Fic-Life Less Ordinary
Title: Life Less Ordinary
Author: walkwithheroes
Summary: Live a life less ordinary, live a life extraordinary
Rating: PG-13
Characters: River, Jayne, Inara, Mal, Kaylee, Simon, Zoe, Wash, Book, Others
Pairing: River/Jayne, Inara/Mal, Kaylee/Simon, Zoe/Wash, Others/Others
Warning: Talk of Reaver’s favorite activities. Some angst stuff in regards to death. Some co-dependent relationships. Underage relations aka an underage person has implied relations of a sexual sort with an of age person. Two underage people have sex-none graphic. Pure W/Z fluff (prepare to smile, people)
Spoilers/Timeline: None/AU timeline
Series: Takes place in the TMTC or H.E. ‘verse
Disclaimer: I own no characters from the show. Also, ‘Life Less Ordinary’ is by Carbon leaf.
Author’s Note: Let me start off by saying I hate song fics that have the song in the fic. I don’t mind fics being based on songs, but having the lyrics pop up in the fic bugs me. That said, I’ve written a fic just like the ones I hate. See, I’ve been listening to this song, “Life Less Ordinary” by Carbon Leaf and, well, it so goes with tons of my ‘ships! So, I decided to ‘experiment’ and decided to use the ‘Firefly/Serenity’ ‘verse to do it in. Eighteen short drabbles/ficlets using one song!
Ex-posted everywhere, sorry!
1. Ordinary, Extraordinary, Sedentary, Evolutionary (River Tam-Cobb and Jayne Cobb)
Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me
Live a life less sedentary
Live a life evolutionary with me
The way she moved, all graceful and sure, it was damn right intoxicating. She was still crazy as anything, but she was clearer in her insanity, if that even made sense to anyone but him.
He tried telling people about it. He’d say: “Ain’t she sumt’in’?” Usually, they’d give him a look and just reply that she was River and while she was special, she weren’t nothing to fawn over. Jayne had to disagree.
River made his life less ordinary; she made things happen. River made things move forward. Girl made Jayne’s life extraordinary.
2. Destiny (Shadow Reynolds and Rayne Cobb)
Well, I hate to be a bother but
It’s you and there’s no other, I do believe
You can call me naïve, but
I know me very well at least
As far as I can tell and I know what I need
He was in love with her, had been forever. It was a strange and somewhat co-dependent relationship after she returned to them. Shadow felt the need to watch over her and protect her; it was something both Jay and Matt had a problem with.
“She’s not in love wit you.” Jay had told him one warm afternoon, when they were planet side for the first time in nearly three weeks. “She’s confused an’ she’s a kid. Ya keep lil’ Shadow in yer pants.”
Of course, Jay didn’t get it. It wasn’t about sex. Rayne Cobb was simply Shadow Reynolds’ destiny. There was no one else in the ‘verse for him. Rayne needed Shadow and he needed her.
She was just…she was his everything. Everyone else just didn’t see it yet. Shadow knew they would, just as soon as he could get Rayne to see that they were meant to be. She belonged to him, she was his destiny, and she was his reason for being.
Jay, Matt, Derri, everyone, they could call him naïve and told him Rayne didn’t understand or that she didn’t love him. Shadow didn’t care, he knew the truth.
Rayne would come to him at night and ask things that confirmed her true feelings for him. Things like: “Are we? Are we truly destiny? He loves her more then anything?” Shadow always answered her with a soft chuckle and a kiss. Rayne Cobb was simply Shadow Reynolds’ destiny. The rest of the ’verse just didn’t know it yet.
3. First, Second, Third (Kaylee Frye-Tam and Simon Tam)
That night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me,
You took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me
You shook the bones of me
The first time they made love, it was in the engine room. The second time was in the infirmary. The third time was in Simon’s room. Every time seemed new and magical to Kaylee. Simon was just so gentle and sweet to her, before and after. Most of the boys Kaylee had been with had never acted the way Simon did.
Simon was gentle, he protected her, and made her forget about everything. It was during the third time, in Simon’s room that Kaylee said: “I love you“. Simon did not respond by running. He just smiled, kissed her forehead, and replied: “I love you, too.”
4. Failure (Jay Cobb and Serra Reynolds)
By the way I do know why you stayed away
I will keep tongue tied next time
When Serra asked Serenity to come for her, when she asked that no one question why she’d want to leave the Companion House, Jay kept his tongue tied and did not say a thing. When she had been twelve Serra had left Shadow; she’s gone off to pretend to be a fancy lady from the Core. ‘Course Serra wasn’t a fancy lady from the Core and everyone knew it.
Serra had left Serenity Ranch to try and find her place in the ‘verse; to try and be a better person. She’d returned to her family with no real reason. But, whenever she’d look up at Jay with her sad eyes and broken smile, Jay thought he knew why she’d return. He never said anything, though. No one liked to be reminded of their failures.
5. Building Up (Shadow Reynolds and Rayne Cobb)
Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me
My face had said too much
Before our hands could even touch
To greet a hello
So much for going slow
The first time Shadow ever saw Rayne with a gun was two days after her 17th birthday.
The two of them, along with Rex, were sitting around the kitchen. It seemed peaceful enough, as Rex fixed Lee (who was stuck in the engine room) some lunch, and Shadow watched Rayne draw some strange symbols on a piece of paper.
“She grows.” Rayne muttered softly as she took a new piece of paper off of her large pile.
“You are aging.” Rex replied with a small smile. “Growing all up.”
“No.” Rayne glanced up at looked directly into Shadow’s eyes. “His face says too much, before they even touch.” And before Shadow or Rex even knew what was happening, Rayne was out of her seat, by Shadow, and had his gun out of its hostler. “If he wishes to touch, he must not have guns.” With that, she handed the stunned Shadow the gun back. “No letting the Reaver…River…Rayne…moonbrained Rayne touch guns.”
Shadow kept his guns in his bunk after that.
6. Prepare Yourself for the Love (Hoban “Wash” Washburne and Zoe Washburne)
Well, a little later on that year
I told you that I loved you, dear
What do you know -
This you weren’t prepared to hear
When Wash first told Zoe he loved her, she walked away and did not answer when he called out to her. He would have run after her, but he was rather naked at the time. Wash caught up with her at dinner that night and in front of everyone he announced his love for her. Not surprisingly, Zoe stood and walked away from the table; the table that was left in utter silence.
Wash, who was sure it was true love, was not about to lose Zoe. So, he told her everyday, every time he saw her, for three months, two weeks, and five days. On the last day, Wash simply said: “Love you.” as Zoe was leaving the bridge. To only half his surprise, Wash’s words were met with: “I love you, too.” And Zoe did not leave the room after she said it.
They were married a week later.
7. Gone (Mal Reynolds and Inara Serra-Reynolds)
I’m a saddened man, I’m a broken boy
I’m a toddler with a complex toy
I’m falling apart since the ambush on your heart
He was angry. He was angry and bitter and confused and a thousand other emotions that made Mal Reynolds want to hit a wall or kill Badger or toss Jayne out an air lock. He, Mal Reynolds, had taken a chance and started a romantic relationship with Inara. He’d then taken another chance and told her he loved her. Her response: saying “Oh, Mal…” He’d stormed out of the shuttle before she could finish with a: “did I forget to mention you owe me a million credits for all the sex?”
Mal was gone. It was all over and Inara was going to just be a reminder of the failed romance. It wasn’t like he could kick her out: Kaylee would have a fit and Mal was sure a few other key crewmembers would leave too.
“Mal?” He glanced up to see Inara standing to his right. “Mal,” she looked utterly confused and hurt. “You just left.”
Mal shuffled uncomfortably under her gaze. “Jus’ felt it’d all be said.”
“But, I never…I did not get to say that I love you back.” He raised an eyebrow and she gave him a small and unsure smile. Mal kissed her before she could say anything else.
He was happier then he’d ever been. Mal was gone. It was all over and he and Inara were in love.
8. Want…Need…Never Have (The Reaver and Rayne Cobb)
That night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me,
You took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me
You shook the bones of me
He had had a name once, though no one remembered it. He had had a family once, though no one remembered them. He had never been in love though and after fully allowing himself to become a Reaver, he doubted he ever would love a person. Well, until the men captured him out of his raiding party. Until they brought him to a world called Angel and showed him a real life angel.
She was their prisoner too. She was also utterly insane; kind of like him. Everyone else in the ’verse would have feared him. Not her, not R. Cobb. No, she smiled at him and talked to him and tried to ask him questions. He wanted to response to her. He wanted to remember his name and be kind to her.
But, the Reaver instincts would always take over. He’d hurt her and she’d let him. He was her devil and her angel; he was her reason for staying alive and the reason she wanted to die.
Yet, for him, she was just his angel and reason for being.
10. Amazing Grace (Hoban “Rex” Washburne and Simone “Lee” Tam-Washburne)
By the way I do know why you stayed away
I will keep tongue tied but
Grace Washburne was dead. She was dead and Rex knew Lee blamed herself. She thought she hadn’t been strong enough. She was wrong, but Rex couldn’t seem to make her believe that. Hell, he couldn’t get his own wife to stay in the same room with him for more then a few moments. It was getting to the point where Rex just wanted to grab Lee, shake her, slap her, and then hug her until the end of time.
“Lee.” He grabbed her arm one night and pulled her to him. “Don’t go. It weren’ yer fault.” He shook her gently before wrapping her in a tight hug. “You’ll never stop mournin’ her until you stop blamin’ yerself.”
Lee fought back for only a moment, before she started to cry. “I…I wanted her, Rex. I wanted our girl.”
“Shush, our amazin’ Grace is jus’ goin’ wait wit’ Book ’til we can git t’her.” He stroked her hair gently. “She ain’t gone, ferever, jus‘ fer a while.”
11. One Kiss (Jay Cobb and Inara Serra)
Honey understand
Honey understand
I won't make demands
It had become almost a tease between the two of them. He’d look at her with big bedroom eyes and ask her for a kiss. She’d roll her eyes and say something witty in reply. He wanted her and she, well…no one could figure out what she wanted. All anyone knew was that Jay Cobb desperately wanted one kiss from Serra Reynolds.
Jay told Matt that he was saving his credits, not for one night with Serra, but for one kiss from her. Jay thought maybe the kiss would make things better for him. He wasn’t…he just wanted Serra. Matt didn’t really understand that, but he did give Jay an extra twenty credits.
“Jus’ one kiss.” Jay told Serra with a cheeky little grin. “Don’ even have t’be open mouth.”
Serra looked up from her tea and rolled her dark eyes. “You’re so charming. Really, Jay, you couldn’t afford my rates.”
“Ain’t ‘bout rates.” Jay moved deeper into Serra’s shuttle. He flopped himself beside her and gave her a little puppy dog look. “It’s ‘bout one…little…kiss.” Jay lowered his voice and leaned closer to Serra. “All I want.”
Serra quickly stood up. “Jayne.” She gave him a pointed look. “I refuse to kiss you. You really have to get over your silly crush.”
Jay gave Serra a hard look. “It isn’t about a crush, woman. You know that.”
“Yes.” She stuck her nose in the air. “It’s about wanting a stupid kiss from a Companion. Plan on sending a wave to all your friends? Tell them that you were with a real Companion and not a common whore?” Serra let out a little laugh. “Really, Jay, one kiss from me will not turn you into a man from the Core.”
“Don’ wantta be a man from the Core.” Jay growled, even as he got off the sofa. “You’re confusion’ us. You’re the one dat l’kes pretendin’ she’s fancy. I know w’at an’ who I am an’ I’m damn proud of it.” He sniffed and straightened up. “You know, mayhap I’ve been all wooly headed ‘bout this. Mayhap I don’ really want a kiss from a whore pretendin’ t’be a lady. T’ink I’ll stick t’ones that know what an’ who they is.”
Serra looked momentarily hurt. “Jay…”
“Don’.” He raised a hand, even as he stormed out of the shuttle. “Jus’ keep it t’yerself.”
He did not look back to see Serra crying over what had just happened. Sometimes she just had to be cruel in order to be kind and to protect him; Serra just hoped that on some level Jay knew and understood that.
12. The Plan (Hoban ‘Rex’ Washburne and Rayne Cobb; friendship)
Honey understand
Honey understand
We could walk without a plan
“Hoban?”
Only one person in the whole ‘verse called Rex by his birth name-Rayne Cobb. He glanced behind him to see that she had entered the bridge, looking only slightly confused. “Yeah?” He nodded to the co-pilot chair. “Have a seat, honey.”
Rayne did as she was told before she went on. “She has a question for Hoban.”
Rex put Serenity on auto before turning his chair to face Rayne’s. “I’m listenin’.”
Rayne took a deep breathe. “She has forgotten something again. It is important and she would like Hoban’s help in remembering it.”
“Oh.” A look of concern crossed over Rex’s face. “Okay, what have you forgotten? Can’t remember how to get dressed? Use the bathroom? Eat? Drink? Use somethin’?”
Rayne shook her head. “No. She has…not…Hoban is in love with Lee.” Rex gave her a ‘yeah’ look. “She would like him to tell her the plan for falling in love. She knows she loves Hoban and Lee and her brothers and Derri and Serra and her parents and her uncles and aunts, that aren’t her real uncles and aunts. But, she does not remember how to fall in love.”
Rayne let out a little giggle. “Though love is not physical, so one can’t really fall into it.”
“Oh.” Rex let out a sigh. “Rayne, that’s…that’s very complex an‘…there’s not actually a plan for fallin’ in love. It jus’ sort of happens, you know?” Rayne just gave him a look. “Right.” Rex leaned forward. “Fallin’ in love isn’t something that has a plan. It just happens.”
“But, it has to have a plan.” Rayne protested softly. “It has to. Everything can be planned. Why not love? She wishes to know the plan, so she can understand if she is truly in love with Shadow.”
And suddenly Rex wished Rayne hadn’t come to him for information on the ‘plan’ that didn’t even exist. The truth of the matter was that he didn’t really know what to say about that. It wasn’t like he thought a romance between Shadow and Rayne was the best idea ever. Then again, he wanted both of them to be happy and Rayne did seem to do better with Shadow then with anyone else.
“Okay,” Rex took a deep breathe. “that’s kind of somethin’ that you gotta figure fer yerself. It’s l’ke when I fell for Lee. I jus’ knew she was the one. It was a gut thing. I jus’ knew.”
“Hoban felt different with Lee? Hoban’s body and heart reacted to Lee?” Rayne questioned in a very innocent tone.
“Yeah, that’s it!” Rex bounced out of his seat. “You jus’ know. L’ke you’ll know if you’re in love wit’ Shadow.”
She paused in thought for a long moment. “Yes. She believes she knows now.” Rayne gave Rex a little smile. “She thanks Hoban.”
He shrugged. “No problem.” He glanced back at the stars and then back to Rayne. “You know, it’s not everyday that I get to help a girl like you figure somethin’ out. It was a bit of a treat.”
They were both silent for a moment.
“Hoban?” Rex looked at Rayne with a concerned look. “She has another question. She has forgotten how to stand up, will he help her?”
Rex let out a sad laugh. “Yeah.” He went over and helped Rayne stand up and then he helped her to the common area. “Finally, somethin’ we could give a plan to. ‘Mind me to make you a ‘stand plan’ later.”
13. Together, but Not (Matt Cobb and Derri Reynolds)
Honey understand, honey
Honey understand
I won’t rest in stone all alone
“You know,” Matt Cobb began one night. “it’s a bit like Noah’s Ark ‘round here.” He was in Serenity’s infirmity, numbering all his supplies and making a list of things he needed to pick up.
Derri Reynolds, who’d been quietly reading on the exam table, glanced up from her large book. “Well…you know, I suppose it is.” She began counting off her fingers. “Rex an’ Lee. Jay’s in love wit’ Serra. An’ Shadow an’ Rayne are dancin’ ‘round a romance.” Derri paused thoughtfully for a moment. “Everyone’s all paired up but us.” She shrugged lightly and went back to her book.
Matt did not go back to his inventory so quickly. He’d never really thought about it before, but he and Derri were the only two on Serenity that didn’t have a romance in the works. For a brief second, Matt wondered if he should try and start something with Derri. Hell, she was intelligent, beautiful, thoughtful, sweet as anything, and for a bible-lover she was awfully fun and had a wicked right hook.
“Derri…” She glanced back up at him and smiled. “we ain’t paired off or nothin’, but…well, you know I’m always here for you, right?”
Derri gave Matt a ‘duh’ look. “Of course! Matt, just because two people aren’t together romantically, that doesn’t mean that aren’t together.”
Matt was momentarily confused by that, but after a moment it sunk in and he smiled at her. “Of course. You and I are together, but not together.” He nodded to himself and went back to his inventory, a small smile playing on his lips; Derri went back to her book, a small smile playing on her lips.
13. The Real Thing (Jay Cobb and Inara Serra)
Honey understand
Honey understand
I’m all ready to go
But you already know
Serra Reynolds wanted to kill someone. Why and how had she gotten stuck helping a very drunk (and very heavy) Jay Cobb to bed?
She had been fast asleep in her shuttle when she had first heard the noises in the cargo bay. It had sounded like wild animals having a fight. It had smelt even worse. Apparently, Jay had gone into town for a little fun and had returned to Serenity at four in the morning, smelling of cigars, whiskey, and whore perfume. It was enough to make Serra sick, if she hadn’t been so annoyed.
“Really.” Serra got Jay to lean against her as she helped him back up the stairs and toward his bunk. “Really, you should have just stayed there until mid-morning. At the very least you would have sobered up some.”
“Sober?” Jay asked with a bit of a slur. “S-sober? S-ssserra, I am sober.”
She laughed. “I’d hate to see you drunk, then.”
“You know…” Jay began slowly and slurring. “I…I’m sorry fer callin’ ya a whore. You ain’t a whore.”
Serra’s response was the grunt painfully as she got Jay into the hall where all the bunks where. Jay let out a loud laugh and Serra gave him a sidelong glare. Really, if he were going to laugh at her pain, she was just going to drop him and let him sleep on the cold and dirty floor.
“All ready t’go, ya know.” Jay muttered as Serra found a way to prop him against the wall, just so she could get his hatch open. “ ‘Course ya know that.”
Serra ignored him as she got the hatch open. “Alright, just go down and find your way to your bed. I’ll let Shadow know your sleeping off a night of ‘fun’.” She made a disgusted little noise. “Though, he might wish to punish you, I’ll make sure you’re allowed to sleep it off.”
Jay offered Serra cheeky grin. “See,” he patted her arm. “that’s why I’m all in love ya.” And with that, he shoved himself past her and practically fell down into his bunk.
Jay left Serra alone, to think about the fact that, yes Jay really was in love with her. She’d really have to deal with that one of these days.
14. Soul (Shadow Reynolds/Rayne Cobb)
Live a life less ordinary
Live a life extraordinary with me
If I could name you in this song
Would it make you smile and sing along
This is the goal-- to get into your soul
All she wanted was for him to be happy. It really wasn’t much, but it was shaping up to be a very hard thing to do. Shadow would only be truly happy if he was with her, but Rayne wasn’t so sure how to make that happen. She really wasn’t sure of a lot of things anymore.
Like, why did she forget things? Or why did she draw strange symbols whenever she could? Or why-why didn’t she remember half the things she knew she should know?
Yes, she did know other things and she supposed that made up for it. She knew how to kill a person with a simple touch. She knew that everyone around her loved her and she knew that Shadow really was the best choice-even if he was a tad obsessed and had spent years pinning over her.
“She likes that she is in Shadow’s soul.” Rayne told him one night. The two of them were sitting on his bed, or rather lying together. He had been watching her as she stared up at the ceiling. “She likes that his goal is to get into Rayne’s soul.”
Shadow sat up and smiled down at her. “The goal’ll git done, won’ it?”
Rayne let out a small giggle and stage whispered: “Shh…it’s a pretty little secret. Mustn’t tell secrets or the surprises will be all gone.”
“Well,” He took one of her hands into his. “you know all I want is fer you t’smile and be happy.”
Rayne nodded dumbly as she sat up. “He loves her more then anything. Rayne just wants Shadow to be happy, too.”
Shadow gave that a moment’s thought. “Okay, why don’ we jus’ make each other smile, then?” He gave her a little seductive smile. “W’at ya say? I love you. You love me.” He pressed his face to her cheek, then kissed into the nape of her neck.
Rayne suddenly moved away from him. “She’s not the Rayne he knew. She’s not…she…”
“Shush.” He kissed her hand and gave her another smile. “I don’ care, Rayne Drops. We’re in love. That’s that.” Shadow kissed her then, sweet and gentle on the side of her mouth. “As stupid as it sounds, we’re in one another’s hearts and souls.”
Rayne nodded sadly. “Forever and ever and there’s nothing to be done about it.” Before Shadow could ask her what she had meant by that, Rayne kissed him and everything else was forgotten.
15. Dancing (The Reaver and Rayne Cobb)
If I could make you dance with joy
Could that be the second chance to coy
The 'bird in hand' I would need to help you understand
The girl danced with herself and someone she called ‘Great-grandfather Sheppard Book’ sometimes. She usually danced with the dead man w hen she was scared or lonely or just plain sad. The Reaver could hear her hum and sing to herself as she danced. Sometimes, the Reaver wished he could dance with the girl.
When he saw glimpses of her out his cell window, he got the urge to try and make her want to dance with him. He wanted to make her understand that he wanted her-that she was already his. Dancing seemed to be her one comfort, so that was the way he wanted to make her understand that she was his.
In the back of his mind-the part of his mind that was still sane and a man-he imaged taking R. Cobb into his arms and dancing with her. In the insane part of his mind-the part that was pure Reaver-he imaged that what he did to her when they were connected in dreams was dancing.
Dancing was R. Cobb’s comfort and the Reaver wanted to be apart of that. Some part of him-maybe the sane part that was still a man-told him he would be, someday.
16. First Time (Hoban “Rex” Washburne and Simone “Lee” Tam-Washburne)
That night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me,
You took the bones of me
Rex was sixteen and Lee was fourteen the first time they ever had sex. They had sex-made love-for the first time on Serenity. Actually, they were on the bridge-in the pilot seat.
Rex had been sitting there, trying to impress Lee with his knowledge of how to work and fly Serenity, when she had started strangling his lap and kissing his neck. The next thing either of them knew, Lee’s panties were off and her skirt was hiked up to her thigh. The next thing either of them knew, Rex’s shirt was off and his zipper pants were nearly off.
Afterward, they stayed together on the bridge, Lee resting her head against Rex’s chest. They ignored the pain and pleasure they had felt a few moments earlier and they ignore the blood that was on their legs, clothing, and the chair. They had just done something wonderful, something for them both to remember always. At that moment, the only thing that had mattered was the two of them.
17. The Kiss (Matt Cobb and Derri Reynolds)
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me
You shook the bones of me
It wasn’t really supposed to happen. They weren’t like that. They were two highly intelligent, mature, adult friends. They were friends and it didn’t matter that they often got placed together because of default. They were friends and they enjoyed one another’s company. There were not supposed to be any romantic feelings involved.
And maybe there still weren’t.
Of course, that still didn’t explain what happened.
Oh, it had started off innocently enough. They were on a job on Highgate and they had both ended up at some dive of a bar, just waiting for an informant to arrive. One thing had led to another and before Matt or Derri could protest, they’d been given a free round of drinks. Then another free round and another and another and…
By the time the informant had come and gone, both Derri and Matt were completely and totally drunk. Very, very drunk. And that was when they got to talking.
“I…I jus’ don’ t’ink I’ll ever ever ever find anyone.” Derri sighed dramatically. “I was livin’ l’ke a nun on Shadow. Now? I’m l’ke a nun who punches people when they git fresh.” She curled herself deeper into the large and comfortable chair she was sitting on. “It ain’t fair.”
“Aw, now come on!” Matt leaned closer and hissed loudly. “Come on! It…you’re a purty girl. A real…have you seen you?” He whistled low. “A looker.”
“No!” Derri waved a dismissive hand. “No! Really? You t’ink I’m purty?”
Matt scoffed and ended up spraying a little spit on Derri’s cheek. “Forgit it, Der.” He pointed a finger at her. “You, my friend, are pretty purty. Even when you don’ know it. No, ‘specially when you don’ knows it.”
Derri’s eyes grew soft. “You’re…th-aw.” She put her hands over her heart. “An’ yer pretty, too. ‘Specially when you gits serious.”
Matt laughed softly and nodded. “So why ain’t we never sexed?” He wondered, more to himself then to her.
Derri shrugged. “I’m a virgin. I t’inks I gots morals.”
Matt thought about that. “How ‘bout gropin’?”
She shrugged and clumsily got out of her seat and ended up sitting nearly on top of Matt. Derri gave Matt a shy and unsure smile before he gave her a wet and sloppy kiss. Before long, his hands were on her back and her hands were in his hair. Before long, their tongues tasted each other.
The doctor and the oh so pure girl were groping in the middle of a dive on Highgate. They ended up falling asleep in one another’s arms.
The next morning, Rex came to collect them. There was an awkward tension between Matt and Derri, but both claimed not to know why. The only real witness to the kisses was the bar’s security camera and it wasn’t talking.
18. Jealously (Rayne Cobb and Shadow Reynolds/Rayne Cobb and The Reaver)
By the way I do know why you stayed away
I will keep tongue tied next time
The first time Shadow ever saw the Reaver he wanted to kill it. He wanted to kill the Reaver not only because it was a Reaver, but also because of the way Rayne lit up when she saw it. She lit up and she called it ‘her Reaver’. She let it touch her and she wasn’t scared to be beside it. It was enough to make Shadow wish they’d never gone to Paquin.
Of course, they had only gone to Paquin because of Rayne. She had gotten worse and couldn’t remember ninety percent of things that she should have known. According to Serra there were doctors on Paquin that could help Rayne. Little had they known that the Reaver would be there, trying to live like a man.
Shadow had carried Rayne-she had forgotten how to walk that day-and they had ended up in a blackout zone. The Reaver had been there and it and Rayne had looked so happy to see one another. They had smiled and the Reaver had reached out to touch Rayne. Shadow was sure he had never been more jealous of anything.
For some reason, a reason that Shadow knew was completely stupid, the Reaver and Rayne were allowed to ’catch up’-alone. For that whole hour, Shadow had to stop himself from busting down the door to Rayne’s room. He had to force himself to listen as the doctor explained that Rayne wasn’t getting her shots and that meant that parts of her brain were slowly shutting down. Her brain was different now and that meant that she needed the shots in order to function. The shots that happened to be in the government lab that she had been taken from a year before.
The doctors knew that they could keep Rayne alive for a little while, but that her brain would shut down within months. After that a plan was formed to get Rayne her shots. They’d go, all but Lee and Serra, who would stay with Rayne. After the plan was formed, Shadow went to see her.
Rayne was still with the Reaver.
*
“Shadow!” Rayne tried to smile, but she couldn’t really get her lips to do it. “She has…named…her Reaver. She has.” Rayne glanced over to where the Reaver was standing in a corner, just watching Rayne.
“Yeah?” He eyed the Reaver. “W’at you callin’ it?”
Rayne tried to sit up in her bed, but failed. “He is called Angel. He is her…” a look of confusion passed over her face. “she can’t remember the word.”
Shadow smiled at Rayne and sat himself next to her on the bed. “Doesn’ matter. Look, the docs say your sick an’ we got a way t’make ya better.” He glanced over at the Reaver, who was eyeing Rayne. “Uh, Serra an’ Lee are goin’ stay an’ we’re goin’ t’get w’at ya need, dong ma?”
“Shiny. May Angel sta-stay with her?”
“Um…yeah, sure, if that’s what you want.” Shadow leaned down and kissed Rayne’s forehead. He looked over at the Reaver. “It-he-can jus’ stay here ‘til we get back. After that…I’m sure he’s got a place t’be.”
The Reaver made a low growling noise in his throat. “With…her. Mine.”
Shadow shot the Reaver a look over Rayne’s head. “Somewhere that don’t involve comin’ with us.”
“Angel will go…he’ll…” Rayne reached up and touched Shadow’s arm. “home. Angel will go to his home.” She seemed to pause in thought for a moment. “Ki-kiss?”
Shadow obeyed and gave Rayne a little kiss on the lips. “We’ll be back…soon.”
*
They did not return soon; they did not return for nearly two months. When they did return, Jay, Matt, and Shadow were the first to enter Rayne’s room; Despite Serra and Lee telling them that they should wait.
Rayne was laying on her bed-not moving. Her body was full of fresh cuts and their was a small burn scar on her neck.
“It were the Reaver that done it.” Lee’s voice told them from the doorway. “He were real good an’ all for weeks. Bu’ last week…he jus’…he attacked an’ Rayne couldn’ do nothin’.” Lee sniffed sadly at the memory. “The docs found him on top of her an’…she never even made a sound. She was just cryin’. He…he was tryin’ t’make her l’ke him, I guess.”
“Where is It?” Jay questioned, his hands already on his guns. “Where?”
Lee didn’t answer for a moment, but then she took a deep breathe and answered: “Don’ know. We got it off an’ it jus’ ran. Somehow got out of the building an’ nobody’s seen It since.”
Matt nodded. “Wish we’d been here to kill it.” He sniffed, shook his head, and went straight to his medical kit. “’Nough about that then. We’ll deal with it later.” He took one of the shots out and stuck the needle into Rayne’s right arm; his sister did not even make a noise. Her dull eyes were just looking at Shadow.
Shadow moved past Matt and took Rayne’s hand in his. “It’ll take a while, bu’ in a bit she’ll be movin’ an’ ‘memberin’ an’ it’ll be alright.” He gently kissed her hand. “It’ll be alright. Gorram Reaver’s never goin’ touch ya again.”
In her mind, Rayne knew that Shadow was right. She just wished things had gone better with her Reaver-with her Angel. She should have never made a dream connection with him outside the labs. She should have never told him that if she were like him, she would have been able to be with him.