For Zoe

[workworkwork]

The one thing that Wash had an overwhelming sensation of was dark. It wasn't as if they were in complete darkness, but it was a lot less than what he was used to, especially as he missed the sunrises you could see nearing planets on Serenity.

When they'd been released from the central customs area (which was like no customs area he'd ever seen before), he and Zoe went exploring, walking through the guest quarters, but Zoe was on edge, like he'd never seen from her for a very long time, if at all. "Zoe, sweetie. That's the fifth room we've checked now," he pointed out. They were both exhausted, but Zoe showed no signs of stopping.

Comments

[somethingwithsomeslink]

Zoe, for her part, isn't as interested in what other people think as her husband is. But that's mostly par for the course. If she's not comfortable, she'll either speak in Chinese to Wash or be silent. She's not trying to make people uncomfortable, she's just trying to be smart. Not her fault if she can do it in a way others can't.

"You can read people fine. Look, outta the two of us, you're the nice one, I don't mind about that, ever. But any one of 'em could be a plant, getting info on us."

She's very obviously not letting her guard down, her stubbornness shining through.

[workworkwork]

"You really think that they could be plants?" Wash said, frowning worriedly. "Zoe, light of my life, that's paranoid, even for you."

[somethingwithsomeslink]

"This whole place doesn't have you the least bit paranoid?" she asks in disbelief. "Where did these lights come from? They just appeared? No one knows where they came from?"

Zoe raises an eyebrow, looking at her husband.

[workworkwork]

"How did we get dressed? How did they know our sizes? Hell, even I have trouble remembering what size if I wanna buy you anything. How do they know just what we wanna eat?" Wash said, running his hand through his hair as he tended to do when he got nervous. "Thought about it all, an' it terrifies me. But there's also the curiosity about where we are, an' those things. One thing I do know - we ain't the only ones in this position. Everyone is in exactly the same place we are, thinkin' the same things."

[somethingwithsomeslink]

"Least I ain't the only one paranoid, then," she says as she moves onto her back again, staring up at the dark where the edges of light fade in.

One of her hands slides to his though as she lies there. She keeps reminding herself that he's right - this isn't a combat zone. There's no reason for her to be this tense, or more tense than the rest of them anyway. It's just that she hates surprises. Hates not being able to plan. Hates when her own life is out of her hands - all things she thought she mostly left behind at the end of the war.

[workworkwork]

Wash curled up against her, his head on her shoulder as they lay there. He can only guess at how she's feeling, but he knows her well enough, had to deal with the nightmares the war had left her.

"No, bao bei, you're not the only one. This is me, remember." He knew how insecure he could be, and he knew Zoe knew it as well. "But I can't live for who knows how long, paranoid. I can't do it." Even when he argued with Zoe, he was likely to be the one to apologize first, just so things could be back to normal.

[somethingwithsomeslink]

Quiet for a long time, she finally gives in with a heavy sigh.

"I know. You're right. I just..." One hand moves to his hair, fingers gliding through it. "Bringin' back memories, that's all."

[workworkwork]

Wash smiled at Zoe, his hand curled around her waist. "I know, baby." He'd worked with Zoe a long time, helping her get over the nightmares the war had left, and he hated seeing her like this. "We'll figure it out, together."