The Bar - August 8
Title: The Bar
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG-13/FR18/T
Crossover: BtVS/Firefly
Pairings: Faith/Jayne
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Serenity/Firefly people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: A guy walks into a bar.
Notes: This is an anniversary story written for my husband. As far as Faith... just go with she is the last Slayer Called and she lives forever.
Seasons: Post Series (by few hundred years)/Any Time after “Ariel”
Word Count: 814
The bar was clean. The owner had a strict non-smoking policy since her children - who worked there - all had a form of asthma. So there were no gazes locking across a dimly lit smoky room. What there was were worn dark wooden floors, deep green walls and booths and seat upholstery, light oak tables and chairs, and a beautifully polished oak bar. It was a diamond in the rough out on the Rim.
Faith sat at the bar dressed completely in black. She loved the burn of alcohol as it slid down her throat.
“Another,” she ordered the barman.
“I’m willing but you’re not going to feel too good in the morning.”
“But I’ll live,” she told him. “So just keep ‘em coming until I fall off this stool.”
The bartender gave her a quick smile. “And what am I supposed to do when you hit the floor?”
“Ya put her back on and keep pourin’,” a deep voice said from behind her.
Faith turned and looked up at the giant. He was nearly a foot taller than her 5’5”. He was broad. His tank showing off the fit mass of his biceps and his pants hugged thighs that made her mouth go dry. He was strapped with three guns and five knives. She stared at his hands then his booted feet. This guy is big all over.
“What can I get ya?” the bartender asked.
“Get him two shots on me. And tankards of your brew for both of us,” Faith put in the order never looking away from the man. She held out a hand, “Faith.”
“Jayne,” he took her hand in a tight grip. His callouses were proof of his living, same as his drawl.
“Sit and drink?” she offered.
He sat down full swagger and studied her with a grin on his lips.
“You live here?” he asked.
“Nah, ship broke down,” she scoffed. “Died the gorram thing did. After two hundred years I think it’s finally done in.”
“That clunker in port 12?”
“Saw it, did ya? Had to sell it for scrap.”
“Our ship nearly that old.”
“What is it?”
“Firefly Class.”
She laughed a deep throaty sound that made several people look at them. “I was attached to mine. What’s your excuse?”
“I just work there. Capt’n has something ‘bout old things.”
Her smile grew. “And what about you? You like old things?”
“Don’t care much, ‘long as they work when needed.”
Faith picked up her tankard of house brew and took a sip. Jayne mirrored her, his eyes promising things as he watched her. Things she wanted to take him up on.
“The rest of yer crew here?” he asked, looking around the bar.
“No crew. Just me and the Black.” She saw a flash of something in his face but it was gone when he picked up a shot and slammed it back. Then he followed it with the second.
“Ya can stand livin’ like that?” he finally asked.
“When my ride ain’t broke, it’s a nice way of things. Better than lettin’ the dust settle on my boots.”
He nodded his eyes taking her in from toes to nose. “Got a place for the night?”
“Not yet.” She shrugged and grabbed her beer. “Are you offerin’?”
Jayne smiled, showing a row of white teeth. “Would ya like that?”
“I could.” She drank the last of her beverage and put money on the bar. She leaned forward and placed a hand on Jayne’s thigh. He vibrated with life and excitement. Her body responded to the smell of him, grit soap and man. She slid her hand up his hip, trailing her fingers along his arm and then his shoulder. His beard felt soft as she rubbed her thumb along his jaw.
She held his face and leaned up for a kiss, hoping their chemistry extended to the physical.
Jayne grabbed his wrist. “I don’t kiss.”
“I do,” she laced her fingers through his hair and pulled him down to her lips. Whatever protest he had died as she kissed him. It took only a second for him to respond and kiss her back. His arm slid around her, pulling her out of her seat. She pulled away from him. “A place. Now.”
Jayne nodded and stood, completely displacing her. She kept her feet, picked up her bag and pushed him towards the bar’s exit.
Neither of them were paying attention to the group they passed.
“Jayne is takin’ a woman back to the ship,” Zoe pointed out.
“It looked like she was taking him,” Kaylee smiled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jayne kiss someone.”
“Don’t think he had much choice,” Mal replied. “As long as she ain’t still on my ship come mornin’.”
“Won’t leave, going to get stuck in the pumping.” River told them. Then she smiled. “Get to watch him plummet.”