Fic: World Falls Away - Part One, Chapter Two
Title: World Falls Away - Part One, Chapter Two
Author: Nari
Pairing: Mal/Wash
Characters: Mal, Wash, OC's in the form of ranch hands, Mal's ma, and Wash's dad
Rating: this part G, overall R
Summary: The Alliance come to help out the farming community on Shadow.
Notes: The age timeline in this fic is very AU. We're starting off with the boys being around 18 for Wash and 20 for Mal.
Thanks: To lvs2read for the beta! And to wildannuette for the beta and the encouragement.
Part One - Chapter One
Chapter Two
Mal learns pretty quick that Wash can talk. He talks the whole way back to the barn, while Mal pulls the saddle off Sandy's back, and as he brushes away the marks the girth has left behind.
Through it all, Mal learns a little about why the Alliance are here.
Seems the Alliance are seeing fit to lend a hand to the outer planets. He's not sure if his ma contacted them. He can't believe she wouldn't have told him. Pa would have been furious. They don't need Alliance help, they'd been getting by just fine on their own since this planet had been settled. Sure, there were tough years, but they got through them and eventually the crops were good again.
Maybe this time is the exception, though. Shadow is pretty sparsely populated. Majority of it farmers, agriculture. There's some mining in the mountains, but they don't dredge up too much, not enough to really bring people in. The last few years had been bad. Ever since his pa died really. Mal isn't one for superstition most times but there'd been a run of bad luck, starting with his death.
Maybe the Alliance was the last way they could go. His ma had always said there was nothing wrong in asking for help when it was needed. His pa always said a person didn't give something for nothing.
So what did the Alliance want?
Wash says nothing or if it they do, then he doesn't know what. His dad didn't see fit to tell him most things, Wash tells Mal in his stream of chatter. A lot he only knows because he eavesdrops. The kid is a troublemaker, no doubt about that. It doesn't take much rambling for Mal to get the hint that he doesn't care for his dad, that there's not much love lost between them.
Eventually, Mal leaves Wash to settle into his room and goes to find his ma. She's sitting in the kitchen by this point, nursing a cup of tea with a content little smile on her face. It widens some when she sees him and he follows her gesture to take up a seat for himself.
“Things are finally going to get better, honey.”
“Pa wouldn't approve,” Mal immediately objects. The man isn't here, someone needs to speak for him.
She snorts. “No harm asking for help. Besides, which, they asked me if we needed it. Ain't no harm in admitting to that, neither.”
“I know.” He's just not so keen on believing they're so far gone as to need it. “What're they gonna do?”
“They got workers for us, gonna dig those irrigation ditches we've been needing. And a well. Gonna drill straight down so we don't gotta rely on that creek. Won't have to haul so much water in the winter for the animals. Gonna be doing all the farms round here, but we're the oldest so they're doing us first. They even got some tech fellas that are gonna check out the terraformers, see about...tweaking a few things, was the words he used, get us some rain.”
“All sounds good.” He still has his misgivings, though, and she pats his hand where it rests on the wood grain table.
“They'll be staying here with us, we got a big enough place for it. Could be a few months. Want you to be on your best behavior with these folks. Don't go lettin' your dad's paranoia get to you.”
“Y'know I won't.”
“You're a good boy.” Her hand squeezes his, weaker than it used to be.
“Ma... Why are you really doing this? Y’ know the weather will turn again, it always does. We'd be fine.”
She stares ahead for long moments, silent and considering. Mal lets her be, he knows not to rush her when she's getting ready to come out with something.
“I ain't gonna be here forever, boy. Gotta get things set up for you to take over. Don't want you havin' a hard time of it like we did.”
“Ma...”
She pats his hand again. “Don't argue about it. Get up an' help me make dinner.”
*
The Major and his son join them for dinner. Most of the ranch hands eat out in the workers house. They have their own fully stocked kitchen, though more often than not his ma cooks for them as well. She's older now, not a lot else she can do, and she needs to feel like she's helping out. Keeping their bellies as full as she can, keeps up spirits and makes for a happy household.
The Major compliments her cooking and Mal thinks he means it, if the way he digs in is any indication. Wash looks the same, the smile he wears just brightening as he bites into the beef steak on his plate.
“Won't find fresher meat, no sirs.”
Mal grins subtly at the way the Major goes a little green. They know it's fresh because it's a cow off their own farm, butchered just a week ago. He digs into his own food as well. It's silent for awhile and not so awkward as Mal might have feared. They're too busy eating to bother talking. Mal's busy trying to hold his tongue, but he doesn't see why a harmlessly curious question can't be asked. He washes down a mouthful with a drink of water and clears his throat to get their attention.
“Is Shadow the only Rim planet you folks are helpin'?” It would be a harmless question if he didn't have a slight sneer to his tone. He's had it drilled into his head too much by his pa, Alliance ain't much good 'cept to get in a man's way.
“Mal...”
The Major raises a hand to still his ma's chastisement of him. Mal doesn't much care for the way she listens to it. Woman never even listened to her husband half the time, not like that, like she's obeying. “It's a fine question.”
The Major looks directly at Mal, who doesn't flinch away. He bets the Major isn't used to that, but Mal feels no need to be intimidated because of someone's position. “We're trying to help where we can, son. We can only take it one planet at a time.”
“Thought you'd be havin' the resources.”
His ma kicks him hard under the table and he jerks his knee up. It rattles the glasses and the Major just gives him a patient smile.
“We don't like to spread them thin.”
“Mal.” His ma cuts in with a finality that says Mal listens or he goes out and cuts his own switch for her. He looks to her. “Tomorrow you can take Hoban into town, show him some of the sights. If he'd like that.” She looks to both the Major and Wash.
“I'd like it.” Wash looks to his dad for permission as well. He might be acting rebellious, but Mal thinks he'd defer to his dad if push came to shove. The rest of it is just an act.
*
He washes up after dinner while his ma heads for an early night. The Major heads to his given room as well. Mal knows because he watches from the corner of his eye until the Major's door shuts. He's a little surprised when Wash is at his side. He'd almost forgotten the other boy and thought he was on his own in the kitchen. He's even more surprised when Wash picks up a dry clean towel and starts helping.
“Don't have to do that.”
Wash shrugs. “There's nothing better to do.” They clean and dry a few dishes between them before Wash speaks again. “You're really not one for the Alliance. Or just my dad, in which case I don't blame you.”
“The Alliance ain't never helped us before,” he snaps out before he can think on hurting Wash's feelings and goes on quieter. “My pa never liked them much. Guess it's passed on some.”
“Where is he now?”
He shouldn't tense. He knows that it's an innocent question. Stupid, maybe, but still innocent. Wash isn't meaning to bring up memories that are still too fresh for being years old. “An accident.” He doesn't really need to go on.
Wash's eyes widen and he goes demurely back to drying a plate. “Sorry.”
Mal shrugs. “Ought to head for bed. Got an early morning, tomorrow. Takes a good hour ride to get to town.”
“Ride as in...?”
Mal grins at him. “Horses, boy, what did y' think?” This could turn out to be fun, playing with the kid's head a bit. Wash looks freaked out.
“Oh. I was thinking I could fly us. Take less time.”
Mal claps his hand over Wash's shoulder and it nearly stumbles him forward. Wash isn't in the greatest of shape, he's definitely not going to be toned muscle the way Mal is from working on the ranch in the hot sun all day. He's pale, too, Mal finally notices. It'll do him good to get out in the sun a bit. Get a real good look at just what him and his dad are here to save.
“I'll show you the ropes. Set your alarm for six.”
Wash gives him a stiff salute that Mal catches just before he turns to head for bed himself.
Part One - Chapter Three
Author: Nari
Pairing: Mal/Wash
Characters: Mal, Wash, OC's in the form of ranch hands, Mal's ma, and Wash's dad
Rating: this part G, overall R
Summary: The Alliance come to help out the farming community on Shadow.
Notes: The age timeline in this fic is very AU. We're starting off with the boys being around 18 for Wash and 20 for Mal.
Thanks: To lvs2read for the beta! And to wildannuette for the beta and the encouragement.
Part One - Chapter One
Chapter Two
Mal learns pretty quick that Wash can talk. He talks the whole way back to the barn, while Mal pulls the saddle off Sandy's back, and as he brushes away the marks the girth has left behind.
Through it all, Mal learns a little about why the Alliance are here.
Seems the Alliance are seeing fit to lend a hand to the outer planets. He's not sure if his ma contacted them. He can't believe she wouldn't have told him. Pa would have been furious. They don't need Alliance help, they'd been getting by just fine on their own since this planet had been settled. Sure, there were tough years, but they got through them and eventually the crops were good again.
Maybe this time is the exception, though. Shadow is pretty sparsely populated. Majority of it farmers, agriculture. There's some mining in the mountains, but they don't dredge up too much, not enough to really bring people in. The last few years had been bad. Ever since his pa died really. Mal isn't one for superstition most times but there'd been a run of bad luck, starting with his death.
Maybe the Alliance was the last way they could go. His ma had always said there was nothing wrong in asking for help when it was needed. His pa always said a person didn't give something for nothing.
So what did the Alliance want?
Wash says nothing or if it they do, then he doesn't know what. His dad didn't see fit to tell him most things, Wash tells Mal in his stream of chatter. A lot he only knows because he eavesdrops. The kid is a troublemaker, no doubt about that. It doesn't take much rambling for Mal to get the hint that he doesn't care for his dad, that there's not much love lost between them.
Eventually, Mal leaves Wash to settle into his room and goes to find his ma. She's sitting in the kitchen by this point, nursing a cup of tea with a content little smile on her face. It widens some when she sees him and he follows her gesture to take up a seat for himself.
“Things are finally going to get better, honey.”
“Pa wouldn't approve,” Mal immediately objects. The man isn't here, someone needs to speak for him.
She snorts. “No harm asking for help. Besides, which, they asked me if we needed it. Ain't no harm in admitting to that, neither.”
“I know.” He's just not so keen on believing they're so far gone as to need it. “What're they gonna do?”
“They got workers for us, gonna dig those irrigation ditches we've been needing. And a well. Gonna drill straight down so we don't gotta rely on that creek. Won't have to haul so much water in the winter for the animals. Gonna be doing all the farms round here, but we're the oldest so they're doing us first. They even got some tech fellas that are gonna check out the terraformers, see about...tweaking a few things, was the words he used, get us some rain.”
“All sounds good.” He still has his misgivings, though, and she pats his hand where it rests on the wood grain table.
“They'll be staying here with us, we got a big enough place for it. Could be a few months. Want you to be on your best behavior with these folks. Don't go lettin' your dad's paranoia get to you.”
“Y'know I won't.”
“You're a good boy.” Her hand squeezes his, weaker than it used to be.
“Ma... Why are you really doing this? Y’ know the weather will turn again, it always does. We'd be fine.”
She stares ahead for long moments, silent and considering. Mal lets her be, he knows not to rush her when she's getting ready to come out with something.
“I ain't gonna be here forever, boy. Gotta get things set up for you to take over. Don't want you havin' a hard time of it like we did.”
“Ma...”
She pats his hand again. “Don't argue about it. Get up an' help me make dinner.”
*
The Major and his son join them for dinner. Most of the ranch hands eat out in the workers house. They have their own fully stocked kitchen, though more often than not his ma cooks for them as well. She's older now, not a lot else she can do, and she needs to feel like she's helping out. Keeping their bellies as full as she can, keeps up spirits and makes for a happy household.
The Major compliments her cooking and Mal thinks he means it, if the way he digs in is any indication. Wash looks the same, the smile he wears just brightening as he bites into the beef steak on his plate.
“Won't find fresher meat, no sirs.”
Mal grins subtly at the way the Major goes a little green. They know it's fresh because it's a cow off their own farm, butchered just a week ago. He digs into his own food as well. It's silent for awhile and not so awkward as Mal might have feared. They're too busy eating to bother talking. Mal's busy trying to hold his tongue, but he doesn't see why a harmlessly curious question can't be asked. He washes down a mouthful with a drink of water and clears his throat to get their attention.
“Is Shadow the only Rim planet you folks are helpin'?” It would be a harmless question if he didn't have a slight sneer to his tone. He's had it drilled into his head too much by his pa, Alliance ain't much good 'cept to get in a man's way.
“Mal...”
The Major raises a hand to still his ma's chastisement of him. Mal doesn't much care for the way she listens to it. Woman never even listened to her husband half the time, not like that, like she's obeying. “It's a fine question.”
The Major looks directly at Mal, who doesn't flinch away. He bets the Major isn't used to that, but Mal feels no need to be intimidated because of someone's position. “We're trying to help where we can, son. We can only take it one planet at a time.”
“Thought you'd be havin' the resources.”
His ma kicks him hard under the table and he jerks his knee up. It rattles the glasses and the Major just gives him a patient smile.
“We don't like to spread them thin.”
“Mal.” His ma cuts in with a finality that says Mal listens or he goes out and cuts his own switch for her. He looks to her. “Tomorrow you can take Hoban into town, show him some of the sights. If he'd like that.” She looks to both the Major and Wash.
“I'd like it.” Wash looks to his dad for permission as well. He might be acting rebellious, but Mal thinks he'd defer to his dad if push came to shove. The rest of it is just an act.
*
He washes up after dinner while his ma heads for an early night. The Major heads to his given room as well. Mal knows because he watches from the corner of his eye until the Major's door shuts. He's a little surprised when Wash is at his side. He'd almost forgotten the other boy and thought he was on his own in the kitchen. He's even more surprised when Wash picks up a dry clean towel and starts helping.
“Don't have to do that.”
Wash shrugs. “There's nothing better to do.” They clean and dry a few dishes between them before Wash speaks again. “You're really not one for the Alliance. Or just my dad, in which case I don't blame you.”
“The Alliance ain't never helped us before,” he snaps out before he can think on hurting Wash's feelings and goes on quieter. “My pa never liked them much. Guess it's passed on some.”
“Where is he now?”
He shouldn't tense. He knows that it's an innocent question. Stupid, maybe, but still innocent. Wash isn't meaning to bring up memories that are still too fresh for being years old. “An accident.” He doesn't really need to go on.
Wash's eyes widen and he goes demurely back to drying a plate. “Sorry.”
Mal shrugs. “Ought to head for bed. Got an early morning, tomorrow. Takes a good hour ride to get to town.”
“Ride as in...?”
Mal grins at him. “Horses, boy, what did y' think?” This could turn out to be fun, playing with the kid's head a bit. Wash looks freaked out.
“Oh. I was thinking I could fly us. Take less time.”
Mal claps his hand over Wash's shoulder and it nearly stumbles him forward. Wash isn't in the greatest of shape, he's definitely not going to be toned muscle the way Mal is from working on the ranch in the hot sun all day. He's pale, too, Mal finally notices. It'll do him good to get out in the sun a bit. Get a real good look at just what him and his dad are here to save.
“I'll show you the ropes. Set your alarm for six.”
Wash gives him a stiff salute that Mal catches just before he turns to head for bed himself.
Part One - Chapter Three