This Kind of Insanity
I've actually managed to write something. Does it mean the muse is making a come back? Probably not. But here it is anyways.
This one is a sequel to This Kind of Temptation. Which is a sequel to This Kind of Love.
Here we have Mal/Simon/Wash/Zoe with NO porn. I guess I'd rate it PG-13.
Beta'd by ferretwho and the rest is all my fault.
He doesn't know how things can manage to happen right under his nose without his ever noticing. At least, not until it's quite literally right under his nose. Or right before his eyes.
This time it's nothing hugely traumatizing, which is a plus. Not like the time he walked onto the bridge and found Wash and Zoe locked in an embrace, already more than partway to disrobed. He couldn't exactly ignore the fact of their togetherness after that incident. Zoe hadn't even had the good grace to blush when she'd noticed him standing there, all kinds of shell shocked. Just looked calmly at him and told him to kindly vacate himself; they'd talk about this later, not that it were much of his business.
Then there was the time with Kaylee and Bester. He does have a habit of walking in on people at the wrong time.
So he's glad when, this time, he doesn't get an eye full of too much flesh. Doesn't make it any less a kick in the teeth, though.
He's usually the first one up in the mornings, only Wash beating him on occasion, but he mostly wonders if the pilot just hasn't been up all night when that happens. He hears voices as he steps to the galley this morning, and that oddity on its own should have been enough to pull him up. But no, he blunders right on into a cozy scene.
Of Wash, whistling away at the stove, breakfast protein sizzling on the pans. Zoe is sitting over at the sofas, smiling and humming softly, some song he's sure that he remembers her singing to broken soldiers during the war as she patched them up. Not so strange. Until his eyes fall over Simon, the doctor walking across the galley to where Zoe sits, with cups of coffee. He sets them down, all smiles himself and looking all sorts of relaxed, and then sets himself down next to Zoe. So close their thighs are pressed tight and she leans in and presses a kiss to his mouth in thanks.
Zoe kisses Simon. Ain't a first time thing either, or Mal could image Simon's eyes snapping wide in shock, while his face burned, complete with stuttering and tripping as he ran. But no. Simon smiles and settles in next to her like it's nothing. Like they've done it before. A lot of times before.
It's a good thing his breath is all strangled up in his chest or Mal might be screaming. Or yelling. There'd be noise of some sort which would draw attention to him that he really doesn't want. It's bad enough he has to see this, he doesn't want to get involved with it.
About the time that Wash goes over and sits himself quite happily on Simon's other side - pressed close, of course, and Zoe draws her legs up over both of them to recline back - that Mal turns and retreats. Just walks away, no running but only because they'd hear him and he doesn't want to talk about this.
His head spins as he makes for the engine room, beat of Serenity to calm his own pounding heart. Because it's Zoe. With Wash. And Simon.
This feng le crew is going to have him old and gray far before his time.
*
He can't help it. He tells himself to just act cool and collected. Aloof. It ain't none of his business if the crew want to get up to something kinky with each other, Mal just has to keep his nose out of it, and as long as it doesn't affect business, it really isn't his concern. But he just can't help it. What is Zoe thinking?
“What the hell are you thinking?”
She quirks an eyebrow at him. The subtle little lift that says he's lost his mind once again or maybe that he's a complete back birth. “Sir?” And the 'sir' is too amused to be respectful.
Dammit, that one word manages to stump him. All the different little twists she can put into it and this time it has him gaping, mouth working, gesturing with his hand to nowhere. “With the... and... Come on, Zoe, Simon?”
“Remember you sayin' that about me and Wash once. Fact, I think you got the response down to an exact match. Might teach you to stop spying.”
“I wasn't spying. Just in the wrong place. An' let me rephrase,” he goes on hotly and she just waits patiently. “Wash and Simon?”
“Not jealous are you, sir?” Now she's laughing at him and he drops his head into his hands in despair at the sound of-
“Who's Mal jealous of?”
Wash walking into the galley. The pilot gives Zoe a kiss to the temple, quick affection, before he's moving to the side and pouring himself a cup of the coffee that's brewing.
Zoe studies him a moment. “Not rightly sure, actually. Could be any one of us.”
Mal gives in, his mind can't take this, and his captain related stresses are all already pushed to the limit. He walks away without another word and listens to Zoe and Wash laughing after him.
*
Wash probably thinks that no one notices. Mal sees him the few times it's almost caught, casting a surreptitious glance around, checking to make sure no one is watching and looking relieved when no one is, before going back to his work. Mal notices. With his eyes narrowed to watch Wash from across the cargo bay.
Wondering maybe how a guy like Wash - not to say anything bad, just an unassuming sort of guy - could hook up with two - two - people like Zoe and Simon. Most mismatched trio in the 'verse, surely. Not a one seemed to work with the other at a glance. And everyone in the ship had gotten a glance now. He guessed they didn't feel the need to hide it after the captain had found them out. Maybe they hadn't been hiding it at all and Mal had just happened to be the first one in the loop for once.
He reckons he underestimates Wash a lot though.
They've got cargo to transfer off-ship and Wash is down with Jayne loading it onto the flatbed of the mule. The crates they're packing aren't light but Wash doesn't complain and Mal doesn't think nothing of it until Wash stumbles just standing there. Mal catches the flash of pain across his face.
“Hey! Ain't got all day, little man, y' helping or gawkin'?”
Wash swallows before turning to grab the other end of the crate Jayne's got now. “Yeah. I got it.”
“Wash!” Both men down in the cargo bay jump at Mal's loud voice in the empty space. “Infirmary, ma shong.”
“But captain, what about-”
“Ain't havin' arguments about it.”
He ends up prodding Wash along in front of him, ignoring Wash's assurances of being fine, nothing wrong, just gets a little twinge now and then, that's all. Mal's been called obtuse before but even he ain't that bad.
“Simon. Got a patient for you. Might wanna keep a closer eye on your boyfriend.”
Simon's in the infirmary and Mal is briefly relieved to find him alone, no Zoe there to make it even more awkward than it already is. Simon's eyes widen when he turns and sees a sulky Wash standing next to Mal. He's there in a heartbeat, fingers touching Wash's arm and Mal looks away with a little roll of his eyes. He doesn't need to be seeing this.
“What happened?”
“It's nothing-”
“Leg's bothering him.”
Simon gives Wash a hard look which has Wash conceding with a nod. Simon draws Wash into the infirmary with an arm around his shoulders, instructing the pilot to get up onto the exam table. Mal stands back, watching for another moment while Wash jokes about Simon kissing it better, which is sickening enough, but when Simon actually does lean down to kiss the fabric of Wash's flight suit at the thigh, Mal thinks he might gag. Just never was one for these public displays and all.
He leaves, knowing Wash is in good hands, Simon'll fix it. He barely gets a couple steps from the infirmary when Zoe is there. Woman must have some kind of radar, says when her man is hurt. One of her men. Mal snorts.
Not that he's jealous at all.
He stands by the infirmary window for a moment, watching in on them.
But hell, they get all three and he gets no one.
He moves on when Zoe catches him watching.
*
He doesn't want to know what has Simon walking into the galley so late. The boy looks tired and like he might have just stumbled out of the bed. From sleeping and now he's getting a drink. That's the theory Mal wants to stick to.
Simon doesn't seem put off by his glare. Mal guesses having two people at his back - mainly Zoe - help with that. Simon smiles at him which is an oddity in itself. Not so often Simon chooses to smile at him but Mal guesses the boy has more reason to now. And less reason to care what Mal might think of him.
“You're up late,” Simon remarks on the obvious and sits down opposite him, despite Mal's attempts to glare him right out of the room. Doc never did take hints too well.
Mal shrugs.
“I couldn't sleep, either.”
Mal's never seen Simon looking so rested, though. So lighthearted. “Didn't want to wake your couple?” He can't help the snap to his voice. But he's not jealous.
Simon's soft smile fades away at that and Mal tries not to miss it or feel guilty for taking it away. He fidgets, digging a thumb nail into the wood of the table. “Does it... bother you? My relationship with Wash and Zoe?”
Mal can't find an answer to that. Could complain about shipboard romances being no good but they all see through that one by now. “Ain't a problem.” Why would it be?
Simon is uncomfortable now, Mal can tell. Fine, because Mal is as well. “Wash is fine.”
Mal's gaze shoots over to Simon, eyes narrowing, intelligent “Huh?” coming from his lips, and how can he be so messed up over this nothing that he sounds like Jayne?
“His leg. He wasn't taking the painkillers I prescribed him. He'll be fine.” Mal doesn't need Simon to hear it though, he's always going to hurt. “Thank you, for bringing him in. And for noticing.”
Mal shrugs again. “Gotta keep an eye on the crew.”
“Yes,” Simon smiles, “I'm sure that's all it is.” He drains the last of his drink before getting to his feet. Mal's neck burns where Simon's hand clasps briefly over the back of it before leaving.
*
He spends the next twenty-four hours wondering what exactly Simon meant by that. And the warm touch to the back of his neck, he thinks about that a lot, too. Not because... It's just hard to put out of his mind, an oddity since the doc doesn't exactly go around touching people too often. Way too stiff to be that casual. It had just been the time of night and Simon had been tired, that's all.
So why can't Mal stop thinking on it?
Simon's tone of voice is what really gets to him now. What is Simon thinking? There had been a definite smug look to Simon's gaze. Mal needs to get to the bottom of this.
Of course, he can't go to Simon directly.
He and Zoe are plotting out their newest course of action, where to search for jobs, and how much take do they really need to keep them going for awhile this time. He keeps his mind on the job - mostly - but Zoe keeps... she keeps pressing against him. Just her leg, sure, but it's more than enough to get him flustered. She doesn't seem to notice at all and he puts it down to his own imagination that's been running out of control ever since he caught the three of them in the galley.
Not that he's been imagining them all that often. Often enough. Too often, since he's felt the touch of Simon's hand on his neck and that look on Simon's face. That one touch on his neck and he can almost feel how it might be elsewhere. A pleasure Wash gets and Zoe gets. While Mal gets his own hand which is calloused and hard from too much work and too hard weather.
He's not jealous.
Or lonely.
“Sir?”
He shakes his head and looks to Zoe. He's been staring down at their contact list for the last five minutes.
“Feeling okay, sir? Not like you to be so distracted.”
Mal can feel himself flushing at being caught out, and Zoe's hand is pressing to his forehead, making him heat more until he turns his head away. “Feelin' fine.”
“Mal, if you're going to lie...” She smiling and it's rare enough for her to say his name that he's looking back to her. Her hand moves from his forehead to rest over the back of his neck and the tension runs through him. “We can do this another time, sir.”
Now Zoe has this unreadable look on her face, so similar to the one Simon gave him before. Mal shakes his head and nearly jumps out of his skin when two more hands fall onto his shoulders, head craning to look up and find Wash has snuck into the galley as well. He's apparently been there for the last couple minutes, too.
“Ah, he just needs to loosen up. Tian a, Mal, you're tense. All those captainy duties, right?” Wash grins, oblivious to Mal's discomfort as he starts rubbing his hands over Mal's shoulders and only succeeds in making him even more tense.
Zoe's sitting back with that unfathomable look and Mal can only take the feel of Wash's hands for another minute before he's pushing his chair back, causing Wash to stumble back a step as he gets to his feet.
“That's enough!” He's sure he's cracking and Wash and Zoe both look at him, unreadable. Appearing baffled at his outburst but he's so sure he can see something else besides. A knowing look traded between them. They're playing with him. “Ain't no more touching. From any of you. Not sure what games you're playing but I'm not a part of it. Go work it off in your own bunk.”
He turns to leave them gaping after him.
*
He takes his own advice and goes to his bunk. It's the only place on the ship he's guaranteed any safety from their resident threesome.
It's all just coincidences. They're not acting strange around him, he tries to tell himself. Because Wash often comes up and starts rubbing his shoulders. He groans in frustration and collapses back on the bed, hand pressed over his eyes. The worst is that he kind of wishes it weren't coincidences, that they were hinting at something or maybe interested. He's the captain but that doesn't mean that he never... wants. He wants someone down in this bunk with him, he wants the closeness and connection that Wash and Zoe have. And now that Simon has with them, as well. Those three are... everything he wants in strength and humor and loyalty.
He laughs to himself. Gorramn insane wistful thoughts that won't come to anything.
There's a hiss as someone pushes the hatch to his bunk open and he sighs. It must be Zoe, coming down to see if he's okay and to explain the outburst. Then he'll have to spill what his minds been thinking up, the crazy situations that make him think they want him, and how he wants them too.
“Come on down,” he calls up to her without waiting for her to ask if she's welcome.
He sits up, fingers raking through his hair, stilling halfway when it's clean shoes and tailored pants that come into view down the ladder. Simon follows them and Mal blinks at the man, mouth working while he tries to figure out what Simon is doing down in his bunk.
Or better yet, what Simon's hand is doing pressing to the side of his face. Or what he's doing settling himself down on Mal's lap, his thighs pressing against Mal's legs and Mal is resting his hands over Simon's hips before he can think about it.
He thinks kiss me and that must be pretty obvious because Simon does, slow and easy. He's smiling when he pulls back and Mal stares. “This ain't a game?” Or his imagination.
Simon shakes his head. “No. We're not that cruel. Well... I think Wash might be sometimes.”
“Hey!” It's Wash that barks indignantly down the ladder. Simon sighs and there's a moment of awkward silence before Wash tries again. “So... can we come down?”
Mal's head is spinning. Simon is on his lap and Wash and Zoe are waiting to join them. Wash sounds eager. It takes him a moment to realize that Simon is looking at him and waiting for an answer. The best he can do is nod.
Insane as it is.
This one is a sequel to This Kind of Temptation. Which is a sequel to This Kind of Love.
Here we have Mal/Simon/Wash/Zoe with NO porn. I guess I'd rate it PG-13.
Beta'd by ferretwho and the rest is all my fault.
He doesn't know how things can manage to happen right under his nose without his ever noticing. At least, not until it's quite literally right under his nose. Or right before his eyes.
This time it's nothing hugely traumatizing, which is a plus. Not like the time he walked onto the bridge and found Wash and Zoe locked in an embrace, already more than partway to disrobed. He couldn't exactly ignore the fact of their togetherness after that incident. Zoe hadn't even had the good grace to blush when she'd noticed him standing there, all kinds of shell shocked. Just looked calmly at him and told him to kindly vacate himself; they'd talk about this later, not that it were much of his business.
Then there was the time with Kaylee and Bester. He does have a habit of walking in on people at the wrong time.
So he's glad when, this time, he doesn't get an eye full of too much flesh. Doesn't make it any less a kick in the teeth, though.
He's usually the first one up in the mornings, only Wash beating him on occasion, but he mostly wonders if the pilot just hasn't been up all night when that happens. He hears voices as he steps to the galley this morning, and that oddity on its own should have been enough to pull him up. But no, he blunders right on into a cozy scene.
Of Wash, whistling away at the stove, breakfast protein sizzling on the pans. Zoe is sitting over at the sofas, smiling and humming softly, some song he's sure that he remembers her singing to broken soldiers during the war as she patched them up. Not so strange. Until his eyes fall over Simon, the doctor walking across the galley to where Zoe sits, with cups of coffee. He sets them down, all smiles himself and looking all sorts of relaxed, and then sets himself down next to Zoe. So close their thighs are pressed tight and she leans in and presses a kiss to his mouth in thanks.
Zoe kisses Simon. Ain't a first time thing either, or Mal could image Simon's eyes snapping wide in shock, while his face burned, complete with stuttering and tripping as he ran. But no. Simon smiles and settles in next to her like it's nothing. Like they've done it before. A lot of times before.
It's a good thing his breath is all strangled up in his chest or Mal might be screaming. Or yelling. There'd be noise of some sort which would draw attention to him that he really doesn't want. It's bad enough he has to see this, he doesn't want to get involved with it.
About the time that Wash goes over and sits himself quite happily on Simon's other side - pressed close, of course, and Zoe draws her legs up over both of them to recline back - that Mal turns and retreats. Just walks away, no running but only because they'd hear him and he doesn't want to talk about this.
His head spins as he makes for the engine room, beat of Serenity to calm his own pounding heart. Because it's Zoe. With Wash. And Simon.
This feng le crew is going to have him old and gray far before his time.
*
He can't help it. He tells himself to just act cool and collected. Aloof. It ain't none of his business if the crew want to get up to something kinky with each other, Mal just has to keep his nose out of it, and as long as it doesn't affect business, it really isn't his concern. But he just can't help it. What is Zoe thinking?
“What the hell are you thinking?”
She quirks an eyebrow at him. The subtle little lift that says he's lost his mind once again or maybe that he's a complete back birth. “Sir?” And the 'sir' is too amused to be respectful.
Dammit, that one word manages to stump him. All the different little twists she can put into it and this time it has him gaping, mouth working, gesturing with his hand to nowhere. “With the... and... Come on, Zoe, Simon?”
“Remember you sayin' that about me and Wash once. Fact, I think you got the response down to an exact match. Might teach you to stop spying.”
“I wasn't spying. Just in the wrong place. An' let me rephrase,” he goes on hotly and she just waits patiently. “Wash and Simon?”
“Not jealous are you, sir?” Now she's laughing at him and he drops his head into his hands in despair at the sound of-
“Who's Mal jealous of?”
Wash walking into the galley. The pilot gives Zoe a kiss to the temple, quick affection, before he's moving to the side and pouring himself a cup of the coffee that's brewing.
Zoe studies him a moment. “Not rightly sure, actually. Could be any one of us.”
Mal gives in, his mind can't take this, and his captain related stresses are all already pushed to the limit. He walks away without another word and listens to Zoe and Wash laughing after him.
*
Wash probably thinks that no one notices. Mal sees him the few times it's almost caught, casting a surreptitious glance around, checking to make sure no one is watching and looking relieved when no one is, before going back to his work. Mal notices. With his eyes narrowed to watch Wash from across the cargo bay.
Wondering maybe how a guy like Wash - not to say anything bad, just an unassuming sort of guy - could hook up with two - two - people like Zoe and Simon. Most mismatched trio in the 'verse, surely. Not a one seemed to work with the other at a glance. And everyone in the ship had gotten a glance now. He guessed they didn't feel the need to hide it after the captain had found them out. Maybe they hadn't been hiding it at all and Mal had just happened to be the first one in the loop for once.
He reckons he underestimates Wash a lot though.
They've got cargo to transfer off-ship and Wash is down with Jayne loading it onto the flatbed of the mule. The crates they're packing aren't light but Wash doesn't complain and Mal doesn't think nothing of it until Wash stumbles just standing there. Mal catches the flash of pain across his face.
“Hey! Ain't got all day, little man, y' helping or gawkin'?”
Wash swallows before turning to grab the other end of the crate Jayne's got now. “Yeah. I got it.”
“Wash!” Both men down in the cargo bay jump at Mal's loud voice in the empty space. “Infirmary, ma shong.”
“But captain, what about-”
“Ain't havin' arguments about it.”
He ends up prodding Wash along in front of him, ignoring Wash's assurances of being fine, nothing wrong, just gets a little twinge now and then, that's all. Mal's been called obtuse before but even he ain't that bad.
“Simon. Got a patient for you. Might wanna keep a closer eye on your boyfriend.”
Simon's in the infirmary and Mal is briefly relieved to find him alone, no Zoe there to make it even more awkward than it already is. Simon's eyes widen when he turns and sees a sulky Wash standing next to Mal. He's there in a heartbeat, fingers touching Wash's arm and Mal looks away with a little roll of his eyes. He doesn't need to be seeing this.
“What happened?”
“It's nothing-”
“Leg's bothering him.”
Simon gives Wash a hard look which has Wash conceding with a nod. Simon draws Wash into the infirmary with an arm around his shoulders, instructing the pilot to get up onto the exam table. Mal stands back, watching for another moment while Wash jokes about Simon kissing it better, which is sickening enough, but when Simon actually does lean down to kiss the fabric of Wash's flight suit at the thigh, Mal thinks he might gag. Just never was one for these public displays and all.
He leaves, knowing Wash is in good hands, Simon'll fix it. He barely gets a couple steps from the infirmary when Zoe is there. Woman must have some kind of radar, says when her man is hurt. One of her men. Mal snorts.
Not that he's jealous at all.
He stands by the infirmary window for a moment, watching in on them.
But hell, they get all three and he gets no one.
He moves on when Zoe catches him watching.
*
He doesn't want to know what has Simon walking into the galley so late. The boy looks tired and like he might have just stumbled out of the bed. From sleeping and now he's getting a drink. That's the theory Mal wants to stick to.
Simon doesn't seem put off by his glare. Mal guesses having two people at his back - mainly Zoe - help with that. Simon smiles at him which is an oddity in itself. Not so often Simon chooses to smile at him but Mal guesses the boy has more reason to now. And less reason to care what Mal might think of him.
“You're up late,” Simon remarks on the obvious and sits down opposite him, despite Mal's attempts to glare him right out of the room. Doc never did take hints too well.
Mal shrugs.
“I couldn't sleep, either.”
Mal's never seen Simon looking so rested, though. So lighthearted. “Didn't want to wake your couple?” He can't help the snap to his voice. But he's not jealous.
Simon's soft smile fades away at that and Mal tries not to miss it or feel guilty for taking it away. He fidgets, digging a thumb nail into the wood of the table. “Does it... bother you? My relationship with Wash and Zoe?”
Mal can't find an answer to that. Could complain about shipboard romances being no good but they all see through that one by now. “Ain't a problem.” Why would it be?
Simon is uncomfortable now, Mal can tell. Fine, because Mal is as well. “Wash is fine.”
Mal's gaze shoots over to Simon, eyes narrowing, intelligent “Huh?” coming from his lips, and how can he be so messed up over this nothing that he sounds like Jayne?
“His leg. He wasn't taking the painkillers I prescribed him. He'll be fine.” Mal doesn't need Simon to hear it though, he's always going to hurt. “Thank you, for bringing him in. And for noticing.”
Mal shrugs again. “Gotta keep an eye on the crew.”
“Yes,” Simon smiles, “I'm sure that's all it is.” He drains the last of his drink before getting to his feet. Mal's neck burns where Simon's hand clasps briefly over the back of it before leaving.
*
He spends the next twenty-four hours wondering what exactly Simon meant by that. And the warm touch to the back of his neck, he thinks about that a lot, too. Not because... It's just hard to put out of his mind, an oddity since the doc doesn't exactly go around touching people too often. Way too stiff to be that casual. It had just been the time of night and Simon had been tired, that's all.
So why can't Mal stop thinking on it?
Simon's tone of voice is what really gets to him now. What is Simon thinking? There had been a definite smug look to Simon's gaze. Mal needs to get to the bottom of this.
Of course, he can't go to Simon directly.
He and Zoe are plotting out their newest course of action, where to search for jobs, and how much take do they really need to keep them going for awhile this time. He keeps his mind on the job - mostly - but Zoe keeps... she keeps pressing against him. Just her leg, sure, but it's more than enough to get him flustered. She doesn't seem to notice at all and he puts it down to his own imagination that's been running out of control ever since he caught the three of them in the galley.
Not that he's been imagining them all that often. Often enough. Too often, since he's felt the touch of Simon's hand on his neck and that look on Simon's face. That one touch on his neck and he can almost feel how it might be elsewhere. A pleasure Wash gets and Zoe gets. While Mal gets his own hand which is calloused and hard from too much work and too hard weather.
He's not jealous.
Or lonely.
“Sir?”
He shakes his head and looks to Zoe. He's been staring down at their contact list for the last five minutes.
“Feeling okay, sir? Not like you to be so distracted.”
Mal can feel himself flushing at being caught out, and Zoe's hand is pressing to his forehead, making him heat more until he turns his head away. “Feelin' fine.”
“Mal, if you're going to lie...” She smiling and it's rare enough for her to say his name that he's looking back to her. Her hand moves from his forehead to rest over the back of his neck and the tension runs through him. “We can do this another time, sir.”
Now Zoe has this unreadable look on her face, so similar to the one Simon gave him before. Mal shakes his head and nearly jumps out of his skin when two more hands fall onto his shoulders, head craning to look up and find Wash has snuck into the galley as well. He's apparently been there for the last couple minutes, too.
“Ah, he just needs to loosen up. Tian a, Mal, you're tense. All those captainy duties, right?” Wash grins, oblivious to Mal's discomfort as he starts rubbing his hands over Mal's shoulders and only succeeds in making him even more tense.
Zoe's sitting back with that unfathomable look and Mal can only take the feel of Wash's hands for another minute before he's pushing his chair back, causing Wash to stumble back a step as he gets to his feet.
“That's enough!” He's sure he's cracking and Wash and Zoe both look at him, unreadable. Appearing baffled at his outburst but he's so sure he can see something else besides. A knowing look traded between them. They're playing with him. “Ain't no more touching. From any of you. Not sure what games you're playing but I'm not a part of it. Go work it off in your own bunk.”
He turns to leave them gaping after him.
*
He takes his own advice and goes to his bunk. It's the only place on the ship he's guaranteed any safety from their resident threesome.
It's all just coincidences. They're not acting strange around him, he tries to tell himself. Because Wash often comes up and starts rubbing his shoulders. He groans in frustration and collapses back on the bed, hand pressed over his eyes. The worst is that he kind of wishes it weren't coincidences, that they were hinting at something or maybe interested. He's the captain but that doesn't mean that he never... wants. He wants someone down in this bunk with him, he wants the closeness and connection that Wash and Zoe have. And now that Simon has with them, as well. Those three are... everything he wants in strength and humor and loyalty.
He laughs to himself. Gorramn insane wistful thoughts that won't come to anything.
There's a hiss as someone pushes the hatch to his bunk open and he sighs. It must be Zoe, coming down to see if he's okay and to explain the outburst. Then he'll have to spill what his minds been thinking up, the crazy situations that make him think they want him, and how he wants them too.
“Come on down,” he calls up to her without waiting for her to ask if she's welcome.
He sits up, fingers raking through his hair, stilling halfway when it's clean shoes and tailored pants that come into view down the ladder. Simon follows them and Mal blinks at the man, mouth working while he tries to figure out what Simon is doing down in his bunk.
Or better yet, what Simon's hand is doing pressing to the side of his face. Or what he's doing settling himself down on Mal's lap, his thighs pressing against Mal's legs and Mal is resting his hands over Simon's hips before he can think about it.
He thinks kiss me and that must be pretty obvious because Simon does, slow and easy. He's smiling when he pulls back and Mal stares. “This ain't a game?” Or his imagination.
Simon shakes his head. “No. We're not that cruel. Well... I think Wash might be sometimes.”
“Hey!” It's Wash that barks indignantly down the ladder. Simon sighs and there's a moment of awkward silence before Wash tries again. “So... can we come down?”
Mal's head is spinning. Simon is on his lap and Wash and Zoe are waiting to join them. Wash sounds eager. It takes him a moment to realize that Simon is looking at him and waiting for an answer. The best he can do is nod.
Insane as it is.