joss100 Challenge Ficlet: Dawn
Title: Compass
Author: cornfields
Rating: PG
Character(s): Jayne, Mattie, River
Prompt: Dawn
Word Count: 741
Spoilers: Serenity, the movie.
"What are you going to do, brother?"
Jayne glanced over his shoulder briefly before returning his gaze to the horizon. "Do 'bout what?"
Mattie handed Jayne one of the steaming mugs of coffee he carried before leaning beside him on the balcony rail. "About the girl, you stubborn hun dan. You can't expect her to keep going on like you have."
Jayne winced as he lifted the mug to his lips and scalded his tongue on the hot, bitter liquid. "She's stronger'n she looks, and ain't no slouch in the trained killer department, neither," he said grimly. "She'll let me know when she can't keep goin'."
Mattie sighed. "That's just it, Jayne; I get the distinct impression she won't. That girl sets her compass to you, and if you say 'go,' she'll follow."
Jayne scrubbed at his face with the palm of his hand and sighed. "Look, I had a place all set up. I wouldna risked coming out here if it hadn't been for that Fed running them retina scans up in Capitol City. I had to kill three of 'em." He took another, more cautious sip. "So much for a clean break. Nothin' been goin' accordin' to plan here, not for months," he grumbled over his mug.
"If it's money you need--" Mattie began.
"I don't want your money," Jayne said, firm.
Mattie snorted. "I know you don't want my money, but it's yours if you need it."
Jayne said nothing in reply. The brothers drank their coffee and leaned against the railing in companionable silence, both watching the sunrise and thinking on the woman fast asleep in the flat behind them. Fear and guilt already nagged every step Jayne took; as if he needed worry for his younger brother on top of it all. He knew it was a mistake to come to Mattie, but it'd been his only option at the time.
"How's Ma doin'?" Jayne asked, breaking the silence at last.
Mattie smiled. "Oh, you know Ma. Her arthritis bothers her, but you'll never hear her complain. She misses you, you know. You haven't been back to see her since before you took up with Serenity."
"I know she don't approve of me none," Jayne said, his expression flat.
"She loves you." Mattie said, quietly.
"Yeah, well." Jayne shrugged. "Whatever. S'long as she got all those credits I been sendin'."
Mattie nodded. "She used some of them late last year and finally had the barn roof repaired."
"Wo de ma," Jayne laughed despite himself. "How many years has it been?"
"At least twenty," Mattie said, his rueful laughter joining his brother's. "Dad practically had us tarred and feathered when we finally landed that shuttle. They still talk about it to all the grandkids at Christmas."
"Yeah," Jayne agreed. "He tanned my hide something fierce. I still can't get into a shuttle without thinkin' 'bout it."
They grinned at each other, remembering. Before either could speak another word, the glass door behind them slid open, revealing a sleepy and rather disheveled River. Each strand of her hair was touched by the light of dawn, forming a glowing nimbus around her head.
"So warm, golden," she murmured, favoring them both with a stunning smile. "Christmas morning and Jayne and Mattie, partners in crime."
Jayne gave his brother a warning look before turning to greet her. "Whatcha doin' up so early, sunshine?"
"Getting pummeled," she complained wryly, placing both hands on the gentle slope of her belly.
Jayne gave her a lopsided grin. "Junior's gotta get his exercise someways, I'm guessin'."
She made a face, moving forward to lean on the railing between the brothers. "His timing is never optimal."
Mattie chuckled. "I don't know many babies who have good concept of timing," he joked. "There's juice, milk, or coffee in the kitchen, River -- whatever you'd like."
"You're very good to her, Mattias Cobb," River twinkled at him. "Do you require more caffeine, Jayne?"
"What?" Jayne blinked, then shook his head. "No. No, baby, I'm good. You go on ahead."
River re-entered the flat and left the brothers alone, the door sliding shut behind her with a low hiss. Sounds of the waking city below began to drift up to them, breaking the calm beauty of the morning. Jayne met his brother's accusing gaze, unflinching.
"What are you going to do?" Mattie repeated his question.
Jayne again turned his gaze back to the horizon. "I don't know."
==
Hun dan - Bastard
Wo de ma - Mother of God
Author: cornfields
Rating: PG
Character(s): Jayne, Mattie, River
Prompt: Dawn
Word Count: 741
Spoilers: Serenity, the movie.
"What are you going to do, brother?"
Jayne glanced over his shoulder briefly before returning his gaze to the horizon. "Do 'bout what?"
Mattie handed Jayne one of the steaming mugs of coffee he carried before leaning beside him on the balcony rail. "About the girl, you stubborn hun dan. You can't expect her to keep going on like you have."
Jayne winced as he lifted the mug to his lips and scalded his tongue on the hot, bitter liquid. "She's stronger'n she looks, and ain't no slouch in the trained killer department, neither," he said grimly. "She'll let me know when she can't keep goin'."
Mattie sighed. "That's just it, Jayne; I get the distinct impression she won't. That girl sets her compass to you, and if you say 'go,' she'll follow."
Jayne scrubbed at his face with the palm of his hand and sighed. "Look, I had a place all set up. I wouldna risked coming out here if it hadn't been for that Fed running them retina scans up in Capitol City. I had to kill three of 'em." He took another, more cautious sip. "So much for a clean break. Nothin' been goin' accordin' to plan here, not for months," he grumbled over his mug.
"If it's money you need--" Mattie began.
"I don't want your money," Jayne said, firm.
Mattie snorted. "I know you don't want my money, but it's yours if you need it."
Jayne said nothing in reply. The brothers drank their coffee and leaned against the railing in companionable silence, both watching the sunrise and thinking on the woman fast asleep in the flat behind them. Fear and guilt already nagged every step Jayne took; as if he needed worry for his younger brother on top of it all. He knew it was a mistake to come to Mattie, but it'd been his only option at the time.
"How's Ma doin'?" Jayne asked, breaking the silence at last.
Mattie smiled. "Oh, you know Ma. Her arthritis bothers her, but you'll never hear her complain. She misses you, you know. You haven't been back to see her since before you took up with Serenity."
"I know she don't approve of me none," Jayne said, his expression flat.
"She loves you." Mattie said, quietly.
"Yeah, well." Jayne shrugged. "Whatever. S'long as she got all those credits I been sendin'."
Mattie nodded. "She used some of them late last year and finally had the barn roof repaired."
"Wo de ma," Jayne laughed despite himself. "How many years has it been?"
"At least twenty," Mattie said, his rueful laughter joining his brother's. "Dad practically had us tarred and feathered when we finally landed that shuttle. They still talk about it to all the grandkids at Christmas."
"Yeah," Jayne agreed. "He tanned my hide something fierce. I still can't get into a shuttle without thinkin' 'bout it."
They grinned at each other, remembering. Before either could speak another word, the glass door behind them slid open, revealing a sleepy and rather disheveled River. Each strand of her hair was touched by the light of dawn, forming a glowing nimbus around her head.
"So warm, golden," she murmured, favoring them both with a stunning smile. "Christmas morning and Jayne and Mattie, partners in crime."
Jayne gave his brother a warning look before turning to greet her. "Whatcha doin' up so early, sunshine?"
"Getting pummeled," she complained wryly, placing both hands on the gentle slope of her belly.
Jayne gave her a lopsided grin. "Junior's gotta get his exercise someways, I'm guessin'."
She made a face, moving forward to lean on the railing between the brothers. "His timing is never optimal."
Mattie chuckled. "I don't know many babies who have good concept of timing," he joked. "There's juice, milk, or coffee in the kitchen, River -- whatever you'd like."
"You're very good to her, Mattias Cobb," River twinkled at him. "Do you require more caffeine, Jayne?"
"What?" Jayne blinked, then shook his head. "No. No, baby, I'm good. You go on ahead."
River re-entered the flat and left the brothers alone, the door sliding shut behind her with a low hiss. Sounds of the waking city below began to drift up to them, breaking the calm beauty of the morning. Jayne met his brother's accusing gaze, unflinching.
"What are you going to do?" Mattie repeated his question.
Jayne again turned his gaze back to the horizon. "I don't know."
==
Hun dan - Bastard
Wo de ma - Mother of God