[firefly fic] A Girl Thing (River, Kaylee, PG-13)
A Girl Thing
Rating: PG-13
Ships: River, Kaylee, background Simon/Kaylee (and possibly vague others)
Summary: "There's this thing that Kaylee and River do without Simon. It's innocent, mostly. They only keep it a secret because it's more fun that way."
A/N: Post-movie. This may turn out to be a prequel to a threesome. You can take that as a warning, I guess. Approx. 620 words.
There's this thing that Kaylee and River do without Simon. It's innocent, mostly. They only keep it a secret because it's more fun that way.
Sometimes in the evenings, when Simon is busy and Kaylee isn't, River goes to Kaylee's quarters. They get into their pajamas and do what Kaylee calls "girl things." They brush each other's hair, play with the makeup that they've borrowed (or swiped) from Inara, and tell each other stories.
It's cozy in Kaylee's small quarters, with the paper flowers, the glittery Chinese characters, the ruffled dress that dominates the space like some odd pink Christmas tree. It's very close and cozy. Shadows bounce with every movement.
Kaylee's quarters smell a bit like engine grease, but there are nicer scents underneath. Incense, chocolate, something delicately floral. Sex, River thinks smugly, and Simon.
River likes to talk about Simon, mostly about what he was like when they were both very young. She tells story after story while Kaylee sits cross-legged behind her and tugs a brush through her long hair. Sometimes Kaylee pulls too hard and yanks River right out of her story. Other times River yanks herself out when she realizes that what she's saying isn't completely true.
Simon hadn't been there when that had happened, she thinks, twisting her fingers in her lap. She'd wanted him to be there, had thought about and thought about what he'd have done had he been there, but he hadn't been there, she'd made it up.
"Matter can neither be created nor destroyed," she whispers frantically to herself. "What's the matter? Words, words, words…" These are things she's heard, but where?
Kaylee is patient when River loses herself momentarily. It may be that she doesn't know what to do other than sit very still, waiting, the hairbrush beside her on the bed. Sometimes, River thinks, sometimes Kaylee must touch her hair, so lightly that she doesn't feel it. It's something Kaylee would do, so River prefers to think that she does do it. Sometimes.
Eventually, River works herself out of her muddle. Some nights it takes longer than others, but Kaylee is always there when she's through, head cocked slightly, eyebrows raised, warm brown hair spilling softly over her shoulder.
River can't help but feel a little lonely when she turns and sees Kaylee like this. She doesn't know why. She doesn't blame Kaylee for taking Simon. She didn't take Simon, only a side of him that River could never have anyway.
They look at each other with equal helplessness, Kaylee immobile except for the twitch of her lashes, River twisting her hair in her hands. River could be perfectly still if she chose. River could read Kaylee's mind if she chose.
If she chose.
Kaylee's thoughts would fit together like engine parts: wheels and dials, bolts and buttons. This explains that, this works because of that thing over there.
Like clockwork.
But not really, River thinks. She's felt the minds of Alliance soldiers. They work like clockwork. Kaylee's mind runs on honey and sand, things that mold themselves to other things. Things that are fluid, things that flutter.
Once, while River is thinking these things, Kaylee opens her arms wide and pulls her close. River only makes a small, startled sound, wriggles for a moment, then stills.
Kaylee's arms smell like Simon.
So he's with them in a way, and this is comforting. River closes her eyes and lets Kaylee pet her hair as if she were a cat, something Simon might have done.
After this, River starts to wonder what might happen if Simon were to walk in on them. The different sides of Simon, all in one room.
It might be interesting, River thinks.
10/30/05
Rating: PG-13
Ships: River, Kaylee, background Simon/Kaylee (and possibly vague others)
Summary: "There's this thing that Kaylee and River do without Simon. It's innocent, mostly. They only keep it a secret because it's more fun that way."
A/N: Post-movie. This may turn out to be a prequel to a threesome. You can take that as a warning, I guess. Approx. 620 words.
There's this thing that Kaylee and River do without Simon. It's innocent, mostly. They only keep it a secret because it's more fun that way.
Sometimes in the evenings, when Simon is busy and Kaylee isn't, River goes to Kaylee's quarters. They get into their pajamas and do what Kaylee calls "girl things." They brush each other's hair, play with the makeup that they've borrowed (or swiped) from Inara, and tell each other stories.
It's cozy in Kaylee's small quarters, with the paper flowers, the glittery Chinese characters, the ruffled dress that dominates the space like some odd pink Christmas tree. It's very close and cozy. Shadows bounce with every movement.
Kaylee's quarters smell a bit like engine grease, but there are nicer scents underneath. Incense, chocolate, something delicately floral. Sex, River thinks smugly, and Simon.
River likes to talk about Simon, mostly about what he was like when they were both very young. She tells story after story while Kaylee sits cross-legged behind her and tugs a brush through her long hair. Sometimes Kaylee pulls too hard and yanks River right out of her story. Other times River yanks herself out when she realizes that what she's saying isn't completely true.
Simon hadn't been there when that had happened, she thinks, twisting her fingers in her lap. She'd wanted him to be there, had thought about and thought about what he'd have done had he been there, but he hadn't been there, she'd made it up.
"Matter can neither be created nor destroyed," she whispers frantically to herself. "What's the matter? Words, words, words…" These are things she's heard, but where?
Kaylee is patient when River loses herself momentarily. It may be that she doesn't know what to do other than sit very still, waiting, the hairbrush beside her on the bed. Sometimes, River thinks, sometimes Kaylee must touch her hair, so lightly that she doesn't feel it. It's something Kaylee would do, so River prefers to think that she does do it. Sometimes.
Eventually, River works herself out of her muddle. Some nights it takes longer than others, but Kaylee is always there when she's through, head cocked slightly, eyebrows raised, warm brown hair spilling softly over her shoulder.
River can't help but feel a little lonely when she turns and sees Kaylee like this. She doesn't know why. She doesn't blame Kaylee for taking Simon. She didn't take Simon, only a side of him that River could never have anyway.
They look at each other with equal helplessness, Kaylee immobile except for the twitch of her lashes, River twisting her hair in her hands. River could be perfectly still if she chose. River could read Kaylee's mind if she chose.
If she chose.
Kaylee's thoughts would fit together like engine parts: wheels and dials, bolts and buttons. This explains that, this works because of that thing over there.
Like clockwork.
But not really, River thinks. She's felt the minds of Alliance soldiers. They work like clockwork. Kaylee's mind runs on honey and sand, things that mold themselves to other things. Things that are fluid, things that flutter.
Once, while River is thinking these things, Kaylee opens her arms wide and pulls her close. River only makes a small, startled sound, wriggles for a moment, then stills.
Kaylee's arms smell like Simon.
So he's with them in a way, and this is comforting. River closes her eyes and lets Kaylee pet her hair as if she were a cat, something Simon might have done.
After this, River starts to wonder what might happen if Simon were to walk in on them. The different sides of Simon, all in one room.
It might be interesting, River thinks.
10/30/05