Fic: World Falls Away - Part One, Chapter Six (Mal/Wash)
Title: World Falls Away - Part One, Chapter Five
Author: Nari
Pairing: Mal/Wash
Characters: Mal, Wash, OC in the form of Mal's ma
Rating: this part, PG-13 for non-graphic type stuff, 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. Translations are in mouseover.
Thanks: To lvs2read for the beta! And to wildannuette for the beta and the encouragement.
Part One: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five
Chapter Six
They go through the next month the same way. They get pretty damn good at the sneaking about. They get pretty good at the hanging out in public, too. Wash has a hundred stories about his life or the things he's seen on other planets. He's only been to a few, but it's still more than Mal has. He's never had a reason to go off Shadow, never thought he'd have the need, but Wash gives him that urge. He even learns to love the hover vehicle, and Wash gives Mal a few lessons on how to fly it. They only take it out a couple times after the first, Wash is too paranoid about his dad finding out.
Wash compromises, and Mal teaches him how to ride the officially renamed horse, Big Dog, instead. By the end of the month, Wash is pretty decent. He can fetch the horse and saddle him up, keep up with Mal when Mal gallops Sandy, but he's yet to win a race. Mal doesn't mention it's because Big Dog is too old to go that fast. He thinks about setting Wash up on the young mare Kitty instead but, when he brings it up, Wash is determined to stick by Big Dog's side.
The irrigation ditches get dug after the first couple of weeks and Wash and the other workers move on. Mal misses getting to watch Wash work and get the man distracted from what he should be doing himself. He thinks his ma probably notices a marked increase in his production when Wash is gone to the other farms for most of the day, before he comes back, dirty and tired. Not too tired for Mal, though, and not too tired to sneak his way into Mal's bed in the middle of the night when the rest of the house is quiet.
It only takes one instance of getting caught, though.
Wash is in his room again, two in the morning and he'd tip-toed in an hour ago. They save most of their fooling around for the barn, where parents can't hear them if they get too loud. Here they sleep, strip off because they both learned pretty fast that feeling skin on skin is the most comfortable thing in the 'verse. Wash confirms Mal's belief that he usually sleeps naked anyway.
They're awake this morning, though. An easy day had led to afternoon naps. Wash woke him an hour ago, coming in and climbing into the bed. Neither of them have been asleep since.
Mal trails his fingers over Wash's back and arms. There's a light tan to them by now, but if Mal didn't see him out in the sun everyday then he never would have believed it. Wash burns and goes back to white. There's freckles that show up over his shoulders. Mal takes a bit of pleasure in alternately teasing Wash over them and kissing them.
They talk in soft voices, hardly more than murmurs. Sandy had thrown Mal earlier in the day and Wash is kissing the bruises that formed over his shoulder where Mal had hit the railing.
“Wouldn't catch Big Dog doing that,” he informs Mal gravely.
Mal chuckles softly, head falling back against the pillows as Wash's lips take to following the path of his collar bone. His own fingers rub against Wash's shoulder blade absently. “I like my mounts with a little fight.”
Wash's eyes glint. “That so?” He grins up at Mal. Whatever lewd comment he's about to make is cut off when there's a light tapping on the door.
“Mal, honey, you alright?” His ma doesn't wait for an answer, after all, what could Mal possibly be up to this time of night, in his room alone? Mal can think of a few things, but he's glad that none of them are occurring to her. Though, maybe he wishes they had when she's standing in the doorway, staring at him and Wash, before Wash can move or hide or anything.
“Ma...” Mal starts but doesn't know where to go. His heart pounds, he can feel Wash's doing the same, and he drops his gaze away from hers. He doesn't want to see if she looks mad or disappointed. Pa would have been disappointed. All the fun of sneaking around is gone in one of his too fast heartbeats.
“Put something on, Mal, then come see me out in the kitchen. Hoban, you go on to your own room.” She gives them a studying look before turning to walk out.
Mal nods, voice caught with the lump in his throat, but she's gone, the door slipping closed softly in her wake.
He pushes Wash off him and sits up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He doesn't get up, though, dropping his head into his hands with a muttered “Cào.”
Wash's hand presses hesitantly to his back and Mal fights the urge to shrug it off. Ain't Wash's fault. “Hey. Remember you can't do anything wrong in your mom's eyes, she probably just...wants to make sure you're being careful. That I'm not going to hurt you or something.” Wash scoots a bit closer to press a kiss on Mal's shoulder. “Which I'm not, so you know.”
Mal sighs, “I know,” and gets to his feet. His ma is waiting on him. He tugs on the sleep pants that he hasn't bothered wearing and a threadbare old shirt. Leaves Wash watching him on his bed and steps out to meet his ma in the kitchen.
She's sitting at the head of the table waiting for him, glass of water held in one hand. He doesn't quite look at her as he sits in the next chair. He can hear the seconds tick by on the wall clock as he waits for her to speak first.
“How long've you been sneaking around with him?”
Mal shrugs a bit. “'Bout a month, I guess. Ma, I'm sorry-” He looks up to her but she shakes her head and stops him.
“You know I just want to see you happy.” She waits until he nods that he understands. “But he's Alliance. Now I don't mind that myself. He seems like a fine boy, and I'd be the first to congratulate you and give you both a hug. But we both know his daddy ain't gonna see it the same way.”
Mal snorts. He knows that. It never was worry for Mal's ma finding them so much as Wash's dad.
“And I don't want to see these folks pulling out and leaving us helpless because you're carrying on some tryst with the Major's son.”
Mal bites his lip. He hadn't even thought of that. All through this, he'd been worried about being found out and being told to break it off. Exactly what was happening. But he'd never once thought how carrying on with Wash could affect the rest of his family.
He drops his head. “I'll talk to Wash.”
His ma's arms circle his shoulder's. “I'm sorry, honey.”
*
Wash is still there when Mal gets back to his room. He's dressed again, sitting on the edge of Mal's bed and he jumps to his feet when Mal comes back in. Mal only glances to him before he turns to shut the door. Wash doesn't approach when Mal stays with his back turned.
“Well...what'd she say?”
Mal licks his lips, purses them a moment before he turns around, gathering his resolve to face Wash. This is for his family and there's nothing more important. “That we're done. An' she's right.”
“What? Gǒu pì.” Mal gives him a stern look and Wash lowers his voice again. “That's crazy. You can't just-”
“Yeah, I can. I don't need your dad finding out and leaving my family high an’ dry because I decided to fuck with his son.”
“One. Fuck what my dad says. Two. You haven't fucked with me yet.” Wash tries to grin but his humor falls flat this time. “Come on, Mal.”
“Ain't happening. You were gonna be gone in two months anyway an' what were we gonna do then?” That's something he's thought on. What they were gonna do when Wash had to leave, and Mal's thought more than once on trying to convince Wash to stay with him. He doesn't think it would be so hard. Once again, it's the man's dad that gets in the way. As much as Wash tries to act like a rebel, he knows Wash would give into the Major and do exactly what was said in the end.
Wash sighs, Mal hears the irritation in it. He doesn't know what Wash expects him to do. “Fine. Whatever you want, Mal.”
He doesn't watch as Wash stalks by him and out of the room.
***
Part Two - Chapter One (Wash)
Author: Nari
Pairing: Mal/Wash
Characters: Mal, Wash, OC in the form of Mal's ma
Rating: this part, PG-13 for non-graphic type stuff, 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. Translations are in mouseover.
Thanks: To lvs2read for the beta! And to wildannuette for the beta and the encouragement.
Part One: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five
Chapter Six
They go through the next month the same way. They get pretty damn good at the sneaking about. They get pretty good at the hanging out in public, too. Wash has a hundred stories about his life or the things he's seen on other planets. He's only been to a few, but it's still more than Mal has. He's never had a reason to go off Shadow, never thought he'd have the need, but Wash gives him that urge. He even learns to love the hover vehicle, and Wash gives Mal a few lessons on how to fly it. They only take it out a couple times after the first, Wash is too paranoid about his dad finding out.
Wash compromises, and Mal teaches him how to ride the officially renamed horse, Big Dog, instead. By the end of the month, Wash is pretty decent. He can fetch the horse and saddle him up, keep up with Mal when Mal gallops Sandy, but he's yet to win a race. Mal doesn't mention it's because Big Dog is too old to go that fast. He thinks about setting Wash up on the young mare Kitty instead but, when he brings it up, Wash is determined to stick by Big Dog's side.
The irrigation ditches get dug after the first couple of weeks and Wash and the other workers move on. Mal misses getting to watch Wash work and get the man distracted from what he should be doing himself. He thinks his ma probably notices a marked increase in his production when Wash is gone to the other farms for most of the day, before he comes back, dirty and tired. Not too tired for Mal, though, and not too tired to sneak his way into Mal's bed in the middle of the night when the rest of the house is quiet.
It only takes one instance of getting caught, though.
Wash is in his room again, two in the morning and he'd tip-toed in an hour ago. They save most of their fooling around for the barn, where parents can't hear them if they get too loud. Here they sleep, strip off because they both learned pretty fast that feeling skin on skin is the most comfortable thing in the 'verse. Wash confirms Mal's belief that he usually sleeps naked anyway.
They're awake this morning, though. An easy day had led to afternoon naps. Wash woke him an hour ago, coming in and climbing into the bed. Neither of them have been asleep since.
Mal trails his fingers over Wash's back and arms. There's a light tan to them by now, but if Mal didn't see him out in the sun everyday then he never would have believed it. Wash burns and goes back to white. There's freckles that show up over his shoulders. Mal takes a bit of pleasure in alternately teasing Wash over them and kissing them.
They talk in soft voices, hardly more than murmurs. Sandy had thrown Mal earlier in the day and Wash is kissing the bruises that formed over his shoulder where Mal had hit the railing.
“Wouldn't catch Big Dog doing that,” he informs Mal gravely.
Mal chuckles softly, head falling back against the pillows as Wash's lips take to following the path of his collar bone. His own fingers rub against Wash's shoulder blade absently. “I like my mounts with a little fight.”
Wash's eyes glint. “That so?” He grins up at Mal. Whatever lewd comment he's about to make is cut off when there's a light tapping on the door.
“Mal, honey, you alright?” His ma doesn't wait for an answer, after all, what could Mal possibly be up to this time of night, in his room alone? Mal can think of a few things, but he's glad that none of them are occurring to her. Though, maybe he wishes they had when she's standing in the doorway, staring at him and Wash, before Wash can move or hide or anything.
“Ma...” Mal starts but doesn't know where to go. His heart pounds, he can feel Wash's doing the same, and he drops his gaze away from hers. He doesn't want to see if she looks mad or disappointed. Pa would have been disappointed. All the fun of sneaking around is gone in one of his too fast heartbeats.
“Put something on, Mal, then come see me out in the kitchen. Hoban, you go on to your own room.” She gives them a studying look before turning to walk out.
Mal nods, voice caught with the lump in his throat, but she's gone, the door slipping closed softly in her wake.
He pushes Wash off him and sits up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He doesn't get up, though, dropping his head into his hands with a muttered “Cào.”
Wash's hand presses hesitantly to his back and Mal fights the urge to shrug it off. Ain't Wash's fault. “Hey. Remember you can't do anything wrong in your mom's eyes, she probably just...wants to make sure you're being careful. That I'm not going to hurt you or something.” Wash scoots a bit closer to press a kiss on Mal's shoulder. “Which I'm not, so you know.”
Mal sighs, “I know,” and gets to his feet. His ma is waiting on him. He tugs on the sleep pants that he hasn't bothered wearing and a threadbare old shirt. Leaves Wash watching him on his bed and steps out to meet his ma in the kitchen.
She's sitting at the head of the table waiting for him, glass of water held in one hand. He doesn't quite look at her as he sits in the next chair. He can hear the seconds tick by on the wall clock as he waits for her to speak first.
“How long've you been sneaking around with him?”
Mal shrugs a bit. “'Bout a month, I guess. Ma, I'm sorry-” He looks up to her but she shakes her head and stops him.
“You know I just want to see you happy.” She waits until he nods that he understands. “But he's Alliance. Now I don't mind that myself. He seems like a fine boy, and I'd be the first to congratulate you and give you both a hug. But we both know his daddy ain't gonna see it the same way.”
Mal snorts. He knows that. It never was worry for Mal's ma finding them so much as Wash's dad.
“And I don't want to see these folks pulling out and leaving us helpless because you're carrying on some tryst with the Major's son.”
Mal bites his lip. He hadn't even thought of that. All through this, he'd been worried about being found out and being told to break it off. Exactly what was happening. But he'd never once thought how carrying on with Wash could affect the rest of his family.
He drops his head. “I'll talk to Wash.”
His ma's arms circle his shoulder's. “I'm sorry, honey.”
*
Wash is still there when Mal gets back to his room. He's dressed again, sitting on the edge of Mal's bed and he jumps to his feet when Mal comes back in. Mal only glances to him before he turns to shut the door. Wash doesn't approach when Mal stays with his back turned.
“Well...what'd she say?”
Mal licks his lips, purses them a moment before he turns around, gathering his resolve to face Wash. This is for his family and there's nothing more important. “That we're done. An' she's right.”
“What? Gǒu pì.” Mal gives him a stern look and Wash lowers his voice again. “That's crazy. You can't just-”
“Yeah, I can. I don't need your dad finding out and leaving my family high an’ dry because I decided to fuck with his son.”
“One. Fuck what my dad says. Two. You haven't fucked with me yet.” Wash tries to grin but his humor falls flat this time. “Come on, Mal.”
“Ain't happening. You were gonna be gone in two months anyway an' what were we gonna do then?” That's something he's thought on. What they were gonna do when Wash had to leave, and Mal's thought more than once on trying to convince Wash to stay with him. He doesn't think it would be so hard. Once again, it's the man's dad that gets in the way. As much as Wash tries to act like a rebel, he knows Wash would give into the Major and do exactly what was said in the end.
Wash sighs, Mal hears the irritation in it. He doesn't know what Wash expects him to do. “Fine. Whatever you want, Mal.”
He doesn't watch as Wash stalks by him and out of the room.
***
Part Two - Chapter One (Wash)