meridian_rose

For various

whedonland prompts/challenges, three Saffron-centric ficlets

Yo-Saff-Bridge-Iver - Saffron, Badger, Mal - PG-13 - Saffron repays a debt

She laughs and sips at her wine.

"Oh, you are too kind. Too kind indeed." She paces, stands in front of the seated Badger.

He grins and refills her glass. "No, I mean it. With bone structure like that you could be a model. I hate that new advert for Fruity Oaty Bars; the woman in it looks malnourished. Why would I eat something that clearly hasn't got enough calories to stop my cheeks sinking into my face? I prefer a woman with a bit of flesh, you know."

"Really?" She grins, unwraps the lacy shawl from her shoulders and drops it to the floor behind her. "Like this?" With the shawl gone, a tight red top emphasises her cleavage, her tight trousers the curve of her behind.

He reaches out and caresses her buttocks. She makes no move to stop him, simply giggles. Badger tugs at her and she ends up perched on his lap.

"You smell so good," Badger whispers, closing his eyes. He's had her frisked, and she isn't carrying any weapons. It's been so long and he wants this so badly.

"Oil of lavender," she whispers back, running her hands though his hair, pulling his head to rest upon her breasts. "Very expensive out here."

Badger inhales the scent. "River," he whispers. "That's such a pretty name."

"I know." She lifts his head, one manicured fingernail digging ever so slightly into his chin. "Kiss me, Badger. I can't bear to wait any longer."

He presses his lips to hers as she leans over. There's a brief moment of ecstasy and then Badger's eyes roll back in his head and he goes limp.

Yo-Saff-Bridge-iver stands and wipes her lips on her sleeve. She goes to his desk and finds the locked drawer, quickly breaking open the lock and taking the small box that is inside. All the while she fakes noises of passion to ensure no-one disturbs them.

Then she pulls one strap of her vest top down from her shoulder, musses up her hair some more. She wraps the box up in her shawl and staggers out, feigning drunkenness and post-coital bliss as she passes the guards.

Several streets away, she thrusts the box at the man in the shadows. "Here. Now we're even, Reynolds."

"I don't think so," Malcolm says. "I haven't left you naked anywhere yet."

She smiles, tips her head, thrusting her breasts forward seductively. "We could get naked."

"How stupid do you think I am? Don’t answer that. Thanks, Saffron. I'm sure we'll cross paths again one day."

Saffron watches as he walks away, joined by Jayne and Zoë. She has no chance of tricking him this time.

She reaches into her boot, takes out and reapplies the lipstick, then heads out to find another mark.

Never Again - Saffron, Mal - PG-13 - Saffron helps Mal with a heist but when he's involved, things never go smooth

"Take a look around," Mal said, one arm resting on Saffron's hip. "Is there anyone in the room you're married to? Cause I don't fancy getting into a fist fight on account of some man whose heart you stole right before you stole his valuables."

Saffron scowled. "I checked the guest list." She smiled charmingly at a young man who eyed her appreciatively as he went past, all business again as soon as he'd gone.

"The only reason I asked you along on this job is because you're supposed to know where the statue is. Now make with the details."

"Patience, darling, patience. It ain't polite to steal and run. Have a drink first," Mal soothed, sipping from his own champagne flute by way of example. "Now, act a little drunk and follow my lead."

He led her out of the ballroom and down a corridor. They both played inebriated, giggling and grabbing at each other. The only security officer they passed rolled his eyes and ignored them.

"No kissing," Mal reminded her, pushing her against a wall. "Now, see this door to my left? Looks like just a storage closet? That's the vault. Now I'll go make with the distraction while you do your thing."

*

Twelve minutes later with the fire alarm ringing and the evacuated guests standing around on the lawn, Mal waited impatiently. Finally Saffron, shoeless, with one shoulder strap of her dress torn, raced across the lawn. She was clutching her shawl – which, he assumed the statue was safely wrapped in.

"Run," Saffron yelled and he didn't need telling twice.

"What went wrong?" Mal asked as they headed for the shuttle.

"You said the vault was a Sterling 800! It was a 900. Completely different."

"Oops?"

"Amateur!" Never again, she swore. Mal was always trouble.

Unbound - Saffron/Mal - PG-13 - Of all the people to have to rescue her it had to be Mal!

"Saffron?"

Of all the people in the 'verse to find her it had to Malcolm Reynolds? He crouched down and pulled the gag from her face. She glared at him.

"Is this one of those kinky games you like to play with your husbands?"

She bit back a retort; insulting your rescuer wasn't wise. He pulled out a knife and for a moment she fought panic. Then he sliced through the ropes at her wrists, and removed her bonds. He even rubbed at her numbed and chafed skin. Then he cut through the rope at her ankles and held out his hand.

She let him help her up, legs unsteady from the cramped position she'd been in for hours. He held her to him, letting her recover.

"You're lucky. Your latest mark had a little…accident. He's not coming back. You might have starved to death," Mal said softly. "That's what happens when you have no back up."

"Like you do?"

"Yes."

"How do you suggest I accomplish that?"

"Join my crew for a spell. We keep running into each other, getting in each other's business, so to speak. Might as well be working together."

"Are you serious?" She gazed into his eyes; he looked to be.

Mal nodded. "You cheat me again I'll kill you," he said. "But you trust me and we can do great things."

Her hand went to his groin. She smiled at the stunned expression this provoked.

"I can think of many things we can do together, Captain."

He swallowed hard. "I remember that didn't go smooth last time."

"It will be different," she promised. And right then she meant it. Probably later she'd betray him, but for now he was the best deal she had.

Best deal she'd probably ever get, truth be told.