Jack/Inara - Center of the Room

[iluvroadrunner6]

Fandom: Whoniverse/Firefly
Title: Center of the Room
Author: iluvroadrunner6
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Captain Jack Harkness/Inara Serra
xoverland Challenge: Love State
7_crossovers Prompt: 1. Queen
Content Warning: N/A
Summary: In which Jack meets Inara.
Author’s Note: More from the untitled Jack/Inara series. I will come up with a name eventually.
Disclaimer: I don’t own. They belong to Joss Whedon and Russell T. Davies. I’m just borrowing and will put everything back where I found it.



Captain Jack Harkness wasn’t a man who needed companionship. At least not in the connotation that the word had taken on. Even in the five hundred years since humans had left Earth and moved on to the rest of the universe, Jack still hadn’t lost his charm. He was sure that the Doctor would say that it was the one thing that Jack could never lose, but he chose not to think about the Doctor much. It only brought back memories that he was trying his best to forget.

The point was, Jack Harkness didn’t need to pay for companionship. He was more than capable of doing it on his own. But his position in this universe was affluent enough at this point that he couldn’t exactly refuse an invitation. It was before he fought against the Alliance, before the war, before his coat took on a distinctive shade of brown as oppose to its usual blue.

He had no intention of partaking in what the Guild had to offer—at least until he saw her. She was one of the newer companions, the ones being displayed like she was some kind of prized jewel that should be kept in a case. Most companions were usually all the same to him, but there was something about her that held his eye and made him want to learn more. And it had been a long time since a person had done that.

“Captain Jack Harkness,” he said as he approached her, flashing the smile that launched a thousand ships. She didn’t fluster. She carried herself like a queen, and that only became another point in her favor. “And you are?”

“Inara Serra,” she replied, shaking his hand slowly. “A pleasure, Captain Harkness.”

“Please. Call me Jack.” The name and title still felt strange to him, stolen from a man who died centuries ago. “I have to say, Ms. Serra, I’ve seen a lot of companions in my time but you … you are very impressive.”

“You’re too kind,” she said, her tone perfect and regal, but there was still … something. Something else about her that Jack couldn’t quite put his finger on. “I hope that kindness might extend to indulging in our services for a short while. I’d hate to think that you were only here just to look.”

And there it was. She was sharp, and he had to admit, he liked that in the person. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he replied, and she nodded, before moving on her way. He felt the madam of the guild coming up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Of all the years you’ve been attending our little events, Captain Harkness, I’ve never seen you take an interest before. I’m sure you’ll find Inara’s skills particularly … impressive.”

He took another swig of his drink, before placing the glass down and heading for the door. “Her skills aren’t why I would buy her.”