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toxic_cornSeries: She's a Sticky-Fingered Filcher
Title: Umbrella (3/7)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Post Objects In Space
Summary: “Whatcha up to, Crazy?”
Disclaimer: All the characters are belong to Joss.
Author's Note: Again, thanks to Katsqueaks for the beta. Thanks also to all the rayne shippers who've been so nice and fun to write for! Previous parts can be found here.
Umbrella
Work was getting harder to find and the overall feeling aboard Serenity was pretty miserable. Even Kaylee’s cheer seemed forced. Mal had a few connections on some outer-rim hell-pit no one had heard of, so they were headed out that way, though Mal didn’t seem too hopeful.
When faced with such low spirits, Jayne did what he always did: he went to the cargo bay to work his body into exhaustion so he could get some half-way decent sleep. Sometimes he’d go and the crazy girl would be there humming that weird song she liked, or maybe dancing a little. She was always a nice distraction.
Today was no disappointment. Though she was holding Kaylee’s rainbow-colored umbrella, which was a change.
“Whatcha up to, Crazy?” he called out as he made his way down the stairs.
She had her eyes closed, face tilted up towards the light. “Listening to the waves.”
“Huh?”
“The ocean.”
Jayne sat down on the steps, smirking. “We’re a long ways from any ocean, girl.”
A smile spread across her face. “It’s called make believe."
Oh. Jayne rubbed the back of his neck. “Wouldn’t mind bein’ at a beach, myself. Ain’t been to one in a long time.”
“The sandpipers are playing in the castle she built,” River said. “They can’t decide who should be king so they all are.”
Jayne shook his head. “Sounds confusing.”
“No. They’re happy. Not like here.”
“Times’re hard, that’s all. Once things pick up, we’ll be a damn sight happier than some feng le sandpipers.”
River laughed delightedly, bringing a smile to his own face. She opened her eyes and beckoned to him. “The sun is getting hot. Come share the shade with me.”
He was halfway up before he realized what he was doing. “Girl, I’m too old for games.”
“He’s embarrassed.”
“Am not!” Jayne snapped. “Just think it’s stupid to be playin’ games when we’re facin’ the idea of starvin’ or losin’ the ship.”
The girl spun the umbrella around. “There’s a job waiting. No cause for worry.”
“Yeah?” The worry that had been building in his gut the last month started to dissolve. “You know that for a fact? Seen it with your…?” He wiggled his fingers next to his head.
She giggled and imitated his gesture. “She has. But keep it secret. Overconfidence could ruin everything.”
“Okay,” Jayne said, doubtfully.
River sighed softly. “Simon is looking for her.” She took Jayne by the hand and he nearly leapt out of his skin. But all she did was put the umbrella in his paw and curl his fingers around the handle. Her hands were cool and smooth.
“What’d you do that fer?” he asked, gruffly.
“The castle needs a moat. Say hello to the pipers for me!” River’s eyes glittered in that shiny way he was coming to like and she skipped away.
He stayed standing there, clutching the umbrella and watching where she’d disappeared. Crazy little girl.
But he turned away and tilted his head up to the lights, closing his eyes. He furrowed his brow, listening hard.
“Uh, Jayne? What’re ya doin’ with my umbrella?”
END
Previous < Vera : Next > T-Rex
Title: Umbrella (3/7)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Post Objects In Space
Summary: “Whatcha up to, Crazy?”
Disclaimer: All the characters are belong to Joss.
Author's Note: Again, thanks to Katsqueaks for the beta. Thanks also to all the rayne shippers who've been so nice and fun to write for! Previous parts can be found here.
Umbrella
Work was getting harder to find and the overall feeling aboard Serenity was pretty miserable. Even Kaylee’s cheer seemed forced. Mal had a few connections on some outer-rim hell-pit no one had heard of, so they were headed out that way, though Mal didn’t seem too hopeful.
When faced with such low spirits, Jayne did what he always did: he went to the cargo bay to work his body into exhaustion so he could get some half-way decent sleep. Sometimes he’d go and the crazy girl would be there humming that weird song she liked, or maybe dancing a little. She was always a nice distraction.
Today was no disappointment. Though she was holding Kaylee’s rainbow-colored umbrella, which was a change.
“Whatcha up to, Crazy?” he called out as he made his way down the stairs.
She had her eyes closed, face tilted up towards the light. “Listening to the waves.”
“Huh?”
“The ocean.”
Jayne sat down on the steps, smirking. “We’re a long ways from any ocean, girl.”
A smile spread across her face. “It’s called make believe."
Oh. Jayne rubbed the back of his neck. “Wouldn’t mind bein’ at a beach, myself. Ain’t been to one in a long time.”
“The sandpipers are playing in the castle she built,” River said. “They can’t decide who should be king so they all are.”
Jayne shook his head. “Sounds confusing.”
“No. They’re happy. Not like here.”
“Times’re hard, that’s all. Once things pick up, we’ll be a damn sight happier than some feng le sandpipers.”
River laughed delightedly, bringing a smile to his own face. She opened her eyes and beckoned to him. “The sun is getting hot. Come share the shade with me.”
He was halfway up before he realized what he was doing. “Girl, I’m too old for games.”
“He’s embarrassed.”
“Am not!” Jayne snapped. “Just think it’s stupid to be playin’ games when we’re facin’ the idea of starvin’ or losin’ the ship.”
The girl spun the umbrella around. “There’s a job waiting. No cause for worry.”
“Yeah?” The worry that had been building in his gut the last month started to dissolve. “You know that for a fact? Seen it with your…?” He wiggled his fingers next to his head.
She giggled and imitated his gesture. “She has. But keep it secret. Overconfidence could ruin everything.”
“Okay,” Jayne said, doubtfully.
River sighed softly. “Simon is looking for her.” She took Jayne by the hand and he nearly leapt out of his skin. But all she did was put the umbrella in his paw and curl his fingers around the handle. Her hands were cool and smooth.
“What’d you do that fer?” he asked, gruffly.
“The castle needs a moat. Say hello to the pipers for me!” River’s eyes glittered in that shiny way he was coming to like and she skipped away.
He stayed standing there, clutching the umbrella and watching where she’d disappeared. Crazy little girl.
But he turned away and tilted his head up to the lights, closing his eyes. He furrowed his brow, listening hard.
“Uh, Jayne? What’re ya doin’ with my umbrella?”
END
Previous < Vera : Next > T-Rex
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Date: 2006-04-01 06:40 pm (UTC)