Title: Heart

Summary: Somewhere in the middle of the series. Mal thinks about the way Inara sounds.

Author: Bashipforever

Prompt: Stages of Love through the five senses: Hearing

Word count: 408

 

 

 

Never thought much ‘bout listening to a woman. Don’t mean it that way. I listen to Zoe all the time, listened to my Ma. Got no problems taking advice from one even orders if they’ve earned that right.

 

I’m talking ‘bout listenin’ to jus’ the way a particular one sounds. She’s got this quiet dignity to her voice an’ it’s all soft, soothing. Even when she’s irritated at me I like the way it sounds. Hell, if I’m bein’ truthsome I like the way she sounds ‘specially then. Her voice gets this fire in it that sorta hints at who she is underneath all that paint an’ finery.

 

She keeps this armor ‘bout her, all cool and calm. I’ve seen lotsa poker faces. She’s got the best one yet. Ain’t nothin’ shows on her face that she don’t want seen, less you get her mad.

 

She thinks I fight with her jus’ outta pure enjoyment. Not that fightin’ with ‘Nara ain’t fun but mostly I like to hear the way she sounds when she’s passionate about something, when she’s angry, emotional.  She loses all that calm. Can almost feel the emotion she puts in her voice.

 

Only other comparable thing to the way she sounds when she’s angry is when she’s laughing. ‘Nara’s got this laugh…sometimes it’s that polite sorta chuckle that she saves for when she’s bein a companion. It’s the sorta laugh that’s pleasin’ enough to hear but it ain’t got any heart to it.  Nah, the laugh I’m talking about is a real one, comes up from deep inside of her, makes her eyes dance and lights up the room, makes her shine brighter than Serenity out in the black.

 

I reckon it’s one of the best sounds I’ve ever heard. Got lots of heart to it. I like things with heart. I was pretty sure ‘Nara didn’t have one then I made her angry. Found out she’s got one buried underneath all those manners. When I heard her laugh…that’s when I knew it was a good one.

 

I don’t deserve her. I don’t deserve to have her in my life, hear her laugh or even bear the brunt of her anger. Won’t ever regret fallin’ in love with her though, not that I’d admit that. If a man’s gotta fall in love, ought to fall in love with a woman who’s got a heart like hers.

 

Did I mention the way she sounds when she’s mad?