Mal has never been one for complications. He'd told Wash as much-- on-ship relationships cause complications, and those can never lead to any good. What just happened with Inara definitely counts as a complication... there are so many questions to be asked; difficult questions like 'what does this mean?' and 'what do we do now?', amongst infinite others.

In spite of all of this, he can't feel anything other than glad. To know that, in some measure, she feels for him- and to have her here with him after losing her twice, after so much longing... well, there's no regret to be found in that at all, complications or no.

"Well, that's a kindness." He says, the hint of a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes as he looks at her (she has a beautiful everything), and lifts a hand to gently brush his thumb along the soft line of her jaw. "Because I'm fairly certain anythin' I say right now would be fèihuà*, anyhow."

*[nonsense]