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gracefulwomanThere comes a time in every man's life when he has to stand up for what he believes in, when he has to set his pride aside and step up to make a difference in the world and in his life. It's a breaking point, a defining second when he knows he's better than his lot, and reaches out for a piece of that which he is, by rights, entitled to.
For Captain Malcolm Reynolds, that moment came during a four AM fit of insomnia, passing by Rick Castle's door and hearing the soft sound of moans coming from behind it.
It made his blood boil and his temper rise, not just at Inara and her stubborn, stupid, stubborn gorramn refusal to cut anyone, least of all herself, a little slack, but at himself for dancing around her this long. Believing in something...sure, he believed in them. Plenty. He was just too big a piece of space trash to do something about it.
Some passing thought about what a whore Castle was made him think of it, actually let him sleep when he returned to his room. Alone.
So the next morning, bright and early, before she had a chance to run and hide in her ruttin' space at the temple, Mal was knocking at her door until she opened it for him.
"Way I see it," he began, scared to death but angry enough to keep himself put, "you got two choices, this second, right here and now. One? You sleep with me, free of charge. If you feel nothin'? I will never darken your door again. You 'n me, we'll go on, and I'll not pester you 'bout this nonsense of you 'n me together ever again."
One hand darted out to catch her wrist, hauling her hard against his body right there in her doorway. Before she could react, he had an arm around her waist and a hand at her cheek, tipping her head up to him.
"Two? You tell me no, and I kiss you, right here, right now, 'till you faint. And can't you or any power in the 'verse stop me." he growled. "So you got 'till I'm shuttin' you up to agree or give me a good gorram reason...a good gorram reason...why I shouldn't do exactly what I've said I will."
And fair man that he was, he gave her a second, one moment of stillness and silence in the vice of his arms before he started leaning down to steal his kiss...and her reason.
For Captain Malcolm Reynolds, that moment came during a four AM fit of insomnia, passing by Rick Castle's door and hearing the soft sound of moans coming from behind it.
It made his blood boil and his temper rise, not just at Inara and her stubborn, stupid, stubborn gorramn refusal to cut anyone, least of all herself, a little slack, but at himself for dancing around her this long. Believing in something...sure, he believed in them. Plenty. He was just too big a piece of space trash to do something about it.
Some passing thought about what a whore Castle was made him think of it, actually let him sleep when he returned to his room. Alone.
So the next morning, bright and early, before she had a chance to run and hide in her ruttin' space at the temple, Mal was knocking at her door until she opened it for him.
"Way I see it," he began, scared to death but angry enough to keep himself put, "you got two choices, this second, right here and now. One? You sleep with me, free of charge. If you feel nothin'? I will never darken your door again. You 'n me, we'll go on, and I'll not pester you 'bout this nonsense of you 'n me together ever again."
One hand darted out to catch her wrist, hauling her hard against his body right there in her doorway. Before she could react, he had an arm around her waist and a hand at her cheek, tipping her head up to him.
"Two? You tell me no, and I kiss you, right here, right now, 'till you faint. And can't you or any power in the 'verse stop me." he growled. "So you got 'till I'm shuttin' you up to agree or give me a good gorram reason...a good gorram reason...why I shouldn't do exactly what I've said I will."
And fair man that he was, he gave her a second, one moment of stillness and silence in the vice of his arms before he started leaning down to steal his kiss...and her reason.
