bookaddict43: (injuredjayne)
[personal profile] bookaddict43
Title: Secret of women
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: Jayne, Inara, Crew
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Firefly and all its characters are the property of Joss Whedon
Word count: 745
Warning: Character death
Comments: written for [livejournal.com profile] ana_grrl’s Random Title Generator Challenge.

Jayne picked his way through the bodies and approached the downed shuttle, cautiously peerin’ inside. He shook his head back at Zoe. It weren’t somethin’ he thought Kaylee should see; it was bad enough her friend had died, she didn’t need no nightmares.

For all sorts of different reasons, the Captain shouldn’t see it either; the man wasn’t real good with death, ‘specially if it was folks he cared about. He’d maybe never be right again, and loath though Jayne was to admit it, they needed Mal to lead them.

Zoe understood all that. She’d looked at him with what his Ma called soldier’s eyes and steered the others away, leavin’ Jayne to do the necessary.

He stepped into the shuttle and looked around with a sigh. He’d been in there afore of course. The first few times weren’t at her invitation, catch such as her askin’ him in!

But it didn’t set right with him that the Captain just let her fly in and out and never once checked what she might be habourin’ in that shuttle.

So he’d made sure she weren’t around and gone in to give it the once over hisself. If there was stuff there he could steal, well all the better. He’d stopped inside the doorway, all kinds of surprised. In spite of all the rich trappings, it were sorta homey.

It was one of them secrets of women how she’d made that old shuttle look like it did, and how she kept that place so beautiful. Never a thing outta place, all the pretties displayed just so. It didn’t stop him explorin’ of course, as time went by he went through all her things, but he never took nothing.

On one of his searches he found the serious lookin’ syringe hidden under the bed and figured all those stories ‘bout Companion’s protectin’ themselves were true.

Other times he looked through all her toys and they gave him hours of fun back in his bunk, imaginin’ the uses they were put to. The books too were all manner of interestin’ and were the only sort of studyin’ he’d ever enjoyed. He’d learned all sorts of helpful things from them.

He’d hauled packed boxes outta the shuttle the time she left; and she’d stunned him by layin’ a hand on his arm and sayin’ thank you in that chocolaty smooth voice of hers. After Miranda he’d dragged some of her things back and this time she’d even smiled a proper friendly smile at him.

Though he’d die rather than admit it, Jayne had been glad she was back; the shuttle weren’t the same without her things. He went there even more over the next few months. His bunk was too close to stuff he didn’t want to know about. Her shuttle was the only place he could escape.

Long after when him and Kaylee got together, she’d quietly given them a lamp for their room. It was one he’d always liked and Jayne raised an eyebrow at her and she’d fluttered her eyelashes at him and grinned. He figured that all this time she’d somehow known what he was up to. She always was a clever one; clever ‘bout everythin’ except the Captain. It beat him how come her and Mal never got together.

She’d used the syringe this time; he knew she wouldn’t have flinched. The stuff had acted on the Reavers who’d gotten close to her and he had to sift through the wracked bodies to find hers. He threw the Reaver bodies in a trench and cleared up her room putting things back as he remembered them.

Jayne searched through the rubble till he found one of her dresses that weren’t ripped all to hell and dressed her proper like she’d want. Hands gentle he wrapped Inara in her quilt cover, laid her on the big bed and sealed the shuttle.

They landed on Haven not far from where the others were and hauled the shuttle closer. River hovered close as the Captain threw the torch and the Doc and Zoe stood stiff and straight. Jayne hugged Kaylee to him as tight as she were hugging him and watched the flames shoot upwards. He figured ‘Nara wouldn’t mind goin’ like that – all flash and pretty, her treasures and secrets goin’ with her. He’d sure miss the shuttle though – almost as much as the friend that came with it. Not that he’d ever tell no-one that – it just weren’t manly.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-08 01:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] seldra.livejournal.com
Wow, that was really beautiful. So sad, but also incredibly beautifully written. I love the imagery, and I think it's amazing how you wrote Jayne, he's so in-character but at the same time it feels like seeing a whole other side to him. Very nicely done.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-09 02:20 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
I think there's more to Jayne than meets the eye - I'm glad you think I captured that!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-08 02:33 pm (UTC)
ext_6231: (Default)
From: [identity profile] ladytalon1.livejournal.com
*applauds* Nice one, darlin'! Glad you finally posted it, I was getting antsy for this one to be revealed :D The last line is indeed very Jayne like and I still love the line about stealing things from her shuttle the best. And of course his daydreaming about the sex toys!!!!

*huggles*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-09 02:22 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
I'm just surprised he didn't steal the sex toys! Thanks for reassuring me about this one - I needed it :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-08 05:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] danniisupernova.livejournal.com
I love that you told this very serious and sad story from Jayne's (a not very serious or sad person's) perspective. It's interesting to see his take on Inara and her world and in turn show Jayne's respect for her.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-09 02:26 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
I like to look at a person a different way and think Jayne would see things from a totally other perspective. It's great you think I got that right :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-08 06:34 pm (UTC)
ext_30178: (Default)
From: [identity profile] noandwhere.livejournal.com
*sniff*

Even though I'm not the biggest Inara fan, deathfics always make me weepy. And this was just beautiful; I like how spare you were when describing how Jayne found her, just enough to give us a picture without the gory details. Lovely.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-09 02:29 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
I made you sniff! *hands tissues* I wondering if I should have put in more detail - but you've reassured me...Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-08 07:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] romanceguru.livejournal.com
I love seeing Inara through Jayne’s eyes. I think it lessens the pain some, just like him tending the shuttle did so for Mal.

The image of Jayne sneaking in their discovering her play things warrants a drabble of it’s own!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-09 02:31 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
Now you've made me think all kinds of inappropriate thoughts! I wonder if this week's prompt could be used...

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-08 08:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mercsgoodgirl.livejournal.com
A haunting and very moving story, darlin'. I liked seeing an alternative to the usual "Jayne leering at Inara" fics.

How utterly in character for him to (A) be sure the shuttle was "safe" and (B)enjoy nosing through all her personal things, 'cause you just know the man is all measure of curious, especially when it's got anything to do with sexin'.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-10 12:51 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
I think that curiousity is what makes Jayne a good mercenary really. He probably respects Inara more than either he or other folks realise...

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-10 01:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mercsgoodgirl.livejournal.com
You know, [livejournal.com profile] big_bad_man and I have often said the same thing. Jayne has this hunger to really "Know" the essence of things; thus all the sniffing and tasting and quiet studying. I often think all his loud, brusque, bawdy facade is part defense mechanism and also how he masks his keenly observant nature.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-08 08:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] autumnxchild.livejournal.com
An interesting idea, Inara's death from Jayne's POV - I like it :) I like Jayne's exploring, very him.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-10 12:53 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
Thank you :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-08 08:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elsibet34.livejournal.com
Oh, my. *snuffles*

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-10 12:54 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
*gives tissues and cuddles* Thank you :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-09 05:35 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ceslas.livejournal.com
His bunk was too close to stuff he didn’t want to know about.

I love that peek into his own unease at his life.

But him dressing her ever so gently, none of the crudeness or bawdiness we so associate with him. Beautiful. He knows so much more than he ever shows us, or even himself. He wanted to make sure her end was as graceful and elegant as her living. I think the levels this can reveal are many. Thank you.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-10 12:56 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
I think Jayne's character does have quite a few hidden levels and I think he would appreciate Inara's levels as well.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-09 11:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ana-grrl.livejournal.com
Very nice and very sad. Nice mix of showing that Jayne has a little depth, and making sure we still know that he's still sometimes crude with it.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-10 01:09 pm (UTC)
ext_25347: (Default)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
I like trying to show the many sides of Jayne, I'm glad you think it worked :)

(no subject)

Date: 2007-08-14 09:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sheepfairy.livejournal.com
Oh, I liked that a lot, and the way it manages to show a lot about Jayne and Inara. And I like that Inara knew enough to try and protect herself in the end.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-10-28 05:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cheshire-monkey.livejournal.com
Poor Inara - the Reavers got her. :( That was very lovely - and just sad enough. The last line is so perfectly Jayne.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-10-29 11:37 am (UTC)
ext_25347: (jaynekill)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
Poor Inara - I really made her suffer this time :( I'm so happy you liked the last line *twirls*, I could almost hear Jayne sat it while I was writing!

(no subject)

Date: 2007-12-04 04:45 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Honest feelings from Jayne about Inara's mysteries. Decent and gentle to her at the end.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-27 01:34 pm (UTC)
ext_19816: (Default)
From: [identity profile] collswan.livejournal.com
I like your take on the syringe in this ~ but I especially like the insight into Jayne. Thanks for pointing me here :D

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-28 02:43 am (UTC)
ext_25347: (christmas)
From: [identity profile] bookaddict43.livejournal.com
Glad you liked it! Thanks for checking out the link and for the comment too - I do love them so :)

Profile

bookaddict43: (Default)
bookaddict43

February 2012

S M T W T F S
   1234
567891011
12131415 161718
19202122232425
26272829   

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags