It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right

[zoe_alleyne]

Who: Zoe and Wash
What: Zoe goes out to find food to stash in her room, unexpectedly meets her dead husband; hilarity does not ensue.
When: Monday afternoon.
Where: Marketplace.
Rating: PG-13 for language and mild violence.



Zoe had ventured out on her third day, there would be food and necessities to get. She understood she could jsut wish them to her but something about that didn't sit square with her. Stealing was one thing, it was honest dishonest work, but wishin'? That was a bit more in the realm that made her question the motives behind anything that gave ya something for free.

Instead she'd been able to trade here and there and understand how the systems seemed to work here. She was always a quick adapter, and much easier to get on with than Mal. One of the reasons he had relied so heavily upon her. One of the reasons she now ventured out, usually bars, churches and markets were the places where the gossip flowed, if any of her people were here this is where she would find out.

Zoe was mulling over some sort of strange fruit when the vendor perked at the mention of ships, more so at the name Serenity. The Captain was here! No, had been here. That made all kinds of sense, if he had been here the place sent him on, so she had hopes it'd do the same for her.

Zoe paid for her purchase and smiled, "Xiè xiè." She thanked the woman and turned to head back into the street.

Comments

[zoes_wash]

Frankly, he needed a shaving kit. He'd gotten way too used to not having the mustache, and he wasn't hoping to see it again. And he was starting to get fuzzy.

And though he'd gotten an sandwich or two from wishing, he wasn't bringing anything bladed near his face that had been thought up. That was just...unnatural. Same went for shirts and real meals. Once in a while, as necessary? That was fine. But not the big things. Not the things that just had to be real.

Otherwise, he might just be crazy. Then again, the whole place might be one giant delusion.

He was looking the other way, at a rather succulent piece of fruit when she stepped out into the street. And it was then that he turned around.

And his jaw just dropped as a smile spread across his face.

[zoe_alleyne]

Zoe had tucked things into her bag, along side that journal thing the girls had told her about on the first day. She still couldn't get over the not-Kayle doctor. It was really enough to make her think she'd lost her damned mind, but the more she talked to the gal the more apparent the differences were. Still she was nice enough, they might even be friends if either lasted that long here.

She hadn't met anyone yet that really rubbed her the wrong way. The girl who didn't talk was a sweet thing, kind like River if she hadn't been all moonbrained. With the memory of her crew she dropped the smile a bit, they were her family, and now what with them being her only family she missed them more than ever.

She guessed maybe that was the reason she thought she saw a familiar shock of red hair ahead. Zoe squinted and took a step for ward. Then another. The hair could be anyone but that shirt... ain't no one wears shirts like that 'cept one man.

She continued forward in her stride, so sure this would be an illusion a mirage that would fade when she got close enough.

[zoes_wash]

The relief was plain on his face as he started rushing towards her, barely knowing what to say or what to do first. As happened in many of those situations, he went with his mouth.

"Zoe! Oh, Gods, I am...I was so worried! First I was here in Cloud Crazy Land and then there was this terrible lady sayin' you'd been shot, and I've just been wandering around like an idiot - but Simon is here, so obviously not totally on the idiot wanderin'..."

And, of course, he reached out to take her into his arms, smile still planted across his stupid, Washy face.

[zoe_alleyne]

""Ching-wah TSAO duh liou mahng"

She stopped short and he kept coming, his arms wide and that stupid smile plastered over his face. That mockery of her dead husband using his face and his words.

She opened her arms, well one anyway. She hauled back and sent a curled fist forward, till knuckles connected with that face.

[zoes_wash]

The blow spun him around and dropped him like a sack of potatoes. Because she had a punch that could, he was sure, fell bears. And so he lay there on the ground for a long moment, then tried to sit up.

This didn't work. There were stars. So he just lay there, on the ground, facing up.

"Aaah, fhwasa?"

He tried again, managing to at least sit up.

"...Zoe?"

[zoe_alleyne]

He hadn't vanished, he was solid if the impact of her fist said anything.

What did that mean? Well for one thing is meant he was on his ass and she was staring down at him in disbelief.

"What the hell?"

Zoe knelt down and took his jaw in her hand, she turned it to look him right in the eye.

"Is that really you?"

[zoes_wash]

He blinked a few times, eyes trying to focus on hers.

"Well, a bit less now - pretty sure I shed a few parts there. But of course it's me! Who else would it be?"

He went to stand again, at least getting a hand under him.

"Did I miss your birthday or something?"

[zoe_alleyne]

Wash would not have the chance to do much, strong fingers curled into his shirt and she stood, hoisting him to his feet as she did so.

She took a long look, smoldering dark eyes drinking in his face before she pulled him to her. Zoe's lips took his in a bruising kiss.

She didn't notice when the tears started flowing down her cheeks.

[zoes_wash]

In moments, his hands were in her hair, not caring at all about the bruised lips, not caring about anything that didn't have to do with her.

He pulled against her as much as he could, taking as long as he could before he needed to draw breath, before catching her lips again, returning her passion fully. He smiled when that one, eventually, came to an end, taking a deep breath again.

"Wow," he said, with just a silly, lopsided grin. "That was an abrupt change of pace, though I've no complaints..."

[zoe_alleyne]

It wasn't kissing exactly, it was more a frantic fight to see who could draw the other closer; to see who could touch more of the other. There was hardly time to breath between the bouts but eventually the pair separated enough to speak.

Zoe's breaths deep and ragged, her eyes wet and shining. She looked at his as thought she could never see enough of him. Her fingers traced his lips and cheeks and back into that mad riot of hair.

"Baby, it's really you. You're alive."

[zoes_wash]

He couldn't get enough of her, especially not when she was like this. Though there was something special to it, unique. And he wasn't at all sure it was a good thing. Her words, of course, but things out of mind. For the moment.

"Wait, wait, wait," he said, his own hands on her cheek, her neck, just enjoying the feel of her warmth, the familiar texture of her skin.

"Of course I'm alive...and, as I recall, I'd just done some fancy, fancy flying before I was brought here."

[zoe_alleyne]

"No, no, no, baby you were dead. Reavers, they..."

She couldn't finish, she just threw her arms around him again and pulled him close enough to feel the hammering of her heart against his chest.

"But you're alive now. You alive an real...an if you ain't I don't figure I much care to be anywhere else."

[zoes_wash]

The rest of the world just didn't exist, in such a moment. He wrapped her in his arms, planting a kiss against the side of her neck, anything to have her close. Anything at all.

But it explained certain things. "That I am. I am totally real. My jaw feels especially real..." But he pulled back slightly, opening a pair of buttons on his shirt. "But that explains this."

Namely, the scar right over the center of his chest.

"Because I was seriously freaking out trying to explain this. I mean, what crazy space disease causes this, right?"

[zoe_alleyne]

Wasn't exactly the time nor place to be getting all naked but once he opened his shirt she understood why. All the emotion fled from her, the tears turned off like a faucet, the smile died and her lips drew to a thin line.

Zoe reached out and her fingers grazed lightly over the raised flesh. It was the exact shape and size and spot of the spike which had impaled and ended Hoban Washburne's life. Her stomach twisted and she eased back away from him.

"That'd be how you died, just after flying through a whole fleet of Alliance an a mess a Reaver's. Didn't even have time to say goodbye."

Zoe had gone cold, precise, the way she was in the war or on those jobs where there was a good chance someone wasn't coming back.

[zoes_wash]

"Hey, hey," he said, reaching for her hand, the other hand buttoning the shirt back up. "We don't have to say goodbye. Whatever happened, I'm here, I'm alive. With you."

He paused, almost scrambling after her. "Don't shut down on me, Zoe, please - I've been running around here going crazy worrying about you..." He paused, again. "Not in a 'she might not be ok', way - because, let's face it, like a magical castle would slow you down much...but come on, this place, without you? I couldn't stand it."

[zoe_alleyne]

"I watched you die, an I coudn't do nuthin but watch. I had ta leave you there." She wanted him to be angry with her, wanted him to show some kind of fury for her not doing more. She needed that to balance out the guilt, she needed to pain to keep her from the emotions that would otherwise break her down.

"You'd find a way, it's what you do. Idiot hair an damn fool shirts, people underestimate you and that's how you beat them. You'd a done just fine without me."

[zoes_wash]

"Well, if I was dead, then yes, you did. You did the right thing. Not like you'd have just forgotten me..."

He grabbed her hands with his, trying to lace the fingers together - trying to remind her of the present, rather than the past. Which, rather wonderfully, made him forget briefly about the whole was dead part. Or was supposed to be dead. Or whatever.

But she needed something, and he knew her well enough to give it to her.

"Were there other lives to save? Your friends, shipmates? Did you have time to mourn or was there still work to do? You did the right thing, what you had to do. And as for me...damn right I'm that good, but you're kinda better."

[zoe_alleyne]

There were always other lives, and he knew that well enough. Still she couldn't quite meet his eyes even if she did allow the grip of her hands. It just felt so damned good, touching him again, having him there and real and alive. On impulse she pushed forward and kissed him hard on the mouth again, a desperate attempt to ensure that he was rel and alive and here with her.

"Just...don't go leavin me, ok?"

[zoes_wash]

She'd kissed him a lot of times, but never like this.

"Hey, take it easy, I ain't going anywhere," he responded, reaching out to touch her cheek. "And you're going to have to, because between that and the punch? Not sure how much more my lips can take right now."

He paused, then kissed her back.

"But only one way to find out."