Hindsight is always 20/20
Title: Fire and Silk
Summary: Post BDM
“But Mal…”
“No. I’m the captain of
this boat and this ain’t up
for discussion, ‘Nara.” Mal
glared at the picture
perfect, dark haired beauty
before him on the catwalk.
As always, she was the
epitome of calm except for
her eyes. In her eyes there
was fire and anger. He
couldn’t help but think of
how beautiful it was… the
stark contrast to the smooth
satins and silks of her
attire and the sleek lines
of the curls that fell
around her shoulders.
“You taught me to use this
thing and now you won’t let
me help?”
His hands reached out to
awkwardly follow the pistol
she waved in the air as she
talked until finally he
caught a hold of it and
pulled it from her grasp.
“This thing ain’t a
gorram fan to be wavin’ all
about. And I don’t take
kindly to people wavin’ them
in my general direction.”
When she arched a perfectly
manicured eyebrow, he bit
down on the inside of his
cheek to keep from grinning.
“I’d think you would be used
to having them waved in your
direction. I can’t count
how many times you’ve come
back with a bullet hole.”
Her voice dripped with the
fury that was matched in her
eyes and a kind of worry
that almost softened the
rigid edges of his own
demeanor… almost.
He opted to play dumb,
knowing that it would make
her even more angry even as
he furrowed his brow in mock
thought and rubbed his
fingers over his chin. “You
know, not sure I can be
countin’ them all either.”
“This isn’t funny, Mal. I
want to be useful.”
He took a step back and hid
the pistol behind him when
she reached out for it. “No
no. You can stay here and
be useful with Kaylee just
as good as you can be useful
out there. ‘Sides, can’t go
on this mission dressed all
fine and pretty like that.”
His gaze purposefully took
her in, following the length
of her to the floor and back
up to her fiery eyes. “You
stand out.”
“I can… borrow something of
Kaylee’s or yours. I can do
this Mal. You taught me to
shoot and even said I was
doing well.”
“Can you now? Ain’t sure
Kaylee’s things would fit on
you seein’ as how she’s a
tiny little thing and you’re
a bit more… filled out in
places.” He couldn’t help
the boyish grin that slipped
over his lips at the
acknowledgement that he did
know what she looked like
beneath the silks. “Not
that I ain’t fond of filled
out. Down right addicting.”
The moment she ducked her
head and smiled, he turned
to walk away. “Which is why
I’m needin’ you here when I
get back.” He didn’t turn
around as he said it, simply
descended the stairs without
looking to the anger he knew
was back in place in her
eyes.
“Then why did you teach me
to shoot?”
Mal hesitated at the bottom
of the stairs and looked up
to Inara where she leaned
over the railing to stare
down at him. “Ain’t rightly
sure. Girl’s gotta know how
to defend herself if
somethin’ were to happen.”
He grinned again. “Liked
the closeness of it… didn’t
you?” His head tilted
slightly around the question
and after a moment, the fire
was gone and she nodded.
“Someday I want to go. I
want to help, Mal.”
After another hesitation, he
decided to leave it at
that. His booted feet
carried him through the
corridor in search of the
rest of his crew. Deep
down, he knew this argument
wasn’t over. And when
‘someday’ came, he knew he
would be regretting teaching
his Inara to shoot a pistol.
