"What was that?"
Zoe heard Mal's question, almost asked humorously, and had no reaction. While everyone else rose to see what he was talking about (even River seemed mildly amused, despite the fact that she probably knew exactly what had occurred), she remained perfectly still, sitting on a crate next to where Jayne and Shepherd work out.
Just Jayne now, that is.
She stared ahead of her, her face blank, while Mal and the others came one by one into the cargo bay, flustered and amused, as the captain tried to find out what had flown off of his ship.
"Kaylee, you helped out here quite a bit in puttin' our little humpty-dumpty-Serenity back together again, mind lettin' me know what you coulda messed up?" Mal demanded, staring at the girl.
Kaylee smiled blissfully, her cheerful demeanor untouched. "Can't say, Capt'n! I spent all o-my time in the engine room! Best be asking Jayne here, he was workin' on the outer parts."
"Was not!" Jayne protested quickly, dodging his eyes between the Captain and Kaylee. Mal raised his eyebrows.
"Well… say I was, does it mean I'm in trouble?" Jayne tried again, lowering his head some.
Mal took on a mockingly friendly face. "Of course not sweet pea, as long as you din't cause me to lose a piece of my ship!"
"We-Well naw I didn't, Mal! I was just workin' on the outer guns with you, is all! You remember, we hauled the top gun off there – the one that we put on to make us be lookin' like Reavers – and then I just went to get the read of the weapons back onto the ship see, remember? I was carryin - "
"Okay, okay! I didn't need my life history! Did you break my god damn ship or not?" Mal interrupted Jayne's sputtering, starting to get impatient.
"No Capt'n, not me! The only one workin' on the outer parts without you around was Zo-"
Jayne cut himself off when he looked at Zoe, who had gone almost unnoticed by the crew (save River, Inara and Kaylee), and who was still staring blankly ahead.
"Zoe…" Jayne finished stupidly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Mal looked over at his colleague, a flash of pity striking his eyes before his face turned stern once more. "Well, Zoe. Can you tell me - "
"It was just a piece of extra armor, Captain. A patch up that I put on top, just in case. It wasn't really required Sir, but since we had the material I put it on. It won't do your ship any harm."
Zoe said all this is in a monotone, the way she normally spoke to Mal, with an official air to her, but her eyes never left the blank space to which she was staring.
For a moment, everyone was silent, all staring at Zoe, who didn't even seem to notice their presence. It was Mal who broke the tension by squaring his shoulders and saying: "Well thanks, Zo! Next time we have a dilemma about a piece of my ship, as you called it, flying off into space, I'll make sure to ask you first, since apparently, you can't speak up for yourself!"
Zoe's face showed no reaction, nor did she even shrug when she responded, "Sorry Captain. Won't happen again."
And with that she rose and walked out of the cargo bay and up the rickety stairs, making for her bunk. Mal let out a quick sigh and followed after her, while the rest of them looked at one another awkwardly.
Zoe's boots clunked against the grated stairs and floor as she made her way to her bunk. Her gaze continued to be blank, but her stance was hard, terse. A warrior.
She pushed the door open, revealing the room which she used to share with Wash, and her eyes flickered with life. A strangled, sad life.
She was about to turn and leave when Mal appeared at the door behind her, his lips pressed into a thin line. Zoe raised her head and looked him in the eye, leaning back slightly, just wanted to get out of the room that she found herself in.
"Yes, Sir?" She asked, since the Captain hadn't said anything himself.
Mal sighed, relaxed his frame, and looked around before placing a hand on the wall beside him.
"Since when do you call Serenity my ship, Zoe?"
Zoe continued to look at him, but her defense was building back up, and she merely replied: "It is your ship, Captain."
"Well – yes. Yes she is. But since when is she just my ship? You know just as much as I do that Serenity is more than that. She's a home. A home that you live in."
Mal looked at the room behind her, trying to make a point, and that's what lost the battle for him. Zoe saw what he was trying to imply, that the bunk that she turned her back on had her mark all over it.
And his.
"Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science fiction."
"We live in a space ship, dear"
Zoe frowned slightly before regaining composure.
"I'm going to be needing another bunk, Captain."
Mal was startled, taking a step back, his brow furrowing. "Another bun – but Zoe, the only one we've got left is that tiny little room where Shepherd used to sleep, and we was plannin' and having some customers in there. You've got yourself a perfectly fine bunk right here – "
"I'll have Shepherd's. If we take on any others, I'll give it to 'em."
And with that, she slipped out, walking with the same official-like stance as she had before.
Mal looked after her and hung his head, before looking into the room.
It had always been the most decorated room in Serenity, the most homely. Everyone had seen Wash and Zoe like a portable home – anywhere they went, they made it their own. Together.
Mal let out a sad breath. "Guess she can't do the same when they ain't together anymore…"
And with that, he shut the door.