Disguised
Title: Disguised
Prompt: #79 Badge
Rating: PG
Word Count: 571
Title: Disguised
Prompt: #79 Badge
Author: Cricket
Disclaimer: I’m just playing with Joss’ toys, but I promise to put them back when I’m done
Rating: PG
Word Count: 571
Jayne loved getting to use a disguise. Tricking people into thinking he was someone else always gave him a little thrill. Over the years he’d played the part of an EMT, a security guard, a bartender, a fanciful rich guy and even a scientist. It had taken forever to learn all them big words for that last one, but River had been real patient with him, sitting by him and smelling all nice while she helped him sound out the words. He pretended to be annoyed by it and tried to make it seem as though he didn't enjoy having her around, but he was pretty sure she saw right through him.
This time his disguise was that of an alliance officer, standing guard outside some diplomat’s holiday party. Jayne squared his shoulders and puffed out his chest a bit, trying his best to look every bit like the pompous little pricks he saw that time they’d found the reaverized derelict. He'd had to shave his face smooth to pull off the clean cut look and his chin itched something fierce, though he kinda liked the way it looked on him. Quelling the desire to straighten his stiff gray collar, he kept his eyes on the front entrance and waited for the signal that the heist had gone smooth.
The front hall was a flurry of activity as guests arrived and the women greeted one another with high pitched squeals of affection that Jayne found particularly annoying. A familiar flash of purple caught his attention and he searched the crowd for another glimpse. He recognized the girl’s figure weaving through the throng of people and nodded to her in what he hoped passed as a polite greeting as she approached. She winked boldly at him as she passed by, her slinky skirt brushing against his legs and her hand trailing across the shiny silver badge on his chest.
In this disguise he looked every bit the respectable man and he briefly wondered if that was the kind of man River wanted. Not that he worried so much about her running off with some guy, but the thought gave him pause as he watched her walk past, her hips swaying under the purple satin. Could he be that respectable man for her, trustworthy and loyal?
Jayne knew who he was. And who he wasn't. But seeing River give him a sweet little smile over her shoulder made him reconsider who he wanted to be.
He laughed at himself as he abandoned his post to march across the expansive lawn of the diplomat's estate to where the rest of the crew was waiting for him at the mule hidden behind a row of large pine trees. Jayne liked being himself and wasn't about to go all soft for a bitty little girl who thought she could wrap him around her fingers just by being nice to him and smelling pretty. He would be just as mean and ornery as he always was, because that's what Jayne Cobb did, he told himself.
His steps were determined and resolute as he crushed the blades of supple grass under the soles of his shiny black boots. He had to tell River that he liked her dress tonight because she looked so damn nice in it and the girl deserved to know when she's turning heads, but after that, he swore, he'd be mean old Jayne again.
Prompt: #79 Badge
Rating: PG
Word Count: 571
Title: Disguised
Prompt: #79 Badge
Author: Cricket
Disclaimer: I’m just playing with Joss’ toys, but I promise to put them back when I’m done
Rating: PG
Word Count: 571
Jayne loved getting to use a disguise. Tricking people into thinking he was someone else always gave him a little thrill. Over the years he’d played the part of an EMT, a security guard, a bartender, a fanciful rich guy and even a scientist. It had taken forever to learn all them big words for that last one, but River had been real patient with him, sitting by him and smelling all nice while she helped him sound out the words. He pretended to be annoyed by it and tried to make it seem as though he didn't enjoy having her around, but he was pretty sure she saw right through him.
This time his disguise was that of an alliance officer, standing guard outside some diplomat’s holiday party. Jayne squared his shoulders and puffed out his chest a bit, trying his best to look every bit like the pompous little pricks he saw that time they’d found the reaverized derelict. He'd had to shave his face smooth to pull off the clean cut look and his chin itched something fierce, though he kinda liked the way it looked on him. Quelling the desire to straighten his stiff gray collar, he kept his eyes on the front entrance and waited for the signal that the heist had gone smooth.
The front hall was a flurry of activity as guests arrived and the women greeted one another with high pitched squeals of affection that Jayne found particularly annoying. A familiar flash of purple caught his attention and he searched the crowd for another glimpse. He recognized the girl’s figure weaving through the throng of people and nodded to her in what he hoped passed as a polite greeting as she approached. She winked boldly at him as she passed by, her slinky skirt brushing against his legs and her hand trailing across the shiny silver badge on his chest.
In this disguise he looked every bit the respectable man and he briefly wondered if that was the kind of man River wanted. Not that he worried so much about her running off with some guy, but the thought gave him pause as he watched her walk past, her hips swaying under the purple satin. Could he be that respectable man for her, trustworthy and loyal?
Jayne knew who he was. And who he wasn't. But seeing River give him a sweet little smile over her shoulder made him reconsider who he wanted to be.
He laughed at himself as he abandoned his post to march across the expansive lawn of the diplomat's estate to where the rest of the crew was waiting for him at the mule hidden behind a row of large pine trees. Jayne liked being himself and wasn't about to go all soft for a bitty little girl who thought she could wrap him around her fingers just by being nice to him and smelling pretty. He would be just as mean and ornery as he always was, because that's what Jayne Cobb did, he told himself.
His steps were determined and resolute as he crushed the blades of supple grass under the soles of his shiny black boots. He had to tell River that he liked her dress tonight because she looked so damn nice in it and the girl deserved to know when she's turning heads, but after that, he swore, he'd be mean old Jayne again.