Summary: But he might as well do

A/N: Just something someone said inspired this little piece

Disclaimer: Not mine

He doesn't own her

She can feel his eyes on the back of her head every time she leaves his presence. Can feel him watching her every step as she enters her shuttle, on her way to meet another client. He doesn't approve of her job but she knows he understands it's a high standing position where she comes from. That it IS a legal job.

But every time she closes the door to her shuttle, she lets out a quiet sigh and leaves her hand on the handle of her door for a moment longer, eyes downcast as she tries to smear the image he leaves in her mind.

Deep down, she realises that image will never truly be smeared.

At least not forever.

She'll pull a veil across it whilst she conducts business with her clients, hide it in the shadows and push it from view. But when she's on her way back to Serenity that veil will remove itself and it'll be there again, leaving a pit of want in her stomach.

Her mouth will run dry and she'll grip the steering column that little much tighter, hoping it'll help focus her eyes.

That day at the Shindig, when he threw a punch to Atherton's face, part of her was proud for her Space Pirate, defending her honour.

Almost as soon as that thought crosses her mind, she shakes it lose again, leaving it lost in the mist of her mind. The other thoughts that are circling within that mist she tries to keep there, not wanting to know about the 'What ifs?'

But when he argued that he respected her not her profession, it took her a moment to compose herself with a steady face and a calm response. She couldn't count how many times she'd heard someone speak about her in such a caring way and were looking for nothing in return.

Every time she docks the shuttle and joins the crew it's always the same remarks with a smirk on his face, arms loosely folded across his chest or thumbs hooked in the loops for his belt. And every time she can never quite hold back the tugging at the corner of her lips.

When he finally leaves for 'Captain' business, the wanting in the pit of her stomach always returns, aching for his presence and she always shides herself, telling herself she should never get attached to one man. Should never gain feelings for one man.

It's true that nobody owns her.

But if the absence of his touch on her arm grows cold too quickly, or they never seem to spend enough time just simply talking or even arguing, and that pit in her stomach gnaws everytime he walks away, she knows that he might as well do.