simon tam ficathon
Written for sathinks, who wanted Simon to take Kaylee out on the town. Due to crazy school stuff, I wrote this all very late on Saturday night, and it's therefore unbetad, and I'm really not sure if it sucks. So a tentative apology in advance.
Title: High Society
Pairing: Simon/Kaylee
Rating: PG
Summary: Simon's just too shy. Inara plays matchmaker.
“I…uh…I don’t really know where to start,” he stammered. “I’ve got two tickets to this ball…well,they aren’t really mine, Inara gave them to me…because she can’t go to it and I was…I was, uh, wondering if you’d like to go. With me. As, you know, just friends. If you want. Or don’t know. I mean, if you want to.” He paused awkwardly, looked down, afraid to meet her eyes.
“How could I ever resist such persuasiveness and determination?” she giggled, sympathy detectable in her voice.
“That was awful, wasn’t it?” Simon asked.
Inara shrugged. “I’ve heard worse. You just have to be more forceful. You sound like you’d prefer it if she said no. Let her know you want to be with her.”
Simon nodded. “Right. Forceful. I can do that. But what if I’m all forceful and she still says no? Surely that’d be worse.”
Inara raised her eyebrows at him. “Don’t be ridiculous. She won’t say no. She wants this as much as you do.”
Simon furrowed his brow, and Inara smiled. “Your utter lack of perception is forgivable, Simon, due to the fact that you’re a male, but trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”
“Right, because you had that all that Guild training. You know about body language and stuff?”
“And stuff,” Inara muttered. Outside of Inara’s shuttle, the thundering of combat boots began to approach. “I think Kaylee’s coming. Remember, don’t be too shy. Moderate shyness is alright, though. She told me she thinks you’re cute when you blush.”
Simon looked at her, eyes wide, as she got up to leave the shuttle. “You arranged for her to come here?” Inara grinned. “Perhaps. You’re going to ask her now, or I will have to tie you two together.”
Simon breathed deeply as Kaylee entered the shuttle, an expression of anticipation on her face. “You wanted to talk to me?”
Simon looked at her and attempted a confident smile.. But not too confident, his brain told his mouth.
“Uh…hey, Kaylee…I was just…I was wondering…well, I have these, these tickets for this, uh, this…”
Kaylee’s face broke into a warm beam and Simon stopped talking, worrying that she was making fun of him. He felt himself blush.
“Are you asking me to come to a ball on Aphra? On a date?”
Simon sputtered in relief. “Uh…yeah. Yes, I was. Would you…”
“Of course!” Kaylee giggled. “I would love to.”
Simon laughed in relief. “Great. That’s great. How did you know?”
Kaylee winked at him. “It was a lucky guess.”
*
Simon shifted uncomfortably in the decadently expensive suit that Inara had hired out for him, breathing in their luxuriously perfumed surroundings as he moved down the thickly carpeted hallway, Kaylee holding on to his arm.
“You look…gorgeous,” he’d told her, and meant it. Inara had done something fancy to her hair that reminded Simon of watching his mother leave for high society functions on Osiris, and had lent Kaylee a dress made of shimmering blue material. Simon smiled at her open-mouthed wonder upon entering the ballroom, wistfully basking in her innocence.
“It’s so gorram pretty!” Kaylee squealed, gesturing at the lavish decorations which adorned the huge room. Simon beamed at her and took her gloved hand gently. “You wanna find our seats?” He led her to the seating plan, all the tables named after different core planets, and they found their names. “Hey, we’re on Osiris,” Kaylee told him.
They sat down, somewhat awkwardly, Kaylee smiling at the beautiful, affluent people surrounding them, swathed in elegant clothing, indulging in elegant conversation. “I feel awfully outta place!” she whispered. Simon put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t. You’re a million times more beautiful than any other woman in this room.” Kaylee put her hand on top of his. “You’re so sweet, Simon. A girl’s lucky if she’s got friends like you.”
Simon blushed and looked down. Kaylee grimaced, and moved her hand to his cheek. He looked up at her, breathing heavily. “Simon,” she whispered. “I know how you feel. ‘Cause I feel it too, only you’re too shy and sweet to say, and I…I ain’t never had a problem with sayin’ how I feel till you came along and made me all nervous and…I just wish we could stop with the hesitating and just do what we want, because what are we worrying about? We ain’t worrying about other people, just about each other, and it’s stupid!” She broke off, panting. He looked at her with admiration and confusion. She frowned, looked away.
They were silent. She looked back at him. He had his eyes downcast, was miserably stirring the multicoloured cocktail that had been placed in front of him. She sighed, moved forward and took hold of his face. He looked at her, eyes wide, and smiled as she gently pressed her mouth to his, and they kissed deeply, softly. When they broke apart, she grinned at him. “That was all it needed. Someone to take hold of the situation.” Simon’s stomach felt as if it was about to take flight as he smiled back at her.
“I..” he started. “Just say it,” she urged softly. “Worst that could happen is I slap ya.” He gulped and looked into her eyes, overcome with emotion. “I adore you, Kaylee.” She laughed, and seized him tight into a warm embrace.
After feasting on the food, which was so expensive and beautiful that Kaylee almost fell off her chair in wonder, and eating as many strawberries as it is possible for a mechanic’s stomach to hold, Simon plucked up the courage to ask Kaylee to dance with him. She agreed (“as if I could say no when you asked so politely”) and he led her by the hand to the dancefloor, full of couples swaying to the slow, wistful music being played by the immense group of musicians playing towards the back of the ballroom. Simon started awkwardly, unsure of just what to do with his feet, but Kaylee firmly helped him, giggling at his fumbling. “You’re not awful graceful, Simon,” she winked at him. “Oh, you make up for the both of us.” Her eyes shone as they danced close together, gently entwined, her head resting on his chest. He smiled and kissed her head, holding back the tears of relief and joy that he felt sparkling in his eyes.
*
“How was it?” Inara asked eagerly the next morning, as Kaylee stumbled, bleary-eyed, from her room. “It was…” Kaylee paused, thought, before breaking into a smile that lit up the room. Inara hugged her, laughing. “Oh, Kaylee. See, this goes to show that I am always right,” Inara teased. “Tell me everything! How was he? How was the food? Did you see Juliet DeMarque? Is she still married to Myllon?” Kaylee giggled. “He was so sweet and gorram wonderful, and the food was great, and no, I didn’t see her.” Inara hugged her tightly again. “You two have something special, I can just tell.” Kaylee nodded. “I really think we do.” They descended into girlish squeals, before Inara regained her composure, clearing her throat. “Now. Tell me EVERYTHING. With details.”
Simon stepped into the kitchen and found Jayne sitting at the table, with a mug. Simon eyed him warily. “I suppose you want to know what happened in indecent detail?” Jayne shrugged. “Maybe.” Simon busied himself in the kitchen. Jayne followed, moving in close to Simon. “Did you get any?” he hissed, conspiratorily. Simon stared at him, incredulous. Jayne laughed, and shrugged. “Gorram borin’ fool. Must be sly.” And he walked away, leaving Simon there, open-mouthed.