BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

KISPEXI2

In The Doghouse
Tuesday, January 13, 2004

A Mal/Jayne POV set just after the end of Ariel.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 3309    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Disclaimer: Firefly and these character belong to Joss Whedon. But they seem to be occupying my every waking thought.

* * * * * * In the Doghouse

* * * * * *

Used to have a dog back on Shadow. Powerful ugly creature he was, with a massive head and heavy body.

Not sure where he came from but he kind of attached hisself to me. Followed me everywhere, grateful for any scrap of food or attention. Used to lie under my bed at night. Sometimes he was good to have around, but mostly he was just another thing on my mind to worry about.

Cos he was all kinds of stupid. He'd dig up crops I'd just been planted and bring 'em back to me. Drop 'em at my feet and sit there, lookin' up at me, waggin' his tail. So pleased with himself. Then when I yelled at him, his ears'd go back and his tail'd slide between his legs. But I could tell by his blank expression he had no idea why I was mad.

He'd kill chickens and eat the whole bird – beak, feet, feathers an' all. Then spend the night howling with indigestion. But he never did learn his lesson. Next chance he got, he'd be doin' it again. Damn near totally untrainable. Only way to keep him in check was to keep him fearful of a beatin'.

He was mean too. Bit a lot of folk. Probably should've jus' shot him. Except he was the best watchdog you could wish for. Fearless, too. An' he looked the part. With him at your side, even the nastiest son-of-a-btich was gonna think twice before messin' with you.

* * * * *

I can't eat this go se protein mush. Ain't never very appetizing, but tonight it makes me heave. Fact that li'l Kaylee made it special for “the hero of Ariel” only makes it stick to my gullet all the more. She brought me a bottle of her engine still firewater too, which, I guess, means Mal ain't told her about ... about what happened. Yet. It burns as it goes down, but that feels good. An' I mean to drink me the whole bottle. Dull the pain some.

My gorram head hurts. Not enough I get beat up by the Feds. No, Mal gotta hit me in the face with a wrench. Never saw that comin'. Most people I can read. Hell, I can even read Mal when he's dealin' with anyone else. See the danger comin' off him long before they do. But between me an' him... I never seem to get it right.

Ta ma de! Mal's harder to understand that a woman. Not that I'm suggestin' there's anythin' girlish about him. Wanna make that real clear. S'jus' one minute he's punchin' Simon to the floor and threatenin' to throw him out the airlock an' the next he's beatin' on me for tryin' to earn some hard cash by doin' a deal with the Feds. Hell, I thought Mal might even give me a pat on the head for that. Wa'n't my fault they was a bunch of low-down dirty double-crossers.

Don't think I would have kept the money for myself even if I'd got it, although that was the notion to start with. What would I have done with it? Spent it all on whores an' liquor most like and ended up working for another hun dan like Marco.

No, I like it here on Serenity. Got my own bunk and full run of the kitchen. Decent cut in the take from jobs. Occasional bit of trim. Cap'n who's zhen de shi tian cai when it comes to plans. Good crew. Hell, we even got a Doc who can fix up gunshot and stab wounds real good. Oh. Yeah, well... He's still here, ain't he?

All I gotta do now is make things right with Mal. I ain't no good with words, although I must've said somethin' right for him to let me out the airlock. No, I'm more for showin'. Maybe I should go shoot somethin' for him. Always assumin' he ever lets me out of my bunk again.

* * * * *

“Jayne!” Mal's shout echoes down the walkway that leads to the crew's bunks.

The mercenary's head pops out from his doorway. He gives the Captain a wary, but hopeful look.

“Yeah, Mal?”

Mal suppresses a weary smile at Jayne's submission, but can't stop his satisfaction from showing briefly in his eyes. Jayne sees it and raises his eyebrows expectantly in response.

“Get up to the commons now. I'm dividin' up the take from the last deal. Don't want you thinkin' I ain't bein' fair.”

Jayne is already bounding up the ladder. He's back in the gang! Everythin' will be all right. If Mal ain't yet forgiven him, at least he ain't gonna punish him no more.

“Wou'n't never think that,” Jayne lies, hoping to ingratiate himself.

Mal stops and stares at him. “You had time to reflect on what I said?” he asks sternly, arms crossed high across his chest.

Jayne hangs his head and mumbles “Yeah, Mal. Did it to you. Shou'n't 've done it.”

Mal shakes his head. “No. You shou'n't. Don't you ever cross me again, Jayne.” He pauses as Jayne continues to stare at his boots. Then, more upbeat, “You had chicken lately?”

Jayne looks at him blankly. “No. Why?”

“Book's cooking chicken casserole for dinner.” The corner of Mal's mouth lifts into a grin. “You ain't gonna wanna eat the feet, are you?”

“They got meat on 'em?” Jayne wonders aloud as he makes off down the walkway to the mess.

For a moment, Mal watches his loping, almost canine, gait. Then he shrugs and chuckles to himself, before following on behind.

“Yeah. Totally untrainable.”

* * * * * * *

COMMENTS

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 9:35 AM

AMDOBELL


I loved and *adored* this. The whole parallel with the dog and Jayne and the way Mal can't part with him either is just sublime. So very shiny it don't need polishin' - not a lick! Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me

Friday, January 16, 2004 2:44 AM

KISPEXI2


Thanks for all your kind comments. They make me want to write more... although it's becoming a bit of a compulsion.

Got to keep flyin' somehow.

Saturday, January 17, 2004 6:43 PM

BELASERA


You are ruttin' good.

Sunday, February 29, 2004 8:47 PM

NEROLI


Ya know, I really thought it'd bug me seeing Jayne compared to a dog, specially such a "Powerful ugly creature"...but you did it beautifully. :-)

Friday, December 29, 2006 6:19 PM

AVALONSMOMMY


“Yeah. Totally untrainable.”

You know, I never thought about Jayne that way, but after reading this, and thinking about some dogs I've known, I laughed myself sick and I have to totally agree with everyone: this is totally shiny!

Sunday, September 21, 2008 4:49 PM

TWILIGHTSEEKER


I have been going back to read some things I missed having only come to the 'verse this last year. This made me laugh SO hard. I have raised a number of hounds in my day and must say you know the breed well. Thanks for the laughter...something a bit in short supply these days

gentle journey


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