xfirefly9x

Title: Ignore the Extras
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Mal
Prompt: #001 Always
Word Count: 339
Rating: G
Summary: He hasn’t always been this way.
Notes: Written for

writers30days. 2/5/11.

He hasn’t always been this way. Once upon a time, he was carefree like any other guy. He had his beliefs still too, not like now. He was happy and free and jus’ waiting for the ‘verse to open up opportunities for him.

His time in the ‘verse beat any innocence out of him that he had, and made him rethink his position on some things. Now? Now he is just bitter. A mean old man. There is little in him that feels compelled to run through an open field for no reason other than to feel the burn in his legs and the sun on his face. There is little that makes him smile.

His focus is always on the job, and then when that’s done, it’s on the next job and putting food in the mouths of his crew and cashy money in their pockets enough that they can keep float. Other things are of little importance. Or so he tells himself.

It’s easier that way. Keep to the necessary and ignore the extras and you’ll never go wanting something more than that. It won’t break you down so much if you fall and lose it. It won’t kill you and break your heart to lose a love or a friend or a ship.

Lies. It will always hurt. But if there’s nothing there to start with, then nothing can be destroyed or taken away. And that’s something.

Life makes you cynical. That’s what he has found. The more you know about things, the less you wanna know of them, and the more you get to realize that in the long run none of it matters. Nothin’ but living and keeping on flying matters.

And so that’s what he does. He hasn’t always been this way, with his realistic thoughts and hardened exterior, but then, if he was still that boy he once was, the ‘verse would be a very cruel place to him. A guy’s gotta know when to grow up and when to harden up.