(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]

It came out of him anyway, ragged and breathless. "I'll be back. I promise. I'll be back."

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

The practical part of her wanted to protest that he couldn't promise that, but she nodded instead and kissed him again.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He kissed her back, trying to forget everythign that was going on around him, everything that would take him away and turn him up side down. The dilemma, the time travel, his home. His time versus this time. His room versus her bunk.

He smiled slightly, remembering something. "Maybe we should give her back her shuttle..."

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She smiled a little back at him. "She might appreciate it, yeah. Inara's fond of her home."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He skimmed his fingertips down her cheek for a moment, just looking.

Then took her hand and led her out the door.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Her fingers clung to his, reluctant to let go for even that small time as she followed him out.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He stopped once they were out, halfway facing the catwalk, glancing at her and uncertain of what to do.

He should go talk to Layla. But he had a little while left. Didn't want to waste it.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She smiled at him a little, uncertain, too. "Are you hungry?"

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"I am, a little," he smiled shyly back.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

"We could get breakfast..."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"I'd like that..."

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Still clinging to his hand, she led him back to the mess, rummaging to see what they'd picked up yesterday.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He held on right back, although it would make some things awkward if they had to go up and down hatches again. Holding onto her, as though one or the other of them would disappear if they let go, was worth a little awkwardness.

Layla followed five or ten steps behind and hovered in the doorway to the mess. She couldn't help feeling as though she was intruding, but she didn't know anyone else on the ship, or where to go.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

"Looks like Shepherd picked up eggs and cheese and some veggies." She looked back at him, eyes encompassing Layla, too. "I could make an omlette."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Layla nodded, still feeling like an outsider.

"Sure," Warren said softly.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She had to let go of his hand to grab the pan and the butter, and she hated that. It showed in her eyes, but. Well. It was something to do. She chopped the veggies slowly.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

As much as Layla fidgeted in the doorway, Warren was worse. He finally grabbed a handful of onions and a knife, started slicing them with expert speed.

It occurred to him only after he'd gotten through most of them, what he was doing, what it could hide.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She glanced at him from time to time, then moved to dump the butter in the pan, beating the eggs a little bit viciously.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He scraped the onions into the pile of chopped veggies. Wiped his eyes on the back of his hand.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

She smiled at him a little bit, then dumped the veggies in the pan to start sauteeing.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

There wasn't much left for him to do; omlets weren't that hard. He hovered behind her anyway, mostly able to keep out of her way, one hand stroking over her hair, rubbing between her shoulders lightly.

Layla stared from the doorway. This wasn't something she'd ever seen, although now that she was looking at him the way he had been in the Paper Lantern had kind of hinted at it. But here was Warren, cooking and all domestic, and clearly paying all kinds of adoring attention to this girl.

She didn't understand. Emotionally, it just didn't make sense.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Kaylee leaned back against him a little. Not so much that she couldn't cook, but to feel him there, to know he still was there.

She poured the eggs over the veggies, leaning back a bit more as they set, one hand drifting to his waist behind her.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

One arm snaked around her waist, lightly, leaving her the freedom of movement to step up and finish cooking. He almost closed his eyes just to enjoy the moment, but for long habit of never taking your eyes away from things on stoves in a kitchen.

Behind them, Layla was finally bursting with the need to do something, not to watch this painful, private moment. She moved towards what seemed to be drawers, stopped when she realized she'd have to ask and break the silence just to help.

"Um..." Her voice was tiny. "Should I... set the table?"

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Kaylee tensed, just a bit at the reminder that the girl was there and that Warren was leaving with her.

"Um....sure. Yeah." She glanced over. "Plates are there above the sink an' silverware's next to it, on the right."

She paused a moment, then offered just a little smile. "Thank you."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Layla smiled back, but it, too, was small and a little awkward and very shy. Very aware of her own youth and the way she was totally interrupting Warren and his girlfriend.

Warren's girlfriend.

The words were just about the oddest she could think of in connection with the older boy. Warren Peace had a girlfriend. Not even an in-school girlfriend, which would have been odd but she would have gotten used to it. This was just strange. Plus there was the whole 'getting dressed' part that the Captain had said that she was still getting over.

It was one thing to recognize that your body went flushed and your mind said, hey, this is a hot guy here. It was quite another to suddenly be able to, or even forced to see him as a sexual being.