Short Fic: A Good Reason
Feeling the need for a little bit of Mal/River interaction, so I thought I'd share this little snippet.
Title: A Good Reason
Rating: PG
Summary: Set sometime after Objects in Space, but before the BDM. River sneaks, or maybe skulks, her way into Mal's bunk. But this time he decides not to mind. I might continue this. Haven't decided for sure.
Feedback: Is shiny.
A Good Reason
“Anyone ever tell you sneaking up on an old soldier while he’s trying to sleep is not one of the brighter ideas in the ‘verse?” My voice was husky with sleep and sounded like my eyes felt.
“Knew you’d hear me. You exited REM sleep seventeen minutes ago. I estimate you would have woken up to vacate your bladder in another six to ten minutes.”
I couldn’t help but shake my head. Vacate my-although now that she mentioned it-“Don’t sound like a half bad idea. I’d appreciate it if you climbed back up the-”
River’s voice interrupted me. “For everything there is a season. A time to every purpose under Heaven. A time to weep, a time to laugh. A time to mourn, a time to dance.”
I resisted the urge to ask if there was a time to piss and pulled myself up into a sitting position. Disturbing as it was, I understood that she was saying she wasn’t ready to leave yet. “And there’s a time to sleep, which is what I conjure you should be doing, Darlin’.”
“First it’s time to talk.”
“Any particular thing you’d like to talk about? Maybe about how you’re supposed to not skulk around the ship at night?”
“You’re going to die tomorrow.”
My mouth fell open. There was a statement guaranteed to wake a man up in a hurry. “I-come again?” I sputtered. I reached out to pinch myself just to make sure this wasn’t a twisted sort of dream and had to bite back a girlish yelp.
“Tomorrow. You’ll be dead. A high caliber bullet-can’t tell the exact size-will enter your thigh and knick your femoral artery. You’ll bleed out before you make it back to the ship.”
I searched for words and didn’t find any. Even if no one else would admit it, I knew River was a reader, had known since even before Jubal Early. “Well, that’s just-”
“Kaylee will cry at your funeral," River interrupted. "So will Wash. Not Zoe, but her insides will be flooded. Shephard Book will officiate. It looks to be a lovely ceremony. I think I'll wear my pink sweater.”
"What about--" I stopped myself before I could ask one of the two idiotic questions that popped into my brain. “Why are you telling me this?” I finally managed. And what do you know, I didn’t need to piss any more. Funny how learning about his imminent demise will can make a man right bladder shy.
River shot me look that said clearly she thought I was the one cracked in the brainpan. “To tell you how to avoid the bullet.”
“Now that,” I drawled, “is information that’s of some interest to me.”
“So I’m not in trouble for skulking?”
“Depends. If I still die, I’ll leave instructions for Simon to scold you about it on my behalf.”
She thought about that for a second. “Sounds reasonable. And it means I'd have a reason to wear my good sweater.”
“Glad we're in agreement. Now about that bullet…”
Title: A Good Reason
Rating: PG
Summary: Set sometime after Objects in Space, but before the BDM. River sneaks, or maybe skulks, her way into Mal's bunk. But this time he decides not to mind. I might continue this. Haven't decided for sure.
Feedback: Is shiny.
A Good Reason
“Anyone ever tell you sneaking up on an old soldier while he’s trying to sleep is not one of the brighter ideas in the ‘verse?” My voice was husky with sleep and sounded like my eyes felt.
“Knew you’d hear me. You exited REM sleep seventeen minutes ago. I estimate you would have woken up to vacate your bladder in another six to ten minutes.”
I couldn’t help but shake my head. Vacate my-although now that she mentioned it-“Don’t sound like a half bad idea. I’d appreciate it if you climbed back up the-”
River’s voice interrupted me. “For everything there is a season. A time to every purpose under Heaven. A time to weep, a time to laugh. A time to mourn, a time to dance.”
I resisted the urge to ask if there was a time to piss and pulled myself up into a sitting position. Disturbing as it was, I understood that she was saying she wasn’t ready to leave yet. “And there’s a time to sleep, which is what I conjure you should be doing, Darlin’.”
“First it’s time to talk.”
“Any particular thing you’d like to talk about? Maybe about how you’re supposed to not skulk around the ship at night?”
“You’re going to die tomorrow.”
My mouth fell open. There was a statement guaranteed to wake a man up in a hurry. “I-come again?” I sputtered. I reached out to pinch myself just to make sure this wasn’t a twisted sort of dream and had to bite back a girlish yelp.
“Tomorrow. You’ll be dead. A high caliber bullet-can’t tell the exact size-will enter your thigh and knick your femoral artery. You’ll bleed out before you make it back to the ship.”
I searched for words and didn’t find any. Even if no one else would admit it, I knew River was a reader, had known since even before Jubal Early. “Well, that’s just-”
“Kaylee will cry at your funeral," River interrupted. "So will Wash. Not Zoe, but her insides will be flooded. Shephard Book will officiate. It looks to be a lovely ceremony. I think I'll wear my pink sweater.”
"What about--" I stopped myself before I could ask one of the two idiotic questions that popped into my brain. “Why are you telling me this?” I finally managed. And what do you know, I didn’t need to piss any more. Funny how learning about his imminent demise will can make a man right bladder shy.
River shot me look that said clearly she thought I was the one cracked in the brainpan. “To tell you how to avoid the bullet.”
“Now that,” I drawled, “is information that’s of some interest to me.”
“So I’m not in trouble for skulking?”
“Depends. If I still die, I’ll leave instructions for Simon to scold you about it on my behalf.”
She thought about that for a second. “Sounds reasonable. And it means I'd have a reason to wear my good sweater.”
“Glad we're in agreement. Now about that bullet…”