A/N:This was loosely inspired by Sick Puppies' song, Under a Very Black Sky.

Under a Black Sky

He used to be a dreamer. He had told her how growing up, he'd talk to anyone who would listen of the day he would take to the open sky, somewhere in the 'verse where it was clear and pure still. Not like his home world. The planet he grew up on featured ink black skies at night, through which no stars could ever be seen.

As Zoe stood there, she couldn't help but think it was even more polluted now than it would have been when he still lived here. It made her realise why he dreamed so hard and big, why he desired so strongly for a new life among the stars. Compared to here, life onboard a ship, far away, would be a nice and healthy and safe life.

He wanted those things for the same reason anyone did. He wanted because there had to be something better out there. Even just the hope of something better was enough to keep someone going, especially out in the black.

Wash had had a lot of hope. It hit Zoe - hard - again, as she stared at the polluted skies of his home world. And she wished he had been around to tell him, "I understand now."

fin