[Saturday Night]

[flybywash]

It's late. Nearly everyone on the ship's asleep -- or trying to sleep, or pretending to sleep.

Wash isn't.

He's leaning against Serenity's windscreen, hands shoved deep in his pockets, silently watching the stars.

Comments

[flybywash]

Silence again.

Then: a wry, tiny quirk of a smile.

"I'm still not gonna pretend I understand the wacky violence thing," he says, and moves a hand to squeeze hers. "But...wŏ bù zhī dào. It's doing something to make right, yeah? Trying to change things."

A breath.

"You do something to make things better and of course it's gonna feel right."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe returns the smile, but only briefly.

"Shì a. But like I said...I ain't ever felt that way since the war ended. An' I ain't ever wanted to, because of how it ended last time. Dŏng ma? But with the gunslingers, and this...I do. An' it scares me."

[flybywash]

Wash's eyes are suddenly rather overbright.

Carefully, he takes Zoe's face in his hands, brushing back a few loose strands of hair as he does.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe's hands slide from his shoulders to his neck, and she leans forward until their foreheads touch.

"Got more to lose this time around, for one thing."

[flybywash]

"Doesn't mean you will."

His thumb traces a small line on her cheek, and though his eyes are still shining, another tiny smile tugs at his lips.

"I'm like one of those limpets. You got me, you're stuck with me forever. Even got some contingency haunting plans all worked out with Lilly if I need 'em."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe can't quite smile at that, but she moves in closer, and slides her hands up into his hair, and pulls him into a very thorough kiss.

When it finally breaks, she leans against him again and whispers, "Wŏ ài nĭ."

[flybywash]

"Wŏ ài nĭ, piào liàng de qī zi."

Two more soft kisses: first on her forehead, then again, properly, on her lips. The second one lingers a while.

"Come back to me tomorrow?" he says, and oh, how he hates the way it has to carry so much uncertainty.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe does manage to muster a smile, now, even though it trembles a bit.

"What, you think I'd leave you'n the rest without me around to keep you all in line? 'Specially you. You'd have that mustache again before anyone knew it, an' probably scare the daylights out of River."

[flybywash]

He exhales a quiet, not-quite laugh, pulling back just long enough to resettle his arms around her waist.

"Then it's settled: for the sake of the children and nobody ever seeing the Face Ferret again. We have no choice."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe's expression turns solemn again at "for the sake of the children", and she slips her arms around his neck, her forehead resting against his again.

[flybywash]

Wash's half-smile fades. He just looks at Zoe, arms tightening around her by a fraction.

(when it's all over, maybe we should go ahead...)

"Alain's gonna be with you, right?"

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe nods silently, not moving out of his embrace.

[flybywash]

"You, uh."

He swallows.

"You gonna let him lead the charge?"

It's less a question than it is a plea.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

It's a moment before Zoe answers. When she does, her tone is neutral.

"Wasn't plannin' on it."

[flybywash]

Of course not.

Wouldn't be Zoe if she did.

Wash doesn't say anything, but it's impossible to miss the way his body tenses.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

"Baby..."

Zoe takes a step back, and looks him straight in the eye.

"I ain't got a death wish, and I don't plan on takin' any unnecessary risks. But I also ain't hidin' behind anyone. Not even a gunslinger."

[flybywash]

Tension threading through his voice now, too: "That's not -- "

But with a visible effort, he cuts himself off before he can go any further. This, of all nights, is not the night for it.

Doesn't mean it takes any less time for the lines of his shoulders to ease, nor for him to nod, however reluctantly, as his gaze drifts to the floor.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe moves closer again, and hugs him tightly.

Just because she doesn't agree doesn't mean she doesn't understand.

"I'll be fine."

[flybywash]

He breathes deep, and rests his chin on her shoulder.

"Good," he mumbles. "'Cause, you for the mustache's great and glorious return...kind of not the best trade."

More silence. Beneath their feet, Serenity hums softly; outside, the stars glitter.

"Got any plans to sleep tonight?"

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe turns her head, her mouth brushing against his ear for a moment before answering.

"Probably not. Might have to find some other way to occupy myself."

[flybywash]

"Mmm."

The smile's a bit slow to form, but it's genuine, and much bigger than before. Affecting nonchalance, "Well, you know, if you need any help..."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

"Well, I wouldn't want to be any inconvenience..."

At some point, Zoe's fingers have started trailing up and down his back.

"I mean, I'm sure there's all manner of important piloty things I shouldn't be distractin' you from..."

[flybywash]

An exaggerated, long-suffering sigh. It turns into a groan midway through.

"You're right. Never know when that proximity alert's gonna go off. Best if I just stay up here the whole night."

Wash leans to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"....Wouldn't mind company, though," he suggests, as if it's just occuring to him.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe kisses him back, then smiles teasingly. "Oh, I think maybe that could be arranged."

[flybywash]

Wash grins outright. In the expression, he looks more like himself than he has in days. "Shiny."

Hands cradling her face again, he pulls her into another slow, thorough kiss; and in it, there are no constellations, no engine, and no skyplexes waiting for them immeasurable miles ahead. It's just them. Husband and wife.

'Til death do we part.

Five minutes later, the bridge door is locked and shut tight. For good or ill, this will all be over in twenty-four hours, and there are better ways to spend it than in solitude.