Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own any of these wonderful characters, or even the setting and world of Firefly. They all belong to Fox/Universal and Joss Whedon.
James Norrington and related belongs to Disney, Gore and Ted and Terry.
Setting: Takes place right after Down the Aisle
Pairings: Kaylee/Simon, Mal/Inara
Can’t Stop the Music
Chapter 9: Habanera
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“I can’t wait for this job to be over with,” Jayne Cobb grumbled out loud. “As soon as they get off the better.” His healthy arm was filled with debris. His other arm was still in a cast. He was no longer limping. The doc had treated both his sprain and his break and it would only be a couple more weeks before he could have the cast removed. He had been given garbage detail that morning and he had scoured as much of the rubbish as he could find.
“It will only be two more days,” Simon stood on the metal staircase leading to the catwalk.
“How long have they been here?” Jayne never took the time to count the days, nor was he really interested in the numbers of anything else, unless it had something to do with money.
“Nearly eight days,” Simon answered. His side chore of the day was to clean the dishes and he had that completed already.
“I thought Mal said it was only gonna take seven days.”
“He said nine,” Simon climbed up higher on the steps. “And that did not include the delay with the pirates and the Alliance officers.”
“Gorram kids,” Jayne nearly spat when he dropped the garbage on center of the hatch in the floor. “Always leaving their instruments around.”
“They only did that once.”
“Once is more than enough,” Jayne glanced towards his exorcise bench. “They play when I want to work.”
“You shouldn’t be working out,” Simon’s voice took a stern tone. “As your doctor I forbid it.”
“I aint lifting weights with my arms,” Jayne pressed the button to open the first door of the hatch. “My thigh is better and I can start my leg exorcises again. I was just trying to do some sit ups.” He gave his stomach a small pat. “I gotta keep my six pack for the ladies.”
“What ladies?”
“You know. The ladies we are going to meet on Beaumonde.” Jayne chuckled at the idea of coming across a nice bit of tasty in one of the bars.
“What do you mean we?” The doctor held up a hand, displaying the band on his finger.
“That’s right,” Jayne chuckled. “You got yourself cuffed and chained.”
“Only you would consider being married as a prison sentence.”
“All I know is I am still free meal for all.” The two panels of the top hatch door connected to each other again, a signal for Jayne to press the second button and jettison the trash into space.
“I hope they have antacids,” Simon said dryly.
“You watch it,” Jayne pointed at him. “You are lucky I’m still all injured thanks to that pirate gal. I can’t believe you treated them.”
“The Captain’s orders,” Simon shrugged.
“This is why I don’t ever enlist. I don’t have any bonds with anyone.” It was not exactly true. He had some bonds with his family and that was it. “You can’t play but Mal can, and so can Jimbo. The three of us are going to get down, drunk and dirty.”
“I’m going to finish cleaning up the kitchen.”
“Where is everyone anyway?” Jayne was thankful he hadn’t seen much of the band and the only ones he saw were the male members as they went back upstairs to the kitchen. He had seen Mal head straight to the helm, but he couldn’t find Zoë, or any of the other girls.
“I think Inara invited all the women into her shuttle.”
“Whatever for?” As soon as he asked that question an answer formed in his head. He could picture all of them with little to no clothing as Inara taught them some of her tricks. “Oh that.”
“Do not even think it,” Simon pointed at him and glared.
Too late. He had already thought of it. “I’ll be in my bunk.”
-
Inara stared at the long dark tresses in her hands. The split ends have been trimmed and the spray in leave in conditioner had been absorbed. The hair was ready to be bushed, teased and sculpted into a work of art. “This is pretty relaxing, for me anyway.” She explained as she brushed River’s hair.
“Just lying stretched out on a hammock would relax me,” Zoë said. She sat on another cushion with Kaylee kneeling behind her. “Not in a ship but attached to a couple of trees and the scent and feeling of nature, or in a big ole bath tub.
“This is what relaxes me,” Kaylee had grabbed a few of Zoë’s dark curls. “Everyone together and getting all pretty.”
“Dancing,” River added. “I want to dance more than usual.”
“We may be contributing to that craving,” Cyn kneeled behind her keyboardist and was styling her hair. The bristles of the brush had already worked through the dark silk like tresses. “Sometimes you have to give in.”
“Can’t dance when I fly,” River sighed.
“You are not flying now,” Cyn pointed out.
“Mal did give us about a half hour,” Inara smiled at the look Malcolm had given her when she led the women into her shuttle and the tone of voice he had used when he said half an hour and no more.
“What time is it?” Zoë turned her head to fast; some of her hair was pulled causing her to wince and Kaylee to apologize.
“There is plenty of time,” Inara grabbed a bottle of rose seed oil and a curling iron. “This would look good in Amistance’s hair.” She handed the bottle to the band’s lead singer.
“Thanks,” Cyn squeezed a bit into the palm of her hand. “We don’t get to do this much too often, our old ship was cozy, but a bit cramped.” She rubbed her hands together. “Just don’t tell Ray that I said that.”
“We would never say something like that,” Kaylee sprit zed some styling mix into Zoë’s hair and continued to tease. “The guy’s are going to drop their jaws when they see you four.”
“He won’t like it.”
“Who won’t like it?” Inara slid some of River’s hair into the Iron, not fully wrapped and she didn’t leave it in for long. She slid a little more hair in the same matter, creating style able waves.
“Simon.”
“River,” Zoë asked in a surprised tone. “What are you saying?”
“Not about Kaylee. He always thinks she is beautiful, can’t stop thinking about her. He doesn’t want men to notice me.”
“Is he your older brother?” Amistance asked.
“Older and a very protective brother,” Zoë added.
“He thinks I’m a child, too young for love. I’m over eighteen. I am an adult with a job. I can fall in love with any man I want.”
“Yes you can,” Inara gently took several of River’s waves and wound it around into a stylish twist. She knew who River had fallen for and had to admit she was a little jealous herself. She would not say his name, not until River was ready.
“He is just looking out for you,” Cyn had already worked in the oil into Amistance’s hair and would up a bit into a small bun. “A good older brother or sister looks out for the younger ones.” Her voice was weak and shaky. “No matter how long it takes.”
Inara had slid a few pins into the twist when she looked up. Cyn’s eyes were brimming with tears and was about to shed them. “You have siblings?”
“A brother and a sister,” Cyn secured the bun to the side of Amistance’s head. “I haven’t seen them in a while, but I will see them soon.”
“It can be hard to be away from family,” Zoë said. “I keep wondering if I made the right decision with my son, but knowing that I will see him again and soon keeps me going. I feel you are doing the right thing.”
“I wish I were as confident as you,” she wiped away the tears from her face.
“Cyn,” Amistance spoke in a warning tone. “You will always have us.”
“I know,” Cyn smiled briefly and ran the brush through the rest of her band mate’s hair. “If a gal can’t count on her band mates then who can she count on?”
“What are you guys callin yourselves?” Kaylee had started to place a few bobby pins into Zoë’s hair. “We just call you the band and the musicians, but that don’t seem right.”
“Are you still deciding on a name?” Inara had placed the last of the pins into the twist.
“Pretty much,” Amistance agreed.
“How about Back in Time?” Kaylee asked.
“We could add it to the maybe list?” Amistance asked.
“Probably,” Cyn had started to work on a second bun in Amistance’s hair.
“You still like the idea of historic figures?” Inara sprayed a bit more mist into River’s hair and grabbed the curling iron again. “Your music has a neat mix of jazz, ska, and rock. How about Jagger’s Ska Boogie?”
“That is a really good name,” Amistance smiled.
“I like it too, but the guys also need to have their say,” Cyn grabbed a few more pins.
“They are really going to love these new looks,” Kaylee placed the last pin into Zoë’s hair and handed the former soldier a mirror.
“I never had my hair in this style before,” Zoë examined her reflection. “Although I know it will be worthwhile when I get a group of younger guys to drop their jaws.”
“So which one do you like?” Kaylee asked.
“Hard to choose,” Zoë handed back the mirror. “All are pretty looksem.”
“Jayne isn’t seeing anyone is he?” Amistance asked. The second bun was secured and Cyn had divided her remaining hair into two parts.
“Jayne?” Inara nearly dropped the curling iron. “You mean our Jayne Cobb?”
“Of course,” Amistance grinned. “I like strong men and guys who look like men, not pretty boys. He is also funny.”
“Well there is the thing about Jayne,” Inara wound a few stray pieces of River’s hair around the iron. “It is hard to put this in polite terms.”
“There is no grace,” River said. “No tact or grace at all with him.”
“Not the brightest star in the verse,” Zoë added.
“He certainly is rough around the edges,” Inara added. “He can be crude at times.” She was being generous to him.
“But he has his sweet side,” Kaylee added. “And he can surprise you sometimes.”
“So he has his faults,” Amistance shrugged. “Who is actually perfect anyway?”
“You can have Jayne,” Cyn had started to braid one of the sections of hair. “I like men who are tall but not too tall, good looking, not pretty, but not too rugged in the face area, and I like them to be smart with a sense of honor.”
“You like the captain?” Inara froze.
“Not he,” Cyn chuckled. “I’m talking about James. I have preference for green eyes over blue and that voice and that accent, plus have you seen those hands? Those are good kind of hands to have on a guy.”
“Of course tall, and intelligent and has a sense of honor.” Why did she think of Mal. She set the curling iron down and looked up. Kaylee’s smile had only shifted slightly.
“His heart is still healing,” River spoke up. “He had proposed and she accepted and it was a lie. She told him she didn’t love him and it hurt.”
“He has a lot of baggage?” Cyn had started on the second braid. “I have my own baggage.”
“Too much baggage can break your back,” River said.
“Speaking of breaking backs,” Malcolm stepped inside. “I’m breaking my own back by doing all the work. What is this, a ship or a beauty parlor?”
“Mal,” Inara rose to her feet. How the hell did she connect Mal with honor earlier she had no idea.
“There is a reason you got smoke coming out of your ears?” Mal asked.
“You are not invited,” she crossed her arms.
“Oh that,” Mal pointed to Cyn and Amistance. “They can stay. I need River in the front and Kaylee in the back and Zoë with me.”
“Yes sir,” Zoë rose to her feet.
“We have been invited to watch them perform after dinner,” Inara said. “They need an audience.”
“Please Cap’n?” Kaylee asked. “Won’t be long, maybe a half hour.”
“A Half hour and no more,” He raised a finger. “You know I am being generous with all these half hours.”
“Not exactly,” Inara glared into his eyes. “We still have five minutes left.”
He chuckled. “Whoops.”
“Tonight there will be no whoops,” she pointed to the door. “Now get out.”
-
Mal stood back, furthest away from the band with his arms folded and watched as their paid passengers set up their instruments. He bit down on his lip to keep shouting at Dustin, telling him he was holding the guitar wrong, but a second later Dustin adjusted his instrument and Mal no longer felt compelled to correct the kid.
“Which song are we doing?” Ray asked. He already had his drums set up.
“Why don’t you pick the song this time?” Cyn asked.
“How about Scatter?” Ray suggested. “Nice fast song, people can dance to it.”
“And then we can play Sapphire Club,” Alfie added.
“Gotta do something slow after.” Cyn said.
“Don’t slow down on my account,” Jayne was seated on the stairs. “I ain’t gonna be moving.”
“We will see about that Mr. Cobb,” Cyn chuckled. “Okay lets Scatter.”
The song started with both guitars playing in a wild matter at the same time. Their music slowed and the saxophone and keyboards picked up the tempo, playing as they overshadowed the guitars and then the drum beats kicked in and the guitars sped up one more.
Mal wasn’t sure he liked the song. It wasn’t his style and then again most of the recent songs were not his style. He certainly couldn’t dance to it, not in the same way as River was dancing. The girl was good and she was smiling.
“Come on Cap’n,” Kaylee was bouncing around and swinging her arms along with Simon. “Dance.”
“I don’t know this kind of dance,” Mal said.
“This is why you have to improvise,” Inara swayed her hips in front of him before she spun around and grabbed James by the arm. “Sometimes you have to make it up as you go along.”
“Not everyone is dancing,” Mal nodded towards Jayne and was about to include Zoë, but his second in command was also dancing. “You had to betray me.”
“Sorry sir,” Zoë smiled in that way that said she wasn’t at all sorry. “But when the music is playing you just gotta dance.”
“You don’t gotta do anything unless I tell you to.”
“I aint dancing girl,” Jayne stepped back away from River. She reached out for his healthy arm and he pulled back. “You aint gonna convince me to my feet. Your brother said I need to take it easy.”
“A little dancing won’t hurt,” Simon said.
“Just forget it,” Jayne spun around.
River rolled her eyes and stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. Jayne blinked and pointed to the keyboardist. River nodded and Jayne smiled before he began to move to the music.
“What the hell is going on around here?” Mal asked. “What did she say to him?”
“Everyone is dancing except for you, Sir,” Zoë said.
“I plan on keeping that way.”
“Dance,” River twirled towards him. “Let yourself loose and free.”
“Have you all been possessed?” Mal could not understand what was going on. The band was good, but he did not feel compelled to dance at all.
“You know what they say sir,” Zoë grabbed his hand again. “If you can’t beat them, join them.”
“I am not trying to beat anybody.” He tried to pull his arm away but Zoë kept a firm grip on his hand. “Will you let go?”
“When you let yourself go.”
“I am beginning to think you inhaled too much styling products,” he glared at Inara. “What have you done to my crew?”
“I haven’t done anything to your crew,” Inara said. “They are doing this on their own free will.”
He was almost thankful when the music stopped. Everyone had stopped dancing and applauded the band. He clapped along with the others.
“There is no way you guys aint gonna win that contest,” Mal said.
“Thank you,” Cyn said before she nodded at her band mates. “Chop chop gang.”
The music started again. The beat wasn’t as fast before and the music seemed more organized. In fact it was a bit more pleasant Mal nodded along to the rhythm and felt his hips swaying to the music.
“That’s it,” Inara grabbed his hand and pulled him close to her. “Get into it.”
“Get into what?” Mal stared down at his shifting legs. “Oh hell.”
“Don’t even fight it.”
“Just one,” Mal felt his feet move along to the music. “Just one dance and that would be it.”
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