BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - ROMANCE

AURORAJADE

Falling in Love
Monday, April 26, 2004

Mal finally "falls" for Inara; an alternate ending for "Heart of Gold"


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 3091    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

What if Mal had stopped Inara from walking away after she told him she was leaving? Hmmm . . . . . . let’s see.

“Inara, I ain’t looking for anything from you I’m just feeling kind of truthsome right now. Life is too damn short for ifs and maybes.” “I learned something from Nandi. Not just from what happened, but from her. The family she made, the strength of her love for them. That’s what kept them together. When you live with that kind of strength, you get tied to it, you can’t break away. And you never want to.” Eyes lock, expressions carefully blank. “There’s something that I... that I should have done a long while ago. And I’m sorry -- for both of us -- that it took me this long.” Her eyes dart away then back, his body tenses and mind races. “I’m leaving.” The cold steel in her voice orders him to say nothing, do nothing. Turning quickly she gathers the shreds of her self -control about her and attempts a dignified retreat. He never was good at following orders. ~ “Wait. Inara,” his voice rose threateningly, thick with emotion as she only increased her pace. “I said,” he strode after her, catching up quickly at the top of the stairs. “Wait.” He grabbed her right forearm and swung her around against him pinning her, his hands gripping her forearms almost hard enough to bruise. Remorse hit him like a bullet to the heart as he saw her tear streaked face and he unconsciously loosened his grip, his expression softening. “Inara,” he said quietly trying unsuccessfully to catch her eyes with his, “what is this really about?” She was standing very still, pinned against him. “This ain’t really about what happened between me ‘n Nandi, is it?” His face hardened as she said nothing. “After all,” he smiled brittely, “’You’re not my lover. Neither are you my mother, my House Mistress or anyone who has the slightest say in how I conduct my affairs.’” he quoted using her own words against her. ”And besides, we both know what you do durin’ your work hours.” The flash of anger across her face was his only warning. ~ Her eyes snapped up to his face. He looked so sure of himself, so very damn self-assured. “You pompous, self-righteous, huh choo-shang tza-jiao duh tzang-huo.” she hissed between clenched teeth a moment before she jerked her arms out of his grasp and her fist snaked out catching him in the chin. Mal had gotten much worse before she knew, but unbalanced already from her pulling away suddenly the punch sent him tipping precariously backwards. “Tzao gao!” he cried out as his hands scrambled frantically for something to stop his fall. She froze. Time seemed to slow as she watched, horrified. He rolled unchecked, his head hitting the last step with a sickening thud. “Mal!” she practically screamed as he lay unmoving at the bottom of the steps. Time came roaring back as she nearly flew down the steps to his still form. Too still. Skidding to a stop she fell to her knees and carefully rolled him over. ”Mal? Bao bay?” ~ Something was tickling his face and it was soft and smelled like lilacs. He wanted to grab a couple fistfuls and bury his face in that curtain of scented silk and just inhale. So he did. The loud yelp surprised him enough to let go and he fought groggily to become fully consciousness. “Mal, oh bao bay. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to I swear.” Both of Inara’s faces swam blurrily looming large in his field of vision and she made a funny sound in her throat. “Huh? Wha happened?” he screwed his eyes shut tightly, “How much did I drink last night? An’ why’re you apologizin’?” he cracked an eye open as his mind registered what she had called him, “An’ did you call me sweetheart?” She looked flustered suddenly. He opened both eyes and scrutinized her more intently. “Have you been cryin’?” he asked genuinely concerned. She turned her face away but didn’t move from kneeling over him. “You pulled my hair hard.” she replied, somewhat defensively it seemed to him. Then it dawned on him that the scented silk he had fantasized about had actually been her hair. “Oh, sorry.” he said, somewhat lamely. The moment stretched out awkwardly. “Um, so how did we get like this?” Pain filled her expression and she glanced away, when she looked back a defiant light shown in her eyes. “I pushed you down the steps.” “Oh.” The whole episode suddenly flashed before his eyes and he cringed and gritted his teeth at the words he’d said and the hurt they’d caused. A man could happily sell his soul for a chance to chase those shadows from her eyes. “Mal? Mal, are you alright? Should I get Simon? I’ll go get him.” She moved her hands off his shoulders to stand and leave him. “Inara, wait.” he grasped her wrist gently but firmly and she paused and waited. Eyes lock, expressions carefully blank. Screw pride. He sat up slowly, carefully, then pulling gently on her wrist, coaxed her into his arms, and kissed her.

COMMENTS

Monday, April 26, 2004 6:36 PM

NEROLI


Aw, this is so sweet and shiney!

Loved the line "Both of Inara’s faces swam blurrily looming large in his field of vision"...so very Mal..LOL

Monday, April 26, 2004 7:41 PM

CASSANDRAE


Well, done. I loved it, loved double edge bit "Mal finally falls for Inara" guess he fell pretty hard. *grin* Good hold on both of them. Favorite part was when he grabbed her. So Mal...*sighs*

Monday, April 26, 2004 10:03 PM

GUILDSISTER


Sweet and lovely while still having Mal and Inara being their quick to aggravate each other selves. Well done mix! Thank for a very pleasant read.

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 3:26 AM

POETIC4U


Why couldn't have happened like that? I would've been completely content with my life if... I can't even think straight. I love this!

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 4:34 AM

KISPEXI2


Good one! Thought you were going to kill the poor Captain at one point!!

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 6:42 AM

AMDOBELL


I loved this to bits, my favourite two words? *Screw pride*. In this case, with bells on. Those two are so right together and you did a beautiful job. Thanks, Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 7:25 AM

WERZBOWSKI


That was real good... I could see it actually being a deleted part of the script.

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 8:05 AM

BROWNCOAT1


Wow! This is great AuroraJade! It has the feel of Mal & Inara and their dynamic relationship. It would be very easy to see this as an ending for HoG.

Tuesday, April 27, 2004 11:13 AM

HOTPOINT


Kind of thing to give you a warm happy glow :-)

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 6:30 AM

BLACKEYEDGIRL


Oooo this is so nice. I want more Mal/Inara fic!

Friday, April 30, 2004 4:52 PM

HLGEM


Nice. I enjoyed it very much. I especially liked the "Screw pride" line.

Monday, May 10, 2004 1:12 PM

MALSDOXY


i know what you mean about being nervous but this was excellent...please post more

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 5:52 AM

ASTRIANA


Ack! Need... more... story... Must... finish... scene....


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