Simple Simon

Spoilers- up to Objects in Space, so every teeth grinding, wince inducing Simon/Kaylee fumble there was. Disclaimer- Not mine, I only own my debt. Or is it that my debt owns me? Note- a little strange, but it’s been sitting on my computer for over a year and needed to be finished. Translations: Mei mei- little sister Fang xin- don’t worry xxx

Simon slammed his door shut, a fierce scowl on his face. “Women!”

“Men!” River mocked from behind him.

Simon turned, surprised to see his sister in his room. “Mei mei, what are you doing here?”

River was sitting crossed legged in the centre of his bed. She looked up at him through a tangle of dark hair.

“I let the crazy out and now it won’t go back. Won’t be chained.” River’s hand fluttered at her throat, her eyes wide with fear. “I can feel it. Choking. Choking me.”

She smoothed a hand over the bed sheet. “Feel safe here, calm, protected.”

“River.” Simon sat next to her on the bed.

River put a finger to his lips. “Shh, okay now. Quiet now. Can breathe here.”

“Are you sure?” Simon searched her face.

River smiled. “No need for needles; put them all away and locked them with a key.”

Simon reached for his sister’s hand. “Did something happen? Did you remember something?”

River shook her head. “The air is heavy today. So much fighting. I can feel it pressing down on me.”

“Fang xin.”

River smiled. “Not worried. But you are. You hurt her again.”

Simon pulled his hand away from River’s to run it through his hair. “I didn’t mean to. I’m just-“

“Not good with girls. Spent too much time studying, not enough letting Lilly Lu drag you behind the gardener’s shed.”

Simon glared at her. “How do you know about that?”

River grinned at him.

“Brat,” he muttered affectionately.

River drew her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. “You think too much. Too concerned with manners and appearances.”

“That’s what Kaylee said.”

“You keep them to remind you. Who you were, where you came from. You think it’s right, but it hurts her. She doesn’t know if you like her or not.”

“Of course I do!” Simon exclaimed. “She should- I thought she- I’ve-“

“She’s confused. I can feel it. Left or right? Right or left? Up or down?”

Simon slumped. “I really like her, River. I just wish that I could give her more than this. That I could give the both of you more. It’s what you deserve.”

River dug her bare toes into the sheet and watched the material fold and ripple. “We deserve to be happy. We deserve family. One of our own making, good friends… strange cousin.”

“I can’t give her that, mei mei. We’re fugitives, it’s not like we can settle down and buy a house.”

“You don’t have to. Already have a home, a place to belong. Already happy. But for Simon and his silly barriers.”

Simon fell silent as he processed this. Finally he sighed. “So what do I do now?”

River smiled proudly at him. He had reached to right decision. Now everyone would be happy. And the solution was so simple even Simon could do it.

“Put thought into action.”

xxx

end