Authors Note: So, I finally did the Tuckigton part. I just want everyone to know that it was fucking hard work (despite Tuckington being my OTP) to keep that one short, bring all I wanted and get the god damn innuendoes right.

Tuckington

"Hey, you alright again?" Tucker was asked by Wash as he sat down carefully on the table opposite to the Freelancer. He was wearing his Armor again and only took off his helmet. Tucker was really glad he stopped the thing with eating while still having the helmet on. It was really unsettling. "Is Dr. Grey really letting you out of hospital already?"

Tucker shrugged as he put his helmet on the table next to his tray. "Yeah, I'm just supposed to take it easy, stay in bed a lot and all. And no jerking movements, if you know what I mean", he said with a grin. He knew Wash was less than thrilled about that kind of remarks but Tucker couldn't help it. Indeed Wash made a face first but then replied lightly: "I know what you mean. I'm not a hillbilly."

Tucker already noticed earlier that Wash was in a rather easy and affable mood as of lately. Especially considering their shitty situation and his usually kinda overboarding seriousness. But he thought that was probably because the guy was really relived that they were all fine and together again. Wash was surprisingly simple about that kind of thing.

"What about you? Are you alright?" Tucker asked while shoving a spoon full of cereal in his mouth. Dark bruises still were covering Washs throat, jaw and cheek, giving you a good clue on what the rest of his body looked like. "I'm good", he replied and Tucker believed him. He knew the guy long enough to tell the difference when he meant it and when he just said it out of routine. He still didn't like it. His plan almost got Wash killed.

They were eating silently after that. Until Tucker noticed how Wash kept watching the other people in the mess hall and driving off with his thoughts. "You sure you are okay?" he questioned again. Wash turned his head to look at him again. He flicks his tongue over his lower lip, a nervous habit Tucker noticed a while back. But as of lately he finds it kind of… distracting. "I'm fine, really. It's just… good to be here", Wash said with a shrug. "Yeah. I get that", Tucker returned and he meant it. "Never thought I once would try so hard to get someone back."

Well, that didn't quite come out as planed but Wash didn't act on it, thank god.

"Anyway about that… Thank you."

Tucker blinked at Wash in confusion and surprise. The older made a face as if he had an inner fight. "For coming, you know." Tucker lowered his spoon, thinking hard. "Uh… sure", he said awkwardly. "Though you guys never really were in danger. And it was probably a shitty attempt, too."

Wash shrugged desultorily. "We weren't. And it was. But you came, I think that matters." An uncomfortable silence settled in and Wash did this nervous tongue thing again. He didn't look at Tucker while he slowly took the mug with dark coffee. Instead he dropped his gaze on it. "Back at Sidewinder, no one did."

Tucker knew that look. Wash would get it when he was thinking, shifting through memories from a past he tried to leave behind.

"But we were all there", he said dully and earned a shake of the blondes head in return. "Not then. When it crashed." Tucker didn't know if Wash was talking about the ship, the project or his whole world when he said 'it'. All Tucker knew was that he was very uncomfortable. Wash didn't talk about that a lot and so he didn't knew how to handle it. So when Tucker watched him take a sip from the coffee, he did one of the things he was good a: Ridiculous change of topic.

"So uh, how does the swallowing go?" he asked because being almost strangled probably had some effect on that. Smooth, yay. Wash looked at him again and frowned. Oh. Uh. Did that come out wrong? This time it had not been intended! Surprisingly enough Wash lowers the mug with a small smirk. "About as good as you would expect", he said simply. "But it will get easier with time."
Now Tucker was left staring at the older. With Wash he never knew if the guy did double meanings on purpose or if he simply did it on accident. Usually it was the later but still. He never fucking knew.

"Uhm", Tucker said stupidly. "That sounded lewd." Wash raised an eye ridge and gave Tucker an almost provocative look over the mug.

"Really."

If Tucker wouldn't have gotten the hell confused out of him he would wonder how Wash managed to be so sarcastic while still sounding plain. Where did the change in atmosphere come from so suddenly anyway? And oh, he probably should lower his spoon again.

"Are you speechless? I guess that's a first" Wash stated with amusement lingering in his voice. He was done with his breakfast and coffee now and braced his elbows on the table. He gave Tucker a somewhat mocking look. "I didn't think that would be possible without getting your mouth busy."

Tucker – who meanwhile was busying his mouth with a spoon of cereal - scowled at the Freelancer. He swallowed down, again wondering if the wording was purpose or if it was him just thinking too perverted again. "I think I should get your mouth occupied. You're already being a smug cockbite again." Tucker honestly had wanted to sound much more annoyed that he actually managed to. Instead of a dry or dismissive answer Wash only shook his head and reached for his helmet. "I think you should go to bed again" he said simply but Tucker caught the smile on his lips before he pulled the helmet over his head and picked up his tray. "Also, don't worry, I won't bite." With that the Freelancer left to return his tray, acting as if he wasn't aware of Tuckers stunned glance on his back.

The teal soldier was still trying to decide if it was just his sex obsessed brain making that up or if Wash really had been making innuendos. So when the Freelancer passed him on his way out Tucker stopped him. "Dude, what the fuck did you mean by you don't bite?" He asked, his voice hushed. Wash looked at him though his expression was invisible under the helmet. He didn't reply right away but when he did Tucker practically could hear his smugness. "See you later."

With that Wash left again and Tucker sat there dumbfounded, still trying to proceed that yeah okay, Wash had indeed been making fucking innuendos. It was likely that Tuckers brain stopped working at that realizing because the next thing he did was shout through the whole mess hall.

"But I'm not supposed to do jerking movements!"

Tucker was vaguely aware of everyone – Wash standing at the door included - staring at him for the weird outburst. Whatever Tucker actually expected to happen, it wasn't Wash to guffaw. Everyone else in the cafeteria started laughing too soon after. Tucker knew he probably made a proper fool out of himself right now. But somehow his mind was focused on Wash and the realization that he never heard the guy laugh like that.

So screw the humiliation, he was pretty sure it was going to be worth it later.

Authors note: That's it! It's probably not so much of an 'I love' than a proposition. Or invitation or something. But I really wanted to do this. You know, Wash confusing Tucker by being the one to make innuendoes. Especially because it seems Wash is usually either annoyed or uncomfortable with Tuckers remarks.

It's like that in the 'Never ever that hung over'-universe (and the sequels me and Alaska McCormick are working on) as well.

So yeah.