Random Insanity

 

Despite Mal's insistent protests that Serenity wasn't a democracy, the crew voted six to two in favor of celebrating Christmas. Jayne was Mal's lone support— grumbling something about wasting money on people he barely liked before skulking off to his room.

Two days later, as Kaylee and Shepard Book tried their best to decorate the common room with some twinkly lights and gaudy baubles they picked up at port the day before, Jayne strode in with several horribly wrapped packages and dumped them on the floor at the foot of the tiny flocked tree.

“Maybe I like y'all a bit,” he said with a smirk.

“Hmph,” Mal scoffed from the corner.

“Don't be such a Scrooge, Cap'n,” Kaylee said.

That night, Mal slipped into the common room as quietly as he could. Carefully, he laid out eight small boxes covered in brown paper and tied with twine. He arranged them neatly with the other gifts around the little tree then leaned back on his heels with a sigh.

Suddenly, the lights came on. “Ha,” Kaylee hollered, “we caught you Cap'n.”

Mal’s face flushed. “We'll y'all are family,” he mumbled.

“I knew you couldn't resist,” whispered Kaylee as she hugged him.

It's the first Christmas for Angel Investigations, but Angel isn't really in the mood. Too bad Cordelia has other plans. Set in season one sometimes after Doyle died. This story was originally written in 2014. It’s been lightly edited for composition and clarity and reposted for the holidays.
1550 words | [PG]

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Cordelia balanced on a chair, a string of brightly colored lights in her hand. She smiled down at him. “It’s Christmas, silly.”

“Yeah, but what are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

Angel crossed his arms. “It looks like you’re decorating my office with Christmas lights.”

“Ding, ding. Ten points for the vampire with the grasp of the obvious.”

Wesley came in before Angel could retort, lights twisted around both arms and his neck. He held out the strand, apparently looking for the ends. “I think these things came straight from Hell to torment me. Who put these away last year?”

They both glanced at Angel. “I don’t do Christmas. Take them down.”

“Angel-”