The traditional obligatory offering to Boss Joss. Love his work, got bored, and decided to to run with it!

This is a story co-written with a very good friend of mine, aka DeanWinchester here at FF.net. Humor, smut, jealousy, with just a dash of angst thrown in later chapters to make things interesting. ;-D Bask in the Mal/Inara-ness!

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Inara lay back on the silk burgundy coverlet adorning her bed, laughing out loud for the first time in a very long while. Feyden was seated across the mattress from her, equally overcome with laughter at their amusing stories from their time as children.

And you call me a demon!” Feyden insisted with a chuckle. “The looks that you got from the training house instructors when you went barreling in there…”

Inara shook her head, pointing at the young man sharply. “Now, you’re the one that brought up the dare in the first place! You’re just as at fault for that damage as I was! You didn’t have to follow me in, you know.”

“No of course not,” he shot back sarcastically. “Not after you threatened me.”

Inara’s mouth gaped open in shock. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She bit back a guilty grin.

Feyden eyed her critically. “Don’t give me that. Back in the day, you were quite the rotten little zhao shi zhe!” Inara quickly lifted herself up on her elbows, smacking the boy ruthlessly in the arm. “Ow!” He yelped out with a smirk, rubbing the sore spot on his arm gently. “Still as violent as ever, I see,” he muttered with a smirk.

Inara rested her cheek against her hand, looking up at Feyden from her spot on the bed. They let themselves calm down after a little while, and a relaxed silence filled the room. Feyden caught the stillness in her expression, and lifted a hand to brush several strands of her ebony hair from her face.

“Seems as though it’s been far too long since you were able to laugh like that.”

Inara narrowed her eyes at him jokingly. “Am I that transparent?” she asked with a laugh.

“Only to me,” Feyden corrected her bluntly.

Inara conceded that fact with a nod. “Things have been…difficult. We’ve lost good friends recently. A blow not all of us have healed from.” Though for some, like Zoe, Inara doubted healing would ever come completely.

..................................

Since leaving, Mal had taken to hiding in the bridge. He whined a bit to Zoe, and then she stopped speaking once he went over the edge a bit. Mal had his feet on the console, pushing the chair in half circles and then back again. He was upset and he hated feeling this way. This was not like Mal. Mal didn't pine and mope in a chair. Throwing out a frustrated growl, he got up to his feet. He hit a few buttons on the console and let his eyes shift to Zoe, was reading quietly in the other chair.

"You hungry?" He asked it almost sounded like another grunt. She shook her head and Mal nodded turning his back to her. He stooped down and went down through the cockpit into the kitchen.

Things had settled down considerably, and now most of the crew was relaxing in the kitchen and living area. Kaylee and Simon had ended up in the small round nook off to the side of the dining table, talking and laughing as the hour wore on. The young doctor was perched in one of the round chairs in the circle, smirking down at Kaylee, sitting comfortably on the floor between his legs.

“Well, Feyden seems like a real nice fella,” she said happily, looking out at the kitchen with as she leaned her head against the inside of Simon’s thigh. Her hands tugged at the bottom of his pant leg playfully, enjoying the comfort of their close contact.

Mal heard chatter off to the side, but chose to ignore it. He didn't even want to eat. It only occurred to him as he was stuffing some food into his mouth. Chewing, he swallowed the best he could and glanced back once he heard Kaylee mention how nice this Feyden guy was. He snorted slightly pouring himself a drink.

Simon had taken a liking to casual and light conversation. Back in the old days Simon didn't have much time for this. He had been a fancy doctor. He had people to save and superiors to impress. Then all his time switched to figuring out what happened to his sister. Then for the better part of a year his life focused on River entirely. Keeping her safe. Trying to help her get better. Trying to keep her out of the trouble that seemed to stalk them through the galaxy.

"Yeah. Its nice to have someone else on the ship who won't threaten me with a pistol or an incredibly large knife." A chuckle escaped him and he looked out at the kitchen. The tug on his pants didn't go unnoticed. He gave her a nudge with the tip of his shoe. He noted the Captain's presence and a snort that came from him. "Problem?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"Nah nothing. I'm just surprised you two buy into his little nice guy routine. You obviously ain't lookin' close enough." He said shaking his head. Turning to face them, he took a long sip of his drink and finally a sigh escaped him. "I'm just worried about Inara bein' all alone with him."

Kaylee squirmed when Simon poked her, giggling quietly at him as she squeezed his leg back. Mal came sulking into the kitchen, and Kaylee rolled her eyes at his accusations against Inara’s friend.

“Aw, come on Cap’n. Feyden wouldn’t hurt anyone. Specially not Inara. They’ve known each other since they were little.” The few moments they had been able to spend with Inara had given them that much information about the boy. They’d lived much of their childhood on Sihnon together near the Companion Training House before she was recruited.

“I think you’re a little threatened by him…” she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Simon to hear.

"Fei hua." Mal muttered looking down into his cup. He was hoping he'd just fall right in and drown, but there was no such look. His eyes drifted upwards to find Kaylee.

River silently laid down underneath the dinner table, her head between the legs of the end chair. She silently listened to the conversation going on, deciding to simply sit back and watch the adults work this out on their own. It wasn’t as if there was anything she could say that would make them act more like adults than they were proving themselves to be. But then again, River was a typical, meddling seventeen-year-old girl.

With a silent smirk, she writhed from underneath the table, making her way over to the counter beside Mal. Hopping up on the counter, she scanned the basket of food beside her.

“She couldn’t stop daydreaming,” River muttered, grabbing a roll of bread and biting into it.

Mal did a glance sideways when he heard River. It occurred to him she had been under the table. Why? She got weirder by the minute. He shook his head mid sip when he heard what she had to say. Mal choked and turned spitting out his drink. Lifting his arm up he wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve.

"Gwon nee tze-jee duh shr." He muttered, stalking past her and heading out to leave the kitchen. He stopped next to Kaylee and Simon leaning in.

Simon was very amused by the captain’s attitude towards this new male being on board. He seemed so on edge. Almost like he was jealous. Simon had seen the signs. They seemed to roll off a lot of the doctors at the hospital who had relationship issues. He had just picked up on them most of the time.

His eyes went down to Kaylee as the captain rambled on. River coming out from under the table wasn't a big surprise. He had gotten used to her popping up in strange places. Really wasn't a big thing much these days. Watching her waltz over to Mal and speak he choked back a laugh and looked down. Mal seemed very upset and stomped off leaving Kaylee with some final words.

"Just so were clear little Kaylee I ain't threatened by nobody." Catching her look of surprise he shrugged. "The captain, remember? I hear it all."

"How does he do that?" He asked watching him leave in disbelief.

“Beats me,” Kaylee chuckled, shaking her head.

Simon looked up at his sister raising an eyebrow. "River...who does she daydream about?" He asked.

As the Captain hustled out of the kitchen, River shot of a Cheshire grin at her brother, hopping off the counter and taking a seat at the dinner table. Wouldn’t he like to know. River loved the fact that the Captain was spazzing out about Inara’s new friend. Or old friend, actually.

Kaylee caught the look from the girl, and smirked with excitement. “Simon, I believe your little sister here is schemin’ against our beloved Cap’n,” she accused, leaning back against Simon’s leg as she readjusted to sit on her knees.

..................................

Mal left the kitchen doing down to the corridor. He was heading to Inara's shuttle. Snooping? Maybe? He was halfway into the main hold when he felt Jayne slam into him. "Watch where you’re going Jayne..."

Trailing off he stopped the bigger man. "You wanna make Inara endlessly pissed off at us and in the process ruining her time with this new guy?" Jayne eyed him cautiously. He shrugged and nodded. Mal grinned and headed back towards Inara's shuttle.

The both of them crept slowly to the doors. Mal was stealth Jayne not so much so he opted to open the doors with as much quiet force as he could muster up. Staying out of the sight the two of them stood listening.

The tone between Inara and Feyden had shifted considerably from the laughter from earlier. Inara remained sprawled out on the bed, but she had gotten him to start talking about the real reason that he’d contacted her.

“I didn’t think it would hurt this much,” Feyden said quietly, glancing over his shoulder as Inara watched him silently. He sat on the edge of the bed, hands tensed as he wrung them together. “A grown man should be able to deal with losing someone you love. But I’ve been lost. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing with myself.” Feyden ran his hands through his hair roughly, obviously upset.

Inara scooted over to him, running a hand along the boy’s back and resting her chin in the crook of his neck. “Feyden, no one’s ever ready to let go.” Her sagely advice slowly faded into her own shade of uncertainty. “I’m not doing so well myself,” she commented softly. Feyden didn’t respond, head resting in his hands. Inara wracked her brain for something more that she could say.

“Please accept my offer, Feyden,” she pleaded with him, wrapping her arms around him from behind. “You know I would do anything to help you, especially now. Let me help you ease through this.”

“Inara, I can’t ask you to jeopardize what little you have here already.” Inara backed off slightly, shocked by the comment. Feyden looked back at her with apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry, but you know what I mean. It’s not like the Alliance has been kind to you since you’ve signed up with that crook of a captain.”

She shot him a disapproving eye. “That’s not fair, Feyden…”

“Why? You’ve called him worse tonight.”

“Dao yi you dao,” she muttered begrudgingly, standing from her spot on the bed. “Mal can be a good man… when he tries hard enough.”

“Doesn’t seem like he’s offered you much by way of compensation. Not for what he’s drug you into the last year.”

“It’s not about payment,” she insisted, turning around to face him.

“Then why are you still here, Inara?”

She couldn’t muster up an answer, going silent. At her reaction, Feyden stood up, walking up to meet her. They stood face to face, his arms reaching up to grasp her hands.

“Inara, I love you, you know that. I only want the best for you.”

She met his gaze in mild annoyance. “You don’t think I can figure that out on my own?”

“I don’t think he gives you enough air to breathe and make your own decisions.” He was only being honest.

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Mal had taken to resting his head against the wall while listening in. This new guy wasn't exactly Mal's biggest fan apparently and Mal couldn't blame the guy. He seemed to have Trouble stamped on his forehead from birth. Hell couldn't even help his mother in time of need. Times like these he sort of missed Shadow. Jayne was hardly listening, but what he did hear he didn't much care for.

This ruttin' new guy was mocking their lifestyle. He balled his fists up and switched his eyes to Mal. Mal was peeking out into the room the best he could. He sucked in a sharp breath and leaned back out of sight. Mal stood lazily arms crossed over his chest. His head cocked to one side as he tried to look like he was fine with all of this.

He wasn't doing Inara no good having her hang around his ship. She was respectable and she had a reputation that meant a great deal to her. Mal was only tarnishing it. He shook his head and threw Jayne a glance. Turning his back on Jayne he headed out onto the catwalk.

Jayne who had been contemplating bashing this mans head in noticed Mal's face. He looked a might bit upset. Jayne wasn't as stupid as most took him for. He could sense how Mal was feeling. The guy was insulting him in private and that couldn't be fun to listen to. Mal took off and Jayne stepped forward.

"Mal! Mal! Where ya going?" Jayne shouted after him. Realizing how loud he had been the merc threw his hand over his mouth his eyes going wide.

..................................

Inara smiled quietly at Feyden. “I appreciate your concern, really, but…”

"Mal! Mal! Where ya going?" A familiar gruff voice sounded from just outside the shuttle.

Inara’s head snapped towards the door, mouth gaping slightly as she recognized Jayne’s voice. What in the world was going on? She stepped away from Feyden, making her way over to the slightly cracked door. Inara hadn’t heard it open, but as she placed a hand on the door, watching as Jayne stood shocked across the catwalk several feet away, she realized what had happened. The bulking mercenary’s words sunk in, and Inara’s stomach sank suddenly.

“Feyden…” she muttered over her shoulder. “Will you excuse me for a moment?” The boy nodded quietly, and she hurried out of the room and across the walkway. She pushed passed Jayne, steadily making her way into the kitchen.

..................................

Mal had disappeared inside the corridors. The captain slipped quietly back into the kitchen not saying much to anyone else. Jerking a wooden chair back the captain plopped his ass down and removed his weapon from the holster. Laying it before him Mal flicked it open and grabbed a rag from the table. He started the process of cleaning it. A stone cold look plastered on his face.

Simon's eyes stayed on his sister. She knew something that no one else knew. It was kind of a strange way for his sister to act, but then again she was seventeen and they did tend to toy with most folks. Looking down at Kaylee when she said River was toying with Mal. He smiled brighter and shook his head. "Its almost like when we were children." He was about to rise up and go speak with her, but the captain all about busted into the room. His movements were stiff and his face the same. He took a seat quickly and got to clean his weapon. Simon threw a confused look at Kaylee. Something was up.

Kaylee, Simon, and River had been having a good laugh at the expense of the captain, but within little time, Jayne’s voice echoed through the corridor and into the kitchen. The three looked up as Mal suddenly rambled back into the kitchen, wearing the most depressed face that Kaylee had ever seen on anyone, let alone the captain. She was about to ask him if something was wrong, but decided to keep her mouth shut.

She glanced up at Simon, a worried frown growing on her expression. Groaning to her feet, she walked around behind the young doctor, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek, whispering into his ear.

“Maybe we should go,” she muttered softly, nodding off in the direction of Mal, who didn’t seem at all up to chatting. There was no question about what had him so frazzled, but then again, the crew was never the liveliest place for personal issues to be discussed.

Inara paused at the doorway, seeing that the room was filling up. Inara froze as her eyes trailed to Mal. After several moments, she stepped down into the main floor of the kitchen, arms folded defensively.

“Hear anything interesting?” she asked thoughtfully.

As Kaylee tugged gently on Simon’s shirt for him to stand, Inara entered the room, apparently shaken from something. “Ok, we should definitely go,” she insisted with a hushed whisper.

River sat comfortably on her seat, watching the scene unfold as she munched on the bread in her hand. She had no intention of moving from her spot, not while things were just getting interesting. Kaylee wanted to leave, but River knew that any confrontation between Mal and Inara was delightfully awkward.

“Ye chang meng duo,” River reassured the couple smugly, hooking her legs underneath her.

Mal was breathing the best way he could without his chest heaving up too much. He couldn't hide it though. His breathing was rigid. Very weird. The captain licked his lips slowly as he cleaned away at the metal. Hearing footsteps and Inara's voice he didn't bother to look up. No use. If he was such a bad person for her to be hanging out with maybe she should be here.

Simon didn't exactly know what was wrong, but he had a feeling it had to do with Inara who came storming in next. He got up as Kaylee urged and managed to divert his eyes to his little sister. "River I think you should come with me and Kaylee. I think the captain and Inara would like time alone."

At that Mal's head popped up. "No we don't need time alone." He said tilting his head to one side rubbing the rag along the butt of the gun.

"Still. Come on River. Kaylee will play Jacks with you if you want I'll play too." Simon offered with a smile as he went to the doorway. He didn't want to leave his sister behind in this environment. For one Mal was just scary when upset and Inara well different story, but still kind of scary.

Kaylee herself was a little hesitant to leave as the discussion began, if only out of curiosity, but her sense of modesty returned slightly, and she resumed her march out the side entrance. The captain and Inara definitely needed some space for whatever was about to go down.

Looping her arm inside Simon’s, she gently led the doctor, slowly followed by his little sister, out into the hallway to head into the passenger dorms. Though she had to admit, it was always hard to relax and ignore the two fighting when a storm of immeasurable proportions was so obviously about to settle in.

River pouted slightly as Simon insisted that she leave with them. Though as much as she hated to admit it, she supposed that her brother was right. The two were only going to go at it like cats and dogs. Nothing out of the ordinary in that.

All the while watching the scene unfold between Mal and Inara, River stood from her seat, distractedly following her brother and Kaylee back to the personal quarters. The girl didn’t suspect that anything entirely interesting would happen. Though she’d be ready if it did.

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Jayne hadn't done much when Inara came rushing past. He however was now getting new ideas. With a scowl his eyes went to the doorway. Jayne reached behind him removing the knife from his sheath. With a crooked smile he moved across the catwalk quietly. Into Inara's shuttle he moved until he stood in silence watching the boy.

Feyden watched with confusion as Inara left him alone in the shuttle. What had just happened? His question was partially answered by the lumbering arrival of Jayne into the room. Feyden instinctively back off, knowing full well that this thug was both happy and willing to slit his throat.

"I get the feeling you don't like my kind very much. We may not be a whole hell of a lot, but least we make our own money. What about you, pretty boy..." He edged closer to the bed. "You ever worked so hard you had to kill a man to reach a payday? I have. Now you see down there Mal he was kidding about everything. Me not so much. I still will cut that goofy looking ear off while your asleep." He brought the knife up to his own throat pretending to slice it. "Or maybe more. We're trouble, but we look out for each other. Now I'm thinking that if maybe Reavers or something popped up you'd be the first to go out the airlock doors to lose some weight."

“Listen, friend, I don’t want any trouble. I have no quarrel with you, or your captain. I’m…I’m only looking out for Inara’s best interests.” He thought for a moment to find himself a weapon lying around somewhere, but he quickly decided against it, figuring that it would only insight more violence from Jayne. And he sure seemed to be itching for it.

Jayne wasn't taking much to whatever this guy had to say. Cause as long as he was insulting the place where he lived and the people he lived with it didn't mean much. Then again he wasn't too close with Mal considering they always fought and Jayne would turn on him for enough money. But right now in this moment Jayne was mighty pissed off at this mans words.

"Best interests right...hell where you been the past couple years. You been lookin' after your own damn interest is what. Was you lookin' for Inara when we was fightin' off those gorram reavers? No. That was us. This ship you ain't so fond of. We was doin' that." Jayne drew closer till he loomed over the smaller man. "Stand up straight. I hate to kill a man who's slouchin'."

“I didn’t mean to insult you. Or your crew,” Feyden insisted with sincere fear in his eyes. But he couldn’t help but be insulted by Jayne’s insinuation. “How was I supposed to know what had been going on? Trust me, if there had been anything I could do to help her, I would have.”

Jayne watched the smaller man almost cower in fear. It was so amusing it made Jayne almost giggle on the inside. He stepped closer making it more unlikable. "Nah no time to apologize little man. You dun insulted me already. Too late." He waved his knife in the air.

His words were obviously falling on deaf ears at this point. Feyden bumped into a side table as he backed away from Jayne, his mind racing for a last minute plea bargain. “Listen, is there any way I can convince you to skip the whole…murder part of this conversation?” He asked with a hopeful wince. Feyden had the cash on him, maybe Jayne would be willing to work something out.

When he started trying to make offers Jayne's eyebrow quirked up a bit. A large smile appeared on his face. "Well now. Now you're speaking my language. Some money and hoop jumpin' would be good...apologies too." He said nodding. "Whatever money you got shiny man you hand it over to ole Jayne. Then we'll get to your hoop jumpin’ and apologies." The mercenary extended his rather large hand holding his knife firmly in the other one. Fedyen felt his blood run cold as he realized that Jayne wanted to humiliate him here. Fiddling with the wallet in the back pocket of his pants, Feyden pulled out several very large bills. Not a considerable amount from a boy raised on Sihnon, but more than a month’s worth of work pay from any one of the crew aboard Serenity. He extended his hand to offer the cash to Jayne, his free hand gripping the side of Inara’s vanity table.

“There, that’s all I’ve got on me.” He glanced over the large man’s shoulder to look out the door, praying to Buddha that someone would barge in and stop the gorilla from slaughtering him. “Now…uh…will you reconsider slitting my throat?” He asked hopefully.

Jayne took the money from the man and pocketed it. Holding the knife up a bit more he raised his chin. "I'll try." He said tilting his head. "Now...what can I make a little man like yourself do. On your knees..." He trailed off a smirk. "And kiss my damn boots." A slow chuckle errupted from him and then he stopped a stern face.

"Now!" He barked out. "When your down with that you get your raggedy ass out into the main hold. You take them clothes off cause I'm kinda likin' your jacket. You hand over all them nice clothes and sit your ass on the weight bench and wait till I say you can move."

Feyden’s stomach dropped at Jayne’s demands, his head swimming in shock. He scoffed nervously, “In that order?” he feigned a smirk, trying to gauge if the mercenary was serious. But Jayne’s expression remained. The boy’s smile faded, and he held onto the corner of the vanity, slowly lowering himself to the floor as he prepared to face Jayne’s large, mud-ridden footwear…

Moments later, Feyden was sitting on the weight bench in the middle of the cargo hold, naked as the day he was born, shivering in the cold air as he rested his hands on his cross legs to conserve his own body heat.

..................................

Mal finally looked up in the direction of the three youngsters walking off, choosing not to look at Inara as he addressed her. "You can leave at the end of the month. Hell, you can buy the shuttle from me and have it to base your little operation out of, if you want."

“My little operation?” Inara was almost insulted by his description of her job, but found herself more surprised by his comment than anything. But the shuttle? It was an absurd idea, more so than anything that he’d ever failed to censor coming out of his mouth. What was worse, Mal couldn’t even look at her when he said it. Narrowing her eyes, she stared hard at the captain.

“Where did that come from?” she asked, stepping further into the room.

Mal let in a sharp breath and shook his head. "Well what else you wanna have me call it? You get all upset when I call it whorin'."

So far, Inara was able to maintain some semblance of calm. In all honesty, she was simply confused at this point. “I never said a word about leaving Serenity.”

She moved to stand a few feet in front of him. “And why were you eavesdropping on my private conversation? I know why Jayne would, because…well, he’s Jayne… but what’s your excuse ? I specifically asked to be left alone. This is a private matter between Feyden and myself, you needn’t get involved.”

"Ai ya!" He almost shouted. "What difference does it make if I was there or not? I was there and I heard what fancy pants had to say. 'Sides Jayne wanted me there. He wanted to make sure we knew everything there was to know about this guy. We didn't know if he had been some serial killer or something." He said finally moving past her.

That only made him look down at his gun again. He didn't want to look her in the eyes. "Well the kid ain't far off 'Nara. I may have some stupid sense of nobility, but everyday you stay on my ship you risk your own life." He let the rag run smoothing over the trigger, trying his best to keep busy. He wished he had all his weapons now; that way, he could be cleaning the whole lot of them. All he had was his pistol. Damn. Mal stopped cleaning the gun and placed it back in his holster. He tossed the rag onto the table and rose up.

Inara felt like she’d said this a thousand times, on both sides of the issue, in fact. “We’ve been through this before, Mal. I knew what I was getting into when I came back onboard. I made a conscious decision of my own free will.”

"Right free will." He stated with a shrug. "You left once. It ain't that hard to leave again. I mean you seem a bit wishy washy if you ask me. I mean you leave once and then after I drag you back after saving you you're all in a tissy. Then just like that you're all wantin' to say just cause Wash and Book died."

The barb about Wash and Book hit harder than she’d expected, and her angry expression faltered for a moment. “That’s not fair, Mal,” she insisted quietly, watching as he made a further fool out of him self by speaking.

"Why shouldn't I get involved if this super guy is gonna start talkin' about how bad of an influence on you. Which is startin' to sound a bit true. Hell I know you ain't no wilted defenseless flower, but you seem to be doin' a lot more violence then I seen from most companions." He protested, nodding his head at her. Just don't look at her. It was easy. Grabbing his cup as he rounded her, he poured himself another drink. He took a long dragged out sip and finally let his eyes settle on her.

When he commented on his bad influence leading her to violence, she finally rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t give yourself so much credit,” she droned, reaching out and snatching his drink from his hand. Most of the alcohol on this ship was glorified engine grease to begin with, and a drunken Mal was a most assuredly unreasonable Mal. Inara plopped the glass onto the countertop beside her.

“And I’m not about to argue with you drunk,” she finished bluntly, standing purposely between the captain and his booze.

He protested with a glare as she took his cup away. He was upset now. She took his drink and was prancing around acting like there wasn't nothing wrong. "Bao bay..." His words dripping with sarcasm. "I ain't drunk. Not even close. If I get drunk you're gonna know because I'll be bare ass naked trying to fly the ship from my the kitchen table. So don't go saying I'm drunk." He just didn't want to look her in the eyes.

“Well you’re sure starting to sound intoxicated.” Mal was being his typical bull-headed self, without a thing to stop him, by the looks of it.

"If you wanna go back and get to bumpin' uglies with Mr. Fancy Pants you go right ahead.”

Her mind came to a screeching halt by what he said next. “Wait, you mean…Feyden?!”

“What in the world could you have against Feyden? You don’t even know him!” As Mal tried to pass her, Inara followed him close behind.

"What could I have against Feyden hmmm..." He stopped acting like he was actually thinking it over. "The guy pointed out every single flaw I got. He insulted me time and time again. Why would I not hate him." He said starting to walk again.

“I don't have no issues with you that I wish to be discussin' at this moment. You just tell me when you wanna be leavin'. Hell, your little golden boy in there loves you, I wouldn't keep him waiting while wastin' my time with a crook of a captain." Mal marched past her. He was trying to leave.

As Mal spat back Feyden’s words, ‘crook of a captain’, Inara grew angrier. “For the record, I defended you,” she shot back indignantly. “Something you would have noticed if you hadn’t been to busy fishing for what you wanted to hear.”

"You defended me yeah, but what would have happened later on in that conversation. I think you might have just given up. Thought 'oh boy he's right'. I mean the guy ain't exactly stupid, but he ain't too bright either if you ask me." He said sourly as he walked.

“Is that what this has been about this entire time?” A smirk grew at the idea, and she took the opportunity to gloat. “You’re jealous! I can’t believe I’d live to see the day, but here it is: Malcolm Reynolds threatened by a boy from the Core.”

He came to a dead end stop though when she called him jealous. Spinning around Mal stared her down. "Dung ee-miao!" He shouted. "I ain't jealous of him." With that Mal turned to walk again. Listening to everything she had to say. She was so positively annoying sometimes it drove him crazy. He rolled his eyes.

She followed Mal across the room towards the door, glaring at the back of his head. “So what is it that you want me to say, exactly? That I want to leave, now and abandon my family? How about that Feyden has shown me the error of my ways, and whisked me off my feet? That I’ve finally realized that you’re beneath me?” The words were meant to sting, but only as retaliation for how much Mal had just hurt her with his own accusations.

Mal stopped walking a few feet ahead of her. His back tensed up. His muscles got tight and his eyes shut quietly. Last time Mal had heard that was from Draedon. He could almost see it…

"Reynolds. Malcolm Reynolds. The brave man who tried to save his troops. How's it feel to have left them behind to die?" He asked Mal quietly from outside the cell. Mal was seated on a bench. He was a lone. Barely had any clothes to keep him warm where he was.

"You left them." He said examining his hands.

"Ah, but you drug them into this mess. Making them believe. Giving them hope. Pretty sad if you ask me." He said.

"You killed them not me." Mal said continuing to stare at his hands. He couldn't take the bait. If he tried to assault this man through these bars it was more trouble than it was worth.

"Correction Mr. Reynolds your own foolish pride did that for me. I didn't have to do much." Ah hell screw this. He was gonna die before he let this man degrade his mens fallings. He jumped up from his bench charging the bars. Before Draedon could move away he had looped an arm out holding Draedon against the bars in a headlock. Draedon struggled to cry out. The doors swung open and men in fatigues went to his cell door swinging it open. They charged Mal attacking him till he couldn't stand or talk much. Draedon stepped over rubbing his throat and sent a kick to Mal's throat. "You won't ever win. Don't forget that. I'm the bigger man. You're the one who doesn't mean a thing. You're beneath me, Reynolds. Stay where you belong." With that he left Mal to bleed…

Mal shook his head and glanced back at her. "I ain't beneath nobody."

He turned around fully to face her. There was no more happy go lucky Captain who took things as they came. Full blown war-time Malcolm Reynolds. "I ain't threatened by no boy from the Core either!" He yelled, stepping closer. Had she been in a normal mood, Inara would have been terrified at the wrath Mal was displaying, but her own anger was only fueled on by his rant.

"You wanna toss insults about, Inara, that’s fine. But if you wanna continue to keep that trash in your room on my ship any longer, then you better straighten his ass out or I'm tossing him out on his head with a bullet hole between his eyes. I'll kick you out just as fast. Then you gotta go crawling back to your whorin' instead hanging out with us lowly criminals."

As the captain insulted Feyden, she lost any calm she might have had at this point. Teeth gritted in fury, she took his words with a glaring eye, the word ‘whore’ cutting deeper than it ever had in the past. Without much thought behind it other than to cause Mal pain, Inara suddenly lifted a delicate hand, pulling it back and striking Mal across the face with all the strength within her.

A hollow silence filled the room as she stood there after; her hand draped at her side, burning with a sharp, angry pain. Her breath hitched as she found her voice.

“If you ever threaten him, or call him trash again,” she started slowly and deadly serious, “I swear, you will never see me on this ship ever again for as long as I live.”

Mal hadn't expected that. He stood in awkward silence. Cold deadly blue eyes watching her. It wasn't everyday Mal got this angry. He was a pretty easy going guy most days. Even around Jayne. Except for when Jayne tried to sell out River and Simon. He wasn't one to get that angry unless he was pushed to the brink. Mal stiffened up some still quite upset about everything.

"You see there..." He said a hint of a smirk crossing over his face. "Knew you'd come around to his thinking. I do believe thats the first time you've really struck me. Good job. He's been on my ship not long and you're already giving me slaps for insulting him. I didn't see you slapping him around when he called me names. Guess I see where your loyalty lies."

Mal nodded, raising a hand up to rub at his cheek some. "Good one." Mal turned around completely facing his back to her and he walked. He wasn't stupid. He had already known who she'd pick. Once he got down the corridor he snapped and turned to face her again.

"Oh and...he's still trash." He nodded and spun back around.

Inara didn’t respond to his final words, but simply breathed in and out heavily, her entire body quivering with residual anger. Mentally, she was shocked at her own reaction. She had never lashed out against Mal with so much blind hatred.

Had it really come to this? At this moment, she outright despised herself. She hadn’t meant any of the cruel things that she had said to Mal. Deep down, he had to realize that, too. They always tried to hurt each other when they got into these bouts of theirs.

But there was something very different about this fight, thought. It had been…painful. As if her entire world had shifted upside down at the thought that she and Mal might be through. In any sense.

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To be continued! Please R&R

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Chinese Translations: zhao shi zhe = troublemaker fei hua = nonsense Ai ya! = Damn! Gwon nee tze-jee duh shr = mind your own business Dao yi you dao = Even thieves have their principles. "Ye chang meng duo" = [proverb] "The longer you wait, the more unexpected developments may occur."