fill the air with chatter. Do not think. For you that will not be taxing. And,” she added caustically, “I am not a child. She is a grown woman.”
Jayne scoffed in cruel amusement. “You ain’t got tits; you ain’t a woman.”
River hissed and tightly gripped the handle of her gun. “Silence. Now.”
Whether he decided it would be wiser to focus on the mission or he simply got tired of hearing her ask for quiet, Jayne did obey.
Their task was certainly tedious. All they had to do was make sure the guards didn’t come back to check on the vault, and to either warn Mal and Zoë or shoot them if they did. Things had progressed surprisingly well and so far nothing had been amiss. As far as Mal’s plans went, that was unusual, and River stayed on full alert. Jayne, on the other hand, could think no reason why things should go wrong and was fully prepared to do some quick shooting should the occasion arise. While River was focused intently on her task, he had let his train of thought wander agreeably down other tracks.
She tried not to listen. It certainly wasn’t as if she found his mental ramblings interesting, and she put her eavesdropping down to nothing more than boredom.
’Wonder if Ma got my letter yet,’ he thought, the pondering tinged with anxiety. He’d sent his mother a long letter a few weeks prior, the longest letter he’d ever written. Though he’d recovered from Miranda with no indelible scars, he’d needed some way to cope. He’d left almost all of the details out, but just writing the letter at all, with only the subconscious intent of healing, had been a cathartic experience. He’d gone on and on for pages, talking about Mal and Inara, how Kaylee had finally caught Simon, the holes where Wash and Book had belonged - he’d even briefly mentioned her, the new pilot and the girl about whom his feelings had never settled.
River bit her lip and looked down towards her feet. Her eyes had long since adjusted to the light, but it was still difficult to make things out. The large vent they were in was a cold, unwelcoming gray and she rubbed absently at a spot of dirt near the toe of her right boot. She hadn’t meant to see so much of Jayne, but he’d been thinking about writing his letter and with her mind still open to his the flood of feeling couldn’t be stopped.
Hesitantly, she glanced over. He looked bored, no outward expression of what had been in his thoughts. She shook her head, a little perturbed by the discontinuity but sane enough not to let it upset her unduly.
The rustling of her unbound hair made Jayne look over.
’What’s her deal?’ he thought absently, taking momentary inventory of her condition before turning back to stare at the wall. ’She’s always doin’ somethin’ weird. Gorram moonbrain. Maybe if’n she didn’t have s’much o’ that tangly rat’s nest on ‘er head she wouldn’t be havin’ such trouble with it.’
River rolled her eyes at the fact he thought it was her hair that was giving her trouble.
’Can’t believe we got to sit here. Can’t believe Mal made me do it with her. Ain’t like we’re even doin’ anything! Hun dan. He better get done with this heist soon or I’m gonna go break open that safe myself. Gorram.’ He sighed a little, but River decided not to chastise him for it. She’d really only insisted on quiet because he’d been annoying her; the guards had left to go get a quick lunch and probably wouldn’t be back for another half an hour or so.
’Wonder how the moonbrain’s doin’.’ He surreptitiously looked over. ’Damn, she don’t looked bored at all. Prob’ly ‘cause she got a genius sort o’ brain to keep her busy. Wonder if geniuses ever get bored. Wonder if they ever stop thinkin’. Maybe that’s how she does it - all ‘er thoughts get that moony brain o’ hers all powered up an’ that’s how she kills folks. Well she ain’t ever gonna kill me, no matter how big her brain is. I ain’t scared o’ her. Huh, bet she knows it, too. Thinkin’ she’s so tough just ‘cause she can take out o’ room full o’ Reavers. Well, a’right, that does count f’r somethin’ I guess. An’ she can read minds, which is downright creepifyin’ if’n you ask me. Gettin’ in a man’s head just ain’t right.’ Suddenly he stiffened and slowly, without turning his head, his gaze moved to her. With some trepidation he thought, ’What if that gorram little Reader’s lookin’ into my head right now?’
River couldn’t help herself; she giggled.
Jayne’s head snapped around and his face contorted into a dark, angry scowl. “You were listenin’,” he barked. “I knew it! Gorrammit, you skinny little, mind-readin’ , creepifyin’ moonbrain - don’t look in my head!”
“Not much to look at,” she retorted. “Confined space and you are concentrating on your musings. Cannot help but hear any wayward thoughts.”
“Well you best start helpin’ it. I got stuff in my head ain’t nobody but me got business knowin’ an’ I ain’t gonna be responsible for what I have to do to you if you get at somethin’ you’re not s’posed to.”
River rolled her eyes again. “I do not dig, man-called-Jayne. Pick up just on what you are thinking - can block out the rest.”
“That don’t make it okay.”
“Asked you to stop thinking. All you had to do was obey.”
“Puh.” Jayne looked away from her, tapping absently on his knee. They say in silence for another ten minutes or so, before Jayne - who was getting antsier by the minute - asked “We ever gonna get some action or we goin’ t’be sittin’ here waitin’ on Mal all day?”
She quickly assessed their situation; then she sighed. “For once Captain Daddy’s plan is running smoothly. We will have no trouble; they will successfully perpetrate the heist and then we will be released from duty.”
“Fine.” Jayne sighed. “Jus’ great.”
River, who found her sentiments much aligned with his, decided it wouldn’t be amiss to offer some sort of trust. “Could play a game until - “
“A game?” Jayne snorted, cutting her off. “Like what, ‘I Spy’? Oh, all right moonbrain, well I spy somethin’ gray. Oh wait. That’s everything.”
“Was just attempting to alleviate boredom. Man-called-Jayne does not have to meet such attempts with disdain. We are stuck together,” she said crossly, poking his arm. “Would be best if we tried to get along.”
“Whatever. Gorram moonbrain.” Jayne huffed impatiently, leaning against the wall of their hiding space and extending his legs over onto her side.
River frowned and pinched his calf. “Will not fight with you simply because you are bored.”
He glowered for a moment before rolling his eyes and moving his legs marginally closer to his body. “Gorram Mal,” he muttered, “always gettin’ me into troublesome spots. Man ain’t got a lick o’ sense sometimes.”
“If you have such problems with captain’s sensibilities, why are you under his employ?”
“Hell, was him that hired me!”
River scowled. “And we are all still wondering why.”
“Hey,” he said sharply, “you ain’t got no right to be sayin’ nothin’. How’d you get on the ship, huh? Mal just opened a ruttin’ box.”
She sniffed haughtily. “And unlike you, no one would change that if they could.”
“Huh.” Not even Jayne would dream of blaming her for Wash’s death, but he was not above hitting her where he knew it would hurt. “Real easy to say that when you know there ain’t no way to change things.”
Though she wanted to be angry, his words had hurt more than she’d ever let him know; she’d Read the implications. “Stupid ape,” she said, trying to sound annoyed instead of injured.
“Oh my…" He shook his head, sure that the hurt he'd heard had been imagined. He sneered a little. "Crazy, you ain’t upset, are you?” He waited for an answer, but she remained quiet. He poked her. “Hey. C’mon. What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
Jayne frowned, sensing that maybe she wasn't simply being petulant. “Gorrammit girl, tha’s a lie.” As he was correct, she did not see a reason to respond. He watched her for another few seconds before rolling his eyes. “Look, crazy, I didn’t mean to upset you. No one would toss ya, not even if they could. Okay?”
“Leave me alone. Want none of your - “
“Aww, shut up. ‘M tryin’ to make you feel better.”
“Well you fail.” His exasperation permeated the air all around them. “It is not the girl’s fault she feels everything! Cannot just make the feelings go away.”
“Oh… Tha’s right, you ain’t got that… that thing in your head.” Wanting to quickly get her back to sorts, Jayne cleared his throat. He didn’t, River noticed with little surprise, feel much guilt about upsetting her. “Y’want me to sing?”
She looked over at him skeptically. “Sing? What will singing accomplish?”
“It’ll make you feel better.”
“There is no evidence for that.”
“Oh really?” He looked at her smugly. “When I was young, singin’ would always make the little ones feel better - funny songs make ‘em laugh, some sort o’ soft, lullaby song would calm ‘em down.”
River gave him a blank stare of disbelief. “You sang to children.”
“Uh, yeah, crazy, that’s what I jus’ said, ain’t it? Sometimes played guitar with it, too.”
“Oh.” His words tasted of truth; River was a little surprised. Singing certainly wasn’t something she could have ever expected of Jayne. It made her very, very curious. “No singing is required. But you have caused interest to increase.”
“Interest? What the hell d’you mean by that?”
“Man-called-Jayne used soothing vocal activities to calm the young ones. Which young ones?”
“Hey.” He scowled at her, looking rather menacing. “I jus’ told you there’s stuff in my head ain’t no one but me gonna know about it. I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout that. ‘Specially not with you.”
River put her chin on her knees and stared at him with wide, unblinking eyes. “Then I shall sob inconsolably.”
“I ain’t got a problem with jus’ lettin’ you cry ‘til you drown, you moonbrain.”
“Man-called-Jayne is unkind. Has cemented the girl’s bad opinion of him.”
Jayne sighed, looking out again towards the room they were supposed to be watching. Still, nothing had changed. “You really think I give a good gorram what you think o’ me? Hell, what anybody thinks o’ me?”
“Your behavior would indicate that you do not.”
“Tha’s right.” He nodded definitively, crossing his arms over his chest.
River’s eyes narrowed at him. “You care what your mother thinks.”
Jayne started. “Hey, you in my head again? ‘Cause - “
“No! Not in your head. Was simple to deduce as you - quite literally, man-called-Jayne - are the largest mother’s boy the girl has ever met.”
He grunted. He knew that she’d meant to insult him, but the bond he had with his mother was something he’d never be ashamed of. “Y’know, callin’ yourself girl sure don’t do nothin’ fer tryin’ to convince folks you’re a woman.”
River just ‘hmm’ed lightly, not willing to pursue the subject all the way to another argument.
They sat there for some time, neither speaking. River still hadn’t sensed anything from the guards and it wouldn’t be much longer until the heist - the completely successful heist - would be done.
Jayne growled. “Ain’t they done yet?” he muttered rhetorically. “I’m tired o’ sittin’ here. Mal better hurry the hell up.”
“Again,” River said, redirecting his attention onto her. “If you have such a problem with him, why do you continue to work for him?”
Jayne snorted, deliberating on whether or not to answer her. He decided it would just be easier to give the girl a response. “Mal’s a self-righteous hun dan most o’ the time, but he ain’t a bad guy. An’ I worked with plenty o’ real bad guys ‘fore I found Serenity. Even though none o’ y’all but Kaylee like me, y’all are used to me. Don’t gotta worry ‘bout gettin’ shot or robbed - an’ I even got my own bunk.” He grinned. “Tha’s worth all o’ Mal’s go se.”
“You offer me insight.” She cocked her head, surveying him as best she could in the dim light. His face was in dark shadow, his normally blue eyes a steely sort of gray. “I still do not like you much, man-called-Jayne. But you are not as bad as you are painted.”
He laughed harshly. “Hell, girl, think whatever you want. An’ I don’t like you much, neither. I ain’t a good man, that’s for damn sure. But… Yeah, I guess I’m okay.”
“You are indeed okay.” She thought for a moment, eager to preserve an atmosphere devoid of the usual hostile tension. “Are you happy? No higher aspirations? A life of crime is all you desire?”
Jayne shrugged. “What I’m suited for. You’re soundin’ like my Momma there, moonbrain - she’s always wantin’ me to come home, or do somethin’ all worthwhile-like. The ol’ lady believes in destiny, an’ it hurts ‘er to think that maybe this is all I’m good for. Me? All that fate’s just a load o’ nothin’. Got nobody but myself to blame for where I am - but then I’m the one takin’ the credit when I do well, too.”
River pulled her legs closer to her chest, tightening up further. “Yes. Would be easier to believe that some greater force leads us, that all that has happened has been nothing more than moves on cosmic chessboard…” She smiled, almost shyly. “But it has been said that God does not play dice with the universe.”
“Well ‘course he don’t, crazy-girl. Tha’s gamblin’ an’ I reckon no sort o’ God approves o’ gamblin’.” He paused for a moment, starting intently at her. “An’ hey, thought you didn’t believe in none o’ that religious stuff anyways.”
River just shrugged with a little giggle.
Mal finally called them on the comm., with the happy news that the heist had gone down without a hitch. He and Zoë were waiting outside with the mule. Gratefully, Jayne and River crawled out of the big vent and went to meet them.
With the addition of what they’d taken, however, there was not much room in the back of the mule.
“Move!”
“Uh-uh, girl, this here’s my side.” He pushed her back over.
River huffed and wriggled back towards him, poking his leg. “Man-called-Jayne is too big. Colossal! Mammoth! Will cut off the extra bulk - then problem will be solved.”
“Hey, you jus’ keep all cuttin’ to yourself, moonbrain.” He dug his fingers into her ribs, trying to keep her away.
River squawked with laughter, prying his hand away from her side. “No tickling!” He kept up the attack; she laughed harder. “Subversive tactics! Clear violation of… of rules.” She braced her foot on his thigh, pushing away.
“Don’t see no rules. Now stay off o’ my side an’ I won’t have to resort to none o’ these subversive tactics.”
Mal growled from the front seat. “It’s ‘bout to rain,” he said irritably, gesturing with one hand up to the iron-gray sky. “An’ if I have to pull this mule over to shoot one o’ y’all I’m givin’ the both o’ you septic duty for a month.”
For maybe a minute and a half Jayne and River were silent, but as soon as a bump caused them to shift, they were at it again.
Mal sighed, feeling exasperated.
Zoë just shook her head and smiled to herself. “Kids.”
~~~
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Full tables HERE
Chapter: Hostage (4/10)
Character(s)/Pairing: Crew
Prompt: 1: Gray; 2: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." -Cassius; Julius Caesar (I.2.141-142)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3238
Disclaimer: Not mine.
-Author's Notes: For my second claim @ 2by2fics. I'd like to thank my marvelous beta-readers (adverbia and modernlove_89 - I'm still waiting to hear back from mercuryandrain,). This is a pretty good chapter, I think. The style is slightly different from the previous chapters, I think, but all in all I'm fairly happy with it. Especially the Jayne-characterization, I'm quite happy with that. Anyway, thanks to all the commenters so far; I'd really appreicate comments for this chapter, as well! And now... With no further ado, here's the chapter!
Evolution
Four: Hostage
Ever since Jayne had proven his - albeit shaky - loyalty to all of Serenity’s family by shooting the man who’d mentally assaulted River, Mal had begun assigning the merc and the genius to work as a team while out on jobs.
Neither one was pleased with the new arrangement; in fact, Jayne had protested so fiercely during Mal’s first attempt at the partnership that River had lost her patience and threatened to kill him with her brain if he did not cooperate. That only incensed him further and it had taken the promise of a whole night’s leave and an extra percent from the next job to keep the merc amenable to the captain’s plan. No one was quite sure why, after Jayne had saved River, that he seemed so averse to being around her; they all just put it down to embarrassment.
Both the merc and the Reader put aside their mutual dislike and hostility while on a job, but as soon as the crime had been completed they were at each others' throats like wild dogs. Simon, the one person everyone had been sure would fight Mal’s decision, had been surprisingly blasé about it. The fighting, he’d said, was better. The big man quarreling with the girl was better than him resenting her presence, and as long as the looming threat of death-by-brain stayed over him, Simon was sure the merc wouldn’t do anything too untoward.
The latest caper Mal’d found for them was a bank job. A certain wealthy inhabitant had been extorting money from his tenants, and they’d hired the crew to steal the money they’d most recently paid and redistribute it - keeping, off course, a reasonable percentage for themselves.
Mal and Zoë would be the actual perpetrators; River had been excited of the prospect of picking the high-tech lock, but after another squabble with Jayne she’d been assigned to guard duty with the very man she’d fought with.
“Move.”
Jayne glared down at the little hand pushing hard against his arm. “No.” He shoved the girl away from him. “You move.”
“The girl is not the one taking up more than her fair share of space,” River seethed, stubbornly scooting closer. The space was only just big enough for the two to sit without touching, but after being there for an hour it was getting increasingly difficult not to fuss and fidget. “Back to your side.”
“The whole ruttin’ thing’s my side! There ain’t ‘nough room for both o’ us an’ since I’m the biggest, I get the most space.”
“No, space belongs to both!”
“You ain’t bigger’n ‘bout half a person anyway, so why d’you - “ She poked him, hard. “Ow! Gorrammit, moonbrain, you - “
“Quiet!” She glared at him fiercely in the dim light. “Unnecessary volume will alert them to our presence. Captain Daddy requires that we remain here undetected.” She wiggled a little, shifting her focus back to the task at hand, resolving not to allow Jayne’s childish antics to perturb her any longer.
He grunted. “Won’t do no good,” he told her, referring to her intent study of the room below the small cavity they’d hidden in. “You can’t see ‘em anyway.”
“When one is a mind reader, eyes are not a necessity.” She growled a little, irritated that she was being forced to spend so much time with him in such close quarters. If only she hadn’t risen to his bait - if only he wasn’t so easy to irritate. If they hadn’t fought, she would be happily down there with the captain and Zoë, picking the lock in no doubt half the time. “Must focus. Do not distract me with your petty quibbling.”
Jayne clenched his teeth, biting back a few choice words. ’Gorram little witch,’ he thought angrily. ’Tellin’ me what to do, actin’ like she’s in charge. Hate takin’ orders from a kid.’
“Stop,” River commanded harshly. “Cannot hear when you fill the air with chatter. Do not think. For you that will not be taxing. And,” she added caustically, “I am not a child. She is a grown woman.”
Jayne scoffed in cruel amusement. “You ain’t got tits; you ain’t a woman.”
River hissed and tightly gripped the handle of her gun. “Silence. Now.”
Whether he decided it would be wiser to focus on the mission or he simply got tired of hearing her ask for quiet, Jayne did obey.
Their task was certainly tedious. All they had to do was make sure the guards didn’t come back to check on the vault, and to either warn Mal and Zoë or shoot them if they did. Things had progressed surprisingly well and so far nothing had been amiss. As far as Mal’s plans went, that was unusual, and River stayed on full alert. Jayne, on the other hand, could think no reason why things should go wrong and was fully prepared to do some quick shooting should the occasion arise. While River was focused intently on her task, he had let his train of thought wander agreeably down other tracks.
She tried not to listen. It certainly wasn’t as if she found his mental ramblings interesting, and she put her eavesdropping down to nothing more than boredom.
’Wonder if Ma got my letter yet,’ he thought, the pondering tinged with anxiety. He’d sent his mother a long letter a few weeks prior, the longest letter he’d ever written. Though he’d recovered from Miranda with no indelible scars, he’d needed some way to cope. He’d left almost all of the details out, but just writing the letter at all, with only the subconscious intent of healing, had been a cathartic experience. He’d gone on and on for pages, talking about Mal and Inara, how Kaylee had finally caught Simon, the holes where Wash and Book had belonged - he’d even briefly mentioned her, the new pilot and the girl about whom his feelings had never settled.
River bit her lip and looked down towards her feet. Her eyes had long since adjusted to the light, but it was still difficult to make things out. The large vent they were in was a cold, unwelcoming gray and she rubbed absently at a spot of dirt near the toe of her right boot. She hadn’t meant to see so much of Jayne, but he’d been thinking about writing his letter and with her mind still open to his the flood of feeling couldn’t be stopped.
Hesitantly, she glanced over. He looked bored, no outward expression of what had been in his thoughts. She shook her head, a little perturbed by the discontinuity but sane enough not to let it upset her unduly.
The rustling of her unbound hair made Jayne look over.
’What’s her deal?’ he thought absently, taking momentary inventory of her condition before turning back to stare at the wall. ’She’s always doin’ somethin’ weird. Gorram moonbrain. Maybe if’n she didn’t have s’much o’ that tangly rat’s nest on ‘er head she wouldn’t be havin’ such trouble with it.’
River rolled her eyes at the fact he thought it was her hair that was giving her trouble.
’Can’t believe we got to sit here. Can’t believe Mal made me do it with her. Ain’t like we’re even doin’ anything! Hun dan. He better get done with this heist soon or I’m gonna go break open that safe myself. Gorram.’ He sighed a little, but River decided not to chastise him for it. She’d really only insisted on quiet because he’d been annoying her; the guards had left to go get a quick lunch and probably wouldn’t be back for another half an hour or so.
’Wonder how the moonbrain’s doin’.’ He surreptitiously looked over. ’Damn, she don’t looked bored at all. Prob’ly ‘cause she got a genius sort o’ brain to keep her busy. Wonder if geniuses ever get bored. Wonder if they ever stop thinkin’. Maybe that’s how she does it - all ‘er thoughts get that moony brain o’ hers all powered up an’ that’s how she kills folks. Well she ain’t ever gonna kill me, no matter how big her brain is. I ain’t scared o’ her. Huh, bet she knows it, too. Thinkin’ she’s so tough just ‘cause she can take out o’ room full o’ Reavers. Well, a’right, that does count f’r somethin’ I guess. An’ she can read minds, which is downright creepifyin’ if’n you ask me. Gettin’ in a man’s head just ain’t right.’ Suddenly he stiffened and slowly, without turning his head, his gaze moved to her. With some trepidation he thought, ’What if that gorram little Reader’s lookin’ into my head right now?’
River couldn’t help herself; she giggled.
Jayne’s head snapped around and his face contorted into a dark, angry scowl. “You were listenin’,” he barked. “I knew it! Gorrammit, you skinny little, mind-readin’ , creepifyin’ moonbrain - don’t look in my head!”
“Not much to look at,” she retorted. “Confined space and you are concentrating on your musings. Cannot help but hear any wayward thoughts.”
“Well you best start helpin’ it. I got stuff in my head ain’t nobody but me got business knowin’ an’ I ain’t gonna be responsible for what I have to do to you if you get at somethin’ you’re not s’posed to.”
River rolled her eyes again. “I do not dig, man-called-Jayne. Pick up just on what you are thinking - can block out the rest.”
“That don’t make it okay.”
“Asked you to stop thinking. All you had to do was obey.”
“Puh.” Jayne looked away from her, tapping absently on his knee. They say in silence for another ten minutes or so, before Jayne - who was getting antsier by the minute - asked “We ever gonna get some action or we goin’ t’be sittin’ here waitin’ on Mal all day?”
She quickly assessed their situation; then she sighed. “For once Captain Daddy’s plan is running smoothly. We will have no trouble; they will successfully perpetrate the heist and then we will be released from duty.”
“Fine.” Jayne sighed. “Jus’ great.”
River, who found her sentiments much aligned with his, decided it wouldn’t be amiss to offer some sort of trust. “Could play a game until - “
“A game?” Jayne snorted, cutting her off. “Like what, ‘I Spy’? Oh, all right moonbrain, well I spy somethin’ gray. Oh wait. That’s everything.”
“Was just attempting to alleviate boredom. Man-called-Jayne does not have to meet such attempts with disdain. We are stuck together,” she said crossly, poking his arm. “Would be best if we tried to get along.”
“Whatever. Gorram moonbrain.” Jayne huffed impatiently, leaning against the wall of their hiding space and extending his legs over onto her side.
River frowned and pinched his calf. “Will not fight with you simply because you are bored.”
He glowered for a moment before rolling his eyes and moving his legs marginally closer to his body. “Gorram Mal,” he muttered, “always gettin’ me into troublesome spots. Man ain’t got a lick o’ sense sometimes.”
“If you have such problems with captain’s sensibilities, why are you under his employ?”
“Hell, was him that hired me!”
River scowled. “And we are all still wondering why.”
“Hey,” he said sharply, “you ain’t got no right to be sayin’ nothin’. How’d you get on the ship, huh? Mal just opened a ruttin’ box.”
She sniffed haughtily. “And unlike you, no one would change that if they could.”
“Huh.” Not even Jayne would dream of blaming her for Wash’s death, but he was not above hitting her where he knew it would hurt. “Real easy to say that when you know there ain’t no way to change things.”
Though she wanted to be angry, his words had hurt more than she’d ever let him know; she’d Read the implications. “Stupid ape,” she said, trying to sound annoyed instead of injured.
“Oh my…" He shook his head, sure that the hurt he'd heard had been imagined. He sneered a little. "Crazy, you ain’t upset, are you?” He waited for an answer, but she remained quiet. He poked her. “Hey. C’mon. What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
Jayne frowned, sensing that maybe she wasn't simply being petulant. “Gorrammit girl, tha’s a lie.” As he was correct, she did not see a reason to respond. He watched her for another few seconds before rolling his eyes. “Look, crazy, I didn’t mean to upset you. No one would toss ya, not even if they could. Okay?”
“Leave me alone. Want none of your - “
“Aww, shut up. ‘M tryin’ to make you feel better.”
“Well you fail.” His exasperation permeated the air all around them. “It is not the girl’s fault she feels everything! Cannot just make the feelings go away.”
“Oh… Tha’s right, you ain’t got that… that thing in your head.” Wanting to quickly get her back to sorts, Jayne cleared his throat. He didn’t, River noticed with little surprise, feel much guilt about upsetting her. “Y’want me to sing?”
She looked over at him skeptically. “Sing? What will singing accomplish?”
“It’ll make you feel better.”
“There is no evidence for that.”
“Oh really?” He looked at her smugly. “When I was young, singin’ would always make the little ones feel better - funny songs make ‘em laugh, some sort o’ soft, lullaby song would calm ‘em down.”
River gave him a blank stare of disbelief. “You sang to children.”
“Uh, yeah, crazy, that’s what I jus’ said, ain’t it? Sometimes played guitar with it, too.”
“Oh.” His words tasted of truth; River was a little surprised. Singing certainly wasn’t something she could have ever expected of Jayne. It made her very, very curious. “No singing is required. But you have caused interest to increase.”
“Interest? What the hell d’you mean by that?”
“Man-called-Jayne used soothing vocal activities to calm the young ones. Which young ones?”
“Hey.” He scowled at her, looking rather menacing. “I jus’ told you there’s stuff in my head ain’t no one but me gonna know about it. I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout that. ‘Specially not with you.”
River put her chin on her knees and stared at him with wide, unblinking eyes. “Then I shall sob inconsolably.”
“I ain’t got a problem with jus’ lettin’ you cry ‘til you drown, you moonbrain.”
“Man-called-Jayne is unkind. Has cemented the girl’s bad opinion of him.”
Jayne sighed, looking out again towards the room they were supposed to be watching. Still, nothing had changed. “You really think I give a good gorram what you think o’ me? Hell, what anybody thinks o’ me?”
“Your behavior would indicate that you do not.”
“Tha’s right.” He nodded definitively, crossing his arms over his chest.
River’s eyes narrowed at him. “You care what your mother thinks.”
Jayne started. “Hey, you in my head again? ‘Cause - “
“No! Not in your head. Was simple to deduce as you - quite literally, man-called-Jayne - are the largest mother’s boy the girl has ever met.”
He grunted. He knew that she’d meant to insult him, but the bond he had with his mother was something he’d never be ashamed of. “Y’know, callin’ yourself girl sure don’t do nothin’ fer tryin’ to convince folks you’re a woman.”
River just ‘hmm’ed lightly, not willing to pursue the subject all the way to another argument.
They sat there for some time, neither speaking. River still hadn’t sensed anything from the guards and it wouldn’t be much longer until the heist - the completely successful heist - would be done.
Jayne growled. “Ain’t they done yet?” he muttered rhetorically. “I’m tired o’ sittin’ here. Mal better hurry the hell up.”
“Again,” River said, redirecting his attention onto her. “If you have such a problem with him, why do you continue to work for him?”
Jayne snorted, deliberating on whether or not to answer her. He decided it would just be easier to give the girl a response. “Mal’s a self-righteous hun dan most o’ the time, but he ain’t a bad guy. An’ I worked with plenty o’ real bad guys ‘fore I found Serenity. Even though none o’ y’all but Kaylee like me, y’all are used to me. Don’t gotta worry ‘bout gettin’ shot or robbed - an’ I even got my own bunk.” He grinned. “Tha’s worth all o’ Mal’s go se.”
“You offer me insight.” She cocked her head, surveying him as best she could in the dim light. His face was in dark shadow, his normally blue eyes a steely sort of gray. “I still do not like you much, man-called-Jayne. But you are not as bad as you are painted.”
He laughed harshly. “Hell, girl, think whatever you want. An’ I don’t like you much, neither. I ain’t a good man, that’s for damn sure. But… Yeah, I guess I’m okay.”
“You are indeed okay.” She thought for a moment, eager to preserve an atmosphere devoid of the usual hostile tension. “Are you happy? No higher aspirations? A life of crime is all you desire?”
Jayne shrugged. “What I’m suited for. You’re soundin’ like my Momma there, moonbrain - she’s always wantin’ me to come home, or do somethin’ all worthwhile-like. The ol’ lady believes in destiny, an’ it hurts ‘er to think that maybe this is all I’m good for. Me? All that fate’s just a load o’ nothin’. Got nobody but myself to blame for where I am - but then I’m the one takin’ the credit when I do well, too.”
River pulled her legs closer to her chest, tightening up further. “Yes. Would be easier to believe that some greater force leads us, that all that has happened has been nothing more than moves on cosmic chessboard…” She smiled, almost shyly. “But it has been said that God does not play dice with the universe.”
“Well ‘course he don’t, crazy-girl. Tha’s gamblin’ an’ I reckon no sort o’ God approves o’ gamblin’.” He paused for a moment, starting intently at her. “An’ hey, thought you didn’t believe in none o’ that religious stuff anyways.”
River just shrugged with a little giggle.
Mal finally called them on the comm., with the happy news that the heist had gone down without a hitch. He and Zoë were waiting outside with the mule. Gratefully, Jayne and River crawled out of the big vent and went to meet them.
With the addition of what they’d taken, however, there was not much room in the back of the mule.
“Move!”
“Uh-uh, girl, this here’s my side.” He pushed her back over.
River huffed and wriggled back towards him, poking his leg. “Man-called-Jayne is too big. Colossal! Mammoth! Will cut off the extra bulk - then problem will be solved.”
“Hey, you jus’ keep all cuttin’ to yourself, moonbrain.” He dug his fingers into her ribs, trying to keep her away.
River squawked with laughter, prying his hand away from her side. “No tickling!” He kept up the attack; she laughed harder. “Subversive tactics! Clear violation of… of rules.” She braced her foot on his thigh, pushing away.
“Don’t see no rules. Now stay off o’ my side an’ I won’t have to resort to none o’ these subversive tactics.”
Mal growled from the front seat. “It’s ‘bout to rain,” he said irritably, gesturing with one hand up to the iron-gray sky. “An’ if I have to pull this mule over to shoot one o’ y’all I’m givin’ the both o’ you septic duty for a month.”
For maybe a minute and a half Jayne and River were silent, but as soon as a bump caused them to shift, they were at it again.
Mal sighed, feeling exasperated.
Zoë just shook her head and smiled to herself. “Kids.”
~~~
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