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[flybywash]

They step out from Mal's childhood home, Wash holding the door for Zoe, and make their way across the yard. A few of the nearest horses skitter away as they approach the paddock; one stays put, but eyes Wash with clear wariness as he settles against the fence.

Wash eyes it back, just as wary. "...Hi?" he ventures.

The staredown lasts two more seconds before the horse gives a quiet snort, presumably of satisfaction, and pushes its head over the fence, lipping his shirt. Wash yelps in surprise and scrambles back a step.

Comments

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe laughs, shaking her head, and reaches a hand out for the horse to nuzzle.

"Don't you mind him. He's a city boy."

[flybywash]

"Hey, we had horses! Just...not anywhere within seven miles. Uh. Good boy?"

He edges back toward the fence and stretches, giving the horse's neck a small, hasty pat.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe snickers at him again, then reaches into a pocket and pulls out several apple slices wrapped in a napkin. She holds one out to the horse.

"When in doubt, try bribery."

She rubs the horse's nose absently with one hand, looking around at the ranch.

"This is nice. Not too different from where I grew up."

[flybywash]

Experimentally, Wash swipes one of the apple slices and offers it to the horse. It doesn't even hesitate before snapping it up and whuffing at his palm.

"That's all I got. Sorry." It tries to nose him again. "I'm serious! I am not the purveyor of apples in this organization. Go bother the pretty woman."

But, slightly more emboldened, he reaches up to scratch it behind the ear, looking back to Zoe.

"You ever wanted to go back to it? I mean, not -- you know, not home home, but some place with the very large livestock and guys like this?" Another cautious pat of the horse.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe feeds the horse another apple slice before answering.

"Maybe. If things'd turned out different." She glances sidelong at him, smiling. "Can't see you on a farm."

[flybywash]

"You mean you don't think I could pull off the overalls and straw hat?"

Wash returns the smile, withdraws his hand, and returns to leaning against the fence, squinting up at the ribbons of cloud marking the sky.

Nice view. Mal wasn't lying.

"Yeah. Don't think I could, either."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe boosts herself up onto the fence, hooking a bootheel on the lowest railing, and slings one arm around Wash's shoulders.

"And the life we got ain't bad. Has its ups and downs, but so do farmin' and ranchin'."

[flybywash]

He leans against her, shifting a bit to make himself comfortable.

"Would be less with the getting shot at, though," he points out. "Well. If you've got good neighbors."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

"If the neighbors ain't good, though, you're stuck with 'em." Zoe points out.

[flybywash]

"Mmm, yes. A compelling argument."

Wash captures her hand long enough to give it a quick kiss.

"Plus, threatening to throw them out an airlock during a fight would be strangely ineffectual."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe smirks. "No engines to kick people into, either."

[flybywash]

"Or grav to turn off when they least expect it. See what you've done to me?" Teasing, gentle and fond, as he winds his fingers through hers. "I judge living arrangements by how many intimidation options I have. I used to be normal."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe laughs. "Oh, shi a, you were the picture of normality."

[flybywash]

Serenely, "Anyone who tells you otherwise has no idea what they're talking about."

The gravity of this statement might be slightly affected by the smirk he's wearing. Wash hauls himself onto the lowest rung of the fence so he can press another kiss to her cheek.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Smirking as well, her arm still around his shoulders, Zoe turns her head just enough for their lips to meet.

[flybywash]

He lingers there, taking his time, one hand steadying himself on her hip.

The horse gives an irritable snort when it realizes it's not getting any more food and jogs away to join its fellows.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

When the kiss breaks, Zoe stays close, leaning her forehead against hers.

After a moment. "So.

Am I the only one who's been thinkin' about what we talked about before the Academy?"

If there's any uncertainty about bringing this up, it doesn't show in her voice.

[flybywash]

"What we -- ?"

Oh.

Wash's eyes widen, fractionally. He leans more of his weight against the fence. "Oh."

A deep breath, and then...a slow, if slightly uncertain smile emerges.

"Not, uh. You're not, no."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe laughs a bit breathlessly, and shakes her head.

"No. Very much no."

Then, more solemnly, "Ain't much chance of it, unless I go off my meds."

[flybywash]

"Okay. Right. So -- so I guess that's...."

Wash looks a tiny bit terrified, and his grip on the fence is somewhat tighter, but his smile hasn't diminished.

"That's what happens next. With the, uh. The talking to Simon and the not-meds. And." Another deep breath, coupled with a small laugh. "Wŏ de mā this is actually happening."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

"Yeah."

Zoe lays her hand over his and squeezes.

"Figure I should talk to the captain, too. Let him know I might end up bein' out of commission for a bit."

Tell. Not ask.

[flybywash]

It's a choice of words that doesn't go unnoticed. Wash's breath hitches; the look in his eyes shifts to utter relief.

He's known, ever since Niska, and maybe long before it at some subconscious level. But reminders are always nice.

"Thanks for the warning," he whispers with a small grin. "Now I can brace myself for the next time he comes looking for me."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe leans in and presses a kiss to his cheek, smiling crookedly.

"Well, you just send him to me if he doesn't play nice, okay?"

[flybywash]

"So long as you let me get in a few sarcastic comments first."

He slides his free hand along her upper arm, biting his lip.

"...We're gonna need another bed. And one of those carriers. And toys -- should there even be name ideas yet, or is that gonna come when -- ?"

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe places one hand on his shoulder, and her smile is just a little bit uncertain.

"Maybe--maybe it's best if we take it slow for now. There'll be time to figure all that out once anything actually happens."

[flybywash]

Wash gives a quick nod, and blows out a breath. "Yeah. Slow is -- slow is with the good. Okay."

He glances out toward the horses. When he laughs this time, it's soft and a little shaky.

"I have no idea what I'm doing."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe kisses his cheek again, her hand running lightly along his shoulders now.

"We'll figure it out together."

[flybywash]

"Yeah."

His arm settles around her waist, giving her a small squeeze, and he leans in to steal another kiss on the mouth before resting his head on her shoulder. In the distance, a few horses break into a run.

Wash watches them, and lifts his other hand enough to twine his fingers through Zoe's.

They'll figure it out.