(no subject)

[januar]

For bad_in_latin. Sorry it took me so long.

Title: Sir
Fandom: Firefly
Word Count: 400ish


"Don't mean a thing. You're making out like Zoe just blindly follows my every word, and that ain't true."
"Sure it is."
"Not so. There've been plenty of orders of mine she didn't obey."
"Name one!"
"She married you."
~~~~~
"You wanted to see me, sir?"

Mal looked up from drink to find Zoe standing in the doorway. She looked different. She had been looking different for a while now. She was... glowing. Zoe didn't glow. Ever. But she was.

"Yeah, have a seat." He kicked out a chair for her.

She sat down in the chair. Good ol' Zoe, always following orders. Always.

"You can't marry him."

Zoe blinked at the captain. "What, sir?"

"You can't marry Wash."

She looked at him. "I can't marry Wash."

"Exactly." Mal felt very sure that she would follow his order. After all, she had always followed them before.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, sir."

He blinked at her. "...wha? What do you mean you can't do that?"

"I'm not going to not marry Wash, sir."

Mal pointed a finger at her. "Now look here... on board relationships... they're bad for business. They cause nothin' but tension and trouble."

"Sir." Zoe stood up, looking down at the captain. She crossed her arms over her chest. "I love him. He loves me. And we're getting married. There's nothing you can do about it."

He remained in his seat for a few moments, then surged up, put his hands on either side of her face, and kissed her.

There was a pause, and then she was returning the kiss, her arms unfolding and her hands clutching his arms.

They remained that way for a minute, and then she was the first to pull away. Hands still on his arms, Zoe looked Mal in the eye. "Sir. Mal. We can't do this."

Mal traced him thumb over her lips, causing her eyes to flutter close for a moment. "Why can't we?"

"It's not fair." Her eyes reopened, and she looked at him. "It's not fair to Wash, and it's not fair for us. It's over. It's been over for a very long time. You know that."

This time Mal closes his eyes. "I know, but... you can't."

She pulls herself out of his hands and stands by the door. "I can. And I will. Like I said, there's nothing you can do about it. Sir."

He sighs, rubbing his face with his hands. "...I know. Go get married, Zoe."

She smiles at him. "Yes, sir." And she turns and leaves the room, wedding dress trailing behind her.

Mal watches her go. Taking a deep breath, he attempts to straighten his tie, then follows her to where Wash and the others are waiting.


Maybe not what you were expecting, but... I tried?