Firefly: In the Night (Setting Sail Remix)
[ Mal Reynolds, River Tam | G | 345 words ]
Alone in the night.
Spoilers: Post-Serenity (BDM).
Original story: For A Smile by vandonavon, 533 words.
Remix author: kernezelda
Beta: oneeyethedrd
In the Night (Setting Sail Remix)
Lonely wasn’t the word. Distracted, more like. Enough that Mal twisted where he should’ve held tight, leading to his blood dripping all over the conduit cover. Better to have left it for Kaylee in the morning. But sleep escaped his grasp. Again.
Nights like this, it was better to be awake, to not disturb anyone else with untoward noises from the captain’s quarters. Walk around. Check out his ship, the look of her, the sounds, the smells. Vibrations behind the bulkheads, overhead and underfoot that told him all was well. Or not so well.
Past month, the cargo hold had gone empty.
Bare hold, nearly bare cupboards. Temperature lowered throughout. Mal rummaged, found coffee, brewed up enough for a little warmth, a few more hours without nightmares.
Just because the Alliance was too busy defending itself to come after them, didn’t mean they were welcome in every port, ‘specially not after too many of those who’d helped them, or wǒde tiān, even knew them, had died for it.
A girl flying Serenity, a woman sleeping alone.
His hand hurt, but it was a distant thing, unimportant.
River spoke like she’d been sitting beside him the whole time. “You’re far away tonight.”
Could be.
Crazy girl, secret weapon. Clear-eyed young woman, easy small talk on her tongue as she took his hand in hers. Half-smiling once the bandage was wrapped around the cleaned wound. Protecting him, she said.
“Other way ‘round, supposed to be.” Her hair was soft under his knuckles, her fingers warm around his other hand. He didn’t notice she’d moved until he felt pressure on the corner of his mouth.
Mal startled, blinked. His lips curved slightly upward as she drew back. “What was that for?” Her eyes shone candle-bright in the dimness, one survivor to another.
“Wanted to see you smile.” Hers flickered into view.
It lingered in Mal’s mind long after the girl vanished back into the night.
He rinsed his cup and stood in the center of the kitchen. His quarters lay aft, the cockpit before.
Mal began to walk.
Alone in the night.
Spoilers: Post-Serenity (BDM).
Original story: For A Smile by vandonavon, 533 words.
Remix author: kernezelda
Beta: oneeyethedrd
In the Night (Setting Sail Remix)
Lonely wasn’t the word. Distracted, more like. Enough that Mal twisted where he should’ve held tight, leading to his blood dripping all over the conduit cover. Better to have left it for Kaylee in the morning. But sleep escaped his grasp. Again.
Nights like this, it was better to be awake, to not disturb anyone else with untoward noises from the captain’s quarters. Walk around. Check out his ship, the look of her, the sounds, the smells. Vibrations behind the bulkheads, overhead and underfoot that told him all was well. Or not so well.
Past month, the cargo hold had gone empty.
Bare hold, nearly bare cupboards. Temperature lowered throughout. Mal rummaged, found coffee, brewed up enough for a little warmth, a few more hours without nightmares.
Just because the Alliance was too busy defending itself to come after them, didn’t mean they were welcome in every port, ‘specially not after too many of those who’d helped them, or wǒde tiān, even knew them, had died for it.
A girl flying Serenity, a woman sleeping alone.
His hand hurt, but it was a distant thing, unimportant.
River spoke like she’d been sitting beside him the whole time. “You’re far away tonight.”
Could be.
Crazy girl, secret weapon. Clear-eyed young woman, easy small talk on her tongue as she took his hand in hers. Half-smiling once the bandage was wrapped around the cleaned wound. Protecting him, she said.
“Other way ‘round, supposed to be.” Her hair was soft under his knuckles, her fingers warm around his other hand. He didn’t notice she’d moved until he felt pressure on the corner of his mouth.
Mal startled, blinked. His lips curved slightly upward as she drew back. “What was that for?” Her eyes shone candle-bright in the dimness, one survivor to another.
“Wanted to see you smile.” Hers flickered into view.
It lingered in Mal’s mind long after the girl vanished back into the night.
He rinsed his cup and stood in the center of the kitchen. His quarters lay aft, the cockpit before.
Mal began to walk.