We all need help to feel fine... [ Semi-Closed to Billy, open to others in a separate thread ]

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Kaylee doesn’t want to be here anymore. Her eyes had been closed for the majority of Big Zero’s Punishment, her face buried into Kang’s side and shielded by his wing, but the screams were harder to block out. They rang out in her head as Kang had walked her back to Serenity, helped her make it to the infirmary, just in time for her to hurl up her last meal into the nearest sink. He stayed until she had her cup of tea and had assured him for what must have been the hundredth time that it was okay, he could go back and do what he needed to.

After the hundred-and-first reassurance, Kang finally leaves, and Kaylee finds herself alone with her ship. Where Wash and Jayne are, she doesn’t know, but she’s somewhat happy that they aren’t here at the moment. They’ve seen her through worse before, but she would rather sit quietly and think things over than have to talk about anything right now.

She’s not sure how to feel about Stacy at this point, a feeling that has slowly grown from the sound of screams still playing through her head. That she’s been lending a hand for all this time to help fix a ship that was capable of something so awful... Stacy might as well be a Reaver ship at this rate.

Serenity’s engine room has been a place of comfort since Kaylee joined the crew, and she holds her cup of tea close as she starts the engine up. The ship shudders to life, and the low hum alone is enough to calm her. She curls up in her hammock, closing her eyes and concentrating on the sounds of Serenity.

Comments

[morphitudinous]

Billy agrees. "It's strange. Stacy says she wants to protect us, but then this disciplinary programming activates. With two personalities active, it's hard to feel safe."

But, he thinks, this isn't so bad. "Thanks." He sighs, tilting close for a few moments. "If I can't feel safe with Stacy, but at least I have you two."

And that means a lot in this scary world.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Her voice lowers to a barely audible whisper. They're in Serenity, sure, but Kaylee doesn't really want to take any chances after everything that's already happened today. "There's gotta be a way to override it, right? A subprogram someplace..." They didn't necessarily have to override the entire program, either. Maybe just replace it with something else. She'd done it before, with other systems. It had to be possible for Stacy.

Kaylee's immediately distracted from her thoughts by Billy's next words. She doesn't move for a moment, and when she does it's to plant a comforting and sisterly kiss on his cheek.

"We're glad to have you, Billy. More'n we could say."

[morphitudinous]

"If there is a way, we'll find it," Billy promises in a whisper, wrapping her up protectively. Here, nothing would get them. Even if he had to learn to twist out of a hammock and morph in record time.

Uh oh, Kaylee's quiet. Did he say something wrong? He tries to think of a way to backpedal, failing as her face gets closer. Her sudden kiss on his cheek is welcome if embarrassing, tugging the corners of his mouth up for a second and prompting a hand to rub her back softly.

"It's my honor. I wouldn't have it any other way." For a moment, he looks as content as possible in this situation. "Do you need anything else? More tea, a blanket?"

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

In a backwards kind of way, Kaylee's happy that Billy is seeming a little more upbeat than normal. It's refreshing, letting someone else promise that a way will be found, instead of just saying it herself and getting shot down constantly.

She shakes her head, shifting to make herself and Billy more comfortable. "Nope. This's nice right here, don't need anythin' more."