![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
toxic_cornSeries: Where in the 'Verse is River Tam?
Title: The Beach (2/6)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All the characters are belong to Joss.
Summary: Even petty thieves need a holiday.
AN: Again, I'm posting this unbetaed. Mostly because I'm eager to get this out there; it's been a long while since I last updated this... sorry. Once Kat sends me corrections, I'll post them. *crosses heart* This is the sequel to Filcher. Previous part can be found here.
Where in the ‘Verse is River Tam?
The Beach
“Explain to me again why I’m carryin’ you on my back.”
“Because the sand is hot and burns my feet.”
“Why don’t you wear those sandals your brother got you?”
“Because I have a Jayne to carry me.”
He grumbled but River knew it was all for show. He liked it when she relied on him for something; it made him feel needed. Yet he didn’t want it to look like some little girl had him wrapped around her finger. Her Jayne was so full of contradictions. With a happy sigh, she let her arms dangle down his front and rested her chin on his shoulder.
“Here’s a good spot!” Kaylee called.
The whole beach was a good spot. The captain had chosen a weekday for their expedition and everyone on the planet was either at work or at school; the beach was empty.
Kaylee spread out a blanket as Simon stuck an umbrella into the sand.
“Can I putcha down now?”
River rolled her eyes. “Yes. Whiner.” When he set her down he swatted her behind and she giggled.
Simon looked pained but had learned not to comment on River and Jayne’s new relationship. The boot to the head he received last time had done wonders for his education.
“Here, Jayne.” Book handed Jayne his and River’s blanket and towels.
“Thanks, shepherd. I woulda carried ‘em myself only-”
“You had a more precious load to carry.” Book winked at River and started spreading out his own blanket.
River couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease Jayne. As the Captain, Zoe, and Wash approached with their surfboards, she looked up at him wide-eyed and said, “Do you really think I’m precious?”
The others watched in interest as Jayne’s jaw dropped.
“Well, Jayne? Are ya gonna answer the girl’s question?” Mal prompted him.
“Yeah, I’m gonna answer,” Jayne growled. He looked at River’s expectant face and cleared his throat. “You know ya are.”
Mal snorted. “Zoe? How would you feel if Wash answered that question that way?”
“Pretty annoyed, sir,” Zoe answered, the ghost of a smile hovering around her lips.
“Pretty annoyed?” Wash repeated incredulously. “I think I’d be walking funny for at least a week.”
Jayne’s nostrils flared and River bit her lip to keep from laughing. Sometimes this was just too easy.
“I think yer precious, okay?” Jayne muttered. He dropped the blanket to the ground and started smoothing it out with a concentration he usually reserved for cleaning his guns.
With the show over, the group started to disperse. The Captain, Zoe, and Wash headed towards the water with Wash assuring them he’d have them surfing expertly in no time. Inara settled on her towel and opened a book while the shepherd sat with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun. Kaylee sifted through the cooler to make sure no one (i.e. Jayne) had been sneaking the snacks and Simon pulled out the sunblock.
“Mei mei, come here and put some of this on,” Simon said.
River looked to Jayne and saw that he’d taken his tank top off and was laying on the blanket, hands folded behind his head. Having a boyfriend meant he should be the one rubbing lotion on her body, not her brother. But said boyfriend wasn’t moving.
Sighing heavily, River plopped down in front of Simon and allowed him to smear the lotion on her face and back, opting to take care of the rest herself. She glanced over at Jayne and smiled.
“Are you done with this?” River asked, waving the bottle.
“Er, yes. Kaylee and I… put some on before we came out here,” Simon said, blushing when Kaylee started to giggle evilly.
That was amusing, bur entirely too much information. River hopped up and went to kneel at Jayne’s side. His breathing was heavy but he wasn’t quite asleep yet since he wasn’t snoring.
So she uncapped the bottle and squeezed cold lotion on his belly.
“Christ on a cracker!” Jayne jerked and lifted his sunglasses to glare at her. “What’re ya doin’ to me, girl?!”
“Just making sure you don’t burn,” River said in a small voice.
Jayne relaxed a little. “Oh. Well, that stuff’s cold. Yer supposed to rub it ‘tween yer hands to warm it up first.”
“Apologies.” River scooped up some of the lotion on his belly and started to spread it across his chest. She soon was so absorbed in her task and enjoying the texture of his warm, tight skin that his purring startled her back to herself.
Oh. It was safe to say that his chest was sufficiently protected from harmful UV rays. She squeezed more lotion into her hands and got his arms, legs, and face.
“Roll over,” she requested softly.
Murmuring, Jayne did as she asked without a fuss and she brushed a kiss over his ear in thanks.
Straddling his butt, River rubbed the sunblock into his neck and the muscles of his back, massaging away any knots she came across.
Jayne groaned. “Oh baby doll, yer ‘bout the most precious damn thing in the ‘verse. More to the left.”
She giggled and did as he asked, then made sure she got the backs of his legs.
“There!” She said proudly. “Time to go play.”
He didn’t move.
“Jayne? You’re now protected from the sun. Come play in the water with me.”
“Awww. ‘M all relaxed now. I wanna take a nap.”
Why hadn’t she seen this coming?
“You can take a nap anytime. We’re at the beach now and you want to sleep?” She shook her head. “Such a waste of ocean.”
“Look, gimmie an hour an’ then I’ll do whatever the hell you want, all right?”
She stuck her tongue out at his back. “Fine. Boring Jayne.”
“Yeah, that’s me. Mr. Boring,” Jayne slurred sleepily.
Scowling, River stood up and made sure to “accidentally” kick Jayne on the way to Simon and Kaylee’s blanket.
“River!” Kaylee smiled brightly. “Me ‘n Simon was about to go down to the jetty ‘n look at the tide pools. Wanna come?”
Funny enough, being a third wheel didn’t sound like much fun. She shook her head and picked up the red plastic bucket and yellow spade Kaylee had bought in town.
“May I use these?”
“Sure, have fun.”
Simon helped Kaylee to her feet and pointed down the beach to the rocks. “We’ll just be down there, River. If you need anything-”
“I’ll be fine, Simon.”
“Well, if you’re sure…” And Kaylee succeeded in dragging him away.
Uncertain what she was going to do, River headed down to the water. She saw little figures in the distance riding the waves as if they were one with the water. It looked like fun. Too bad Simon and Jayne would have apoplectic fits if she tried surfing.
A sudden feeling of loneliness made her mouth droop. Everybody had somebody today. Even Inara and the shepherd had paired off and were taking a walk, arm in arm. She thought having Jayne would end the loneliness.
Well, she thought wrong.
Angrily, she scooped up a bucket of water and started to run back to the blankets, intending to douse a certain sleeping mercenary. But a piece of driftwood grabbed her foot and yanked her to the ground. She fell to the sand with a painful THUD. The bucket spilled and the thirsty sand drank her water.
She pouted. “Salt water only exacerbates the thirst, it doesn’t relieve it.” She slapped the wet sand. “Greedy.” Scowling, she sat up and jammed the spade into the ground. The action brought back a memory of past seaside visits her family had taken.
How long had it been since she’d built a sandcastle? The last time was long before she went to the academy. Here’s hoping her skills weren’t too rusty.
“A girl’s home is her castle,” River muttered, digging and building a large mound.
The hour mark Jayne had set came and went but she hardly noticed as she sculpted her creation, occasionally stopping to run and get more water.
Smoothing the sand one last time, River sat back to admire the result.
“That’s amazing!” Simon’s voice called.
River grinned at Kaylee and Simon as they walked toward her hand in hand.
“It looks just like Serenity,” Kaylee enthused. “I’m gonna go get my vid capture, hold on!”
As the mechanic darted off, River asked, “How were the tide pools?”
Simon looked flustered. “Very… educational.”
“Well, now, looks like you’ve been mighty productive, little witch.” The captain and the others approached, boards under their arms and looking tired and happy. “Real life like, isn’t it, Zoe?”
“Like you could climb right on board, sir.” Zoe smiled warmly.
Wash studied the sand sculpture seriously. “You didn’t miss a detail. Nice work, River.”
“I’m gonna want a copy of that capture once Kaylee takes it.” Mal beamed and looped an arm around River’s shoulders in a brotherly embrace.
Kaylee returned just then and she wasn’t alone. “See, Jayne? Ain’t it shiny? I was never all that good at makin’ sandcastles. I always liked diggin’ moats into a little canal system.”
Jayne was wearing his sunglasses but River could tell he wasn’t looking at sand Serenity. She gently pulled away from the captain and went to stand by Jayne’s side.
“Now will you play with me?” River smiled up at him winningly. I’m choosing you, Jayne. I’ll always choose you.
Jayne looked at her a moment almost as if he were reading her thoughts and then nodded. “Yeah.”
Whooping, River took his hand and ran into the water. “Let’s go wave jumping!”
“What?”
“Wave jumping! When the waves roll in, you jump over them.”
“What the hell kind o’ game is that?”
“A fun one. Here we go!”
Jayne was reluctant but soon caught River’s enthusiasm for leaping over the waves, especially when the water got deeper and getting knocked over happened more often. One particular wave bowled River right over and shoved her back to shallower water. She emerged, sputtering and her nose and eyes stinging from the salt water.
Jayne laughed uncontrollably but asked, “You okay, bao bei?”
A warm glow started in her chest and spread to her extremities. “Say that again.”
“Are you okay?” Jayne stopped laughing and came closer, concern etched in his face.
“Not that. The other thing.”
Now he just looked confused. “What else did I say? Oh!” He knelt down in front of her. “Bao bei.”
She launched herself into his arms. “Never called her that before!”
Jayne chuckled. “Gonna have to call you that more often if this is the reaction I get.”
River pulled away just enough to look up into his face. “Start now.”
His smile was more shiny than the sunlight reflecting on the water around them. “Bao bei,” he rumbled and pressed his mouth to hers.
Since Jayne had admitted his feelings for her, they had kissed many times. Before bed, before he went out on jobs, when she was having one of her worse days and felt miserable, or when she’d climb into his lap whenever he was in the mess. Those kisses were usually sweet and almost chaste in nature. As if he were afraid that she’d shatter or tear away from him otherwise.
But this kiss was different. It was slow, and wet, and deep and was he biting her lip? She could taste the grape soda he must’ve drank earlier and his laughter from a moment before. The sensations were overwhelming and she started to shake from the power of them.
Jayne broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to her temple, trying to get his breathing under control. He raised his hands from where he’d been gripping her waist and rubbed up and down her arms.
“You’re gettin’ cold, baby girl. Should take you back to dry land and wrap ya up in one o’ the towels.”
“Not cold.”
He snorted. “Then why are ya shakin’?”
“Jayne reaction.”
“Jayne reaction?”
“Yes.”
“Girl, you are the oddest female in creation.” But he sounded pleased. “All the same, we been out here for so long, it’s time we go back in. I still have to go with Mal to meet his gorram contact.”
River sighed. “Fine.” She let him draw her to her feet and laced her fingers with his. “Maybe the captain will let us come back soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Jayne said. “You know how he gets all tetchy when anyone tries ta have any fun.”
As if to prove Jayne’s point, when they joined the others everyone was packing up, looking disappointed.
“Cap’n, can’t we stay here while you and Jayne and Zoe go?” Kaylee begged.
“No, if the deal goes south, I want everyone on Serenity for a quick getaway.”
“That’s showin’ some foresight for once,” Jayne muttered.
Mal glared at him. “Got something you’d like to share with everyone, Jayne?”
Jayne wrapped a towel around River and scooped her up. “Me? Nope. Let’s go meet your ruttin’ contact and get us a job. Shepherd, you mind…?”
Book picked up Jayne’s blanket and shook the sand out of it. “Not at all.”
“He doesn’t need to carry her,” River protested. “The sand has cooled and won’t burn her feet.”
“Sure I do.” Jayne gave her a squeeze. “Precious load, remember?”
END
Previous < The Dance : Next > The Abbey
Title: The Beach (2/6)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All the characters are belong to Joss.
Summary: Even petty thieves need a holiday.
AN: Again, I'm posting this unbetaed. Mostly because I'm eager to get this out there; it's been a long while since I last updated this... sorry. Once Kat sends me corrections, I'll post them. *crosses heart* This is the sequel to Filcher. Previous part can be found here.
Where in the ‘Verse is River Tam?
The Beach
“Explain to me again why I’m carryin’ you on my back.”
“Because the sand is hot and burns my feet.”
“Why don’t you wear those sandals your brother got you?”
“Because I have a Jayne to carry me.”
He grumbled but River knew it was all for show. He liked it when she relied on him for something; it made him feel needed. Yet he didn’t want it to look like some little girl had him wrapped around her finger. Her Jayne was so full of contradictions. With a happy sigh, she let her arms dangle down his front and rested her chin on his shoulder.
“Here’s a good spot!” Kaylee called.
The whole beach was a good spot. The captain had chosen a weekday for their expedition and everyone on the planet was either at work or at school; the beach was empty.
Kaylee spread out a blanket as Simon stuck an umbrella into the sand.
“Can I putcha down now?”
River rolled her eyes. “Yes. Whiner.” When he set her down he swatted her behind and she giggled.
Simon looked pained but had learned not to comment on River and Jayne’s new relationship. The boot to the head he received last time had done wonders for his education.
“Here, Jayne.” Book handed Jayne his and River’s blanket and towels.
“Thanks, shepherd. I woulda carried ‘em myself only-”
“You had a more precious load to carry.” Book winked at River and started spreading out his own blanket.
River couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease Jayne. As the Captain, Zoe, and Wash approached with their surfboards, she looked up at him wide-eyed and said, “Do you really think I’m precious?”
The others watched in interest as Jayne’s jaw dropped.
“Well, Jayne? Are ya gonna answer the girl’s question?” Mal prompted him.
“Yeah, I’m gonna answer,” Jayne growled. He looked at River’s expectant face and cleared his throat. “You know ya are.”
Mal snorted. “Zoe? How would you feel if Wash answered that question that way?”
“Pretty annoyed, sir,” Zoe answered, the ghost of a smile hovering around her lips.
“Pretty annoyed?” Wash repeated incredulously. “I think I’d be walking funny for at least a week.”
Jayne’s nostrils flared and River bit her lip to keep from laughing. Sometimes this was just too easy.
“I think yer precious, okay?” Jayne muttered. He dropped the blanket to the ground and started smoothing it out with a concentration he usually reserved for cleaning his guns.
With the show over, the group started to disperse. The Captain, Zoe, and Wash headed towards the water with Wash assuring them he’d have them surfing expertly in no time. Inara settled on her towel and opened a book while the shepherd sat with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun. Kaylee sifted through the cooler to make sure no one (i.e. Jayne) had been sneaking the snacks and Simon pulled out the sunblock.
“Mei mei, come here and put some of this on,” Simon said.
River looked to Jayne and saw that he’d taken his tank top off and was laying on the blanket, hands folded behind his head. Having a boyfriend meant he should be the one rubbing lotion on her body, not her brother. But said boyfriend wasn’t moving.
Sighing heavily, River plopped down in front of Simon and allowed him to smear the lotion on her face and back, opting to take care of the rest herself. She glanced over at Jayne and smiled.
“Are you done with this?” River asked, waving the bottle.
“Er, yes. Kaylee and I… put some on before we came out here,” Simon said, blushing when Kaylee started to giggle evilly.
That was amusing, bur entirely too much information. River hopped up and went to kneel at Jayne’s side. His breathing was heavy but he wasn’t quite asleep yet since he wasn’t snoring.
So she uncapped the bottle and squeezed cold lotion on his belly.
“Christ on a cracker!” Jayne jerked and lifted his sunglasses to glare at her. “What’re ya doin’ to me, girl?!”
“Just making sure you don’t burn,” River said in a small voice.
Jayne relaxed a little. “Oh. Well, that stuff’s cold. Yer supposed to rub it ‘tween yer hands to warm it up first.”
“Apologies.” River scooped up some of the lotion on his belly and started to spread it across his chest. She soon was so absorbed in her task and enjoying the texture of his warm, tight skin that his purring startled her back to herself.
Oh. It was safe to say that his chest was sufficiently protected from harmful UV rays. She squeezed more lotion into her hands and got his arms, legs, and face.
“Roll over,” she requested softly.
Murmuring, Jayne did as she asked without a fuss and she brushed a kiss over his ear in thanks.
Straddling his butt, River rubbed the sunblock into his neck and the muscles of his back, massaging away any knots she came across.
Jayne groaned. “Oh baby doll, yer ‘bout the most precious damn thing in the ‘verse. More to the left.”
She giggled and did as he asked, then made sure she got the backs of his legs.
“There!” She said proudly. “Time to go play.”
He didn’t move.
“Jayne? You’re now protected from the sun. Come play in the water with me.”
“Awww. ‘M all relaxed now. I wanna take a nap.”
Why hadn’t she seen this coming?
“You can take a nap anytime. We’re at the beach now and you want to sleep?” She shook her head. “Such a waste of ocean.”
“Look, gimmie an hour an’ then I’ll do whatever the hell you want, all right?”
She stuck her tongue out at his back. “Fine. Boring Jayne.”
“Yeah, that’s me. Mr. Boring,” Jayne slurred sleepily.
Scowling, River stood up and made sure to “accidentally” kick Jayne on the way to Simon and Kaylee’s blanket.
“River!” Kaylee smiled brightly. “Me ‘n Simon was about to go down to the jetty ‘n look at the tide pools. Wanna come?”
Funny enough, being a third wheel didn’t sound like much fun. She shook her head and picked up the red plastic bucket and yellow spade Kaylee had bought in town.
“May I use these?”
“Sure, have fun.”
Simon helped Kaylee to her feet and pointed down the beach to the rocks. “We’ll just be down there, River. If you need anything-”
“I’ll be fine, Simon.”
“Well, if you’re sure…” And Kaylee succeeded in dragging him away.
Uncertain what she was going to do, River headed down to the water. She saw little figures in the distance riding the waves as if they were one with the water. It looked like fun. Too bad Simon and Jayne would have apoplectic fits if she tried surfing.
A sudden feeling of loneliness made her mouth droop. Everybody had somebody today. Even Inara and the shepherd had paired off and were taking a walk, arm in arm. She thought having Jayne would end the loneliness.
Well, she thought wrong.
Angrily, she scooped up a bucket of water and started to run back to the blankets, intending to douse a certain sleeping mercenary. But a piece of driftwood grabbed her foot and yanked her to the ground. She fell to the sand with a painful THUD. The bucket spilled and the thirsty sand drank her water.
She pouted. “Salt water only exacerbates the thirst, it doesn’t relieve it.” She slapped the wet sand. “Greedy.” Scowling, she sat up and jammed the spade into the ground. The action brought back a memory of past seaside visits her family had taken.
How long had it been since she’d built a sandcastle? The last time was long before she went to the academy. Here’s hoping her skills weren’t too rusty.
“A girl’s home is her castle,” River muttered, digging and building a large mound.
The hour mark Jayne had set came and went but she hardly noticed as she sculpted her creation, occasionally stopping to run and get more water.
Smoothing the sand one last time, River sat back to admire the result.
“That’s amazing!” Simon’s voice called.
River grinned at Kaylee and Simon as they walked toward her hand in hand.
“It looks just like Serenity,” Kaylee enthused. “I’m gonna go get my vid capture, hold on!”
As the mechanic darted off, River asked, “How were the tide pools?”
Simon looked flustered. “Very… educational.”
“Well, now, looks like you’ve been mighty productive, little witch.” The captain and the others approached, boards under their arms and looking tired and happy. “Real life like, isn’t it, Zoe?”
“Like you could climb right on board, sir.” Zoe smiled warmly.
Wash studied the sand sculpture seriously. “You didn’t miss a detail. Nice work, River.”
“I’m gonna want a copy of that capture once Kaylee takes it.” Mal beamed and looped an arm around River’s shoulders in a brotherly embrace.
Kaylee returned just then and she wasn’t alone. “See, Jayne? Ain’t it shiny? I was never all that good at makin’ sandcastles. I always liked diggin’ moats into a little canal system.”
Jayne was wearing his sunglasses but River could tell he wasn’t looking at sand Serenity. She gently pulled away from the captain and went to stand by Jayne’s side.
“Now will you play with me?” River smiled up at him winningly. I’m choosing you, Jayne. I’ll always choose you.
Jayne looked at her a moment almost as if he were reading her thoughts and then nodded. “Yeah.”
Whooping, River took his hand and ran into the water. “Let’s go wave jumping!”
“What?”
“Wave jumping! When the waves roll in, you jump over them.”
“What the hell kind o’ game is that?”
“A fun one. Here we go!”
Jayne was reluctant but soon caught River’s enthusiasm for leaping over the waves, especially when the water got deeper and getting knocked over happened more often. One particular wave bowled River right over and shoved her back to shallower water. She emerged, sputtering and her nose and eyes stinging from the salt water.
Jayne laughed uncontrollably but asked, “You okay, bao bei?”
A warm glow started in her chest and spread to her extremities. “Say that again.”
“Are you okay?” Jayne stopped laughing and came closer, concern etched in his face.
“Not that. The other thing.”
Now he just looked confused. “What else did I say? Oh!” He knelt down in front of her. “Bao bei.”
She launched herself into his arms. “Never called her that before!”
Jayne chuckled. “Gonna have to call you that more often if this is the reaction I get.”
River pulled away just enough to look up into his face. “Start now.”
His smile was more shiny than the sunlight reflecting on the water around them. “Bao bei,” he rumbled and pressed his mouth to hers.
Since Jayne had admitted his feelings for her, they had kissed many times. Before bed, before he went out on jobs, when she was having one of her worse days and felt miserable, or when she’d climb into his lap whenever he was in the mess. Those kisses were usually sweet and almost chaste in nature. As if he were afraid that she’d shatter or tear away from him otherwise.
But this kiss was different. It was slow, and wet, and deep and was he biting her lip? She could taste the grape soda he must’ve drank earlier and his laughter from a moment before. The sensations were overwhelming and she started to shake from the power of them.
Jayne broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to her temple, trying to get his breathing under control. He raised his hands from where he’d been gripping her waist and rubbed up and down her arms.
“You’re gettin’ cold, baby girl. Should take you back to dry land and wrap ya up in one o’ the towels.”
“Not cold.”
He snorted. “Then why are ya shakin’?”
“Jayne reaction.”
“Jayne reaction?”
“Yes.”
“Girl, you are the oddest female in creation.” But he sounded pleased. “All the same, we been out here for so long, it’s time we go back in. I still have to go with Mal to meet his gorram contact.”
River sighed. “Fine.” She let him draw her to her feet and laced her fingers with his. “Maybe the captain will let us come back soon.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Jayne said. “You know how he gets all tetchy when anyone tries ta have any fun.”
As if to prove Jayne’s point, when they joined the others everyone was packing up, looking disappointed.
“Cap’n, can’t we stay here while you and Jayne and Zoe go?” Kaylee begged.
“No, if the deal goes south, I want everyone on Serenity for a quick getaway.”
“That’s showin’ some foresight for once,” Jayne muttered.
Mal glared at him. “Got something you’d like to share with everyone, Jayne?”
Jayne wrapped a towel around River and scooped her up. “Me? Nope. Let’s go meet your ruttin’ contact and get us a job. Shepherd, you mind…?”
Book picked up Jayne’s blanket and shook the sand out of it. “Not at all.”
“He doesn’t need to carry her,” River protested. “The sand has cooled and won’t burn her feet.”
“Sure I do.” Jayne gave her a squeeze. “Precious load, remember?”
END
Previous < The Dance : Next > The Abbey
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-05-24 05:14 am (UTC)LOL That could be fun but I don't think I'll go there.