Shuttle

The only thing that had kept Jayne out of here was that Inara had always been in her shuttle. Jayne had always cut eyes at the shuttle and Mal imagined that it had much to do with his perception that there would be boundless booty. Since Inara had taken ill on some shellfish she'd gotten as a present from one of her clients and was holed up in the sick bay, Mal knew that he'd have to stick around to watch over the shuttle in her absence.

As will happen on a boat, Mal's back was temporarily turned because of an emergency that involved River and nonsensical babbling, but he wasn't so distracted as to not notice Jayne prowling along the catwalk to Inara's shuttle.

Within seconds, Mal had detangled himself from River's gibberish and was up in the doorway of the shuttle, glaring at Jayne.

"I know where the loot's hid. Been in there once. Smelled funny, but I been in there."



It took Mal a moment to remember why Jayne had been in the shuttle-- that frightening day when they were missing a part and Mal thought he might well have to go down with his ship and sent everyone off. Why Jayne seemed sad over the memory was lost on him. Maybe he loved Serenity as much as Mal did.

Already Jayne was into everything. He opened drawers and pulled out mysterious vials of fluids and oils, and even a set of beads. Looking up happily at Mal, Jayne stretched them 'round the front of his neck. Mal simply shook his head no; he knew anal beads when he saw them and just as he opened his mouth to explain, he hesitated. One of the many things Jayne didn't need to know about his captain was exactly why he knew what anal beads were. Leanings was leanings and it just depended on who was around to lean to, although in this particular case, he'd been leaning to a young lady, but he didn't think that Jayne would appreciate the distinction.

"That ain't a necklace," Mal said.

Jayne pulled the beads from his neck and examined them intently. The truth was, Mal reckoned Jayne was too innocent most ways to have half the go se that he was pulling out explained to him. Admittedly, in the killin' way, Jayne was jaded, but when it came to feelings and romance or the subtleties some would see as accompanying that, he was like a toddler. And, much like a toddler would, he'd started to raise the beads to his mouth.

"Stop," Mal barked.

Instantly, Jayne froze and turned wide eyes towards Mal.

"Put those down and stop bein' so gorram nosy."

"But Mal, she could be holdin' out on us! Don'tcha wanna see what she's got in here?"

Discarding the beads, Jayne pulled the next drawer open. It was filled with many shapes and colors of dongs.

"She must get lonely," Jayne observed. "Real lonely."

Mal glared at Jayne's nearly innocent shock and pantomimed shutting the drawer. Their eyes met and held, and, after waiting a beat longer than was strictly necessary, Jayne rolled the drawer shut. It was a matter of pride for Jayne, and a matter of control for Mal, and it always went like this. Mal had to know his crew would obey without question, and it was Jayne's nature to follow. Jayne had his petty rebellions, but he was just testing him, like he needed to know Mal would be there to stop him if he needed stopping. Jayne knew just how to pull the strings, just when to push and stop, and in their own way, it worked. It worked because it didn't work.

Jayne's attention soon focused on other parts of the shuttle, reading dials and fiddling with the screen to see if she had any waves saved, and Mal took the opportunity to look at the shuttle as it was. When Inara was in here, he could never focus on the rest of the room. Colorful fabric gussied up the dingy shuttle, making it look like something it weren't, same as Inara herself with her training and her fancy clothes, calling herself a companion when the base of the job was just the same. All the fripperies and the high falutin' manners was her protection, what hid her from the reality of life in the black on a grimy working ship, and from him.

"Reckon these sheets is silk?" Jayne asked as his fingers glided over the dark red velvet blanket.

Silk sheets sounded awful inviting. Mal was exhausted from the stress of their last job, in close to a core planet for Inara's sake. Planets like that kept his senses on high alert, making him so he couldn't let his guard down. They were headed back rimward now, as safe a distance away as they were gettin', and what he really wanted was a long soak bath and a nap. The soak was right out, and a rag bath of the necessaries weren't the same at all. He figured maybe the only thing on Serenity not made for efficiency was Inara's big, shiny bed.

"I reckon they might be," Mal said finally, "but I reckon this is also her shuttle and we shouldn't muck 'em up."

Even as he spoke, Jayne pulled back the covers to reveal the off-white striped silk sheets. He made a low sound in his throat as his hands slid over the fabric.

"Imagine bein' naked on these?"

Though Mal'd thought that would hurt, and maybe that was what Jayne was aiming to do, it didn't bother him to think of Inara with various company writhing through the sheets. Maybe he was just worn out from thinking so much about everything, or maybe he was just plumb worn out. All he was really thinking was that it likely would be very nice to be stretched out all naked on 'em.

Mal stepped to the bed and slid his fingers over the sheets. They were as soft as he imagined. And, as if Mal's experimental touch was somehow acquiescence to his curiosity, Jayne sat on the bed and started pulling off his shoes and socks.

"What are you doin'?" Mal asked, snatching his hands back as he stood before crossing his arms to give Jayne a Stern Look.

"Bet it'd feel good on my toes. I just wanna see for my toes' sake."

Jayne didn't get anymore nekkid, just stretched out flat on the bed and slid his bare toes under the covers. Oh that was just fine. Because it weren't like Jayne had a habit of pushing 'til things went too far, 'til he had to be told no in no uncertain terms. Because his trousers wasn't tented and Mal weren't thinking about his leanings and just how silky those sheets might be, or how thinly stretched Jayne's gorram Blue Sun t-shirt was over his bicep. Maybe it wouldn't hurt none to take off his boots and try it out himself, to be disarmed in front of Jayne. Sure he'd had enough chances to do him in before now, if he was gonna.

"Everything you thought it'd be?" Mal asked.

Instead of answering, Jayne made a low guttural noise and crossed his arms over his stomach. Grabbing his shirt hem, he peeled the whole thing right off in one graceful movement and rolled over onto his front, humping the bed like Mal weren't even there.

Jayne's enthusiasm wasn't the bothersome part, though. It was the part where Mal was pretty sure he just lost control of the situation. It was the part where Mal wasn't so sure Jayne'd stop at his say-so. What was worse was the part where Mal wasn't sure he wanted to say so. He stood there for a few moments, watching as Jayne thrust harder against the sheets and rubbed his skin against the fine fabric.

Mal was pretty sure there was a word for this.

Awkward.

That's what this was. Now he had a name for it, and somehow that made it-- No, actually it didn't make no gorram difference.

Jayne started undoing his pants and Mal stood there, debating his leanings until he figured he was too tired and -- thanks to all Jayne's groanin' and moanin' and growlin' -- too lacking blood in his proper head to keep debating. Leanings was leanings and there weren't nothin' wrong with lettin' off some steam when the need arose.

Mal turned around and sat on the edge of the bed, not looking at Jayne as he yanked off his boots and peeled off his socks. As he unbuttoned his shirt, he felt the bed still and then creak. The mattress gave way behind him. Then he felt Jayne's hands on his shoulders, pushing down his suspenders. His hands moved to unfasten his holster, then pulled off his shirt. While Jayne worked on that, Mal tended to his trousers, his pulse starting to rise along with a sorta dread as to what this was gonna do to their dynamic.

Mal weren't so sure Jayne'd listen to him in this situation, and he had no intention of letting go of anything, 'specially when his guard was down.

He stood and dropped his trousers and briefs, then turned around, jaw clenched and chin up, a proud captain, even undone. Jayne casually stretched out on the bed, arms behind his head and ankles coyly crossed.

"Shiny, ain't I?" Jayne said, not so much asking as letting Mal in on his personal opinion.

Even as he leered at Jayne's well-toned body, Mal realized that these next couple of minutes had to be played just so or he'd lose this battle. There was a lot more'n rutting riding on it. If he humped this up, it'd threaten his capacity to lead. Course... he didn't 'spect to hump this up.

"You 'spectin' to be preened like a girl?" Mal asked.

Without pockets to stick his hands in, he was left to ball them into fists. He took an aggressive stance, head forward, nostrils flaring challenge.

Jayne held his stare for a moment, then faltered. "No."

Mal pursed his lips in satisfaction, the tension in his neck relaxing.

"'Spectin' to be fucked like a girl?"

"I don't reckon so."

Jayne actually looked pouty as he rolled back onto his belly and spread his legs. Then he shifted and pulled his knees up under him, muscles rippling under scarred, tanned skin, and Mal figured this hadn't been such a bad idea as he'd maybe been thinkin'.

"Looks like all that bragging 'bout your ass wasn't just ramblin'."

Mal headed back to the dresser to investigate the oils, and, finding one that seemed like it would do the trick, he pulled the cork and poured some out onto his hand. It warmed to the touch and smelled like cinnamon, and it put Mal in mind of things he didn't rightly think he ought to be in mind of. He waited a moment, but the spicy scented oil didn't get any warmer, so he shrugged and walked back to the bed, kneeling behind Jayne.

He rubbed the oil between Jayne's cheeks, gently teasing his finger in and out of his relaxing hole. Mal stared at it a moment, watching how it closed up again with the loss of his finger. Part of him wanted to just sit and appreciate this moment of total submission, Jayne so willing and waiting in way that had nothing to do with being out in the black, or being lonely and just needing comfort and--

"Gonna stare at it all night or are you gonna fuck me, Mal?"

Mal rubbed the rest of the oil over his cock, shining it up as he pulled himself to full hardness. Then he sat up on his knees a little higher, grabbed Jayne's hips and shifted until he felt the tip of his cock against Jayne's opening. It was obvious he wasn't a virgin, and also that Jayne thought he was taking entirely too long 'cause he pushed back onto him.

"Mite impatient there?" Mal groaned, feeling the thick warmth wrapping around him.

The silk sheets were soft against the tops of his feet, but hard to get a good grip on with his knees. He leaned into Jayne and grabbed harder at him for leverage, digging into the mattress. Mal managed to steady himself, fucking Jayne harder, thrusting into him forcefully enough to make their bodies clap together.

Jayne groaned, shifting on the bed and arching his back as he met each thrust with agile grace. The man weren't just built for thieving; he was built for being fucked, and he didn't just lie there and take it. He fucked back as if he were in charge, as if this were his ship, his bed, as if he'd brung Mal here just for this.

Digging his nails in, Mal gritted his teeth and slammed into Jayne, listening to the grunts and growls and the chafing skin sound of Jayne jerking off. Maybe Jayne had brung him here, but there was no doubt about who was fucking who. Mal watched his glistening prick stretching Jayne around him, watched his hole close in and pucker out as he moved inside him. Jayne's body started quaking so hard that it was like he was vibrating, and he let out a winded string of Chinese swear words and collapsed against the bed, no longer the able-bodied fuck monster, but a puddle of Jayne, face pressed into a pillow as his body rocked with each thrust. With that final surrender, Mal closed his eyes in triumph, exhaled, and felt the pulsing flow of his release coursing through him, pulling out to shoot the last surge of come onto Jayne's perfect, gleaming ass.

"Shiny," Jayne groaned contentedly.

"I don't think Inara's going to think it's as shiny when she comes back to her shuttle bein' messed with," said Mal as he took the moment to just rest against Jayne's broad back.

"Not like these sheets don't see no action from her."

Mal rolled his eyes. For a moment, he'd forgotten that everything was a battle with Jayne. Kissing his sweaty shoulder, he sat back and gave Jayne's ass a hard swat. Then he walked himself backwards on his knees, stepped neatly onto the floor, and went for his clothes.

"I'll see to it. Jayne. You get back to your bunk."

Mal eyed the stained sheets and tried to think of an excuse. Inara would probably assume that he missed her and jerked off in her bed... It might just do to let her believe that -- couldn't hurt to have a Companion on board who thought she had him under her thumb.