(no subject)

[xiao_meimei]

Kaylee had discovered that Warren made a very nice pillow, being as how her bunk was a bit too narrow and necessitated them sleeping curled up close together. Not that she were adverse to that anyway. He was warm, and the ship was more often than not a bit on the cold side. But sleeping with someone else after so long of not doing it was a bit disconcerting as well, and she found herself awake earlier than she might otherwise have been.

She smiled and stretched a little, content to watch him sleep, listening to his breathing. She weren't sure exactly when how or if this had become something more than scratching an itch, but having him here felt good. Right. The way he'd fit in so nicely so quick, and just having someone who looked at her and saw her were one of the nicest treats she'd had in a long time.

She was tempted to wake him up, but refrained, closing her eyes again to snuggle into him.

Comments

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren was deep asleep. Not dreaming either, which was probably a good thing given how narrow the bunk was. A good nightmare would have rolled them both right off.

But he was asleep, and she was comfortable nestled up against him, and when she moved he crawled from somewhere in asleep to somewhere in mostly asleep, tightening his arms around her.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She made a little sound, content at the embrace and pressed a still somewhat sleepy kiss to his chest.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Touch. Movement, sound. Familiar. His eyes flickered half open, a small unnoticed smile curving up the corners of his mouth.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Kaylee was smiling as well, hand moving to rest on his chest near her cheek, when there was a slight banging on the hatch before it swung down.

"Kaylee? Warren?" Mal didn't sound irritated, but more concerned. He was also making very sure not to go down there without approval because that could be bad depending on what they were up to.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He'd been all set to go back to sleep, too. Warren made a noise of disgruntlement.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

It was early. What did he want this early?

"Yes, Captain?"

She didn't sound out of breath, so he figured it was safe and came down, giving their cuddled forms, clearly naked under the blankets an embarrassed look.

"Seems there's a girl wanderin' about town lookin' for Warren."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren moved almost to sit bolt upright at that, remembering at the last second that they were on a narrow bunk and clutching Kaylee tighter, leaning back to keep them both from falling off.

"There's a what? Who?"

How the hell did anyone know he was here?

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Kaylee, snagged the sheet to pull up with them, making sure she was still covered and frowned in confusion.

"What?"

Mal was watching Warren carefully. "Inara says the sky split open an' there was a lab folks could see for a bit, then it was gone. An' now there's some girl wanderin' around town asking about her brother. Boy with dark hair that has a red streak in it an' flame tattoos on his arm. Now, I ain't fully explored the town none, but I'm bettin' there aren't that many others who fit that description."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren stared. Hope and a sudden tightness in his throat that he hadn't expected to feel at the prospect of being able to go home again.

His arms were tight around Kaylee, ignoring the potential embarrassment of their nakedness.

"I guess someone found a way to reproduce that accident," he said, pretending a nonchalance he didn't feel and was fairly sure he wasn't all that convincing about it.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Kaylee's eyes were wide and she looked up at him. Mal watched them both, concern on his face, especially when he glanced at Kaylee.

Her stomach sank. If someone else had come here, what if they'd found a way to take him back?

She shivered a little and hated the sick feeling that left in her stomach.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren's fingers smoothed through her hair. He knew he'd have to face the fact that he was in the future, on a spaceship eventually. Whether that was the fact that he was stuck here or the fact that he had to go home.

He just hadn't expected it to be this soon. Or that so much would have changed.

"We're not going to find out what's going on by sitting here," he said finally, after a long silence. His voice was strangled and dry.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Mal nodded slightly. "I told Inara to bring the girl here. She should be here shortly. Y'all should get dressed, an' we'll meet Inara's shuttle when she gets in."

Kaylee looked down, eyes studying Warren's chest. "Hăo ba, Captain."

He gave her another concerned look, then climbed back up and went to tell Zoe what was going on.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

His fingertips brushed along her shoulder. He still hadn't let go.

"I'm sorry..."

It sounded like such a stupid thing to say.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She was still staring at his chest.

"Ain't your fault your friends missed you..."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He could hear it in her voice. Couldn't blame her. Hurt and nervousness and fear. Everything was going too fast. It had started out as casual, between friends. He was pretty sure it had turned into something else.

"They didn't know where I was," he pointed out. "Where I am. If I was safe..." Or dead. He'd been stupid to walk through in the first place, but he couldn't regret it now. Not now. Not with everything that had happened.

"We'll figure it out, okay? We'll figure this out."

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She bit her lip and nodded a little.

Pulling away a bit, she tried a smile. "Guess we ought to get dressed."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"We probably should."

He held her close long enough to brush his fingertips against her cheek.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She turned her head to kiss his fingertips, then slipped out of bed to look for clothes.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He dressed quickly, a little glad he'd been expecting to travel somewhere, anyway, and packed a change of clothes. And a few other things, one of which he stuffed under her pillow when she wasn't looking in case he didn't come back.

He combed his fingers through his hair and was ready. At least, clothed and as clean as he was going to get.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She dithered a bit, not sure what to wear, but finally settled on cargo pants and a flowery shirt that had a bit of flow to it. Not quite work, and not overalls, but not like she was dressing up for whoever this girl was either.

She frowned a bit, remembering what Mal said. "You have a sister?"

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"Nope." Wryly. "I'm guessing whoever said that made it up to find me."

Which brought at least one person to mind, who had a habit of saying made-up things relating to him.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She nodded a little, and then she focused on buttoning up her blouse so she didn't have to think that it very likely could be his girl.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He just sat on the bunk, waited for her. Watching her.

Maybe memorizing her to take with him. Homesickness versus heartache. Not much to choose from between the two.

It was a little bit startling to realize he was putting things in terms of heartache already, but not much. These things happened. Granted, they had never happened to him before.

He wasn't even sure how he felt, although how she was acting was a good ...

Stop thinking. Just. Stop thinking so much.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She looked over at him, eyes just a little bit bleak, worried, sad. She wasn't very good at hiding her feelings.

"We should...Inara's bound to be here soon."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He nodded slightly and held out his hand to her, even knowing that it was a little impractical for going up hatch stairs.