BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

GWENFREWI

The Truth of Things
Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Set during the BDM, Mal had just given the order to decorate their ship like a Reavers, shot the Alliance shuttle man and then stomped back to Serenity to find something to use as red paint. Zoe comes in to talk to him. She gets a big surprise as does River.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2830    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Title: The Truth of Things Author: Gwenfrewi Characters: Mal/Zoe/River Rating: PG Fandom: Firefly Spoilers: None Summary: Set during the BDM, Mal had just given the order to decorate their ship like a Reavers, shot the Alliance shuttle man and then stomped back to Serenity to find something to use as red paint. Zoe comes in to talk to him. She gets a big surprise as does River. Length: 408 occording to Word. Disclaimer: The great, almighty and powerful Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc. own the universe and characters. I'm just playing with them.

Author's Note: For my mei mei,luxuria_oceanus, I love ya sweetie. This sprang full formed from my head this morning, after the beginnnings of a delicious dream about Nathan Fillion.

Copyright (c) March 2007 Patricia Flynn

As always, feedback is shiny!

* * * * * Mal was looking through the various boxes they normally kept stored in hidey-holes scattered around the cargo bay. He was pretty sure there was some red paint left over from when they’d painted Serenity’s name on the hull the last time.

He heard footsteps behind him and chose to ignore them.

“Sir?” Zoë inquired.

Mal continued to search the container. He really didn’t want to have this conversation. He'd made himself clear earlier and there was no need for a post-mortem on the situation.

“Sir, you mean to tell me we’re…” Mal turned around and the look in his eyes brought her words to a halt.

Those were the eyes of Sergeant Reynolds. The man who had a fierce belief that what he was fighting for was right and true.

Zoë’s body unconsciously drew itself to attention as she waited for him to speak.

“We are. The Alliance and that man are after River with a powerful will. They just slaughtered several hundred people, maybe more to get me to give her up.

“If this is what they’ll do to innocent citizens of their Alliance, just imagine what more they’ll do to that girl they consider theirs if they have her back.” Mal spat bitterly.

Zoë stared into his eyes a moment longer before turning and walking away.

Mal sighed heavily as he turned back to his searching.

“Ask Simon.” River’s voice broke his concentration.

Turning, he spied River who’d been seated on the catwalk. Great, she'd witnessed that. My day is getting better with each passing second.

“What was that, little one?”

“Simon knows how to mix fake blood.”

“Uh…thanks.”

“Wiser man would just give the prize to those who want it.” River had a flash of what could possibly happen if they followed this course and knew that more death was headed Serenity’s way.

She hoped the Captain would listen to her. She loved Serenity and she loved the crew, her family, but it was ultimately each person’s right to decide what they were going to do.

A few of them were deliberating staying on Haven even as they followed Mal’s instructions.

“Not gonna happen. I protect me and mine.” Mal’s gaze bore fiercely into hers for a moment before he turned and walked out.

River was stunned by his words and intentions.

So, that’s what it’s liked to be loved by someone other than Simon.

COMMENTS

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 3:52 PM

PLATONIST


I really like this... although I don't get the M/R thing at all. He always seems so creeped out by her.


But,it's a hero moment for Mal and that's good enough for me.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 5:47 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER


I wouldn't classify as simply "creeped out," Platonist. Yeah, Mal finds River all manner of odd and disturbing, but he also sees River as a living remind of why he fought tooth and nail against the Alliance during the War and why he is willing to drag himself and his ship through Reaver territory to find out what the secret of Miranda is. But yeah...definitely a hero moment that would have gone well in the film;D

BEB

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 5:47 PM

JONDESU


Wow. Awesome. I think this is the point where he stops being creeped out, Platonist, because he sure ain't creeped out later in the movie. This really fit all of their characters to a T.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 5:52 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER


Oh..and Gwenfrewi? This was completely awesome stuff, I must admit truthfully. The voices and the thoughts presented here rang true for the moment there were at...and I am seriously impressed with how you handled the Mal/River part of the scene, since finding the right balance between the father-daughter and knight-quest sides of Mal and River's relationship is a tough thing to get right:D

BEB

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 6:19 PM

PLATONIST


Yea, BEB, "creeped out" may have been a little premature, but I still have to go with my gut feeling that Josh's intentions for their relationship was NOT romantic as implied here... even though I appreciate the sentiment.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 7:38 PM

TAMSIBLING


I don't know if Gwenfrewi was going for love between M/R as in romantic love ... since she compares Mal's feelings for her to Simon's feelings for her, I read it more as a familiar/brotherly/fatherly type thing.

I think this is great! A nice little missing moment ... isn't it great to fill in the blanks?

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 11:03 PM

AMDOBELL


I liked this, especially the way Zoe automatically reacted to Mal when she saw the look in his eyes. No more words being necessary. They were back on the field of battle, this was war. And River's comment about Simon knowing how to make fake blood made me smile. I also don't think River was referring to romantic love in this instance, but the feeling of love you get from the strongest bond she has known to date - her brother. She is family to Mal now and that has an impact. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me

Friday, March 30, 2007 9:00 AM

KALLYN


Wow. This was awesome. Superb. Short and sweet. Captured the characters perfectly. Almost as if Joss himself had written it.

I think that the M/R relationship was done perfectly. A father daughter relationship, Where personally I believe that Joss was taking it.

Thursday, April 12, 2007 10:04 AM

WYNTER


"Those were the eyes of Sergeant Reynolds. The man who had a fierce belief that what he was fighting for was right and true."

That line says it all. Great ficlet, a scene that I can easily picture fitting into the movie. Zoe's reaction to Mal was just perfect. Everything about that was, good characterisation, dialogue. Well done!

Friday, November 28, 2008 6:47 AM

TWILIGHTSEEKER


I like to wander through the archives finding things I have not read and found this. Lovely piece. I agree with finding Sgt. Reynolds. As far as Joss' intentions for Mal or River...who knows what our wacky guy would have done, but whatever it is it speaks volumes that the only love River has ever known is Simon's.


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