A/N - It's slash, so don't read if you don't like. A tad OOC, too, but it's just a fluffy little fic I wrote during a Chem class (yeh, radiation is boooring). Thanks Lvs2read for bata-reading!

The dingy bar was unusually crowded. Every single table was occupied, and more than a few customers were standing by the walls. Hundreds of empty bottles and glasses covered almost every available surface, and thick clouds of smoke floated up to the ceiling. In a corner, as far away from the pounding music as possible, sat three people, one of whom was Zoe. She was calmly holding her wine-glass in both hands, her curly hair pulled back into a rough bun at the base of her neck. If one looked closely enough, they would see that a barely-noticeable smile tugged at the corners of her lips, a knowing little smile that was only emphasized by the merry twinkle in her dark eyes. To her right sat Mal, one hand loosely on the butt of his gun, the other holding a glass. The flashing lights reflected off the brown-red drink, making it even more blood-like. His eyes wandered, passing, uninterested, over the girls swaying on the dance floor and the group of rowdy youngsters shouting something, lingering suspiciously on the half-dozen drunk soldiers a few tables away. Sighing, the Captain returned his attention to the young man sitting next to him. Simon was giddy from the loudness of the music and the alcohol. He never could hold his liquor, not as well as Mal and Jayne, anyway, and thought that that last tequila had perhaps been a mistake. Nonetheless, he felt unusually carefree, as though all his cares had been lifted, if only for a little while. He adored River, but sometimes he couldn't help feeling that he needed a little break, a few hours of freedom from all the responsibilities and duties. He felt gentle fingers brush his hand; a tiny, precious gesture he and Mal liked to share in public. He smiled a little, feeling like he was falling in love with Mal all over again. He loved the older man with every fiber, every cell, of his being, loved him with all the fierceness and ardor of youth. Looking at Mal now, he took in the grave, serious features, the lapis-lazuli eyes, the sensitive mouth - the simple, rough beauty that made Mal so different from Simon; and so irresistible. The beauty that Mal did not even realize he possessed. "'I have to contact Wash, sir," Zoe shouted over the music, "see when they'll be landing, give them the co-ordinates." "Sure," Mal nodded. Kaylee had been insisting on a new engine part for the last week, and Mal had finally given in and sent her and Wash to buy that it. "Go outside, you can't hear a gorram thing in here." Zoe rose and began fighting her way to the exit. Simon watched her dark head, she was a good deal taller than most of the people present, and only when she left did he turn to face Mal. The older man's face changed, relaxing quite suddenly, the tense and serious expression replaced by one of tiredness and gentleness. He gathered Simon in his arms, thankful for the privacy of the dark corner. "You okay?" he asked, feeling Simon smile against the skin of his neck. 'Tired, that's all,' Simon looked up, his gentle, blue eyes meeting Mal's. "You?" "Been waiting to do this all day -" Mal caught Simon's chin and pressed their lips together in a warm, slow kiss. A few seconds later, Simon drew away. "Not here," he breathed. "Yes. Here." The music stopped, and then a quiet, sultry tune started up. "Zoe could come back any minute." "I don't care." "I do." "What are you afraid of?" Simon didn't answer, looking away. Could he really answer this question? "I ...I don't know. It' just that... Well, I've never loved anyone this strongly before. It scares me, simply because when you're away I feel lonely and afraid. You have so much power over me, it scares me and... Well, I guess I'm also afraid that they won't understand." "They don't need to understand," Mal placed his hand over Simon's, "they just need to accept." Simon looked down, the shadows of his eyelashes hiding the sadness in his lovely eyes. Finally, he looked up, face almost translucent in the lights. "Let's find someplace private," he said, taking Mal's hand and leading him into the corridor. The coat-room was empty, and blissfully quiet. Simon closed his eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the bright lights after the semi-darkness of the bar. He forgot all about that, however, as Mal pushed him towards the wall and started kissing him thoroughly. Simon felt warm and safe as Mal's strong hands curved around his waist. His head spun as those soft lips touched his, a little tentatively at first, as though Mal was unsure if he should be doing this at all. However, his probing mouth grew bolder, and Simon's knees grew weaker and weaker, until he thought he would collapse if Mal wasn't holding him. Simon cupped Mal's face in his hands, drawing it even closer, deepening the kiss even more, until he was drunk on that sweet mouth and probing tongue. Mal's mouth left Simon's, sliding onto the younger man's neck, and Simon exhaled sharply as black dots of pleasure danced in front of his eyes. Mal loved to torture him in this way, teasing him, driving him to the brink of insanity, until he was left panting and breathless, unable to think clearly. He craved that mouth every moment of the day, craved to feel those arms around him, craved to just... feel. And Mal made him feel, so vividly, so strongly that it often frightened Simon, who had never before experienced an emotion of such strength. "No..." Simon exhaled, placing his hands on Mal's shoulders. "Stop..." Mal looked up, smiling teasingly, his eyes narrowed. "You really mean that?" Simon looked at him helplessly. "No," Simon answered, and a second later he was being covered in kisses once again, feather-light ones, ones as soft as the purest silk. "Never stop." Mal did, however, gently easing his mouth off Simon's. Simon placed his head on the taller man's shoulder. Sighing, Mal wound his hand into Simon's thick, dark hair, relishing its silken feeling under his fingers, playing with a few strands. He loved to do that, and Simon found it oddly comforting. They stood, wrapped around each other, for some time. It was strange, Simon thought, how Mal could make him feel at peace by simply being there. There was no need for speaking; simply being next to the captain made Simon feel safe and tranquil, made him feel like he didn't need to pretend to be anyone he wasn't, made him feel like he could tell Mal anything and everything. It was strange, considering how much he had disliked him at the beginning, that now they were so much in love. Mal, for his part, thought how odd it was that this boy, man, really, held so much power over him. He had striven, in the past, to remain independent, fought off any influence, anyone who wanted to bind him to them. He had not entered into a relationship with any woman for the fear of that, the fear of losing control over himself, his actions, his life. Strangely enough, he had fallen head over heels in love with this man; a man who wanted nothing in return, who sought nothing, made no requests or conditions. He had asked himself, not long ago, when it was that he had stepped over that line; chosen men over women. And the answer was - he did not. He did not choose men over women - he chose a man over women. He had never fallen in love with men - he had fallen for a man. A single man. A man who, to Mal, was so indescribably perfect that he often thought he did not deserve to lie next to him at night, to feel his satin skin, to run his fingers through the gossamer hair, to look into those blue eyes, to have the beautiful man's confidences. Simon stood on tiptoes, pressing his mouth to Mal's in a lingering kiss. Mal leant into Simon's body, simultaneously pressing Simon closer to himself, until they were so close it was hard to tell who was who. A second later there were jeers and catcalls, and the two broke apart to see Zoe, Wash and Jayne standing in the doorway. "You lose," Zoe grinned, as Wash cursed under his breath. "What?' Mal asked, looking quite dumbfounded. 'Dammit, Zoe, how did you know?' Jayne extracted a wad of money and placed a few notes into Zoe's triumphantly outstretched hand. 'Huh?' Mal still understood nothing. 'Oh,' Wash grinned, 'we made a bet. Zoe said you'd be making out with Simon and wouldn't get in trouble, while we thought that on a day like this you wouldn't resist the urge for a good fight.' 'You ... you knew?' Mal managed. Simon just stared. 'Of course we knew,' Wash rolled his eyes. 'How could we not? You guys were pretty obvious, what with all the meaningful looks and looking-tousled-in-the-morning stuff. But who the hell knew that Doc would distract you enough? I had good money set, too...' 'Would someone tell me what the heck is going on?' Mal wailed. 'Distract me from what?' 'U-Day,' Zoe replied, 'it's today. And you ain't fighting anyone. Meaning, I won.' Mal blinked. And then burst out laughing.