Celebration drabble prompt - The crew of Firefly - a very profitable job - green :)
I finally got around to getting to this on the list! I hope you donāt mind itās moreĀ āMal/Inaraā than crew, but Iāve noticed I tend to write post-Serenity fic mostly and I like focusing on those two. But please enjoy!
Our Home (AnĀ āIn So Few Wordsā Story) - Inara convinces Mal to settle a bit.
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āI donāt reckon Iāve seen this much green in one place since...ā Mal trailed off and then thought for a moment. āAriel.ā
Inara nodded, content, for the moment, to have Malās arms wrapped around her. The evening was chilly even on this lush planet, and the warmth kept her wanting to stay right here, with the bay doors open and watching the others. Simon was patiently waiting for Kaylee and River to put flower crowns on his head, lopsided chains made with yellow and white flowers and green stems. Zoe was walking around, her blessing of a babe in her arms, cooing to the child as she walked barefoot in the grass.
It almost reminded her of a slice of paradise, and it seemed, maybe, a good place to settle down. The job had been profitable enough for her to abandon being a Companion for a long, long while and the others to pay and barter for what they needed as opposed to steal and lie. And knowing what she knew, it could very well be a good place for her and Mal to settle for this future together theyād been skirting around for far too long.
She turned and rested her cheek against his chest. āWhy donāt we stay? We can settle here, itās not too far from a settlement and I think Kayleeās going to want to have a proper place to settle for her little surprise for Simon. And I know you. Sheās like your little ray of sunshine sister and if she wants to settle, you will too.ā
Mal blinked for a moment and then looked down at Inara. āSheās preggers?ā
Inara smiled and nodded against his chest. āShe realized it before he has, if he even knows. Thereās going to be more children on the ship if we keep flying but here...here we can continue Bookās work, maybe.ā
āReckon that could be a good thing, but without the preacher, would it be the same?ā he asked.
āWe could find someone like Book who needs a family,ā she said, lifting her head up. āYouāre good at attracting a found family, Mal. It happens to be one of my favorite things about you.ā
āIs that so?ā he asked, giving her a lopsided smile. āAnd how do you feel about other attributes?ā
āLook at you, throwing out an impressive word,ā she said with a laugh. āI like your other attributes just fine. I can even tell you more about which ones I find particularly interesting if youāll consider staying. Making another Haven.ā She reached over and took his hand in hers, threading her fingers in between his and looking up at him. āMaybe even making a home of some sort.ā
āA rapscallion and a Companion, settling down in the lush frontier?ā he asked, squeezing her hand. āWho would have thought?ā
āAnother one of those big words,ā she said as he pulled her close again, tipping her head up. āI love you, Mal. You donāt need to impress me.ā
āMaybe I just like to,ā he murmured before he kissed her, and then it hit her: this place would be home...for him, for her, for all of them.
And she was never more glad.