A Moment in Time - G
Title: A Moment in Time
Author: lvs2read
Pairing: Mal/Simon
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Owned by the almighty Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the folks at FOX (Grr Arrgh!) and Universal. I'm just having fun playing.
Author's Note: Written for the prompt 'type: gentle' at kissbingo. Thanks to itinerant-vae for the beta!
A Moment in Time
When Simon thinks about kissing Mal, which he does more than maybe he properly ought, he imagines rough, hard kisses tinged with the frustration that always seems to accompany any interaction between the two of them. Kisses that proclaim Mal's dominance over him in all respects. Kisses that leave him breathless with unfulfilled desire when Mal walks away without a backward glance.
Now that it's actually happening, though, it's nothing at all like that. Oh, he's definitely feeling more than a little breathless, but as his fingers curl in the soft cotton of Mal's shirt, there's no anger in the kiss - only a gentle insistence that he can't help but give in to as a swell of emotions tightens his chest.
He has no idea why Mal is kissing him, now of all times, but he has every intention of committing this moment to memory since there's a very real possibility it may never happen again. When he thinks about this kiss a year from now, a month from now, an hour from now, he wants to remember the touch of Mal's callused fingers on his face, holding him gently as he tilts his head and shifts closer to Mal. He wants to remember how soft and easy this feels, how all his worries of moments ago have disappeared - forgotten in this moment when there's nothing else in the 'verse but the two of them and this kiss. He wants to remember the warmth spreading through him, erasing the thought of just how cold it is out here in the black and replacing it with the idea that maybe, just maybe, this won't be a one time occurrence. Maybe, if he can discover Mal's reason for kissing him this time, he can get him to do it again in the future. Right now, though, he doesn't want to stop - or think. He wants to lose himself in this timeless moment, stop worrying about the past and let tomorrow take care of itself.
Except Mal is pulling away, and a soft sigh escapes Simon's lips as he does. He keeps his eyes closed for a moment, savoring the memory of what just happened, though his fingers slowly loosen their hold on Mal's shirt, automatically smoothing over it until he feels the leather of Mal's suspenders under them. When he opens his eyes, he focuses on his fingers and the small movements they're making along those same suspenders, hesitating to look up at Mal, afraid of what he might see when he does. Regret. Mockery. Contempt. They're all possibilities - ones that don't bear thinking of.
So, when Mal's fingers come under his chin to tip his head up, he complies with some reluctance. Relief floods through him when all he sees on his captain's face is Mal's usual sardonic smile and a hint of tenderness in Mal's eyes that he's only ever seen directed at Kaylee, or occasionally River. With hope growing in his heart, he opens his mouth to ask "Why?", but Mal's thumb is rubbing along his bottom lip and, really, explanations can wait. He smiles back at Mal, nips at his thumb as one hand drifts up to the nape of Mal's neck and the other curls around a suspender strap. Mal's hair slips through his fingers as he presses close and whispers, "Don't stop."
Author: lvs2read
Pairing: Mal/Simon
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Owned by the almighty Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the folks at FOX (Grr Arrgh!) and Universal. I'm just having fun playing.
Author's Note: Written for the prompt 'type: gentle' at kissbingo. Thanks to itinerant-vae for the beta!
A Moment in Time
When Simon thinks about kissing Mal, which he does more than maybe he properly ought, he imagines rough, hard kisses tinged with the frustration that always seems to accompany any interaction between the two of them. Kisses that proclaim Mal's dominance over him in all respects. Kisses that leave him breathless with unfulfilled desire when Mal walks away without a backward glance.
Now that it's actually happening, though, it's nothing at all like that. Oh, he's definitely feeling more than a little breathless, but as his fingers curl in the soft cotton of Mal's shirt, there's no anger in the kiss - only a gentle insistence that he can't help but give in to as a swell of emotions tightens his chest.
He has no idea why Mal is kissing him, now of all times, but he has every intention of committing this moment to memory since there's a very real possibility it may never happen again. When he thinks about this kiss a year from now, a month from now, an hour from now, he wants to remember the touch of Mal's callused fingers on his face, holding him gently as he tilts his head and shifts closer to Mal. He wants to remember how soft and easy this feels, how all his worries of moments ago have disappeared - forgotten in this moment when there's nothing else in the 'verse but the two of them and this kiss. He wants to remember the warmth spreading through him, erasing the thought of just how cold it is out here in the black and replacing it with the idea that maybe, just maybe, this won't be a one time occurrence. Maybe, if he can discover Mal's reason for kissing him this time, he can get him to do it again in the future. Right now, though, he doesn't want to stop - or think. He wants to lose himself in this timeless moment, stop worrying about the past and let tomorrow take care of itself.
Except Mal is pulling away, and a soft sigh escapes Simon's lips as he does. He keeps his eyes closed for a moment, savoring the memory of what just happened, though his fingers slowly loosen their hold on Mal's shirt, automatically smoothing over it until he feels the leather of Mal's suspenders under them. When he opens his eyes, he focuses on his fingers and the small movements they're making along those same suspenders, hesitating to look up at Mal, afraid of what he might see when he does. Regret. Mockery. Contempt. They're all possibilities - ones that don't bear thinking of.
So, when Mal's fingers come under his chin to tip his head up, he complies with some reluctance. Relief floods through him when all he sees on his captain's face is Mal's usual sardonic smile and a hint of tenderness in Mal's eyes that he's only ever seen directed at Kaylee, or occasionally River. With hope growing in his heart, he opens his mouth to ask "Why?", but Mal's thumb is rubbing along his bottom lip and, really, explanations can wait. He smiles back at Mal, nips at his thumb as one hand drifts up to the nape of Mal's neck and the other curls around a suspender strap. Mal's hair slips through his fingers as he presses close and whispers, "Don't stop."