Just Another Day

By Kaynara

***

Mal stomped onto the bridge, his heavy footsteps echoed by the soft slip-slap of Kaylee’s straw sandals.

“But, Cap'n—”

“I said no, Kaylee. Not a topic I care to be discussing ad nauseum.”

From her position in Wash’s lap, Zoe swirled her eyes before settling back to enjoy the show. That was fine with Kaylee, as she intended to put on a good one.

“Ain't fair, Cap'n,” she pressed, looking to Wash for support.

Wash joined his hands around Zoe’s middle and bobbed his head in agreement.

“Yeah, Mal, it’s not fair. Hey, what are we talking about?"

“Nothin’. Cuz there’s nothing to discuss!” He employed his captainy face. It had never actually worked, but he was still hoping.

“What we aren’t discussin',” Kaylee informed Wash with a glare, “is the cap'n bein' a hoe-tze duh pee-goo an’ scarin' off my friend back at the bar.”

“Oh, ho—just hold on! Kaylee, that man weren't your friend!”

"We was on the way to bein’ friends,” she retorted. “He asked me to dance.”

"Only dancin' he wanted to do was the kind takes places in your...heart. On your heart.” Mal shrugged, the blush starting to creep up his neck. “As in dancin' on it…stompin’…on....”

She watched the tips of his ears fade back to skin-color. Was a rare occasion to get the captain speakin' on the subject of…dancing. Maybe this night wasn’t a total wash.

“Don’t need your permission to take a roll, Cap'n.”

Wash and Zoe were eyeing the exchange with blatant interest now.

“If you're rollin' on my ship, you do!” That was a good argument. His ship, his rules. Right.

"But, Cap'n!"

"Kaylee?” He leaned back against the console, folding his arms over his chest. “This look like the face of a man who’s like to change his mind?”

“No.” She pouted, decided that would get her exactly nowhere and switched tracks. “Ain’t exactly a virgin,” she said brazenly. “Not for a long time now.”

Wash and Zoe swiveled their heads back, waiting on Mal’s response.

Mal cringed; that was not a topic he cared to be lingerin