Warnings: Altered timeline from 'Ariel',

Time period: ‘Trash’

Thanks to lvs2read for the great beta and thunder_nari for the great beta and spurring me on.

~

“Is this where I’m meant to remember the adage ‘There’s no honor amongst thieves‘?” Inara smiles slightly, ignoring the veiled threat that is sweetly disguised and hinting. She’s poised and serene despite her own inner turmoil. Her outward grace only marred by the gun she has pointed at Saffron.

She still can’t understand what actually possessed Mal to try working with this woman, not only can Saffron not be trusted but Inara suspects there isn’t one person in the whole ‘verse who actually knows her. The real her. Not the fronts she keeps putting up. At least Mal was sensible enough to recruit her in case Saffron did try to double cross them. Perhaps she shouldn’t have accepted, should have let them get burned and perhaps learned. But they’ve had nothing but a run of bad luck over the last few weeks, embarrassing or demeaning jobs, and the crew could do with the morale boost. And a small part of Inara feels guilty knowing her words spurred Mal on. Wwho would have guessed that the word ‘petty’ would have such a big impact on him

“Honor?” Saffron laughs, not bothering to disguise her amusement. “There’s no honor anywhere, no matter how much coin you have.”

“So why covert it then?” Inara challenges her, “Why strive for more and keep playing with people's hearts, ruining their lives?” It’s what she can’t stand, Companion skills-Guild learned and earned skills-used in such a vile manner. For trickery.

“You know we could debate this all day, but I think if you were going to shoot me, you would have done so already.” Saffron smiles winningly and takes a step forward, closer now, not enough to touch but too close for Inara.

She calmly fires a shot into the bin and watches Saffron jump back away from the small smoking pot. “I think you don’t know me as well as you think you do. You can’t play me.”

“No?” Saffron’s smiling again and suddenl