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toxic_cornSeries: Songs From a Firefly
Title: The Gentleman Who Fell (11/12)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: R
Disclaimer: All is Joss's, I just own the kids.
Summary: Probably the worst day of Jayne's life.
Notes: The rest of the series can be found here. It's almost all over!
Songs From a Firefly
The Gentleman Who Fell
Jamey is 21, Nettie is 17
Jayne looked at the envelope curiously as he walked back to Nettie’s room. Another letter from that ex-boyfriend of hers, Julian. He’d kind of liked the kid when he first met him – a scholarship kid like Nettie, a little older than his daughter – but he wished the little louse would take a hint. She weren’t interested no more.
Thinking she was still out roaming the space station, he slid her door open, intending to leave the letter on her dresser.
So he was horribly shocked to find her in her underwear, straddling Ben Washburne’s lap as she kissed him like he was gonna disappear on her any minute.
He’d never been struck dumb before but there was a first time for everything. Dropping the letter, he backed out the doorway and slammed the door shut. Then he beat hasty retreat, wondering when the hell this little development had first occurred and if his genius wife could invent some kind of brain bleach.
~*~
At the crashing sound, Nettie tore her mouth from Ben’s, panting heavily. “What was that?”
Ben’s hands slid along her sides and he shrugged. “Dunno.”
His callused fingertips made her shiver but she gently pushed him away. “It was probably Nova. I think she knows about us.”
“She does?” Unconcerned, Ben quirked an eyebrow and made a grab for her, but she hopped off his lap, giggling.
“Well, she does live next door, you know.” Nettie stood there a moment, admiring his shirtless golden chest before mentally shaking herself and heading for the door.
If Nova knew about them, she’d never so much as hinted at it in the six weeks since she and Ben had started up. Of course, Nova wasn’t the coy, teasing type and was probably taking her cue from them by keeping silent with her knowledge.
Sliding the door open, Nettie smiled to herself. She still couldn’t believe that she’d made the first move and literally jumped him. After a year at the music academy, she’d come home and realized how beautiful Ben was and wondered how she never could’ve noticed before. But she’d had Julian and wasn’t about to string along two boys; it wasn’t right. It wasn’t until she’d dumped Julian in March that she’d started planning her seduction. It’d been a great plan, too.
But Ben shot it all to hell by wearing those white tank tops of his.
Nettie found no one in the hall, but there was a letter on the floor. She picked it up and groaned when she saw the return address.
“Give it up, already,” she mumbled, tossing the envelope onto her dresser and scrambling back onto the bed. “Now, where were we?”
“Getting dressed before someone comes looking for us,” Ben reminded her, while helping arrange her back into the position they’d been in before.
“Hmmm. That plan’s worse than the ones Cap comes up with.”
“It was your plan, pretty girl.” He found the secret spot on her neck that made her melt and she fell against him.
Nettie purred and nuzzled his cheek. “I never claimed t’ be the brains of the operation.”
Ben kissed her gently in that way that made her feel like spun glass, then pulled back. “We probably should get dressed, though. Cap’s gonna need me to fly this ship outta here pretty soon.”
“Aww, you’re so important!” Nettie cooed and tickled his side. He laughingly batted her hands away. “My big damn hero pilot.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me up, songbird.”
Sighing, she slid out of his lap and climbed under her covers to lay down, forcing him to stand up and search for the clothes that had been scattered around the room in their haste and excitement over having the ship to themselves for awhile.
“I get so bored when you’re not around,” Nettie admitted, quietly. Ben looked up from sliding up his boxers and she blushed. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I’m back in school.”
The look in Ben’s eyes let her know that he knew what she really meant. “Well, I always wanted a pen pal. In the meantime, you got that letter over there to entertain ya before you can see me again.”
“It’s from Julian,” she said disdainfully.
Ben paused for the slightest moment in climbing into his jumpsuit, then continued. His tone was light as he said, “Well, he is your boyfriend.”
Just like that, Nettie’s post-Ben afterglow was gone. “What do you mean?”
He frowned, confused by her tone. “Whaddya mean what do I mean?”
“I don’t know what I’ve done in the space of five seconds to get you so tetchy you’d say something like that!”
Ben’s jaw dropped. “So Julian isn’t your boyfriend?”
“No!” Nettie sat up, shielding her barely covered breasts with her blanket. “I announced it my first day back, don’t act like you don’t know!”
“I didn’t know!” Ben held out a hand as if to placate her. “I must’ve been in the cockpit, I’m sorry.”
Nettie felt sick. “So… all t his time you’ve been with me, you thought I was with Julian?”
“Uhh…”
“Oh my god.” Nettie’s eyes flashed blue flame. “You think I’d actually do something like that?!”
“Nettie-”
“You think I’m just some slut who spreads her legs for anyone, don’t you? You… you…!”
Ben threw his arms up in the air. “What do ya want me to say, Nettie? I apologized! Can’t we just-”
“I think you’ve said enough. You need to leave now.” Nettie found she couldn’t look at him, and picked at some of the loose threads in her bedding.
“Nettie-”
“Please?” She hated how weak she sounded but it got him out the door so she could have a good cry.
~*~
River was jolted out of her nap by Jayne loudly slamming their bunk door shut.
“Babydoll, you ‘wake?”
“It would appear to be so,” River slurred sleepily and sat up, rubbing at her eyes. She was ready to deliver a few sharp words but stopped when she saw the stricken look on her husband’s face. “What is it?”
“It’s Nettie,” he said, shakily.
She kicked the covers off and leapt out of bed. “Is she hurt? Does she-”
“She’s sexin’ Ben!”
River stared at him in disbelief. “Is that it?”
“Is that it? Our daughter’s havin’ sex and you stand there like it aint’ a big deal, like you knowed it all… the…” He frowned. “Time.”
“She didn’t want you to know,” River said, gently. “She knew you’d just get upset.”
Jayne dropped to the bed. “The two o’ you kept this from me?” What he needed right now was a gorramn time machine to take him back to when he was still in the loop when it came to his children’s lives. He’d been effectively shut out of Jamey’s some time ago, but he thought he had more time with Nettie. “You knew about her ‘n Ben?”
“Well, no, I didn’t know about Ben, but-”
“There’s been others?!”
“Just Julian!” River exclaimed.
“That’s still too many! She’s too young t’ be doin’… stuff.”
“Zhang fu, I was her age when you started to notice me,” River pointed out.
“Yeah, but I kept it in my pant’s till you was old enough,” Jayne snarled. “I’m gonna kill that little pissant!”
“He’s young as well,” River said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Calm down.”
Jayne hung his head, suddenly tired. “Why’s she gotta go ‘n do it, huh?”
“Sexual intercourse is a natural drive, Jayne, it’s neither healthy nor wise to sup-”
“I don’t mean that. Well, I guess I do a little. But I mean.. whey’s she gotta keep growin’ up? Why can’t she stay little so’s I can keep ‘er safe from everything? It’s bad enough I got Jamey t’ worry about, why’s the little bit gotta start…”
River sighed and sat down next to him, cuddling into his side. “It’s a conspiracy meant to make you miserable.”
“That’s what it feels like sometimes,” Jayne said glumly.
“Would it make you feel better if you killed Ben?”
“Yes.”
“Well, too bad. If you killed him, Zoe would kill you and I’ve grown to like having you around.”
That brought a smile to Jayne’s face and he pulled her closer. “The things I do for you, woman.”
~*~
Mal couldn’t figure out why the atmosphere at the table was so tense. There hadn’t been any yellin’ all day from what he heard, and no whisperin’ about any secret fights. He wanted right then to get to the bottom of it but had no idea how to start.
He noticed that Nettie was quieter than usual, but that was understandable since she’d gotten another letter from that ex of hers. Mal never liked that kid much anyway…
Dinner conversation was light; Lady was telling a funny story about the director of her dance troupe. Then all hell broke loose.
“Hey, Jayne, couldja pass the salt, please?” Ben asked.
“Why dontcha just take it like you take everything else?!”
Everyone froze.
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Ben asked, looking as bewildered as every other person at the table. Except for River, interestingly, who was glaring nastily at her worse half.
“Yes, Jayne, enlighten us,” Zoe said tightly. “What exactly are you accusing my son of?”
Jayne pointed his fork at Ben. “That little sumbitch’s been defilin’ my daughter!”
“Oh my god!” Nettie looked mortified.
Jamey pushed his plate away. “And there goes my appetite. Thanks, Pop.”
“Defiling?” Ben repeated incredulously.
“Dontcha think you’re overreacting Jayne?” Kaylee asked. “I’m sure Ben isn’t-”
“I seen ‘im at it!” Jayne bellowed. “Why donthca go find some other floozy ‘n leave my daughter alone?!”
“Other floozy?” Nettie’s embarrassment gave way to rage. “Did I miss something? Is this ‘Call Nettie A Whore’ day?!”
Jayne turned purple. “Who’s been callin’ you a whore?!” He pointed at Ben, who was looking mighty miserable, not that Mal blamed him. “This ‘un?”
“And you did, just now,” Nettie said coldly. “Don’t worry about Ben defiling me, it’s over now.”
Jayne rounded on Ben. “Oh, so my little girl ain’t good enough fer ya, is that it?!”
River grabbed his bicep and gave it a warning squeeze. “Jayne, stop it right now!”
“It isn’t like that!” Ben protested.
“Then what’s it like?” Jayne sneered.
“It’s not all seedy like you’re makin’ it sound! I’m in love with your daughter!”
The murmurings going on along the table all through the argument died abruptly at Ben’s words. The normally private young man making such a public declaration knocked everyone for a loop.
Jayne didn’t seem to have much to say to that. He clearly hadn’t been expecting it and seemed a little disappointed that he couldn’t yell anymore.
Nettie broke the silence. “You are?”
Her tentative tone seemed to make Ben aware of his audience and he awkwardly cleared his throat. “Yes.”
She took a deep, shaky breath. “For how long?”
“Since I was twelve.”
“Tw- twelve?”
“That night in the cockpit, remember? A year aft-”
“Yes, I remember.”
Jayne found his voice. “You’ve been sexin’ her since you were twelve?”
River socked him in the arm. Hard.
“Ow!”
Nettie stood up. “I’m full.”
Ben, Jamey, and Jayne got up to follow her, but River gripped her son gently and her husband not so gently. “This is between them.”
Mal looked around at his stunned crew, feeling like he needed to step in and say the captainy thing. “Well. Who’s got a shocking confession to go with dessert?”
~*~
“Nettie!”
She stopped in her tracks and dropped her head into her hands. “I’m way too overwhelmed to talk right now, Ben.”
“So when would be a good time? When Jayne stops being all shocked and decides to kill me anyways?”
“Maybe?” She turned to face him, hating the distressed look on his face, and hating herself for feeling bad for him. “I just don’t understand how one second I’m a whore and the next you’re in love with me.”
“Will ya stop usin’ that word? I never said you were a whore!”
“No. But you made me feel like one.”
Ben swore softly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t-”
“Why did you sleep with me if you thought I was with Julian?” Nettie asked, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “I can’t figure it out. It just doesn’t sound like you.”
“I didn’t really think about it,” Ben admitted. “I was just happy to have you any way that I could. And maybe I thought I could win you away from him.”
Nettie took issue with being referred to as if she was some prize in a little boy pissing contest but decided not to snap at him about it. He looked as if he felt bad enough. She doubted he really meant it that way, anyway.
She sighed, feeling exhausted. “So, what now?”
Ben stared into her eyes. “That’s up to you.”
“Well, I don’t know either!” Nettie snapped. “You’ve dropped so much on me and I don’t… I don’t…”
“Don’t what?”
“I don’t know how this works.” She motioned to herself and him. “I loved Julian but I guess not the way he wanted me to. And other than…” she blushed and Ben nodded his understanding that she was referring to her crush on Cap. “I don’t know how.”
Ben took a step closer, smiling gently. “I’m not all that experienced either, songbird.” He reached out a hand and traced her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “If you want, we can start again and go slow.”
“Slow is good,” Nettie whispered, feeling her knees turn to pudding under his attention.
“Uh huh,” he agreed, leaning closer, his mouth millimeters from her own.
“That don’t look slow to me.”
They broke apart and turned to see Anna, David, and Vee in the mess doorway. All three were grinning, but David arranged his features into mock ferocity and pointed aggressively at Ben.
“If you hurt my cousin again, I’ll kill ya, Washburne!”
“And I’ll find a nice spot t’ bury ya.” Anna giggled, nudging her big brother with her elbow so David smirked at her.
“And I’ll kill ya twice,” Vee said.
“Hey! You’re my big sister, aintcha s’posed t’ be on my side?” Ben looked like he couldn’t decide whether to be offended or amused.
Vee raised an eyebrow. “Where’s that writ?”
“How ‘bout you move the panel discussion outta the hallway?” Cap called in his sarcastic “great idea” voice.
Ben took Nettie’s hand. “Come on, I’ll walk ya to yer dorm.”
~*~
Nettie didn’t invite Ben inside and he didn’t ask. Both of them knew they’d rushed into this way too fast and they were all for slowing down.
But before she let Ben leave, Nettie ripped up Julian’s letter, unread, right before his delighted eyes.
END
**********
Additional Note: I'm not using the Nettie icon because it just felt kind of yucky. Besides, I picture older!Nettie as Milla Jovovich. I found the perfect picture and I should post it sometime. Probably when I put together the Songs From a Firefly Soundtrack. Well. When or if. Most likely "if."
***********
Track Eleven < Send Me A Song : Track Twelve > The Ballad of Serenity
Title: The Gentleman Who Fell (11/12)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: R
Disclaimer: All is Joss's, I just own the kids.
Summary: Probably the worst day of Jayne's life.
Notes: The rest of the series can be found here. It's almost all over!
Songs From a Firefly
The Gentleman Who Fell
Jamey is 21, Nettie is 17
Jayne looked at the envelope curiously as he walked back to Nettie’s room. Another letter from that ex-boyfriend of hers, Julian. He’d kind of liked the kid when he first met him – a scholarship kid like Nettie, a little older than his daughter – but he wished the little louse would take a hint. She weren’t interested no more.
Thinking she was still out roaming the space station, he slid her door open, intending to leave the letter on her dresser.
So he was horribly shocked to find her in her underwear, straddling Ben Washburne’s lap as she kissed him like he was gonna disappear on her any minute.
He’d never been struck dumb before but there was a first time for everything. Dropping the letter, he backed out the doorway and slammed the door shut. Then he beat hasty retreat, wondering when the hell this little development had first occurred and if his genius wife could invent some kind of brain bleach.
At the crashing sound, Nettie tore her mouth from Ben’s, panting heavily. “What was that?”
Ben’s hands slid along her sides and he shrugged. “Dunno.”
His callused fingertips made her shiver but she gently pushed him away. “It was probably Nova. I think she knows about us.”
“She does?” Unconcerned, Ben quirked an eyebrow and made a grab for her, but she hopped off his lap, giggling.
“Well, she does live next door, you know.” Nettie stood there a moment, admiring his shirtless golden chest before mentally shaking herself and heading for the door.
If Nova knew about them, she’d never so much as hinted at it in the six weeks since she and Ben had started up. Of course, Nova wasn’t the coy, teasing type and was probably taking her cue from them by keeping silent with her knowledge.
Sliding the door open, Nettie smiled to herself. She still couldn’t believe that she’d made the first move and literally jumped him. After a year at the music academy, she’d come home and realized how beautiful Ben was and wondered how she never could’ve noticed before. But she’d had Julian and wasn’t about to string along two boys; it wasn’t right. It wasn’t until she’d dumped Julian in March that she’d started planning her seduction. It’d been a great plan, too.
But Ben shot it all to hell by wearing those white tank tops of his.
Nettie found no one in the hall, but there was a letter on the floor. She picked it up and groaned when she saw the return address.
“Give it up, already,” she mumbled, tossing the envelope onto her dresser and scrambling back onto the bed. “Now, where were we?”
“Getting dressed before someone comes looking for us,” Ben reminded her, while helping arrange her back into the position they’d been in before.
“Hmmm. That plan’s worse than the ones Cap comes up with.”
“It was your plan, pretty girl.” He found the secret spot on her neck that made her melt and she fell against him.
Nettie purred and nuzzled his cheek. “I never claimed t’ be the brains of the operation.”
Ben kissed her gently in that way that made her feel like spun glass, then pulled back. “We probably should get dressed, though. Cap’s gonna need me to fly this ship outta here pretty soon.”
“Aww, you’re so important!” Nettie cooed and tickled his side. He laughingly batted her hands away. “My big damn hero pilot.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me up, songbird.”
Sighing, she slid out of his lap and climbed under her covers to lay down, forcing him to stand up and search for the clothes that had been scattered around the room in their haste and excitement over having the ship to themselves for awhile.
“I get so bored when you’re not around,” Nettie admitted, quietly. Ben looked up from sliding up his boxers and she blushed. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I’m back in school.”
The look in Ben’s eyes let her know that he knew what she really meant. “Well, I always wanted a pen pal. In the meantime, you got that letter over there to entertain ya before you can see me again.”
“It’s from Julian,” she said disdainfully.
Ben paused for the slightest moment in climbing into his jumpsuit, then continued. His tone was light as he said, “Well, he is your boyfriend.”
Just like that, Nettie’s post-Ben afterglow was gone. “What do you mean?”
He frowned, confused by her tone. “Whaddya mean what do I mean?”
“I don’t know what I’ve done in the space of five seconds to get you so tetchy you’d say something like that!”
Ben’s jaw dropped. “So Julian isn’t your boyfriend?”
“No!” Nettie sat up, shielding her barely covered breasts with her blanket. “I announced it my first day back, don’t act like you don’t know!”
“I didn’t know!” Ben held out a hand as if to placate her. “I must’ve been in the cockpit, I’m sorry.”
Nettie felt sick. “So… all t his time you’ve been with me, you thought I was with Julian?”
“Uhh…”
“Oh my god.” Nettie’s eyes flashed blue flame. “You think I’d actually do something like that?!”
“Nettie-”
“You think I’m just some slut who spreads her legs for anyone, don’t you? You… you…!”
Ben threw his arms up in the air. “What do ya want me to say, Nettie? I apologized! Can’t we just-”
“I think you’ve said enough. You need to leave now.” Nettie found she couldn’t look at him, and picked at some of the loose threads in her bedding.
“Nettie-”
“Please?” She hated how weak she sounded but it got him out the door so she could have a good cry.
River was jolted out of her nap by Jayne loudly slamming their bunk door shut.
“Babydoll, you ‘wake?”
“It would appear to be so,” River slurred sleepily and sat up, rubbing at her eyes. She was ready to deliver a few sharp words but stopped when she saw the stricken look on her husband’s face. “What is it?”
“It’s Nettie,” he said, shakily.
She kicked the covers off and leapt out of bed. “Is she hurt? Does she-”
“She’s sexin’ Ben!”
River stared at him in disbelief. “Is that it?”
“Is that it? Our daughter’s havin’ sex and you stand there like it aint’ a big deal, like you knowed it all… the…” He frowned. “Time.”
“She didn’t want you to know,” River said, gently. “She knew you’d just get upset.”
Jayne dropped to the bed. “The two o’ you kept this from me?” What he needed right now was a gorramn time machine to take him back to when he was still in the loop when it came to his children’s lives. He’d been effectively shut out of Jamey’s some time ago, but he thought he had more time with Nettie. “You knew about her ‘n Ben?”
“Well, no, I didn’t know about Ben, but-”
“There’s been others?!”
“Just Julian!” River exclaimed.
“That’s still too many! She’s too young t’ be doin’… stuff.”
“Zhang fu, I was her age when you started to notice me,” River pointed out.
“Yeah, but I kept it in my pant’s till you was old enough,” Jayne snarled. “I’m gonna kill that little pissant!”
“He’s young as well,” River said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Calm down.”
Jayne hung his head, suddenly tired. “Why’s she gotta go ‘n do it, huh?”
“Sexual intercourse is a natural drive, Jayne, it’s neither healthy nor wise to sup-”
“I don’t mean that. Well, I guess I do a little. But I mean.. whey’s she gotta keep growin’ up? Why can’t she stay little so’s I can keep ‘er safe from everything? It’s bad enough I got Jamey t’ worry about, why’s the little bit gotta start…”
River sighed and sat down next to him, cuddling into his side. “It’s a conspiracy meant to make you miserable.”
“That’s what it feels like sometimes,” Jayne said glumly.
“Would it make you feel better if you killed Ben?”
“Yes.”
“Well, too bad. If you killed him, Zoe would kill you and I’ve grown to like having you around.”
That brought a smile to Jayne’s face and he pulled her closer. “The things I do for you, woman.”
Mal couldn’t figure out why the atmosphere at the table was so tense. There hadn’t been any yellin’ all day from what he heard, and no whisperin’ about any secret fights. He wanted right then to get to the bottom of it but had no idea how to start.
He noticed that Nettie was quieter than usual, but that was understandable since she’d gotten another letter from that ex of hers. Mal never liked that kid much anyway…
Dinner conversation was light; Lady was telling a funny story about the director of her dance troupe. Then all hell broke loose.
“Hey, Jayne, couldja pass the salt, please?” Ben asked.
“Why dontcha just take it like you take everything else?!”
Everyone froze.
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Ben asked, looking as bewildered as every other person at the table. Except for River, interestingly, who was glaring nastily at her worse half.
“Yes, Jayne, enlighten us,” Zoe said tightly. “What exactly are you accusing my son of?”
Jayne pointed his fork at Ben. “That little sumbitch’s been defilin’ my daughter!”
“Oh my god!” Nettie looked mortified.
Jamey pushed his plate away. “And there goes my appetite. Thanks, Pop.”
“Defiling?” Ben repeated incredulously.
“Dontcha think you’re overreacting Jayne?” Kaylee asked. “I’m sure Ben isn’t-”
“I seen ‘im at it!” Jayne bellowed. “Why donthca go find some other floozy ‘n leave my daughter alone?!”
“Other floozy?” Nettie’s embarrassment gave way to rage. “Did I miss something? Is this ‘Call Nettie A Whore’ day?!”
Jayne turned purple. “Who’s been callin’ you a whore?!” He pointed at Ben, who was looking mighty miserable, not that Mal blamed him. “This ‘un?”
“And you did, just now,” Nettie said coldly. “Don’t worry about Ben defiling me, it’s over now.”
Jayne rounded on Ben. “Oh, so my little girl ain’t good enough fer ya, is that it?!”
River grabbed his bicep and gave it a warning squeeze. “Jayne, stop it right now!”
“It isn’t like that!” Ben protested.
“Then what’s it like?” Jayne sneered.
“It’s not all seedy like you’re makin’ it sound! I’m in love with your daughter!”
The murmurings going on along the table all through the argument died abruptly at Ben’s words. The normally private young man making such a public declaration knocked everyone for a loop.
Jayne didn’t seem to have much to say to that. He clearly hadn’t been expecting it and seemed a little disappointed that he couldn’t yell anymore.
Nettie broke the silence. “You are?”
Her tentative tone seemed to make Ben aware of his audience and he awkwardly cleared his throat. “Yes.”
She took a deep, shaky breath. “For how long?”
“Since I was twelve.”
“Tw- twelve?”
“That night in the cockpit, remember? A year aft-”
“Yes, I remember.”
Jayne found his voice. “You’ve been sexin’ her since you were twelve?”
River socked him in the arm. Hard.
“Ow!”
Nettie stood up. “I’m full.”
Ben, Jamey, and Jayne got up to follow her, but River gripped her son gently and her husband not so gently. “This is between them.”
Mal looked around at his stunned crew, feeling like he needed to step in and say the captainy thing. “Well. Who’s got a shocking confession to go with dessert?”
“Nettie!”
She stopped in her tracks and dropped her head into her hands. “I’m way too overwhelmed to talk right now, Ben.”
“So when would be a good time? When Jayne stops being all shocked and decides to kill me anyways?”
“Maybe?” She turned to face him, hating the distressed look on his face, and hating herself for feeling bad for him. “I just don’t understand how one second I’m a whore and the next you’re in love with me.”
“Will ya stop usin’ that word? I never said you were a whore!”
“No. But you made me feel like one.”
Ben swore softly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t-”
“Why did you sleep with me if you thought I was with Julian?” Nettie asked, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “I can’t figure it out. It just doesn’t sound like you.”
“I didn’t really think about it,” Ben admitted. “I was just happy to have you any way that I could. And maybe I thought I could win you away from him.”
Nettie took issue with being referred to as if she was some prize in a little boy pissing contest but decided not to snap at him about it. He looked as if he felt bad enough. She doubted he really meant it that way, anyway.
She sighed, feeling exhausted. “So, what now?”
Ben stared into her eyes. “That’s up to you.”
“Well, I don’t know either!” Nettie snapped. “You’ve dropped so much on me and I don’t… I don’t…”
“Don’t what?”
“I don’t know how this works.” She motioned to herself and him. “I loved Julian but I guess not the way he wanted me to. And other than…” she blushed and Ben nodded his understanding that she was referring to her crush on Cap. “I don’t know how.”
Ben took a step closer, smiling gently. “I’m not all that experienced either, songbird.” He reached out a hand and traced her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “If you want, we can start again and go slow.”
“Slow is good,” Nettie whispered, feeling her knees turn to pudding under his attention.
“Uh huh,” he agreed, leaning closer, his mouth millimeters from her own.
“That don’t look slow to me.”
They broke apart and turned to see Anna, David, and Vee in the mess doorway. All three were grinning, but David arranged his features into mock ferocity and pointed aggressively at Ben.
“If you hurt my cousin again, I’ll kill ya, Washburne!”
“And I’ll find a nice spot t’ bury ya.” Anna giggled, nudging her big brother with her elbow so David smirked at her.
“And I’ll kill ya twice,” Vee said.
“Hey! You’re my big sister, aintcha s’posed t’ be on my side?” Ben looked like he couldn’t decide whether to be offended or amused.
Vee raised an eyebrow. “Where’s that writ?”
“How ‘bout you move the panel discussion outta the hallway?” Cap called in his sarcastic “great idea” voice.
Ben took Nettie’s hand. “Come on, I’ll walk ya to yer dorm.”
Nettie didn’t invite Ben inside and he didn’t ask. Both of them knew they’d rushed into this way too fast and they were all for slowing down.
But before she let Ben leave, Nettie ripped up Julian’s letter, unread, right before his delighted eyes.
END
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Additional Note: I'm not using the Nettie icon because it just felt kind of yucky. Besides, I picture older!Nettie as Milla Jovovich. I found the perfect picture and I should post it sometime. Probably when I put together the Songs From a Firefly Soundtrack. Well. When or if. Most likely "if."
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Track Eleven < Send Me A Song : Track Twelve > The Ballad of Serenity
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no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 03:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 03:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 03:48 am (UTC)Such a great series. I can't believe there's only one more chapter left. =(
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Date: 2006-09-26 03:53 am (UTC)I'm getting sad myself that it's ending. But there'll be an epilogue so even when I post the final chapter, it still won't be over yet. And I'm bringing Nettie back into my next series but the less I say about that one the better. *zips lip*
no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 04:17 am (UTC)Possibly the greatest line of the entire week. I mean, those perfect Mal lines, when they hit ya, they hit hard. And you've just gotta use 'em.
There was snortage with optional spittage.
Also, I thought I should mention something I just realized: Whenever I see your sn, I get Jack Johnson's "Sexi Plexi" in my head, but it's "Toxic Schmoxic" instead of "Sexi Plexi." And that is yer song, in my brain.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 04:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 04:29 am (UTC)...
I'm not writing that fic. *looks at huge stack of plot bunnies I still have to write* There's just no rooom!
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Date: 2006-09-26 12:10 pm (UTC)The more I look at it, the more I realize that the shoulders are terribly off. I mean, it was for a little baby... and I had to fit angry!SerenitythePilot!Jayne into the little head hole. And I honestly think that for a first attempt, it's not bad. I kind of wish I'd slowed down some parts of it though. It's kind of hard on my eyes to keep watching it now. Oh well. It's meant to be kind of ridiculous.
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Date: 2006-09-26 04:27 am (UTC)I have never heard this song. Now I must if you're associating it with me.
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Date: 2006-09-26 04:23 am (UTC)As always I love this chapter. I'm proud of Jayne for not going back in Nettie's room and killing Ben after he first walked in there.
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Date: 2006-09-26 04:33 am (UTC)Ha, I wanted the confrontation to be at dinner and it took a lot to stop Jayne from storming in and killing poor Ben. So I went with horrible shock to keep him from going in, guns a blazin'.
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Date: 2006-09-26 07:41 am (UTC)Privacy must be the most precious commodity in the verse on that ship, everything gets an audience and a running commentary :)
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Date: 2006-09-26 05:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 05:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 09:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 07:12 pm (UTC)all protective and clumsy and spurting everyhting out before thinking. Awwww! I just want to hug him... and slap him!
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Date: 2006-09-26 09:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 12:14 am (UTC)Actually the thought of Ben and Nettie togethers is all kinds of cute!
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Date: 2006-09-27 12:29 am (UTC)I'm glad you like the Nettie/Ben! I don't think my beta was as into the idea because she was really rooting for Nettie/Mal.
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Date: 2006-09-29 06:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-29 11:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-29 11:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-29 11:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-28 11:12 pm (UTC)http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f254/nitemare_knight/Milla%20Jovovich/milla_jovovich.jpg
no subject
Date: 2008-03-28 11:28 pm (UTC)