Prompt: Mal. Inara. Jayne. Lottery Winner

Rating: PG

Author's Note: This was written for Agent Rouka, who is graciously allowing me to share it with ya' all. This turned out really strange, but this is what came out... sorty angsty, sorta fluffy... I dunno... It's odd.. *G*

The Luck of the Drawback

By 2x2

“There you are,” said Mal, startling Inara as he came up behind her in the darkness. She turned, backlit by the orange glow of the distant bonfire, offering him a small smile. The light played around her face, softening her already soft features, framing her hair in a halo of gold as the wind carried the sweet melody of music and laughter past them. He stepped up beside her, hands in his back pockets, and stared down at his crew as they relaxed around the fire, talking, laughing and drinking with the locals, for once free of care or worries. Kaylee’s laugh rang out in the clear night air and he smiled.

“It’s a beautiful night,” Inara said wistfully and Mal turned his gaze to her.

“That it is,” he said softly, eyes lingering. He looked away before she could catch him staring, coughing to cover.

She saw him in her peripheral vision, aware of his scrutiny, but chose to remain silent, sighing instead, the melancholia that had settled on her remaining.

“So, how come you’re up here all by your lonesome?” he asked finally, his voice hushed in the darkness, full of questions he didn’t know if he could ask, but hoping she would hear them all.

“Why are you?” she countered with a tilt of her head.

He shrugged, looking away, kicking at the dirt absently. “Don’t much feel like celebratin’,” he admitted.

She stared at him, her eyes dark and deep. “Walk with me?” she asked quietly, holding her hand out to him.

He looked back at her, meeting her gaze, not for the first time wondering what she was seeing when she studied him like that. He drew in a deep breath and pulled his hands from his pockets, nodding for her to lead on as he wrapped his fingers around hers.

She led him up the hill, her d