Harlot Ch. 2
Title: Harlot (2/?)
Series: First Love
Author: Romanceguru
Disclaimer: Joss is boss, I am but a lowly subservient.
Rating:PG-13 (Dirty, dirty people)
Pairings: Jayne/River and all canon.
Summary: River has no idea, Jayne has not a clue, and the rest of the crew are gravely mistaken.
Notes: Post-Serenity, 9 months out. Ever so graciously betaed by elsibet34, twice. Reedited for my sanity.
Previous Chapter links: Prologue , Corporeal warnings Ch.1
River was dreaming of their home before Serenity. It was bright and sunny, yet cool, and she was running wild with Simon in the orchards. They stopped to pick honeysuckle, dropping the sweet nectar on their tongues and leaving a trail of white flowers whereever they went.
As her eyes fluttered open, the same saccharine smell from her dreams assaulted her senses. Curled up in the pilot’s chair, she remembered having retreated to the bridge after her dealings with Jayne. The cockpit was a safe haven, a place of comfort. Sometimes she felt more in tune with the black, with its vastness and isolation.
At the moment, she felt stiff from sleeping upright and her head throbbed dully from lack of sleep. A staunch rumble echoed in her belly making her aware that she hadn’t eaten much last night, or the whole previous day for that matter.
Deciding to investigate the aroma that drifted from the kitchen below, River verified the ship’s coordinates and scanned the cortex for any important information. Finding none, she flipped off the screen and stretched her rigid muscles, letting out a slight yawn before wandering sleepy through the hall.
Upon entering the dining room, she immediately felt Jayne’s presence. Her whole body tensed and there was that feeling yet again.
“Mornin’, moon brain.” Jayne chirped, a warm smile resting on his usually grim face.
It was as if their late night encounter had a transposed effect. As River stared at him curiously, her insides lurched and she nearly tripped over her own feet.
Taking the nearest seat, she plopped down and rested her cheek to the cool table, covering her head with her slender arms.
“Rough night, huh?” It was more of a statement than a question. “ Didn’t get much shut eye myself. It’s all right, though,” Jayne quickly amended. Casting blame wasn‘t the best way to win a person over.
There was some clacking around a bit before River heard the clang of a bowl being set right next to her ear. “Here. Made you some grub.” Subsequently, she heard the chair opposite to her being pulled out and occupied.
River slowly raised her head, looking at Jayne and then to the food steaming in front of her. It did look quite delicious, but something didn’t feel right. She watched wearily as the big lug brought a heaping spoonful to his mouth and gulped it down swiftly. He then gave her a loopy grin. “Well, ain’t ya hungry?”
Looking again cautiously at her own bowl, she wondered if this was it? The Jayne she knew would never make her breakfast, let alone serve it to her himself.
It was decided. It must be poisoned.
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Jayne was a little disappointed when River up and left the table, food untouched. He was sure this kindness would ease the tension between them.
Shrugging his large shoulders, he tried to push the feeling aside as he grabbed for her bowl. Oh well, more for me, he reasoned. Didn’t know why he cared so much anyhow, she was just a hú tu girl.
Just then, Mal walked into the mess, whistling some happy tune. Jayne rolled his eyes. Least somebody’s had a full night's rest.
“Mmm… Somethin’ smells eatable.” Mal exclaimed as he walked over and peered into the pot resting on the stove. “I think I’ve died and gone to Hades. Jayne, you cooked? Can’t remember that last time you volunteered your domestic services.”
Jayne just grumbled, not looking up. Much as he tried not to, he was still thinking on River’s somber mood. Now he had one as well. Seemed to be catching.
As he ignored Mal and continued to shove grub down his gullet, the rest of the crew trickled in like pigs to a trough.
Zoë maneuvered Wash’s wheelchair down the newly installed ramp, followed by Inara. The two women were busy chatting away about some girlish nonsense.
Simon, following behind Kaylee, exclaimed aloud, “I was going to skip breakfast this morning, but something smelled delectable.” Grabbing a bowl, he moved in line with the others.
Mal, still in disbelief, looked up from a spoon and made the announcement. “Jayne cooked.”
“You feeling alright, Jayne?” Zoë remarked playfully. Jayne just shot a sarcastic smirk in her direction.
“Well, whatever is wrong, I hope there is no cure in sight.” Wash added as he eagerly eyed the bowl Zoë had just set in front of him.
“Golly, Jayne. That’s mighty sweet of ya, fixin’ us all something good.” Kaylee tuned.
That did it! Sweet? Before anybody else had a chance to chime in, Jayne slammed his heavy boot down onto the floor, causing the table to rattle some. “Enough already! I ain’t sweet. Was just hungry, is all. Seein’ as you huan lan méng take forever ta find yer way ‘round the kitchen, thought I’d take a ruttin' stab at it. And, I ain’t sweet!”
Jayne crashed the two empty bowls he was carrying into the sink, and stomped off down the corridor.
Inara stared after Jayne curiously before turning back to the startled group. “I think I might have some clue as to what may be ailing Jayne. He seems ill all right, but just not in the way you would think.”
“What do ya mean, he’s sick Inara? May it be, he caught one of them flesh eatin’ things?” Kaylee offered, her eyes wide with concern. Turning, she looked pleadingly at her man. “Is Jayne gonna be okay, Simon?”
Simon looked from Kaylee and held Inara’s gaze as a realization crept across his face. Catching on, Simon nodded in understanding. “Love Struck.”
“Well, not exactly. I wouldn‘t go as far to say…” Inara began before she was cut off by the captain.
“The big ape in love!” Mal bellowed incredulously. “Highly unlikely. Ain’t nobody that man adores more than himself. That is, if we ain’t including Vera. ‘Cept, I haven’t seen him canoodling that fine piece of weaponry in quite sometime.”
“Maybe one of the lady whores caught his fancy on our last visit to Three Hills?” Piped Wash. “Nothing like a vessel of venereal diseases that just screams everlasting love.”
Zoë just looked at her husband and said slowly, “You never cease to amaze me with all of your romantic notions.”
“Thanks, sweetkins.” Wash shrugged and smiled at Kaylee who was giggling. “Things of such just come natural for me. I‘ll have you know my flight name used to be Heartbreaker Hoban.”
Leaning down, Zoe wrapped her arms around her husband and grinned into his ear, “Yes, I knew you were a charmer the first time I laid eyes on you. The loud Hawaiian shirt, the lip fur, were all but a ruse, weren’t it darling?”
“There is no fooling the trained, deadly killer that is my wife.” Wash grinned like a boy who had just been awarded a gold star as Zoë kissed his cheek.
“Okay, Okay! Enough of the verbal fellating ‘fore my ears bleed!” Mal interrupted. “Whatever is goin’ on, I’m thinkin’ I’d better have myself a little talk with lady Jayne. Can’t afford to have him goin’ all soft on me. Likely one, or all of us be payin’ for it later. With River actin’ a mite off her game, I won’t be takin’ me no chances.”
Inara looked up suddenly at this last utterance. Mal turned to head in the direction the big merc had trudged off in earlier, before they had all concluded that Jayne had fallen love struck with some border world harlot.
TBC.
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hú tu - muddled; silly
huan lan méng - Slow lazy people
Next CH: Psyche
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