cop·per·and·gold

It had taken her a long while to get past the new pilot's moustache. It was creepy looking, really, kind of like a silly ginger caterpillar that just kind of sat there looking at you. When she'd finally managed to get past it, though, she started noticing things about him that weren't so creepy, like the way he smiled with his whole body, not just his face like most folks. His eyes were a clear blue, and it felt like they looked right through her, past the warrior and into the woman.

Then there was his hair. It wasn't blonde, and it wasn't red. It was somewhere in between, like gold laced with copper threads. She didn't allow herself to get close enough to notice that particular distinction most days, but she was always fascinated with the way his hair, like him, seemed to love defying gravity. It stuck up from his head in a fairly appealing manner, leaving her with the overwhelming urge to run her fingers through it.

The day she walked up onto the bridge, prepared to rib him about that fuzzy monstrosity that resided on his upper lip, and saw that it was missing, she nearly fell back down the steps.

"Morning Zoe," Wash grinned at her from his pilot's seat, and her jaw flapped a few times, wordlessly. "Been giving some thought to your concerns about my professional appearance," he smirked.

"You shaved," she managed, finally.

"So I've been told. Little Kaylee suggested it."

Zoe's face fell, and she kicked herself mentally - she never let her guard down like that. 'Course he'd go for the cute little mechanic - they had so much in common.

"She said there was no way I was ever gonna get you to kiss me as long as that thing lived on my face, and it was an easy choice." Wash grinned. "Care to help me test her theory?"

Zoe allowed herself a smile. "Looks nice. Turns out there was a handsome man under there all along."

Wash shrugged. "I don't know about that, but I do know I want to kiss you. See where I'm going with this? There's a whole kissing theme."

"Good theme," Zoe said, leaning down to capture his mouth with hers. It was the beginning of the end, she realized, as she found herself being easily coaxed into sitting across his lap and making out like teenagers. She ran her fingers through his hair, just like she'd been wanting to, and found it to be soft and silky.

Zoe wondered what copper and gold would look like against the dark blue of her pillowcase.