Moonbeams & Sunshine - part two
Title: Moonbeams & Sunshine
Author: Ru_salki99
Rating: nc-17
Pairing: Jayne/Zoe
Disclaimer: Firefly belongs to Joss.
Author's notes: Written in response to fandom_fairytls prompt #3 Donkeyskin
Summary: Post BDM - "Your first love is not always your truest love."
Jayne didn’t appear out of his bunk until after lunch and was immediately greeted by Kaylee who was coming out of hers.
“Hey,” she said, a small smile, “How you feelin?”
“Like I went twelve rounds with a reaver and lost,” he said, “Didn’t really sleep well last night.”
Kaylee nodded before stepping forward and giving him a hug, “You need anythin, you just holler okay. From me or Simon.”
Jayne nodded, “Thanks Kaylee,” he said, giving her shoulders one last squeeze before making his way to the galley to get some coffee.
Inara and Mal were sitting in there, Mal sitting with embroidery thread wrapped around both his hands as Inara untangled the scraps that were in her box.
“Hey Nara,” Jayne said, bending down to give her a small hug, “I hear a congratulations is in order.”
“Thank you Jayne,” Inara said with a soft smile, “I only wish that our news came at a better time.”
“No, no, it’s a good thing,” he said going over to the stove and making up a fresh pot of coffee, “I just hope it takes after you and not Mal here. Don’t need the kid to get picked on for bein ugly now do we?” he added with a smile.
Inara smiled back, Mal rolling his eyes.
“Mal, did uh, did Zoe talk to you about taking the shuttle?” Jayne asked as he waited for the water to boil.
“Yeah she did. It should be fine,” he nodded, “Was actually thinkin that it would be better if you took Inara’s old shuttle,” he added just as Zoe came in to the galley with her guns and cleaning things.
Jayne frowned in confusion, “Why?” he asked, “What’s wrong with the other one?”
“Nothin it’s just… I know what it can be like. Everyone grievin and expectin you to make it all better. Sometimes you need a break from it all. Plus, I wasn’t sure your Ma had the room, so it’s somewhere for Zoe to sleep.”
“Oh, right. Well thanks,” Jayne said, pouring the now brewed coffee, “Anyone else want a cup?”
“I’ll take one thanks,” Zoe said.
“Yeah me too,” Mal said.
“I’m fine thank you Jayne,” Inara said, taking the thread off of Mal’s hands.
“So,” Jayne said as he came over, “You guys got any names picked out yet?”
Mal huffed, “No, none that we can agree on.”
“Jayne’s a mighty fine name,” Jayne said, “It made me the man I am today. And don’t tell no one I said it, but it’d be good for a girl too.”
Mal smiled, “Wouldn’t you be wantin to call your own kin after yourself?”
Jayne snorted slightly, “Need to find myself a woman first.”
Zoe tilted her head slightly, watching Jayne. Although he had snorted in amusement, at the mention of him possibly having children a look of utter sadness came over him, knowing that being the age he was, it was unlikely that he would ever find anyone to love him.
“Here, give me that,” Jayne said, taking her pistol off of her and began dismantling it.
“I do know how to take care of my guns Jayne,” she said with a soft smile.
“Yeah, but I like doin it,” he told her as he placed all the parts out in front of him.
As Mal held his hands back up for Inara to start untangling another ball of thread, he couldn’t help but notice the way his better half was watching both Zoe and Jayne. She obviously had somethin on her mind, somethin about Jayne possibly finding himself a woman. Inara looked up at him and smiled, knowing that he was thinking the same thing she was.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Jayne,” Mal called as the big man gathered his guns to put back in his bunk.
“Yeah?” Jayne called.
“You don’t got to do your shift on the bridge tonight if you don’t wanna. I can cover for you.”
Jayne gave a small smile of gratitude, “Thanks Mal. But I’d rather just keep to a normal routine, if’n it’s all the same to you.”
“Yeah, sure. Just thought you might be tired is all,” Mal told him.
“I’ll be alright,” Jayne told him and whoever else was listening. And they knew by his tone that he wasn’t just talking about his shift, but himself in general.
Silently, he made his way up the hallway, swiftly climbing down into his bunk to deposit his girls before making his way back up and onto the bridge.
“Right then Little Lady,” he said to River, “Shift’s over. Go do whatever it is you women folk do.”
River swivelled in her chair as she smiled up at him. Getting off her feet she pulled him into a tight hug. She didn’t say anything, she didn’t need to. Jayne knew what she was trying to say, after all, he believed more in the saying ‘actions speak louder than words’ than anyone else.
“Okay, go on,” he said patting her shoulder, “Get out of here, before someone sees me getting all soft.”
River smiled again, “I’ll get someone to bring you a coffee,” she told him just before he yawned.
“Thanks,” he said, slumping down into her vacated chair.
He looked down to the book he’d brought with him from his bunk. Mattie had sent him it for his birthday that year, said it had helped him realise what was missing from his life and that maybe it would help Jayne too. He’d only read half of it before giving up. It was all about finding that special someone to share your life with and out in the black, well there really wasn’t much chance of that and the book only made him depressed. But now, as he contemplated opening it again, he realised that although Mattie had died, his life brutally taken from him, he’d been happy.
“River said you might be needing this.”
Jayne snapped his head up from the book to see Zoe coming in with a mug of coffee for him, sitting in the co-pilot’s chair with one of her own.
“Thanks,” he said, sipping at it before putting it back down.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither of them feeling the need to fill the silence with meaningless words. But after a while, Jayne had to get something off his chest.
“You don’t have to do this you know,” he said.
“Do what?” Zoe asked curiously.
“Sit with me, keep me company, come back to Richmond with me. You don’t got to do it.”
“Oh I’m well aware of that,” she said with soft smile.
“Then why are you doin it?” he asked.
“Everybody needs someone to lean on,” she said, “Even the biggest and meanest of us occasionally need a friend there to hold their hand, get them through the hard times.”
Jayne didn’t say anything to that, instead picking up his coffee and drinking some more of it, thankful for her silent support. He wasn’t sure what he’d have done this past day if she hadn’t been there for him. He would probably be completely lost.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The crew of Serenity had never seen the like of it before.
As they loaded the cargo onto the ship, they were all completely taken aback by the speed and proficiency that Jayne was using. Sure he was a good worker most of the time, but this was bordering on obsessive compulsive. All of the crates were neatly stacked to one side of the bay, secured tightly in place with the harness, all before Mal had finished talking with the man who they were collecting the crates from.
Everyone had helped a little bit, but Jayne had taken charge, leaving very little for the rest of them to do. And so they just stood in watch.
“Cargo’s secure,” Jayne said from the top of the ramp.
Mal turned round, raising an eyebrow slightly in surprise. As he turned back round, he wasn’t the least bit surprised to come face to face with a gun. It wouldn’t be them if they didn’t run in to a little danger, but what he was surprised with was the bullet coming from behind him and landing squarely between their contact’s eyes.
“Y’all better start runnin!” Jayne shouted to the three men that were left, “Cause I got a mighty unsteady finger. Wouldn’t want to accidentally shoot no one now would I?”
The men quickly gathered their things and ran off, leaving everyone to look at Jayne in stunned silence.
“I’ve lost enough family this week,” he said as way of explanation to them all before heading back inside.
“Right well, let’s get these good back to Beaumonde so we can head to Sihnon,” Mal said, kicking the dead man’s body down the ramp and onto the dirt before following the rest of his crew inside.
Since they had actually come from the other side of the verse to pick up these goods, it didn’t take them long at all to reach Beaumonde. They were there by the early evening, Jayne setting about unloading the cargo instead of going off to get drunk like he usually would.
Since shooting that guy earlier that morning, he’d kept himself to himself. He didn’t hide away from them all, but he didn’t seek them out either, working out in the cargo bay by himself, cleaning his guns in his bunk and generally keeping away from the rest of them, even at meal times. For some reason, today was just hitting him harder.
“Come on,” Kaylee said, grabbing his arm when the cargo was all gone and they had all been paid, “Me and Simon are goin to grab something to eat. I think River’s goin to tag along too.”
“Thanks mei mei, but I’d rather just be on my own if’n it’s all the same.”
Kaylee gave him a soft smile, “You sure?” she asked to which Jayne nodded, “Okay. Just don’t do anythin I wouldn’t do.”
Jayne gave her a smile and watched her go, holding on tight to Simon’s hand as they followed River down the ramp. He could see Zoe talking to Mal and Inara on the catwalk above and decided it was now or never.
“I’m off out,” he shouted up to them.
“You got three hours,” Mal told him, leaving out the usual ‘don’t get into any trouble’ spiel.
“Shiny,” Jayne said, marching down the ramp and heading to one of his favourite bars here, Dock 25.
Because it was right on the docks, it was full of travellers and space pirates like himself. The only regular folk there were those that worked there. Other than them, he’d never seen the same face in there twice. And that’s the way he wanted it tonight.
When he stepped inside, he went to the bar and bought himself a bottle of wēi shì jì and sat himself down at a table in the corner. He drank it in quick succession, downing the shot before pouring another and another and another. When he was on his eighth, he noticed out the corner of his eye that some Ji nu was eyeing him up.
He watched her carefully as he sipped at his alcohol. He wasn’t sure if he was in the mood for that type of thing tonight. But he had the money and perhaps that was exactly what he needed. And so, he didn’t object when she sidled over to him and sat down on his knee.
Jayne put his hands on her hips as she straddled his thighs and began kissing at his neck. He let his head fall back and let himself get lost in the sensation of lips on skin. Except as her mouth floated across his face towards his mouth, he pulled his head away and grabbed her jaw to stop her from kissing him.
“I don’t kiss whores,” he said.
The whore scowled at him before slapping him hard.
“Qingwa cào de liúmáng!” he said, throwing her off him.
“There a problem here?” some guy asked as he came to stand next to her.
“That tā māde niǎo zázhǒng just called me a whore.”
The man turned on Jayne, “You called my sister a whore?” he asked.
“Ain’t she?” Jayne asked with a confused frown, which was apparently the wrong thing to say as he ended up with a fist in his face.
Jayne immediately reacted on reflex, grabbing his bottle of wēi shì jì and smashing it over the guy’s head. And of course, that’s when all hell broke loose. The entire bar erupted, an all out brawl starting between them. One of the whore’s other brothers (or at least he assumed he was) stepped forward and head butted Jayne, making him stumble back and fall over a chair. But just as he was about to kick out and bring this new player to the ground, he fell down next to him with a loud thud.
“Jayne,” Zoe nodded, holding her mare’s leg in her hands, before shooting it at the ceiling and making everyone freeze, “I think we best get you back to the ship,” she added, helping Jayne to his feet.
Jayne wasn’t very happy about getting ‘rescued’. He’d just wanted a quiet drink on his own without worrying about what the others might be thinking.
“Why did you follow me?” he asked as Zoe led him back to the ship, “Just wanted to be on my own.”
“I didn’t follow you,” she said, “I was heading towards the gun shop, when I heard the brawl break out. I knew it was your favourite bar and so I figured you’d be in there.”
“Didn’t have to come rescue me like some girl though.”
“I figured you wouldn’t want to have to explain to your Momma why you have bruises all over your face and knuckles,” she explained, “Looks like you’ll have to explain anyway.”
Jayne sighed, knowing she was right, “I’m sorry,” he said, “I just…”
“I know,” Zoe said, giving his arm a squeeze, “Now come on and I’ll get you cleaned up.”
She led him up the ramp, through the cargo bay and into the infirmary where she got him to sit up on the bed while she pulled out all the equipment she needed. He wasn’t cut very badly. The skin had broken open on the bridge of his nose where he’d been head butted, but it was nothing serious. Quickly she cleaned it up before putting a band aid on it and then found an ice pack and placed it against his jaw.
“How are your hands?” she asked.
“Fine. Didn’t throw any punches.”
Zoe nodded, still holding the ice pack to his face as she stroked the hair back from his forehead, “You could do with a hair cut before you go home.”
“Probably,” he said, looking straight into her deep brown eyes, “I should probably ask Inara if she’s feelin up to it.”
“Well if she ain’t, I could do it,” she offered, her breathing becoming deeper as their gazes locked.
The air around them became thicker, both of them struggling to breath as Jayne rested his big hands on Zoe’s hips, while Zoe continued to lazily stroke his hair.
“What happened?”
Both of them practically jumped across the room away from each other as Simon came into the infirmary.
“The usual,” Jayne said, picking up the ice pack that Zoe had dropped and putting it back on his face.
Simon rolled his eyes as he went over to the worktop, Zoe moving out of his way as he did so to stand against the counter opposite Jayne.
“You want a smoother?” he asked.
“I just had about half a bottle of whisky,” Jayne told him, “Don’t think it’ll be a good idea. Maybe in the morning though.”
Simon nodded, “Okay, well just let me know if you need one. You know where to find me.”
“Will do,” Jayne said, jumping down off the bed before leaving the infirmary.
When he was gone Simon turned to Zoe, “Was I interrupting something?” he asked her.
“I honestly have no idea,” she said before leaving the infirmary herself.
Simon narrowed his eyes as she went, wondering if Kaylee had any idea of just what the hell was going on here.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, as was her usual, Zoe tied up her hair, making herself look as presentable as was possible before making her way up to the galley. And just like the other day, Jayne was the only one there.
He was sitting at the table, half heartedly eating at some cereal, “Ain’t got any eggs today I’m afraid,” he said when he looked up at her, the bruise on his cheek standing out in the bright white light coming from overhead.
“That’s fine,” she said, “It wouldn’t be a treat if we had them everyday anyways.”
Jayne nodded going back to his breakfast as Zoe went to get her own. When she sat down opposite him, he was staring down at the table top, completely lost in a dream.
“Jayne?” she asked softly.
“Yeah?” he asked looking up at her.
“You don’t gotta be nervous about goin home,” she told him.
Jayne sighed, “I ain’t been home in over six years,” he said, “I mean, I ain’t even met one of my brothers in law let alone all my nieces and nephews. And well, I never liked bein there at the best of times. It’s why I left in the first place. Goin back for somethin like this… it just feels weird.”
Zoe nodded, “I can imagine,” she said. And she could. There was a good reason why she had left her family back when she was a teenager. It would be extremely uncomfortable for her if she went back now, “You still don’t gotta worry though. Your family love you and will just be happy to have you there. And even then, I’ll be there. You won’t be on your own.”
Jayne gave her a small smile, “I really appreciate it too Zo,” he said.
Zoe studied him for a moment as he continued to eat, “You want me to give you that hair cut before we leave?”
“If it’s alright?” he asked.
“Wouldn’t have offered otherwise,” Zoe said with a smile.
“Thanks,” he said with a nod before leaning forward, “You think my Ma will believe me if I told her I walked into a door?” he asked.
Zoe grinned, “Perhaps. Doesn’t hurt to try though right?”
TBC
CHINESE
Mei mei - little sister
wēi shì jì - whiskey
Ji nu - whore
Qingwa cào de liúmáng - frog humping son of a bitch
Tā māde niǎo zázhǒng - Goddamned half breed
Author: Ru_salki99
Rating: nc-17
Pairing: Jayne/Zoe
Disclaimer: Firefly belongs to Joss.
Author's notes: Written in response to fandom_fairytls prompt #3 Donkeyskin
Summary: Post BDM - "Your first love is not always your truest love."
Jayne didn’t appear out of his bunk until after lunch and was immediately greeted by Kaylee who was coming out of hers.
“Hey,” she said, a small smile, “How you feelin?”
“Like I went twelve rounds with a reaver and lost,” he said, “Didn’t really sleep well last night.”
Kaylee nodded before stepping forward and giving him a hug, “You need anythin, you just holler okay. From me or Simon.”
Jayne nodded, “Thanks Kaylee,” he said, giving her shoulders one last squeeze before making his way to the galley to get some coffee.
Inara and Mal were sitting in there, Mal sitting with embroidery thread wrapped around both his hands as Inara untangled the scraps that were in her box.
“Hey Nara,” Jayne said, bending down to give her a small hug, “I hear a congratulations is in order.”
“Thank you Jayne,” Inara said with a soft smile, “I only wish that our news came at a better time.”
“No, no, it’s a good thing,” he said going over to the stove and making up a fresh pot of coffee, “I just hope it takes after you and not Mal here. Don’t need the kid to get picked on for bein ugly now do we?” he added with a smile.
Inara smiled back, Mal rolling his eyes.
“Mal, did uh, did Zoe talk to you about taking the shuttle?” Jayne asked as he waited for the water to boil.
“Yeah she did. It should be fine,” he nodded, “Was actually thinkin that it would be better if you took Inara’s old shuttle,” he added just as Zoe came in to the galley with her guns and cleaning things.
Jayne frowned in confusion, “Why?” he asked, “What’s wrong with the other one?”
“Nothin it’s just… I know what it can be like. Everyone grievin and expectin you to make it all better. Sometimes you need a break from it all. Plus, I wasn’t sure your Ma had the room, so it’s somewhere for Zoe to sleep.”
“Oh, right. Well thanks,” Jayne said, pouring the now brewed coffee, “Anyone else want a cup?”
“I’ll take one thanks,” Zoe said.
“Yeah me too,” Mal said.
“I’m fine thank you Jayne,” Inara said, taking the thread off of Mal’s hands.
“So,” Jayne said as he came over, “You guys got any names picked out yet?”
Mal huffed, “No, none that we can agree on.”
“Jayne’s a mighty fine name,” Jayne said, “It made me the man I am today. And don’t tell no one I said it, but it’d be good for a girl too.”
Mal smiled, “Wouldn’t you be wantin to call your own kin after yourself?”
Jayne snorted slightly, “Need to find myself a woman first.”
Zoe tilted her head slightly, watching Jayne. Although he had snorted in amusement, at the mention of him possibly having children a look of utter sadness came over him, knowing that being the age he was, it was unlikely that he would ever find anyone to love him.
“Here, give me that,” Jayne said, taking her pistol off of her and began dismantling it.
“I do know how to take care of my guns Jayne,” she said with a soft smile.
“Yeah, but I like doin it,” he told her as he placed all the parts out in front of him.
As Mal held his hands back up for Inara to start untangling another ball of thread, he couldn’t help but notice the way his better half was watching both Zoe and Jayne. She obviously had somethin on her mind, somethin about Jayne possibly finding himself a woman. Inara looked up at him and smiled, knowing that he was thinking the same thing she was.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Jayne,” Mal called as the big man gathered his guns to put back in his bunk.
“Yeah?” Jayne called.
“You don’t got to do your shift on the bridge tonight if you don’t wanna. I can cover for you.”
Jayne gave a small smile of gratitude, “Thanks Mal. But I’d rather just keep to a normal routine, if’n it’s all the same to you.”
“Yeah, sure. Just thought you might be tired is all,” Mal told him.
“I’ll be alright,” Jayne told him and whoever else was listening. And they knew by his tone that he wasn’t just talking about his shift, but himself in general.
Silently, he made his way up the hallway, swiftly climbing down into his bunk to deposit his girls before making his way back up and onto the bridge.
“Right then Little Lady,” he said to River, “Shift’s over. Go do whatever it is you women folk do.”
River swivelled in her chair as she smiled up at him. Getting off her feet she pulled him into a tight hug. She didn’t say anything, she didn’t need to. Jayne knew what she was trying to say, after all, he believed more in the saying ‘actions speak louder than words’ than anyone else.
“Okay, go on,” he said patting her shoulder, “Get out of here, before someone sees me getting all soft.”
River smiled again, “I’ll get someone to bring you a coffee,” she told him just before he yawned.
“Thanks,” he said, slumping down into her vacated chair.
He looked down to the book he’d brought with him from his bunk. Mattie had sent him it for his birthday that year, said it had helped him realise what was missing from his life and that maybe it would help Jayne too. He’d only read half of it before giving up. It was all about finding that special someone to share your life with and out in the black, well there really wasn’t much chance of that and the book only made him depressed. But now, as he contemplated opening it again, he realised that although Mattie had died, his life brutally taken from him, he’d been happy.
“River said you might be needing this.”
Jayne snapped his head up from the book to see Zoe coming in with a mug of coffee for him, sitting in the co-pilot’s chair with one of her own.
“Thanks,” he said, sipping at it before putting it back down.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither of them feeling the need to fill the silence with meaningless words. But after a while, Jayne had to get something off his chest.
“You don’t have to do this you know,” he said.
“Do what?” Zoe asked curiously.
“Sit with me, keep me company, come back to Richmond with me. You don’t got to do it.”
“Oh I’m well aware of that,” she said with soft smile.
“Then why are you doin it?” he asked.
“Everybody needs someone to lean on,” she said, “Even the biggest and meanest of us occasionally need a friend there to hold their hand, get them through the hard times.”
Jayne didn’t say anything to that, instead picking up his coffee and drinking some more of it, thankful for her silent support. He wasn’t sure what he’d have done this past day if she hadn’t been there for him. He would probably be completely lost.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The crew of Serenity had never seen the like of it before.
As they loaded the cargo onto the ship, they were all completely taken aback by the speed and proficiency that Jayne was using. Sure he was a good worker most of the time, but this was bordering on obsessive compulsive. All of the crates were neatly stacked to one side of the bay, secured tightly in place with the harness, all before Mal had finished talking with the man who they were collecting the crates from.
Everyone had helped a little bit, but Jayne had taken charge, leaving very little for the rest of them to do. And so they just stood in watch.
“Cargo’s secure,” Jayne said from the top of the ramp.
Mal turned round, raising an eyebrow slightly in surprise. As he turned back round, he wasn’t the least bit surprised to come face to face with a gun. It wouldn’t be them if they didn’t run in to a little danger, but what he was surprised with was the bullet coming from behind him and landing squarely between their contact’s eyes.
“Y’all better start runnin!” Jayne shouted to the three men that were left, “Cause I got a mighty unsteady finger. Wouldn’t want to accidentally shoot no one now would I?”
The men quickly gathered their things and ran off, leaving everyone to look at Jayne in stunned silence.
“I’ve lost enough family this week,” he said as way of explanation to them all before heading back inside.
“Right well, let’s get these good back to Beaumonde so we can head to Sihnon,” Mal said, kicking the dead man’s body down the ramp and onto the dirt before following the rest of his crew inside.
Since they had actually come from the other side of the verse to pick up these goods, it didn’t take them long at all to reach Beaumonde. They were there by the early evening, Jayne setting about unloading the cargo instead of going off to get drunk like he usually would.
Since shooting that guy earlier that morning, he’d kept himself to himself. He didn’t hide away from them all, but he didn’t seek them out either, working out in the cargo bay by himself, cleaning his guns in his bunk and generally keeping away from the rest of them, even at meal times. For some reason, today was just hitting him harder.
“Come on,” Kaylee said, grabbing his arm when the cargo was all gone and they had all been paid, “Me and Simon are goin to grab something to eat. I think River’s goin to tag along too.”
“Thanks mei mei, but I’d rather just be on my own if’n it’s all the same.”
Kaylee gave him a soft smile, “You sure?” she asked to which Jayne nodded, “Okay. Just don’t do anythin I wouldn’t do.”
Jayne gave her a smile and watched her go, holding on tight to Simon’s hand as they followed River down the ramp. He could see Zoe talking to Mal and Inara on the catwalk above and decided it was now or never.
“I’m off out,” he shouted up to them.
“You got three hours,” Mal told him, leaving out the usual ‘don’t get into any trouble’ spiel.
“Shiny,” Jayne said, marching down the ramp and heading to one of his favourite bars here, Dock 25.
Because it was right on the docks, it was full of travellers and space pirates like himself. The only regular folk there were those that worked there. Other than them, he’d never seen the same face in there twice. And that’s the way he wanted it tonight.
When he stepped inside, he went to the bar and bought himself a bottle of wēi shì jì and sat himself down at a table in the corner. He drank it in quick succession, downing the shot before pouring another and another and another. When he was on his eighth, he noticed out the corner of his eye that some Ji nu was eyeing him up.
He watched her carefully as he sipped at his alcohol. He wasn’t sure if he was in the mood for that type of thing tonight. But he had the money and perhaps that was exactly what he needed. And so, he didn’t object when she sidled over to him and sat down on his knee.
Jayne put his hands on her hips as she straddled his thighs and began kissing at his neck. He let his head fall back and let himself get lost in the sensation of lips on skin. Except as her mouth floated across his face towards his mouth, he pulled his head away and grabbed her jaw to stop her from kissing him.
“I don’t kiss whores,” he said.
The whore scowled at him before slapping him hard.
“Qingwa cào de liúmáng!” he said, throwing her off him.
“There a problem here?” some guy asked as he came to stand next to her.
“That tā māde niǎo zázhǒng just called me a whore.”
The man turned on Jayne, “You called my sister a whore?” he asked.
“Ain’t she?” Jayne asked with a confused frown, which was apparently the wrong thing to say as he ended up with a fist in his face.
Jayne immediately reacted on reflex, grabbing his bottle of wēi shì jì and smashing it over the guy’s head. And of course, that’s when all hell broke loose. The entire bar erupted, an all out brawl starting between them. One of the whore’s other brothers (or at least he assumed he was) stepped forward and head butted Jayne, making him stumble back and fall over a chair. But just as he was about to kick out and bring this new player to the ground, he fell down next to him with a loud thud.
“Jayne,” Zoe nodded, holding her mare’s leg in her hands, before shooting it at the ceiling and making everyone freeze, “I think we best get you back to the ship,” she added, helping Jayne to his feet.
Jayne wasn’t very happy about getting ‘rescued’. He’d just wanted a quiet drink on his own without worrying about what the others might be thinking.
“Why did you follow me?” he asked as Zoe led him back to the ship, “Just wanted to be on my own.”
“I didn’t follow you,” she said, “I was heading towards the gun shop, when I heard the brawl break out. I knew it was your favourite bar and so I figured you’d be in there.”
“Didn’t have to come rescue me like some girl though.”
“I figured you wouldn’t want to have to explain to your Momma why you have bruises all over your face and knuckles,” she explained, “Looks like you’ll have to explain anyway.”
Jayne sighed, knowing she was right, “I’m sorry,” he said, “I just…”
“I know,” Zoe said, giving his arm a squeeze, “Now come on and I’ll get you cleaned up.”
She led him up the ramp, through the cargo bay and into the infirmary where she got him to sit up on the bed while she pulled out all the equipment she needed. He wasn’t cut very badly. The skin had broken open on the bridge of his nose where he’d been head butted, but it was nothing serious. Quickly she cleaned it up before putting a band aid on it and then found an ice pack and placed it against his jaw.
“How are your hands?” she asked.
“Fine. Didn’t throw any punches.”
Zoe nodded, still holding the ice pack to his face as she stroked the hair back from his forehead, “You could do with a hair cut before you go home.”
“Probably,” he said, looking straight into her deep brown eyes, “I should probably ask Inara if she’s feelin up to it.”
“Well if she ain’t, I could do it,” she offered, her breathing becoming deeper as their gazes locked.
The air around them became thicker, both of them struggling to breath as Jayne rested his big hands on Zoe’s hips, while Zoe continued to lazily stroke his hair.
“What happened?”
Both of them practically jumped across the room away from each other as Simon came into the infirmary.
“The usual,” Jayne said, picking up the ice pack that Zoe had dropped and putting it back on his face.
Simon rolled his eyes as he went over to the worktop, Zoe moving out of his way as he did so to stand against the counter opposite Jayne.
“You want a smoother?” he asked.
“I just had about half a bottle of whisky,” Jayne told him, “Don’t think it’ll be a good idea. Maybe in the morning though.”
Simon nodded, “Okay, well just let me know if you need one. You know where to find me.”
“Will do,” Jayne said, jumping down off the bed before leaving the infirmary.
When he was gone Simon turned to Zoe, “Was I interrupting something?” he asked her.
“I honestly have no idea,” she said before leaving the infirmary herself.
Simon narrowed his eyes as she went, wondering if Kaylee had any idea of just what the hell was going on here.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, as was her usual, Zoe tied up her hair, making herself look as presentable as was possible before making her way up to the galley. And just like the other day, Jayne was the only one there.
He was sitting at the table, half heartedly eating at some cereal, “Ain’t got any eggs today I’m afraid,” he said when he looked up at her, the bruise on his cheek standing out in the bright white light coming from overhead.
“That’s fine,” she said, “It wouldn’t be a treat if we had them everyday anyways.”
Jayne nodded going back to his breakfast as Zoe went to get her own. When she sat down opposite him, he was staring down at the table top, completely lost in a dream.
“Jayne?” she asked softly.
“Yeah?” he asked looking up at her.
“You don’t gotta be nervous about goin home,” she told him.
Jayne sighed, “I ain’t been home in over six years,” he said, “I mean, I ain’t even met one of my brothers in law let alone all my nieces and nephews. And well, I never liked bein there at the best of times. It’s why I left in the first place. Goin back for somethin like this… it just feels weird.”
Zoe nodded, “I can imagine,” she said. And she could. There was a good reason why she had left her family back when she was a teenager. It would be extremely uncomfortable for her if she went back now, “You still don’t gotta worry though. Your family love you and will just be happy to have you there. And even then, I’ll be there. You won’t be on your own.”
Jayne gave her a small smile, “I really appreciate it too Zo,” he said.
Zoe studied him for a moment as he continued to eat, “You want me to give you that hair cut before we leave?”
“If it’s alright?” he asked.
“Wouldn’t have offered otherwise,” Zoe said with a smile.
“Thanks,” he said with a nod before leaning forward, “You think my Ma will believe me if I told her I walked into a door?” he asked.
Zoe grinned, “Perhaps. Doesn’t hurt to try though right?”
TBC
CHINESE
Mei mei - little sister
wēi shì jì - whiskey
Ji nu - whore
Qingwa cào de liúmáng - frog humping son of a bitch
Tā māde niǎo zázhǒng - Goddamned half breed