FIC: Eye of the Beholder - Zoe (1/6)
Title: Eye of the Beholder - Zoe (1/6)
Author: CC62827
Length: 850 Words
Summary: Five times River scared the crew, and one time she scared the Captain. Series of six short fics with a definite Mal/River bent.
Zoe was standing at the door to the bridge, shoulder propped against the opening, the suggestion of a smile that was all kinds of enigmatic tilting one corner of her mouth. She didn’t turn as I came up on her, but I knew she noticed me. I wasn’t taking any care to be quiet.
A garble of noise floated out of the cockpit around her and hit my ears. Half the sounds could have been nothing but gibberish, or they could have been some complex language I’d never even heard of, but I recognized the growling at least. I climbed the stairs and peered around Zoe.
Yep.
River was playing with the dinosaurs again.
“She says they get antsy if she don’t give ‘em enough attention,” I said quietly by way of explanation even though Zoe hadn’t asked for one. I didn’t know if she’d seen River playing with Wash’s toys in the months since his death, and I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about it. I knew her better than just about anyone, but something like this could go either way.
I was relieved that her voice, when she answered, was fond. And maybe a touch this side of wistful. “He loved those little figures.” Her eyes stayed fixed on River. “I’m glad she gets some enjoyment from them.”
It didn’t seem like that needed an answer, so I kept my mouth shut and carved out a spot for my shoulder opposite Zoe’s to join in the watching. River didn’t give any indication she knew we existed, much less trouble herself to interrupt the play and tell us to quit staring at her. We stood like cigar store Indians for a handful of minutes before a yellowish looking lizard with spines up and down his back let out a cry I figured had to be his death knell.
Something in the sound must have struck Zoe. Her eyes flickered, and the smile melted away. She straightened up with a headshake. “I need to get to the kitchen. It’s my night to cook.”
If I hadn’t been me and she hadn’t been her, I might have put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Instead, I gave her a bare nod.
(Are you ok?)
And got one in return.
(Holding up, Sir).
As she turned away, her gaze landed on the back of the pilot’s chair. It had been re-covered, but no matter how many times River or I sat in it, it would always belong to Wash. It would always be the place he died. Zoe had taken two steps down when River spoke. She used lilting English this time instead of dinosaur.
“The one who fired the spear that hit him came in the room after I closed the blast doors.”
River’s words froze Zoe so solid, I wondered if her heart was still beating. I understood. I felt about as pole axed as she looked. Before I could decide on a Captainish course of action to take, River’s sing-song voice continued.
“All the other ones, I killed fast. One cut, one move, and dead. Didn’t have time for anything else. But that one I sliced across the middle. I turned his innards turn into outards for Wash, the way Bogan would have.” She held up a red plastic dinosaur I could only assume was named Bogan. Then she went back to playing just like she’d never stopped.
I tried to keep my eyes from goggling out of their sockets when Zoe and I looked at one another. Goggling eyes aren’t an inspiring look for the person who’s supposed to be in charge. Beyond that, though, I was at a loss. What could you say to something like that? The words my brain settled on were pretty much the definition of not the right thing, but they were honest.
“It’s good knowing she was historically accurate.”
Zoe was shaking her head in such a way as to make me think she might not have been paying attention to what I said. Imagine that. “I don’t know whether to be appreciative or horrified.” A frown creased her forehead. “Sir, are you ever-afraid-of her.”
I followed Zoe’s gaze into the cockpit, “Bogan” looked to have eviscerated the bigger spiny figurine and from the noises River was making, was just sitting down to enjoy his lunch. My answer, when I gave it, didn’t require any careful consideration and didn’t leave any room for argument. It, also, was straight honest. “No.”
There was another heartbeat of silence. Zoe finally accepted my reply for the order it was with another firm nod and headed off toward the galley. I watched her walk away before I ducked into the cockpit, announcing my presence with a half-growled warning, “There’s going to be severe unpleasantness unfold in this room if you’re wasting time playing instead of working on the nav. data for us to land on Stax tomorrow, Little Albatross.”