Maypole
(a Firefly/Serenity fanfic - Mal/Simon slash)
written 14 November 2005 copyright © 2005-present James Sanghyun Han (a.k.a. steal this and DIE)
The feelings were the same as always, but this time the setting was different. He was surprised to find himself in the main courtyard of the Tri-Plex on Ariel, that glass-domed junction connecting the three large, three-story buildings that made up the giant mall. Undaunted by the few tiny clouds that were clinging to the sky, bright, piercing sunlight filtered through the panes of the round enclosure overhead, filtered through the bamboo and red maple trees planted in large pots, and landed softly on the smooth beige tiles of the courtyard, lighting them up like hot, melting butter. Although it was empty of people, the courtyard was the same as he remembered it as a kid, when he and a pint-sized River had looked up pictures of the mall on the Cortex and then unsuccessfully begged their parents to take them there. A thick, dark metal pole rose up from the center of the courtyard, almost touching the very underside of the clear roof. But the ribbons that wrapped around it festively in those old pictures were gone; instead, two large metallic arms were attached to the top of the pole, and they curved down like fangs until they ended at about two meters above the ground. Attached to the end of each arm was a large platform, each holding a table and some chairs.And Simon was spinning. He was seated at one of the tables, revelling in the exhilarating feel as his platform and the other platform orbited slowly around the pole. Zoë and Wash were seated to his left, alternating between snuggling and feeding each other off their plates, and River was across them to his right, her head cocked in his direction as she smiled beatifically, trustingly. At the other table, Jayne, Kaylee, Inara, and the Shepherd were seated and laughing loudly, to judge by the looks on their faces, but the distance from one platform to the other was such that the volume was reduced, even if the mirth was not.The captain? Simon looked around frantically and was relieved to see Mal sitting right across from him, on the other side of the table. Between them was laid out a veritable feast, and Simon's senses thrummed as he looked and sniffed at the good food tentatively. Longbeans in a garlicky, gingery sauce; fried rice with pieces of fresh vegetables and shellfish; whole cranberries boiled in sweet rice syrup and spiked with amaretto liqueur; hot bread from wheat, not the usual just-add-water mix; crispy sweet potato slices gleaming under the jeweled, verdant tones of first-pressing olive oil and spring onions; and real turkey from a bird, not from marinated soya. Stuff he hadn't eaten since leaving the Tam estate.And still, none of all this - the food, the sun, the orbiting tables, the fact that Wash was alive - none of this was as unreal to Simon as the look of utter content on the captain's face. He couldn't help but slowly smile at the way Mal leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms while looking fondly at everyone at both tables; at the way Mal threw his head back a little as he guffawed at the pilot's list of what he was thankful for this year; at the way Mal's thick eyelashes displayed themselves in a pleasing swoop across the tops of each cheek when he lowered his gaze.Right as the doctor realized that his mouth was going dry and he was in need of a deep breath, the captain turned to look straight at him, and Simon froze. Mal's eyes had a question in them, and though Simon would have normally looked away to hide the answer, today he felt bold. Perhaps it was the good food and the strong sake, or the warm brightness coming down through the dome, or the slight lift he felt in his chest as they whizzed about the courtyard, but he held fast and looked at Mal, resolutely willing the man to see everything, to know everything. Nevertheless, all his strength seem to drain out through his feet as he helplessly felt the truth bleed out onto his face from where he had hidden it, and he felt a nauseating pulse of shame as he saw the familiar veil come down over Mal's eyes.And so it was that Simon was utterly confounded when Mal blinked and smiled. Not a casual smile or a smile reserved for strangers, but a slow, intimate smile that involved the entire face, the sort of smile usually reserved for the morning after, when one has learned all there is to know about a person and is delighting in everything they've discovered.The doctor was still vacillating between pure delight and sheer terror when Mal reached across the table and placed a warm, strong hand over his, causing his senses to short-circuit.Simon got up quickly, stammering an apology and backing away from the table. He wanted this more than anything, but not here, not with Zoë and the others, not in front of River. Too late he realized he had backed away a little too far, and he felt himself slip off the edge of the platform with what seemed like an agonizing slowness. As he tumbled over and caught flashes of bamboo and red maple tilted at dangerous angles, his last thought was a derogatory one about the person who'd neglected to add protective railing to the platform.And then he was caught by strong arms, held against a gentle body as he fell, and he felt the body break his fall.Simon slowly opened his eyes, amazed that he had landed unhurt. His savior was coughing painfully, having taken the brunt of the fall, and Simon looked up worriedly at the man's face.Mal coughed one last time, grimaced, and opened his eyes to Simon. With fresh horror Simon realized Mal was still holding him tight, and that their noses were almost touching."Bit of a bumpy ride, eh, Doc?" the man said heartily, smiling - again with that smile.Simon gulped. He'd never been this close to Mal before, and he was feeling too much. He felt the muscles in the arms that encircled his body, he felt warmth coming through his vest from the hand resting protectively on his lower back, he smelled the most wonderful heat coming off of Mal, like cedar and spice and hot, steaming toast. He stared at Mal's tousled hair, the eyes that were as open as sky and as subtle as the deep, and he felt his hips against Mal's hips, bulge against bulge. His shuddered fearfully as his eyes closed in defeat.Which meant that Simon did not see when Mal moved forward, and Simon did not realize he was being kissed until Mal's tongue was already inside him. Too disoriented to even mount a token resistance, he leaned into the kiss hungrily, feeling bulges harden against each-* Simon opened his eyes and gasped, throwing off the thin blanket in confusion before he took note of where he was: his quarters on Serenity. He stopped and looked over at the bedside clock. About two hours from waking time for the crew.He shifted, trying to get comfortable and get back to sleep, but he groaned as his underwear brushed against the erection trapped there. He'd been dreaming of Mal a lot recently, but this one had been different, and particularly strong.Too tired to get out of bed, Simon pushed his sweatpants down to his knees, spit twice into his hand, and wrapped his fingers around his hard length, stroking and squeezing efficiently. The passengers' quarters had thin walls, so he bit his lower lip to keep any noises contained as he pumped up and down. He thought of Mal, of Mal's hands holding his face as they kissed, of Mal's mouth over his cock, of Mal inside him, warm and stiff, in and out. He reached up and grabbed a nipple with his free hand, thinking of Mal's lips on it, thinking of Mal's erection wet with anticipation and rubbing against his own.He came before the spit dried out on his hand, and for all his efforts to suppress any sound he couldn't help but exhale forcefully, watching helplessly as the last ribbon of liquid flowed off the pole and onto his fingers.Simon stared at the dark, flat ceiling for a few moments, catching his breath. He wiped off his hand and body with a corner of the blanket, too tired to be fastidious. He could wash the thing come waking time; at least now he could get a bit more sleep, and this time it would be dreamless.(END) |