Firefly/DHSAB += Roll Over, Red Rover (Billy/River, PG-13, 295w)

[blue_bells]

» Title: Roll Over, Red Rover
» Fandom: Firefly, Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
» Warnings: Crossover
» Pairing(s)/Characters: Billy/River Tam
» Summary: A different vision of Billy shutters over her eyes: Billy with thick gloves, goggles on his head and a strange red jacket that falls past his knees.
» A/N: Originally written here for alcetis in comment_fic.


She sees the way Billy watches her Captain.

Sometimes, late at night, she sees Billy thinking about Mal and he tries to hide the soft grimace. A different vision of Billy shutters over her eyes: Billy with thick gloves, goggles on his head and a strange red jacket that falls past his knees.

“Red,” River murmurs when it happens again and Billy startles to find her standing by his bunk.

But the tightness eases in his face, the lines softening and he reaches for her with a smile. She steps into his arms and sinks down to his lap. She nuzzles his forehead with a smile and his sigh is a soft rush against her neck. This is familiar now, this is warm and safe, but the image of that other Billy is still flickering behind her eyes.

“What?” Billy’s voice is quiet, he sounds tired.

“Red all over. Roll over… roll over,” River sings and her fingers step their way up the imaginary neckline of that jacket. Billy’s face is careful when she meets his eye. “Horrible.”

Billy pales and his fear hits her like a cold slap. She knows he forgets the things she can learn without even needing to see. Like that Billy is much, much older than he says.

“It… it doesn’t mean what you think,” Billy says and she can feel the heat of his palms through the clothes on her back. His face twists in pain and she makes a noise of sympathy, stroking fingers down the lines of his face to smooth them away.

“It’s okay,” River sooths, “She forgives you.”

Billy sputters in surprise and searches her face. River closes her eyes when he kisses her, sad and grateful, and the vision of that other Billy fades away.

Comments

[copper-kestrel.livejournal.com]

*wibbles* Oh, River, oh, Billy... This is brilliant.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bluebells/]

Thank you so much! :D This pairing caught me by surprise, especially the unexpected benefit of having Nathan Fillion in both shows to flag bear the angst, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!