"When Prompted": A Series of 50 Jaylee Drabbles - 26 through 35
Title: When Prompted: 26-35
Author: mercsgoodgirl
Disclaimer: All belong to Joss. I got nada.
Paring: Jayne/Kaylee
Warning: References to occasional adult language or situations.
Setting: Be forewarned that the content of these is NOT in any sort of chronological order. They may not even take place in the same ‘verse…
Word Count: 100 words each.
A/N: Got a fave? Let me know why you like it.
Cross-posted to jaylee_ship and ff_fanfic
Prompts 1-5 HERE, 6-15 HERE, 16-25 HERE.
Prompt 26. Drinking games
She knew from the start that Jayne would win. For one thing, he was way bigger than she was and could hold a lot more liquor. There was also the fact that he’d started drinking before she was even born. Still, Kaylee was a keen observer of human nature and she’d taken note of how Jayne tended to act with a few drinks in his belly. He got randy.
To the casual observer, it might seem reckless for one little mechanic to challenge one big ol’ gunhand to drinking games, but in Kaylee’s case, she knew she’d win by losing.
*
Prompt 27. Sorrow
Kaylee made it through the funerals, for Zoe’s sake, her sorrow held so tightly she wondered if she’d ever find a way to grieve. Pain just sat in her gut like a sharp stone. Once playful, she became subdued and increasingly withdrawn.
It hurt Jayne to watch her. It seemed as if something had punctured her and let all her light out. Or maybe it was her innocence that was gone.
He finally cornered her one night in the galley and wouldn’t let her turn away from him. “Can’t carry it around forever, girl. I know ‘cause I done tried.”
*
Prompt 28. Playing hoopball
Kaylee scrambled onto Jayne’s strong shoulders, adding another three feet to his substantial height. With this advantage, she easily tossed the old silver ball through the hoop. He shifted and she wobbled unsteadily, giddy with laughter. He smiled at the warmth and sweet woman-smell of her, clasping her thighs to steady her as she leaned to block Wash’s shot. The opportunity to touch her was what he enjoyed most about playing hoopball.
Abruptly, the proximity alarm began to bleat, and the game halted. Regretfully, he carefully lowered her to the floor.
She smiled and winked. “You done real good, Jayne.”
*
Prompt 29. Learning isn't easy
Jayne sat in the pilot’s chair, staring off into the Black, something clearly eating at him. He didn’t even respond when Kaylee came up behind him.
She wished he wouldn’t close her out when he was hurting. Crouching down beside him, she placed her hand on his knee. “We gotta talk about it, ai ren. Ain’t that what having a relationship is all about?”
He looked at her with haunted eyes, unable to put what he was feeling into words, shook his head and looked away. He’d never really loved anyone before. So much to learn and learning wasn’t easy.
*
Prompt 30. Irritation
“Dumb húndàn of a doctor must have pissed her off again,” Jayne muttered to himself as a clearly angry Kaylee shoved past him, heading for the haven of her bunk. He thought back to the old days before the presence of Simon and River Tam mucked up what had been a pretty sweet situation. Back then, the little mechanic was the cheeriest person Jayne had ever met. He’d even entertained the possibility of eventually moving their friendship to another level.
But now Kaylee’s smile was gone, displaced by her constant irritation with that chuin-zi doctor.
What a waste, he concluded.
*
Prompt 31. Guns and gears
“Now just reconnect the phase inverter…”
Jayne looked at Kaylee like she had two heads. “The phase con whatter?” It wasn’t that he minded helping the mechanic out, but he had to admit he was in way over his head. The things she asked him to do weren’t difficult, but half the time he had no idea what she was talking about.
Seeing his bewildered expression, Kaylee pointed at the part. “Plug that into that bit there.” He did as told.
She sighed. “Guns and gears ain’t so different, honey. Just workin’ parts as got to be taken care of.”
*
Prompt 32. Challenges
A relationship with Jayne Cobb posed a whole lot of challenges, perhaps more that Kaylee had ever imagined before getting involved with the big merc. He was alternately messy as hell or obsessively neat, depending on the aspect of his life. He hogged the narrow bunk and snored like a freight train. And while Kaylee trusted him not to cheat on her, that didn’t keep the man from sliding them blue eyes over every halfway attractive female whose path crossed his. He could be grumpy and cantankerous, sneaky, overbearing, foulmouthed. But worst of all, he constantly stole her romance books.
*
Prompt 33. Dirt
Kaylee finished replacing the clogged filter, a messy but not especially challenging task. She emerged from Serenity’s engine room only to run headlong into Jayne, heading down the aft corridor.
“I was comin’ to tell ya dinner’s ready. Shepherd made that great soup again.” He smiled down at her glowing, rosy face, then thumbed a grease smudge from her nose. Her coveralls were filthy and her hair twisted up in a rough knot.
“Guess I oughta get myself cleaned up first,” she laughed.
“I dunno about that, babygirl. You’re the only person I know as can make dirt look sexy.”
*
Prompt 34. Long
It had only been a week since Mal had hired the mercenary. Kaylee studied the big man from a distance as he worked out with the weights down in the cargo bay. He had stripped down to just a cut-off pair of sweatpants and his muscles glistened.
She’d kept her distance, beyond just being polite, mostly because the Cap’n had told her to. Couldn’t keep her from looking, ‘though.
He’d known she was watching. “I don’t bite,” he teased, patting the weight bench. “Come on, gal.”
Lord, he was big. Long legs and arms. She considered the possibilities. Big was good.
*
Prompt 35. Not always happy
“Kaylee, girl, I love you, but a man needs breathin’ room, needs his space.” Jayne glanced warily toward Kaylee. Her head was down in an effort to mask the anger and hurt she was feeling. He’d dreaded this confrontation, but the girl needed to understand. He’d been a free man a long time and didn’t take well to a short rein.
In a tiny, hesitant voice, Kaylee ventured, “Does this mean we’re breaking up?”
Jayne shook his head. God, she was so young. “Just ‘cause we’re not always happy with one another don’t mean we don’t care about one another.”
To be continued…