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toxic_cornSeries: Songs from a Firefly
Title: Notorious (6/14)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Joss owns all but I own the kids.
Summary: Nettie gets to go out on a job.
Author's Note:Unbetaed, but I got antsy. I have to stop doing that. Thanks, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
katsqueaks, for catching embarrassing mistakes! This one was just so much fun to write. Previous songs can be found here. Hope all my fellow Yanks have a fun Independence Day!
Songs From a Firefly
Notorious
Jamey is 11, Nettie is 7
Cap lined up the children of Serenity – except little Anna – for inspection. The air was thick with tension and the adults watching from the catwalk were silent.
Don’t pick me, don’t pick me, Nettie prayed.
“As you all know, Fanty and Mingo set us up with a job,” Cap said as he walked slowly down the line. “A nice man on Greenleaf has to ship off some illegal cargo. Simple enough job. Thing is, this nice man only does business with family men like himself.” He stopped. “Which is where two o’ you come in. Once Inara comes out of her shuttle, we’re gonna choose two of you to play the part of our children. It’s gonna be hard; you’ll have to remember to call us Mommy or Daddy at all times and to-“
“Really, Mal. Are the theatrics necessary?” Inara had come out of her shuttle midway through the speech.
The kids giggled but stopped at the look Cap gave them.
“I’m the captain,” Cap said, as if that explained everything.
Inara rolled her eyes. “I already have two children in mind for this caper. Shall I tell you or would you like to continue stressing them out?” She waved her hand, indicating Nova who was nervously chewing on her fingernails.
Cap looked chagrined. “Okay then, tell me.” Inara whispered in his ear and he nodded. “Sounds good. All o’ you can go on and play. ‘Cept David ‘n Nettie.”
I said don’t pick me!
~*~
“There,” Inara said, running a hand over Nettie’s hair. “These curls make you look even more adorable.”
Nettie frowned at her reflection. Shortly after she’d been cast in the role of “Serenity Reynolds,” Inara had ordered the ice blue gown, stockings, and white leather dress shoes she was currently wearing. A part of her was fascinated by the stranger in the mirror and wanted to spin in a circle to make the dress swirl. But a larger part was still pouting over having to take part in this at all.
She loved Cap. So much so that playing his daughter was downright creepifying. For awhile, it had looked like she wouldn’t have to when Daddy had kicked up a fuss.
“Dammit Mal, she’s my daughter. Last time you went playin’ out in society, you nearly got your dumb ass killed. What if somethin’ happens?!”
“Nothing’s gonna happen, Jayne.”
“Something always happens!”
Cap had gotten furious. “Not to these kids it doesn’t! Now I love every one of ‘em like my own and there is no way in hell’s half acre that I’ll let anyone so much as look at ‘em wrong. You either trust me or you don’t. And if you don’t, it’s best if you get off my ship.”
Daddy had backed down and now she was stuck.
“Everything will be fine,” Inara said, gently. “The pressure’s all on Mal tonight. All you have to do is enjoy the concert and smile for the wealthy man and his wife.”
Nettie nodded and did her best to look enthusiastic.
Inara leaned forward and whispered confidentially, “If it gets to be too much, just fake sick and I can get you out of there.”
That made Nettie smile for real and Inara led her from the shuttle, where they found Uncle Simon trying to tie David’s bow tie in the cargo bay, only David was making loud gagging noises.
“Oh, stop it,” Uncle Simon said, but sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
“Sorry, Diddy.” David spotted them coming down the stairs and his eyes lit up. “Hey! You two look real pretty!”
Nettie had been surprised at her own transformation but David’s was just plain remarkable. His black hair usually hung in his eyes but now it was slicked back neatly. His formal suit was as different from his paint spattered jumpsuits as night is from day.
“Why thank you, David,” Inara said with a glowing smile. “And you’re very handsome.”
David beamed and Uncle Simon stepped back to inspect his son. “You look like a perfect gentleman.”
“Well, looks can be deceiving.”
Uncle Simon crossed his arms.
“But they won’t be tonight ‘cuz I’ll be on my best behavior,” David quickly added.
“Better be.” Cap was coming down the stairs, adjusting his cuffs. The rest of the crew followed after him, all of them curious to see their friends in formal wear. “We can’t afford to mess this up.”
David saluted him with a daffy grin on his face. “Aye aye, Cap’n Daddy!”
Nettie giggled along with the others. “I wanna call him that too!” It seemed like a handy way to get around actually referring to him as her father, making a joke out of it.
“Aw, lookit you two!” Aunt Kaylee cooed. “You look like Core kids!” She lifted up her vid capture. “Smile big!”
They both smiled and waved and then Cap helped them into the mule. The disappointment over being “chosen” started to fade as Nettie’s expectations of tonight’s concert became her chief concern. Excitement bubbled in her tummy and she swung her legs, beating her heels against the seat.
“Have fun, my Nettie!” Mommy called as Cap took his place behind the wheel and reached out a hand to help Inara in.
Nettie looked over her shoulder. “I will!” She spotted Daddy on the stairs frowning darkly. So she blew him a kiss and felt gratified by his reluctant smile and his playful scowl when Wash pretended to intercept it.
Then they were off with Uncle Simon calling after them, “Best behavior, David Michael!”
~*~
For once things were going well. They’d arrived at the concert hall moments before the performance began and they’d made quite an entrance in Mal’s ever so humble opinion. Inara had looked her best, David was presentable with a pretty little Nettie on his arm, and Mal thought he didn’t look too shabby either.
Heading for their balcony seats, Mal had noticed a distinguished older gentleman watching them and he’d matched Fanty’s description of the client, one Mr. Milo Gupty. Mal had nodded politely at the man and breathed a sigh of relief at the warm approval in the man’s eyes.
Now if only this show would just end. The singing was pretty and all but it was in a language he’d never heard before. It had been interesting for at least two songs and now he was itching to get up, find Gupty, get this deal settled, and maybe get back to the ship in time for a few hands of Tall Card before bed.
He tapped his fingers on the arm rest and just barely stopped himself from looking at his watch. The last time he’d looked, Inara had jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. Hurt, too. Either she’d taken to sharpening those things every morning or Elbow Ramming was just another subject taught at whore academy.
His angry thoughts smoothed over as he turned slightly to look at his family. Inara was smiling softly, her attention fully on the woman singing on stage. David kept looking all over the place, as if her were trying to memorize every detail. He’d probably have a painting started tomorrow.
And little Nettie had her arms folded on the balcony ledge, pillowing her head as she stared down, utterly enchanted.
Mal was bored but he’d stomach all this culture forced on him for his family. And for the job of course. He hastily returned his attention to the singer when Inara looked over at him quizzically.
~*~
“Now, what are three good little children like you doing in the cockpit unsupervised? Did you get permission to be on the cortex by yourselves?”
“Oh, get real,” Vee snapped.
Mr. Universe grinned and sat back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. “Such a way to talk to your elders, Viola. And here I thought Zoe and Wash taught you better than that.”
Before Vee could respond, Jamey cut in. “Got any good ‘toons for us, Mr. U?”
“No.”
Jamey and Ben exchanged a disappointed look.
“I got great ‘toons for ya. You might even want to call Wash in; there’s dinosaurs.”
“Ooooh.”
“Fighting giant apes.”
“Ahhh!”
“I see the vice president of our little cartoon club’s missing. Where’s Nettie?” Mr. Universe searched the cockpit behind the kids in an exaggerated fashion.
“She’s on Greenleaf with Inara ‘n Cap ‘n David. They’re at some dumb concert.” Jamey rolled his eyes.
“You’re just jealous you couldn’t go,” Vee pointed out.
“So are you!”
“What are you doing, Mr. Universe?” Ben asked as Mr. Universe started typing.
“Checking out who else bought tickets. It’s a slow night and I’m bored. Lenore’s been having… difficulties.”
Even Vee wisely didn’t comment on Mr. U’s robot wife.
Suddenly, Mr. Universe chuckled. “Oh, ho. Oh, my my my. This should be interesting.”
“What?” Vee asked.
“At this very moment, our dear Captain Reynolds is sitting in a fine concert house with none other than… Atherton Wing.”
Ben gasped and the older children’s eyes bulged.
“When those two see each other there’s gonna be fireworks! I better keep an eye on this.” Mr. Universe started typing away excitedly.
“What’s he doing there?” Jamey wondered.
“He’s waited a long time for revenge and I guess this is the perfect time for it,” Vee said.
Mr. Universe shook his head, not looking away from his screen. “He’s a banker or something on Greenleaf, he wasn’t searching for Mal. Which’ll make the confrontation that much sweeter.”
“Maybe we should go tell Mom,” Ben said frowning worriedly.
“No.” A slow grin spread across Jamey’s face.
Vee looked intrigued. “You got an idea?”
“Think so. Just hope we can pull it off. Mr. Universe, can you find out what vehicle Atherton Wing has registered?”
~*~
Nettie just had to learn that strange singer’s language. It sounded like something the fairies in Uncle Simon’s stories would speak. She was leafing through the program for information when the old gentleman approached them.
“Did you folks enjoy the show?” the man inquired.
“Oh, yes!” Nettie enthused. “It was magical! I’ve never had so much fun in my life.”
The old man laughed in surprise. “Well, it’s nice to see a youth who can appreciate the finer arts. I don’t often see children at these things. What did you think, sir?” This was directed at David.
Mal and Inara braced themselves for the expected off the wall David response.
“I found it to be a very pleasant experience,” David said in his best Uncle Simon voice which usually got him into trouble. “Could we do this again sometime soon, Father?”
Cap’s mouth twitched before responding. “If you mind your p’s and q’s I’ll consider it.”
David smiled easily, as if he didn’t notice the others were trying hard not to laugh. “And you, sir?”
The old man smiled but looked confused as he failed to see the joke. “I’m afraid I don’t quite share your enthusiasm. It’s my wife who enjoys these outings, Mr…?”
“Reynolds. David Reynolds.” David shook the man’s hand. “This is my sister Serenity and our parents Captain and Mrs. Malcolm Reynolds.”
“Milo Gupty.” Mr. Gupty shook everyone’s hand. “My wife Naomi likes to have little gatherings at our home after these sorts of functions, would you all be interested in attending?”
Cap looked at the others. “Why, we’d be pleased as punch to accept your invitation, Mr. Gupty!” He looked quietly triumphant when David’s placid expression wavered with amusement.
Mr. Gupty pointed across the room at a plump, sweet faced woman in a lavender gown. “That’s my wife there. Perhaps you’d like to go and introduce yourselves?”
“That would be lovely.” Inara placed her hands on Nettie’s and David’s shoulders. “Come along, children.”
“Yes, Mother,” they chorused and left Cap and Mr. Gupty to talk business.
~*~
“My Jayne?”
“Yeah.”
“Is something bothering you?”
“Nope.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yeah.”
Beat.
“I only ask because you are about to clean Kate with my lotion, not your gun oil.”
Jayne looked down at the bottle in his hands and did a double take. “Ruttin’ hell!”
River sat down on the bed beside him, smiling sympathetically. “This job is worrying you.”
“Just don’t like the little bit out where I can’t see her is all,” Jayne muttered.
“No.”
“The hell you mean no?” Jayne sent her a look.
River sighed. “You always were so jealous.”
“What?! You think I’m jealous that Mal’s playin’ at bein’ Nettie’s daddy?”
“Aren’t you?”
“No!” Jayne scowled down at his hands for a bit. “Maybe.”
River rested her head on Jayne’s shoulder. “She loves the captain, yes. But you are still number one in Nettie’s heart. As you are in mine.”
Jayne looked at her hopefully. “Yeah?”
“Yes.”
“She tell you that?”
“Not in so many words. But anyone with functioning eyes can see it in the way she follows you about and smiles at you.”
Jayne puffed up a little. “We got the best damn li’l girl in the ‘verse, don’t we.”
“We do,” River giggled and looped her arms around his neck in a hug.
From above, there was some crashing and muffled laughter.
“The hell are those kids up to now?” Jayne groused.
River looked up at the ceiling and smiled. “Sweet revenge.”
~*~
The Guptys’ “little gathering” was anything but. Just about everyone who’d gone to the concert was there and they all milled around chatting while a few people danced to the music provided by a string quartet.
Mal swept his gaze across the room and relaxed when he saw the kids at the refreshment table and Inara listening politely to an old dowager.
“You see, Captain Reynolds, I wouldn’t normally have a need for your services,” Mr. Gupty said in a low voice. “It’s just that Robert’s our youngest and I don’t want him getting into trouble. He’s young and still has his whole life ahead of him.” The old man stared across the room at his wife and smiled softly. “A man must do all he can for his family, you understand.”
Mal considered the man for a moment. “I do at that.”
Two slightly tipsy men stumbled over to them, talking a shade too loudly. One of the men grinned brightly.
“Milo, old dog! Who’s this fellow here? You’ve been commandeering his attention all night and we must ask him about that delectable wife of his!
~*~
She and David were the youngest people here. They’d met a snobby fifteen year old girl (“Sue Ellen Shipley but that’s Miss Shipley thank you”) and her surly thirteen year old brother who had convinced them to stick to the grown ups as for socializing. At the moment, David was entertaining a group of women using his Uncle Simon voice and Nettie wandered away to the musicians. She swayed gently to the music and the cello player smiled at her.
“The next one’ll be faster if you want to dance,” he said with a wink. “Go and find yourself a partner, little miss.”
Excited, Nettie scanned the room for Cap and found him in a small group where he looked like he was getting angry.
Uh oh.
~*~
“I mean, if my Sadie, bless her heart, looked anything like that I wouldn’t let her out of my sight.” The slightly balding man leered at Mal. “And I’d have three times the children you do, mark my words.”
Gupty placed a hand on Mal’s shoulder, sensing the captain’s anger. “Albert, you’ve had too much to drink and you’re making an ass of yourself. I demand you apologize to my guest and be on your way.”
“Aw, Guppy! Don’t be that way!” Albert’s friend whined.
“I’ve got nothing to apologize for, I was simply making an observation,” Albert said as he took another drink.
“Well, so long as we’re making observations!” Mal exclaimed. “I observe that you’re the sorriest son of-“
“Captain Daddy?”
The men were startled by the little voice and looked down to find Nettie tugging on Mal’s sleeve.
“What a pretty little girl!” Albert’s friend said, holding up a glass. “A toast to the pretty little girl!”
Albert clinked his glass to his friend’s and the two wandered away in search of more people to share their toast.
“What can I do for ya, darlin’?” Mal asked.
“Will you dance with me?”
Mal smiled into her big hopeful eyes. “Of course. Then we can get gone since our business is concluded here, right Mr. Gupty?”
“It is. I’ll expect your crew at the warehouse, first thing.” Gupty looked down at Nettie and smiled. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Reynolds. Albert is a want wit but I do agree with him that you’re very lovely.”
Nettie grinned. “Thanks. Everyone says I have my daddy’s eyes!”
“Good thing I got blue eyes, too,” Mal muttered as Nettie tugged him to where the couples were dancing.
The song playing was a lively one and Mal soon forgot his annoyance as he twirled Nettie around. The little girl sure could dance. River had been teaching the kids to dance for years and all of them were pretty good. He’d been kind of surprised though when Nettie hadn’t shown the aptitude her mother always had.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me, do you mind if I cut in?”
Mal frowned and turned to face the speaker. “Matter of fact I do m-“ Out of all the people in the ‘verse it could’ve been, he sure as hell hadn’t been expecting this one. “Hullo, Ath.”
“Captain Reynolds.” Atherton Wing cut a quick glance at Nettie. “And who might this be?”
“My daughter, Serenity.” Not taking his eyes off the other man, Mal said, “Go find you ma and brother, darlin’.”
Nettie looked troubled. “But Cap-“
“Go on, now.”
The girl did as she was told.
“You got my attention. Whaddya plan on doin’ about it?” Mal kept his tone light. He hoped the others were together and heading back to the ship.
“I apologize, Captain, are you in a hurry? It’s just that I wish to savor this moment. I’ve been looking forward to it for such a long time, you see.”
“Fancy meeting you here. Thought you were on Persephone.”
Atherton’s cool mask started to crack. “You know perfectly well I couldn’t stay there. Not after you made me a laughing stock.”
“Oh, don’t let me take all the credit. You were a big part of making you a laughing stock.” Mal smiled sweetly.
This was apparently too much for Atherton and the man pulled out a gun and stuck it into Mal’s belly.
“My dueling days are over, Ath. I don’t mean to shatter your revenge fantasy and all,” Mal said through gritted teeth.
“This is no duel.” Atherton’s smile was cruel. “Now turn around and march outside.”
“I’d rather you shoot me now in front of all these fine people,” Mal said, knowing he’d never do it.
Atherton waved his hand and Mal looked just in time to see two men leading a struggling Nettie and David away. His blood ran cold.
“Now,” Atherton said, sounding smug. “After you, Captain.”
~*~
Along with dance, the children of Serenity had been taught self defense. Nettie and David now struggled and used every move they knew. David was able to get loose once and managed to free Nettie but by the time he’d accomplished all this, the first man had recovered from the head butt David had given him.
Outside, they still tried to get away but met with no success.
When Cap joined them soon after, they were hopeful of rescue until they saw Atherton Wing and his gun.
“Who is that?” David whispered.
“Atherton Wing,” Nettie answered.
David’s eyes grew as big as dinner plates. “The sword guy?!”
“Quiet!” Atherton snapped at them. “Where’s their mother?”
“We didn’t see her,” one of the men admitted.
“Well, go find her!”
“But you need two people to watch these kids,” the other man complained. “They’re all wriggly-like!”
“The first one of you who so much as wiggles your little finger gets your brother or sister shot, dong ma?” Atherton scowled at the children and they stopped struggling. “Now go,” Atherton ordered his man.
“What exactly is the plan here, Ath?” Cap asked.
“I plan to murder you while your family looks on helplessly,” Atherton growled.
“And then?”
Atherton looked thrown. “What do you mean and then?”
“After you kill me, then what happens?” Mal looked over his shoulder. “Or is me being dead the whole plan?”
The look on Atherton’s face was answer enough.
“That’s so lame,” Nettie said, quietly.
“I know.” David sounded disappointed. “He’s had over ten years to plan this out and this is it?”
“Shut up!” Atherton hissed.
“You gotta admit they have a point,” Mal said shrugging. “Your plan ain’t all that creative.”
“I don’t care about creativity! I just want you dead and that bitch wife of yours suffering!”
“Well then, this is a shiny plan. Right, kids?”
“Right,” they said looking skeptical.
Suddenly, the man holding Nettie and David jerked and hit the ground with a groan.
“Drop the gun, Atherton,” Inara said, flashing a much larger gun she’d just pistol whipped the man on the ground with. “And you should know that Milo Gupty has called the law. They should be here any minute.”
Glaring at her, Atherton dropped his weapon which Mal picked up.
“Looks like you made a good life here,” Mal said. “Too bad you had to screw it up for yourself. Again.” He beckoned to the kids. “Come on, get in the mule.”
Atherton’s other man had just dashed outside when the others were getting away and fired a few shots after them, missing them entirely.
“Come on!” Atherton cried. He and his partner jumped into their vehicle and turned the key.
The engine made a noise of complaint and failed to start. In the distance, sirens were wailing.
“Why isn’t it working?!” Atherton slapped the dashboard. “Work, damn you!”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you have sugar in your gas tank,” his partner said tentatively.
Atherton Wing fumed and he tightened his fingers around the steering wheel as the sirens got closer.
~*~
Jayne and Simon abandoned their card game as Mal steered the mule on board the ship.
“How’d it go?” Simon called.
“Great!” Mal said, hopping out and helping Inara down. “We all gotta be up early to get the cargo stowed.”
“Diddy, Atherton Wing tried to kill us!” David exclaimed.
Jayne turned purple. “What?!” He snatched Nettie out of the mule and clutched her protectively to his side. “You said you wasn’t gonna let anything happen to her!”
“And nothing did until you decided to start smotherin’ her,” Mal said, looking annoyed.
“Can’t breathe,” Nettie grunted.
Jayne quickly loosened his hold, mumbling an apology.
“Are you all right?” Simon asked worriedly, searching his son’s face for any sign of pain or injury.
David nodded. “Uh huh. I had fun.”
Mal snorted. “You should’ve seen him, Doc. The second he opened his mouth, I thought we’d brought the wrong Tam. Damn near bust my ribs tryin’ not to laugh. ‘I found it to be a very pleasant performance.’”
Everyone laughed as they headed for the mess, Simon trailing behind protesting, “I don’t really sound like that!”
~*~
“I always thought that black market beagles were a joke,” Lady Washburne said, bemused.
Kaylee shrugged as she bustled around the stove. “S’pose anything can get illegal if it causes enough bother for folks.”
“Beagles?” Lady raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly, a symphony of howls drifted into the room and everyone clapped their hands over their ears. Jamey had to get up and shut the doors to block out most of the sound.
Kaylee sighed in satisfaction. “Now I can bake cookies for our little actor and actress in peace.” She reached for a jar and pulled the lid off. “Huh.”
“What?” David looked up from his sketch, concerned over his treat.
“I coulda sworn we had more sugar than this. We have enough for cookies,” she reassured her son, “but I know we had a lot more than this.”
She looked around the table at the blank faces of the children, noticing that Ben, Jamey, and Vee were looking extra innocent.
“I don’t wanna know,” she said, turning back to her preparations.
END
Track Five < Perfect : Track Seven > Bad Moon Rising
Title: Notorious (6/14)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Joss owns all but I own the kids.
Summary: Nettie gets to go out on a job.
Author's Note:
katsqueaks, for catching embarrassing mistakes! This one was just so much fun to write. Previous songs can be found here. Hope all my fellow Yanks have a fun Independence Day!Songs From a Firefly
Notorious
Jamey is 11, Nettie is 7
Cap lined up the children of Serenity – except little Anna – for inspection. The air was thick with tension and the adults watching from the catwalk were silent.
Don’t pick me, don’t pick me, Nettie prayed.
“As you all know, Fanty and Mingo set us up with a job,” Cap said as he walked slowly down the line. “A nice man on Greenleaf has to ship off some illegal cargo. Simple enough job. Thing is, this nice man only does business with family men like himself.” He stopped. “Which is where two o’ you come in. Once Inara comes out of her shuttle, we’re gonna choose two of you to play the part of our children. It’s gonna be hard; you’ll have to remember to call us Mommy or Daddy at all times and to-“
“Really, Mal. Are the theatrics necessary?” Inara had come out of her shuttle midway through the speech.
The kids giggled but stopped at the look Cap gave them.
“I’m the captain,” Cap said, as if that explained everything.
Inara rolled her eyes. “I already have two children in mind for this caper. Shall I tell you or would you like to continue stressing them out?” She waved her hand, indicating Nova who was nervously chewing on her fingernails.
Cap looked chagrined. “Okay then, tell me.” Inara whispered in his ear and he nodded. “Sounds good. All o’ you can go on and play. ‘Cept David ‘n Nettie.”
I said don’t pick me!
“There,” Inara said, running a hand over Nettie’s hair. “These curls make you look even more adorable.”
Nettie frowned at her reflection. Shortly after she’d been cast in the role of “Serenity Reynolds,” Inara had ordered the ice blue gown, stockings, and white leather dress shoes she was currently wearing. A part of her was fascinated by the stranger in the mirror and wanted to spin in a circle to make the dress swirl. But a larger part was still pouting over having to take part in this at all.
She loved Cap. So much so that playing his daughter was downright creepifying. For awhile, it had looked like she wouldn’t have to when Daddy had kicked up a fuss.
“Dammit Mal, she’s my daughter. Last time you went playin’ out in society, you nearly got your dumb ass killed. What if somethin’ happens?!”
“Nothing’s gonna happen, Jayne.”
“Something always happens!”
Cap had gotten furious. “Not to these kids it doesn’t! Now I love every one of ‘em like my own and there is no way in hell’s half acre that I’ll let anyone so much as look at ‘em wrong. You either trust me or you don’t. And if you don’t, it’s best if you get off my ship.”
Daddy had backed down and now she was stuck.
“Everything will be fine,” Inara said, gently. “The pressure’s all on Mal tonight. All you have to do is enjoy the concert and smile for the wealthy man and his wife.”
Nettie nodded and did her best to look enthusiastic.
Inara leaned forward and whispered confidentially, “If it gets to be too much, just fake sick and I can get you out of there.”
That made Nettie smile for real and Inara led her from the shuttle, where they found Uncle Simon trying to tie David’s bow tie in the cargo bay, only David was making loud gagging noises.
“Oh, stop it,” Uncle Simon said, but sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
“Sorry, Diddy.” David spotted them coming down the stairs and his eyes lit up. “Hey! You two look real pretty!”
Nettie had been surprised at her own transformation but David’s was just plain remarkable. His black hair usually hung in his eyes but now it was slicked back neatly. His formal suit was as different from his paint spattered jumpsuits as night is from day.
“Why thank you, David,” Inara said with a glowing smile. “And you’re very handsome.”
David beamed and Uncle Simon stepped back to inspect his son. “You look like a perfect gentleman.”
“Well, looks can be deceiving.”
Uncle Simon crossed his arms.
“But they won’t be tonight ‘cuz I’ll be on my best behavior,” David quickly added.
“Better be.” Cap was coming down the stairs, adjusting his cuffs. The rest of the crew followed after him, all of them curious to see their friends in formal wear. “We can’t afford to mess this up.”
David saluted him with a daffy grin on his face. “Aye aye, Cap’n Daddy!”
Nettie giggled along with the others. “I wanna call him that too!” It seemed like a handy way to get around actually referring to him as her father, making a joke out of it.
“Aw, lookit you two!” Aunt Kaylee cooed. “You look like Core kids!” She lifted up her vid capture. “Smile big!”
They both smiled and waved and then Cap helped them into the mule. The disappointment over being “chosen” started to fade as Nettie’s expectations of tonight’s concert became her chief concern. Excitement bubbled in her tummy and she swung her legs, beating her heels against the seat.
“Have fun, my Nettie!” Mommy called as Cap took his place behind the wheel and reached out a hand to help Inara in.
Nettie looked over her shoulder. “I will!” She spotted Daddy on the stairs frowning darkly. So she blew him a kiss and felt gratified by his reluctant smile and his playful scowl when Wash pretended to intercept it.
Then they were off with Uncle Simon calling after them, “Best behavior, David Michael!”
For once things were going well. They’d arrived at the concert hall moments before the performance began and they’d made quite an entrance in Mal’s ever so humble opinion. Inara had looked her best, David was presentable with a pretty little Nettie on his arm, and Mal thought he didn’t look too shabby either.
Heading for their balcony seats, Mal had noticed a distinguished older gentleman watching them and he’d matched Fanty’s description of the client, one Mr. Milo Gupty. Mal had nodded politely at the man and breathed a sigh of relief at the warm approval in the man’s eyes.
Now if only this show would just end. The singing was pretty and all but it was in a language he’d never heard before. It had been interesting for at least two songs and now he was itching to get up, find Gupty, get this deal settled, and maybe get back to the ship in time for a few hands of Tall Card before bed.
He tapped his fingers on the arm rest and just barely stopped himself from looking at his watch. The last time he’d looked, Inara had jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. Hurt, too. Either she’d taken to sharpening those things every morning or Elbow Ramming was just another subject taught at whore academy.
His angry thoughts smoothed over as he turned slightly to look at his family. Inara was smiling softly, her attention fully on the woman singing on stage. David kept looking all over the place, as if her were trying to memorize every detail. He’d probably have a painting started tomorrow.
And little Nettie had her arms folded on the balcony ledge, pillowing her head as she stared down, utterly enchanted.
Mal was bored but he’d stomach all this culture forced on him for his family. And for the job of course. He hastily returned his attention to the singer when Inara looked over at him quizzically.
“Now, what are three good little children like you doing in the cockpit unsupervised? Did you get permission to be on the cortex by yourselves?”
“Oh, get real,” Vee snapped.
Mr. Universe grinned and sat back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. “Such a way to talk to your elders, Viola. And here I thought Zoe and Wash taught you better than that.”
Before Vee could respond, Jamey cut in. “Got any good ‘toons for us, Mr. U?”
“No.”
Jamey and Ben exchanged a disappointed look.
“I got great ‘toons for ya. You might even want to call Wash in; there’s dinosaurs.”
“Ooooh.”
“Fighting giant apes.”
“Ahhh!”
“I see the vice president of our little cartoon club’s missing. Where’s Nettie?” Mr. Universe searched the cockpit behind the kids in an exaggerated fashion.
“She’s on Greenleaf with Inara ‘n Cap ‘n David. They’re at some dumb concert.” Jamey rolled his eyes.
“You’re just jealous you couldn’t go,” Vee pointed out.
“So are you!”
“What are you doing, Mr. Universe?” Ben asked as Mr. Universe started typing.
“Checking out who else bought tickets. It’s a slow night and I’m bored. Lenore’s been having… difficulties.”
Even Vee wisely didn’t comment on Mr. U’s robot wife.
Suddenly, Mr. Universe chuckled. “Oh, ho. Oh, my my my. This should be interesting.”
“What?” Vee asked.
“At this very moment, our dear Captain Reynolds is sitting in a fine concert house with none other than… Atherton Wing.”
Ben gasped and the older children’s eyes bulged.
“When those two see each other there’s gonna be fireworks! I better keep an eye on this.” Mr. Universe started typing away excitedly.
“What’s he doing there?” Jamey wondered.
“He’s waited a long time for revenge and I guess this is the perfect time for it,” Vee said.
Mr. Universe shook his head, not looking away from his screen. “He’s a banker or something on Greenleaf, he wasn’t searching for Mal. Which’ll make the confrontation that much sweeter.”
“Maybe we should go tell Mom,” Ben said frowning worriedly.
“No.” A slow grin spread across Jamey’s face.
Vee looked intrigued. “You got an idea?”
“Think so. Just hope we can pull it off. Mr. Universe, can you find out what vehicle Atherton Wing has registered?”
Nettie just had to learn that strange singer’s language. It sounded like something the fairies in Uncle Simon’s stories would speak. She was leafing through the program for information when the old gentleman approached them.
“Did you folks enjoy the show?” the man inquired.
“Oh, yes!” Nettie enthused. “It was magical! I’ve never had so much fun in my life.”
The old man laughed in surprise. “Well, it’s nice to see a youth who can appreciate the finer arts. I don’t often see children at these things. What did you think, sir?” This was directed at David.
Mal and Inara braced themselves for the expected off the wall David response.
“I found it to be a very pleasant experience,” David said in his best Uncle Simon voice which usually got him into trouble. “Could we do this again sometime soon, Father?”
Cap’s mouth twitched before responding. “If you mind your p’s and q’s I’ll consider it.”
David smiled easily, as if he didn’t notice the others were trying hard not to laugh. “And you, sir?”
The old man smiled but looked confused as he failed to see the joke. “I’m afraid I don’t quite share your enthusiasm. It’s my wife who enjoys these outings, Mr…?”
“Reynolds. David Reynolds.” David shook the man’s hand. “This is my sister Serenity and our parents Captain and Mrs. Malcolm Reynolds.”
“Milo Gupty.” Mr. Gupty shook everyone’s hand. “My wife Naomi likes to have little gatherings at our home after these sorts of functions, would you all be interested in attending?”
Cap looked at the others. “Why, we’d be pleased as punch to accept your invitation, Mr. Gupty!” He looked quietly triumphant when David’s placid expression wavered with amusement.
Mr. Gupty pointed across the room at a plump, sweet faced woman in a lavender gown. “That’s my wife there. Perhaps you’d like to go and introduce yourselves?”
“That would be lovely.” Inara placed her hands on Nettie’s and David’s shoulders. “Come along, children.”
“Yes, Mother,” they chorused and left Cap and Mr. Gupty to talk business.
“My Jayne?”
“Yeah.”
“Is something bothering you?”
“Nope.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yeah.”
Beat.
“I only ask because you are about to clean Kate with my lotion, not your gun oil.”
Jayne looked down at the bottle in his hands and did a double take. “Ruttin’ hell!”
River sat down on the bed beside him, smiling sympathetically. “This job is worrying you.”
“Just don’t like the little bit out where I can’t see her is all,” Jayne muttered.
“No.”
“The hell you mean no?” Jayne sent her a look.
River sighed. “You always were so jealous.”
“What?! You think I’m jealous that Mal’s playin’ at bein’ Nettie’s daddy?”
“Aren’t you?”
“No!” Jayne scowled down at his hands for a bit. “Maybe.”
River rested her head on Jayne’s shoulder. “She loves the captain, yes. But you are still number one in Nettie’s heart. As you are in mine.”
Jayne looked at her hopefully. “Yeah?”
“Yes.”
“She tell you that?”
“Not in so many words. But anyone with functioning eyes can see it in the way she follows you about and smiles at you.”
Jayne puffed up a little. “We got the best damn li’l girl in the ‘verse, don’t we.”
“We do,” River giggled and looped her arms around his neck in a hug.
From above, there was some crashing and muffled laughter.
“The hell are those kids up to now?” Jayne groused.
River looked up at the ceiling and smiled. “Sweet revenge.”
The Guptys’ “little gathering” was anything but. Just about everyone who’d gone to the concert was there and they all milled around chatting while a few people danced to the music provided by a string quartet.
Mal swept his gaze across the room and relaxed when he saw the kids at the refreshment table and Inara listening politely to an old dowager.
“You see, Captain Reynolds, I wouldn’t normally have a need for your services,” Mr. Gupty said in a low voice. “It’s just that Robert’s our youngest and I don’t want him getting into trouble. He’s young and still has his whole life ahead of him.” The old man stared across the room at his wife and smiled softly. “A man must do all he can for his family, you understand.”
Mal considered the man for a moment. “I do at that.”
Two slightly tipsy men stumbled over to them, talking a shade too loudly. One of the men grinned brightly.
“Milo, old dog! Who’s this fellow here? You’ve been commandeering his attention all night and we must ask him about that delectable wife of his!
She and David were the youngest people here. They’d met a snobby fifteen year old girl (“Sue Ellen Shipley but that’s Miss Shipley thank you”) and her surly thirteen year old brother who had convinced them to stick to the grown ups as for socializing. At the moment, David was entertaining a group of women using his Uncle Simon voice and Nettie wandered away to the musicians. She swayed gently to the music and the cello player smiled at her.
“The next one’ll be faster if you want to dance,” he said with a wink. “Go and find yourself a partner, little miss.”
Excited, Nettie scanned the room for Cap and found him in a small group where he looked like he was getting angry.
Uh oh.
“I mean, if my Sadie, bless her heart, looked anything like that I wouldn’t let her out of my sight.” The slightly balding man leered at Mal. “And I’d have three times the children you do, mark my words.”
Gupty placed a hand on Mal’s shoulder, sensing the captain’s anger. “Albert, you’ve had too much to drink and you’re making an ass of yourself. I demand you apologize to my guest and be on your way.”
“Aw, Guppy! Don’t be that way!” Albert’s friend whined.
“I’ve got nothing to apologize for, I was simply making an observation,” Albert said as he took another drink.
“Well, so long as we’re making observations!” Mal exclaimed. “I observe that you’re the sorriest son of-“
“Captain Daddy?”
The men were startled by the little voice and looked down to find Nettie tugging on Mal’s sleeve.
“What a pretty little girl!” Albert’s friend said, holding up a glass. “A toast to the pretty little girl!”
Albert clinked his glass to his friend’s and the two wandered away in search of more people to share their toast.
“What can I do for ya, darlin’?” Mal asked.
“Will you dance with me?”
Mal smiled into her big hopeful eyes. “Of course. Then we can get gone since our business is concluded here, right Mr. Gupty?”
“It is. I’ll expect your crew at the warehouse, first thing.” Gupty looked down at Nettie and smiled. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Reynolds. Albert is a want wit but I do agree with him that you’re very lovely.”
Nettie grinned. “Thanks. Everyone says I have my daddy’s eyes!”
“Good thing I got blue eyes, too,” Mal muttered as Nettie tugged him to where the couples were dancing.
The song playing was a lively one and Mal soon forgot his annoyance as he twirled Nettie around. The little girl sure could dance. River had been teaching the kids to dance for years and all of them were pretty good. He’d been kind of surprised though when Nettie hadn’t shown the aptitude her mother always had.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me, do you mind if I cut in?”
Mal frowned and turned to face the speaker. “Matter of fact I do m-“ Out of all the people in the ‘verse it could’ve been, he sure as hell hadn’t been expecting this one. “Hullo, Ath.”
“Captain Reynolds.” Atherton Wing cut a quick glance at Nettie. “And who might this be?”
“My daughter, Serenity.” Not taking his eyes off the other man, Mal said, “Go find you ma and brother, darlin’.”
Nettie looked troubled. “But Cap-“
“Go on, now.”
The girl did as she was told.
“You got my attention. Whaddya plan on doin’ about it?” Mal kept his tone light. He hoped the others were together and heading back to the ship.
“I apologize, Captain, are you in a hurry? It’s just that I wish to savor this moment. I’ve been looking forward to it for such a long time, you see.”
“Fancy meeting you here. Thought you were on Persephone.”
Atherton’s cool mask started to crack. “You know perfectly well I couldn’t stay there. Not after you made me a laughing stock.”
“Oh, don’t let me take all the credit. You were a big part of making you a laughing stock.” Mal smiled sweetly.
This was apparently too much for Atherton and the man pulled out a gun and stuck it into Mal’s belly.
“My dueling days are over, Ath. I don’t mean to shatter your revenge fantasy and all,” Mal said through gritted teeth.
“This is no duel.” Atherton’s smile was cruel. “Now turn around and march outside.”
“I’d rather you shoot me now in front of all these fine people,” Mal said, knowing he’d never do it.
Atherton waved his hand and Mal looked just in time to see two men leading a struggling Nettie and David away. His blood ran cold.
“Now,” Atherton said, sounding smug. “After you, Captain.”
Along with dance, the children of Serenity had been taught self defense. Nettie and David now struggled and used every move they knew. David was able to get loose once and managed to free Nettie but by the time he’d accomplished all this, the first man had recovered from the head butt David had given him.
Outside, they still tried to get away but met with no success.
When Cap joined them soon after, they were hopeful of rescue until they saw Atherton Wing and his gun.
“Who is that?” David whispered.
“Atherton Wing,” Nettie answered.
David’s eyes grew as big as dinner plates. “The sword guy?!”
“Quiet!” Atherton snapped at them. “Where’s their mother?”
“We didn’t see her,” one of the men admitted.
“Well, go find her!”
“But you need two people to watch these kids,” the other man complained. “They’re all wriggly-like!”
“The first one of you who so much as wiggles your little finger gets your brother or sister shot, dong ma?” Atherton scowled at the children and they stopped struggling. “Now go,” Atherton ordered his man.
“What exactly is the plan here, Ath?” Cap asked.
“I plan to murder you while your family looks on helplessly,” Atherton growled.
“And then?”
Atherton looked thrown. “What do you mean and then?”
“After you kill me, then what happens?” Mal looked over his shoulder. “Or is me being dead the whole plan?”
The look on Atherton’s face was answer enough.
“That’s so lame,” Nettie said, quietly.
“I know.” David sounded disappointed. “He’s had over ten years to plan this out and this is it?”
“Shut up!” Atherton hissed.
“You gotta admit they have a point,” Mal said shrugging. “Your plan ain’t all that creative.”
“I don’t care about creativity! I just want you dead and that bitch wife of yours suffering!”
“Well then, this is a shiny plan. Right, kids?”
“Right,” they said looking skeptical.
Suddenly, the man holding Nettie and David jerked and hit the ground with a groan.
“Drop the gun, Atherton,” Inara said, flashing a much larger gun she’d just pistol whipped the man on the ground with. “And you should know that Milo Gupty has called the law. They should be here any minute.”
Glaring at her, Atherton dropped his weapon which Mal picked up.
“Looks like you made a good life here,” Mal said. “Too bad you had to screw it up for yourself. Again.” He beckoned to the kids. “Come on, get in the mule.”
Atherton’s other man had just dashed outside when the others were getting away and fired a few shots after them, missing them entirely.
“Come on!” Atherton cried. He and his partner jumped into their vehicle and turned the key.
The engine made a noise of complaint and failed to start. In the distance, sirens were wailing.
“Why isn’t it working?!” Atherton slapped the dashboard. “Work, damn you!”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you have sugar in your gas tank,” his partner said tentatively.
Atherton Wing fumed and he tightened his fingers around the steering wheel as the sirens got closer.
Jayne and Simon abandoned their card game as Mal steered the mule on board the ship.
“How’d it go?” Simon called.
“Great!” Mal said, hopping out and helping Inara down. “We all gotta be up early to get the cargo stowed.”
“Diddy, Atherton Wing tried to kill us!” David exclaimed.
Jayne turned purple. “What?!” He snatched Nettie out of the mule and clutched her protectively to his side. “You said you wasn’t gonna let anything happen to her!”
“And nothing did until you decided to start smotherin’ her,” Mal said, looking annoyed.
“Can’t breathe,” Nettie grunted.
Jayne quickly loosened his hold, mumbling an apology.
“Are you all right?” Simon asked worriedly, searching his son’s face for any sign of pain or injury.
David nodded. “Uh huh. I had fun.”
Mal snorted. “You should’ve seen him, Doc. The second he opened his mouth, I thought we’d brought the wrong Tam. Damn near bust my ribs tryin’ not to laugh. ‘I found it to be a very pleasant performance.’”
Everyone laughed as they headed for the mess, Simon trailing behind protesting, “I don’t really sound like that!”
“I always thought that black market beagles were a joke,” Lady Washburne said, bemused.
Kaylee shrugged as she bustled around the stove. “S’pose anything can get illegal if it causes enough bother for folks.”
“Beagles?” Lady raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly, a symphony of howls drifted into the room and everyone clapped their hands over their ears. Jamey had to get up and shut the doors to block out most of the sound.
Kaylee sighed in satisfaction. “Now I can bake cookies for our little actor and actress in peace.” She reached for a jar and pulled the lid off. “Huh.”
“What?” David looked up from his sketch, concerned over his treat.
“I coulda sworn we had more sugar than this. We have enough for cookies,” she reassured her son, “but I know we had a lot more than this.”
She looked around the table at the blank faces of the children, noticing that Ben, Jamey, and Vee were looking extra innocent.
“I don’t wanna know,” she said, turning back to her preparations.
END
Track Five < Perfect : Track Seven > Bad Moon Rising
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Date: 2006-07-04 12:09 am (UTC)Jayne is such a cute worried daddy!
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Date: 2006-07-04 06:48 pm (UTC)Poor Simon, even his son gives him a hard time...